"But if I'm on my best behavior, then you won't have any reason to be scary, yes?" he asks, his smile growing. He hasn't smile this often or this easily in years, and it's a little scary if he lets himself consider it for too long.

"Or does my behavior not factor in? Do you just choose to be a scary lady sometimes?" As he speaks, Mathias backs them through the water slowly, using his arm around Veronica's waist to tug her with him.