Clarity

        ❋✞ Like any good dockworker, having strong ties with sailors—the ones willing to face the mysterious shipments of Pont du Diable and remain silent—Ryuu was very well aware of the dangers water carried with it. Not merely the stories and the myths about strange creatures hiding underneath the surface. The water itself was something cruel and beautiful. Sometimes that beauty required a sacrifice, roughly ripped away from the world of air and light. Even if the redhead hadn’t been all that interested, he knew enough who had. Who still were. What would he be but a fool if he ignored their words? Shrugged them off as if they were nothing? Some loved the water, some could never part with it until their deaths. Deaths that were usually caused by the same water they seemed to have such strong ties to. Ryuu’s father was a good example of that. It had taught the redhead from an early age on that the water was not to be underestimated. In fact, despite his regular strolls on all different kinds of shores, he never came in contact with it. More than a fear of the water itself, he might have been wary of the beings that lived in it, not wanting to disturb them. Just in case, one might say.

        This time was not quite the same. His foot must have slipped, or someone may have given him a push in the back—Ryuu honestly wouldn’t know, the cold stream already surrounding him before he had even time to feel himself fall. The sudden chill drew a startled gasp from his lips, but the cold was the least of his worries. Naturally, someone who avoided water wouldn’t be able to swim. An accidental gulp of water went down his throat, triggering a violent cough before the redhead forced himself to take a deep breath before the current dragged him down. It hurt. First his throat burned, then his lungs followed, unable to cope with the lack of fresh air. Once or twice he managed to reach the surface, but there was no time for anything but brief, shallow panting before the water tried to fill his nose and mouth again. His limbs grow heavier until they’re too heavy even for the fear of death that had kept them moving before. Only a miracle could save him now, his lungs ready to explode and his mind beginning to slip into darkness…

                           ♒ } — It's quite obvious how there are some people who forget that a river can be unmerciful and deadly. Nico likes to keep stronger tabs on these places along his own stretch of water, knowing that one day he might have to drag out a couple of dead bodies-or at least half drowned ones. Humans are so accident prone that the nymph is surprised there aren't more near death experiences in his river. There hasn't been any in quite some time, causing Nico to immediately approach the situation with an agitated pout of his lip. But no, no, he has to remind himself that this person is an innocent and that they certainly do not deserve to die today.

The nymph makes his way over, knowing that this stretch of river is filled with rushing currents fast enough to force a body underneath the surface with little to no effort at all. He stops, floating there while crystal hues blink, searching for this very unfortunate human. They aren't hard to find, actually, what with that striking head of red in the midst of so much blue. Nicolaus quickly swims over, noticing that this male is quite literally seconds from death, giving Nico no real time to get him to the surface for some air. Crap.