This is my K/S Spring Fever 2023 entry! You can find the work on AO3!!! Do not forget to check the complete collection!! It's filled with soooo many good works! And I am glad I managed to get this work in time!
The Alpha Centauri and Nightingales: Why do I think that Good Omens finale works
You should know by now that the Alpha Centauri system consists of two stars, orbiting so close to eachother that it was assumed for decades it was just one star. They are orbiting, but they never touch — they are stars, after all. Stars can't be too close.
Regarding the plot
I will insist that from a dramaturgical point of view, the ending is logical, and, mainly it feels right. Major story arcs have been started — Heaven and Hell, God and humanity, the all-time duet of Aziraphale&Crowley against the antics of the universe, and the most important — God's ineffable plan. The stakes were too high. You wouldn't leave it hanging if you were a writer just for the sake of a cozy ending, would you? (Oh, I know you would, you.) It may feel a little rushed, but c'mon, 99 minutes? They were used to the fullest — and the style of storytelling in the first season was pretty much the same.
Was it all in vain?
Hell, no. Why on Earth would you say that? For Heaven's sake. Just because something has come to an end, does not lessen the meaning of it's existence. Just because there is no eternal yaoi, does not mean that all of Azicrow development was pointless. It's still them. Everything in this world comes with its allotted time, and it would be rather foolish to not acknowledge that it was there even if you don't have it anymore, otherwise, what's the point of everything?
Why couldn't they just stay together?
What makes you think that they're not? Well, it's not the angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley anymore, right? Although-
First of all, a vast part of GO fandom treats A&C as human characters — which they're certainly not. A habit of a human brain, it is. You see something human shaped and it clicks — well, that thing might be human as well! My point, though, is that you should remember them as supernatural, ethereal (or occult) beings, for whom a human body is merely a funny costume to fit in. Interpreting their actions from a human's point of view will not work — the way they think, feel, what kind of affection matters to them, despite the fact that they actively sought to assimilate on Earth. But do you know what distinguishes A&C from humans the most?
Free will, ladies and gentlemen!
This is stated in the movie in plain text (by Crowley) — just humans have it. Angels and demons are known for being created with a purpose, and not that the said purpose can be ditched so easily. That's what they struggle with throughout the story — being assigned a purpose they don't want to fullfill. And they were, for the first time, given a choice — what do you want, God's creatures? Mere curiousity of Hers. And the second they were really given a choice, they chose their fate. Now they are fully left to themselves and free to do whatever. Marry, hug, kiss, and many other things they've been depicted to do in thousands of fanworks.
Besides, I don't think that God would have fulfilled just any request of theirs. It was pure gambling — all depending on if She will find it amusing enough to give it a go. Otherwise, A&C simply would've been erased to start over, just as planned. The void bookshop scene has strong Master and Margarita vibes, too. Thus, if you decide to play with an ineffable force, don't expect it to indulge.
Why didn't Azi properly kiss Crowley back?
Again, Aziraphale and Crowley are not humans. The meaning that a kiss holds to us would not mean the same to them — you have to be made of flesh for tactile romance to be a remarkable experience. They are not actually material, so no big difference how exactly they touched, it's the background each concious action has. THE kiss was more of a desperate way to get angel's atrention, hold him back somehow. That scene does not determine them as lovers — the nightingale scenes do. But if we are to analyse what Aziraphale gave in response, we're ought to keep in mind two things. Firstly, by Christian dogmas (I would determine the source as Christian, because Good Omens, obviously, consists of mostly biblical figures and events, from both Old and New Testaments), love is associated with mercy, which is usually tied to forgiving people. Basically, if you love someome, you will forgive them anything. In this context, "I forgive you" can as well be a variation of "I love you", especially for divine creatures.
Secondly, the mouth-fingers-touch kiss. It's a gesture used for blessings. Aziraphale blessed Crowley, before, as they thought, they were seeing eachother for the last time. When you bless someone, you not only wish them wellbeing, you ask God for mercy for this person. And mercy is the thing that a sinner, not quite fallen, rather sauntered vaguely downward, needs the most.
