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To think that a ghost of his past would come back to haunt him was one thing, but one who was alive in the flesh and grinning with the same wild-eyed look that he had always given him was even more startling. His brown smooth scaled skin with the odd crocodilian bumps and ridges of his Kremling heritage, the lithe muscular body of professional dancer and former rigger made only asymmetrical by his left-handed hook glinting in the sunlight as well as the fine cutlass dangling on his left leg. His appearance was also much more elaborate than the simple rigger's outfit he had once worn. A swooping green outfit with wondrous gilded straps for buttons to lock onto at the front of his open coat, his trousers a fine leather brown well-pressed and yet very openly flared at the bottom for free movement. But what really topped it off was the black U-shaped hat that he now held in his one hand, sweeped off in a curtsey towards James as the raptor noticed with stultifying realisation the white mark on the front of the captain's hat. A kremling's skull and crossbones, like that of his old former captain as Kruz flipped it back onto his own head. "...seven years." He blinked softly at the kremling's voice. "Seven years since I last saw you...and you still got that same stupid look on your-GUH!" Arms suddenly embraced, the raptor hugged Kruz tightly until desperately trying to squeeze the life out of him. The warmth of his former friend made his heart jump, before settling back down again with relief as tears swept down only once from his green eyes. Kruz smirked with some embarrassment before tightly embracing him back, cheeks rubbing up against each other as the raptor finally spoke his first words back to him. "I...I-i-i don't...h-how you...you...h-hoh GOD! KRUZ! KRUZ, OH MY GOD KRUZ!" "Khahaha woah easy now-" "HOW DID YOU GET HERE!? THIS CAN'T BE, I-no-this this isn't it just I...I can't be...fucking HOLY SHIT!" "Khhahahaha...ohhhhhh you have no idea how long I've waited to hear that voice." "I can...imagine, oh my god I-h-h-how...how did you GET here it's like-NO this, this can't be real, I can't...I must be hallucinating, right?" The kremling pulled him away briefly to stare straight into his eyes, a wide growing smirk upon his crocodilian complexion. "You call THIS a hallucination?" Openly grabbing him by the small of his back, he pulled James in swiftly for a hungering deep kiss, pressing his snout against his with one head turned sideways. No tongue was met of course for this was a kiss between good friends and not lovers. But Kruz had to resist the urge as he felt James' moans vibrate from his throat, whimpering as he parted the kiss whilst his crew watched on with smirks of bemusement. "Well?" "Hhhhh...HHHHOH...god, okay...you're not hallucinating, I mean I'M not hallucinating that was...definitely real." "Hhhhmhmhahahaha...glad that worked. MY PEOPLE!" He turned towards his crew who all stood to his attention, his voice suddenly turning rather formal and well-practiced. "That was perfect, every one of you did just perfect! Now go, enjoy the rest of your shore leave, me and my friend here need to catch up...over a LOT of things, you are dismissed!" "Aye aye captain, thank you!"

The crew members gladly saluted and rushed off back to shore whilst Kruz escorted James right into the ship's cabin door, the captain's own room placed firmly within the stern for the best view in all the ocean, as well as the sky itself. Despite the metallic design and seeing large pipes running all along the circumference of the ship, the layout did remind him of Gangplank Galleon in the sense that there was a front bow with protruding horn and a rear stern where the captain's cabin laid, along with a steering wheel position on the higher stern section above it. Or rather, a steering console situated in its own half-bubble area, a half-circular steel panel with one single traditional-looking wheel at the centre of it all. Even more strange was the fact that the floor of the main deck appeared to be made of solid wood, which seemed wildly out of contrast to the rest of the ship's steel design. The captain's room was, without a doubt, luxurious in every way to the point it did not appear to fit in with the rest of the ship itself, with all the proper fittings and even actual wood panelling for the interior of the ship's hull. A grand desk of warm-coloured actual mahogany with paper scrolls all over it, three fine carpets of Rabanastran quality in shades of red and dark blue, a stately armoire and one gorgeous two-person bed with peach-yellow duvet welded down by rivets to stop from sliding all over the place. The raptor also noticed several mementos on the walls, scraps of paper, articles, some even having a sketch portrait of Kruz himself or members of his crew along with other miscellaneous sheets. The back of the cabin had a gorgeous rectangular window dappled into tiny squares giving an elegant gilded design to it, the desk welded directly in front of it. Even for a captain's room it seemed rather large, taking at least ten steps to reach the desk and another six to the window past it. The kremling simply swept out his arms and spun lightly round back to James on the spot, the raptor noticing that his friend had four fingers on each hand as opposed to his own standard three. It was the little things he forgot, despite having known those hands intimately so for half a year at least. "Didn't think you'd ever see ME become captain didntcha?" "N-no...I...god DAMN Kruz hhhahahaholy shit I can't believe you're here!" "I know...heh." "You got a CREW, you got a ship and...newspaper articles-okay what is it with you captains having all these newspaper articles about you? I mean K. Rool had portraits and...heh, the last pirate captain I met before him had stuff like this too." "You were with another pirate before us?" "Well...I was a slave once...not for a very long time but, let's not talk about that." "Ah, alrighty." "Is that...really K. Rool's hat you got on you?" "Yep, found it floatin' on the water after you left." The captain flipped off his hat and smirked widely at James, turning it deftly in his one hand before he hung it upon a coathanger in the wall. "I mean since our old captain weren't using it no more after he left the island like a wuss." "You mean...oh god, don't tell me he actually survived that shit." "Didn't you hear 'im? Cacklin' like a mad bastard, found himself a raft and floated allll the way out to the ocean...alone. With luck he should probably hit the Northern Kremisphere, that is...if the sharks haven't already got to 'im. Come on, siddown a little." He led James over towards the desk and sat down upon it sighing happily with relief, the raptor sitting on one of two chairs in front of Kruz on the other side of the mahogany. He saw the various charts and places he had been all over Ivalice, fascinated by the lengths he had gone to according to the map scale. It was almost as if he had travelled to every corner of the strange world, the kremling smirking at his bewilderment before replying: "The look on yer face wuz worth it trainin' my crew fer that intro." "Wait what? That whole song and dance shit?" "Well yeah, what you think people just suddenly do that all synchronised out of nowhere, come on don't be stupid! That took six months of solid routine just so I could surprise ya!" "Six MONTHS?! You knew I was here all that time?!" "Well yeah, you think a guy like me, the captain of the Broken Petal who's flown across all of Ivalice, would not have noticed a velociraptor like you just winding yer way all throughout the continent? ...aaaaactually no, I never did manage to find you, the idea just recently came to me to have the crew altogether like one big surprise, good thing I still had half my men here whilst we did." "Really? ...wow...seriously six months, really, just to train all those people?!" "Hey, I've done worse on shorter time at the Kremland theatre, I just wanted to surprise ya!"

