Aziraphale still felt red around the ears, so he drank again. "I'm not actually offended," he confessed, "not really. I just find it curious, the give and take of it all. Perhaps it comes more naturally to others, or perhaps - lack of practice."

He was reminded of Crowley (who was crueler than Owen, who would still be laughing at him, and who would almost certainly bring it up later). "I've been told," he mused, "that I should - what was it? - 'chill out'." The last two words were enunciated precisely. As he felt silly saying them, he drank again.