I just wanted a happy ending for them
Two old married men, sitting close together, stargazing with a cup of hot cocoa each. If that you won't call a happy ending, I don't know what you will. A nice scene, really. Just the right amount of sappy. That is what they both ever wished for. The human nature, yes. Let me explain.
You may have wanted A&C to ditch everything, Heaven and Hell, God, even, and live to their satisfaction somewhere where no one would bother them. Or something similar. Oh well. This goes against all their previous efforts, all of them. For what reason did they fuss over stopping Armageddon in the book and S1? For what did Aziraphale rush back to the head office to plan the Second Coming? For what did Crowley ask God the reason She made humans the way she did? Because they love Earth and humanity, they have not spent 6000 years there for nothing. The love humans. They love you. They wished for that world for you. They're angels, doesn't matter, formerly or currently, and angels love humanity, that is in their core.
Back to Alpha Centauri metaphor — stars don't touch. Humans do. Divine creatures, made with purpose, don't have free will. Humans do. An angel and a demon can't be free from the impact of higher forces, that's what they are struggling for through the story, you know? Humans can. No one watches over them anymore, thinking of yet another punishment. They adore being humans, I think. And it's undoubtedly them. Souls are immortal, at least in the setting where souls exist. Suggesting they did it differently means tossing all their wants and beliefs in vain, which is blatant disrespect, to be honest, to both Crowley and Aziraphale, their efforts, their relationship, and Neil Gaiman with Terry Pratchett who wrote them this way.
They are happy to live a human life. Happier than ever. Think of if as retirement — no obligations, no divine pressure, just life. I would imagine that it's what all millions years old creatures wish for.
"I have the universe and I have you. I don't need anything else."
This is pretty much my take because you know damn well celestial pressures would never let them just Be the way they actually wanted forever, or leave humanity alone.
Also imo souls are forever, especially because we don't see only these two- what's to say that Aziraphale and Crowley don't meet up once every afterlife to go around again? There's no rules against that.
every year around late may, without fail, this post starts getting notes again . and my little wet raw chicken breast of a brain gets puzzled. because i forget that summer is , in fact. a yearly event
"You love him don't you?" Wayne whispers, breathy, quiet, his voice cracking around the edges of something that feels like raw emotion.
It's then that Eddie turns his gaze away from Steve to look at him, the light never fading from his eyes and the smile never wiping from his face.
Steve's sitting on the trailer floor, in the middle of the living room, Eddie's clothes hanging from his body as he flips through one of Eddie's many monster manuals. Wayne knows the boy would never admit it, but he's just as interested in D&D as the other kids. He's helping Eddie plan his next campaign for christ sake.
Next to Wayne, two cans of coke in hand and a love struck smile on his face, Eddie nods, his cheeks darkening as his smile ever so slightly fades. "Is that okay?" He asks, looking all the bit nervous as his eyes roam Wayne's face.
"More than okay Son."
Eddie's smile brightens once again and if Wayne notices the small amount of tears welling in his eyes, he says nothing about.
"You ever going to tell him?" Wayne continues, nodding in Steve's direction, the boy still oblivious to the conversation being whispered behind his back.
"I don't know if I can."
Wayne says nothing to Eddie's reply as he watches the boy return to the living room where he sits down next to his best friend. Steve smiling bright as the sun upon Eddie's return.
Months go by and Wayne gets to watch as Steve falls too. It's there and so obvious to anyone but Eddie.
His eyes linger and his smile never fades. Soon Wayne sees as he sits a little closer and his cheeks grow a little darker.
There's moments when Wayne catches what he can only describe as a love struck expression across Steve's face. Eddie's talking, because when is he not, and Steve's there, eyes wide and locked onto Eddie's ever changing expression.
He looks fond. Fond in a way Wayne's never seen anyone look at his nephew.