The raptor could do nothing but smirk and shake his head, impressed but also astonished he had not met him sooner as he looked around the room, curiously asking: "Soooo why is the inside made of wood?" "It's not," said Kruz, "that's just wood panelling, the entire hull is made of steel obviously. I just didn't feel right bein' inside steel walls though, it felt...like I wuz in a safe at the bottom of the ocean or sumthin'...prime Valendian wood that is, had it all fitted and smooth-grained right throughout the entire interior, just feels right to me yanno?" "The entire interior?" "Oh yeah, if you go outside it's all steel pipes an' shit but on the inside it looks just like our old ship...I'm sentimental, what can I say?" "Right...I had no idea you could sing that well though." "You never asked...mister ballet-is-for-faggots." "Aw jeez, I didn't mean...well-" "Hey-ey! None of that, or I'll show you what I've been doing since then and I'll kick yer ass with it." "With what?" "Ballet!" "HAH...sure." "Oh you wanna bet?" "Pfft I don't bet on easy wins." "Ahahahaha, glad yer still arrogant, I always liked that about you. Remind me of me." Kruz put his feet up onto the desk, his green cloak hanging down slightly as his brown scaled feet flexed slightly in front of James, bare as always and yet surprisingly well-cleaned. He decided before anything else to bring up the ultimate question. "How...did you even get here?" "I should be asking YOU that," replied Kruz accusingly, "since it wuz YOUR portal." "Wait...my portal?" "I shoulda known but I guess I wuz just too ignorant at the time. Yer not from my world after all aren't you?" "Is it that obvious?" The kremling put his feet back down and leaned forwards across the desk, hook planted upon the wood as if planning out a murder. "Tell you what, you go first. Tell me all about the REAL you James an' this time, no more lies. After all I been through, I think you owe me." "...alright, I mean since you're here and all...god." The raptor leaned forwards slightly with his hands clasped between his legs nervously. "I'm from another world, obviously, I was an experiment for people trying to make some super soldier. One of the things I can do is teleport but I sorta accidentally went teleporting out of my own world and into other worlds." "Ah huh, so it wuz you...teleportin' huh? If you knew about that, why didn't you jus' teleport all the way up Crocodile Isle instead of all this malarkey that we had to suffer?" "I can't do it between points in the one world, it only goes from one world to another." "...wow, that's...really dumb." "Hhheheh, yeah it is. That's really it, I been through a lot even before we met I mean, by the time I met you I'd been out on the road for like four years maybe? Four and a half I think." "You can't teleport back home?" "No. For some reason I can't, I dunno why, I can go everywhere else I don't wanna go to but I can't get back home on my own, sooooo...here I am, stuck in another world looking to find some kinda portal or some strange scientific power that can send me back, I've only been around Ivalice about, must be...almost seven months now? I don't suppose you found any other portals out here by chance?" "Khhehehe...nope sorry." He leaned back on his captain's chair scratching his chin with his hook. "Can't believe you of all people could just hop between worlds, I mean...da-hamn...you really are the weirdest person I met, least until I got here." "Alright now your turn," said FG, "how'd you get out here? Like seriously, no one else but me should be able to do that." "Okay here goes. So after you left, well, disappeared, I was lost on the island hoping fer a miracle. I wuz desperate, pleadin', thought I would drown with the rest of 'em, an' I knew that it wuz too late to go back to Kremling Kaldera an' find my crew who got out on ships like we were plannin'. Then I saw the weird...energy of the island pulsate through the air, strugglin' to hold on. Like a beatin' heart tryin' to keep goin', gatherin', graspin' fer all the energy it could find, desperate. Then it latched onto yer portal, the one you left behind when you escaped. And that's when it hit me." Kruz leaned over with hunched shoulders heavily as he started to reminisce, back to that fateful day. "If I wuz gonna go down with the legacy of the Kremlings then I sure as hell wuzn't gonna go down alone. I thought maybe you got sucked in, maybe I could find you. I dove in, hopin' to dream, desperately pleadin' an' I remember what I said to myself the moment that cold dark embrace took me. I thought 'if I don't make this...then at least let me find my friend...please...let this be my final fantasy, let my wish be real...please, let me be free elsewhere an' find him'. Sure enough...it wuz."

He spread his arms out openly as if witnessing all that he surveyed, the window behind him showing the grand Ivalician skyline gently bobbing as the ship floated perfectly in the air around them. "I ended up here. That portal shot me out onto a beach like a shark dead before I woke up heavin' an' chokin'. I ended up here, in this place called Balfonheim where all these workers an' sailors went around me, took me up the hospital thinkin' I wuz some poor survivor of a shipwreck. None of 'em could understand me and I didn't know what they were sayin', all this Ivalician crap. But I learned, I had nowhere else to go to an' that's how it wuz. I've been stayin' here fer seven years waitin' to find you, hoping that I could see you again..." The kremling stood up from his desk and walked over to James before hugging him tightly from behind, desperately grinning tearfully with a bitten lip. "I missed you James." "...I missed you too." He hugged him back gladly, pulling his head in with both hands over his shoulder just to wrap around his neck slightly, nuzzling happily before Kruz slapped the chair's headrest and stood up properly. "SO that's my story basically, nuthin' else to it." "I just...I just can't believe that my portal actually got left behind for once, you're saying that all that energy from the island just kept holding it right there in place?" "Seemed like it! The way it wuz swirlin' towards it or tryin' to suck it in I thought it had to mean sumthin'." "So...wow...haha...god that's insane, it's like everytime I go somewhere I find something new about me." "Sounds fun." "I hate it," said FG glumly. "HAH, yeah sure, all this adventure must suck like crazy huh?" "Oh you have no idea...so what you been up to whilst you were here?" "Ohhhh the usual, workin' round the docks, keepin' on the ships, s'all I know apart from theatre. Actually done pretty good fer myself, takin' night classes on Ivalician stuff, learnt the language, not a master of it but it gets me there, least I learnt to speak it properly." "I did notice back there you were rather good with it." "Same with you, Tufa an' Oka said you had no problem findin' the place." "You set all of that up? Really, the hat and everything? Why couldn't you just pat me on the back down at the pub and say 'hey remember me asshole' or something?!" "Where's the fun in that?!" cried Kruz. "I just wanted to get things ready an' sorta build up a little, come on I work in theatre you can't expect me to just go the quick and simple." "Well I guess," murmured James. "Still amazed you can find yer way around here with that dialect." "Heh, what can I say, I always was good with my tongue." "Oh, I know you are...trust me." He winked gladly at him as FG blushed, smirking bashfully as the captain continued whilst walking halfway around his desk adding: "Not all bad though, I mean like I said I did plenty work doin' theatre, yanno I did a recent show that sold out pretty well, toured around the continent fer a li'l extra gil." "Oh?" "Yeah uh 'The Shadow King'? Heh, got myself in the lead role last time an' it wuuuuz amazing." "Wait...lead role?" "Yep!" James suddenly blanched with pale expression as a shocking revelation had come to him. Navarro's words echoed back to him upon seeing Kruz's glinting hook hand as he realised: "...oh my god." "Hmm?" "...you were Stan...weren't you?" "Haha, what?!" "YOU were King Stan from that fucking play, that demon thing?!" The kremling smirked as suddenly he began to change accent, with grand baritone voice in a falsely-accusatory manner. "HAH! Don't get fresh with me suckling, do you know who you're talking to?!" He swept his arms out and stood upon his tippy-toes as if to add some extra height. "I am a purely evil, evil king. Let my malevolence and sheer badness awe and terrify you, for I am LORD STANLEY HIHAT TRINIDAD, THE FOURTEENTH!" "PfffffffHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, OHO MY GOD THAT'S PERFECT HOLY SHIT IT WAS YOU! Ohhh fuck I should have known the way you danced, that left hand of yours-" "Gaze into my horrifying visage and fear it! Cry! PEE YOUR PANTS!"

