# [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]

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?"

[futaille]

"Oh, I'll certainly argue with myself for fun, although it's much more difficult to talk myself around as it usually requires a firm perspective in the first place to move from, and I do my best to avoid those as much as possible."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan blinks. "And this is fun for you?"

[futaille]

"Without reservation."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I can't fathom how," says Susan, "but I'm pleased for you."

[futaille]

"And I will quite happily accept that."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Lovely."

[futaille]

"I think it's probably good that you don't, too. The last thing any world needs is too many determined contrarians. Just a few for seasoning."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

A ghost of a smile. "I'm only one of those things." Susan is, once again, attempting to tell a joke!