There's moments when he sees Steve hesitant. Moments when he and Eddie are so close and Steve's hand twitches like it wants to reach out. Moments when Steve looks like he wants to lean in but bites his lip and turns away with rosy cheeks.
It's nearly a year into their friendship when Steve's standing at Wayne's side and whispers, "I think I love him."
"Tell him," Wayne answers easily, leaving out the 'please' he so desperately wants to tack onto the end of that sentence.
Please, he thinks again as he watches Eddie turn to face them from across the yard, a smile so beautiful Wayne thinks it's the first time he's seen it on Eddie's face. The boy's elbow deep in his van as his cheeks grow a little pinker as he says with a smile, "Stevie come here for a sec."
Steve leaves, but not before whispering back to Wayne, "I think I will."
No more than a week later Wayne comes home to find the boys on the couch, Steve sleeping and curled into Eddie's side, snoring with his nose pressed to Eddie's neck.
Wayne offers his boy a smile as he stirs from the sound of the door closing. He looks tired, arms tightening around Steve's waist as he smiles back and burrows closer, kissing the top of Steve's head before drifting back off.
"He loves me," Eddie says one evening, weeks down the road, a rare occasion when Steve isn't over and Eddie's actually home.
Wayne smiles, his heart so warm and full as he says, "I know."
Steve's been over for a few weeks now. Part of Wayne's convinced he's moved in, what with the new additions to their fridge and bathroom vanity. The idea doesn't upset him in the least.
He's gotten to witness their love grow during that time anyway.
He's gotten to witness the way Steve kisses a grumpy Eddie good morning until he finally smiles.
Or the way Eddie lights up when Steve's arms wrap around his waist and he whispers an "I love you Eds," that Wayne isn't sure if he's supposed to hear.
Or the way they giggle and kiss and love one another in such a beautiful and uninhibited way.
Granted too, sometimes that means Wayne's hears a bit too much. Eddie would be mortified to know there's been far too many occasions in which Wayne's had to leave the trailer to escape the gasping breaths that occasionally pour out from under his bedroom door.
Though this time, Wayne's inside as the boys are on the roof smoking and he thanks the lord above that all he can hear are the faintest of whispers.
There's only parts of the conversation that he catches, but his heart swells when he hears Eddie's voice so clearly say, "I'm gonna marry you someday Steve Harrington."
Wayne cries the day Eddie shows him the ring.
And cries even harder when Steve shows him his.
Steve's hand is shaking where the single golden band lies on his ring finger, Eddie standing directly behind him, arm around his waist with a smile that matches Steve's in the way it resembles Sunshine.
They can't marry, not legally anyways. But that doesn't stop Jim Hopper from officiating a ceremony or Joyce Byers from walking Steve down the aisle.
The backyard to Hoppers cabin is filled with faces Wayne has grown familiar with over the years. Young and old, smiling and crying all the same.
Dustin and Robin both write speeches, both as rambling and as funny as they are beautifully heart wrenching.
There's not a dry eye in the house.
The boys move into an apartment where they build a life together.
Wayne visits often for meals or a cup of coffee in the mornings, still delighting in the way his Eddie seems so wonderfully overcome with love and affection.
He'd thought he'd shed enough tears for his lifetime at the wedding, but one evening, sat at the table with Robin Buckley and his boys, Wayne finds out he's gonna be a grandpa.
Steve would be the first to admit, it’s a dumb habit.
Something he picked up over a decade ago, when his friendship with Tommy and Carol was still new. He didn’t believe the superstition … but it was hard not to.
“You know apples know who you’re gonna marry,” Carol said over lunch one day.
Steve looked up from his meatloaf. It seemed a little silly to believe, but he believed in love at first sight, so why wouldn’t he believe that apples could hold a truth like that?
Tommy, on the other hand, didn’t believe it. He wrinkled his nose, “No they don’t!”
“Yes they do!” Carol huffed. “My sister told me so. You twist the stem and after each twist, you say a letter of the alphabet, and when it pops off, that’s the first letter of the person’s name you’re gonna marry!”
