"Competition? You're a bronze rank, ya dolt. They're gold now. There's no competition in that to be had for you."
Whether they knew it or not, under the attention of such conversation, the Sea Serpents that Vol had brought with them puffed themselves out like peacocks trying to show off their finest side. Harland and Vale who ought to have been immune to such things had put special care into their appearance that day. Harland had cut his ever-lengthening blonde hair back to a length that couldn't be called ragged, and Vale had taken the care to see her own hair brushed to a shine, and then braided to perfect. She'd done much the same for Penelope – even giving the girl's earrings a polish so that they shone with every step that she took.
