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Aziraphale finds out that a “Doctor Who look-alike” contest is being held. He does not care for the prize, he just wants Crowley to attend as the Tenth Doctor, because he is convinced his Crowley looks very similar to actor David Tennant.
It was a nice day in Soho with a clear sky and bright sunshine, so, naturally, it was the perfect day for a stroll in St. James’ Park and not for opening the bookshop. Aziraphale had spent the morning wandering around but now he was hungry and in need of a delicious lunch. Crowley had not been available for the morning walks in the last couple of days, he had decided to take a nap and Aziraphale knew how long the demon’s naps could be. So today, the angel was by himself, and good thing he happened to be alone because, while he was going to one of his favourite lunch spots, someone handed him a blue flyer. He usually did not pay much attention to the flyers he was given (unless they were about new restaurant/café/bar openings) but today, the flyer’s title captured his attention at once.
“Doctor Who look-alikes contest!!”
Aziraphale’s face brightened with excitement because, of course, he knew the perfect Tenth Doctor look-alike. His mind raced through all the details he would have to take care of for a perfect costume, but it was doable. He knew where to find the fabric for the suit and the trench coat, he would need to buy the sneakers, and maybe make the red-blue 3D cardboard frame glasses… He would also need to convince Crowley to take part in the contest. His smile faded slowly, and his face got a thoughtful look, maybe that was going to be the tricky part. Well, he would deal with that later. Now, it was time for lunch.
Back in the bookshop, Aziraphale was tempted to ring Crowley to communicate his brilliant idea, but he decided against it. First of all, if you love someone, you should let them sleep. Also, Crowley did not like to be woken up, and he needed the demon in the best possible mood to discuss the idea with him. Then, he spent the afternoon making a list of things he would need to make the costume and other relevant accessories. After dinner, he looked at the phone thinking of Crowley, but he restrained himself from calling the demon. He took a book and got lost reading.
Aziraphale spent the next morning doing errands for the “Tenth Doctor look-alike project” and after lunch, when there was nothing left to do, he opened the bookshop to pass the time while Crowley woke up. They still had some time, the contest was in a couple of weeks, so he was not too worried about the nap taking too long… or that told himself to hide the nervousness of convincing Crowley to take part in the project. Two or three customers came and went with empty hands, and after a while, Aziraphale got tired of having people in the bookshop, so he closed it and worked on book restoration. He had just sat at his desk when he heard the familiar roaring motor of the Bentley. His face brightened with a happy smile. He looked through the window to see Crowley closing the car’s door and walking to the bookshop. It was time to convince Crowley. The angel put his most charming smile and went to open the door that had been just knocked.
“Ah, you are awake, dear. It’s good to see you again. I was not expecting you this early. Do you fancy dinner?” said Aziraphale as he opened the door to let Crowley enter the bookshop and trying his best to put an innocent cherubic face.
“What do you need me for?” answered Crowley as he made his way to the familiar couch at the back of the shop. He was not mad; he just wasn’t pleased to have woken up early
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, dear. A glass of wine, maybe?” offered Azirapahle, dodging the direct question
“Angel, I’ve been feeling your anxiety for a couple of days, that’s what woke me up. I know you are dying to tell me something, what is it?” said a sprawled Crowley, taking his sunglasses off.
“A glass of red, it is then” Aziraphale turned to the table next to him, which miraculously happened to have a bottle of red wine and served a couple of glasses, while Crowley watched him, waiting for an answer.
“Umm, well. You see, there is a project which I think you are a perfect fit for…”
“No.” Cut Crowley taking the glass of wine Aziraphale was handing him
“But I haven’t told you what the project is about!”
“Yeah, but it is a human project. You know I am not very comfortable among a bunch of humans”
“But it will be fun, Crowley!”
“Fun for who, Angel? You or me?”
“For both of us. I’ll get to do some tailoring for you, and you will shine, everyone will see how dashing you are,” said Aziraphale and sipped a bit of wine.
Crowley raised his brow in complete incredulity, but Aziraphale knew this was his cue to keep on talking.
“There's a Doctor Who look-alike contest in a couple of weeks time and, since you happen to resemble the Tenth Doctor, I thought you should participate in it.” Aziraphale said, beaming excitement. There it was, the angel had stated his plan.