“That’s not true,” Tommy said. “You’re making that up.”
Carol frowned. “Fine! Don’t believe me.” She picked up her lunch tray and moved tables, sitting next to Heather and Tina.
“That’s totally fake,” Tommy said.
“Right,” Steve agreed.
They sat in silence.
They both picked up their apples, twisting off the stems.
Tommy’s stem came off after three twists.
Steve’s came off after five.
All of fourth grade, Steve tried to figure it out. Could it be Emily or Elizabeth? Eleanor was a grade above him, and Emma was a grade below. He tried to figure it out, maybe even had a playground kiss or two, but nothing came out of his apple stem.
Maybe he did it wrong.
So it became a habit.
Any time he had an apple, he twisted the stem off, quietly reciting the alphabet until it came off.
Eventually, he forgot why he did it. Forgot to keep track of the letter he stopped on before taking a bite.
“Why do you do that?” Robin asked one day at Scoops Ahoy. “The alphabet thing.”
“Oh,” Steve looked at the stem pinched between his fingers. The reason was on the tip of his tongue, but he knew once he said it, Robin would find a reason to add another tally. He took a bite. “I don’t know actually.”
Robin frowned. “Don’t talk with your mouth full, caveman.”
Steve shrugged his shoulders, taking another bite of his apple. Robin dropped it, never asking Steve again.
But after Starcourt “burned” down, Robin picked up the habit too.
Reciting the alphabet as she twisted off the stem. She’d make it halfway through the alphabet before her stem would come off.
Steve’s stems never held on that strong.
Steve twisted the stem of his Granny Smith apple, the alphabet barely a whisper as the stem fell off.
“Is there a rhyme or reason for that?” Eddie asked. “Removing the stem like that?”
“Nope,” Robin said as she threw her stem towards Eddie. “It’s like playing with your food before you eat it.”
“With letters?” Eddie asked.
“Yeah,” Robin said. “I got to N. Steve hardly ever gets past E.”
Steve’s head shot up.
E.
It’s such a habit, he didn’t realize what letter he stopped on.
He turned to face Eddie and —
Yeah.
That felt right.
Eddie felt right.
“It’s a soulmate thing,” Steve blurted out, not realizing he was interrupting whatever conversation Robin and Eddie were having. “A — soulmate. Yeah. You — uh — twist the stem. And whatever letter you land on is the person you’re supposed to marry.”
The three of them sat in silence, the stem pinched between Steve’s fingers as the center point of attention.
He lifted it up for emphasis.
“E,” he said. “It landed on E. Always landed on E.”
Eddie’s expression was unreadable.
Maybe, Steve was wrong —
Eddie leaped halfway onto the kitchen island, yanking an apple from the fruit center piece and started to twist the stem.
“What are you doing?” Robin asked, exasperated by his antics. “Did you just miss what Steve said?”
“Yes Robin, I heard exactly what he said.”
Robin wrinkled her brow.
“Shouldn’t you be jumping for joy? Or you know, kissing him?”
Eddie raised the apple in his hands. “I gotta get to the letter S, give me a second.”
Steve found himself grinning over Eddie. A silly habit of picking apple stems actually paid off.
— A Red Dwarf masterpost of all the download links, websites and resources for Dwarfers I could find! Not an exhaustive list I'm sure, but pretty smegging close. All that good stuff under the cut. Enjoy!
Contents:
Episodes
Novels
Cast Books
Clips, Scripts, Commentary, Docs, Smeg-Ups and Other Extras
Red Dwarf Radio Shows
Smegazine
Web Comics
Other Sites and Resources
1. Episodes:
Series 1 - 12 + The Promised Land (Torrent, cloudtorrents)
Series 1 - 12 (Torrent, 1337x)
Series 1 - 8 (Internet Archive)
Series 1 - 8 Bodysnatcher Collection* (Internet Archive)
The Promised Land (Torrent, 1337x)
*Unseen episode 'Bodysnatcher', the lost episode of Red Dwarf I, storyboard episode performed by Chris Barrie, Red Dwarf's opening episode before the reshoots, commentaries by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor.
