#knew

Xavier - He’s going to use any excuse he can find to get down on his knees. Like when you’re curled up on the couch, watching a movie together, except all of a sudden he’s not on the couch. He’s on the floor, nuzzling up against your thighs, leaving slow, sweet kisses, looking up at you while he’s pulling your pants off. You can absolutely pull his hair and direct him where you’d like him to go. He loves it. Except - here’s the thing - don’t go thinking you’re in charge. You’re not. You’re going to get hauled to the edge of the couch if he can’t get the right angle, and he’s not letting go of your legs until he’s had enough.

Zayne - The key word for Zayne is “technique.” The man knows what he’s doing. He’s focused. He’s got you spread out on the bed, your legs resting on his shoulders, his hand on your belly, and he’s going slow. Tongue-tip precise, mapping every millimeter of you, cataloging your responses and using them to push his advantage. Except for when you’re close. Once you start making those sounds he starts to lose it a bit. He gets sloppier, making muffled sounds of encouragement, and he can’t help but grip you a little tighter. He’ll keep that grip on you as you come down - he may need to see you do it again.

Rafayel - The man is a fucking tease. Hope you have some time set aside, because he’s not going to make this quick. He loves being between your legs, soaking in the sounds you make, the way you smell, the way you taste. Why in the world would he rush when he’s right where he wants to be? Why wouldn’t he work you right up until you’re on the cusp, then back off to let your frustration grow? You make such cute sounds when you want to come but can’t. And sure, you can try to get your hands in his hair and make him go faster, but it’s not going to work. He’ll just tie you down and get back to what he was doing. Can’t rush this stuff, you know.

Sylus - One word: stamina. Sylus wants you to have every ounce of pleasure you deserve. And since you deserve to enjoy yourself endlessly, he’s going to wring every climax out of you he can. Who’s in charge here? Fantastic question. Maybe it’s you. He wants to know what you want, after all. He wants you to pull him in, direct his mouth, give him the feedback he needs to do things juuuuuust right. But when you’re done and trying to recover, he’s just getting started. What, you don’t want him to stop now, do you? Surely you can keep up with him. Just one more, sweetie. And one more after that. Oh, don’t make that sound. He knows you can do it.

This is the opening moment of the Bookshop Conversation. It goes by quickly. (It's helpful to watch the Final 15 at least once at reduced speed, if you can!). Aziraphale is looking out the window towards Give Me Coffee or Give Me Death, with an anxious hunch to his shoulders. We've established in Part I that this angle means he's looking to right about where the Metatron is standing, but here's a cue we were given just minutes before in that same episode:

Same view to the front of the coffee shop. Aziraphale and the Metatron are in each other's sight lines.

Now, Aziraphale is no fool. Please don't mistake anxiety for ignorance. (Actually, awareness and knowledge of dangers we can't control often cause anxiety. IYKYK). It's likely he has already spotted the Metatron, and is tracking his presence. If you'd prefer more proof, it's on the way very soon.

In that opening moment, Crowley is also facing the window. If he were to look up and straight out with his body alignment, he'd be aimed at the Metaton as well. A sight-line-triangle among the three of them. But Crowley's shades hide his eyes. We have no idea if he's looking out the window at all, or just turning as his thoughts race.

As he takes off his shades, we see he's not yet looking at Aziraphale. He's looking more towards the window, and his eyes are looking a bit farther than the angle of his head. He could possibly be seeing the Metatron, but we can't be sure. Crowley is certainly no fool either, and it's certainly a very "Crowley-thing-to-do" to look out while his eyes are concealed. (Personally, I think there's a good chance he did, but I can't prove it, not yet.) But there's also a reasonable possibility that his mind is racing and he simply didn't focus on what his glance passed over. So far, it's inconclusive if Crowley knows.

Here's where we get absolute certainty, though, that Aziraphale is tracking the Metatron. He's looking directly out, at the same angle, same sight line. For a moment his face is, not exactly calm, but certain. (Michael Sheen you flippin' genius master of microexpressions!) The angel knows what he sees. It wasn't just coincidence or a random movement -- the Metatron is still there. He has taken up an observing position, likely for the duration.

