I am a bad, bad slasher.

[raven]

Okay...

I officially feel stupid. Very stupid.

You know Good Omens? Well, most of you do. You know the bit where Aziraphale and Crowley stop to help Anathema with her bike? All the way through that scene she thinks there's something strange about these two. Something indefinably strange. Finally, at the end of that particular bit, Crowley says to Aziraphale, "Get in, angel."
Anathema then thinks something like, so that was it. She had been perfectly safe after all.
Now I believe I may have been being stupid. I always read this to mean she realised they were supernatural entities. But it now occurs to me (read: someone told me) that she may well have thought, ah, human gay couple.
I don't believe I missed this.
And I can't look it up because shipperkitten has borrowed the book. Raargh.

Comments

[yonmei.livejournal.com]

Finally, at the end of that particular bit, Crowley says to Aziraphale, "Get in, angel." Anathema then thinks something like, so that was it. She had been perfectly safe after all.

Yes. And this is pointed up by a later reference when Anathema thinks about "that pair of consenting bicycle repair men" or some such. Anyway, it's a clear reference to the British law on gay men - that sex for gay men is legal between consenting adults in private. I wish I could remember the quote more exactly, because that later reference is absolute confirmation that what Pratchett/Gaiman intended by the "Get in, angel" comment was that Anathema should think that Crowley and Aziraphale are a gay couple. As, of course, we know they are. If any further confirmation were needed that their relationship is not subtextual, all that is required is the reference in the last paragraph of the novel to the nightingale singing in Berkeley Square (http://ingeb.org/songs/anightin.html).

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Of course they are.

I can't believe this entire idea went flying over my head when I read the book. Particularly the bit about the consenting bicycle repairmen, which is coming back to me now. I did, however, know about the nightingale reference, which is doing something to assauge my feeling of stupidity. I really should get my copy of the book back and read it again.

[dougs.livejournal.com]

And by contrast, I remember reading this first time round and smiling at the recognition of both implications.
And playing with the pleasing resonances between the two.

The two implications and the two characters.

A good line.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Now I look at it, it seems so obvious and slashy. I need to re-read.

[language-idling.livejournal.com]

Aww... that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy!

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Me too. I love slashy angels.

[osiris13.livejournal.com]

Not that I want to make you feel stupid or anything, but on this occasion (for once) I managed to notice slashyness that you didn't. If it's any consolation, I miss things all the time (Remus and sirius spring to mind) until they're pointed out to me, so I know how you feel...

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Yay for the slashyness!

But I have to say, this was a very very big hint that I missed. Big big hint. I am a bad slasher.

[amchau.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I'm rather of the opinion that the book doesn't actually need fic; it's slashy all on it's own.

Although, I have to say, I got the 'perfectly safe' and the 'consenting repairmen' ones, but missed the 'nightgale in Berkley Square' reference. Huh. Maybe it's time for a re-read.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

There's some lovely fic around for it, I must say, whether it's required or not. A fandom for the discnerning reader... :)

[amchau.livejournal.com]

I know; I've read some of it, and very good it is too. The current obession with mpregs is leading me into Smallville and Harry Potter for my reading, though... unless there are any good GO mpregs out there. If you happen to know of any... but if you don't, hey, that's okay. And one of these days I'll probably be overcome with the desire to read about an angel and a devil, and there will be GO fandom, waiting for me. ;)

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

There is one!

http://thewritegirls.populli.net/afrai/mways.html

Why mpregs, can I ask? Why?

[amchau.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow. You know, that's why I love fandom. Bookmarked, thanks, Raven!

Um... why. Good question. It's impossible and silly, and yet has the capacity to produce deep angst; the variation of plot devices keeps them interesting, and yet what really counts is that some writers keep the people in character; it's completely unreal, and yet a good writer can make it seem possible. Like magic-- it's unreal, and yet a good writer can make it live.

That's not a very good answer. I'm still working on the reasons.

Some of it, at the moment, is "if I'm reading mpreg, I don't have to think about the fact that I'm trying to do NaNoWriMo in TWO DAYS! And I have no plot line and I'm PANICKING!", I admit.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

There's another one that's sort of mpreg, now I come to think of it, HP this time:

http://sekaiseifuku.net/bundleofjoy.txt

And I'll take your word for it.

Congrats on being brave enough for NaNoWriMo! I couldn't ever do it.

[amchau.livejournal.com]

Thanks! *booksmarks happily*

And at the moment, I have to say, it looks less like bravery than foolishness. We shall see...