If you come across this, I'm not really active on tumblr, having only just signed back up for it for the first time in ages.
I am however active in ffxiv and available for rp there as well as on discord. As of June have been actively seeking out new rp connections for Rook.
My former FC wrapped things up when our lead decided to away to Second Life and my two rp partners left for the summer taking their much earned season away from uni.
If you can stomach that I've used AI references in his carrd, I did try to find solid artists to hire but have had abysmal luck and too many scam attempts, check out Rook @ https://rookmercer.carrd.co and reach out here or in game on mateus (Rook Mercer) if you'd be interested in writing.
I've written a few posts on his blog here to showcase who he is as well as what my writing is like these days. I'd call it choppy but I make an effort to paragraph from time to time.
If I had to sum up Rook, or his stories, for anyone browsing though, I'd say...
...this is the guy who cooks for the crew, keeps six animals, quietly gives money to his son who hates him, sleeps with the same courtesan because neither of them wants false promises, steals from insurers instead of starving families, and says very little unless it matters.
Key things about him: Patient with animals. Worn-down father. Quietly regretful. Lives simply. Keeps routine. Doesn't defend himself against Devlin (his adult son) because he knows words won't matter.
Extremely competent. Trusted by a captain. Unexpectedly an excellent cook. Morally gray. Calm in combat. Will bend the rules if it means ordinary people eat.
Doesn't panic. Takes command without needing to. Acts first. Doesn't waste time mourning what can't be changed until later. Is the sort of man others instinctively follow.
He doesn't confuse physical intimacy with love. He doesn't use women, or men, cruelly. He pays because he respects their profession, not because he thinks they're beneath him. He's emotionally closed off because he's not yet found that thing that he believes should exist between two people in love, not because he's incapable of caring. He believes he's got "too much baggage" as well, and likes to keep things casual.
I will write: slice, adventure, mercenary jobs, combat, erotic scenes, mature, dark, intrigue and more or less everything in between. I ask that you / your character be at least 18+ due to adult themes regardless if the rp is platonic. I am open to a romance for him, but after the last attempt which was my first in a very long time, I'd prefer it be an excruciatingly slow development.
I will not write: harm to children (I hate that I have to say this but it's come up), meaningless erotic scenes, the same thing day in and day out (I like to mix the genres up now and then) and poly relationships. I'm 100% okay with and encourage platonic RP and connections as well.
If you have an active RP FC I think I'm about read to toss my hat in with another group so feel free to contact me about that as well. I'll pin this in case anyone comes across it in their search in the future and otherwise wish you all well.
Rook arrived in Limsa Lominsa with his coin purse one job... alright, two jobs heavier.
When he reached the fork in the road that split toward home on one side and the Drowning Wench on the other, he hesitated.
Rael had watched over the pack for almost a month already.
What was one more night?
Truth be told, the old sailor would probably be glad to do it forever if he knew it meant the Rook was making even the slightest attempt at "finding happiness".
It was an unhurried walk, nearly a bell, before Rook's boots crossed the familiar tavern floor and carried him to an empty stool at the end of the bar.
He wouldn't take a table.
Wouldn't order a meal.
Both implied he intended to stay.
Flagging down the barkeep, he ordered a whiskey. He had barely finished the glass when a pair of slender arms slid across the polished countertop beside him.
His gaze followed them upward to a familiar, beautiful face before wandering back down the graceful curve of her back. She leaned against the bar with practiced confidence, a teasing smile tugging at her lips as she tilted her head from side to side.
"Hey, Rook."
"Talia."
The corner of his mouth twitched into a faint smile.
"Didn't think I'd see you again so soon. Just back from a job?"
Rather than answer, Rook set enough gil on the counter to cover the drink and a generous tip before rising to his feet.
He offered her a hand.
She accepted without hesitation.
Apparently his silence was answer enough.
She waved goodbye to a friend across the room before following him toward the lift.
Three minutes later the door to her room clicked shut behind them.
