Upon entering the inn—or rather, being dragged into it against his will—Nell opened his mouth to yell at the innkeeper for help. He thought better of it before even a word left his mouth. Who knew what this madwoman would do to him if he caused trouble for her again?
Best thing to do was wait until she put the book down, then grab it and run away. He was taller than her, had longer legs. That surely meant he could outrun her!
He stood rigidly just inside the door while Love packed her things. "Uh, no. You can't keep that book. It has to go back to the library immediately! It doesn't belong to you."
Love raised an eyebrow at that comment, straightening up, "Nell...it's good you are pretty. Because you are not all that bright." He seemed book smart enough, but the boy had no clue what seemed to be happening.
"Let me use smaller words." Love went back to packing her bag, making sure the book was safely stowed, "I am stealing this book. And I am kidnapping you. I am going to take you, and the book, and leave the city. Then I'm going to use it, you and whatever mage I can find to break the curse on me." Staring Nell right in the eye, Love spoke the next words extra slowly, "Did we understand all that?"
"But--!" Nell reached out helplessly as the book disappeared into her bag, then let his hand fall back to his side again. "But!"
Yes. She was stealing the book. That much was clear. But how could she do that?! "But it doesn't belong to you," he said, speaking just as slowly. /She/ was the one having trouble understanding things. "It's /wrong/ to steal it. And you hit me!"
"Yes. I know it doesn't. That is why I am stealing it." Love still spoke carefully, folding up the last of her clothes and tying the bag shut, "And, yes, it's wrong to steal. I did mention I used to be a pirate." She smiled, slinging the bag over her shoulder, "I do bad things. I kinnda have too until I get this curse removed. But, I'll probably still do them anyways."
Closing the distance, Love lightly traced her fingers down Nell's neck, "And I had to punch you. You were about to get me arrested."
Nell threw his hands up. "Of course I was, because you're stealing and it's a crime! You have a moral obligation to bring that back! Right now! We're living in a society!"
He took a breath and scowled at her. "And I can't believe you hit me. I can't believe you would do that to someone!"
"I have a moral obligation to not turn into a damn dragon and have to mate some giant lizard. So shove it." Love rolled her eyes, "Look, what do you want? An apology? Fine. I'm sorry I hit you." But you totally deserved it.
"That doesn't make any sense! And I don't want an apology--well okay, I do, thank you. Apology accepted. But now you have to bring that book back because it's the right thing to do. And you have to turn yourself in to the city guards."
Nell eyed the pack with the book in it, wishing he had the courage to try to wrest it from her. But if she would hit him just for trying to stop a theft, then no telling how far she would go.
"Which part confused you?" Love's lips curled upwards as Nell spoke, so amused by his reaction she didn't even know where to start, "You know Nell. You are the most refreshingly naive person I have ever met. It's a little sexy. But I'm not going back and you are coming with me. So let's finish up with silly talk so we can get walking. Have you stayed outdoors before?"
"No I have not stayed outdoors and I don't intend to! We are going back to the library right now. I won't be a party to your depraved crimes." He folded his arms across his chest.
"Nell darling." Love gave a small sigh, "Let's go slowly, okay? You are coming with me. If you don't, I will snap your arm. I don't want to do that, I'm sure you don't want me too. So let's just avoid that and have you come along quietly."
Nell flinched. "But...you apologized! You can't hurt me again after you apologized for it already!"
Love tilted her head, "Yes I can. Because I apologized for hitting you before. And I am sorry. And I'll be sorry to hurt you again. But sometimes Nell, we have to do things we don't like. Like you have to come along with me. Or..." Love frowned, a thoughtful look crossing her face, "Maybe you want me to be along with the book. I've never had to deal with a book this old before. I hope I don't damage it."
"You're an awful person! No, ah! I'm sorry, I didn't mean that! But how can you say something so awful?"
Nell slumped. "We have to go back." They just /had/ to, but he was beginning to think it wasn't going to happen. He couldn't /make/ her go back and she didn't seem to care that what she was doing was just wrong.
"No. I am." That hit a little close to home, but Love did her best to look carelessly indifferent, smiling brightly at Nell, "I've robbed, kidnapped and attacked two people in the last hour."
She felt a little guilty for doing this to Nell. She wasn't heartless, but she needed this book. And needed Nell, "I promise, when this is all over, I'll give you the book back and deliver you to the library. And I'll figure out something really lovely to make it up to you with."
Oh. Well. That wasn't /so/ bad. Nell tilted his head, considering. It was sort of like...borrowing a book from the library without going through the proper paperwork. Which was marginally better than stealing.
Nell closed his eyes and sighed. "If I help you, do you promise you will give up the book when you're done with it? And you'll never steal again?"
"I promise I'll return the book, but Nell darling, I make my living stealing. I can't promise I'll never steal again. A girl has to eat." She would never get tits if she kept missing meals due to lack of funds! "But glad we have this sorted out! Let's me friends!"
"Uh huh." Nell had no idea what her word was worth. Probably nothing, but he didn't say that. He would just have to go on and hope that she kept her end of the bargain. If it meant getting the book back and getting away from her, then he supposed he could help her out. He'd rather that than get his arm broken.
"Wait, why did you pack? Where are we going? It's dark out, we should stay here."
"We can't stay here silly. You would just try to run off back to the library with the book." Love smiled, "So we're going to have a little camp out! It'll be fun. I only have the one bedroll though, so we'll have to get really close tonight."
Reaching down, Love grasped Nell's wrist again and started for the door.
