Ah.

Well now, that's not something that Aziraphale has seen in many years. That sort of polite greeting had long since fallen out of fashion and regular usage. He wonders if this young woman as well is from a time long since past. There's a quick lift of his eyebrows that belay his surprise, but he quickly makes a loose twirling gesture with his hand to welcome her inward.

"Oh, no. Nothing of the sort, my dear girl. This is a public space. You are more than welcome to it," he tells her. His voice is nothing if not warm and gentle, clearly unbothered by her presence. If anything, he seems to be a little charmed by her behaviour.

He couldn't remember the last time someone called him "lord". He'd have laughed a little, but he would hate to offend or embarrass her.

"Please. If you would."

By this point, Aziraphale had decided to stop questioning the little things such as a person's appearance. He had already enough seen enough strangeness that he simply decided that it wasn't quite worth striking up a conversation about neither did he imagine that much of an answer could even be provided. what was anyone to say when that was normal for them? Not to mention, he had far more important things to concern himself with.

Namely, adjusting to his newfound mortality (sort of). Not that that mattered at the moment. What did matter was that there was someone in front of him who seemed genuinely excited to be in the library and that's exactly the sort of individual that he'd like to speak with.

He laughs a little at the near bounce, the sound of it quiet.

"If you don't mind me asking, what sort of book are you looking for?"

At the mention of plants, Aziraphale does noticeably perk up. Whatever answer he was expecting from her, it definitely wasn't that. He supposes that he would have thought that she would pick something more for entertainment as opposed to something practical and he finds himself gently nodding towards her as she speaks, hoping to make it clear that he's listening.

He points an approving finger at her, shaking it in her direction before letting his hand relax. "Oh, Brother Cadfael! We've met. Remarkable fellow," he explains. They hadn't spoken for too long, but he was good company and Aziraphale was actually fairly pleased to see a devote man of the cloth walking around. It was unfortunate, yes, because he shouldn't be here, but a relief all the same.

There's a small laugh of his own at her comment. "It's certainly a blessing, I'll say that." Then he's gesturing inward, towards the shelves of books. "If you'd like, I could help direct you towards a few more books on plants."

Thankfully, whatever dangerous ground that Ariadne was imagining didn't truly exist. Aziraphale couldn't be pressed to be too concerned about the differences between the individuals stranded here with him. For the most part, it was largely cosmetic, wasn't it? This place had an interesting way of placing them all on equal grounds.

He makes a motion for her to come along, beckoning. "Please, please. Follow me," he tells her as he starts walking back along the shelves. He'd come across a book just the other day that he's sure might help her out. Plucking it off the shelf, he offers it towards her.

"Ah, yes, here! This will be an excellent start." It was a fairly detailed guide written by what Aziraphale knows must have been a native. They were far too educated about the area not to be.

Then, there's a thought.

"If you don't mind me asking, are you planning on growing tea leaves as well?"

A quiet, little laugh bubbles out of him at there. No, he wouldn't have any use for maiden tea. He does appreciate the suggestion for the sake of her having put some thought into the notion however.

"Well, I must be upfront. My interest is purely for enjoyment," he explains. There was nothing noble or medically helpful about his request. Well, unless you might consider something like being good for the heart and soul as medically helpful. Humans were like that, weren't they? Healed through strange things like that?

"The tea here just isn't as good as I am used to. It's a bit disheartening."

He pauses, considering.

"But I am not sure if you would be familiar with the same tea blends as I would be?"

For as much as Aziraphale was deeply sceptical about the concept of other worlds and places, he was also extremely interested in hearing all about it. He was keen to know exactly what these other worlds were like as well as the people who inhabited them.

"Did you drink much tea where you're from?" he asks, mostly because that seems like an important question. As far as the topic of tea went, he would least like to know whether or not it was something that interested her as well. Or perhaps she would only be interested it from the standpoint of trying to grow it? Although, that question was certainly not quite as important as the one that he was about to ask.

"You did say something about the soil already. Have you been able to successfully grow anything yet?" He asks, curious towards the answer. She had confessed that she had been struggling with figuring it out.

Unfortunately for her, her words only manage to pique his curiosity further. He would love to inquire a little further about the state of her growing raspberry bushes and whether or not he might be able to convince her to provide him with a sample of them, but he's already decided that this topic takes priority. He'll wind his way back to it again shortly.

"Aristocratic? Tea?" He questions. Was it not simply a part of life regardless of class or status? It seemed so strange to think of it as such. He remembers a time when it wasn't quite like that (when was it? the 18th century?), but nevertheless.

"Is that to say that you don't enjoy it?"