The Doorstep · 3725 Windmoon 9

The robe comes in with the snow. Hood up. Corner booth. Water.

Zip pours tea nobody ordered and waits. The watch buzzes, and this time every watch in the room buzzes with it.

"Now you know I am someone to talk to," says the robe.

"You could have just said sorry," says Zip.

The robe takes the hood down. It is nobody Zip has seen before, which in Veridia is the point. They talk until the ring has gone around twice. The old tab from X-14 is never mentioned. It does not need to be. It was paid the moment it was set on fire.