Crowley elected to ignore the comment.
The hint seemingly was taken as The Doctor swiftly aborted the prior line of conversation for something less uncomfortable and personal.
“So you did the wi-fi thing, but not the bloodbath downtown. That’s comforting, I suppose, but I still need to get to the bottom of that. It sounds like you care about Earth… It could be in danger and I could use your help.”
A bloodbath sounded like a distinctly human problem. It was natural for someone to assume that a demon might be responsible for nearby carnage, but anyone who knew humans knew that they never needed help when it came to finding ways to hurt one another. Crowley supposed whatever the disaster had been would be something he’d claim credit for down the line when Hell eventually found out. He’d been doing quite well for many thousands of years simply riding the wave of humanity’s own poor decision making.
“I’m an alien, in case you were wondering. A Time Lord. It’s how I’ve been around so long without knowing all the details. I told you, I come and go. And in my experience, every story has a grain of truth to it, but almost none of them get the details right. This one is turning out to be alarmingly accurate. I’m not sure what to make of that, but there are more pressing matters right now.”
“A ‘Time Lord’?” Crowley repeated the words with a frown.
“Not exactly very humble.” He muttered beneath his breath.
The Doctor made a motion inviting him to follow.
An unwilling pause stretched.
“I’m a demon.” Crowley reminded him pointedly, pacing back towards his only exit that the doctor was monopolizing.
“I’m not sure what part of that implies that I’ll be helpful.”
That being said, The Doctor had lacked the usual adverse reaction most had at the mere mention of the demonic.
Truthfully, Crowley was interested enough to be nosy- but if following this ‘alien’ was roping him into issues that were not of significant interest, then he wanted no part in it. Crowley glanced down towards his watch. A twinge reminded him of his commitments for later that evening.
The individual he would be meeting that evening would likely be quite upset with him if Crowley walked away from something that had, after all, been important to the Earth they called home. The demon dithered, hoping to maintain a nonchalant appearance still.
“If I come,” Crowley elected to humour The Doctor.
“…You’ll be owing me a favour.”
“Not exactly very humble.”
The Doctor rolled his eyes. It wouldn’t be the first time someone had called him on that. "I didn't pick the name it's just what we're called." He smirked. "Gallifreyan, if you prefer, but that's not entirely accurate anymore in my case. Anyway, it's beside the point."
"I'm a demon. Not sure what part of that implies that I'll be helpful."
At this, the Doctor grinned and pointed at Anthony enthusiastically. "You saved the world! And that makes you my kinda people. That's really all I need to know right now. Would you do it again?"
Perhaps he should be more concerned about this demon business, but he wasn’t really. If God was a tyrant and the end of the world was all part of the Plan, then it seemed entirely likely the demons were no more guilty than the angels. Maybe less so.
The Doctor thought of his own planet and how a difference of opinion could get you banished. No, demons didn’t worry him very much. Anyway, it was nothing he couldn’t handle these days. The closer he kept his new friend, the more answers he’d get. And he found himself needing a lot of them.
The demon glanced down at his watch, still clearly non-committal. The Doctor wondered if he really needed it. The angels were his creations after all. Unlike the humans, they came directly from him. Surely they could feel the passage of time, couldn't they? If not, then perhaps one day he'd show him how. Or perhaps Anthony has simply inherited his attitude problem. "Have I mentioned that it's probably aliens?" he goaded, hoping that would catch the demon's interest.
A thick brow arched in amusement. "Oh yeah? And what favor would that be? Or is it a surprise?"
