Falling too fast to prepare for this
tripping in the world could be dangerous

annie

Annie had finally gotten her flight feathers in, though down still covered the majority of her body. Grey feathers were growing in, making her look older. When she tried, she could fly a good distance, but gaining height was an issue. At least it made it easier to travel now. She was awfully small.

"HULLO?!", she squawked, crying out across Canis, "MISTER COLLECTOR!! I WANT TO TALK TO YOU!!"

She had a little flower in her hand, a small pink thing she'd picked, thought it had unfortunately wilted. She just hoped the Collector didn't mind, she'd come so far to ask him her question. It seemed unfair that people only came to get things that they wanted. Maybe the Collector wanted a friend! Or a hug!

She wanted a hug, which was a bit of the reason why she was here. Everyone she knew was sad, and they got cheered up by hugs, so it was practically the only way she knew how to help at all.

"Mister Collector!!", she called out again, holding her flower tightly, looking around for the gembound she'd heard about, lifting up rocks to peer under them, even staring up at the ceiling just in case.

everybody circling is vulturous
negative, nepotist

@Lass

Action. Thought. "Speech."

The little dragon yawned as she waddled into canis. she'd been asleep for a while, hadnt she? last she remembers she was smaller, and now she was only slightly bigger! what a weird concept, eh?

she had heard rumors from friends and family about a mysterious man who would give you anything you wanted for a price, and really, that just sounded like a good opportunity to ask for a hug! she hadn't had one in a while, and surely her talents could be useful, right?

she was going to call out but as she heard another voice steal her words, she beamed, flying over to the creature annie and landing on her back.

"hi! whats your name? are you looking for the collector too? we can look for him together! watch!" she squeaked out eagerly, barely waiting for introduction.

"COLLECTOR! MR COLLECTOR!!"

The soft twang of distant music picked up, after a moment: a steady and lively beat, the sound of guitar strings ringing invitingly over the rock.

Past the piles of bones, down a trail, and there he was, should they seek the source: black-robed and slouched atop a bone wall, one hoofed foot kicking idly to the beat of his music, his attention fixed on the black lacquered guitar in his hands.

"I'm the Collector, oh yes I am, oooh," he sang, quietly cheerful, to the tune; "And tell me, friends; yes, my friends, what can I do for you-ou-ou?"

He glanced up; one crimson pinprick eye offered a playful wink.

@Annie

Falling too fast to prepare for this
tripping in the world could be dangerous

annie

Annie jumped as the dragon approached from behind, turning and wagging her stubby little tail in glee, "Hullo! I'm Annie, I am looking for the Collector!"

She watched as the other called, cooing softly, "What's your name?"

She heard the music and darted off, attracted to the tune like a duck to water. She appeared atop a pile of bones, slipping and sliding to the bottom of the hill with an excited squeal, displacing most of the pile and ending up at the bottom, upside-down with her paws in the air.

"Hullo...", she said shyly, puffing up her feathers and hopping towards the Collector, her bold actions contradicting the way her cheeks puffed up, making her look slightly bigger, "My name's Annie! Annie-Sora!"

She held up her slightly wilted flower, the petals pink and bright, "Can I trade this for a hug?"

An... odd request, certainly.

everybody circling is vulturous
negative, nepotist

@Lass

Action. Thought. "Speech."

"im lass! its nice to meet you!!"

she perked up at the sound of singing, hanging on tightly to annie's back as she darted off with a smile, sitting atop her head, small as she was, and waving cheerfully at the collector

"hi!! your singing is lovely! my names lass!!"

she gasped, looking down to annie. "thats what i was gonna ask for too!! what a coinky dink!" she beeped, looking up to the collector. "i'd like one too! i can paint, if thats useful!" she mreeped cheerfully, a smile in her voice and... literally everything else.

The Collector stared, for a moment, scarlet gaze flicking between the two visitors.

...What?

It took him a moment to gather himself--a moment that manifested not as hesitation but simply still and silent staring. As if he were... considering.

"Ahhh," he said, at last, "how kind of you to suggest it. But no," he went on, leaning down to gently push the flower back to its owner; "I do not need hugs. But." The Collector's voice slipped down a notch, into a low and conspiratorial croon. "I know someone who does. If you can find the one named Orthoclase-Alpha, and give it a hug--it would never ask for one, and so you must do it without it knowing, hm? A surprise hug. I'm sure you would make its day."

What was wrong with this generation of creatures..?

@Annie

Falling too fast to prepare for this
tripping in the world could be dangerous

annie

Annie gave her very best pout, her ears drooping and her big green eyes becoming just the tiniest bit watery, "But... We don't know who that is, and you're here anyway."

She held up the flower, waving it insistently, "I even got this!! For you, in exchange for like... a five second hug!"

That was a good hug length, right? Yeah! It was.

She pointed to the top of her head, where Lass was, "She wants one too! She called it a 'coinky dink'. I dunno what that is."

everybody circling is vulturous
negative, nepotist

@Lass

Action. Thought. "Speech."

she tilted her head, looking down at annie. "hey, if mr collector doesnt want a hug thats ok! because apparently someone else does, right? we could make someone super happy!!" she beamed, looking up to the collector.

"thank you, collector sir! do you think you could tella us where we might find alpha friend?" she peeped. "we're small! it'd take a while to get through ALL the caves looking! and if they really need a hug the quicker the better!"

A flash of pinprick red, a glance at the larger one, a look at the smaller. "Oh, it wanders... dark places. Miserable, you see; the darkest in the cave."

A pause, a wistful sigh.

"Good luck."

And with a flash, he was gone.

@Annie

Falling too fast to prepare for this
tripping in the world could be dangerous

annie

Annie sagged just a bit and watched the Collector go, looking down at her flower. She didn't really like rejection. She dropped the flower and turned, walking off to find a dark cave. What did that even mean?

"I don't know what he's talking about," she said to Lass, "Darkest in the cave? What?"

She fluttered her wings and frowned, a bit frustrated.

everybody circling is vulturous
negative, nepotist

@Lass