Ropati biked back to his stand, chiming the bell through the tight crowds … and then because he had to get off in said impenetrable crowd, caught himself idly dinging out a tune on the bike bell instead. He could see his stand, and that he still had most of what he had left there. She told him she had gotten an influx of customers at some point, and figured that was when one of the bottles had wandered off.

So, Ropati took a seat behind his stand and smiled invitingly to anyone who made eye contact too long.