Meanwhile, as Aziraphale is tracking through the window, and gesturing downward in what is usually a "slow down" or "quiet down" gesture, Crowley is looking directly at him. Opportunity #1 for Crowley to notice his Angel looking at a specific point outside.

Aziraphale then directly stops Crowley with, "Hold that thought!" and launches into his spiel.

Now, this next moment has already gotten a lot of notice and speculation. Azi makes what appears to be a "time out" gesture. He makes it repeatedly, and it's not one of his common anxious hand movements. We couldn't be sure if it's on purpose unless we're also sure that he knows the Metatron is watching. But we've seen that he does know (and will confirm it again several more times!) The hand that the Metatron can see is casually curved, but his hidden right hand is very purposely flat as it repeats the time-out movement.

Is it an unconscious gesture, to slow down his own anxiety or Crowley's urge to dive in? Or is it a purposeful signal? Based on his previous glance out the window, and the fact that he stops speaking as he makes it, it's logical to presume it's deliberate. But, if so, does Crowley catch the meaning yet?

As Aziraphale stammers and babbles, he again looks out the window. Same angle, same sight line. And Crowley is still directly looking at him. Opportunity #2 for Crowley to notice and catch on, if he hasn't yet.

And then Aziraphale looks out the window AGAIN. Opportunity #3 for Crowley to notice these glances. The angel's expression shifts (That flippin' nuance genius again!) from the anxious-fake-performance-smile (that we've identified here so often) to something more serious and real. Aziraphale is not just reacting. He's thinking. Processing.

His left hand stays pointed upwards. I can't prove if that's a signal, so let's leave it alone. However, that left hand does provide a bit of a distraction or barrier to the Metatron's sightline of Azi's right hand. As Our Angel mentions the Metatron, pronouncing the name with exaggerated slowness, his right hand is pointing in the general direction of the window. That hand wouldn't be completely hidden, so it makes sense that it's not a distinct pointing gesture that could catch the Metatron's attention. (Like the time-out gesture, I've seen this one analyzed before too. If I can find it again, I'll link it at the end!)

Then Aziraphale straight-out points outside with his left hand too! It could be a casual gesture towards the cafe where he and the Metatron spoke -- unless we're sure he sees the Metatron standing out there. He's looked at the same spot 3x. We can be sure.

It seems quite reaasonable at this point to presume, based on the looks and gestures, that Aziraphale is trying to make sure that Crowley also knows the Metatron is out there, watching and listening. All of the gestures can be considered ambiguous unless we are sure Azi knows. But each glance is the same angle, the same sight line. Aziraphale is looking directly at the Metatron each time he glances out.

There's a fourth glance, as well, when Azi says, "Gabriel obviously hadn't worked out." However, this one was mostly just with his eyes and harder to notice, so let's not even guess that Crowley caught that one! (I'm not even going to put that tiny glance in the tally!)

Now it's Crowley's turn. For the sake of being thorough, let's assume he's clueless up to now. Distracted and worried. We've seen him closely focusing on Aziraphale. He's absolutely seen Aziraphale look out the window 2 of the 3 noticable times so far, and the angel had slowed his speech and made hand gestures that aren't just anxious movements.

We get the fluttery-anxious Aziraphale speech about the "offer", and we see the flashbacks he's presumably recounting to Crowley. Our Beloved Demon meanwhile has been listening hard, head tipped down, constant eye contact, frowning in concentration.

When Crowley reacts to the "offer", he steps about halfway across the space between himself and Aziraphale. He paces in a circle and returns to his original spot. Look at the sightline in this screenshot...

Recall that he has definitely seen Aziraphale anxiously look out the window TWICE at the exact same angle. Now Crowley is also looking at that exact same spot. His head is up, his eyes are open and looking outward. It goes by quickly, and would have been a fast glance. But keep in mind, the Metatron is a distinct figure with white hair and beard and a trench coat, facing the street, unlike the people who are walking or seated in front of the shop. He's also standing near Muriel, who's a eye-catching figure dressed entirely in white.

