#ffxivrp

Devlin knelt beside a cleat (had to google what this was called, it's that metal T shaped piece you tie boats off with in case you too were wondering), worked the rope through his fingers, and finished with a confident tug.

Rook crouched beside him.

He gave the knot a single pull before loosening it with practiced ease.

"Tie it again."

Devlin frowned.

"Why? It would've held."

"It would've."

"Like I said, so what was wrong with it?"

Rook handed the rope back.

"You had to think about it."

Devlin opened his mouth to argue, then thought better of it. He had debated it a bit too long hadn't he?

The rope came apart, and he started over.

Half an hour later he was beginning to understand why sailors cursed.

"You're enjoying this aren't you?" Devlin groaned.

"No."

"You smiled."

"I did not."

"You almost smiled."

"I almost corrected you."

Before Devlin could say anything back, a booming voice carried across the docks.

"Rook! You ugly bastard, where are ya?"

Both father and son turned toward shore.

A massive roegadyn strode down the dock wearing a worn cowboy hat, leather vest, and enough dust to suggest he'd somehow stepped straight out of Thanalan and onto the docks. Spurs jingled against the wood beneath his boots, and one gloved hand rested lazily near the revolver at his hip.

Beside him walked the largest red chocobo Devlin had ever seen. The bird carried itself with all the swagger of its owner. And he seemed really fucking angry for no good reason.

Cross tipped his hat back and looked up at the sloop.

"I see they finally let you captain somethin'."

Rook folded his arms.

"They didn't."

Cross grinned.

"So you stole it."

"Inherited."

"That somehow makes less sense, but I reckon you never did make much to begin with."

Without waiting for permission, Cross stepped aboard and gave one of the railings a firm shake. The wood answered with a pleading creak.

"Hell, she's got more complaints than my knees."

"She's older than your knees."

"Barely."

Devlin watched the exchange with quiet amusement.

Rook noticed.

"Cross."

The oversized outlaw turned.

"My son. Devlin. Dev, that's Cross and Rumble, my bird."

Cross's expression softened just enough to notice before disappearing beneath another crooked grin. He crossed the deck and offered his massive hand.

"Cade. Folks mostly call me Cross though."

Devlin shook it.

"Devlin."

"Good grip." Cross nodded approvingly. "You'll do."

He glanced toward the loose coil of rope at Devlin's feet.

"He's makin' you tie knots already?"

"For the better part of an hour."

Cross barked out a laugh and leaned against the mast, fishing a cigar from his pocket before thinking better of lighting it aboard someone else's ship.

"You know," he said, "First day I met this sorry excuse for a sailor, he beat me in a card game."

"You lost fairly", Rook argued.

"I absolutely did not."

"You wagered Rumble."

"I'd been drinkin'."

"You'd been cocky"

"I was optimistic."

Cross looked toward the great red chocobo waiting patiently on the dock.

"Thought I'd win him back next hand."

"You didn't."

Cross shrugged.

"Figured anybody stubborn enough to beat me deserved him."

He looked toward Devlin.

"Best damn mistake I ever made."

Rook busied himself checking another line, though the corner of his mouth betrayed him for only a second.

Cross noticed.

"So he does smile."

"I'll throw you overboard."

"You've threatened that every year for a decade."

"And one day I'll mean it."

Cross laughed as he stepped back onto the dock.

"I've got a shipment needs movin' before noon. Just wanted to see if the sea had spit you back out yet."

"It tried."

"Clearly."

He tipped his hat toward Devlin.

"Take care of the old bastard."

"I was about to say the same to you."

Cross let out another booming laugh.

"Kid's got a sense of humor. There's hope for him yet."

With a whistle to Rumble, the rancher started back down the dock, raising one hand without looking back.

Rook watched until he disappeared into the morning crowd before turning toward Devlin once more.

He tossed him the rope.

"Again."

Devlin looked at the knot he'd just finished.

He sighed, untied it without complaint, and began weaving it together from memory.

This time, when Rook tested it, the knot didn't move.

"That'll hold." "I Know."

It wasn't much.

Rook unfolded the notice in his hand with a quiet sigh.

How many copies were out there ? How many more would show up to the job before they were through?

His gaze drifted briefly to the raptor before returning to the man, the corner of his mouth lifting.

He tucked the contract back into his coat.

"As long as we're splittin' the pay..."

His smile grew just a fraction. "Two ways. Not three." He wasn't about to give up gil to a reptilian side kick.

= @twinfangs-and-tea thank you for this. I like companion pets so I wanted to toss in his raptor but don't know much about him so hopefully nothing too off kilter. o/ =

Rook glanced over, leaning forward just enough to see past the crates.

His brain registered... considerably more woman than he'd been expecting.

He blinked once.

"...well."

For perhaps the first time in his life, the seasoned mercenary found himself looking politely at absolutely everything except the stranger for a heartbeat before clearing his throat.

"I suppose this tree was bigger than I gave it credit for."

A quiet chuckle escaped him.