I never said they were GOOD choices

The color drains from the Halflings face as the understanding of what I’m holding sinks in.

“Th-that’s a s-s-**** collar? THAT’S A **** COLLAR!” she turns to run.

“Binding Roots!” I shout and point at her. Tendrils erupt from the ground and wrap around her legs, tripping her. Another vine wraps her wrists behind her back. I roll her over and sit her up. Raw terror written on her face as tears roll down her cheeks.

“No! Please! Not that!” she sobs.

“Relax. Deep breath. Y’know, this sounds oddly familiar. Calm down. I know that a man threatening you with a **** collar is terrifying but I’m offering you a choice.”

“Ch-choice?” she sniffles.

“I haven’t put it on you yet, have I!”

“No.”

“You have a few options, but I need you calm. Can you do that?” She nods. “Good.” I continue, “Option one, I take you into town and have you arrested. But since you know about my strength I’d have to while your mind. I’ve never tried it so I don’t know how it will work. Option two, you take the collar, well bracelet, and put it on willingly. This shows me that you agree to serve me. It grants you some liberties but prevents you from betraying me in any way. Think of it as making you my indentured assistant. Option three, I **** it on you, making you, well, my ****. In every facet. Or, option four, I kill you here and now and be done with you. Believe it or not, I’d rather not do that last one. Take a minute to think about it.”

“I don’t understand,” she says catching her breath, “ why even offer anything?”

“I told you. I’m new here and I know nothing about this world.” Noting the puzzled look on her face, “Imagine I’m a five thousand year old Archmage who’s soul was locked away and this poor fellow you see before you was the unfortunate shlub who set me free. I’m not, by the way, but let’s say that. I know nothing about the world at large, kingdoms, religions, hell, I don’t even know what the currency exchange is. I need a guide and if you stick with me, you can ride my coattails. How does that sound?”

“And you’ll trust me… just like that?”

“Of course not! That’s where the bracelet come in. As I said, if you put it on willingly, you still retain a certain amount of self. If there was something you didn’t want, you could ask, but ultimately I could override. I’m not going to **** you, if that’s what you’re worried about, but if for some reason I tell you to jump into a volcano, you could ask me to reconsider. You can’t do anything to harm me or tell my secrets without my permission but other than that, you’re still you. If I **** it on you, you could literally never disobey me, even if I order you to kill yourself.”

She gives a resigned sigh. “Dead, jail, or a ****. Y’know, it’s a tougher decision than you would think. Well, I guess I don’t have much choice really.” She reaches for the bracelet and slips it on. It shrinks to snugly fit her wrist. “Now that that’s out of the way, what do I call you?”