297 Vol. 5 pt. 5 Patch 1.0: Forming Alliances (2/2)

Suddenly, the situation feels far more casual and friendly.

The entire town looks friendlier now to the crew of The Shoebill.

Where once, they saw monstrous men and women walking around looking huge and intimidating, now they just see regular players being typical MMO gamers either arguing, doing weird things, or having stupid fun.

”By the way, what's up with the uh, skeletons hanging around the place?” Fenrir asks.

”Oh, just decoration,” the alligator man answers. ”The Chieftess thinks they look cool, but I think they're kind of scary and give off bad vibes.”

”Huh.”

”Don't even get me started on that creepy monster skeleton on the top of her house. Feels like every day here is Halloween because of all the skeletons.”

”And not because of there being a bunch of monster-themed people walking around wearing all sorts of costumes and armor?”

”That's just normal. The skeleton thing clashes with that, plus skeletons are creepy by default.”

”You know, you've got a skeleton inside of you.”

”Don't remind me. I already have nightmares about my skeleton coming out of my skin and leaving me all floppy and unable to move.”

”It sounds like you have it rough.”

”I know, right? Thanks for being understanding. Man, I just really don't like skeletons.”

Corwin, Nell, and Tabitha can only stand around and watch in confusion and awe as Fenrir somehow manages to have a serious conversation with this terrifying-looking alligator man about the creepiness of skeletons without bursting out laughing.

”So, I've never met the Chieftess before. Any advice you can give me on how to behave around her or how to talk to her?” Fenrir asks.

”Well, she thinks skeletons are really cool, and she likes flexing a lot, so if you can flex with her then she'll like you.”

Fenrir looks at himself and then the rest of those he brought with him.

Not a single one of them look muscular at all. Fenrir has some muscles – he's fit, but he's not bulging with muscles like somebody who loves flexing probably wants.

”Oh, there's Rainbow Afro's Rainbow Galaxy,” the alligator man says.

Fenrir and the others turn their heads to see… a boat painted every color of the rainbow that looks like somebody tried applying the concept of tie-dye shirts to its paint job. Everything from the hull of the boat to its sails is dyed a myriad of rainbow colors, and standing at the front of the ship is a man with the most fabulous, massive, rainbow-colored afro that they have ever seen.