Short hair, sun- orbleach-pale. Not thin, not heavy; sturdy, I guess you'd say. Tiny linesfanned from her eyes, her skin stretched thin over her cheek...ones. In herlate 30s, 40s, probably. Jeans, turtleneck, the usual kind of dress-downlook beach people go for, winter-time version, though she was just alittle fancier: she had put some lipstick on and had a blazer draped overthe back of her stool. I couldn't quite read her, but didn't really wantto try too hard. A real estate agent in a shabby. “But I would love to,” I countered, before resuming, “After the incredible job you guys have done so far today, it would be an honour.”As they sheepishly nodded their consent, I added, “Besides, I have two three-quarter beds in my spare room, so you don’t even have to worry about drinking and driving.”Shortly afterward, I visited my local supermarket as excited as a horny teenager.When I returned the guys were finishing up for the day. I handed each one a facecloth and a hand towel, to freshen. “No Blood Tide nearby, so probably not Skinsails. Too many Magistrate and other armed ships nearby for Pirates. Grindylow is all that fits.”“Never thought I’d be wishing to face a ghost ship,” Captain Vex said, grinning in spite of her obvious concern. Will wasn’t sure how much of it was real and how much of it was part of the persona she projected when she was wearing her Captain hat, but he liked it. It reminded him of Jack, or at least the way Jack used to be.“According to the stories, they. . things." Their 'things?' What is this, junior high? Can you say 'penis?'"Tess giggled. "I guess when I tell a story, I revert to the vocabulary of the period," she said. "Anyway, I teased him, and he stormed off into his room. He returned a couple of minutes later, holding one of his jock straps, and showed me the label. 'Look at this, ' Roy says to me, showing me the little label."Well, I looked, and the label said 'Large.' And Roy is all proud and pleased with himself, there, waiting for my.