James blinked and hummed, "I was going to try and do that myself. My daughter was his at one time. He has a son, too, though I'm afraid he believes in Ari too much to ever listen to me. I'm afraid that if I tell them, Ari will have already gotten them to believe in him, too. Honestly, Collector? It's too iffy of a price to pay, one I can't guarantee. I of course will still try of my own accord, but I may not be able to pay you with the knowledge that I was successful. If his stones or children get taken away, perhaps, but I suspect it won't be easy."

"I doubt they've been awoken now, either way, and if they have since I've seen him, they'll hatch after my child does," he explained, and sighed, "I'm afraid there's a bit of a time limit."

He bit his lip and tried to consider something else, thinking of anything he could do, anything he could make that could possibly appease the Collector.

"Hm... a while ago, I think, there was a quest given to some of us by an entity called 'the Three Kings'. They wanted a cloth made out of the fur or hair of someone pure-hearted- I doubt it was, I used Ari and mine's fur and hair, and I'd be arrogant to say I am pure-hearted. But there was the blood of someone evil- something like that, and a rod. Out of those three things, I believe the blood of someone evil and the cloth woven from the fur or hair of someone pure-hearted could be valuable, and things I could get for you," he said, "Though I'm reluctant to inflict pain upon another."

Especially after the disaster that was the Batcat incident...

"Of course if you don't think that's enough, I'm still open," he said quickly, hoping that the Collector wasn't discouraged. He himself would prefer a certainty over something not guaranteed.

"The Kings-?" Interest sparked in the red eyes, a glee unmistakeable. There was no effort, or perhaps time, to hide it.

"Does that mean a Hunt is coming through-? Oh, how exciting." A pause, the glittering of eyes, the tap of claws against one hand. "It sounds as though the beacon has already been set, which means that sadly such things would not be of use to me. The news, however, is worth something on its own! A deal, then; make an attempt to warn these children, and warn others that you meet of Aristotle's influence. It will bring me some measure of catharsis after what he forced my own magic to do, and it will reassure that such things will be more guarded against in the future. Perhaps if others know his habits..." A shake of his head, a quieter tone: "Perhaps I will sleep a little better at night."

@James

James nodded, "I can do that. I've already begun, some others helped me figure him out. My tutor and another. I'll spread the word to those he could influence. If he's planning something, I'll stop it in its tracks."

He exhaled softly and nodded to himself, "If I'm honest? I hope he doesn't revive those stones at all. They'd be safer. I'll warn everyone else, though, and tell him what he's done. Thank you, Collector."

"Thank you, you can have the rest of this," he said, nudging the bag of fruit forward towards the Collector, "I'm going to go home and tell my daughter, then spread the word where I can."

"When should I come back for the sling? I believe I should have told a number of people by the time my child hatches- and I'll keep an eye on Ari, and Sun," he said.

A bow, deep and sweeping, over the fruit. "What a wonderful gift; I thank you." Ah, he could warn James about never doing anything for free, but that would destroy the facade he was so carefully building in this moment.

"That would be enough to put my mind at ease. I agree wholly. Hmm... two weeks and two days? If I work quite hard, I should have it ready by the end of the week. Return to me in seven days, and we will see what I have managed, yes? Do we have a deal-?"

@James

"You're absolutely welcome," he said warmly, bowing his head down, "We have a deal. Seven days. I'll start counting those too."

James lifted a wing and did a sort of wave, a smile on his face, "Farewell, Collector. I look forward to our next meeting."

He nodded gently and turned, walking off a few steps before taking off at a gallop, throwing his head before he launched himself into the air, wings flapping powerfully and easily carrying him into the air. He circled and waved a hoof from above, colorful feathers gleaming, before turning and heading back towards Orion to tell Comet what he'd done and heard.

Exit James.

Oh, he could laugh. He could sing. Hell, he could go back to strumming his guitar.

And so that's exactly what he did; the moment James was gone, the music began to thrum through the bones again, the Collector's quiet chuckling its harmony.