( a hundred questions bloom in an incident – how, is it a curse, what if it's an accident, what if no one's at fault, what if, what it, what if – and it takes great restraint not to hurl them all out immediately. a restraint that nick isn't normally used to using with himself, but is practicing very hard. )

Why would the city be safer?

( there's gangs in the city – leaking into the up too now, apparently, if the chatter is to be believed. there's nowhere safe in duplicity, but he can't imagine why the beach would pose any more threat than anywhere else.

...there is that rumour about sea monsters, but he doesn't think cain is talking about that. )

To– yes, I guess. ( he looks a little pink around the edges, vaguely embarrassed in a way that doesn't really fit with nick's usual shameless self. )

I asked around a bit first. Found someone that didn't seem like a total psycho, you know? You'll have to do it too, eventually.