Vessel’s Cabinet of Curiosities

“My name is Vessel.” With an elegant swoop of ser arm, se gestures to the trunk beside ser. “I have come to Ora to exhibit my qíjìtáng.”

“You need a business permit to do that,” Anima says reflexively, but with little conviction. Ær gaze lingers on the trunk, made of dark cherry rosewood, inlaid with mother-of-pearl and semiprecious stone, braced with bronze filigree corners. Vessel’s slender hand rests on top. The dim light reflects a line of ethereal red off the wood and onto ser hand. Ser long, coffin-shaped nails are lacquered black, the fourth fingernail inset with a sparkling ruby, ringed with a fine braid of gold.

“Do I? I’m not selling anything.” Vessel lifts ser hand, another graceful gesture like water flowing over a stone; se cradles ser cheek in ser palm, ser other hand propping up ser elbow. “Would you like to see what I have?”

—In the Watchful City