# [closed post]

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan has devised another activity to occupy her days. By the calendar's reckoning, the start of spring is roughly a week away. Between her and Tress, they've got the outline of a plan for the next Dark, and Susan is happy to rely on people who've got greater interest in and skill for growing things insofar as agriculture goes. But the growing season here shall be longer than usual, and Susan should like to have some idea about what that might mean for the ecosystem,

This is her flimsy excuse to pardon the latest stack of books she's currently carrying out of the library. There is a marginal off-chance that preparatory reading on soil biota could, potentially, be useful. Perhaps she might even talk someone else into reading on the subject as well, so that they might discuss it.

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[quote_gentle_unquote]

Another flash of a smile, and then: "You're close with him, yes?" Susan asks, and then stops - she's not certain where she wants to take this line of inquiry.

[futaille]

"That's safe to say, I think."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

She raises an eyebrow.

[futaille]

Oh, how to even begin to explain. "He was the chief of our group of friends in Paris. We died side-by-side and arrived here. In the months we've been here I've... gained more regard from him than I had in Paris, and am grateful for it."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"He has, on occasion, referred me to you to address specifics about his character."

[futaille]

"Well that's quite the responsibility, although it's not inaccurate to say I've certainly made a study of him over the years."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh? And what are your conclusions?"

[futaille]

"With the caveat that I am undoubtedly biased... He's a man who is rather singular of purpose, and thrived in the environment that fostered it. He was, and he loathes this comparison, the sun that our friends orbited around. Illuminating the path, intent on lighting the path back to the Republic. And the path led to the barricade and it brought he and I here and now his all-consuming focus is gone. And I do mean all-consuming. He saw next to nothing other than the promised land of republicanism. Extremely adept in that and admittedly not much in many other things, and other things are now what he's starting to have to learn about. I'll never find him any less wonderful, though."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

To her credit, Susan does listen to the entire explanation, and turns it over in her head, trying to fit it with her understanding of the man. It does square with her conclusion - that he's rather like Peter, in certain fundamental ways. "I see."

[futaille]

He shrugs with a grin. "As I said, though, quite biased."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Perhaps," says Susan. A pause, and then she admits, "Your good opinion is a credit to him."

[futaille]

"Now there's something I don't often hear. Still, though, I'm more than happy to offer it."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

The look Susan gives Grantaire now is laced with doubt - most people here seem to speak highly of Grantaire, either to or around her.

[futaille]

"You look skeptical. Which, in fairness, I generally support."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"It seems to me that many here value your opinions."

[futaille]

"I suppose that's true enough here. Strange thing to get used to, admittedly."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan is halfway through interpreting this in a way that once again discredits Enjolras and his social comportment when she realizes that Grantaire mightn't mean in that way. "Oh?"

[futaille]

"I've always been a frivolous man. Not exactly the type one looks to for advice on much beyond where to get the best food and entertainment in Paris. But admittedly very good at that."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I might argue that's an essential skill."

[futaille]

"It has slightly less utility here, I think."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"No? Supposing the next calamity is one where an intimate knowledge of the best boulangerie in the third arrondissement is the only way to overcome whatever might be going on?"

[futaille]

"... Oh, please, mansion spirits, let that be the next calamity. I would be uniquely suited for it. Provided you ask for information accurate to the proper era."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"What would your answer be?"

[futaille]

"In the third? I think Père Chouinard's. His brioche is exceptional."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"And if you were charged to identify the best pain au chocolat in the fourth?"