The raptor could not last any longer and started heaving over laughing, wheezing cackling as tears came out of his eyes whilst Kruz returned back to his normal voice. "Guess somebody liked the show." "Aaahhaahah...aaaah...hhhaaaaaaaaagod...ohhhh man, I haven't laughed like that in ages, god how come you never-" "You never bothered asking, jeez, look at you mister judgemental, thinking all the theatre wuz just for pansies." "Yeah but I never knew they were FUNNY come on I don't go to the theatre back home!" "You don't!?! WHAT!? Man what crapsack world do YOU live in?" "Heh...exactly that, a crapsack world." "Khheheh, alright fair enough...well I mean, glad you enjoyed the play." "You kidding it was the best damn play I ever SEEN holy shit you were awesome! I gotta tell my clan, they loved it, have you always been that good at singing?" "Naaaah," said Kruz derisively with handwave, "I trained with my old group back home on the isle, took me years before I got that good, like YEARS fer real, got a looooot of throat coaching. I'm a dancer first and foremost, that's my true talent, only reason I got to be Stan wuz because they had nobody else who could dance AND sing at the same time so lucky break fer me." "Sure was...god if only I'd known, I could have just seen you round backstage!" "Why? Wanna be my groupie behind the stage?" He said this knowingly with raised eyebrows and a soft kiss-and-wink making James blush slightly. "N-nnnnnweeeelllll-" "Khhhahahaha, cute little slut." Kruz patpatted James' cheek as he walked past making him giggle bashfully, finding himself rather confused as to why but simply letting it slide as the kremling walked back over to his chair, sitting down upon it gladly as the raptor asked him: "How big's your ship anyway?" "Hundred-and-twenty-feet long, around forty feet wide and thirty feet deep, li'l bit bigger than most brigantines but she can turn as fast as the rest of 'em. Used to be an ol' chaser ship, fer huntin' down criminals and the like, makes this girl the fastest thing I laid eyes on." "Nice name it's got though, Broken Petal." "That's the name I gave her, originally it had some other boring name I can't recall or even care about." "Broken Petal? Why?" "Wuz the name of my old theatre group...the Broken Petals, not the one you met specifically but the one I started out in. My old mentor taught me that nobody was disabled, just simply asymmetrical. And that asymmetry was just as beautiful as symmetry because no two things would ever look the same, that a petal broken could dance just as beautifully in the wind as a petal that wuzn't just spinnin' throughout the sky. His whole group were all actors and theatre people, dancers and whatnot who had disabilities, crippled limbs and amputees like me. He taught us how to work with those so we could keep on dancing, singing an' acting...guy wuz like a father to me." The kremling's gaze started to deepen upon reflection, staring intensely upon the desk as if trying to conjure up a memory from within as his body slumped slightly. The raptor's heart went out to him reaching a hand out towards him. "Awwww Kruz." "It's fine...he died long before the island went down so, not really gonna worry about that." "Still...it was your home and all-" "I said, forget about it." He looked up suddenly as his eyes hardened, stern for but a brief moment before leaning back smirking with arms out. "Seriously, let's not drag ourselves down with ol' stuff, we got a whole new world an' a bright new future together! I'm just glad to see you, took you long enough to show yer face around here." "Well that's 'cuz I wasn't even in Ivalice until like...six months ago, seven nearly?" "Really?! Wait, you didn't go to Ivalice through that portal?" "Um...nnnnoooo I ended up in a place called...um..."

He mentally rechecked himself on his journey stops and mouthed silently before reaching: "Fourside...no, Onett that was it, some place called Onett." "Onett? Weird name, what's it like?" "Ahhhh...lot of humans, yanno like those humes? Kinda modern, lots of cars and houses with lots of concrete and glass and such." "Sounds nice, what kinda tech they had?" "Computers, TVs, cars, nothing big." "Ah...yanno it's funny, I didn't think I'd be able to understand this place but I already seen a flyin' airship back home an' frankly magic ain't nuthin' new." "Hahahaha...wait, flying airship?!" "You know, The Flying Krock when it went down in flames, you fought K. Rool on it when it crashed." "Ohhhh yeaaaaah! Hah well at least you're doing well out here huh?!" "Mmmhmmm." Kruz simply crossed his arms taptapping his hook upon his right elbow pondering. "You said you had a clan already, don't you?" "Uh yeah." "Where are they now?" "At the hospital, one of them lost his foot basically, kinda nasty." "Aww jeez...well, I mean I know a guy who's absolutely great at handlin' amputees, real top-class prosthetics I could give you an address an' a personal recommendation, get yer buddy right on track with a brand new foot." "Really? Aw that'd be great thanks dude!" "Anythin' fer my partner-in-crime. Remember, we ARE both mutineers." "AND we conspired to murder our superior together." "Khheheh, damn right." The two brofisted gladly across the desk without even thinking otherwise, giggling like schoolchildren despite their flagrant sociopathic boast before Kruz asked him. "Soooooo why you here in Balfonheim anyway? If you only arrived to Ivalice like seven months back." "Well...basically my clan and I got hold of a pretty powerful artifact that we need to take back to Lea Monde. The problem is, we can't go back through Archadia because-" "Don't tell me," said Kruz with a handwave. "The checkpoint." "...yes." "Khheh, I knew it, that checkpoint would always be trouble or as I like to call it, 'the Lizard Lockup'. I mean I wouldn't mind some big burly guy bending me over a table but not when they wanna arrest me fer Walking While Bangaa, yanno?" "Hhhhehehehe, yeaaaaah I guess...can't even tell we're not bangaas, racist assholes." "Well not all Archadians are bad really." "I guess." "And they wouldn't be wrong, I technically am a bangaa now." "Huh?!" The kremling looked rather awkward as he bit his lip coquettishly before placing both hand and hook together. "Iiiii kinda had problems explainin' what I wuz to people so I ended up bein' classified as a Bangaa, sub-race bein' that of Kremling. Had to authenticate my licence somehow man." "Are you serious?!" cried FG. "Yeah, what you never had to do that what with you bein' a...velociraptor, wuz it?!" "I...maybe, I dunno?! I'll have to ask Navarro about that later." "Alrighty...I missed you man." "I missed you too...hhhhh....just like old times right?" "Mmhmm, we got a lot of catchin' up to do huh?" "You know it." "So, business first."

