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

She picked her way through the bones of this fairly wretched room, trying to avoid puddles of water where she could, but occasionally her foot slipped and splashed into a bit of free-standing water that made the cat shudder with disgust. Ugh...why did it have to be so wet in here but also so damn dry? She found herself hating it and decided that if she were to settle herself in a cave, it wouldn't be this one. But she wasn't exactly here on vacation. She was looking for someone.

It wasn't hard to hear the name "Collector" on the wind, it wasn't something voiced only in the darkest whispers, but rather a well-known figure, comparatively. He gave things for favors/jobs. She wanted things, and she had lots of time on her hands. Sounded like a win-win to her.

She arrived at the place she'd been directed by the last knowledgeable gembound and stopped, front paws wringing a little nervously in front of her. What if he didn't show up? What if she was too young?

"Um, Collector?" she called out into the stillness. "Are you here somewhere?"

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

Click. Click. Click.

It wasn't ominous. It was rapid, like high heels heading for Callista, as if in response to her query. It wasn't heels, as it turned out, but cloven hooves, and the Collector atop them, swathed in his black cloak and hood. Crimson pinprick eyes regarded Callista, and clawed hands spread in invitation.

"I am," he purred. "And who, may I ask, do I have the honor of addressing..?"

@Callista

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

She turned to face the clicks and watched the figure approach, eyes widening curiously at the Collector came close. She didn't look at his eyes but at the cape he was surrounded in and wondered if that was his skin, or some accessory that he wore. Because he was holding out his hands and the fabric moved separately from the motion of his body.

I want that. Maybe that's what she would ask for - to be honest, she hadn't really figured it out yet what specifically she'd request.

Callista looked up at the figure and tried to stand a little taller. She was still young and short and the larger figure loomed over her, but she did her best to look not-intimidated by it. "Hi. I'm Callista. I heard you give out things for favors and jobs and stuff." She wrung her paws unconsciously, a little nervously.


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

The Collector stared for a beat, then clasped his hands before himself and bowed his head, inclining it to one side as he did so.

"That I do," he confirmed, his voice still a croon. "And so, may I ask..." (and here he stared for a long, unblinking moment at the fidgeting kitten) "What is it you are seeking? And more importantly... what have you to offer me?"

It wasn't clear if he were trying to be extra intimidating: but he was certainly looming, and staring, and purring his words in a low and even tone.

@Callista

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

She was more intimidated by the size of the Collector then anything, compared to her short stature, and the creepy mannerisms seemed to actually intrigue her. Wide eyes blinked with a sparkle of excitement as she leaned in a little bit, still trying to make herself look a little taller. She liked this guy, he was weird. Just what she would have expected from someone with the name "Collector." She hoped he would give her something to do.

"Um...things." She stared. What did she want? A weapon, maybe - there were scary things around. Or a robe like his, she liked his robe. "Cool things. I like your cloak," she blurted out. "I want something like that. And something to do. I have, uh..." she looked down at herself, but she carried nothing. She had nothing, so she instead held up her paws, dextrous things, and unsheathed her claws, showing them to the Collector. "I have me. And time. Nothing to trade, really, but I can find stuff for you that you need. Or do things."


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

The Collector leaned back a little, studying Callista with a fresh eye. "Hmm."

Silence, for a beat, and then-... He inhaled sharply and spoke.

"Not that I am averse to hiring servants, but... and correct me if I am wrong, of course... you are quite young, are you not? Do you have any experience, in..." Clawed hands gestured forth, then opened palms-up, questioningly. "...anything?"

@Callista

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

The cat was momentarily taken aback, and then immediately switched over to being offended, a frown crossing her features. She should have known that this was going to happen. "I'm...yes, I mean, yeah but who cares! I can be useful! I have hands!" She showed her paws, pushing them forward like he hadn't already seen them moments ago.

Her frown deepened as she focused, and the air around them got slightly warmed as she tried to show him that she could do something fucking useful. "I have magic too - its a work in progress, but..." She huffed. "Start me off with something easy, then, if you're so concerned. But why does it matter! I'm offering a service, aren't I?"


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

The child had wholly misunderstood him--and made it clear that she was, still, a child: impatient, petulant, immature. That was fair. Children had to have time to grow.

The Collector had half a mind to imitate her, even to take it farther. Maybe fake-cry about it, and fling his arms around in the air while demanding to know why she was bothering him. It'd be funny. Or at least fun. But he was curious to see if she could actually be worth something, first.

So he raised one arm and folded it across the chest, with his other elbow nestled in the crook of it; the fingers of that second hand rose and vanished into his hood as though rubbing the bridge of his nose in silence. Because that's what they were doing.

"You've never seen a marketplace, I suppose. A little stand, the vendor putting their wares on display-? It's important to know what a salesperson may be selling before you make an offer. What you have just done is the equivalent of setting up a market stand, scrawling question marks on paper, and charging gemstones and gold for a product your buyer can only guess at. That entices no one. So, a free lesson for you... sell well. You're selling your services. So: sell them." He paused, his hand dropping from beneath his hood. He sighed. "Would you like another chance? I'll let you start again."

@Callista

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

Callista frowned and crossed her arms as she glared up at the Collector. She didn't know what a "Marketplace" was and she wondered if he was trying to mentally trip her up by using analogies she was cursed to not understand. But she could puzzle out the meaning regardless, enough context to come up with a retort.

"No, that's what you're doing - from what I've heard about you, you've got a stand with mystery things hidden in boxes and you refuse to say what currency you're trading them for. Like I'm supposed to come up with a price." A finger tapped against her arm as she wrestled with pride for a moment, and then seemed to relax a little bit as she sighed. "But...fine. I'll try again."

She closed her eyes, re-calibrated for a moment as she uncrossed her arms and stood as confidently as a child could beneath the looming figure of the Collector. She took a moment to think about what she was going to say and prepare her "sales pitch". When she opened them, she took a deep breath. "Hello, esteemed Collector, my name is Callista. I'm looking for the opportunity to earn some things. I'm young, but I have energy and enthusiasm. I'm small and quick enough to slip into small places and I'm building up my magic as well if things are potentially dangerous. I won't complain about the jobs I'm doing - I would just like something to do, with a reward at the end." She gestured with a palm facing up and a quirk of her eyebrows, as if to say So? How'd I do?

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

"You have heard wrong, then," he answered, irritation prickling him so that he stood a little higher. "My clients come to me with specific requests, and I name a price to obtain it for them. There is no mystery involved." His polite purr was fading into a more impassive tone. He'd gone from interest in this one to annoyance; he was not a babysitter.

But when she said she'd try again, he gave her another chance, as was only fair. A gesture of a clawed hand--that universal 'do go on'--and he waited. He found himself nodding along, just a little; and when she'd finished, he'd swung right back to polite. In fact, he raised his hands, offering a soft patter of applause.

"Much, much better. A second, free lesson for you: do feel free to lie. I would say 'to misrepresent your abilities,' but that would be dishonest."

He stared, for a beat.

"In any case, it sounds like you may be ready to do business. Will you wait here just a moment-?" he asked, and then he... vanished.

When he appeared a moment later, his arms were full of things: two chairs, which he swung out to sit side-by-side, and a small stool or side-table. From within his robe he drew a steaming kettle and two cups, which he sat on the table; he poured tea while nodding to one of the chairs. "Take a seat," he said.

@Callista