Whatever restraint either of them had maintained downstairs disappeared with it.
Weeks at sea had left him aching for something warmer than salt air and harder than a ship's cot. Talia met him halfway, familiar hands finding him as naturally as his found her. There was no awkwardness between them, only the easy confidence of two people who knew exactly what the other needed.
Laughter slipped between stolen kisses.
The exhaustion of travel finally caught up with him, and the pair stumbled to the floor together in an undignified heap.
For a heartbeat they simply looked at one another.
Then they laughed.
When the laughter faded, so too did the distance.
Talia caught his chin by the beard, giving it a teasing tug until he met her eyes.
"Stay out of your head while you're with me."
He huffed a quiet laugh.
"Bossy."
"Damn right."
She slipped from his lap only long enough to stand and disrobe fully.
Rook rose behind her, one hand settling at her waist before drawing her back against him. His voice dropped to its usual gravelly rumble as he leaned down and whispered against her ear.
"Hands on the wall."
She obeyed without argument.
The room filled with the steady rhythm of bodies colliding, interrupted only by ragged breaths and the occasional muffled gasp that escaped despite her best efforts to keep quiet.
Neither noticed how much noise they were making until Talia finally cried his name.
That sound echoed down the hallway.
Only then did the room fall still again.
They collapsed together against the wall, breathing hard.
For several long moments neither of them spoke.
Finally Talia obliterated the silence with a tired laugh.
"I think we're getting too old not to use the bed."
Rook snorted. "Maybe you are."
She swatted his shoulder.
He caught her hand before she could pull away.
This had become their arrangement after the last partner Rook had tried to build a future with disappeared without warning.
No explanation.
No farewell.
Just absence.
He knew how these things ended.
Sooner or later they met Devlin.
Sooner or later they saw an aging mercenary with too much baggage.
Sooner or later they left.
"You're thinking again."
Talia reached up, giving his cheek a playful pat until he looked back at her.
He scoffed, though there wasn't much conviction behind it.
She smiled knowingly.
They eventually washed up and ate a light meal Talia had ordered to the room.
After Rook dressed he reached for his coin pouch but she fervently pushed it back toward him.
"No."
"Talia..."
"I know you're still sending money to your son."
She folded his fingers back over the pouch.
"Keep it."
He frowned.
"You need the coin too."
She smiled sadly.
"Not this time. I'm... I'm afraid this was our last tryst."
That finally got his attention.
She leaned against the washstand, drying her hands.
"A wailer came through a while back."
Rook waited, his expression unreadable.
"He's asked me to come with him. Be his wife. Take care of his home."
"And?"
"I said I'd think about it."
He studied her for a long moment before giving a slow nod.
"Seems you've thought about it."
"I have."
There was no jealousy.
No anger.
Only quiet acceptance.
Rook stepped closer, pulling her in for a quick embrace before brushing a thumb across her cheek and stepping back.
"I'm happy for you, Tal."
The moisture gathering in her eyes threatened to spill over, but she smiled anyway.
"You know... if you'd ever asked..."
She trailed off.
He smiled sadly.
"I know."
...
He lingered only a moment longer before turning for the door.
"Take care of yourself, Rook."
"You too."
The room was quiet again by the time it closed behind him.
Outside, the night carried on as though nothing had changed.
Each was tethered to the mast, its weathered body threatening to snap with every monstrous wave that crashed over the deck.
Time slowed to a crawl.
The captain was trapped in the middle of a blink.
Rain hung suspended in perpetual purgatory as the ship rose to meet the sky.
Lightning forked across the heavens, casting the deck in stark white and illuminating the carnage waiting to happen.
The railing beneath Rook's grip creaked in protest as his sharp, steel eyes swept across the ship.
He drew in a slow breath.
Relishing the weight of his body.
The certainty of his stance.
The droplets that slipped in with the warm air burned his lungs, but he gave them nothing.
His eyes closed.
For one blissful moment...
There was only silence.