Kruz leaned forwards with hook in fist and mock serious tone of voice, whilst James leaned back more relaxed with one arm over the back of the chair's headrest. "How many you have in yer clan?" "Well we got five people including me, and also five chocobos so-" "Wait, what? Awwwwww noooooo." "What?!" "Uggggghhhhh yer killin' me here Rex hahahahahhaa...aaaaaaaaah I hate chocobos." "What why?!" "Because they STINK, fuck have you ever smelt those things?! They smell like rottin' bananas wrapped in bird vomit! I mean last time I had to deal with them, the mess they left on my ship wuz unbelieveable an' I ain't makin' my crew clean that up again, so-" "Hey-ey-ey, my chocobos do not stink, we rub gysahl greens right into those feathers and they smell sweet as fuck." "Heh...I'll be the judge of that, but if you want me to take yer pet birds on board well...it'll cost extra." "Sure, whatever I'll pay, I got no problem with that." "Are you sure about that Rex? I mean-" "No no if you want extra money for this I'll pay you, no problem." "Huh...well...aren't you generous, normally I get a lot more stingy passengers than you." "Well most passengers didn't plan a mutiny with you and stuck through a whole island full of dangers right? I mean ghosts, lava, fucking MORE ghosts, plus the carnival that tried to kill us." "Well to be fair, half of that carnival wanted to fuck you, I mean...no offence but you were damn sexy in that dress." "UGH don't remind me!" The raptor palmed his face stubbornly with exasperation before pulling his eyes downwards by the fingers. "Ghhhhhd everytime I mention that story, even as a JOKE I can't get away from it, my boyfriend's never let me live that down since I told him, it's your fault!" "Wait...boyfriend? You got a boyfriend" "OH, yeah I got one, way off elsewhere in another world." "You...y-you do?" "Here lemme show you." He pulled out the photograph before showing it to Kruz, the captain looking at it oddly as he noted the sweet koopa family. A slight tightening of his eyes went unnoticed by James as he focused firmly, regarding the happy family scene of a beach far far away. Though he did note however the inescapable red blotch smeared across James' face asking: "Been through sum wear an' tear huh?" "Yeaaaah I guess." "This li'l squirt really yer boyfriend? Hmmm..." A strange look came over Kruz's eyes as he softly rubbed over the koopa's face, his shoulders slumping slightly. "He's real cute. Strange but...jeez his eyes are so clear, looks practically like a kid. You two serious?" "Absolutely," said FG. "How old is he, looks pretty young to me." "About four years younger than me? He's a really great guy, so sweet and...god, he...he's my only reason I kept going after all this." "After all what?" "All THIS." James swept his arms out across the entire world around him. "I mean, I could have stayed back home with him but...things happened, we love each other still, we're not like split up or anything we still wanna be together. But it's just that I've got a lot of issues I have to sort myself out with, a lot of unfinished business, but I love him. I want to do this for him so that one day I can come back and hold him in my arms again...I haven't held him in two years Kruz...must be almost three now." Kruz felt his gaze soften upon FG as he handed back the photograph, smiling with a somewhat pained look on his face as he gulped back gently. "Awww...khheh, yer a real sap, I'm happy you found someone. I gotta be honest, I thought you would be all about free orgies and wild fuckfests." "Well yanno you find the right one and just wanna be with him you know." "Right right...so, how much gil you got burnin' in yer pocket?" "Twenty-five thousand." "Hmmmmm...lessee, my normal price fare is four-thousand per passenger, that's twenty...course the extra cost for chocobos, two-thousand per head that racks it up to thirty-" "Aw come on Kruz, this is really important, I HAVE to get back to Lea Monde, this artifact is dangerous." "How dangerous?" "Dangerous enough it caused a whole abbey to go fucking crazy and start killing each other?" "...aaaaaand you wanna bring that onto MY ship?" "Oh don't worry it's safe, we locked it by an enchantment, no one else can touch it." "Alright...I trust you but that's a big step I'm takin' cuz normally I don't deal with cursed artifacts."

The kremling leaned back with both arms behind his back straining to stretch them, sighing as he made a deal inside his head. With a firm nod after a few seconds of self-debate, he closed his eyes and came back forwards. "Alright, tell you what. Twenty-thousand I'll take, I won't charge you extra fer the chocobos." "Thank you." "BUT, two things I need from you. One, your people clean up after them, not my crew." "No problem, my deputy worked on a ranch so she really made us learn how to clean them." "Alright good, second...I'll need yer help on sumthin' when we get up to Bhujerba. I'm gonna need to borrow you fer a bit an' it miiiight take a couple of months, will you be alright with that stopover?" "Really? I mean, it'd be best to get this artifact back soon as possible but-" "I'm doin' you a favour here, now you do me one, that's how it works. I just need you to help me on an errand." "Why me?" "Because I trust you, an' I know what yer capable of. It's just a small mission to go grab sumthin'." "Are we stealing something?" "No, this is recovery, like treasure." "...treasure?" "Mmmhmmm...lots of shinies." James' eyes widened at the prospect with child-like glee welling up in him. "...I like shinies." "I know you do," said Kruz grinning smugly, "so, we got a deal?" "Deal." They shook hands over the desk firmly as the kremling said: "Welcome aboard the Broken Petal Mr. Campbell. You go an' tell yer crew you got yer deal an' we'll ship out in perhaps four days, that good?" "Sure that's perfect, my friend's recovering and all so it'd be good to give him some rest." "And I can still recommend him a good prosthetic surgeon I know, believe me, this guy's great. In fact, why don't we go see yer pals now, let them know they got a ship." "That'd be great yeah! Come on I wanna show you to my friends!" "What am I, yer trophy boy?" "Haha naaaaah...well...depends on what trophy-" "How about most cocks taken in one night?" "OOOOKAY no need to go into that please." "That's not what you said back then...I mean seriously." They stood up ready to go as they walked out the cabin door, stepping off the ship and down the gangplank as Kruz went on talking alongside James heading into the port town's docking beach amidst the saltwater crowd. Cadbury walked with them as James began leading him by the reins through the marketplace, Kruz looking wary at him as did the chocobo in turn before the kremling continued with: "Most I ever took in one night wuz maybe, five or sumthin' so yer a real trooper." "Wha-FIVE?! Seriously?!" "Hey, I didn't wanna overexert myself, I wuz part of the theatre troupe man, I'd be in dead trouble if I showed up at work all too tired to dance from all the fuckin' last night." "Snrk...yeah okay good point, I was pretty exhausted after all that too...can't believe I even did that jeez part of me feels shameful about it." "Why, you had fun! Everybody else did too, lemme tell ya." "Hhhhaha!" "Your boyfriend know about it?" "Um...maybe, I dunno? I kinda forget if I told him or not, I told him about me being a pirate and all the mutiny and stuff but not the...intimate stuff." "Not even about me?" "Oh no I told him about you, come on you're like the best friend I ever had! Or at least the one I felt closest to...I mean it's hard not to feel close to someone after you slept with them." "Multiple times. Why, he jealous?" The kremling ribbed James softly with his elbow as he smirked bashfully, the multitude of people trading back and forth with supplies underneath arms and over solid backs blurring from their hearing. "Moooore like he's sort of into the closed relationship, not really big on the uh...sharing." "Awwww that's sad, come on, the two of you are cute as hell what guy wouldn't want you?!" "Hey it's his decision, I mean it's not like I haven't thought about it, I mean...I...kinda always wanted a threesome..." The raptor rubbed his claws nervously against each other as Kruz grinned eagerly. "But he doesn't feel like that sort of-h-he's just too innocent and so sweet about things..." "Alright, I understand. We had one or two monogamous dudes back on the ship so we respected that." "You got anyone right now?" "Naaaah, captain duties got me too busy fer a relationship." "Really? Not got anyone on yer crew maybe?" "Ehhh I don't wanna do that whole relationship thing that K. Rool did, I mean it wuz alright fer us cuz we sorta grew up that way with him, all real inclusive, but round here I think people would find that creepy. Plus yanno there's way more people out here not into guys I mean...hhhhooooo you would not believe the shit some people say around here when I tell 'em that I prefer the males." "Heh, yeah...don't I know it."

