Tivan relaxed in a thick, luxurious chair with a hot cup of tea as he met with visitor after visitor after visitor. A few were simply curious about the museum, or Hanni herself, but since meeting his friends, the Collector had mostly attracted sellers. A lot of it was useless junk, some of which he bought and some of which he did not, but peppered here and there throughout the lousy items were genuine rarities... most of which were not legally traded items. Hanni swore she saw a massive, dangerous weapon, but didn't concern herself with it. His business, she reasoned. She had been Tivan's for nearly two months now; they had fallen into a happy pattern of preparing for guests and celebrating his successful purchases afterward. He had not had headaches since he had last seen his friends at what Hanni could only describe as a club, and though his appetite had not improved much it had at least improved a little. She brought her master and his visitor new cups of hot tea, but the woman refused and collected her things congenially, thanking him for business and leaving quickly. Tivan sighed with pleasure, laughing good-naturedly and lounging in the chair, spinning a small, diamond-encrusted egg in his hands. He handed it off to Hanni and she placed it carefully in a tiny, but sturdy bell jar on a shelf near the wall before returning to the kitchen to wash the unused tea cup. She had just finished rinsing it out when her master entered with a smile, leaning on the door frame. Hanni returned the grin as always and offered him some cookies she had made. He hesitated before taking one, but made a noise of enjoyment as he ate it.
"Wine for our next guest," he commanded, licking his fingers with a glance at Hanni. "And treat yourself to a glass."
"Master?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"I saw you enjoy it once," he said with a sly expression. "You've done well so far. Reward yourself."
Hanni tried to politely decline, but he cut across her with a chuckle.
"That's an order," he said as turned away, suddenly pausing as he strode from the kitchen. "You know," he said slowly, turning back to her with an earnest stare, "You're one of the best purchases I have ever made." With that, he swished from the room, awaiting his next guest in the main foyer. Hanni felt her cheeks redden slightly with the offbeat compliment, but suddenly remembered the wine, pulling two glasses from the cupboard, then deciding to grab a third.
Why not? she reasoned. This is his last customer tonight anyway.
Once the man had arrived and they set to business, Hanni brought the bottle out, pouring it carefully and exiting without another word. She waited in the kitchen, but could hear almost all of the conversation from the main chamber. That was how Tivan wanted it, for the most part, so he could call her easily if she was needed. She relaxed against the counter, eating a cookie and finally pouring herself a small glass of the cherry wine that was her master's favorite, taking a small sip with relish.
"...But how much would you want?" asked the man.
"I told you," her master responded calmly, "She is not for sale."
"Everyone and everything has a price, Tivan."
"No," he said more firmly.
"Name it," the man said. "Name it and I'll pay it right now. You spent seventy-five hundred, yes?"
"Seventy-five thousand," her master corrected, "But as I said, I will not sell her."
"Why not?" the man asked irritably.
"Because you are a beater. I know you are. Your last slave killed herself, as I recall."
There was an awkward pause and Hanni's heart went into her throat – what if Tivan did have a price for her?
"She served her purpose for as long as necessary. What makes your slave's skin so valuable?" the man sneered. "Why are you so attached to her?"
"Why are you?" he countered softly.
"You paid seventy-five thousand units for her – she must be quite incredible. What exactly is she good at, by the way...?"
"That's my business," Tivan said curtly.
"A hundred."
"Pardon me?"
"A hundred thousand units and I get to take her home with me today."
"You're insulting me."
Hanni began to panic in earnest. Everyone and everything has a price.
"One hundred fifty. That's double what you paid, Tivan."
"I am warning you, ser, our previous lucrative arrangements with my exports notwithstanding, our business will soon be at an end if you do not stop."
"Two hundred thousand. Cash." Hanni heard the shuffling of thin papers that could only be paper units. She held her hand against her heart and panted fearfully. Her master was not saying anything yet, but she heard him shift in his chair. Finally, he spoke, but in her terror, Hanni's grip on the glass of wine slipped and it shattered on the floor, her master's response lost in the commotion. Hanni cursed herself and bent to clean the pieces with shaking fingers, straining to listen, but she heard footsteps leave the building and then everything was silent. As soon as she had finished cleaning, her master entered with perfect timing, draining one of the two wine glasses in his hand that he set on the counter next to him. She froze, examining him carefully.
Is he celebrating? she wondered with horror, Or just coming to say goodbye?