Then the ship came crashing down.
The hull slammed into the sea with bone rattling force, hurling the crew across the deck. Ribs bruised against rails. An arm snapped with a sickening crack. A sailor vanished over the side, swallowed whole by the black water before anyone could so much as shout his name.
No one moved to follow.
To chase him was to join him.
Rook caught himself against the wheel as it spun wildly out of control. He hauled it back to center, fighting the sea for every inch while the captain staggered to his feet beside him, muttering desperate prayers to Llymlaen between ragged breaths.
Once the wheel was steady, back in the proper hands, Rook wrapped a length of rope around his wrist and threw himself over the upper railing.
He landed hard on the lower deck, boots skidding across rain slick planks before coming alongside another hired sword whose sea legs had long since abandoned him.
He retied the man's safety line with practiced hands before hauling a loose sail back into place as another flash of lightning split the sky.
They could have called upon the merchants to help.
But asking untrained hands onto a deck like this was little different than throwing them into the sea themselves.
With the storm showing no sign of breaking, and dawn still bells away, Rook grit his teeth and moved on to the next task.
Alright that's one too many scam attempts. Looking for commissions outside of Tumblr. It seems a lot has changed around here while I was away.
If anyone in the FFXIV RP community has recommendations for reputable artists, I'd genuinely appreciate them. I'm happy to support real artists, but going forward I'll only be considering artists with consistent examples, clear pricing, a carrd or equivalent portfolio with established Terms of Service.
If you've had a great experience with an artist, please send their name my way.
For five days the little merchant vessel rode gentle waves, its hold packed with bolts of cloth, spices, tools, and enough odds and ends to keep a handful of Tuliyollal market stalls stocked for a good while.
It wasn't a glamorous contract, but it paid well, and gil kept Rook's roof from leaking, his pack well fed, and most importantly, Devlin able to focus on pursuing Knighthood. Though he didn't seem to be doing much more than partying in various city-states as of late.
Oh to be young again.
The hiss of oil filled the cramped galley.
Rook stirred strips of chicken and beef through peppers and onions as the scent of garlic and herbs drifted up the stairwell.
A woman's voice pre-announced her arrival before the thud of her boots as she decended.
"What in the Seven Hells is that smell? It's divine!"
She appeared in the doorway.
The Sea Wolf captain barked a laugh from the table where he'd been sharpening some cutlery. Everyone helped with everything aboard his ship. There was no one asigned to any one job over another.
Rising, he crossed the small space and clapped a broad hand onto Rook's shoulder with enough force to nearly shove the elezen into the stove.
"Yer in fer a treat, lass." He gave Rook another firm squeeze. "This gruff bastard makes the finest stir fry this side o' Vylbrand."
Rook simply grunted, scraping the pan before tossing the vegetables back through the sizzling oil.
The merchant smiled.
"If it tastes half as good as it smells, I'll marry himat the next port."
The captain laughed loud enough to rattle the mugs hanging overhead.
"Save yer dress. Rook's forever the bachelor."
"Aye," another sailor chimed in. "Married to bad coffee and poor decisions is more like."
Rook slid the pan from the heat, his expression giving nothing away as he replied in a flat tone.
"Less expensive."
The galley erupted with laughter.
He divided the stir fry between waiting plates, spooned boiled potatoes alongside each serving, and passed them around the room.
"Gods..." the merchant breathed after the first bite. "You've missed your calling."
He really wasn't any grand chef, but people stuck on a boat for days favored any measure of effort tossed in a meal far more than they likely would on land.
Rook was about to answer when a cry thundered from above.
"SAILS!"
Another followed almost immediately.
"BOARDERS!"
Every chair scraped back at once.
Half finished meals were abandoned where they sat.
Steel hissed from scabbards.
The captain was already halfway up the ladder, axe in hand.
Rook calmly set his plate aside, let out a slow breath, then followed.
The pirate ship came alongside with practiced precision.
Hooks bit into the rail.