James rolled his eyes nervously as Kruz looked suspicious, but shrugged simply as he put his right arm around his old crewmate's armoured shoulders grinning widely with excitement as they made their way up to the hospital. On a hill to the western side of the port it was a surprisingly clear-looking building of the standard medical signatures that James had come to recognise, easy to spot in need of emergency. The rest of his clan's chocobos were parked outside to which he took Cadbury from the Broken Petal's dock back to them for the birds to all group together. The interior was rather spartan, wooden floors of dark brown and solid white walls with the constant scent of the salted sea giving a soothing aura to the whole place, hallways and bright windows giving greater light to the place. Being a town full of sailors there were plenty of those without limbs hobbling around on medically-approved crutches or limbs, as well as the odd wooden wheelchair. It took them no more than six minutes to find the room that Fayne was staying in, asking Kruz to wait outside before he could introduce as he cautiously knocked. "Yes, kupo?" The voice of his deputy came from within as he opened the door cautiously. "Hey guys!" Greeting his friends as they all waited inside, James popped his head round the door and saw Fayne leaning back into a bed, comfy at last with a deep sigh of relief. It was a wonderful little room to rest in, a soft bed with thin but surprisingly cozy sheets that weren't your typical hospital affair, a window to gently let in the light and fresh sea air if needed and a small dresser beside the bed for personal effects. Fayne leaned back in his bed with his leg currently in a large cast left to heal best as it could until further examination, elevated by a sling pulley whilst Baldwin sat straight by his side with Dahlia and Navarro on chairs beside the bed. Dahlia smiled up at him gladly as did Fayne before their leader asked: "How's your foot?" "Uncertain," said Fayne simply, "the pain...went away after a great deal of medicasszhion but the doctor...will need to look into it further and he may not be able to recover it...we are looking at a potensszhial amputasszhion." "Aw...shit, is it gonna be expensive?" "Baldwin isszh paying for it." "Seriously?" "What?!" said Baldwin defensively. "You sszhaid it yoursszhelf, we do what we want with our sszhare of the profitsszh an' I want to look after my brother, you got a problem with that?!" "Hey-ey-ey no need to be like that I think that's awesome of you! Come on seriously it'll be alright, he'll be fine thanks to you.." "...s-sszhorry...my head'sszh all over the plasszhe I keep worrying about-" "Don't." The bishop held his brother's hand to soothe him down. "I am alright now Baldwin." "...yeah..." "Thank you for...being calm back at the-" "N-no no...don't..." The brother monk slipped his hand away from Fayne and crossed his arms tightly, head downwards in shame facing away from everyone as Navarro changed the subject quickly. "Have you found us a ship kupo?" "Yep sure did!" replied FG. "In fact you'll never guess, I found an old crewmate of mine who became captain of his own ship! From my old pirate days!" "Pirate?!" cried Dahlia. "Wh-wha-...y-you...you were a pirate?" "Um...didn't I say?" "Only that you were a sailor yes," said the moogle, "not that you were a pirate." "...do you guys not listen to me at all? I mean jeez, I tell you so much about where I've been, what I do, and you guys are STILL surprised about the whole experiment thing and me not being magic." "Only because it is absurd, kupo. Whoever heard of such powers given to one without magic?" "Actually," said Dahlia pondering, "we can create fire by the exacerbation of particles, water by the combining and purifying of other certain particles, electricity is caused by positive-charged particles reacting to negative-charged particles so it's not impossible. I mean remember Mr. Tesla could create it and he doesn't have any magic." "Then what is the point of magic if you are so able to control the elements?" "...well, magic is just another element of nature Navarro, I mean it is simply the innate manipulation of the invisible world around us, learning to wield and control that power, as opposed to it happening on its own reactively in nature." "Isn't any sufficiently advanced technology indistinguishable from magic?" They all stared at FG as if a frog had leapt out of his mouth, blinking strangely before Navarro slowly conceded. "...yes...I...suppose it would be, kupo." "That's a VERY astute observation James!" said Dahlia gladly. "Was that not said by Haytham Durai?" "I'm not sure," said James, "I heard it somewhere...anyways, I want to introduce you to my old friend so we can all get together and have ourselves a fun shipride. Come on in Kruz!"

The kremling knocked still even before entering as he popped his head round and smiled softly, as he strided up into the room taking his hat off politely. Curtseying to the ladies, he bowed before introducing himself with an incredibly uncharacteristic formality. "Good morrow to you my good sirs and madames. My name is Kruz Tenderleaf, I am the captain of the Broken Petal." The deputy leader of Clan Koridai stepped off from her chair and strode up towards Kruz looking over him rather oddly, estimating what sort of person he was before she bowed saying: "I am Navarro Rocino, clan deputy and second-in-command to James." "Pleased to meet you. My friend here says you want to hire me for your expedition back to Lea Monde?" "Yes, kupo. Your vessel is able to accommodate the five of us and our chocobos?" "Yes ma'am, normally I waiver an extra fee for chocobos due to the maintenance and care needed but James and I have come to an agreement since we're old friends. As a result your journey shall only cost twenty-thousand gil, however we will have to stop in Bhujerba for perhaps a month or two as I have other duties to attend to. Will that be alright by you?" "Hm. I see." Kruz turned his head towards FG and murmured with one hand partially covering his snout chuckling: "Wow, she about as perky as a firecracker left out in the rain." "I'm sorry?" "Hmm?" "If you wish to say something about me, do not whisper it to my leader." "Oh, forgive me, I was admiring your stature." "That's totally not what you said," replied James to Kruz. "Wha-I know that but she don't have to know James, come on I-" "You know she understands what we're saying right?" "No she doesn't, come on we weren't born around here." "Yeah like she'd believe you, she hardly believes me when I told her that a few months back-" "James!" "What?!" The moogle crossed her arms tapping her foot sternly. "You'll have plenty of time to talk openly in your own language with your former crewmate but if we are to conduct business would you at LEAST have the courtesy to address me by the Ivalician standard, kupo?!" "Sszheriousszhly," added Baldwin, "that'sszh rude." "You're one to talk about rude," replied FG, "what the hell do you mean by my own-...SHIT!" James was confused by what on earth she was talking about before the term "languages" struck through his brain and suddenly he remembered, slapping his forehead. I didn't realise, fuck...Kruz said he had been LEARNING the language himself, holy shit I have got to stop forgetting about this fucking translator of mine god damn...wait, what the hell does Kruz speak even to me, I understood him fine back then...though it does explain why he talks so odd and formal when he's talking to other people besides me here so... "S-sorry Navarro um, god, dammit old habits and such, I didn't mean, won't happen again." "Good, kupo."

