#muriel is a cinnamon roll

[2apples-tall]

a short blurb about what Muriel did and discovered being left on their own

The first thing Muriel did, finding out they would be staying on Earth, was throw out that Inspector Constable costume.

Maggie and Nina had both provided a list of shops, mostly thrift or antique places, for Muriel to look for clothes that fit them and wouldn’t get weird looks walking down the street. Muriel went to each shop on the list in the order they had been written down and loved each shop.

Muriel discovered many loves the first few weeks on Earth, they loved the smell of old books and dust and loved the smell of things called cinnamon and cloves that Aziraphale had left in the kitchen. They loved thick wool socks and warm sweaters. And Muriel really really loved any small cute thing they could get their hands on. Small trinkets had become Muriel’s forbidden fruit.

Muriel, in choosing their own clothes, had stuck to mostly light colors but branched out to darker browns and very occasionally pale yellow. They had taken to wearing a small watch on their wrist, which had taken a while to get working and then used to reading. But it helped immensely in tracking the obscure opening and closing times listed on the shop’s door.

Muriel found lots and lots of baking supplies in the kitchen and found quite a few books about baking in the shop, so they found out they loved to bake. Muriel was still hesitant about eating their baked goods so they carefully wrapped any bread, cookies, brownies, or cakes they had made and delivered them to Nina, Maggie, Mrs. Sandwich, and any customers that wandered into the shop.

Muriel found flowers growing outside in small boxes and small fluffy creatures floating around them that they later looked up and found to be bumblebees. Muriel really loved the bumblebees, they were adorable as they floated around and bumped lazily into flowers. Muriel and done a bit of reading about flowers and found out all they needed to live (and they were alive!) was water and sunlight, so they picked some carefully and put them in a mug in the window in hopes to invite some of the bees inside. They never came and the flowers died by the end of the week, but always the optimist, Muriel replaced the flowers ever week and discovered they quite liked the routine of it.

The best thing Muriel has found was an old dusty violin, tucked back in the corner of their favorite antique shop. Muriel asked the shop owner what it was and it was fairly cheep so they bought it. Muriel read about violins and stringed instruments and orchestras, learning as much as possible about the instrument before trying to play it. Aziraphale had some sheet music in folders on a shelf towards the back of the shop and Maggie had given them some newer music as well. Muriel was hesitant the first try, it was very different from a harp, but took to playing fantastically and would play for days at a time completely forgetting to open the shop. They loved this small instrument and the beautiful sound they were able to make. The smooth wood and firm bow felt wonderful in their hands as they played their way through all of the sheet music they had collected.

Muriel loved being on Earth and it wasn’t hard at all for them to understand why Aziraphale and Crowley had risked existence to stop armageddon years ago. Muriel wondered if they would ever understand why they risked existence for each other, but hoped that was something that came with time and they were plenty happy to enjoy baking and playing their violin for now.

[zwod]

i thought i would share "good doughmens" with you all

[sazzyfics]

Happy Holidays, have some fluff.

[sentientsky]

the good omens hyperfixation Will Not Leave. these idiots are just inhabiting my brain every second of every day. i keep slapping their sticky little hands away from my prefrontal cortex ‘cause i need to focus on something other than these pathetic gay old men (men said in a “gender-neutral, supernatural entities that exist beyond human comprehension” way) and they just Keep! Coming! Back!!

neil gaiman i am in your walls and i am Weeping™️

[ineffablenlghtingales]

You know, now I find myself very, very tempted to write Eric and Muriel. Ineffable Interns is suddenly a very appealing idea for me. I feel like they'd be so fun to write together, the two of them.

[azirafuck]

muriel looks like the most precious being ever created, ray of sunshine, blood type B+, will cuddle and will cuddle you back, but I do be kind of hoping for them to go. batshit crazy

[schrodingers-intelligence]

Yes, Aziraphale and Crowley are my parents

Yes, Aziraphale and Crowley are also my children whom I will most definitely defend with my life

Muriel is also my child. I’ve adopted them

This just out, I’ve just adopted all of the Good Omens characters

Except Metatron. Never Metatron.

[deadthingposting]

The only character to deserve the title of fandom smol Bean is muriel from Good Omens. End of the discussion, they are literally just a smol bean by definition

[punkcornzero]

Can I say that I only listened to Muriel for about three minutes without even seeing her face and, still, I can affirm that they have my heart?

Muriel, you have my heart

[Edit: I wasn't sure about Muriel's pronouns]

[juniperu]

So, I'm replaying The Arcana BUT it's my first time in Muriel's Route (idk who I played first but I only played Asra and Julian routes AND i don't remember almost anything) and now I see this shit. I'm gonna hurt Lucio so bad, wait for me you little piece of shit (NO ONE threatens Asra and leaves unharmed).

[clairedelune-13]

Biggest sin is Metatron calling Muriel “The Dim One” to their face. Like wtf, dick?

It’s Muriel! Engrave that name into your thick floating head!

[beckelliesden]

Okay, now that we've all had time to process that ending, can I adopt Muriel please?

