Fenrir leads Cassiel and Serra back down to the docks. At one point, he tells Rock that he’ll let her down if she promises to behave and not run off anywhere without permission. She licks his face in agreement. Fortunately, she has yet to run off. She sticks by his side and never breaks pace. She does not fall behind, nor does she run ahead. She stays exactly at his side as a trained service dog would.

He’s actually really impressed. Cassiel and Serra are both impressed as well.

Fenrir has never gone shopping for bait before, but he figures that if anywhere is selling it, it’s going to be at the docks.

And so, they reach the docks.

“Hey! Do you know of any good bait… shops?” Fenrir asks a man that he sees walking around with a fishing pole.

The man turns around. Fenrir immediately feels emasculated.

Standing before him is a man a couple of inches taller than him, he has an open shirt revealing a chest covered in curled hairs just as white as the scruffy hair covering his face, and he is absolutely ripped as far as muscles go. He just looks straight up intimidating.

Serra is already hiding behind Fenrir. Even Cassiel is intimidated by the man’s sheer masculinity.

“What’s this? A new arrival here wantin’ to go fishin’ with his ladies?” the man asks, but he sounds more like he’s shouting from how deep and booming his voice is. “I’ll show ya the best place to get some good bait at! With me, boy!”

Fenrir doesn’t fully understand what’s going on, but he does know that he’s following this giant personification of masculinity.

“Oi! I got a new boy! Get the good stuff out here!” the man shouts into a wooden shack on the pier.

Another man with matching levels of masculinity, but with brown hair and less wrinkles, brings out a huge bucket full of shrimp trying to jump out of its water.

Serra strategically positions Fenrir from behind so that his back is away from each of the men.

“We got some good stuff for ya here! First order is free since I like seein’ young’uns takin’ up fishin’.”

“Really? That’s great,” Fenrir says. It’s mainly great because he’s just remembered that he’s out of money.

“Of course! We need more young’uns learnin’ the joys of fishin’, and unless yer lucky with where ya live back in borin’ old reality, this is the best place to learn! Let me tell ya, boy. I’ve played many fishin’ games in my day. I remember when Pro Ocean Fishing ’19 Deep Dark Edition was the hottest thing around, but nothin’ can beat fishin’ here!”

As much as Fenrir loves fishing and enjoys the confirmation that this game has the best fishing that there is, he’s more impressed by the fact that this guy is referencing a game that came out before his parents were even born.

“My name’s Fenrir. I figure I at least owe you my name if you’re helping me out so kindly.”

“Fenrir! That’s a good name! Sure, it might not be the most original name I’ve ever heard, but it’s still a good one! A fishin’ wolf is the best kind of wolf!” the man shouts. “Oh, and I’m Jax,” he says, his voice much calmer now.

“Nice to meet you, Jax.”

Serra and Cassiel are amazed by how well Fenrir seems to be getting along with this new man known as Jax.

Is this how men bond? By talking about fishing?

Neither of the girls has ever witnessed the birth of a bromance before.

Since Serra is hiding, only Cassiel can see how the two men longingly look into one another’s eyes. While she’s sure that they just want to talk about fishing things, it’s oddly homoerotic.

Cassiel has no idea how to feel about this.

Should she be jealous or disturbed?

“I’m Jin,” the younger but just as masculine man in the shack says. “Don’t worry about it, kid. This bucket would normally only be a few silver. Bait’s cheap.”

“Even so, I really appreciate it. I just used the last of my gold on getting this card,” Fenrir says, flashing the card to the men.

Jax grabs Fenrir’s wrist to get a good look at the card. “Got a negative Standing there. Be careful showin’ it around. The folk here might be the best company you could ever ask for to go fishin’ with, but they’re firmer than my late ma’s fruitcake when it comes to the rules.

“I figured as much, thanks. Hey, you guys know anything about the fishing tournament?” Fenrir asks.

“Of course we do! It’s the talk of the city! It’s happenin’ in a week from now, and I’ve heard that the pretty boy elf king from across the way is goin’ to be showin’ up for it. Guess it’s part of Blackstache tryin’ to find more allies to help him with ole’ blue bitch.”

“Blue bitch?”

“Yeah, blue bitch. Indra. She’s a wretched woman, reminds me of my late ma.”

Fenrir has a feeling that Jax has very conflicting emotions regarding his late ma.

“Are new players allowed to compete in the tournament?”