Kruz smirked at seeing James being pussywhipped by his supposed deputy before the moogle addressed the new captain. "We accept your terms and I thank you for taking us on board kupo." "Anything to be beside my old friend, right James?!" "Totally," said FG, "I mean damn it was one hell of a coincidence." "One I am most pleased with," said the moogle without a change in expression. "Since we are now travelling together, allow me to introduce, this is Dahlia Orosco our white mage, Baldwin Smithee our monk and Fayne his brother who is our bishop." "Ahhhh yes," said Kruz, "James told me one of you had been through some nasty turn of events. I hope I'm not being rude but...do you know if they will have to amputate?" "What busszhiness isszh that of yoursszh?!" asked Baldwin aggressively. "Because if it is amputation, and I hope that it is not, I know someone who will make a very good prosthetic foot for you, and as a personal friend of mine he will give me a discount for you if you would like." "...r-really? But...you hardly know usszh-" "Any friend of James is a friend of mine, even if right now you are potential clients aboard my ship." "Wow tha-...th-thank you uhhh-" "Kruz, just call me that." "Th-thank you Kruzzh! You hear that bro, we gonna get you a new foot!" "Do I not get any sszhay in thisszh?" replied Fayne disdainfully. "Well yeah! I mean if YOU want a new foot, what are ya gonna do, you have to put SSZHOMETHING on there!" "You talk as if he's lost it already!" cried Dahlia. "What manner of talk is that?!" "I-i'm jusszht sszhaying IF we need to amputate-" "You don't know ANYTHING you ignorant moron!" The nu-mou shot up with cheeks fiercely red as her hands clenched bitterly. "Why not wait until the doctor comes back to report him on his condition BEFORE making snap judgements, like you always do!" "WH-what do you mean like alwaysszh?!" "I think you know very well what I mean, Baldwin, so I would hope that you have not given up on your brother's chances before we even heard anything back!" "I CARE ABOUT HIM DAMMIT YOU SSZHUT UP!" "HEY-EY-EY!" cried FG. "Calm. Down, this is a hospital for fuck's sake. Dahlia, chill." "Bu-" "No, YOU insulted him first so you're the one who gets it! I know you went through a lot as well but that's no excuse to blow up on him, he's worried about his brother and he's the one paying for him being here so don't give him any crap for it alright?" Dahlia curled up into her seat fearfully upon realising as she let her mind cool down, feeling rather shameful for her outburst with reddened she brought her hands to her face, sniffling slightly. James could dare hazard a guess as to her real reason for being upset, but eventually she nodded firm with heavy sigh before being able to talk back, with Baldwin smiling awkwardly towards FG in gratitude. "...I'm...no...y-you're right I'm...I-i'm sorry Baldwin, I...I know you care about him, I wasn't thinking-" "N-no lisszhten," replied Baldwin wearily, "I jusszht...you...you're right, thisszh isszhn't about what I think, I'm...what do YOU want to do Fayne?" "Well," began Fayne, "firsszhtly, forgive me my good captain but, even though I greatly appresszhiate your offer, I would not want to honour it if there isszh no need for it, not until my report isszh done from the doctor." "I understand," said Kruz. "We're on shore leave at the moment so we will be docked here for a few days, I will send someone to inform you on when we're ready to depart. And I hope that your foot does heal, regardless of my offer my good bishop." "Thank you, captain." The kremling smiled as he saw a good deal had been made, the raptor leaving with him in order to catch up on things and get away from his clan for a bit in case of potential arguments bubbling. Dahlia and Baldwin could not look at each other and Fayne was simply trying to force a smile to keep his brother happy. Navarro was stuck in the middle reluctantly being neutral ground for yet another confrontation she could not bother with as James left. He did however have one question, or rather two for his old friend as he left the hospital starting with: "Tenderleaf?!" "Huh?" "THAT'S your surname?!" "Well...legally yeah I mean I never had one before." "Wait, wait what?!" "Yeah! Kremlings don't got surnames, what you never knew?!" "...but...wait, no tha-that's dumb come on!" "Why's that dumb?!" asked Kruz with arms spread. "How about King KAY Rool?!" answered FG. "As in Kay, first name, Rool surname?!" "Uhhh the K. stood for Kremling, obviously, as in Kremling Rool?" "What, bullshit no it doesn't!" "Well what else is it gonna mean?!" "I DUNNO, KLARENCE?!" Kruz snorted a hot chuckle of derision as he crossed his arms, shaking his head with patronising kremling laugh. "Khhha ha ha ha ha, ohhhhh fuck seven years an' yer still an idiot." "Oh fuck you!" "Hah, maybe later." "WHU-YOU-BUH-...uuuuugh never mind I don't fucking care about him, what's this Tenderleaf then?" "Well when I landed here I needed a surname fer my papers an' well...saw a bottle of cider called Tenderleaf on it, thought thassa nice name so why not." "......are you serious right now?" "Yep." "You named yourself after a DRINK?!" "Oh what like you never made up a false name, come on yer as clean as a bilge rat." "Well yeah but, when I make up a name at least I put some effort into it I mean jeez!" The kremling simply shrugged without a care as they kept on walking, resuming their pace as they wandered through the streets amidst bangaas hoisting packages and moogles rushing forth with papers. The raptor then asked his next question: "Okay, so why were you so formal with them?" "What, I'm just speaking their lingo." "Is THAT how you speak it?!" "What's wrong with it?!" "You sound like you come from the city guards or something, not some swashbuckling old crewmate, I'm surprised is all I'm saying!" "Well gee I'm sorry I'm not as good as you with your Ivalician, I mean I dunno how you do it, you talk like a fuckin' local!" "Really?" "Yeah! What you never heard yourself?!" "...sorta but doesn't really sound much different." "Believe me, you sound like you've lived here fer years, did you really come here like six, seven months ago?" "Yeah I did!" Kruz crossed his arms with tongue rubbing the inside of his cheek, clearly suspicious of such skill or perhaps even jealous. "Then yer tongue must be REAL good at learning way beyond what I thought it could." "I DO have a secret...sorta, I can tell you all about it." "Oh if it can help me get better at talking like this sure I'd love it." "Uhhh...not quite it's a little complicated." "Yer telling me, have you SEEN the language they got here, fuck I think they're missing maybe three consonants somewhere?" "Hahahaha, Iiiii wouldn't know since I can't read it very well." The crocodilian glared at him whilst bewildered, a wide staring eye with a hook hand to his chin in confusion. "How-...you-...but, how can you not read it an' just speak it like that?!" "I told you I got a secret I'll explain later just-...ugh god there's so much stuff I forget when moving around worlds all the time." "Ahhh huh...yanno you gotta explain to me about all this movin' between worlds, do they know?" "I told you, they don't believe me. They understand how lightning works and how airships float and that demons exist, but not other worlds?! Come on." "Yeah that does sound stupid. So uh, what you wanna do?" "Well uh, are you up to anything right now?" "I got some papers I need to sign back at the ship. Then, I'm gonna head down to the bar an' fill half my body up with cider when I got the chance to not be important." "I'll keep you company...if you want." "I'd love that Rex."