2. Novels:
Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers (#1)
Internet Archive
Ocean of PDF
Audiobook (YouTube)
Better Than Life (#2)
Internet Archive
Ocean of PDF
Audiobook (YouTube)
Last Human (#3)
Internet Archive
Ocean of PDF
Audiobook (YouTube)
Backwards (#4)
Internet Archive
Ocean of PDF
Audiobook (YouTube)
Red Dwarf Omnibus
Internet Archive
3. Cast Books:
The Log: A Dwarfer’s Guide to Everything (Craig Charles)
Internet Archive
Audiobook (YouTube)
The Man in the Rubber Mask: The Inside Smegging Story of Red Dwarf (Robert Llewellyn)
Internet Archive
Ocean of PDF
Audiobook (YouTube)
4. Clips, Scripts, Commentary, Docs, Smeg-Ups and Other Extras:
Red Dwarf Extras on the Internet Archive
YouTube channels with lots of Red Dwarf extras and clips:
Ace Rimmer (Holly Hop Drive 7)
Duane Dibbley (duke of dork)
Talkie Toaster
Flibbles Lair (+ extra videos on their site)
Scripts:
Primordial Soup - The Least Worst Scripts (book) by Grant Naylor on the Internet Archive
Series 1 - 8 on ladyofthecake.com
Series 1 - 12 on springfieldspringfield
Red Dwarf Programme Guide (book) by Chris Howarth on the Internet Archive
5. Red Dwarf Radio Shows
Episodic format of the first 2 audiobooks (Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers, Better Than Life). Read by Chris Barrie and features sound effects and music. Available on YouTube, courtesy of Ace Rimmer (Holly Hop Drive 7).
6. Red Dwarf Magazine / Smegazine
Available on Internet Archive and ReadComicManga. G&T also have a catalogue on their website. The Red Dwarf Magazine - the magazine part of the title changed to 'Smegazine' from issue three - was launched in 1992 by Fleetway Editions. It comprised of a mix of news, reviews, interviews, comic strips and competitions. The comic strips featured episode adaptations and original material, including further stories of popular characters like the Polymorph and Ace Rimmer.
7. Web Comics
Official: Prelude to Nanarchy (reddwarf.info, PDF), also available on the Internet Archive.
Fan comics by Kris Carter: Scoop Of The Century and Songs In The Key Of Files (DeviantArt)
8. Other Sites and Resources:
Tongue Tied - The Red Dwarf Wiki
The Fandom Wiki for Red Dwarf.
The Smegadrive
Frame-by-frame episodes of the entire show with the ability to search by dialogue or episode, make gifs, and edit captions. Run by Ganymede & Titan.
Ganymede & Titan
Fansite launched in 1999 — for news, features, reviews, and forum. Purchase a copy of their book The Garbage Pod, a collection of fan writing from 2003 - 2011.
TORDFC
The home of The Official Red Dwarf Fan Club, established in 1990 and organisers of the Dimension Jump conventions.
stasis-leak
A collection of scanned and archived magazine articles.
reddwarf.info
A fan maintained archive of reddwarf.co.uk - The Official Red Dwarf Website. The archive has been recreated from the Wayback Machine and anything that is still accessible from reddwarf.co.uk, but some images or whole sections are still missing.
Spaces Corps Database
Your complete guide to the characters, ships, gadgets and, erm, diseases in Red Dwarf.
Red Dwarf Props
A long-time fan's private collection of Red Dwarf props.
Red Dwarf Soundboard
A collection of fun sound bytes from the show.
Smeg and the Femmes Podcast
A longtime fan of "Red Dwarf" chats to other female and LGBT+ fans about the appeal of the show as she reviews it episode by episode. Created and hosted by @janamelie.
theartofmadeline
kaledo-art
tangentwithtanner
janainaart
dededos
origamiaround
germansingergirl
baratheonpilled
