We're not here to discuss my problems. (it's said with finality, a clear line drawn between them.

if he asks anything about it, he'll pay eventually. hei can't imagine either of them would be interested in having that conversation, though, least of all over a dead body the authorities will track down. wouldn't be the logical thing to do and he's picking up that this "mugger" is smart enough to get that.)

You asked for my best guess and that was it. All of this is alien to me, (a jerk of his head in a nod, indicating the festival, the alley, the city, its technology,) it could be anything. Communication is the most obvious guess. We were both — glowing.

(not the strangest thing he's seen, honestly, but for the moment it's up there. and he'll keep talking if it distracts from the fact that he can move again.)

It looked like radiation. (his radiation.)