[Oh, Mello thinks Sam will be spending a lot of time 'in town.' Enough that he'll want to know something about the state of things if he's going to make it here. Without someone close to guide him through the details, it's going to be one unpleasant surprise after another.]

[He lets the guy work out his stuttering monologue. It's a shock. Mello understands.]

Answers my question, then. I'll take that as a preemptive 'no.'

[Already, he's looking beyond Sam. If he washed up, others did too. No one ever mentioned anything about people showing up one by one. According to everything he knows, they come in batches like the one he was dragged in with.]

Where's the riddle?

[No, really. Mello thinks he's being as straightforward as is warranted when meeting a new arrival. There are others who will be happy to answer all of Sam's questions, no matter how dim. He shifts on his feet, flicks a claw over his thumb. Sam couldn't have happened upon anyone less willing to ensure his well-being in any sense.]

You asked what I am; I answered you.

[Buddy.]

Given that you have nothing to offer me, I consider that response more than enough.