Camie is a mermaid . . . No one's going to pass up on the chance to bid on the jewel of the sea. What if the money isn't enough? What if some awful bastard ends up buying her . . . ?!

[Forget the lollipop, actually. He pulls that out and shoves the fabric of his shirt in his mouth to gnaw on hysterically as tears spring from his eyes like a faucet.]

Camie . . . ! I hope you're okay!