# [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

[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!

[futaille]

He laughs. "You probably chose the right one."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Perhaps," she allows.

[futaille]

He opens the book in his hands, flipping through it absently. "Why worms, by the way?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I'm cultivating an interest in soil biota."

[futaille]

"Just for curiosity's sake?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I'm rubbish at gardening, but I should like to feel helpful."

[futaille]

"A noble cause, then, and a rarity among noble causes in that it is highly unlikely to end in bloodshed."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I suppose that depends," says Susan, faux-thoughtful.

[futaille]

"Well yes, some people could indeed become very particular about their produce. Look at what a single golden apple did to Troy."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I was going to say it depends on whether any of the books suggest bloodshed improves the soil," says Susan. "I shan't make any promises if that does turn out to be the case."

[futaille]

"With luck, that would be undertaken on a volunteer basis."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Hmmmmm."

[futaille]

"Of course, now I wonder if the mansion could simply produce blood if it was beneficial. Gruesome but interesting."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Perhaps if Dracula arrived."

[futaille]

Observe the honest curiosity of someone who died years before Bram Stoker was even born. "Dracula?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"A book," says Susan, immediately heading to the appropriate shelves. "You simply must read it."

[futaille]

He trails behind, intrigued. "That good?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Oh, it's lovely. You've heard of vampires, yes?"

[futaille]

"A bit, yes. Interesting tales, certainly."