Chapter Text
The citizens of the boiling isles were afraid of the god-child that for decades had provided their dictator with the knowledge to destroy them all. But they all knew that the collector had saved them. It wasn’t uncommon for people to talk about them in awe, but also fear. They were a god, given their powers, but they were also a god, given the terror induced worship they were given. At first, the collector didn’t seem to mind it, and then even started to enjoy it, at least a little bit. But those children that told them about the owl house game, they had been gone for a long time now, and the collector was getting bored.
“collector, my lord, what would you like to play today?” a young-ish demon asked. He was trembling, but smiling. The collector couldn’t seem to understand how a person could tremble and smile at the same time, but they didn’t really need to understand. People just gave him what he wanted.
“I’m not in the mood today. Maybe tonight?”
“o-of course, my lord.” That was another thing about the collector. They didn’t seem to know what sleep was. They obviously got tired, but like a fussy baby would stay awake until the ex-healing coven came to help. The demon walked away and the collector was left alone. They had been given a nice house to live in, with lots of rooms. Good for hide and seek, they thought. They always had lots of tasty food, whatever they asked for, and all the games they could play, but things got boring quickly. And they just couldn’t stop thinking about that owl house game. He wanted to play it, or at least know what it was. He threw a ball up the air, sitting upside down on the sofa and contemplating. Then there was a sudden bang as the door flung open a bit too quickly from the wind, and the collector flinched. They sat upright and looked curiously at the door, and saw a wild haired woman with only one arm walking through. She looked like she was talking to someone outside the house. The collector always loads of people around to play with, so someone even stood outside at all times just in case! But when the lady walked in, she didn’t bring a playmate. Maybe she was bringing them food?
“Heya kiddo. D’ya mind scooching up a bit? Lemme sit down with you?” her voice was kind but powerful and the collector didn’t have anything against it. Mostly he was curious, people never visited him. he moved closer to the arm of the chair and hugged a pillow, a little nervous.
“who are you?” their voice felt little when they were with the new lady, which was a strange feeling.
“my name is Eda. You know my kids, King and Luz?” the collector didn’t know what a ‘Luz’ was, but he sure knew who king was!
“King! He’s my best friend!” the collector jumped up and almost fell off the sofa.
“Haha! Yes, King. Well, at the moment, my other kid, Luz, is away in the human realm with her friends. We don’t know when she’ll be back yet, so King wanted to know if you would like to stay in our spare room for a bit, so the house is a bit more lively again.” The collector considered this proposal for minute.
“who will be there with us?” he settled on asking.
“my partner Raine will be there, but otherwise just me and King.” She paused, thinking, “you need to know, I can’t be your mom. I want to look after you, but you need a parent of your own, someone who can get to know you better.”
“whaddya mean?” the collector was being probed with so much new information all at once, it was dizzying to take in. they were going to stay at the lady’s house? The lady was King’s mom? She wanted to look after him? “wait! Can I play games with you?” he needed to ask.
“of course! You’re just a kid, after all. but you know, every kid needs a parent. I cant be your forever parent, but, until we find you someone who can, I’m more than happy to fill the role.”
“okay… so who will be my forever parent?”
“we don’t know yet!” Eda said, “that’s half the fun of it, you get to meet people and choose your family. And I promise we’ll find someone great.”
“okay. I agree, but one last thing.” The collector said, with a sly grin on their face as they approached Eda.
“and what would that be?” Eda attempted a happy question, but she was obviously nervous.
“we have to have pizza for dinner. And ice cream for dessert.” He smiled wider, like he had just won a prize, and Eda burst out in a fit of laughs.
“Of course! No problem, kiddo. C’mon, I think we need to buy you some pajamas and a stuffed animal for bed tonight. I hear that you haven’t done a lot of sleeping lately.”
He was puzzled, for sure, Eda thought, but no one seemed to have ever tried to teach this kid. It seemed like he had been locked away and taken advantage of for years, maybe this was just what he needed.
“I dunno what sleeping is, but if I get a stuffed animal to do it, then I’m in!” he offered his hand to Eda, as a gesture of ‘I want to hold your hand but don’t know how to ask’, so she took it and led him out of the house.
“let’s get going then, eh? I think we’re going to have a busy day.” She smiled at him.