"Let me try it," Russel offered. He was a bit smaller than his brother, but he was half blorknog, and as the man it was his duty to open things that his wife couldn't. Surely an oyster wouldn't be much trouble. He gave the shell halves a pull, and sure enough, one of them went flying.

"Oh no!" Saya cried as the shell half bounced off of the back of a tall, dark haired man's head.

"Say?! What's the big idea?!" came the terse reply.

"Oh, my. Terribly sorry," Russel called. He glanced at the piece of shell in his hand. "I believe you've got the good half of this."

Herbie glowered at him and held up the offending piece of shell, "You want this back?"

"Well, yes. It was rather tricky to open," Russel replied.

"So you went and flung it at my head?" Herbie demanded.

"Oh, no!" Russel replied with a laugh. "You see, I was pulling it apart"--he demonstrated this in pantomime, complete with an exaggerated facial expression--"and it flew right out of my hand!" He waved a hand enthusiastically to simulate the path of the flying oyster before looking expectantly back at Herbie.

Herbie's mustache was not amused, and neither was Herbie, "You gettin' fresh with me?"

"Fresh?" Russel knit his brow. "Why, no; I was only explaining what had happened. Are you going to give me back my oyster?"

Herbie thought about it for a moment then handed Russell the sandy, grit covered, slightly smashed oyster.

"Thank you." Russel glanced over the oyster. "It's the principle of the thing, really."

"Is it?" Herbie drawled.

"Yes," Russel stated confidently with a single nod. "Principles are very important, you know." He shook the oyster for emphasis as he spoke, then smiled. "Would you care to join us?"

Herbie frowned, but seeing Saya struggled as she tried to crack open a crab he nodded, "Looks like you need a real man, I'll help!"

"I take it you're familiar with the process?" asked Russel as he picked up another shellfish and examined it curiously.

Herbie took the shellfish, pulled a knife out of his pocket and cleanly pried the shell apart.