Luna had fumbled.
She shouldn't have accepted the offer to begin with, far beyond her capabilities as it was - foolish, foolish, foolish bug. She shouldn't have left the stone with Bacchus, because now she'd never see the fruits of HER labour, HER beautiful turqoise. Oh... Why had she even tried...
Luna hadn't meant to fall asleep, to miss that fateful meeting. But of course she had, silly thing she was. And now all she could was wonder, dream - dreams that would crash down to the earth whenever she remembered her mistake.
The creatures that roamed the plains, once her inspiration, were now a reminder of what she was incapable of. What she had failed to accomplish. What was the point now? This'd been her purpose, she'd thought.
She had moped all the way to Canis, carrying pale metallic stone she'd found in the river in a makeshift sling she'd made, in case more gemstones found her. She had heard whispers on the wind of an odd creature, cloaked in mystery... And an actual cloak, being one of the few in the caves to bother with clothes.
She knew that he'd treat this gem better than she ever could. She sighed, holding one of the gruesome skulls aloft, admiring the way the jaw warped to accommodate so many teeth. She traced its edges with her other paw reverently, as if she had made it herself. She hoped to, one day.
More than anything.
"Collector?" She called, gaze still fixed to the skull raised high. She was nervous, yes - so she'd distract herself with the fascinating oddities, rather than anxious spirals. "Is this truly your abode?"
Very embarrassing it would be, if it were not.
"How... fluffy." It was a croon, but it wasn't clear whether the voice was approving, mocking, or simply observational.
He stood not far off, to Luna's left, though... he hadn't been there a moment ago. His arms were folded idly across his chest, his head tilted a little as crimson pinprick eyes studied her rather closely.
Those eyes then flicked to the skull, and--blinked. "How rude of me-... I am the Collector. And that," he went on, pushing lightly off the rock he'd been leaning on to gesture at the skull she held, "is a very interesting choice of accessory. Ahem. Allow me to-" The Collector swept into a low bow, arms to either side with a flourish. He stood upright, straightened, and smiled--a smile not visible beneath the hood, but audible in his words. "I am at your service. How may I help you?" he purred.
@Luna
Company; The rumours had been true.
Luna had an odd taste in compliments. Comments on secretions, or the particular curve of a spine, the amount of limbs or eyes a Gembound possessed. It was, to her, flattery - but to others it might be misinterpreted as unsettling. Like a butcher observing the prime cuts of meat aloud.
SO. This was how she interpreted the Collector's observation. Her antennae straightened, and she turned briefly from the skull in her paws. "Oh, not rude at all!" She put a lot of effort in keeping her coat clean as well. With the amount of time it took, it could be considered one of her hobbies.
He was an odd design, from what she could make of him - few creatures favoured verticality. Luna was capable of it, yes, but not to a humanoid extent. She recalled foggy memories of a celebration of some kind, where this'd become the norm for one, odd night. She missed the ball pit.
She then remembered why she was here, and deflated some. ohh... How bright the future had been back then... The light in her big, grubby eyes... GONE...
She looked back at the skull, lowering it down with two limbs. Her mood was returning to its miserable status quo with each passing second. "Well, Collector, life has been terribly grim, as of recent. I fear I have..."
She struggled with the words, saying them out loud for the first time. Realer than before. "Failed my life's purpose." She set the skull down on a rock to rest in eternal dreamless sleep... How tragic, how beautiful... How grim.
She turned to him, paw on her chest, eyes wet. "Such DREAMS I had... Such dreams I may be forced to leave to rest. To create magic from stone... To create designs to rival the beasts roaming the meadows of Pegasus. Designs that could dominate life, living - the apex of all organisms... And I have FAILED, for I am a MORTAL with the dreams of a... a GOD!" She buried her face into her hands now, sniffling.
She hadn't actually answered his question.
The Collector stared, for a moment. There was no way of knowing what he was thinking--well, there was, but nobody was using Empathy or Mind Reader type spells on him at the moment.
So for the sake of narrative flow, it's important to note that although his face was completely rigid, and he might have been disgusted or impatient, actually, he was thinking: 'I love you.' In a platonic way. In the way that someone has found a new play or an art piece that speaks to the soul.
He swept briskly forward, and sat down on a chair that suddenly appeared beside Luna, whipping out his cloak to gently drape it behind her wings. He attempted to pat her on the back, repeatedly and warmly, while speaking: "Oh... There, there. Let it out. And--if you feel you are ready--and please do not rush on my account... Please, tell me of these dreams." His voice positively quavered with dramatic plea.
He'd been debating falling to his knees, instead. Throwing his arms to the sky and crying, 'WHY!?' But no, he'd not do that. For now.
@Luna
The Collector listened, but not in silence. Throughout, there were sympathetic wordless sounds, clicks of the tongue, and so on; and all along he kept trying to pat Luna's back.
Poor Luna.
Poor, poor Luna.
"No, noooo," he assured her, as she finished her woeful tale. And then he stood, a dramatic sweep of cloth accompanying him. He stood tall, arms spreading, and images briefly flickered before him: Masters laughing, drinking, essentially derelict in their duties! "Even those whose task it is to do as you so desire, do not share your motivation! Don't say you have no purpose. Your drive, your very CALLING!--is clearly a powerful one! I will aid you--if I can--though my aid always comes with some price; but... first... What is your name, o glorious visitor; or shall I call you, instead, a new light in my cave, a HOPE for a better future?"
He may or may not have been getting a little caught up in the theatrics, but damned if he wasn't enjoying himself.
@Luna
He leaned in, examining the chunk of--was it pink opal?--he couldn't be sure. But it held life within it, at least, and he sat back down in his chair, one leg crossed over the other. His foot bobbed up and down as he thought. He did not yet take the stone, for there was not yet a deal struck.
"Oh, I collect all sorts of things," he answered, eyeing Luna from beneath his hood. His demeanor had dropped some of the drama, but in a natural way, as though the conversation shift demanded it. "But a gemstone is a wondrous thing; and one touched by sacrifice, doubly so. Yes, I would trade for such a thing."
He considered. "The question becomes... what is it you would like? A way to shape the beings to which you grant life..? Or perhaps a secret: a place I know where the stones are only those of ancient monsters..? Or is there something else that would best serve you?"
@Luna