Crowley drank some wine. “Seriously, Angel. I don’t resemble that bloke… and, in any case, he looks like me, not the other way around. What’s the prize? Is it some collector’s memorabilia? Or maybe some printed material? Anyway, why are you interested in the contest?” And the demon drank some more wine
“Oh, I am not interested in the prize in the very least, I just thought it could be fun.”
Crowley groaned, Aziraphale’s worst ideas came just for fun, like learning French or being an amateur magician.
“I have already bought the fabric to make an accurate costume,” said Aziraphale after sipping a bit of wine, trying to sound as casual as he could. “I just need to take your measurements” he added, looking appraisingly, almost hungrily, at Crowley. The demon held the angel’s stare for a moment. Then, both of them, realising that time kept running, returned to their discussion.
“Nah. Ten doesn’t have good taste in clothing, he always looks so shabby.” Said the redhaired making a disapproval face. “I could try Twelve, if you like. At least he is more elegant, with his dark blue trousers, the waistcoat, and the coat with red lining, that’s my thing, you know, we could even make the trouser black and maybe no one will notice. I could even go for the magnificent maroon velvet coat.” Offered the demon.
“But it is not a cosplay contest, Crowley! It is a look-alike contest, and you do not resemble Peter Capaldi at all!” retorted the angel. “You’re not that handsome” he added teasingly.
For a moment, Crowley was shocked and then a surprised “Wot?!” came out from his lips. But Aziraphale dismissed this question.
“Doesn’t matter,” said the angel. “My point is… my point is that… we’ve been out of things to do for our respective head offices and we, I mean, I… I thought we could do something fun together, to pass the time, that’s all” he added and then huffed, feeling a bit defeated.
An even more surprised “WOT?!” was exclaimed, but not because Crowley didn’t want the same; it was because the angel had never acknowledged so openly the desire to do anything together. They were always having lunch, dinner, or some drinks together. Crowley was very used to spend an indeterminate amount of time at the bookshop lounging around the angel… but it was always an unspoken agreement. Whenever they have watched a play together, it had been because Aziraphale had let the demon know in advance the date and time of such play, and then Crowley would casually appear at the same time, to do some evil wiles, like disconnecting all the cell phone lines of the attendees during the play (except the emergency lines). But while at it, he knew the seat to the left of the angel would always be miraculously available.
“Sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking” answered rapidly Aziraphale, shrugging off what he had just said.
“No, Angel… I just wasn’t expecting…” started Crowley but didn’t know how to continue. He thought of the times after watching a particularly good film and wanting to discuss it with Aziraphale, but the angel wasn’t there, because Crowley never invited him because of the limits the angel had imposed on themselves. Maybe it was time to openly start doing things together on Earth, simple things, theatre, movies, taking part in silly contests…
“Okay, okay. I’ll do it.” Conceded Crowley.
The angel’s face lighted up so brightly that the room felt warmer and more illuminated.
“On one condition, or maybe two.” Continued the demon. “I am not dyeing my hair; I’ll be a red-headed Tenth Doctor. And I am keeping the glasses, is that clear?”
Aziraphale nodded effusively. He knew that it was all that he would get.
* * *
So, here he was, standing in a stage along four other finalists that were interesting alternatives versions of the Tenth Doctor, all different and special in their own particular way, but somehow also very similar. To get there, all participants had provided some pics which have been uploaded to the fan-run website of the event. The public had voted for the ones who were most similar to each one of the Doctors and, to Crowley’s disappointment, he had been shortlisted for Ten with no miracles or demonic interventions involved.
The final of the contest consisted of some questions being asked to the participants and the public voting for various categories, which included, the accuracy of the costume, the wittiest answers, and the actual physical resemblance. Aziraphale was counting on winning just based on the excellent quality of the costume he had tailored and the physical resemblance of Crowley to Ten, hair style and all (although he was still red-haired and wearing his sunglasses). Truth to be said, the angel doubted Crowley could give the best answers. Still, he had promised himself not to use any celestial help. That would surely count as a superfluous miracle.