[iliveforyouilongforyouvesuvia]

what objects, fruits, colors, or any words that you associate with the m6? 👀

The Arcana Mini-HCs: Things I associate with M6

Julian: fountain pens, leather gloves, shirts with big collars, burgundy, oranges, the set of your first highschool performance after its last showing as you're getting ready to take it down, lapping waves

Asra: candles, bookmarks, cardamom, soft colorful scarves, twenty one pilots songs, hanging lanterns, sneaking instant noodles and chocolate into your room at 2 AM for a tea party, sunsets, pools

Nadia: wine, strings of jasmine blossoms, the way printed silks rustle when they're folded, clinking bracelets, creamy lipstick, drinking a hot cup of chai at midday while rain falls on dusty, sun-warm marble

Muriel: misty sunrises, moss on a tree trunk, combat boots, scars, carved oak, heavy wool woven as soft as it is scratchy, waterfalls, visiting castle ruins on a quiet day and getting briefly lost in the walls

Portia: coffee with extra creamer, baking cinnamon rolls, homemade cheese, the perfect curl of a sleeping cat, bright blue skies, climbing cliffs, giggling about a book over hot chocolate and shortbread

Lucio: cranberries, candied fruit, bacon for breakfast at 2 PM, that moment in an excited conversation when you all get way too loud, golden hour, chasing a wet golden retriever, fancy lighters, sweat

[meanwhile-at-the-bookshop]

Today Muriel was drawn over the road to Nina’s coffee shop by the best smell they had ever encountered. Nina said they could have a cinnamon roll if they wanted, but it was also okay to just look at it.

[sherlynbrennan13]

Two cinnamon rolls talking about the Earth ♥

Some notes about this:

Im a firm believer in the theory that Muriel is actually a domination whose powers and memories were taken as punishment for questioning authority or something like that. Thats why her wings are so small here, the other two pairs of domination wings are hidden, she doesnt know she has them.

The central detail of her halo also indicates her rank, when Metatron and Serah demoted her, that part became a simple nebulous thing? Like Alastor with static. All the other scribes have that feature in their halos as well.

@vavoom-sorted-art SOMEONE SAID HAZBIN OMENS?? THIS IS MY CURRENT HYPERFIXATION AND I'LL NOT STOP, YOU HAVE AWOKEN THE DAMN BEAST!!!

[mimisempai]

We always wanted the same thing

Summary

Just as he's happy to see a little routine settling in, Aziraphale suggests a walk in the park. Little did he know that this little suggestion would trigger a new heart-to-heart and some revelations. 

Notes

Years of miscommunication... It takes time…

On Ao3

Rating G -  1480 words

"Very well... you're on the right track, little one", Crowley murmured as he sprayed a little water on one of the plants.

Then he looked around to make sure he hadn't missed any, when his eyes fell on Muriel's little plant. He approached it and examined it closely. Then, with a teasing smile on his lips, he walked over to Muriel, who was engrossed in a book as usual, and said, "Are you sure your plant is all right? I noticed a slight discoloration on one of the leaves."

Muriel raised their head and, looking very serious, replied, "I know, and I'm taking care of it. It's between me and my plant." Then, without waiting for a reply, they resumed their reading.

Crowley laughed slightly, inwardly pleased to see the little bee gaining a little more confidence each day, then turned to Aziraphale, who was sitting at his desk.

He put his hand on Angel's shoulder and said softly, "Angel, I'm going to get my paper and then go to Nina's for coffee, do you want me to bring you anything?"

Aziraphale looked up at him and, unable to hide the pleasure in his voice, replied, "Whatever cake she has today."

The demon nodded, smiling with amusement, and turned to Muriel, "And you, Muriel, a cappuccino as usual?"

Muriel hummed in response, not even lifting their head from their book, provoking another amused laugh from Crowley, who said, "You're turning into a real bookworm."

Muriel replied, "It's not like you don't know what it's like to live with one."

This time it was Aziraphale who laughed as Crowley left the bookstore.

The angel watched the demon as he entered the Newsagency, then a few seconds later watched him enter the coffee shop with the newspaper under his arm.

Aziraphale realized that this had become something of a routine over the past few days.

A routine.

The word almost took his breath away.

They were far from ordinary people, but just having something that resembled ordinary habits, like all humans, was enough to thrill him.

The ringing of the doorbell snapped him out of his thoughts as Crowley returned.

He watched as the demon waved the capuccinno in front of Muriel's nose until they grabbed it, thanked him, set it down beside them, and continued their reading.

Then Crowley walked over to him, placed a plate of two cinnamon rolls on his desk, planted a light kiss on his temple, then plopped down on the sofa and began reading his newspaper.

Aziraphale grabbed one of the pastries and began to eat it, his mind elsewhere, unable to concentrate on his current "work".

"Angel, can you believe it, a cat traveled over 500 miles, stuck in the grill of a Welsh cab for days!"

Aziraphale couldn't help but smile, for it was often the most outlandish news that caught Crowley's attention.

Crowley, apparently not expecting a response, continued to leaf through his newspaper without looking up.

