[ Ben would put down the 'dear boy' as a meaningless linguistic quirk, not really indicating any kind of genuine warmth, but the thing is that this stranger seems like he really means it. Which takes Ben aback. Sure, he had been offering his own authentic sympathy and help moments before, but he has more experience being on the giving end of that than the receiving end, and it feels... odd. Good? Strange, certainly. He's not someone who has been shown a great deal of warmth in his life and so it's a rather confusing experience.

So he's glad that Aziraphale says he would like to help get the library in order. He is a firm believer that having some kind of project, something to focus on and help with if possible, is an underrated form of medicine. The only reason he'd gotten through all those years as a ghost was Klaus, and trying to keep him company and help him in any way he could. So he hopes helping restore this place will do the same for his new friend over here.

Ben smiles, sudden and infectious, and offers Aziraphale his hand to shake. ]

I don't mind the company, and I don't know anything about restoration, so I'd welcome the expertise. Ben Hargreeves, by the way.

[ He nods his head in the direction of the bookshelves, more than half empty, and the stacks and stacks of books resting on various low tables. ]

There's plenty to do. I've been working on making a full catalogue of everything we've got here. Lots of it is in other languages, though. Do you speak any other languages?