Frolly did not greet Susannah when she arrived at the waystation in the below open market. This was fair, because the first thing she did was investigate the corkboard from yesterday.

The underground air was warm, and it was as noisy as when she left it last. Susannah imagined that being underground, irreverent to the sun cycle, this part of Konox never slept.

The corkboard almost exclusively advertised things for the Market. The one thing not part of the below open market was a campaign ad for the current Mayor. Susannah considered all of this with a frown. It might have been better to open up shop here. She shrugged. Too late now.

She took a deep breath, psyching herself up, and turned to Frolly. “Do you know where I can advertise my café?”

They were staring down at their desk. They did not look up at her when they replied, which Susannah was completely fine with. “How are you advertising?” Their tone was so bland a hungry dog would stop after eating a bite and complain about seasonings.

“Bake some goods, show up somewhere populated, tell everyone where I’m located.”

Now Frolly looked at her. Susannah immediately wished they hadn’t. Elf eyes were intimidating. “That is a terrible strategy.” Ouch. “Do you have business cards?”

“No. Do you know where I can get some?”

“Cardstock’s Labels is closed today. As for populated places, with people who enjoy sugary snacks… have you considered a school?”

“What? No!” Susannah tried not to shriek. “I can’t hang outside of a school all day!” She was mildly successful. Loud, but in a shouty way, not screamy.

“Hm. I suppose they don't accept solicitors, now do they? What else…?”

Susannah supposed that being an immortal, agender, asexual being discounted you from some common sense social interactions, but really? It was not the soliciting she had a problem with here. Also, in her experience kids didn't have a lot of money.

“Have you considered the library? Or, if you want something guaranteed to have people, there is an event of some sort going on downtown. A showcase of something, I believe. A few of our food stalls packed up to go there today.”

“Lovely, thank you. Can I get directions?”

“Go downtown. I’m given to understand it's a big event. Ask someone there.”

Susannah sighed. “Thank you, Frolly.”

“This is quite literally the job I am contracted to do. With that being said, go away now, meatsack.”

Susannah nodded, turned on her heel, and power walked out. Scary.

If Susannah remembered correctly, her café was actually located in the downtown of Konox. Which meant that she should have asked Karulk from the start.

She rode the platform back up impatiently. When she got the surface, a cassowary fell from the sky and landed next to her. The person on its back tumbled off the saddle and started to hurl. Susannah grimaced, stepping away. She exchanged a disgusted look with the cassowary.

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Your species is a disgrace to the planet, its eyes seemed to say at that moment, as they did at most every moment.

I know, Susannah replied. Believe me, we know.

Then it was over, the soul deep connection transcending evolutionary gaps and invisible caste classes gone, faded by the human urgency to do things outside of the present, to worry about the future and the past. Cassowaries did not worry about such things. Cassowaries were the superior species.

Suannah continued her way back to her shop.

Soul Coffee Café was located on a long, wide, straight street, named Knobbynooks. It was cobbled, but smoothed over by centuries of wear. Most of the business done here seemed to be small, cute shops. Artisans, and makers of fine, though non magical, craftworks. Close by was the local theater. All of these were cramped against each other, but it had to get to the point that people had decided to expand up as skyscrapers, or even more than three stories.

It was a lovely district. It was an hour until noon, the sky was bright, and people were fluttering along in small crowds. Susannah enjoyed the noise of it all as she went.

If it was like this yesterday, she regretted not being outside to see it.

It was not a long walk down the lane to her café, but Susannah took her time, admiring the world.

Karulk was standing outside when she got there. He had collapsible wooden stands set in front of his building, and they were filled with potted flowers. Pretty ones, with neither stinging thorns, carnivorous appetites, nor poison in their saps.

He noticed her instantly. Pity.

“Hello Susannah! Fine weather today, isn't it? We usually have fair winds our way, a consequence of the sea nearby, but there's not a cloud in the sky now. I’m a bit like a plant myself, I think. The sun does me good. And, of course, I need plenty of water.” He laughed. Suannah awkwardly chuckled with him. If that was a joke, it was terrible. She had the awful suspicion that Karulk was making genuine commentary, however. “I was expecting to see you earlier. Started to think you had been run off already!”

“Hello Karulk. I've been well. It is a nice day. Um.” Run off? What could that mean? “I was out looking to get business cards. And do some advertising.” She eyed the stands he was setting up. “Say, do you know anything about an event today?”

“Know anything?” He laughed again. It was a kind sound. Loud and inspiring mirth in others who heard. Susannaah supposed she wouldn't mind hearing it more often. “My dear neighbor! I am the event.”

Susannah blinked. She was right. Karulk was the sort of person who took part in community gatherings.

“So business will be by? Lots of foot traffic?”

“Not even going to ask what it's about?” His lips did something that was almost a pout. Susannah did not appreciate seeing that expression on a grown man.

“Sorry. What is it about?”

“I’m delighted you asked! As you may have noticed, I have something of an abundance of plants. Really, too many to fit in my shop.” She looked at his open windows, where plants burst out, tangling with each other as they searched for open space. It was so overgrown she doubted the window could still close. There was so much greenery it looked like one of those depictions of nature reclaiming a fallen civilization. “So! I have decided to hold a mass sale of the more decorative ones.” A few of the plants tattooed on his arm rustled defensively at that. ”To facilitate all that, I've asked a few of the other folk around here to set things up with sales, too. Make a whole day out of it.”

“Huh. Think I could join?”

“Of course. It starts in two hours, so you best get to baking.”

Susannah smiled. That she knew how to do. “Alright, make sure to direct people my way for a drink.”

“And you pop on by to meet some more of our neighbors.”

“Well, I best get to baking.” Susannah ignored the suggestion.

“That you should. I expect I'll see you again soon.”

Susannah got inside with a groan. She had everything made for yesterday, but two hours was going to be a challenge. Oh well, best get started. It's not like an opportunity like this would just drop into her lap again.