A few moments later, Aziraphale had just finished the second cinnamon roll and still had no desire to resume his study of that old manuscript.

He called softly, "Crowley?"

Crowley lowered his paper and answered, "Yes, Angel?"

Aziraphale asked, "Would you like to take a walk in the park?"

Crowley raised an eyebrow, "You got nothing else to do?"

The angel frowned, wondering why the demon would ask him that, and shook his head as he replied, "No."

Crowley gave him a knowing look as he replied, "Okay," then nodded and stood. 

"Let's go."

Crowley grabbed his glasses and they walked together to the door of the bookshop.

Aziraphale had a feeling he'd said something wrong, but he didn't know what, and that sensation stayed with him all the way to Saint James Park in the Bentley. 

They had been walking through the park in silence for some time, and Aziraphale had no idea how to break it.

Out of habit, they sat down on their usual bench facing the lake, and after a few moments, Aziraphale decided to clear the air, if there was anything to clear.

"Crowley, are you..."

"Angel, are you -" 

They both paused and laughed awkwardly. Then Aziraphale said softly, "You first."

Crowley hesitated, then asked, "Did you suggest this walk because you were bored?"

Aziraphale, perplexed, asked, "What?"

Crowley explained, "Well, you said you had nothing else to do..."

Aziraphale protested vehemently, "Yes, but I meant that I have no duties that require my attention, it wasn't as a consolation prize that I asked you to walk around with me. How could you think that I want to spend time with you because I'm bored..."

He paused as the words left his mouth, Crowley's words at the coffee shop echoing in his mind.

“You have three reasons for calling me: you’re bored, you need to tell someone about something clever you did before you pop,  or something’s wrong.”

Then he understood what had prompted Crowley's question and reaction. 

He took his hand and asked gently, "You know, when you told me the three reasons I called you, did that bother you?"

Crowley immediately denied it, much too quickly for Aziraphale's taste, who gently insisted, "Crowley, my dear, no more lies to avoid hurting the other, remember."

Crowley sighed and admitted, "Let's just say I was glad you called, but sometimes I wish you'd just call me, you know, so we could go to a restaurant together, or I could come to the bookshop for a drink. Just not because you were bored."

Aziraphale smiled and replied, "We're so good at hiding what we think might hurt or upset the other person that we end up not realizing that's exactly what we're doing."

At the demon's confused look, he continued, "Saying 'I'm bored' is such a convenient excuse. When all I wanted to do was see you, because going to a restaurant, having a drink, even going to the theater doesn't have much taste or interest without you. My life is a lot less interesting when you're not in it."

Crowley nodded, "Same here, Angel. I didn't want to bother you by telling you that I live in my car, or come across as clingy by hanging around the bookstore all the time, so I came here to read my newspaper alone, watch the ducks and the people and the spies, all the while thinking it would be a lot more entertaining with you around."

He nudged the angel's shoulder and continued, "We really were fools, struggling with ourselves when, in the end, we wanted the same thing."

Aziraphale nodded, laughing slightly.

Crowley, resting his arm casually on the back of the bench behind Aziraphale's back, asked, "So, what do you feel like doing now?"

The angel leaned against Crowley's arm, the movement causing the demon to wrap it around his shoulder, and replied with a smile, "Well, for now, just stay like this, laugh at spies, and listen to you berate people who throw bread at ducks. And then maybe have some ice cream and then..."

Crowley interrupted, "By the way, did you know that female ducks choose their favorite males to mate with based on their ability to dance? So I wonder, Angel, was your ball to test me?"

Aziraphale bit his lip, but couldn't resist for long and burst out laughing, causing several people to turn around.

Then the angel turned serious again and replied, "First of all, it's a good thing I didn't choose you for your dancing ability..."

"Hey!"

Aziraphale chuckled and continued, "And then you were my favorite person a very long time ago, so I don't need any kind of test to know that."

He dropped his head to the demon's shoulder, who pressed a light kiss to his hair before asking, almost shyly, "How long?"

Aziraphale smiled and replied softly, "Since you protected me from a shower of stars."

After a few moments of silence, Aziraphale turned his head toward the demon and noticed that his cheeks were slightly flushed.

With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, he asked, "Say, is there a fun fact about ducks blushing?"

Crowley pulled him close and replied, "Shut up, smartass."

Aziraphale couldn't keep from laughing again, and when he calmed down, the demon whispered into his hair, "That's all I wanted, you know?" 

"What?"

Crowley replied gently, "You and me, here, acting like idiots, for no reason, doing nothing but doing it together."

Aziraphale hummed and they stayed that way, intertwined on their bench. It didn't take long for Crowley to admonish the next passerby who threw bread at the ducks, for Aziraphale to spot the ice-cream parlor, and to dismiss the spy who had mistakenly gone to the wrong bench when Crowley went to get the ice cream.

In the end, it was nothing extraordinary, but it was precious to them because they did it together.

_________

Still not beta'd

Still not my native language

Still hoping you'll enjoy this story  🥰

Still thanking you for bearing with me 😝

Ineffable Growing Love series : here (After season 2)

Ineffable Husbands masterlist : here (Before season 2)