A savvy and experienced on-his-own-side demon like Crowley, who had to stay very alert to survive hell and its demons for 6,000 years, should be able to easily spot him that quickly.

But lets speculate that he didn't... Maybe he's wondered what Aziraphale keeps looking at, but circled so quickly he didn't spot the Meta-Villain after all. What then?

ANOTHER confiming glance out the window by Aziraphale, that's what. "Heaven! It's the side of truth! Of light!" On the word "light", the angel looks at the Metatron again. Crowley Opportunity #4.

At this point, I find it impossible to think that Aziaphale is doing anything else than purposely trying to signal Crowley. He looked out at the Metatron while saying something we KNOW Aziraphale doesn't believe, "promotion opportunity" or not! Aziraphale Knows what heaven is like (I invite you to read this in detail here, please, if you have any doubts), they extinguish life, they beat him up (twice!), and far more.

Plus, we were shown this season that both Azi and Crowley are afraid of The Supreme Archangel Gabriel (and Azi witnessed Crowley's reaction). No guesswork, no deciphering of codes -- Aziraphale IS looking out the window to signal to Crowley that he's saying these things only because the Metatron is out there listening.

And... During the excruciating pause after Crowley says, "Tell me you said no..." We can see from behind that Aziraphale turns his head to look out the window at the Metatron once again. In this screenshot, we can't see Azi's right ear -- because his head is turned. He's not facing Crowley. Because of the camara work, we are meant to focus on Crowley. But watch the scene again. Watch Aziraphale.

At this point, I think Aziraphale is confused. (Forgive my speculation -- you know me by now! I can't resist at least a teeny tiny theory!). I think he's not entirely sure if Crowley is aware of the Metatron. With all those signals and glances, Crowley surely figured it out by now... But I think Crowley might not be saying the things Azi expected him to.

So, the question remains -- Does Crowley know the Metatron is watching and listening??

Now we get the answer.

Aziraphale, whom we have confirmed KNOWS THE METATRON IS OUT THERE and has been TRYING TO LET CROWLEY KNOW, said something else. "If I'm in charge, I can make a difference." He says it meaningfully, with a significant pause. It triggers something in Crowley. He responds, "Ohhhhh..." As if something incredibly important was said, some insightful realization. Crowley turns, thinks, then walks in another circle. (Remember, on the first lap, he did look out the window.).

The camara stays with Azi, not Crowley. But as we follow Aziraphale's gaze, as he tracks Crowley, we can see that Crowley circles the same way he did before, the same path, and is passing near the window. Again. Crowley saw Azi look out the window at least 3 times. Is Crowley now looking out again? After what we've seen, it's a very reasonable guess that he is.

When he returns to his "spot" in the sunbeam, he is processing. Sorting thoughts. Lots of "right", "okay", "yes", "so"...

When Crowley finally gets to, "...We're a team, a group," Aziraphale looks out the window again, every muscle in his face signaling nervous hypervigilance. It's Opportunity #5 -- and the fourth time he's looked directly out the window when Crowley clearly sees him do it.

Crowley is visibly breathing hard. We can practically see his mind racing to find the words, to choose exactly what he wants to say.

"...And I would like to spend-- " He cuts himself off with a growl.

Crowley then spends at least 2 full seconds staring out the window. Directly at that spot. The same spot Aziraphale keeps glancing at.

There's no possible way he didn't see the figure of the Metatron this time. Especially so near to where white-uniformed Muriel is sitting.

And his gaze goes directly to that angle. He's not scanning. He turned his head to a spot, held it, then looked back to Azi. Again, it's reasonable to conclude that it's because he saw the Metatron on his last pacing circle -- the one where the camara stayed on Azi.

At a minimum, we can be certain that Crowley was aware of the Metatron since when he said, "Right. Yes. So. We've known each other a long time..."

He might even have realized sooner.

Please scroll between this photo and the one above it, if you would. It's from the first time he circled 'round. He looked out, very quickly, at the exact same angle, during his "You're better than that... we certainly don't need them" rant. It's possible that he had already realized back then. Likely, even. But I can't prove that one with certainty.

