# [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.

Comments

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Next party then, I suppose. Whatever and whenever that might be."

[futaille]

"Agreed."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan smiles at him then, small and genuine, tinged with the faintest whiff of relief. "Jolly good," she says again, finally extricating that textbook from her stack and handing it over.

[futaille]

He had almost forgotten about that. "Oh, yes! Thank you!"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"But of course. Do let me know if it's of any use to you."

[futaille]

"If I learn anything at all, it will be of use, so my hopes are high."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Splendid," says Susan, stacking the rest of her books up again.

[futaille]

"Will you want this back when I'm done with it?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan considers the question seriously. "Only if it's got a sizeable chapter on worms," she decides.

[futaille]

"If it is, I'll even mark it for you."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Much obliged," says Susan. She hesitates for another moment, squaring off her stack of books, then asks, "How are things with Lancelot?"

[futaille]

"I'd say things are going nicely. I think..." A brief pause. "I think I'm doing my best to assist him in trying to make up for an unfortunate shortage of carefree moments before his arrival."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Good," she says, quiet, fierce. "He needs that."

[futaille]

"He certainly does. And I'm more than happy to provide what I can."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan and Grantaire mightn't be terribly close, but she does have eyes and ears and attend most social events. Grantaire is much better suited for carefree merriment than she or Laertes. She gives him another smile. This time it's slightly warmer, though she certainly hasn't been cold during their conversation. "I am pleased to hear it."

[futaille]

He grins. "Perhaps I should add a topic to the pool myself. 'On the importance of doing unimportant things.'"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Unimportant," she repeats, raising her eyebrows.

[futaille]

"Or at least widely regarded as such. Frivolity. Things that are fortunate enough not to have the weight of the world behind them."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"In Narnia," says Susan, "it was just as important to dance with the dryads as it was to treat with the Telmarines."

[futaille]

"Good, then. I'm glad it is somewhere."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I believe it might just be a matter of perspective," thoughtfully.

[futaille]

"Seems so. Of course, a lot of things are, when you think about it."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I suppose."

[futaille]

A grin. "But maybe that's just a matter of perspective."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Grantaire," says Susan. "Do you ever argue with yourself just for fun and talk yourself around to a new perspective in the process?"