It's the second time Elias has woken like this, and he doesn't like it any better the second time. When he opens his eyes to find someone else-- Xie Lan-- there, he closes them again. Having an audience is just the icing on this shit cake.

He doesn't make an attempt to speak until he's sure he won't do anything as undignified as croak or lose breath halfway through. He almost manages it.

"To what do I-- owe the pleasure?"