“Course ya are! I don’t think they’ll do very well, probably won’t make it past the first round, but they’re more than welcome to try! Hell, if we’ve got some NPCs tryin’ to compete with their own ships and crews, why can’t some new faces?”

“NPCs are going to be competing? Sorry for the questions, only just started playing this past week.”

“No problem, boy! Yeah, some of ‘em have grouped up and started a crew. Real friendly folk. I’ve talked to them a few times before. They’re great fishers, too. Ya wouldn’t think it from lookin’ at them, but they’ve got just as much spirit as me and you. Also, I’m sorry to say, but if you’re new then ya probably don’t have a ship, and ya need a ship if ya want to enter the tournament.”

“Oh, no, we’ve got one already.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, she’s over there. I named her The Shoebill,” Fenrir points to the far end of the pier where The Shoebill is in sight.

“Well beat me over the head with my ma’s fruitcake and call me Lola. You new players are all about catchin’ up as quickly as possible these days, aren’t ya?”

“We’ve got to catch up to you old timers! Can’t be letting you hog all the glory and fun to yourselves.”

“Hah! I like you, boy. What was your name again?”

“Fenrir.”

“Nice to meet ya, Fenrir! I’m Jax!” This time, Jax grabs Fenrir’s hand and gives it such a firm handshake that Fenrir worries his bones are going to break.

Fenrir hides his hand behind his back to shake the pain off after it’s finally released. He accidentally smacks the side of Serra's head doing it.

She pouts and readjusts her hat.

“Is there anything else you need to join?”

“A ship, a card, and a good crew! Ya need at least seven people for your crew to qualify. We’ve got individual tournaments, but this one here is for crewed vessels.”

Assuming that Fenrir can somehow convince Oleander and Bonekraka to join them, that still leaves them two short. He doubts that Rock would count. Rock is more of a mascot than a crewmember.

He looks down at Rock.

She’s sitting with her tongue out, craning her neck to look up at the hulking Jax.

“Alright, thanks again for all the information. I forget if I already asked, but are you guys competing?” Fenrir asks, looking between Jax and Jin.

“We are! We’ll be sailin’ out with the rest of our brothers on The Weeping Tit.”

Fenrir tries containing his laughter. However, Jax catches onto him and slaps his back to force the laughter out! “It’s alright, boy! If ya want to laugh, laugh! Bein’ a man is all about doin’ what ya want to do! Never hold anythin’ back. It’s especially true for your girls there. Holdin’ back a laugh is as bad as holdin’ back half your cock!”

Jax’s vulgar and blunt language causes not only the girls to blush, but Fenrir as well.

Even so, he laughs. “Thanks for the great advice. Always laugh and never go to a girl with a semi. Got it. Anyways, we’ve got to go get some practice and meet a couple of new crewmembers. You’ll be seeing The Shoebill during the tournament, and we’ll be proving that us newcomers have got what it takes to compete!” Fenrir proudly declares. He knows that Bonekraka and Oleander haven't even agreed to it yet, and there's still the problem of needing two more crewmembers even if they do agree, but he's allowing himself to get excited even if he knows it might just lead to disappointment.

“That’s the spirit, boy! Now, take this bucket and go get some practice!” Jax says, picking up the bucket of jumping shrimp and shoving it into Fenrir’s arms. “One last thing. You see the tower there?” Jax asks, pointing to the arguably-useless tower of cannons. “The water, this side of it – it’s a great fishin’ spot. Plenty of fish love hangin’ around in the back there since not many ships disturb the waters in that spot. Your ship looks small enough to not annoy anybody, so I’d just anchor her over there and get to fishin’.”

“We’ll do that. Thanks again, Jax, Jin. I’m lookin’” their speech is beginning to rub off on Fenrir, “forward to seeing you during the tournament.”

“We’ll be lookin’ out for The Shoebill and her dog of a captain!”

Jax spins Fenrir around and gives him a pat on the back to send him forward, making sure to hit just above where Serra’s head is since she’s still clinging and hiding behind Fenrir.

“Thanks,” Cassiel says, following after Fenrir.

Jax looks over to Jin. “Ain’t it nice seein’ a boy and his girls?”

“Remember when it used to just be a boy and his girl?” Jin asks.

“Yeah, but times’ve changed. Can’t be lettin’ our old beliefs get in the way of the young’s. It’s their future.”

“You’re a lot softer than you look, old man.”

“Nothin’ wrong with that! A real man has to be comfortable with his soft side!”

“Right you are. Now, go catch some more bait to make up for what we just gave away."