"The Popcorn Pixies"'

At the Prospect Park Band shell, market tables crowd the edge of the grass. A middle-aged woman, sturdy and round-faced with short gray curls tucked beneath it, with copper-brown skin, a yellow headscarf, and a patched green apron gathers produce and handmade goods into one bright display.

A blue-white flare pulses through the market, briefly lighting apples, woven bracelets, and startled faces. The crowd leans closer, waiting to see whether it becomes an attraction or an embarrassment.

Nearby, Kiki of "The Popcorn Pixies" taps a nervous rhythm against her thigh, her attention fixed on the stallholder rather than the flickering light.

The flare answers with another soft pulse, traveling along the tablecloth like a breath. Several shoppers murmur, but no one steps away.

Jordan steps beside Marisol with an easy posture and calm smile. The blue-white flare settles against the tablecloth, leaving the jam jars undisturbed as the market crowd turns toward him.

The greeting gives the moment a shared shape instead of a spectacle. A few shoppers smile, and the murmuring edge of the crowd softens into attentive quiet.

The flare pulses once, gently, and projects a thin ribbon of light across the display. Marisol notices a blank card beneath the table and slides it toward Jordan.