"Oh -- crap." Eddie, drawn by the emotional explosion, edged towards the violent commotion. The look scrawled upon his face was one mirrored to the horror of realizing that even narrative is prone to couplets. He squared his shoulders and rolled his eyes, halfway convincing himself to leave Gilbert to fate.

But then again, since when had Eddie ever been a man beholden to fate?

That was the easier argument, he thought, than humoring a newly smithed sense of moral spine. He surged to the fishlike thugs pounding at Gilbert, and all were a flurry of fists -- excepting the one Gil had kicked tot he ground. Eddie, aware that his height was no longer an advantage among this species, aimed to grab for upper arms instead.

"Cease and desist! I must insist!" Eddie, pristine in his green clothes, still fresh from his Jelebellios luxury, caught sight of Gilbert's collar. He reached over and hooked two of his fingers under it.

"This fellow to me belongs, so slide back into your fishy throngs!"

It was a reasonable guise.