Crowley was the second contestant to be questioned.
“Our next participant is Anthony J. Crowley!” exclaimed the presenter of the session, who was a lively young man around his late twenties. Crowley waved calmly and before the presenter could say anything else, he made a gesture with the hand to ask for a moment and turned around. Aziraphale saw that Crowley had taken something out of his pocket. Crowley took his time, but he was clearly changing his glasses. A murmur filled the room, and when he turned to face the public again, he was wearing red and blue 3D glasses. Everyone laughed and applauded, and Aziraphale smiled, he was sure Crowley had just cheekily winked at him.
“Hello, I’m the Doctor” said Crowley in the most Tenth-Doctor way he managed, and the public was loving him.
“Isn’t that THE David Tennant?” Aziraphale heard some people comment just behind him.
“Yeah, he looks a lot like him! The accent is different, though”
“True, also David has not been seen with his hair dyed” another one replied.
“Yeah, but look at him, he’s the same height and the same constitution, he may be the real thing.”
“You think so?”
“Okay! That was a very good start, Crowley! Now, let’s get to a couple of questions.” The presenter made a pause to let the applause of the public die. “The first one is: if you could use the TARDIS, where would you visit in the whole universe?”
Aziraphale wasn’t paying much attention to the stage. He had realised that people in the public were getting too excited about the prospect of having the real David Tennant in the contest.
“You know, there are rumours of him coming back to the show, maybe this is some kind of publicity strategy!”
But the angel didn’t get the gossip about Doctor Who rumours, as Crowley’s answer to the question was way too familiar to him, almost an in-joke.
“… Alpha Centauri, never been there, and they have great weather this time of the year.” Many people laughed at the ridiculous comment, but Aziraphale knew that, although teasingly, that answer was meant for him.
“Okay! You seem to have given a serious thought about where you would be going on a vacation, eh? But now, we would like to know, would you travel to the future, or would you rather revisit the past?”
“Not the past, it was boring, especially the 14th century! I think I’d go to the future, I’d love to see what witty inventions you Humans are going to create.”
“Us, Humans? You are really into the role, Crowley! We love that!” The presenter let the public cheer happily and Crowley just made an affirmative movement.
Aziraphale’s attention then turned to some people who were planning to go and talk to Crowley after the contest, to prove that he actually was David Tennant. Maybe Crowley would not like to be swarmed by an excited bunch of DT’s fans.
“I am terribly sorry to interrupt your discussion, but that is not David Tennant, I am afraid. That is Crowley, just a regular… being.” The people seemed confused at first due to Aziraphale’s interruption and, then some of them looked disappointed. But humans would not be humans if they didn’t have doubts.
“How do you know?” questioned an incredulous young man.
Aziraphale huffed lightly, “Well, he’s with me… I mean, he came to the contest because I suggested it! I, myself, tailored the costume” added the angel proudly.
“But how is he the same height and complexion?” inquired a smart girl. “I met David once at a convention. I’m pretty sure your Crowley there looks a lot like him”
“Oh, but the accent is different, is it not?” replied the angel
“Yeah, but David is well-known for his ability to change his accent, as required” offered the first incredulous man. Some hummed in agreement.
“Well, my Crowley, definitely is more handsome than that DT!” said Aziraphale exasperated.
Everyone but Aziraphale laughed at this, it was true to Aziraphale, but not for all the others.
And so, the angel had to spend the next twenty minutes telling people that Crowley was in fact not DT. He missed when the winner was announced, and it was not Crowley.
“That was terribly unfair. I think you should have won!” protested Aziraphale.
“Oh, come on, Angel. Let the Humans have their fun. Also, I think this defeat undeniably shows that I do not look like that bloke Tennant at all!”
“Oh!” exclaimed the angel. “You do resemble him a lot, people were thinking that you were the real thing. I had to correct them.”
“Did you?” asked the demon laughing. “What did you tell them?”
“Oh, nothing worth mentioning, dear” lied Aziraphale. Crowley glanced at him, smiling.
Nothing bad had happened that day. No one had realised they were fraternising. Aziraphale was smiling widely. They could get used to this, right? Maybe, someday they even would visit Alpha Centauri, he considered.