The One with the Sweet Loot

Aloth heaved a deep sigh. It looked like it was going to be one of those sorts of afternoons again.

"What are you doing Remei?"

Remei looked up at him from where she sat cross-legged on the tavern floor, an impish grin on her face.

"Checking out all the sweet loot I liberated from some noble's house this morning."

Well, one thing you could always say about Remei was that she was at least open about her rather loose grasp on the concept of "other people's property."

And she was certainly equal opportunity in what she took, he thought, looking at the detritus surrounding her. Old books, a handful of potions, some lockpicks, ... a fish.

Aloth gave her a look that was distinctly unimpressed.

Remei stopped sorting in response and looked up at him.

"Don't give me that look. I'll have you know I also stole 111 silver lusce and 30 golden ducs."

Aloth pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Remei, I think you have a problem."

She looked surprised. "No, I don't," she said dismissively.

"You steal everything that's not nailed down."

"It's not my fault some people take insufficient care in securing their belongings. That means they want me to have it," she said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Aloth replied slowly and clearly, as though he was speaking to a child, which sometimes didn't seem very far off the mark with Remei. "No. No it does not."

She rolled her eyes at him. "Besides, I steal only what I can't afford. That just happens to be everything."

He was starting to feel the beginnings of the special sort of headache he got whenever he debated something with Remei and she brought in her own special brand of logic.

He gave her a serious look.

"You know that's not true."

She was quiet a moment. "I guess old habits die hard," she finally admitted begrudgingly. "It's still getting through to me that I actually have money know, that I don't have to worry about where my next meal is coing from."

She took a deep breath and raised her hands placatingly.

"And since it means that much to you, I promise I'll take everything back. Even though stealing is one of my top three favorite crimes."

"Dare I ask what the other two are?"

"Swindling people through elaborate musical numbers and extortion. The x makes it sound cool." She gave him a serious look just a shade short of mocking. "I hope you appreciate how much I'm giving up for you."

"My heart bleeds," he replied dryly.

She swept the scattered gear back into her bag and stood up. "I suspect you're not being entirely genuine," she said, tapping him on the chest with her index finger, "but all the same, I will pack this stuff up and take it back to the Doemenals."

Aloth raised an eyebrow. "You stole this stuff from the Doemenals?"

"Yup."

"On second thought, screw 'em."

Remei's face broke open into a huge grin, and she threw her arms around him.

"I knew there was a reason I liked you."

"You're a terrible influence," he replied, shaking his head.

She stepped back and winked at him. "Always."

"Now," she continued, "I'm going to check out the bar and see what sorts of delightful concoctions our dear Bishop can whip up. Care to join me?" She was wearing her mischievous look, which was never a good sign.

"I think I've already been complicit in enough bad behavior for one day."

Remei shrugged. "Your loss."

And with that she went skipping off to the bar, Aloth's coin purse resting safely in her pocket.