Open Post: Treat

[sporesprouter]

Now that the latest burst of activity has actually settled into something like calm for a few days, Tress has settled into a temporary project. In fairness, most of the temporary project took place the previous day in the out of the way kitchen that she had previously commandeered small appliances from. But today requires a bit more wandering.

So she is currently in the process of going around various at least semi-frequented common rooms leaving trays of both nut and honey balls and chocolate coconut balls. Next to each room's tray, she sets down a small card that says in careful handwriting, 'It's been a tough week. Help yourself!'

She's not putting a whole lot of fanfare into the process, but she's also not being particularly secretive about it, so she's easy enough to find throughout.

Comments

[az_fell]

Aziraphale, sitting and reading a book¹ in a cozy little lounge, looks up eagerly the moment his finely-honed angelic senses detect the possibility of dessert. "What have you got there, dear girl?"

¹This tableau is almost certainly a fixture of the mansion at this point, as he'll happily sit in one place, unmoving aside from turning pages, to read from page one to the end of any given novel.

[sporesprouter]

"Oh!" She smiles over at Aziraphale. "I made some treats for anyone who wants some after the week we've all had." She then walks up towards him and extends the tray. "There are two kinds."

[az_fell]

Delighted, Aziraphale sits up and immediately pops a nut and honey ball into his mouth. He chews and swallows neatly, then produces a handkerchief from nowhere and dabs at his mouth. "Very good," he says warmly. "Do you know, I missed the truth spell entirely?" He takes a second treat without delay.

[sporesprouter]

Tress looks quite pleased at the compliment towards the snack. "I think it missed me¹, but I did run into some people as it was happening. Once I figured it out, though, I tried to stay away from everyone, just so they wouldn't have to say anything to me that they didn't want to."

¹ See footnote in thread above.

[az_fell]

Aziraphale gives her an approving look, then shifts gears and eats two chocolate coconut balls. "That was very thoughtful of you. I can't say I'm too troubled to have missed it -- it all sounds rather overly confessional. I'm an angel, not a priest."

[sporesprouter]

Tress sets the tray down on an empty table in Aziraphale's reach. "Oh! You're an influencer?"

[az_fell]

Obviously, Aziraphale takes one more treat, then makes the valiant effort to restrain himself as he blinks politely at Tress. "A what?"

[sporesprouter]

She tries to think back to what Crowley said on his arrival. "Angels are... influencers? But to influence boring things like meal plans?" She hastens to reassure him, though. "There are times meal plans are kind of important, though, so I don't know if they're really all that boring, necessarily."

[az_fell]

Aziraphale sighs, deeply. He pinches the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger. "You've been listening to Crowley, I see."

[sporesprouter]

"It's what he told me when he first arrived." She pauses. "I'm guessing it's not very accurate?"

[az_fell]

"I can... influence things," admits Aziraphale. He is undergoing a very familiar internal battle between irritation and fondness. "I try to sway humans toward virtue and goodness, where I can.¹ Not boring things."

¹And where he's ordered to.

[sporesprouter]

She smiles a little, Charlie's planned courtship tour flashing into her mind. "Sometimes being boring is exactly what's needed, though. So even if you did, it wouldn't necessarily be bad."

[az_fell]

That's worth a return of his smile. Aziraphale is reminded of some of the things he loves best about humanity when he talks to this specific human, and it's lovely. "Wisely said. Evil can be boring, of course. The banality of evil is an entire genre, after all. Byzantine tax forms and the like. But good can be a bit tedious, too -- like forming a habit."

[sporesprouter]

"Without tedious parts, you can't appreciate the exciting ones, anyway." She frowns, just a bit. "At least the good exciting ones. I think I'd probably rather have tedious than another zombie attack, even if it's exciting."

[az_fell]

"The zombies were a touch alarming," says Aziraphale. All right; he helps himself to one more nut and honey ball. "Even viewed through the kitchen window."

[sporesprouter]

Tress nods. "At least none of them got inside. That could have been bad."

[az_fell]

"Quite," agrees Aziraphale. "If they had, I would have taken care of them with a bit more alacrity. All those strapping young people just seemed to be having such a nice time slaying them."

[sporesprouter]

"I don't think it was exactly an entertainment opportunity..." It does give her pause, though. "But yes, I think some people were entertained anyway."

[az_fell]

"Humans and their violence." But Aziraphale doesn't sound as judgmental as he could. "I take it you got through it all safely?"

[sporesprouter]

"I was fine. Most of them didn't get anywhere near me. I was just at the door stopping them from moving before they could get in."

[az_fell]

Aziraphale actually does straighten with interest. He slides a spontaneously-appearing bookmark into his book and sets it aside, next to the now well-picked-over tray of Tress' baking. Never let it be said that he isn't appreciative of her efforts.

"Your spores, yes? I did read what you wrote, you know. I've never heard of such a thing."

[sporesprouter]

"Verdant spores, yes." She shrugs. "I've... gotten used to people never having heard of anything like it. I guess it's fair, because I'd never even thought about seas made of water before I got here either."

[az_fell]

Aziraphale widens his eyes, although the gesture is partly for dramatic effect. "You know, She put quite a lot of thought into all of Her designs... well, perhaps someone else put quite a lot of thought into designing your world.¹"

¹Someone did. It was a Mormon. Let's not open that theological can of worms, shall we?

[sporesprouter]

"Maybe someone did. I never really put all that much thought into it myself, I guess? Just busy living on it. Some times more busy than others, of course."

[az_fell]

Thoughtful, Aziraphale observes Tress. Several of the people here are, as far as he can tell, literary characters made flesh. It stands to reason that Tress may be, too, but from a book he hasn't read. "Did you have some sort of grand adventure, then?"