Hanni held the door open for her master, who swished into the store gracefully and began to examine the place. Most shops in Knowhere were merely streetside stalls – an actual place of business was rare, and no doubt expensive. The proprietor hurried from the back, taking in his customers carefully, eying them up and trying to calculate how much their business would be worth. He was tall and scrawny, with graying black hair and a thin mustache, dressed impeccably and reeking of spicy cologne. His ruddy red skin was flattered by his gray silk suit. Hanni saw her master sneer slightly, but he raised an eyebrow at the clothing offered. It was nice...

Maybe too nice, she thought. Why would my master bother with such finery when he still hasn't even asked me my name? Hanni decided it must be related to what he had said the first night he had brought her back – that as his property, she was a reflection on him. Now she was just surprised he hadn't done this sooner.

"I need clothes for my servant," her master said immediately, either not patient enough for niceties today or not wanting to waste them on someone who was serving him. "You know who I am, of course?"
"Of course, sir," the owner said gently with a flattering smile. "What are you interested in? Style or function?"
"If it was merely a matter of function I would not have come here," Tivan snapped slightly. The man nodded, nonplussed.
"Very well, sir, we shall accommodate you. The session shall cost..."
"I don't care," he said in a bored voice. "Just make her look presentable."

"Yes, sir," the skinny man said, calling two female assistants to help him, one an older blonde with a dumpy frame and the other a young sliver of a thing, with ghostly white eyes and pale blue skin. They attended to Hanni silently while Tivan smoked with the owner in the corner, muttering things here and there as the sniveling man showered him with compliments and questions. The Collector blew a cloud of white smoke into the air, the smell of cherries drifting throughout and to where Hanni was being measured. She smiled at the scent.

After nearly an hour of fussing and discussing, the two women and owner had several piles of pre-made clothing waiting for them to take.

"Have them delivered," Tivan said, handing over a very thick stack of paper units. After considering, he pointed to the pile and then to Hanni's current blue dress and said, "But dress her in one now, and dispose of that wretched thing."

The younger woman grabbed a knee-length gown of emerald green with a trim of white gemstones that glittered in the light and handed it to Hanni. Once she had dressed, she stepped back out and couldn't help but smile at her master. The owner approached her with pride and gestured for Tivan to inspect the careful threading and overall elegance of the dress. The two men looked her up and down carefully and Hanni felt a little like a piece of meat, but tolerated all silently until she felt a thick hand grab the side of her hip. Suddenly, Tivan struck out and smacked the owner's hand away from his slave with a sharp sound.

"Do not touch what isn't yours," he snapped forcefully.

The man bowed apologetically but threw him a defiant eye as they left, Hanni being careful not to make a disgusted face in his direction. Escorted by guards as usual, they walked down the street in silence until finally Tivan broke it.

"You are not for anyone's service, work, or touch, save mine," he said. Hanni wasn't sure if he was admonishing her or warning her of possible scoundrels. Maybe it was both. Tivan stopped and turned to her. "I paid for you, always remember that. If some creature tries to impose upon you, you have my permission to fight them. Kill them, maim them, I don't care – but just remember that you are mine."

Hanni nodded in acknowledgment and her master gave a soft grunt, satisfied. They continued walking back to the museum.

He suddenly pulled a thoughtful face and asked, "What is your name, by the way?"

"Hanni."

"Hanni," he repeated, but with his unplaceable accent it came out more like honey. She decided she liked it.