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Ineffable Family is the familyship between Aziraphale, Crowley and Muriel from the Good Omens fandom.
Canon[]
Muriel is a novice angel that becomes involved in the lives of Aziraphale and Crowley when sent to observe them under orders of the Archangels. They do so by pretending to be a London police officer, approaching Aziraphale's bookshop by demanding he'd open the door. Muriel does a terrible job at blending in, but Aziraphale remains kind and polite with them, agreeing to let them inside "to observe them better" and even offering them some tea. Muriel only further exposes themself by needing Aziraphale to explain to them that tea is a drink, angels don't need food or water so Muriel is having difficulty doing so and prefers just looking at it. When Crowley arrives at the bookshop, he frustratedly asks who Muriel is, but Aziraphale introduces them as a human police officer.
When Aziraphale addresses Muriel as "constable", they correct him as they prefer "inspector", but Aziraphale apologizes and explains that they are dresses as a constable. Muriel then declares that their name is "Inspector Constable", but neither Aziraphale nor Crowley are fooled. Crowley clearly becomes more amused by Muriel and asks them if it's their first visit to Earth. When Muriel confirms that it is and starts gushing about the Earth, they realize that Aziraphale and Crowley have figured out that they're an angel. They then try to backpedal by saying that of course it isn't their first time on Earth, they've been living on it for two-hundred years, explaining their saying "yes" earlier as an error, proving that they're indeed human. Aziraphale kindly agrees to that and suggests that it is Muriel's first visit to London, which Muriel confirms. However, they once again trip over their words by saying that they were recently transferred over from another "human settlement", Crowley cheekily asks which one, causing another frenzy for Muriel. Crowley then demands Aziraphale to talk with him in private, but Muriel complains that they're supposed to observe them. Aziraphale reassures them by promising them that they will tell everything they've discussed afterwards.
When Crowley asks Aziraphale what that angel is doing here, Aziraphale can merely guess that they were sent to investigate the miracle used to hide Gabriel the two of them had performed in the first episode of the second season. Aziraphale admits to Crowley to being afraid that Muriel will find out that Aziraphale lied to the Archangels about the miracle being performed to have Maggie and Nina (two of Aziraphale's neighbors) fall in love. Crowley tells Aziraphale that all they have to do is to hurry the two of them to kiss and they'll get away with Aziraphale's lie, Muriel checks on them right as the matter was settled between them. Crowley asks Muriel if they are interested in humans falling in love, Muriel confirms this and Crowley had already guessed that they were thinking of Maggie and Nina. Crowley buys him and Aziraphale some time to play matchmaker by telling Muriel that you can only tell if humans are in love by waiting a few days, which Muriel readily believes. When Muriel is satisfied, Crowley tells them that they can visit the bookshop any time to ask about love, Crowley will fill in for Aziraphale while the latter is taking a trip to Edinburgh.
In "The Ball", Muriel gets in trouble with the Archangels for allowing Aziraphale and Crowley to discuss their plans in private, thus they have no new information about them. Later, when the demons storm Aziraphale's bookshop to get their hands on Gabriel, Crowley tries to save Aziraphale when he spots Muriel, urging them to arrest him so he can have access to heaven.
In "Every Day", Crowley joins Muriel and the Archangels back to Earth when Aziraphale uses his halo to fend of the demons, signaling an act of war between Heaven and Hell. When the conflict escalates as the identity of Gabriel is restored, revealing that he and Beelzebub fell in love, Metatron arrives at Aziraphale's bookshop and removes the Archangels from the scene. Muriel manages to avoid being sent back to heaven, though more likely since Metatron didn't deem them important enough. When Metatron takes Aziraphale with him under Crowley's approval, Crowley laments that he couldn't have another dinner with Aziraphale at the Ritz. When Muriel asks him if they could take them as well, Crowley firmly tells them no and gives them a book to read so that they aren't bored. As Aziraphale comes back with the news that he could become Supreme Archangel after Gabriel's demotion, which would also restore Crowley's angelic status, Crowley firmly rejects the idea and parts ways with Aziraphale as he refuses to seek an alternative. When Aziraphale asks Metatron what will become of his bookshop when he's in heaven, Metatron tells him that Muriel is in charge of the place now.
Fanon[]
Ever since Neil Gaiman revealed the character of Muriel on his tumblr, the fanbase had immediately latched onto them, as the only thing they knew about Muriel at the time was that they were one of the few truly kind angels. Some fans even theorized that Muriel would be the amnesiac angel mentioned in the plot synopsis, but that didn't end up being true. However, many fans picked up on the subtle clues that Muriel is written as if they were Aziraphale's and Crowley's mutual child, which caused an increase of fanwork of the idea of the two of them co-parenting, which has already been a popular concept in the fandom since day one. However, due to their relationship falling apart by the end of the second season, some fans with a dark sense of humor had christened Muriel as "Aziraphale and Crowley's child of divorce".
Fandom[]
- FAN FICTION
- Aziraphale & Crowley & Muriel tag on AO3
