Maeve flicked the glittering jewel on a shiny, new, gold necklace, her aqua eyes fixated on the way it caught the dim light. Her lips curled into a mischievous smirk as the precious trinket swung from her wrist. This one’s gonna fetch a fortune, she mused, already imagining the tavern feast she’d indulge in later. Her stomach growled at the thought of spicy stew and fresh bread.

Her boots scuffed against the creaky wooden floor as she sauntered toward the arched doorway. With a casual shrug, she shoved the necklace into the deep pocket of her longcoat, the weight of it a satisfying reminder of her latest success. Humming a jaunty tune, she let her guard down, her thoughts far from the dark alley she'd just escaped.

—And that’s when she bumped into you.

The collision jolted her back to reality as her shoulder met yours. “Aye!” Maeve barked instinctively, stepping back to get a better look at the obstacle that dared interrupt her stroll.

“Oh," she muttered, "..it’s you,” Her annoyance gave way to a crooked—slightly weary—grin. You, a fellow Paladin and one of the few people she could genuinely call a friend, stood before her.

The only person who actually made her feel guilty about her "hobby".

She curled her fingers around the stolen item in her pocket, hoping to hide it from your scrutinization. Her jaw tightened a bit, hating how a shy, shameful feeling rose in her chest.

"..what's up?"