"But I
am the cute one." You'd pout if you could but in absence of that option you just fold your arms in as offended a manner as you can. While still sitting atop the thief so he can't just run away again, obviously. He give you a look that's equal parts confused and unnerved.
"So... you're a female armour-daedra." He says slowly then he flashes a smile at you. "Then may I say, just between us, you are by far the most beautiful daedra I have ever encountered." You.... You have no idea how to respond to that. Thankfully Diana arrives before things get really, really weird.
"Wow... never thought your name was literal." She pants, hands on her knees while she catches her breath.
"Neither did I, then this happened, and here we are. Successfully captured thief and all." You wave proudly at the thief. Not even Morlia could be angry that you caught a thief! Well, on second thoughts, knowing her she could probably find a reason. "So... I guess we take him to the guards now? That's the proper authorities here right." Maybe you'll meet up with the alliterative guard again and you can have your rematch early.
"Whoa, don't be hasty about this." The thief says quickly, trying and failing to squirm his way free.
"You stole from us, and the shopkeeper, of course we're turning you in." Diana says bluntly. "It's what any loyal citizen of the empire would do."
"That and we'll probably get a reward." You add helpfully. "Hey, Diana, grab that sack while I deal with our friend." With one hand you point to the bag and its slightly spilled contents. Diana scoops the few scattered coins back into the bag while you ponder the best way to do this. Your shoulder armour isn't that spiky... right?
The thief flails a bit but he's not exactly strong and you heft him over one shoulder with ease. He stops struggling, probably realising it's useless, and starts to talk. "So you're Diana, right? Lovely name, pretty." Diana rolls her eyes. "You aren't local, right? I can always tell. So what brings you and your daedra to Skingrad? Can't be the scenery 'cause frankly it sucks and...."
"Do you ever stop talking?" Diana asks and the thief pauses for a half a breath to think about it. You head back the way you came, you know Morlia's probably still at the shop and all the shop keeper's shouting would probably have attracted a guard or five. It's the best place to go to find a 'proper authority'.
"When I'm being carried to the town guard to get my hand chopped off... nah. Don't really see the point in not talking like my life depends on it. Frankly my hand, which I'm kinda fond of considering I've had it all my life you know, does depend on me not getting caught by the guards." He pauses again. "Or your daedra come to think of it."
"Should have thought of that before you decided to steal from us." You say firmly. The thief kicks your chest plate then hisses a curse.
"Look I didn't exactly plan on three customers walking in on me grabbing what I could." He protests, voice strained a little with pain. "So I did my best to talk fast and get the oblivion out of there, can you blame me? Anyway, I
did pay you for your stuff. You're walking away forty nine septims richer for meeting me! And I can guarantee that old miser would have given you half what I did." Well... he did pay you, but it was pretty obviously not enough for the items in question!
"You shortchanged us." Diana points out and the thief groans.
"You want more money, look in my bag. There's got to be at least two hundred septims in there. More than worth you putting me down and letting everyone think I got away right? Right?" He asks desperately. "I mean, think of my family! I have two little sisters to feed and shelter. You let the guards have me and they're going to starve! C'mon, I'm just trying to keep us fed and clothed."
"Well I... I think...." Diana stops and chews on her lower lip.
"I need my hand, really I do. I'm trying to get honest work, I swear I am, but sometimes ends just don't quite meet, you know?" The thief plunges on, a note of desperate hope in his voice. "Maybe... maybe I got a little greedy in there but so long as there's some money left to fall back on over the winter it shouldn't be so bad. Please, I'm just trying to keep the three of us alive. I don't deserve to lose a hand for that, surely?"
No one's seen you with the thief yet, you're still in the back ally but the broken door to the shop is just ahead. Diana grabs your wrist gently and you stop. "Fast... I don't.... What do you think we should do? If he's gonna lose his hand and he's telling the truth and he has sisters...." She starts chewing on her lip again, fiddling with the hems of her sleeves.
[ ] Hand him over, he broke the law, he knew what he was risking.
[ ] Let him go, no one has to know you caught him.
[ ] Do something else with the thief.
Optional
[ ] What do after the thief is dealt with?
Oh look, I updated early. The urge to write this grows stronger *evil laugh*
Next update tomorrow, just like my sig says