Both raptor and kremling put arms round each other's shoulders and strode off happily towards the ship, feeling their lives turn out just a little bit better for having re-encountered each other again. For the remainder of the afternoon Kruz pored over various documents whilst talking banter with FG, passing on various stories whilst also hearing about James' own adventures with each one turning more incredulous than the last. He also finally explained about his translator, a device from years ago implanted into his neck whilst in slavery before being upgraded in more recent years for a flexible sense of conversational convection. As the paperwork got finally finished, which took two hours in itself as the evening sunset began to roll in, they went down to the bar that James had been to previously, taking another pint of Cerobi Cider for himself along with Kruz who asked: "So, lemme get this straight...you made friends with two robots-" "Ah huh." "Who wanted to fight their master, Robotnik." "Mmhmm." "An' they look like a bird an' a mole...which you then trained to kick ass fer a week before goin' alllll the way across an island, fightin' other robots an' then suddenly shot up into space?" "Yep, we hid out on a rocketship, shit was nuts. I almost died when someone else destroyed Robotnik's space station but, luckily the two robots found a safe capsule for me to hide out in and survive the whole thing." "...see I dunno what part of that makes less sense, the robots or you going up in space." "What, no comment about the blue hedgehog?" "Well I mean THAT makes sense, have you seen the wildlife back on Crocodile Isle? You have to remember those blue cats with the nine tails back at the swamp right?" "Ohhhhh yeah...alright good point, anyways yeah I mean it's all true. And THEN I went into space in ANOTHER dimension-" "Okay now yer just bein' stupid." "Hhhahahaha, hey I got proof! I'll show you but not here, don't wanna freak anyone out." "With what? A crayon drawing?" "Nooo! Seriously I got proof." "Alright, whatever you say..." "...I dreamed about you." "Huh?" James smiled back at him softly remembering. "When I landed back down on the island and survived that whole thing...I dreamed of you...can't really remember what and I'm not sure why but...I dream a lot about you...have been the past couple of years." Kruz rolled his eyes smirking with disbelief at such soppyness as they slowly sipped their drinks, before replying back sweetly: "...I've dreamed of nothing else...but you, James." The two smiled at each other with a clink of their pints, the sounds of the street winding down outside was soothing all the while adding to the small atmosphere of the bar as occasionally some of Kruz's subordinates came in with a drink to buy themselves, always glad to see the captain. James noticed that those he knew were a mixture across all species, mostly male but all of whom treated him with either jovial cheer or utmost respectful confidence. "CAP'N!" "Ahhhh Edmund," said Kruz to one hume, "how are you?" "Cid told me he got a real surprise fer ya the morrow!" "Ohhhhh gods..." He facepalmed jokingly with a grin on his face. "This better not be another bilge-sail idea." "He swears it's not!" "If it is I'll dock your pay." "Wh-why me, I'm just the messenger!" "...weeeeell okay I won't dock your pay. But you will have to buy me a round if it is." "Hahah, is that a bet cap'n?!" "We'll say it is, I'll buy YOU a round if it isn't." "Alright then!" The crewmembers left except for one or two clocking in some last pints as Kruz decided to finally head back, night time slowly creeping in as he made his way back to the ship. James followed after him as the night lights glowed all across Balfonheim like sweet middling fireflies hanging from magic lanterns propped up across the streets, even on the ships currently docked giving warm and gentle spirit to the town port. Kruz gladly invited him in to his cabin stretching his arms out as he headed towards his bed. "Well this wuz the best day I ever had," said the kremling, "a good drink, a good laugh an' my oldest friend still living." "I'm not that old jeez," said FG. "You sure look it, yer eyes are fucked." "Ahhh they're always like that don't worry." "You sure? Siddown lemme look." "No Kruz really I'm-" "Sit."

He walked over towards James and pushed him down sitting on the bed before stroking his claws along the raptor's snout, staring into the bloodshot eyes that looked more exhausted than anything. His skin felt more rough and pale, almost feeling as if it could come off at any moment shedding like a snake. "You don't feel tired or anything?" "No." "Your scales are lookin' terrible like seriously, did you walk in a desert fer six months?" "Yanno what, actually yes I did." "Huh...wait really?" "Since we're alone, why don't I show you that proof I have?" Moving away from Kruz slightly as both sat on the bed, he brought up his omni-tool and began tapping into the memory drive integrated into his arm. At first the kremling was not fazed by the sight of a strange gauntlet made out of light having seen stranger things in Ivalice, but it was not until he saw pictures floating in the air above FG's wrist that he stepped back rather shocked by it. "W-woah you got a TV in yer arm!" "Heheh yeah, kinda! It's called an omni-tool, I got it in the galaxy in another dimension, it can do neat things like be a flashlight or record stuff." "Huh...that's...cool, yanno they got these things here called memstones I mean that's really weird but-...what the heck is that?" The images that passed through showed a multitude of things all of which James reminisced of gladly as he saw the look of bewilderment on Kruz's face. Smiling at his awe he showed him aliens, wide open vistas of blue, pink and white, a wasteland of bereaved people and strange robots boasting with the projected voice of leaders. It was a wonderful thing to witness, as James' began wondering what Koopin would think all of this, once he returned back home to show him all these strange images before he finally stopped showing him. Kruz could barely think of what else to say other than: "...I...hhhhh...I dunno what to say." "Hehehe, do you believe me now?" "I believed you before I just...needed some help fer it I mean...hhhhhwow...just...how many worlds have you been to, how many are out there?!" "I think I've been to...about...twenty-six including this one, maybe twenty-five." "Damn...that include my world?" "Yep." "Gods...they even talked differently, I mean I couldn't understand anythin' those aliens were sayin'." "Yeah...god I bet they sound really weird to you huh?" "You tellin' me," replied Kruz, "that giant toad thing sounded like K. Rool after a night eatin' gravel! Seriously...as fer those humes, you weren't really kidding about that desert weren't you?" "At least their lives are happier now." "Thanks to you apparently." "Heh...ehhhh." He simply shrugged bashfully and rubbed his neck as the kremling grinned smooching him on the cheek, the raptor turning red-hot as he leaned back. "K-Kruz!" "Khahahaha, yer still adorable like that." "J-jeeez...heh..." "Oh listen I forgot to say, you can sleep in with me if you want." "R-really?!" "Yeah my bed's big enough fer both of us come on, you look like you need a good sleep." "Aw jeez no I-i was gonna go get a hotel with the rest of my crew-" "Pfft come on, we've slept together, I trust you in the same bed as me besides, my bed is way better than some dinky hotel." "That's true but...kinda unfair on the other clan members." "Your buddy with the bad foot is in the hospital, your other friends seem a little out of sorts, I don't think they're gonna mind if you sleep off over here, I mean they'd probably do the same thing if I wuz any of their old buddies." "That's...true maybe but...lemme ask them first-" "Naaah it's too late, they'll all be off to bed anyway an' they know I'm with you. Come on." The kremling began to undress as he put his clothes away to one side in a cupboard with double doors next to the bed, a rather fanciful armoire nailed down to the floor. Three cloaks, a pile of folded pants along with a mirror screwed into one of the doors on the inside made it a small yet resplendent wardrobe as the captain put away his clothes neatly to slip into bed naked before James. The glint of the lantern light from outside the ship window illuminated half his body, including the surgical scar down the left side of his upper chest that James had almost completely forgotten. The raptor also noticed that he had a belt beneath his coat showing one single pistol hanging from his right thigh and a cutlass from his left, his legs looking just as strapping like always showing his perfectly-trained dancer build of taut arms and lean body. He also could not help noticing the intriguingly thick crocodilian slit between his legs hinting at greater prospects, as well as fond memories of knowing greatly what treasures laid within. What was even more unusual was the fact that Kruz began twisting his hook from his left arm unscrewing, before placing it securely in a small drawer inside his cupboard. The metallic stump remained on his wrist which in turn was connected by two steel wires running the length of his left arm with a hinge at the elbow allowing them to bend easily. "I never saw those before," asked James. "What?" replied Kruz. "The...wire things." "OH, yeah well when I washed up here the prosthetic surgeon in Balfonheim rigged it up so they could make the movement more flexible, not so stiff like it wuz back on K. Rool's ship. Feels like a door hinge got replaced on me now I can really swin' it good." "That doctor back on Crocodile Isle didn't make one for you?" "Naaaah...I think they just gave me the basic hook so I could still move around on rigs, needed to preserve materials unless I wuz super important. Now if I had been first mate, THEN they would have given me it. So...you comin' to bed?" Seeing no other choice and not wanting to dismiss his old friend, the raptor took off his armour and put them to the side showing off his own body in turn. The kremling noted as James slid off his armoured pauldrons, V-strapped power sash, bracers, greaves and main armour waist guard, that he had kept himself well-toned enough to look a proper swordsman. Though he did note the odd discolouration of his left arm and the way the scales appeared to be somewhat unaligned to the rest of his body, as well as that ever-unusual sheath-like foreskin.

