fandomtownies | Rare Books Shop, Tuesday

Browse 'em, read 'em, even buy 'em.

Talk to me.

He didn't see much point in opening the school clinic until classes started up again. The on call light was on, pager on his hip, when he headed in to town. Cash nipped at his feet and barked at his cane. Twice he got his leash wrapped around the walking stick despite Hosue's best efforts to prevent it. It would take time, he knew, but he was sure he could train Cash to walk at his left side, away from the cane.

He picked the puppy up when he neared the book shop, because he didn't want to get tangled up in the leash at the door. Once inside, Cash strugged in his grip, forcing House to adjust his position to minimise squirming. Settled once more, he went to the loft looking for Aziraphale.

Maintaining his cheery mood for the second day in a row, Aziraphale is puttering around the shop, checking in new inventory, when he hears the door open. Looking up from his ledger, he smiles brightly when he spots House -- and his new friend -- hurrying to hold the door while they enter.

"Greg, it's lovely to see you! And this, I assume must be either Folsom or Cash?" He pats the dog's head and closes the door, then stands to help House with his coat.

"How are you today?"

"Cash," House nods. "He's eight weeks old." The puppy squirms, front paws curling around Aziraphale's wrist.

"He likes to lick, so be careful unless you don't mind getting a shower."

The only dog Aziraphale's ever really had contact with is, of course, Adam's hell-hound -- not that, by the time Adam was finished, it had been much of a hell-hound. But Cash appears to be fairly irrestable, and the angel decides that, like mortals, dogs might not be such frightful creatures to have around after all.

Smiling, he lets the pup lick his fingers for a moment, then scratches Cash's ears and moves away. "Come sit down, and I'll get you some tea and biscuits," he says, leading the way into the lounge.

House sits, and puts Cash on the floor. He aps the dog's nose when he tries to jump up on the couch. Easily distrated, the pup tugs at his leash, growling and wrestling with it.

"That mint tea you sometimes have would be wonderful right now," House calls to Aziraphale. "And maybe a bowl of water for Cash?"

"Of course, my dear." Aziraphale heads off into the kitchen, returning a moment later with a tray laden with mint tea, gingersnaps and sugar cookies, and a bowl of water for Cash. There might also be a dog treat or two set on the tray as well.

"He won't hurt anything, I'm sure. He's welcome on the couch if he likes." The angel pauses. "Unless that's something he's not supposed to do. I don't want to teach him to do things he's not supposed to. That isn't my job," he adds, with a teasing smile.

Setting the tray near House, and the bowl of water on the floor, Aziraphale picks up a cup for himself and takes a seat in the armchair nearby. "You look very well, Greg."

Cash lets out a playful bark when Phale returns to the lounge. He lurches forward, nipping at his feet. House distracts him with one of the dog treats, waving it under his nose. Cash sits and lifts his ears, satring at House anxiously.

"He slept on the couch with me last night. I couldn't tell him no. If you're sure, he'll probably settle down and take a nap. Yesterday was...It was good." He nods, then reaches for the cup of tea about the time Cash decides to jump on the couch whether he's invited or not.

With a little yawn, he circles around and drops on the cushion, front paws plopping down on House's thigh.

"Oh, it's quite all right, really. Jiji comes to nap in the shop all the time -- that's Kiki's cat. Although I suppose he's really more of a familiar, but still...he is a cat."

Smiling in amusement at Cash, Aziraphale sips at his tea, giving House a pleased look. "I'm so glad it was a good day for you. I must admit, it was rather a good day for me as well."

After a moment he asks, "Do you think I ought to put the fish out in the shop, or here in the lounge?"

Blue eyes skim the room. "I'd say, in here. Out there people might notice them, but they're generally out there to look at books. Gasp, shock, horror. I know." House laughs a little. Cash rolled over, and snuggled down all the more against House's leg. "Here? They're more likely to enjoy them."

Maia came in with a bag of gummy bears looking around the store for a moment. "Hi Aziraphale, how are you today?"

House receives a good-natured scowl for his remark about the books, but the angel chuckles softly. "Then this is where they'll go. Are you going to allowed to have Cash at the clinic?"

