316 Vol. 6 pt. 2 (1/2)
”I know that this is going to look edgy, but I can't resist. It speaks to me,” Fenrir thinks as he changes in the small shop's dressing room.
He was surprised that it even had a dressing room in the first place.
”Onii-wan,” Saya says.
”Yeah?”
”Why do you have to be so edgy?”
”I'm a guy who's playing a character with wolf ears and a wolf tail named Fenrir. What did you expect? I've been edgy from the very beginning.”
”You're not wrong, but I don't want to admit that it's been obvious this whole time.”
”You know that it's going to look awesome.”
”We'll see about that.”
”You really don't have to double down on the whole wolf thing, onii-wan.”
”Too bad.”
”There's probably a reason why this was hidden in a corner and why nobody has bought it…”
”Don't care.”
”Onii-wan, don't forget that I'm the one who has to also see everybody's reactions to what you're wearing.”
”Enjoy the suffering.”
Saya sighs before giving him a moment to finish putting on his new armor.
When he does finish, he and Serra leave their dressing rooms at the same.
Though, only the head of Fenrir comes out from behind the curtain since he notices Serra coming out at the same time.
He doesn't want his reveal to distract from hers.
”You look perfect!” Ants declares, looking at Serra.
King Cat nods along while Fenrir checks out his girlfriend's new style.
Serra, being the least combat-involved member of his group, has never cared much about new gear. She never needed anything too protective, either, so she has always worn rather simple clothes that did the job of covering her up and nothing else.
But now that has changed.
Starting from the top, she has her new, black pirate hat that is just as oversized on her as her previous hat was. However, it being oversized only adds to the cute factor despite the rest of her outfit not looking quite as cute.
In fact, Fenrir would even say that she looks kind of badass which is something that he never would have thought she'd look like.
Over the rest of her clothes is a black leather pirate jacket that looks like something out of a classic pirate movie, but its shoulders and cuffs are long, white feathers to add a dramatic flair. Under that is a tight, still black shirt that reaches halfway up her neck and stops right where her pants begin. Made of a black linen, since the whole outfit is obviously going to be black at this point, the left pant leg is intact and goes into her boot while the right pant leg is torn just halfway down her thigh.
Then there are her boots that look more like they're made for kicking than walking. They reach up to her kneecaps and tightly hug against her. While her legs normally look thin and like they would probably break if they tried to kick anything, the boots make them look dangerous – fast and deadly.
And of course, she has a pair of black gloves on that stop halfway up her fingers.
All in all, ”You look like a badass gothic pirate,” Fenrir says.
Serra might look like a badass, but she still gives him the same cute smile upon hearing his praise.
And, upon thinking about it, her new outfit makes sense.
In reality, she likes to wear dark, ripped jeans, graphic shirts that usually make references to horror movies or bands that she likes the appearance of, and she has always dressed sort of like a punk despite her personality being the opposite of one for the most part.
”Nell is going to be all over you now,” Fenrir says.
”I bet Cass Cass will like it,” Serra replies.
”Yeah, I can see that.”
”I should have done this sooner.”
”True, but then we might not have gotten it for free.”
”Free is the best.”
”I might've given it away for free even if the cat here didn't call in a favor!” Ants says. ”It's not like anybody else was interested in buying what you two've picked out.”
”In that case, I'll take the favor back,” King Cat says. ”Since it wasn't needed in the first place.”
”Nope. Too late for that. I don't owe you a thing anymore.”
”Was worth a try at least.”
The two men laugh together before turning their attention to Fenrir.
”Come on and show us how you look!” Ants says. ”Can't let your girl be the only one showing off.”
Serra nods and says, ”Yeah, do it.”
Fenrir suddenly doubts whether he should really be trying out his new look. It matches with Serra's and looks awesome but showing off something as ”dark” as he's wearing is kind of embarrassing now that he's being put on the spot.
But, with a gulp, he steps out from behind the curtain.
Before, he looked somewhat like a wannabe Viking. He had chainmail, some light armor over that, and was more or less fully covered from toe to neck.
He was stuck looking like an RPG character still in the leveling process wearing whatever basic, average-looking armor that he could get. It had a mass-produced and generic look to it.
But now?
Now he looks more like an endgame character who has actually managed to get his hands on some cool gear.
Of course, cool is subjective, and there are just as many people who would never be seen wearing what he is as there are people who would love to wear it.
Still without a helmet or any sort of hat, his long hair flows over the back of his new, black cuirass.
He has traded in looking like a Viking to looking like some sort of Roman hero.
The black metal cuirass covers only his torso, allowing his muscular arms to be shown off for once. Unlike in reality, his in-game arms are full of powerful muscles pressing up against his skin. They are impressively obvious even if they are not on the same level as a professional weightlifter.
On his arms are metal braces that cover the tops of his forearms, secured around them by leather straps on the undersides of his arms. For somebody who likes to get into close and physical fights, they will be perfect for blocking attacks.
From his waist to about halfway down his thighs are short tights. Now, while he would not want to wear something that could be called ”tights” normally, especially not on their own, they look too good with his outfit to not wear. Hanging over top of the tights are the ”feathers” of the pteruges that are composed of leather almost as black as the metal armor.
And finally there are the boots. While Serra's boots are tight and sleek, Fenrir's are heavy and metal while reaching up just as high as hers. His, too, look more like they're made for kicking than for walking.
”Well, it looks unique,” King Cat says.
”At least somebody wants it,” Ants says.
The only thing missing to make Fenrir look truly edgy is dying his hair black. As it is, his white tail, ears, and hair contrast pretty strongly against his black armor.
His tail nervously wagging behind him also takes away from the edginess factor.
