"Blood cells are not gorgeous or I'd have been accused of courting one by now," he replied with all the blandness he could muster. "For someone with almost no life I have a surprisingly robust rumored one."
He winced a little as she started to cough, and he had to sort out which arm to reach out with to start soothing a hand up and down her back. His touch was surprisingly gentle for someone who could be so standoffish and occasionally harsh. "Listen to me and breath when I tell you too," he said. His voice was no where near the beautiful one Blaise had but it still worked for him as he tried to guide her through a breathing exercise that should help to calm her again.