Beard is the key.

"What are you doing here? Because I have work to do, and I don’t have time to babysit you to prevent you from stealing things." 

"Some idiot down at the LEP decided I couldn't just walk away scot-free, apparently. Been sent here to do the, er, what'd he call it, 'community service'," he grimaced. "Don't tell me, not my first choice either."

"What the hell are you doing?" Opal asked after waking up to find Mulch Diggums in her room. 

"Can’t tell ya that, I’m afraid. Professional secrets and all that," he winked mischievously at the pixie. "Why the sudden interest? Thought ya wanted out, didn’t ya?"

"Oh Mulch, must there always be something in it for you?" Holly tried to sound exasperated, but couldn’t hide her smile. "I convinced the LEP to pay you a consultant’s fee for your help. We need a thief and you’re the best one I know." 

"So, what's the job then, eh? Sneakin' into Mudmen homes? Snatchin' fancy equipment from under fairy noses? Naggin' pompous centaurs?"

"Eh, for me, I’m kind of in between. If it’s warm and sunny outside, then the outdoors is disgusting. But if it’s a foggy morning in the forest or a snow day, then getting me to stay inside will be difficult feat."

"So, uh, yer the big tough guy's lady then, eh? He's sure done well for himself."

"What the hell are you doing?" Opal asked after waking up to find Mulch Diggums in her room. 

Just before heading through the door, however, he turned back to face the female. “I don’t s’ppose I could, uh, at least borrow it? And, err… some things?” he suggested, instinctively covering his face in case the other’s temperament suddenly willed her to throw things at him. 

"What the hell are you doing?" Opal asked after waking up to find Mulch Diggums in her room. 

"Alright, alright, no need to get yer, uh, nightgown in a twist." He set down the candlestick with a loud sigh, re-adjusting it into its exact previous position as he offered the other his brightest smile. "I was just in a bit of a financial situation is all. Won’t happen again. I think."

Just before heading through the door, however, he turned back to face the female. "I don't s'ppose I could, uh, at least borrow it? And, err... some things?" he suggested, instinctively covering his face in case the other's temperament suddenly willed her to throw things at him. 

"Not as often, which means I’m back on some of the bigger cases. I was wondering if my old partner might be up for a case for old times’ sake." 

"Ol' times' sake, eh? What's in it for me, then?" he teased, clearly not really fishing for a reward. At least not, you know, a big one. He couldn't really claim he'd turn down a coin or two - for the greater good, of course.

"Eh.. no. I’m.. Just a Mud girl…"

"Last time we dealt with 'just a Mud person' we ended up in all sorts of trouble, I tell ya," Mulch then cackled. "Pardon my dwarven curiosity, but ye don't seem too surprised over the situation. I take it yer not a newbie on the whole, uh, us thing then?"

"What the hell are you doing?" Opal asked after waking up to find Mulch Diggums in her room. 

"Alright, alright, no need to get yer, uh, nightgown in a twist." He set down the candlestick with a loud sigh, re-adjusting it into its exact previous position as he offered the other his brightest smile. "I was just in a bit of a financial situation is all. Won’t happen again. I think."