"I said you should look both ways before you cross the street! Are you topsiders blind [i]and[/i] deaf now?"

[i]That's good, Proco! Keep sounding indignant. Nobody wants to argue with an indignant person. It's how mama got papa to be her husband![/i]

"I'll have you know this apparatus is probably worth more than your whole net value- er, or at least it will be, once I've smoothed out all the issues. You're just lucky it didn't get dinged up bumping into you- n-not that it could!"

She slapped her hands on the saucer's chassis for emphasis.

"I'll have you know this here marvel of engineering is the Octo Slug Mark One! It's got integrated repulsors in the top and bottom of the disk to keep it level under any conditions! The outer shell is sanded giant clam, cemented together with hagfish glue that can withstand the pressure of the deepest ocean trench! Under the hood, it's got 300 seahorsepower, more than enough to outrace any one of your dumb [i]land[/i]-horses! The face carries a force-projector apparatus that can stun a dire eel at fifty paces! [i]It has cupholders![/i]"

For emphasis, she pounded her hand again on the saucer, popping open a hidden hatch to reveal a small compartment containing a ring, within which sat a half-full glass of some brownish opaque substance.

"See? Even with that crash just now, my milk tea is only half-spilled! That's engineering, buddy!"

Proco puffed out her chest pridefully, a smug sort of expression plastered across her face. It seemed she had already forgotten that she was supposed to be arguing about something.