“I know it's short notice, but do you have plans today?" Ashley shimmied out of bed and started getting dressed, finding his clothes scattered about.

"No. But I thought we were going to the library tomorrow?"

"Yes, but there's somewhere else I want to take you."

Ashley left the apartment with Ethan trailing behind him. "We're lucky there's an opening nearby."

"An opening to what?" Ethan asked as the pair burst out on to the street.

"It's a surprise." Ashely turned at the next bend and entered a dingy laundromat. He waltzed in, nodded at a tired looking attendant and walked towards the back, approaching an Employees only door in the back.

"What are you doing?" Ethan asked.

"It's okay I have a key." Ashley fished a pale gold key from his wallet and used it to unlock the back door, ignoring the flash of blue that sparked out of the keyhole. He stepped through, entering what looked like a simple storage closet, with the exception of a gold gilded manhole cover. "Here's the entrance."

"The entrance to what?"

"The market, the underground. It's the largest collection of magical establishments in the western hemisphere and it's right here-" Ashley turned around, arms spread out wide, almost knocking over a bottle of detergent in the cramped room. "Ready?"

He stepped onto the oversized manhole. Ethan hesitated but reluctantly followed him.

"Were hopping into the sewer?" Ethan asked, uneasy.

"No. We're hopping into a tunnel that'll take us to The Market... under the sewers." He tapped his foot against the manhole cover, which dropped, plunging them into darkness.

As the manhole cover dropped, Ethan clung onto Ashley, awkwardly draping over him, eyes squeezed tight. The manhole came to a quick stop, landing on cobblestoned ground with a metallic clank. The manhole dropped the pair in the centre of the Market, dropping them into the middle of it's typical chaos.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes... I think so. Warn me next time." Ethan opened his eyes and peered around the cavern, hesitantly stepping of the manhole cover. " What is this place?"

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"A meeting place for New York's more... odd citizens. Anything magical you want? You can find it here."

The Market is a sprawling complex of stalls and stores built into the stone, catering to a variety of magical clientele. It was spread out like a labyrinth; almost as easy to get lost in, though significantly, but not all the way, less dangerous. It's a bustling, vibrant place full of people from all walks of life. Ashley guided Ethan through the cavern, making sure to keep a death grip on Ethan's arm to make sure he didn't get swept away by a tide of overly-excited wizarding school students or enchanted away by a siren.

The air is thick with the smell of incense and spices, and the sound of laughter and music fills the air. There are stalls selling everything from magical potions and herbs, to enchanted jewellery and weapons. There is even a stall that sells preserved dragon eggs! The market is a place of wonder and mystery, and it is said that if you can find anything you're looking for here, though it’s not always strictly legal. Ashley and Ethan make their way through the market, stopping at various stalls to browse and chat with the vendors.

Ashley was used to magic, used to the paranormal half of America, but there was something beautiful about seeing the world through Ethan's eyes. He wandered through the market eagerly observing all the oddities he could find: amulets, spell books, wands, alchemist ingredients, etc. It was oddly... endearing to see, especially when his jaw dropped as he passed by a flock of fully unglamoured fae. Their wings and and/or animalistic features where on full display.

"What are they?" Ethan asked under his breath.

"Fairies, Fae."

"Like you?"

"Not exactly." Ashley stopped in front of a stall and used it to change the subject. The stall is a bit of a tourist trap, mostly selling fun but useless trinkets for Magic from other countries. It sold single use, harmless magical trinkets that were unique to the underground. "Check this out."

He picked up a pair of glasses and waved it in Ethan's face.

"They're pathfinding glasses," Ashley explained as he fished out a handful of silver cowrie shells and handed them to the elven storekeep. "The underground has hundreds of little pathways, these help people navigate the historical parts of the tunnel; Like a magical guided tour." They're copper reamed spectacles with lenses made of hair thin purple quartz crystals.

Ethan quickly took the bait and hurriedly wore the spectacles. Something seemed to have caught his eye and he followed whatever invisible thing grabbed his attention. While he was busy, Ashley bought a few more trinkets: a map, a minicodex and a gate-finding ring. Then he followed Ethan, not wanting to lose him. The Market isn't dangerous per se, but it can be... unfriendly to newcomers.

"What do you see?" Ashley asked as he caught up with Ethan.

"Glowing... train tracks? I think?” His brows knit together. “Words carved into the stone."

"Ah, those train tracks have a sad history; It's the remnants of the underground-underground railroad."

"Underground-underg- Oh, oh, that underground railroad." Ethan's eyes widened and he looked at Ashley, eyes huge behind the goggles.

Ethan again, ignored his blatant topic change, far more eager to learn and explore. He followed Ashley through the market, stopping at stalls and being introduced to Ashley's contacts. Soon, Ashley had to leave and guided Ethan back up to the surface, up through a manhole on the other side of the market. Despite the distance, the pair found themselves in the Chinese restaurant right next to the laundromat.

"How...?"

"Magic."

"Of course."