Machi might have been a shill. He was definitely not a customer.

Which was probably for the better, because honestly, who knew if Machi was even capable of aiming at anything through his sunglasses' dark tint. His round face was speckled with orange and white scales, a trailing frill of fins from each of his arms, like a fancy goldfish.

"Probably you should try for more happy sounding." You know. If you don't want to get in trouble.

Or you could keep sounding like your soul had vacated your body. But don't say he didn't warn you.