[ sha-ming’s eyes flicker up to him, meeting his gaze in a moment of lucidity — ah, yes, the pain ebbs away… another feeling takes over entirely. there’s the warmth of proximity, a thing that lingers with every stroke of his brush.

badump, badump, badump. is that the miasma? no, it’s— ]

C’mon, you’re sellin’ yourself short… most people wouldn’t help a guy like me, yanno…

[ is this man really shooting his shot on the verge of death because he was pathetic enough to develop an impromptu crush in a fraction of a second?

yes. ]

What’s the, [ he chokes on his own breath for a moment. ] point in savin’ someone who can’t do shit for you?