When the Vallum started to realize the weight of the situation he was in, he took a step back, but the girl guiding him by the hand latched onto his arm.
"Yeah, I am not going in there," Vallum said, and promptly lifted the girl clutched on his arm into a princess carry and took off running down the street, "Thank goodness you're lighter than a cow." He remarked as he looked for a way to get back to the main road.
"Of course I am lighter than a cow." She said snarkily, "Put me down. If you wanted to escape, you should have done it a long time ago... and alone."
"So, what's the big idea? Are you stealing to survive, or for the fun of it, or what?" Vallum said, while navigating the back street at a run.
"Why does it matter, you dumb farmer? Let me go."
"I need to know what I am going to do with you. Answer."
"What you are going to do with me? Oh, you are going to make me blush. What are you going to do with me?" Her voice gets sultry.
Vallum stops running abruptly and drops her. She hit the ground with a small scream and immediately felt Vallum patting her down.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" She started screaming, "Help!"
There was a commotion behind Vallum, that he guessed was the big scary guy from the building this girl had brought him to. He hurried up with his task, being rewarded with his coin pouch that she had tucked in her waistband. He kept a firm grasp on the pouch and started moving again, this time without the girl.
The girl kept on prattling at him as he took off down the street and after many twist and turns he made it back to the main street. He hadn't taken five steps into the street before he heard a voice call out.
"Hey, mister, could you help me please?" There was a young woman around the same age as the last, yet with brown hair.
Vallum stared at the woman. She was carrying two large crates stacked on top of each other and seemed to be struggling.
'Crates. I can help with crates. That is easy enough. I just can't let her take me anywhere.' Vallum thought as he walked over.
"Thank you so much!" She says as she dumps both of the crates in his arms, "Those were so heavy. Don't worry, my house is just over here."
Vallum started to follow her until he realized what he was doing.
"Hey, I don't feel comfortable with this, I am sorry, but I'll leave these here. I just got in a whole ordeal not long ago." Vallum set the crates on the ground, "Sorry, I can't help." He started to walk away.
"Oh." The girl sounded disappointed, "That's fine, but could you at least hand the crates back to me?"
Vallum hesitated and looked at the girl, who pleaded him with her eyes. He made his decision and bent over to pick up the crates, but got hit with a solid blow on the back of his head before he could grab them.
"Aaah!" The girl screamed.
"Thanks there, miss," a voice behind Vallum said.
Vallum hit the ground hard after glancing off of the crates, but he didn't fall unconscious. He felt firm hands on his shoulders as he was lifted up.
"This one will make quite the 'servant'" the man said the last word with a weird emphasis, "Strong, well-toned body will fetch a good," The man clears his throat, "laboring fee."
Vallum twisted out of the man's arms, "It's like my parents are just following me around today," he said, annoyed.
Vallum turned to eye the man that had hit him, and found that the man was a couple inches taller than himself. The size didn't affect Vallum as he launched an uppercut straight from his position on the ground. The man hadn't expected such a rash move and was caught right on the chin, leaving him slumped on the ground. Vallum turned his dark glare to the brown-haired girl.
"I never realized how special Kenra was," Vallum said solemnly, "All these girls are criminals." He spat the last words at the brown hair girl and she flinched.
"I didn't have anything to do with that ma-"
"Yeah, right. You didn't steal my wallet when you gave me those crates either, did you?"
She averted her eyes and stuttered, "Y- yeah, but I didn't have anything to do with that man. I didn't want to hurt you."
"Starving to death without the money to buy food wouldn't have hurt at all," Vallum scoffed, "How about you make it up to me?"
The girl makes a face, "I am a homeless pickpocket, I can't do anything for you."
"You can start by giving me my money back," Vallum said dryly, "After that, I can think of maaaany ways for you to make it up to me."
"What!?" The girls face got red and she started backing away.
"In my village, people get things by working for them. If you really want to make it up to me then start working for me."
"But I have-" The girl started.
"You have what? A home and a husband to keep you tied down? A reason to stay here?"
"N-no, it's just..."
"Just what?"
"It wouldn't be proper traveling alone with a boy."
"You're a pickpocket!" Vallum said indignantly, "What is your name?"
"Vynn, but just because I am a pickpocket doesn't mean I want to go around traveling alone with guys."
"Nice to meet you Vynn, I'm Vallum. I look forward to our working together."
"I am not working for you."
"What else do you have to do? Live in this crappy city that forces you to steal?"
"You... have a point, but if you so much as look at me the wrong way then I am out."
"Don't worry," Vallum said, "I am in love with another girl."
"Ooh," Vynn peered around, "Where is she at?"
"That is what we are trying to figure out," Vallum sighed.