Lines tightened.
Men swung across the gap shouting and laughing, pistols barking between flashes of steel.
The merchant ship's crew met them head on.
Rook caught the first boarding pirate across the jaw with the pommel of his sword before driving another backward with a shoulder that sent the man tumbling over a crate.
A sailor swung from one mast to another, kicking a pirate square in the chest before both crashed across the deck.
A familiar figure landed lightly on the desk alongside Rook.
Red hair. Crooked grin.
Their eyes met.
The pirate lunged.
Steel met steel only once before they closed shoulder to shoulder.
Something small slipped into Rook's coat pocket.
The pirate broke away.
Without hesitation Rook turned and slashed through the boarding line, snapping the rope.
The pirate barely caught the returning rigging as it swung him back toward his own ship.
A weathered, ornate chest disappeared over the rail behind him, and the remaining pirates disengaged almost immediately.
Hooks were cut loose.
Lines fell away.
Within moments the ships drifted apart, and the black flag shrank against the horizon.
The deck fell quiet.
A few bruises. A handful of cuts. No dead.
The captain surveyed the crew before wiping blood from his beard.
"I've had worse mornings."
Around him a few men chuckled. The merchant lass near the mast quirking her brow at him in disbelief. By the time the sun had climbed overhead, the mess hall had filled once again.
Someone had reheated the stir fry.
It was somehow even better the second time around. The edges of the vegetables and meat a bit charred now.
The merchant had only just begun checking her inventory when a shrill scream echoed through the ship.
"The jewels!"
Every conversation stopped.
She thundered down into the galley clutching an open ledger.
"They took them! The emeralds are gone!"
The captain frowned. "Emeralds?"
"The jewelry! The carved box!"
She looked frantically between the crew.
"How did they even know it was aboard?"
Silence.
"It wasn't even on the manifest!"
The room grew strangely still and remained that way until the irrate woman had departed to go yell at her own men and question them vigerously.
Rook speared another potato with his fork and popped it into his mouth.
Across the table, the captain caught his eye. For the briefest moment, neither man said anything.
Then the old Sea Wolf exhaled through his nose, smirked into his plate, and gave a slow shake of his head.
"...same ol' Rook", he muttered under his breath.
But Rook merely continued eating as the ship sailed on toward Tuliyollal.
The merchant would still have her stall stocked. The shipping company would reimburse what had been lost. The crew would still be paid.
And somewhere beyond the horizon, another ship would make port prepared to earn enough coin to keep a few hungry families fed for another season.
Whether that made the day honest or crooked wasn't really up for debate.
"Coffee?", Rook asked the men at the table as he rose, empty plate in hand.
They gave him resounding grunts of agreement.
The pillow hit Rook in the face so abruptly he didn't have time to process what had assaulted him.
...Softly?
He shot upright, clutching it in one hand, wide-eyed as he scanned the room. The moment his eyes landed on Devlin, his shoulders slumped and he let out a slow, weary breath.
"Son."
"Rook."
(This is a long post since I wanted to introduce Rook's general demeanor, his arrangement with his son and his whole pack in one go. I'm looking for new rp contacts as a lot of my rp has stalled due to summer and people taking breaks. If you enjoy my choppy story telling and would like to rp drop me a line. Thanks.)
What time was it?
It didn't matter.
Too early for this shit.
Rook threw back the covers as Devlin scoffed and turned away, rolling his eyes.
"Bit old to be sleeping in the nude, aren't you?"
Rook smirked to himself and slipped on his briefs, each step thereafter heavy as he crossed the room toward the burner where a kettle sat beside what was no doubt stale coffee.
"Bit old to be barging into a man's room unannounced?"
Midway through pouring himself a mug, he froze.
Slowly, he turned toward the doorway.
Two young women and another man stood behind Devlin, all three snickering at the sight before breaking into whispered laughter.
Devlin shook his head in disgust.
"ALICSH. I swear to Halone, I will leave you here."
