so don't fear if you hear a foreign sound to your ear

[righteousindignation]

Naturally, they're whispered about, but those that do the whispering are aware that they have always been likely to read into newcomers. Cousins, they call themselves, fleeing "family troubles" that are validated when another comes after them-same eyes. He doesn't leave either, and things are noticed that can be explained but never are. They're close, like family should be, and yet not entirely family. What they are to each other is a question no one really asks.

Maybe they're haunted and they've brought their ghosts with them. Maybe they're some form of witches. Maybe they really do have troubles. Whatever the reason, it doesn't take away that should you meet their eyes, they carry the feeling that they've seen much more than they'll ever tell.

Behind closed doors they call each other names they don't use out loud just in case someone else comes to find them.

It was her plan, naturally, Ronald just got dragged into it by her pleading that she couldn't go alone to America and it wouldn't be forever. William followed-they wanted to take him along, but couldn't have ever gotten him out of the country otherwise. Criminals he called them and Grell hissed the words artists while Ronald's out with a fence handling the jewellery that a society matron from a few cities over won't miss terribly or suspect her lovely guests of anything. (She will blame her housekeeper, and it will be a tiny storm but it isn't anything they need to be concerned with, they will be invited back and grow to know more of that circle and create more plans and cons to get by while they debate real jobs. Grell says she wants to write a paper on Jack the Ripper and "his" motivations or psychology "for the irony of it all" and earn something from that. Ronald just shakes his head.)

But eventually they get him to stay, even though he keeps saying he's leaving next week, shhh of course you are, William dear, even though they know they have him the evening he says nothing when she idly messes up his hair. That night, they talk about interesting reapings and lives they've absorbed into their memories until they're all dozing from the night's warmth and a plan concluded.

They all breathe this new land with its old atmosphere and mystery into their blood and they are what they are, almost-gods that view everything like only they can. Death's children playing at life, yes, but what fun it is. There's the rest of eternity to repent and wipe it off your record, so what's the harm in shaking off your duties for a while? When William tries to answer that question, Ron responds with a "It was rhetorical, mate," and it's dropped. The next plan needs to be reviewed, anyway.

They will be talked about in hushed tones for a while, but reapers have a gift for settling themselves into places until you almost forget they were never there, until it is a guessing game as to their truth they'll never confirm or deny, as much touched by myth as a graveyard under the summer moonlight.