We can safely say, however, that he knew with certainty that the Metatron was eavesdropping before he began, "We've known each other a long time... I could always rely on you. You could always rely on me..."

I promised I wouldn't analyze the dialogue for coded language, and I'll keep that promise. But I will ask you to consider what it could mean, if everything Crowley said from this point onwards was with the full knowledge that the Metatron was watching and listening...

*****

One more thing... a smaller thing...

When Crowley first heads for the door, and they both have relocated to the front of the bookshop, before The Kiss...

... As Aziraphale is saying, "We can be together... Angels! Doing Good!" Crowley isn't just staring into space.

If we follow his line of sight once again -- he's staring out at the front sidewalk of Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death. It's from a different angle, but I don't think his sightline is quite aimed at where the Metatron was, although it's hard to be certain.

Bear with me, please, on this one, because it has more speculation in it than what we've already proven. I think the Metatron relocated too. It would make sense that he'd move along the sidewalk to keep a clear view of the action within the bookshop. Crowley is looking at the front of the coffee shop, but doesn't see his Meta-Badness there. Through the front set of windows, Aziraphale has a better view. He glances out twice, at almost exactly the same angle, towards the cafe area where he first walked away from the Metatron.

Aziraphale first looks out the front windows when Crowley is pointing heavenward, saying, "Do you hear that?"

Azi then glances out again, with a more certain expression, immediately after responding, "I don't hear anything!" (All hail! the Michael Sheen microexpressions!)

This one is a bit more of a guess, but I thought it was worth adding in, considering how many meaningful window glances we're being given in the Final 15.

*****

From the very beginning of the Final 15, Aziraphale looks out the window repeatedly, always to the same spot, corresponding to where we last saw the Metatron. Aziraphale knew they were being monitored. (He was being monitored for compliance. And FRATERNIZING. With his FRIEND. Crowley was being monitored for potential interference in the Meta-Plan.)

Four of Aziraphale's (5) repeated glances were when Crowley was looking directly at him. Several were accompanied by meaningful gestures or significant word emphasis. Aziraphale was trying to make sure Crowley knew the Meta-Villain was eavesdropping.

Crowley paces in a circle twice, looking out the window at least once, likely both times. After the 2nd time, he looks out the window in a directly focused way to where the Metatron is known to be standing in plain sight, near Muriel🤍. Crowley stares at that spot more than two full seconds. Crowley knew from that point on (and very possibly sooner) that the Meta-Dictator was watching and listening to every word he said.

(And it's likely that the Metatron relocated to keep them well-supervised when they moved to the front of the shop, where "No Nightingales" and The Kiss occurred. And that they knew it.)

This has huge implications for how we look at the communication that was happening in the Final 15. Would we interpret it all the same way if we'd known from the beginning that they were aware of the Metatron listening in?

At the very least, we can let go of the mistaken idea that Aziraphale was happy to take this promotion... What could he do to keep them both safe, other than pretend to be excited?

*****

This scene breakdown was very long, and I really appreciate your patience (and obvious love of Our Ineffables!) in making it to the end!

If this made sense to you, I'd be grateful if you'd give it a like, and maybe a reblog to help spread the word. I think you'll definitely like Through the Window Part I, too.

And if you're interested in some Final 15 message-decoding, @azfell-ajcrowley did an incredible 3-part breakdown called Something we didn't notice that I really enjoyed when I first read it. Lots of good stuff in them! (I haven't looked at them in a long while, so I apologize if I duplicate anything in the window glances. I purposely wanted to focus here on simply those, to help streamline a set of proofs.)

I've also been building a case about the Final 15, step by step, in my ✨Moments That Matter✨series. The full list is in my Ineffable Believers pinned post, if you'd like to check out a few!

And @olemka and @crowleysgirl56 and @lookingatacupoftea and @taiga013 and @rada-76, and @makewayforbigcrossducks and @dalliancekay, you all were so lovely about it when I tagged you in Part I, I hope you don't mind if I tag you for Part II!😊 Folks, go check out these amazing bloggers too!

*****

Here's to Ineffable Devotion! 💞 Here's to GO3! 🖤🩶🤍