Neon talks to Grekhaus

Participating characters: NeonPunk, grekhaus. Subject: ShadowOnTheSkyline

Location: Direct Message

8 August 2021

**NeonPunk**

Hey, uh, would you mind if I ask you a few questions?

**grekhaus**

Hello! You may certainly ask. What's the topic?

**NeonPunk**

You know a lot about ghouls, right?

Is it normal that they *blush*?

Like does that hurt them or something?

**grekhaus**

As in, physical reddening of the cheeks, not due to rouge or glamour? An actual physiological response?

**NeonPunk**

I... Think so? I'm pretty sure no glamour was involved and if she had wore make up it would had to be intermittent, so probably not that either

So yeah, I think physiological

**grekhaus**

That is either a very good sign, or a very bad one. It suggests that the ghoul in question has enough Life in them that they can experience even the involuntary reactions of the living. Unless you refer to a fairly elder ghoul, they are likely very badly out of spiritual balance. I hesitate to ask, but do you refer to Skyline here?

**NeonPunk**

Oh fuck

Uh yeah, I'm referring of skyline

So does that hurt her?

So what does that imbalance mean?

**grekhaus**

Very briefly, a ghoul's survival depends on their continued existence in a state between Life and Death. Getting too close to Death means that they finally lie down and die, and getting too close to Life means being once more subject to diseases and injury - something which is almost always just as fatal. Whatever it is that is drawing her close to life like this - she needs to stop doing it until she can get healthier.

**NeonPunk**

Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck

Ok, shit, I don't know specifically what's drawing her so close to life, but I think it happened after I hugged her once

Is there a way to balance her to death?

**grekhaus**

Ah. So you're the one she was talking about. Right. First off, you need to stop touching her. Or, if you must do so, use gloves. Ideally black gloves with skulls on them, but I don't imagine you have any. Second - has the package arrived?

**NeonPunk**

What package?

I'll go buy some gloves asap

Is it ok if I draw the skulls on while I get some better ones?

**grekhaus**

I recently sent Skyline some medication for this issue. It might not be there yet. And drawn on skulls are probably better than nothing. Include crossbones, if you can. Or whatever other death symbolism is regionally appropriate.

**NeonPunk**

Uh a death rune? But that might be kinda dangerous

Other recommendations? I really don't wanna accidentally hurt her

**grekhaus**

Food. If you have access to it, wolfsbane. As a last resort, leeches.

**NeonPunk**

So raw flesh and wolfsbane

I'll try to look for some

Wait, ~~Elara~~ skyline spoke about me?

Talked

**grekhaus**

I've been asked not to discuss the matter, for the sake of privacy. Is there a medical or safety concern?

**NeonPunk**

No, just curiosity, sorry

**grekhaus**

In any case, I'm aware that she is visiting a human in Fellward. I assume that's you.

**NeonPunk**

Yeah, she's been with me

Hey can I ask something more?

**grekhaus**

You could.

**NeonPunk**

Well maybe 2 things

The first one is please don't tell Elara I asked this?

**grekhaus**

...alright.

**NeonPunk**

As for the second, you had said something about one of your relatives having been in a relationship with a ghoul, does that actually work? Like doesn't that hurt the ghoul?

**grekhaus**

Done incautiously, it is unsafe for ghoul and companion alike. But there are ways to make it safer, to greater or lesser degrees. I will warn you, however, that Skyline seems very determined to reject the possibility that a person might care for her.

**NeonPunk**

She... Does?

Oh

... Thanks

For everything, I guess

**grekhaus**

Quite welcome. Please be sure to get one of the pamphlets I've sent along. And to pester Elara about taking her medication, eating correctly and getting the houseplant.

**NeonPunk**

I will, see you around, maybe

**grekhaus**

Hopefully. Be well.

11 August 2021

**NeonPunk**

I think the clothes and gloves with skull motifs worked! She seemed ok when I hugged her

Like no blushing!

**grekhaus**

Excellent. And has she been taking the medication?

**NeonPunk**

I... Don't know I got shy of asking her :( Like "hey, did you intoxicated yourself lethally enough today?"

I mean, I was considering getting my snake to bite her...

**grekhaus**

It isn't just random poison. It's medicinal. Wolfsbane acts by stopping the heart, localizing the dispersal of excess vitality to that chakra. Using snake venom would not have the same helpful effects.

**NeonPunk**

Ohhhhh

Fuck

Ok, will look into it

Aren't there risks on like overdosing on it? Don't want her leaning completely to death either

**grekhaus**

Yes, as described on the dosing instructions on the bottle. If her heartbeat frequency drops below one an hour or so, if she begins to feel sluggish or needs to recover from an injury, or if her balance reading indicates that her standing with Life is in a good place relative to her standing with Death, she can and should skip a dose. Which reminds me: has she been doing the regular readings with the houseplant?

**NeonPunk**

I... Have no idea what that is

**grekhaus**

Also, *you* are being careful around the poison, right? It says "not for living creatures" on the bottle for a reason. I'm not joking. You could die if you got a couple drops in you.

**NeonPunk**

Let me ask

Oh yeah, I really don't like poisons, I'm being careful, not the way I plan on dying

How does the plant thing work? I don't know well what to ask her

**grekhaus**

If either Life or Death has an excess hold on a ghoul, physical contact between the ghoul and a living creature will result in some of that Life or Death rubbing off. Regular contact with a plant, for example, will cause it to wither or bloom out of season should an excess of either be present. This is diagnostic. Mayflies can be used for greater sensitivity if available, but if you're going to that much trouble you might as well get a practitioner to use the Sight diagnostically.

**NeonPunk**

Ohhhhh ok, so I can just use my sight instead?

She says she's feeling fine!

**grekhaus**

Is your Sight suitable for detecting the appropriate incarnate influences?

**NeonPunk**

... It can show me some cool stuff, like fighting prowess

It uses *a lot* of colors, but I don't know too well what they mean yet

Too confusing

**grekhaus**

Right. Do you have access to a glasses or some other sort of lens?

**NeonPunk**

Eh... I have some reading glasses around

**grekhaus**

Try this, if you're willing to modify the glasses, as a way to focus your Sight on the appropriate concepts. [[Picture of two runic diagrams drawn onto a pair of glasses, both featuring a diamond surrounding an eye symbol. One has a keyhole shape inside the pupil, while the other has something like a trident or an odd tree instead. A paper flap dangles from the bridge of the glasses, with a word square on it: SEES EACH ECHO SHOW.]]

**NeonPunk**

Ohhhh looks cool! I will do it

Thanks Grek

Uh hey, don't wanna be unthankful or something but, you're helping a lot, you don't want anything in return? I have a few trophies I could give away, if you want them

**grekhaus**

I've already negotiated repayment from Elara. But I wouldn't refuse if you wanted to send something as well.

**NeonPunk**

It's nothing that would get her in danger, right? And sure, where do I send them? I'll give you 2

**grekhaus**

I struggle to imagine how her sending me a Christmas card could put her in peril. But you may direct mail intended for me to [PO box in Mexico City.]

**NeonPunk**

Huh Mexico? Cool I'll send them tomorrow :) Thanks for the help