"Mmmmmm," murmured Kruz, "still lookin' strange but sexy. That weird-lookin' dick of yers an' all, I gotta say you look different without yer slacks." "Hhheheh...uhhhh well yanno, things change and all...I mean after those got all waterlogged I really needed to change my look, I...didn't even know you could take off the hook." "Well...yeah I mean, I have to, you ever tried sleepin' with a hook, wake up lookin' like a damn shark attack victim." "Haha, w-well I guess I mean, I just never seen you take it off before." "You always fell asleep before I did...besides I wuz the one who always fucked you to sleep anyway." "Ehehhhheheheh!" Blushing with awkwardness, he began sliding into bed with Kruz lifting up the sheets before him, the two tucked in relishing each other's warmth, a strange calming sensation of brotherhood between them that soothed the other plenty enough to fall to sleep. James admittedly felt rather awkward at first, not entirely sure if he was even allowed to be in bed with another male naked as he twiddled his thumbs cautiously. But not before Kruz laid back with eyes closed just to savour the feel of his old friend alongside him once more, asking: "So...what's the deal with them?" "Huh?" He turned onto his side facing towards FG, hand propping up his head as the raptor turned to face him. "How'dya meet yer friends? Anythin' goin' on between 'em? Just I noticed that nu-mou girl wuz gettin' a bit frosty over with that monk." "Oh yeah listen I'm real sorry about that, we...we had a fight, me and the monk over some disagreements, I don't wanna think about it I'll...tell you tomorrow." "No worries...how'd ya meet?" "Navarro I basically stole her chance for a licence before she could complete it and-" "Pffft khhah!" "Then I basically strongarmed her into making a deal with me as clan deputy leader in exchange for showing me around Ivalice." "Niiiiiice, smart move, I didn' realise you got so crafty." "Heh, well...I picked up some things." "What about the nu-mou an' the brothers?" "Dahlia I met at the mages' fair in Nalbina when she was doing a first-aid demonstration, she seemed a nice girl and we needed a white mage and after five other choices that were all terrible we just took her on. Fayne and Baldwin we found drunk in a bar." "Khhahah, seriously?!" "Well Baldwin was drunk, Fayne the bishop was being his chaperone." "Ahhhh...why'd ya pick them?" "We needed a bishop basically to open doors along religious places." "Ooooh, smart." "Was Navarro's idea." "Ahh...yer not uncomfortable are ya?" "Huh?" Kruz moved in slightly closer with a kind look in his eyes, slightly worried as James tensed up slightly. "Just...you seem a li'l tense." "It's kinda been years since I slept in the same bed with someone...last time was with Koopin so..." "I see...listen, in case it's on yer mind-" "Huh?" "I'm not gonna put a move on you unless you want me to. I know everytime we were in bed together we always ended up fuckin' each other, I mean I'm still okay with it. But...considerin' what you told me-" "I'd rather not." "...cuz of yer boyfriend?" "Yeah...I'm sorry Kruz but...I just...I do miss the fun we had and I loved every minute of it but I wanna be faithful." "That's fine. Look, I like you a lot, yer the best friend I ever had even if we'd only known each other like six months on that ship, an' I respect you. Not many people would be so ballsy to walk up the whole island tryin' to kill the captain when he'd gone insane. I won't do anything with you, unless you want me to so yanno, I'll tease you an' everything cuz it's fun but that don' mean anythin'. I'm not gonna take advantage of you, cuz that's not what friends do." "Alright...thanks Kruz." Feeling much more safe than usual he hugged Kruz tightly around the neck, gently rubbing their brown-scaled bodies together as the kremling embraced him, sighing at the naked warmth blissfully before letting go as James added: "You were one of the best friends I ever had on my travels, and one of the few people I really REALLY missed being with because, you understand me. Just...you never judged me, you never saw anything in me that I wasn't, you never assumed anything of me." "Other than bein' an idiot," said Kruz, "which of course I wuz right." "Pfft shut up...but seriously, I'm really glad that you're here, and I wanna be your friend still...but I know that Koopin's still faithful to me so I...I can't betray him. I'm sorry." "S'alright...hmhmhmhm...look at you." "Wha?" The kremling leaned in closer with a serene grin almost touching their snouts. "Seven years ago I saw you as a wild slut with a violent temper...now...yer an honourable guy lookin' way calmer than last ever I saw you. I mean the way you handled yer clan when they got uppity damn that kinda authority you never had back then." "Hehe...a-a lot has...changed since then." "I know." He gave one kiss on the lips to James, a friendly kiss between brothers in arms before moving back to lay down and rest. "G'night James." "...n-night...Kruz." Despite clearing the air between them somewhat, the kiss had sent him wildly blushing at such open affection. He had forgotten just how intimate Kruz always was, and even though he made it clear that nothing could happen between them, there still laid a warmth that soothed him towards his former crewmate. One that made him feel as safe as possible and with the night passing by outside the cabin window, the moonlight glistening upon Balfonheim's shore slanting through the crystal glass, he slept in Kruz's bed peacefully. The most peaceful he had ever been for a long time.