[ ℜ ]

     “True, I suppose you are,” He paused. “I’m Ross.”

  He stuck out his hand for her to shake, he just had to keep this going. In order for him to dock for free. Money wasn’t the problem, he just didn’t want it down on paper that he had been here. Besides, he was sure that the grand guard checked the dock reports. They’d hunt him down and would most likely question the woman as well.

☼

“Dawn. Nice to meet you.” 

She met his hand and gave his a light shake, then let go. She was wondering what made him come up this way- why he was talking to her? Had he docked-? She wished that she had paid more attention- and noticed where he’d come from.

“So what brings you here, today?” She figured the question was worth another shot.

[ ℜ ]

  Ross was silent at first, playing it smooth for now. The smirk still present on his face. He was trying to avoid answering her question for reasons, he’s done this kind of things over a hundred times.

     “Perhaps you could tell me what a pretty thing like       yourself is doing in a place like this.” 

☼

She wanted to be professional, but he was making it sort of hard. Besides, it’d been a busy morning- it was a hot day...so she welcomed this good looking distraction.

 “I’m working. Or- trying to.”

[ ℜ ]

  After Ross had docked his ship, he got off and went looking for the person in charge. Perhaps he could persuade him to let Ross just dock here and bill him later. Which he had no intention of paying. But Ross was a smooth talker, something he was gifted with. Once he spotted the area he headed towards it.

      “Excuse me…”

  He started, realizing that the person in charge was a female. This only made his job easier. A smirk formed on his face at the realization that perhaps being able to dock for free but he had the potential of getting laid too.

☼

At the sound of the voice, Dawn looked up and couldn’t help but smile in return. For a change, she didn’t mind being interrupted- especially by such a handsome man. Damnit, Dawn, focus.  She straightened up, and busily tapped her ledger with her pen.

“Hi- can I help you with something?  Did you dock?”

It was a busy day at the docks, not to mention hot. Dawn wiped her brow, then pushed her hair back from her face. She’d kill for a drink. She looked around, down to the other end of the yard where the few vendors were. No, she’d have to wait until her father came back later. She huffed, then went back to look at the information in her ledger, and compared them to the ship that had in today. 

[ ⊕ ] 

  Hearing the snicker only made Carson smile as he approached the bags. He started to go through each one and finally getting to the one Michael was in he opened it up and acted surprised. 

     "And what do we have here? A little monkey?“ 

☆

He waited so quietly, up until the bag opened and he started to giggle. Michael sat up, with a wide smile on his lips.

 “No daddy, it’s me.”

[ ⊕ ]

  Carson picked up a bunch of the canned goods and went over to the pantry with them, he opened the door and started putting them in there. Once he was done with that he went back to the table and grabbed some more. 

     "I gotta feed Lucy yet and then just my usual rounds in       the cemetery.“

☼

“Well,-” she looked at him over her shoulder from her place at the cupboards, “I can feed Lucy, and if you want, I can go with you to the  cemetery? Keep you company...if you like.”