Because at the moment, it looks to Aziraphale as though neither dog nor doctor much wants to be separated from the other.

"Good day, my dear. I'm quite well, thank you. And yourself?"

He puts down the stack of books he's been shelving and smiles. "May I offer you some tea, or cocoa?"

Maia smiled "Oh I don't want to be any trouble, but cocoa sounds nice." Maia took her coat off still holding the candy "Is Magdalene around today? I've brought her some gummy bears."

Blue eyes glance at the dog. His hand moves to rub under Cash's chin.

"I haven't spoken to the principal about it." House shrugs. Nor does he intend to. He's never had much use for authority,and the way he sees it, it's his dog and his clinic, so there shouldn't be a problem. He'll just train Cash to stay out of the way keep him in the office.

"I rather think the fish will do good in here." He says after a beat, deflecting the conversation.

Being a master himself at deflecting conversation, Aziraphale knows it when he hears it and smiles in acknowledgement. "I think I agree. They're supposed to be relaxing, you say, and that's what the lounge is for. I expect I'll need to have a word with Pogo about not fishing for lunch in the tank, but otherwise I think it will work out."

Sipping his tea as he considers possible topics that House might want to discuss, he says, "I understand classes are beginning soon. I expect that means the clinic will be getting busier again."

"It's been quiet as a mouse since the week before Christmas. Which is nice, and couldn't have been a better time." Because, yeah. They both knew he was in no condition to be dealing with patints the week before or the week after Christmas.

"But I am ready to get back to work. I need t find out if James is...If he's planning to work down there at all. Some of the students seemed to favor him." There might have been a slight catch in his voice when he said Wilson's name,a nd there was a part of him that wondered why he was suddenly calling him James. He'd been Wilson from the day they met. Jmaes had been reserved for special occassions, for effect.

"You're never any trouble, my dear." Aziraphale pours her a cup of cocoa. "Er, no...I haven't seen Magdalene around today. But I expect she's about somewhere. Why don't you sit and stay for a bit, and see if she shows up?"

[ooc: Crowley-mun usually mods Maggie. Want me to ping her and see if she's around?]

Nodding, Aziraphale says, "I...suspect he would like to continue working there. He may be uncertain as to whether you'll want him there, though. Perhaps...sometime before classes begin, the two of you should talk about it."

He speaks...not hesitantly, but carefully, the way a person does when they're dealing with a delicate subject. "He said that he'd like to meet Cash, sometime."

House nods. "That would be good." He glances at the dog again. Sad, that it felt like he might need something of an ice breaker with Wilson. Wilson, the man who had helped him get out of bed when he couldn't go to the bathroom by himself.

"Do you think he'll stop by the shop today?" because honestly? House is surprised he isn't there already.

Maia smiled and sat down. "Well I came to see you, Magdalene is just a perk. She's such a darling little thing." Maia sat the bag of gummy bears aside and sipped her cocoa "She sang a song for me the other day. Such a delight to visit with. So tell me, how is everything? How was your New Year?"

((oh no its ok. if she comes online later I'll ask if Maggie is coming round today. if she doesn't Mai will just leave the gummy bears with Aziraphale if thats ok with you.))

"I..."

Yes, there may be a little bit of a blush at the question. Aziraphale takes a sip of tea before answering.

"I believe he may. He...mentioned something about a paper for a medical journal, and wanting someplace quiet to work on it. I know James would like to talk to you, Greg, if you're willing," he adds quickly.

"She is...rather cute, isn't she?" Aziraphale answers, just a little uncertainly. "People do seem to enjoy visiting with her. If you miss her, I'll be sure to let her know you stopped in."

He pauses for a moment at the question about New Year's, looking just a little conflicted as to how to answer.

"It was...interesting. How was your weekend, my dear?"

[ooc: No problem at all. I'm sure she'll poke her head into the shop post when she gets online.]

He pauses, and Cash rolls over, giving him a distraction. He rubs Cash's belly then looks up at Phale, a somewhat uncertain look about his face. "Does he think I hate him?"

Rare Books Shop, Tuesday

BOOKS

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