The blushing Hyur immediately averted her eyes, turning back to her companions amid another round of muffled giggles.
Mutterings of I see where he gets it from.
"Coffee?" Rook asked Devlin quietly, looking back to his mug. The muscle in his jaw feathered.
He knew the answer.
It never stopped him from asking.
"No. Mom's struggling."
Gods.
Right to it.
Every time.
"People in her line of work often do", Rook ground out.
Devlin slammed a fist against the side of the counter.
"You owe it to her to take care of her after you abandoned us. I would do it myself, but one of us has to be a man and redeem our family's legacy."
Rook took a slow pull from his coffee, his expression stoic and unreadable.
My, how the years warped the mind into believing the worst of someone.
"Your mother is not my concern, Dev. The gil I give is for you and you alone."
It always had been.
Had Rook made different choices back then, he might have become a Knight himself. But children had a way of becoming the reason a man existed. There was more honor in doing right by Devlin than he'd ever have found being a Knight.
He heard Devlin snatch the gil pouch from the nearby desk and scoff before stomping toward his friends, whose laughter had long since faded.
"Guess I'm not your concern either."
The door slammed.
Rook set down his mug and dragged a hand across the stubble along his jaw before rubbing the tension from the back of his neck.
You got it all wrong, kid.
But what did it matter?
Devlin had grown up believing one lie after another, and nothing Rook did would ever convince him otherwise.
Every coin he sent.
Every sacrifice he made.
Every quiet act of support.
Devlin saw only guilt trying to buy absolution.
Damn you, Valori.
Her latest letter lay unopened on the desk.
No doubt another reminder of his obligations to their son. Another scheme to petition Ishgard into restoring his family's House.
He'd never trade Devlin, young, dumb, and arrogant as the boy might be.
But damn if he wouldn't go back and make different choices if he could.
A distant chime marked the hour.
Rook cursed beneath his breath, snatching up a pair of jeans and pulling them on. He drained the remainder of his coffee in one long swallow before tugging on his boots. A fitted black shirt followed moments later, and then he was out the door.
A chorus of barking erupted almost immediately.
It was joined by the indignant bleating of one particularly unruly ram occupying what had once been an otherwise respectable chocobo stable.
"Alright, alright. I'm up. Let's get you lot fed."
Rook was thankful his nearest neighbor lived a fair way down the cliffside.
Otherwise, the Maelstrom would've shown up by now.
Surely there had to be some law governing how many dogs a man could own.
But Rook had a pack now, and he wasn't about to turn away the next stray that wandered into his life simply because space was getting tight.
Bess gently rammed his calf, convinced she deserved breakfast before the dogs.
An ewe, yet a ram.
An odd thing to keep, perhaps.
But Rook hadn't thought twice when he'd bought her from a troupe of traveling performers. She'd been little more than an attraction for people to poke, prod, and laugh at. Never had anyone seen a female ram.
He figured she deserved better.
Zeus.
Tobin.
Kael.
Neri.
Vox.
The rest of the yard slowly came to life.
Zeus, the largest of the pack, was an enormous black direwolf of a dog who lay atop a stack of crates overlooking the yard.
Tobin, a scraggly greyhound-looking mutt with a tongue that permanently hung out the left side of his mouth, pranced happily through the vegetable garden without the slightest concern for the destruction he left behind.
Kael and Neri, rusty-colored bloodhound twins, were engaged in a determined tug-of-war with a length of rope they'd stolen from somewhere.
They were undoubtedly Rook's hardest workers.
Second only to Zeus.
But then there was Vox.
Golden and white, with one blue eye and one amber, the border collie padded over and quietly sat at Rook's feet.
"There's my girl."
He reached down to scratch behind her ears before firmly patting Bess along her side, nudging her horns away with an experienced shove.
"Vox..." The dog's ears perked up and her posture went rigid. "Round 'em up."
In an instant the collie sprang into motion, circling the others with practiced ease, gently nipping at heels and weaving between them until everyone, save Zeus, had been herded toward the rear barn nook for breakfast.
