Tandri opened the folio on the counter and slid out a sheaf of pages, covered in sketches and text. She shuffled them anxiously. “Yes. Well, I hope you’re nottoodiscouraged. If we—ifyou—can let people know what they’re missing, I think things could be fine.” Her gaze met Viv’s. “Because itisgood. This idea.”
“I’d hoped so,” Viv murmured, surprised. Tandri had been very sure of herself last night, but now she was talking fast, as though afraid Viv would cut her short. She glanced down at Tandri’s notes.
“Anyway, these are just some ideas. I thought if you—we—could find a way to get a core clientele, then there’d be some spread from word of mouth. Plus, having customers in the shop will attract others. So. I propose a sort of event.”
She turned a sheet around to face Viv. Tandri’s sketch was actually quite attractive, and Viv could see the ghosts of drafting lines behind the design she’d made, a combination of block and script.
GRAND OPENING
Legends & Lattes
Try the EXOTIC Gnomish Sensation
FREE Samples
Limited Supply!
“You drew this?” asked Viv, impressed.
Tandri tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, and her tail lashed behind her. “I did. Anyway. We commission some posters from the Inkmonger. We post them at the jobs board and get signboards for the street. Like this.”
She produced another sketch, similar, with a big, scripted arrow pointing in the presumed direction of the shop.
“This is amazing, Tandri,” Viv said, and she thought the succubus colored a little. “I’m… I don’t know what to say. I’m… overwhelmed.”
“Well, if you’re not in business, I don’t get paid, either.” Tandri flashed a smile.
“Very true.”
“The key is making it an opportunity that’s limited. We want a lot of people at once, but not too many, or we can’t serve them fast enough. So we start with just the street signs. And yes, you’ll lose some coin on the free samples, but we’re hoping for repeat customers.” Viv noticed that Tandri had settled onwe, and smiled.
“How do you propose we start, then?”
Viv could see Tandri seize the idea fully. “I’ll need some funds, and I’ll get these materials together. Tomorrow we start with the signs. I can paint them this afternoon, put them out on the street tonightafterthe doors are closed. Then, we see what’s what.”
Viv filled her purse from the strongbox and slid it across the counter to Tandri. “You’ve got my blessing.”
Tandri beamed—a first—then snatched the purse and gathered the folio. As she hurried out the door, she called over her shoulder. “I’ll be back!”
* * *
Viv’s optimismhad dwindled rapidly during the morning, transmuting into growing despair, but now, her mood lifted. Still, success remained far from a sure thing. With glances along the street to make certain no customers were approaching, she snorted ruefully and shook her head, temporarily closing and barring the big doors.
She slid aside the table, carefully pried up the flagstone, and stroked the Scalvert’s Stone where it lay nestled in the earth.
“Come on, little lady,” she whispered. “Don’t make me a fool.”
* * *
When Tandri returned,she labored under the weight of two waist-high folding signs, her folio awkwardly pinched under one arm and a cloth bag over one shoulder.
“I clearly didn’t think this part through,” she panted.
Viv hurried to relieve her of the signs, and Tandri unburdened herself of the rest.
The woman didn’t ask if business had improved. It clearly hadn’t. She unpacked the cloth bag, which contained stoppered inkwells, brushes, and a few curious curved pieces of wood.
Tandri handed over the purse and then set to work.
