# [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

[az_fell]

Cheerfully, Aziraphale continues anyway. "Crowley's certain it's sentient. He's also certain it has it out for him specifically, which I consider rather less likely."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I disagree," says Susan. "Though I suppose he told you about that paper we found."

[az_fell]

"He did," says Aziraphale, with the confidence of someone who presumes that Crowley will tell him everything relevant at all times. After all, Crowley is happy enough to tell him everything irrelevant, such as the plot of some horrifying moving picture or other. "You don't consider that evidence in favour of sentience?"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Rather the opposite. There was neither sense nor intelligence behind it."

[az_fell]

"Surely it's possible to be sentient and possess neither sense nor intelligence," Aziraphale suggests.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Such as in the case of certain angels, perhaps? "Perhaps," Susan allows.

[az_fell]

"Now, do enjoy your eel without me nattering on." Aziraphale's still holding her books for her, after all.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Oh, lovely. Susan shall. She eats another bite.

[az_fell]

Lovely indeed! Aziraphale's perfectly content to wait, as time isn't of particular meaning to him. He shuffles the stack of books so that he can snatch the topmost book and begin rifling through it with his other hand. Despite appearances, he obviously isn't having any trouble holding a moderately heavy pile of objects at length.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan finishes the eel more quickly than she'd like. "Thank you," she says, politely.

[az_fell]

"You're most welcome," says Aziraphale with sincere warmth. "Do let me know if there's something else you'd like in the future."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

Susan has every intention of finding alternate sources for the things she craves, but it doesn't hurt to keep the offer in her back pocket. Still fastidiously polite, she says, "I shall, thank you."

[az_fell]

"Trade you back?" Aziraphale proffers her stack of books.

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Yes," says Susan. She passes over the plate and holds her hands out for the books.

[az_fell]

Promptly, Aziraphale vanishes the dish anyway; subsequently, he returns the books to Susan's arms. "Enjoy your reading," he says with another smile. With that, he's off to haunt the stacks once again. He will be doing nothing whatsoever productive there.