But, fortunately for Fenrir, there is somebody who appreciates his new look.
”Well?” Fenrir asks, looking down at Serra.
”Awesome,” Serra says with a thumbs-up and sparkles in her eyes. ”You look like a metal guitarist.”
”That's not exactly what I was going for, but I'll take it.”
”I love it.”
His tail wags a bit faster.
”You look super cool.”
And faster.
”And everybody's gonna love it. You look like a bad guy for Nell, mysterious for Cass Cass, and dark for Azawaza.”
His tail wags as fast as it possibly can, taking every last ounce of edginess away from his new style.
There is just nothing edgy about a man wearing all black while having a tail wagging as fast as his is.
”And we match,” Serra continues, stepping up next to him so that they can stand side-by-side.
Fenrir's armor might be all black, but his white hair makes up for the lack in color. Between his armor and his hair, he really does match Serra's new black attire with its white flairs. Plus, having white hair herself works.
”We look awesome,” Serra says again.
”A pirate and an epic hero type. I've got to admit, it does work pretty well together,” King Cat says.
”Yeah. Never expected them to match so well,” Ants says. ”That's the power of color theory. Doesn't matter what you're wearing as long as you've got good colors. Anyways! So, you two happy with what you've got?”
Fenrir and Serra look into each other's eyes before looking back at Ants and nodding.
”Great, because that's all you're getting. And now I don't owe you,” Ants looks at King Cat, ”anymore.”
”I know. You've already said that a few times,” King Cat says.
”Thanks a ton. Both of you. We really appreciate it,” Fenrir says.
”Thanks,” Serra joins in.
”No problem!” Ants says. ”I'm just glad somebody finally wants all that. It's a pretty unique style that uh, not too many folk around here appreciate. But as long as you like wearing it, that's all that really matters, right?”
”Right!” King Cat says. ”Now, before I let you two leave, I've got a bit of discussing to do with you,” he says to Fenrir.
”Don't worry, I haven't forgotten,” Fenrir says. ”Want to go over it now?”
King Cat nods and says, ”We'll go over it at my place and talk over some coffee.”
Serra's concern as soon as she remembers King Cat's coffee is obvious… to everybody other than King Cat. Even Ants can see Serra's worry.
”How about tea?” Fenrir asks. ”I went through a bit of a coffee phase in reality recently, so I'm not sure I could stomach to drink more coffee.”
”Ah! Fair enough,” King Cat says. ”It's because of pumpkin spice season, isn't it?”
”Yeah. I just can't resist pumpkin spice coffee,” Fenrir lies, though it's for the sake of somebody incredibly important to him.
And the one he is lying for is immediately appreciative of his lie.
Serra looks up at him and wraps her arms around his side, hugging him and mentally promising to do lewd things to him later in exchange for saving her from more of King Cat's coffee.
She's going to really have to bust out his favorite services for him.
Though, she's going to need the cooperation of their other girlfriends for that.
But it is worth it.
Giving her boyfriend a night of harem service to thoroughly satisfy his every desire is something that she will gladly do for him if it means being saved from King Cat's coffee.
Then again, she would do it even if it were not for being saved from coffee.
Which is exactly why she does do that.
At least once a week.
Sometimes twice a week.
Occasionally three to four times a week.
Not-so-rarely, every single night of the week.
The new privacy from having a house built at their fledgling town has been great for their relationship's sex life.
At King Cat's house in the center of Catsville, Fenrir and Serra are seated at his meeting table as he pours them both a cup of tea. Each cup gets shaken just a little bit to swirl the tea around before they can drink it.
Serra looks apprehensive when it comes to tasting it since she knows what his coffee is like… but she finds the courage to take a sip.
And…
It's alright.
It's nothing special, but the fact that it's nothing special is more than she could have hoped for when it comes to King Cat.
”Nothing special” also means that it's not especially bad.
Serra sighs from relief.
”That good, huh?” King Cat asks with a proud smile.
Serra nods as Fenrir takes a sip of the tea himself.
And then it hits him.
He never thought the coffee was as bad as Serra thought it was… but the tea?
The tea is truly, truly disgusting.
It is the most bitter, taste-bud-assaulting thing that he has ever tasted.
But for the sake of his girlfriend, he drinks it.
”Something wrong?” King Cat asks.
How does he know that something is wrong?
Fenrir is making sure to keep a brave, neutral face in spite of the foul substance filling his mouth.
”No, why?” Fenrir asks.
”Your ears are low.”
Right.
Fenrir might be able to control his facial expressions but he cannot control his ears and tail.
”Oh. No, just remembering something sad,” he lies.
While he normally despises lying and believes that it should never be done… there is a difference between white lies that are for the sake of somebody else and selfish, serious lies.
He must lie for both his girlfriend's comfort and King Cat's pride.
Unfortunately, his lie doesn't work.
”Hah! You two are tough, I've got to admit it,” King cat says.
His lie didn't work because they were both seen through from the very beginning.
”What?” Fenrir asks.
”Sorry. I know that it's an asshole thing for me to do, but I like to mess with new people around these parts by giving them drinks like that to see what sort of characters they are. But last time, I saw that you weren't bothered as much as the pirate there, so I felt challenged to make something really special for you.”
”So… you were testing us by purposely giving us horrible drinks?”
”Yep! Asshole, I know, but it's been my favorite prank ever since I was a little one. I just can't resist it.”
”Mine isn't that bad,” Serra says, looking down into her tea.
”That's because you've already suffered. You see, I didn't want you to go through it again, so I had to think of how to prank him without pranking you. That's why I made a pretty bland tea… but if you look into your cups, you'll see the difference.”
Fenrir and Serra compare their cups.