Sable nods, smiling. "We live just a few blocks away."

"Then that's everything. I'll get the card printed for you while you pick out some books, and it'll be waiting here for you when you check out."

"Yay! Thank you ma'am!"

And Mae skips off to go look at books.

Gosh, it feels like ages since it's gotten to explore a new library! It starts by looking around the science fiction, then the manga and comics if it has them, then goes off to see if there's any interesting nonfiction. It likes fantasy, but it's hard to find the types it likes in libraries, so it'd rather avoid the hassle for now.

Science fiction, definitely. Manga and comics, not as much of a selection but any. 

Sable follows with a fond smile. The only thing left on their agenda is dinner, and that can happen whenever Mae tires itself out here, so she's got nothing to do but enjoy that her foster-daughter is happy.

With Sable watching, Mae happily bounces from shelf to shelf, flipping through books and reading summaries, occasionally describing a particularly interesting-looking book to Sable.

In the end, it finds four books it wants to take home, and an early volume of a detective manga it remembers liking.

Sable gets caught up in book fever too, and winds up picking out a pair of science fiction books of her own. Then they head back to the front desk, where they each check out their books and collect Mae's library card before heading to the car.

Mae nestles cozily into its seat in the car, and reads one of its new books. This has been a fun outing, but a long one, and it's feeling a bit tired now, so it really appreciates the chance to decompress.

"Okay, Mae, decision time. I know we talked about going out to eat, but you're looking a bit tuckered, so it's up to you: dinner out, takeout, or curl up in the living room while your foster-mom makes you something. You can pick any kind of food in the city."

Oh, that's a good question.

It sets down its book, with a finger in it to keep its place, and thinks for a moment.

"…I think I want to just eat at home. Do you have the stuff to make burritos?"

It's imagining sitting together in the house and eating burritos together while watching a fun movie together, and feeling very happy with its day.

Sable nods and smiles. "We do. I know we've got beans, salsa, cheese, canned tomatoes and corn, and probably lettuce. Definitely have tortillas, those are important to always keep in stock. Anything you want us to get on the way home?"

"…Do you know how to make guacamole?

Or… no, nobody makes good guac. Do you have avocados, garlic, lime juice, and cilantro?"

It can't remember the ratios, but it thinks it can probably eyeball them well enough.

"Oh! That's something I've meant to try but never really gotten around to. I don't have avocados, but I've got the rest, and we can definitely pick up avocados on the way home."

She hums for a moment. "Is this another of those mysteries, like how you have as good an eye for spices as I do, and how you know Lolita, and how you know so much about programming so young?"

"What, the fact that I know how to make good guacamole?"

Hmm… well it can't remember why it knows that, so… probably not? Since it does have some idea why the others are that way.

…Why does that feel sad?

…It shakes its head and moves on.

"I don't think it's the same thing, no."

Aww. That face means it gets a protective hand-squeezes as she drives. "I'd hug you if we weren't driving."

"Aww, that's okay." Probably.

It squeezes her available hand, then picks its book back up and continues reading again.

It doesn't take long before they get to the store, and Sable parks the car. "Wanna come in with me to pick out avocados, or wanna keep reading, sweetie?"

"…Do you mind if I keep reading?"

"Nope. Not a bit. Enjoy, and tell me about it when I get back, okay?"

"Okay!"

Mae happily turns back to its book—then stops and turns back for a moment.

"Oh! Make sure to get like… three or four avocados, okay?"

"Will do, sweetie."

And off she goes. The avocados don't take long to get, and she makes sure to inquire about whether the store stocks any eggs or milk from local farms she could go visit, just to see the conditions. They do not, but they think there are a few that come to the farmer's market.

Sable makes a note of that, then heads back out to the car.

"How's the book?" she asks while she sets the fruit gently between some bags of clothes.