"Yes, I've wondered that," Aziraphale said. "You might wish to speak with Dr. Olsen - he works here as well - has some ideas about, well, all of this." He gestured broadly at the library, the books, them. It occurs to him that it might be dangerous, advising this young man to see Olsen, whose ideas barely skirted the edge of defiance. And yet Olsen had been the most methodical in his research, and Hope appeared to be similarly inclined.

He clasps the other's hand loosely, letting go quickly. "John Gates," he says, slightly more aggressively than the conversation warrants. He does want to reaffirm to himself, however, that he is John Gates. Not that other creature that he'd dreamed. That was too complicated.