Viv reads in Fern’s bookshop. A customer comes in, surprising them both, and buys three books. After the customer leaves, Viv comments that traffic seems slow in the shop, but Fern tells her it’s better than it has ever been. Viv suggests painting the door, which is a faded red. Fern doesn’t usually spend money on improvements, preferring to spend it on inventory, but the shop is so crowded that there’s no real room for more. Viv comments that it’s too bad they can’t make more room.

Viv heads back to The Perch. In the backyard, Viv works out with her saber until she is exhausted. She takes a quick bath and returns to Fern’s bookstore. When she walks in, she is stunned to see the man in gray, who is pale with white hair. When he turns to look at Viv, it sends chills up her spine. Potroast barks and attacks the man in gray, and he slaps Potroast aside. Viv resists the urge to hit the man in gray. When he leaves quickly, she follows.