Her lower lip trembled and she approached him with a sad glance. He grazed her face softly with his hand and she let slip a tear. He looked at her with bewilderment.
"I don't want to go with him!" she suddenly pleaded, clasping her hands in front of her desperately. To her surprise, Tivan laughed and clutched her hands, bringing her close for an embrace. "Please," she whispered, tears rolling down her face. "Please, please, please..."
He ran his fingers through her hair gently and gave a soothing purr.
"Of money I have more than enough," he said softly. "I can buy and sell almost anything I need to."
Including another slave, Hanni thought bitterly, but nodded.
"But do you want to know what I need more than anything?" he blew into her ear.
She shook her head, terrified and concerned.
"Another one of those cookies you made," he whispered.
Hanni looked at him in complete shock and he pulled away, laughing and grabbing one of the treats and polishing it off with a mischievous grin, leaning back against the counter opposite. She gaped at him with incredulity and he gave her a smug look.
"I thought you had sold me to that pig!" she whined, drying her eyes and giggling with giddy relief.
"Why would I do that?" he asked, raising his thick white eyebrows.
"I'm still a slave, after all," she sighed. "I'm your property, to do with as you please."
"Exactly," he suddenly snapped, raising a finger. "And what pleases me most is not selling you to a beater." He appeared to mull something over for a moment. "You must not think very highly of me."
"Master," she said, shaking her head and approaching him again. "I do think highly of you, I just... I know that if you want to continue your collection, you need money – selling me for a profit and just buying a cheap slave would make sense, especially now that you don't need me for bragging rights anymore."
Tivan pressed his fingers to his eyes and spoke to her slowly, as though she were dim.
"I told you I have plenty of money. As to how much? Well, what comes after trillions?"
Hanni looked at him in shock, but he smiled and crossed his arms, leaning back against the counter again.
"After how long – how truly long – I have lived, I have had more than enough time to accrue enough to buy the entire galaxy, should I want to. Compared to that, you were a small pittance, but I still needed the attention."
"Then why keep me once you had it?" she asked in a hushed tone. He licked his lips and stepped towards her, looking down into her soft face with a humored look.
"I do not wish to break in a new slave," he said, running a finger along his chin thoughtfully before suddenly putting on a slight scowl. "And why would you complain? You said yourself you would like to stay here. I might ask the same question... why?"
Hanni crossed her arms protectively, but confessed, "You treat me a lot better than I could ever hope to be treated." She looked at him in earnest, but then hung her head back down. "I know I'll never receive such luxuries or... good company... anywhere else."
"Good company?" he asked, sidling closer and lifting her chin up with his soft hand.
"Yes," she breathed, not knowing what else to say. Her heart was pounding.
Tivan narrowed his eyes and leaned in slightly, but just as quickly released her from his grasp and turned away, his fur cloak swishing behind him with his movements. He paused and laced his fingers together, thinking for a moment.
"Why do you want to stay here, Hanni?" he asked, his back still to her, her name once again sounding like honey on his lips. "Truly?"
"Master?"
"I asked you a question," he said in a grumbling voice. "As my slave you must answer me."
Hanni wasn't sure how to respond.
"I... I..." she stumbled, honestly surprised by the sudden shift in tone and his blunt question. She clutched her arms protectively about herself and looked at the floor. "I don't know," she whispered, turning away.
Seemingly annoyed, Tivan trod over to her with heavy steps and grabbed her shoulders, spinning her around forcefully. She looked at him in fear and panic before he pressed his mouth against hers firmly. Her body went completely rigid, petrified. Tivan broke away and wrapped his hands around her face, looking her in the eye as she stared at him in confusion. His mouth was barely an inch from hers.
"Kiss me," he pleaded. "Not because I'm your master, and you're obligated to... but because you're mine, and you want me to."
Hanni hesitated, breathing heavily, but closed her eyes and slowly brought her lips up to meet his own. He opened her mouth and as soon as their tongues met he loosed a soft moan, Hanni echoing it as she slid her fingers up his shoulders and neck and laced them into his hair. She could taste the sweet cherry wine on his breath and melted in his grasp. Tivan held and lifted her effortlessly, placing her upon the counter and planting kisses down her chest. She sighed softly and his hands slid up the outside of her thighs, bunching her dress up about her waist. He brought his face up to meet her eyes once more, saying everything with a glance. Hanni nodded and he continued, both of them trembling with anticipation and, later, relief.