"... Ezekiel you say? ... A bit .. 'old-fashioned' isn't it?" mused Ember bemusedly.

"Well, once i've had a chance to rest up a bit, I could see about mending your robes dahling... I take great pride and care in the... care... of.. my work....."

Ember trailed off, completely taken by surprise by what had just darted in front of him. That filthy beggar woman that had been lounging outside his quarters aboard ship had clearly not only survived, but had clearly found one of his missing spring pieces. 

Worse still, she was... smearing it with..... FISH GREASE.. like it was some common rag from the gutter.  THAT WAS MEANT TO BE ON A HOTTIE'S TIGHT LITTLE BOTTOM, NOT ACCEPTING FILTHLY FISH JUICES!! AND THAT BUNDLE! THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TIGHTLY WRAPPED AROUND A TASTEFUL SET OF BOSOMS, NOT SOME COLLECTION OF OLD RUBBISH!!


The surge of emotion combined with his weakened constitution, in a momentary darkening of his vision as his blood pressure spiked, and the vagal response kicked in, sending him to the sandy ground on his bottom with a thud.


Dazed, his head swam, and for a single blessed moment, he felt maybe he had just hallucinated it, and that he just needed to rest and drink more coconut water... But he rubbed his eyes, and looked again as his momentary loss of verticality dissipated. It was quite plain-- It was not a mere hallucination.  Worse, the vile creature was picking her nose, and rubbing it on the bright orange trousers, along with the greasy fish juice.  He felt nauseous, but summoned the power to get to his feet, then staggered toward the abominable visage of the woman...

"If you'll excuse me sir.... I need to take care... of some business...."