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Xavier is shelving new stock when Jagged Stone comes in with a young man Xavier doesn’t recognize. Mr. Stone is usually trailed by one or more young fans or associates, but this one doesn’t seem like a groupie or assistant: he’s calm—comfortable, even—and he isn’t afraid to stare at the shelves. The guitar case on his back isn’t Mr. Stone’s: it lacks the thick coating of band and travel stickers.
“Welcome to the Coldstone Charmery,” Xavier greets, mostly for the boy’s sake. He doesn’t dislike Mr. Stone; they just don’t have much in common.
“Hi,” the young man says.
Jagged immediately talks over him. “Hey, Ramier, I’ve been talking up your shop to my boy here. He’s been looking for somewhere to sell his instruments, and I thought I ought to give my fave magical shop first dibs on this great opportunity.”
Obviously, Xavier is supposed to be thrilled and delighted at the idea of setting shelf space aside for a stranger’s products. Equally obviously, he is not thrilled or delighted in the slightest. “I would have to discuss it with the co-owner,” he says shrewdly, trying to channel his pigeon form for added poise. It’s nearly dawn—Mr. Stone always comes in at an obscene hour—but not late enough yet for Xavier to be feeling shaky. “What qualifications do you have, Mr…?”
“Luka,” the boy says. He might be a little older than Marinette; something about the way he carries himself strikes Xavier as mature, though it might just be by contrast with Mr. Stone. “Luka Couffaine. I can show you a few of my pieces, if you like. I’ve been making instruments since I was a teenager. It’s what I’ve wanted to do my whole life.”
“Just wait ‘til you hear how his instruments sound!” Mr. Stone gestures wildly, coming close to jostling the shelf behind him.
“Again,” Xavier says, trying to keep his tone professional, “it will have to be discussed with the co-owner. Store space is limited, and it can unfortunately be quite difficult to find room to stock new products—especially in the case of a new manufacturer.” He doesn’t mean this facetiously; he’s trying to affirm Luka’s limited credibility by not calling him ‘a random craftsperson’—but Mr. Stone does not take Xavier at face value.
“Listen here,” he says, pointing in Xavier’s general direction and endangering a different shelf. “My boy makes the finest instruments in the country!”
“That’s not true,” Luka tries to say.
Xavier tries to de-escalate. “I’m sure he’s very skilled, but—”
“He’s the best,” Mr. Stone insists, reaching into the guitar case on Luka’s back with one hand. The other hand flourishes up to counterbalance, and by this point Xavier is calculating what’s the cheapest, least dangerous item within Jagged Stone’s striking range? And can he possibly steer the rockstar into breaking that object, instead of the myriad other artifacts, tools, trinkets, baubles, and charms?
As he thinks this, Mr. Stone withdraws an admittedly very beautiful guitar from the case and, foisting it proudly, sends a gilded hourglass flying from the shelf behind Luka’s head.
Xavier is shelving new stock when Jagged Stone comes in with a young man Xavier recognizes. He doesn’t look as collected now—he blinks, frowning, and meets Xavier’s gaze with a wild fear and dawning realization.
“Welcome to the Coldstone Charmery,” Xavier says, not quite grounded enough to stop the words from leaving his lips. “Let’s talk outside.” He doubts this will work, but it’s worth trying the simpler possibilities. He’s broken out of much more esoteric time loops before.
He isn’t surprised when he steps out the front door and is immediately whisked back to the beginning. This loop has a short radius, he thinks before he goes.
Xavier ceases shelving before Jagged Stone and Luka fully enter the shop. This time, Luka wears a determined expression. Mr. Stone seems none the wiser—as the loop’s causative entity, he may not be conscious of the temporal disturbance at all. Xavier tries his best to explain this before the loop catches him scheming and sends everything back to the beginning.
Xavier stops shelving, since the loop will reset, anyway. He tries picking up the hourglass before Jagged Stone can approach it, but it phases through his hands and shatters. He sees Luka watching with a thoughtful frown.
Xavier stops shelving and attempts to preemptively placate Mr. Stone by agreeing to stock Luka’s instruments.
“Wait,” Luka says, “you should look at them before—” He stops when he sees Xavier tapping the side of his nose. “I mean, thank you, Mr. Ramier.”
All goes well until Jagged hands over the guitar. It slips—or jumps—out of Xavier’s hands. Luka laughs, startled, as the guitar flies into the shelf of hourglasses. Xavier has a fraction of a second to consider that, based on the moment’s worth of contact he had with it, the guitar really is a well-made instrument.
Xavier welcomes Jagged Stone and his son, Luka, into the Charmery. He invites them to the counter to discuss business matters, but Mr. Stone trips in the aisle and knocks over an entire hourglass display. Xavier can see the intensity with which Luka is attempting to dissect the time loops. He hopes the boy figures it out soon. Being stuck in a time loop so near to dawn is driving his pigeon mad.
Xavier is relieved when Luka enters with his father and immediately starts talking. “I make magical instruments,” he says. “I was wondering if you and the other owner would agree to let me sell them here, a few at a time.”
“I would need to inspect the instruments and consult with my partner,” Xavier says, relieved to feel no resistance in the flow of time. The loop could decide to reset at any moment—the fact that it hadn’t yet was probably a sign that they were moving in the right direction.
“Of course,” says Luka, carefully taking the instrument case off his shoulders. “I brought one so you could take a look. Feel free to ask me any questions.”
Xavier takes the guitar gently, appraising it as best he can. It has been a long time since he handled an instrument with anything resembling expertise, but rusty knowledge is better than none at all. “It’s beautiful,” he says. He means it.
“Thank you.” Luka shoves his hands in his pockets. Xavier wonders whether it’s bashfulness or concern about the time loop.
“I do have a few questions,” Xavier continues. “Why don’t we move to the counter to discuss matters?”
Jagged Stone steps forward, and Xavier and Luka don’t miss the way the hourglass on the shelf beside him starts to wobble.
“Dad,” Luka interjects, holding up a hand, “this is my art, and my dream. I know you support me, and I’m thankful, but this is something I want to do myself.”
The hourglass stills. Xavier thinks he detects a hint of satisfaction about it. Timepieces always have such attitudes, he thinks.
Jagged Stone’s look of surprise melts into such genuine pride and compassion that Xavier scarcely recognizes him. “I guess you don’t need your old man around flaunting his fame,” he says, pretending to wipe a tear from his eye. “You’re gonna have your own horde of fans soon enough.”
“I’ll always need you,” Luka says. “As my dad—not as a free pass into the industry.”
Mr. Stone nods, and Xavier realizes the rockstar is holding back real tears.
Luka steps forward. “Okay, Mr. Ramier. Let’s talk business.” He’s grinning sheepishly. “Finally,” he whispers.
“Believe it or not,” Xavier says, “I have dealt with far more destabilizing business associates.”
”But have you dealt with them over and over in a loop?”
Xavier chuckles. “That is sometimes what a regular week feels like. Was that your first time in a time loop, then?” He sets the guitar up on the counter.
Luka considers the question, fingers absently reaching for the strings of the instrument in front of him. “Does it count as my first, or my… sixth?”
”Yes,” Xavier tells him.