I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see the light in the shade of the morning sun

The smallest sigh of relief - for a moment she's been worried that she was really fucking it up and he was going to refuse any deals with her. That would suck. But it seemed she'd done a good thing then, and silently applauded herself. Good job. That was how you dealt with people, apparently. Lesson learned.

Second lesson learned: its okay to lie. She nodded, unbothered by the notion. It didn't really make a ton of sense to her, that she could lie without being dishonest, but...okay. She wasn't going to question it just yet. "Okay. Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."

She nodded again, more enthusiastically, and waited patiently for his return, picking at a couple of stray golden hairs that had fallen on her darker half in the silence before he reappeared. She looked up and her eyes immediately glued to the strange objects he was carrying and setting to the side. She blinked, wondering...why? But, again, she wasn't going to question it. It seemed perfectly safe and fine to her. So when he gestured for her to sit, she obliged, climbing up on the chair, which was quite a bit larger then she was, and sat, watching with curious eyes while the Collector poured them tea.

"What is that?" Her nose twitched. It smelled good.


That my life would depend on the evening moon
That the night would never comе

He placed one cup, and the kettle, onto the little table. "It is tea. A drink, and let it cool or you will burn your tongue. Give it a minute or two," the Collector advised, holding his own cup daintily in his lap.

"It is important that you make your business partners comfortable, after all. Now... in order to best understand you--to understand what rewards you might prefer, and what tasks you might enjoy or excel at... allow me, if I may, to offer a few suggestions. Tell me if any of these options appeal to you, Callista." The name, in particular, was a sinister purr, for absolutely no discernable reason. He raised and blew on his tea for a moment before continuing.

"My children perform any number of tasks. Seeking out lost treasure and returning it to me, that it may be appraised, repaired and offered in trade. Or theft: stealing valuables from others. Murder, as well: killing others and taking their gemstones for our use. Or perhaps you might prefer to learn a trade. Blacksmithing. Enchanting. Leatherworking. Tailoring clothing. Forming jewelry. The creation of herbal poultices for mending. The concoction of poisons. Anything--any good, any service--can be bartered for. It does not matter how simple or complex, or how wholesome or underhanded."

He regarded Callista for a beat, sipping his tea as his crimson pinprick eyes settled on her, intense and unblinking. "So tell me, do any of those sound interesting to you?"

@Callista

I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see the light in the shade of the morning sun

She sniffed again at the tea, mouth watering a bit at the herbal scent and, finding herself too impatient to wait, manually adjusted that temperature herself, carefully controlling the spell just to affect the tea in the cup. It was just a few degrees, but it was enough that when she lifted the cup to drink, it didn't scald her tongue. It was delightful and delicious and still quite hot, but drinkable. A small sip and then she mirrored the Collector, holding the cup in her lap. "It's very good."

She didn't look at him as he talked, instead looking at her legs, which she swung thoughtfully from where they dangled off the chair. She liked the idea of looking for things - she wanted to explore, her curiosity felt endless and unquenchable. Perhaps this would do something to calm the raging need to see things and know things. Stealing, too, she didn't mind the thought of. But her nose twitched and her muzzle crinkled in displeasure at the thought of killing people, just to take their gemstone. "Hm, maybe not murder. I don't think I'd want to do that." What about learning a trade, though? That could be fun, but that felt like that would take a long time. She wasn't sure she currently had the patience for it.

She looked back up at the Collector. "I can find you things. Or steal them. Or if you need information on things I could probably find stuff out. Or if there's like somebody that's bothering you, I could kick them around or something. I don't really wanna kill anyone, though." She shrugged. "Is there anything you're looking for at the moment?"


That my life would depend on the evening moon
That the night would never comе

The Collector considered, drumming the pads of his fingertips on his teacup before sipping at it.

"I always seek new items for my collection," he replied, then waved a hand airily. "But nothing very specific at the moment. I will tell you what; I will offer you three tasks." His hand came up, displaying three fingers, helpfully. "You may select one or more to attempt, and I will reward you with a useful and related item for each." A brief hum of thought, and he continued.

"The first task. Find another who might wish to trade for my goods, and send them to me. For this, I will grant you an item that helps you to influence others, to better deal with them, in trade or otherwise."

"For the second task; find another who bears enchanted items, who did not get them from me. Do not speak to them of me or admit knowing me. But find out how they got what they own. For this, I will exchange something that helps you to stay hidden."

"Third... obtain a valuable item belonging to another. Steal it, trade for it. But it must be something precious, either to them, or to me: enchanted, or well-made, something of that nature. Not simply a gemstone, mind you; that would be too easy. And for this, I will offer a powerful reward: something that will help you carry your goods as though they weigh next to nothing."

He drained the last of his tea, and set the cup aside. "If you succeed in one or more of these, perhaps then a more lucrative and long-lasting business relationship may be in order. If this--any of these offers, or all of them--sound appropriate, then tell me, when should we meet again? How many cycles' times, or weeks, or days, do you think that you will need?"

@Callista

I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see the light in the shade of the morning sun

Callista listened to the options the Collector gave her, and something like greed began to enter her system. All of those things sounded like things she wanted, especially the last one. But the last one also sounded like the most difficult one to get. The rewards from the first two would probably help her, as would the experience. Hm...she would have to plan that out carefully. Meet others, get in with them, it could take a while.

Her paws thrummed thoughtfully on the cup as she considered. "I like those. That sounds like a good trade. Hmm..." A paw came up to thoughtfully stroke the longer fur of her golden side. "I will do them all - the third one will come secondary, it might take me a bit to do that one."

She turned her head to look at him, lowering her paw and nodding, confident. "One cycle. I'll come back with, hopefully, the first two done. If that works for you."


That my life would depend on the evening moon
That the night would never comе

The Collector listened, then stood and bowed low, in a sweeping gesture.

"I look forward to it," he answered smoothly. And then paused, as if realizing it sounded like a dismissal. "...But please. Do feel free to finish your tea."

@Callista

I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see the light in the shade of the morning sun

Callista nodded, and then shuffled to the front of her seat, as if to hop off of it, but then suddenly remembered - the tea, yes the tea! She was still holding it in her paws. "Right." She should finish it, right? She quickly knocked the cup back, drinking down the remainder of the still pretty warm liquid, feeling it burn a little bit from how quickly she was drinking it, but she didn't really mind. It felt kinda good.

She lowered it once the rest was gone and set the cup back on the table. "Thanks for the tea." With the cup finished and goal clearly defined, she hopped from her chair back onto the floor of Canis. A last nod to the Collector and she was setting off.

This would be fun.

*exit


That my life would depend on the evening moon
That the night would never comе