93 Vol 2. pt. 30 Patch 5.0: Downtime, Plots, and Upgrades (1/2)

Speaking of meetings, after getting breakfast with the girls, Ryouta has a meeting in-game to attend to. Jax told him to meet him at his ship, The Weeping Tit.

It took a bit of convincing to get Cassandra to head home so that she could immerse herself in virtual reality once more, but Ryouta was able to convince her to do so with the promise of more sweets. He is worried that bribing her with sweets may turn into a usual thing, though.

There are only a couple of hours in-game before the second round of the tournament begins. Fenrir doesn't know what happened to that half of a tree that they had hooked, but it's no longer in the water when he looks off the side of The Shoebill. Tabitha just smiles and gives him a thumbs-up whenever he asks about it.

”Can I come with?” Oleander asks Fenrir.

”To the meeting?” Fenrir asks.

”Yeah. I think Bone should come with us, too. It'll be just like the old days – plotting behind the enemy's back.”

”Sure. You want to go grab him?”

”Alright, hang on!” Oleander says before his body falls limp. Fortunately, Fenrir is there to catch his semi-lifeless body.

A couple of minutes later and Oleander comes back to life and gets off of the deck that Fenrir has laid him down on. ”Messaged him! He said he'll be on in a bit,” Oleander explains.

”Good enough. I think we've got a bit of time. You have any idea what Tabs did with that tree?” Fenrir asks.

”She made a deal with the scholars! She gave them most of the tree in exchange for them helping her find a way to mix some of its powers into our ship. Only the actual hull is affected, though.”

”Oi! I wanted them to see for themselves durin' the next round! Ya took the surprise out of it, ya damn deer boy!” Tabitha shouts from below deck.

Oleander holds his hands together behind his back while leaning over to offer his head to Fenrir.

As a reward, Fenrir pets Oleander's head.

”I know how much you hate surprises and how impatient you are,” Oleander says with a grin.

”Olly,” Corwin says.

Fenrir hastily brings his hand away from Oleander's head as if caught in the act doing something inappropriate. ”Is having your head patted so gently truly such a pleasurable act?” Corwin asks.

”It is! Fenny is the best at petting heads. Try it yourself!” Oleander says.

Corwin walks up to Fenrir, blushes a bit, and bows his head. ”Please allow me to experience what Olly always gets to feel,” Corwin requests.

This is not what Fenrir was expecting, and when he looks to see how Serra and Cassiel are reacting to this, they both seem too interested. Regardless, Fenrir tentatively raises a hand to Corwin's head and gently pets the top of it.

”I see, I see,” Corwin says. ”This is rather pleasant. I can see why you enjoy it so much, Olly. Captain, please teach me your technique so that I can satisfy Olly's need for petting when you are not present.”

”S-sure, Corwin. Maybe another time, though,” Fenrir says.

”Very well.”

Normally, Fenrir would expect somebody to leave and pull their head away once the conversation is over, but Corwin is remaining in place and following Fenrir's hand with his head. Meanwhile, Oleander stands to the side of them and watches with a smug smile and nodding head as his boyfriend awakens to a new fetish.

The awkward situation only ends when Bonekraka comes above deck and judges Fenrir for the sight that he is seeing.

With Fenrir's hand freed and Bonekraka in-game, the three head over for Jax's ship which is only docked a few spots down the pier. Jin hurries them below deck once they arrive.

There are about a dozen men squeezing together around a table that Jax has prepared for them, and Fenrir can recognize some of them as being from the other ships that have won the first round. ”Hey. What're we meeting for?” Fenrir asks.

”Still waitin' on one more, just wait,” Jax answers.

A few minutes later and Fenrir discovers who they were waiting for.

”Apologies for keeping you all waiting. I assure you that I wasn't trying to have a late entry for dramatic effect. Rather, my cat was having a seizure and I needed to watch her until my sister was out of the shower,” Alexander says.

Fenrir may dislike Alexander, but what he dislikes more is the fact that he gains a ton of respect for people simply for helping out animals. First Ull with donating to charities, now Alexander with taking care of a cat – Fenrir hates how much more likable and relatable that makes them.