Only after the rest had begun eating did Zeus rise.
He shared a brief glance with Rook before strolling over to claim his own meal along side Vox.
Two alphas in a pack was unheard of.
But Rook figured when one was an animal and the other an Elezen, perhaps the rules bent a little.
So far, they'd made it work.
Mostly because neither had much interest in proving it.
"Rook!"
A singsong male voice drifted over the front fence.
"The ship wants to leave a day early. Came by to see if you can be there in a bell."
Perfect.
"Yeah, I'll be there. They get the Maelstrom papers?"
"Believe so. There's concern about increased piracy though. Times are hard on everyone, and Tural's a long sail."
Rook knew all too well.
"Stop by Rael's on your way back. Tell him I'll be gone twice as long this trip... and that I owe him."
The man nodded before hurrying back down the road.
Rael, a retired Sea Wolf captain, looked after Rook's unruly collection of strays whenever work kept him away.
Longer contracts meant better pay, and he couldn't afford to turn down the extra day.
Heading back inside, Rook grabbed a satchel and packed a clean pair of jeans, a compass, rope, and a handful of other necessities before slinging it over one shoulder.
He snuffed out the candles on his way to the door. As he passed the mirror, his reflection caught his eye.
The mustache.
The beard beginning to claim his chin.
He paused.
Damn... I look older when I don't shave.
But he was older. Wasn't he? When was a man considered old these days anyhow?
This was the last year of his thirties.Two decades of mercenary work had left their mark.
He wasn't finished yet.
Not by a long shot.
But he was beginning to look his age.
Silver threaded through his unruly black hair as he let out a rough breath, gathering it into a short half-ponytail with a worn leather tie.
His Pack: Bess (Ewe), Zeus, Vox, Kael, Neri, and Tobin (dogs)
[ 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒 ]
Style: Semi-Para / Para / Flexible
Format: Open to Discord RP / Welcome in-game RP / Tumblr / All good
Pairings: M/M or M/F (I only have Rook, no alts)
Themes/Genres: I enjoy a balanced blend of chaos and calm. Jobs gone wrong, the world being the mess that it is, and the complications of Rook's family life are all things I love exploring, but I'm equally fond of quieter slice-of-life moments where the dust settles. Lately most of my RP has leaned heavily toward combat and tavern scenes, so I'd love to branch out while keeping a healthy mix of both.
[ 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐒 & 𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 ]
Will write: Just about anything if it serves the story, and with a mercenary that's rarely difficult to justify. Rook is open to romance, but it's something I'd rather let develop naturally than rush. He recently came out of a short relationship after the other player left the game, so I'm especially interested in building chemistry and tension over time.
Will NOT write: I'm not interested in writing overly detailed gore purely for shock value, or turning things into an ERP merry-go-round. I enjoy romance, but I also want characters to enjoy their lives outside of it. Themes can include violence, crime, drugs, and other mature subjects, so this is strictly 18+, and while it's only a preference, I generally mesh best with writers who are 30+.
[ 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒 & 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐂𝐓 ]
Full character profile: https://rookmercer.carrd.co
Rules / Mun Info: I don't have many rules. I just ask that IC and OOC stay in their own lanes, and that people are patient. Between health, real life, and volunteering at an animal shelter, my availability can fluctuate. If there's anything else you'd like to know, just ask. I'm always happy to chat.
Currently in talks with a few artists about commissions to update / change his carrd with. I don't mod so please forgive my limited options for his ref photos.
Are you open to unsolicited threads/ideas? Sure. I signed back up for tumblr after ages looking for art but also more rp contacts with my friends gone back to uni or second life so I'm an open book.
Haven't been on tumblr in ages but RP in game has died down a bit since spring and looking to gather some new contacts for Rook. Preference to communication here/in-game until I know you well enough to add to discord. I'll toss out a few photos for Rook to give an idea what sort of character he is.
