(inspired by this twitter post)
not 100% sure how we got here, but was talking about trying to relay that quote in the post ("you will always need to leave and i will never let you go.") to aziraphale and crowley, and i was told to post my thoughts on it on here
to aziraphale, crowley is the one who seems to need to leave. he has been trying to escape, from heaven and from their responsibilities and from the plan. crowley, in aziraphale's mind, is trying to escape, but aziraphale is clinging to both him and heaven, not wanting to let him go
to crowley, aziraphale is the one trying to leave. he's trying to abandon crowley, leave and go to heaven where crowley cannot follow, and all crowley can do is beg for him to stay and hope he isn't abandoned once again
but in reality, neither of them can see the truth of the situation because both of them are too clouded by their perceptions
crowley is incapable of returning to heaven, just as aziraphale is incapable of leaving
the bird tries to fly away, desperately wanting the dog to fly with him but not understanding that the dog does not have the wings to follow. the dog does not understand that the bird is waiting for him to follow, and all he perceives is the bird flying away from him as he struggles to make him stay
they are both in each role, equally the same yet more different than they can comprehend
