[H2] Clay, New York City[/h2]
[hider=Astrid]“There you are. You ok?” Arms folded against her chest as she looked down at the man with genuine concern.[/hider]

Clay was slipping between worlds when he heard the voice, her voice. He heard the syllables like a distant underwater echo but couldn't make words or sense of the sounds so close. However it was enough to draw his focus. 
He groans softly as he tilts his head up to look upon the one who cast him in shadow. 

"[b]Nah, nah nah.[/b]" A startled Clay suddenly responds. Wide eyed and head shaking, wincing in pain as he desperately tries to wriggle himself further against the wall, away from Astrid. Finding himself suddenly filled with the awakening energy of urgency and determination.
Eyes still blurry, the sun shining behind the figure, he saw something more. 
"It ain't that bad!" He mutters.
There was a small hint of desperation and uncertainty in his words that tasted a lot like fear.

His eyes slowly came into focus and the groggy cloud disperses from his head taking with it that slither of panic. Clay lets out a soft sigh as he slumps into himself almost flashing a smile of relief and self amusement.
He begins to chuckle at himself but the shooting pain reminds him of where he is.

[hider=Astrid]“I think you blacked out. They're gone so...” Suddenly Astrid's nose scrunched up in pain due to his badly beaten features.[/hider] 

"[b]Power nap.[/b]" He quickly corrects her, the words escaping out on one hurried breath. "[b]Damn, already? I wasn't finished with them yet.[/B]" Clay had been teetering towards getting up but due to a crooked finger momentarily resigned from that task sinking back into his spot.

[hider=Astrid]“You may want to get that checked out... Looks like it hurts like hell.” Suddenly the sides of her mouth upturned unleashing a beautiful pearly white smile.[/hider]

Once again as Clay sat there he heard her voice, the syllables even formed words this time, they were just lost to him. Moments before he thought her here to take him to the afterlife, now, with the sun almost creating a glowing halo around her body Clay was mesmerised by her unique angelic beauty.

He takes a deep bracing breath in physical and mental preparation. "[b]Sorry, can I just ask you for three things?[/b]" his eyes shone at her with a practiced charm. There's a smile of hopelessness creeping on his face seemingly like he almost enjoys his condition or more simply, nothing can hold him down.

"[b]Please tell me I'm not dead, and then tell me your name.[/b]"
[@Temperance]