Ah, Miss Ghost? Salutations; this is Kaveh. I hope you are well. This isn't a follow-up regarding our previous projects, but I have a question, and I thought that perhaps you might have a bit of knowledge in it. Do you happen to have some time?
Well, no in-person meetings needed. It's also not a particularly clandestine conversation, but it's also a bit strange, so I won't be offended if this question isn't something you can or want to answer. But before that - falling off of Ferris wheels? That seems terribly specific. What brought that on as a comparison?
Edited (missed an entire word, man) 2023-10-19 05:05 (UTC)
You recall the life debt I mentioned the last time we spoke, I presume? That was the inciting incident that prompted the debt. I fell off the Ferris wheel and had to be saved.
Thus, I'm in better circumstances at the initiation of this conversation between us, compared to where I was at the start of the previous one. I've not added on any additional life debts. No more Ferris wheels.
I like strange questions best of all. What's on your mind?
Ah, there's the story. That must have been terrifying. I'm sorry that happened to you, and I'm glad your life was safeguarded. Yes, if you make that comparison, truly you are in a better position than you were before. You remind me a little of an acquaintance - though I think that would be an insult to you, given who the man is. Still, I'm glad you're alright.
In any case, this is my question: as a facilitator who works with a variety of clientele, and who is helping someone with supernatural ties - are you familiar with vampires? I have some questions regarding them, and these are questions I'd like to get second opinions on before I ask the vampire in question directly.
Oh, come now, Kaveh. You can't just compare me to some mysterious man in a way that would be an insult to me, and think that I'm NOT going to demand more information about it.
But that can wait until I've settled your matter. I am familiar with vampires — and will caution you that the folklore surrounding them can be extremely varied, so one has to be careful not to make any hasty assumptions about what might or might not be in play. That said, I imagine I should be able to elaborate on whatever you want to know.
Well, actually, yes, I was hoping you wouldn't demand more information. But - vampires first. I'm glad! You must be the first person I've spoken to that has some idea. I have a vampire in mind. The vampire in question has been lethargic and unwell. He lacks energy and runs a high fever. This may be due to his tendency to run himself ragged, though I don't know if vampires have a different reaction to stress or exhaustion. However, oral medications to alleviate his symptoms are out of the question. I was wondering if there are any topical treatments - herbs or salves and the like - or perhaps even magical means that can help a vampire's discomfort.
Hmmm. Well, it goes without saying that I'm not a doctor of vampires or of anything else, but as with most problems, I would imagine that any remedy would need to follow from knowing what's causing the malady to begin with.
You mention lethargy and lacking energy. Have his inherent powers been diminished as well? There's a subset of vampires that are severely weakened by the sun rather than finding exposure to it fatal. There are also certain plants that can have negative effects on vampires — garlic is the most commonly-known one, of course, but wild rose can be incapacitating and hawthorn can cause injury. Has he done any woodworking or gardening lately? A hawthorn splinter or an errant rose thorn might be causing problems in a way that could otherwise be easily overlooked.
As far as restoratives go, obviously there the most universal option is blood. However, barring that, napping in the soil of their homeland is also effective. Since you mention topical treatments, I would assume that a mud mask spa treatment comprised of the soil of their homeland would work equally well. It's the connection to their place of origin that controls.
I see. It seems the difference between being vampire and being human - is that the right comparison? Should I be using the word human? I think we all are, but perhaps that isn't the right way to think of it, but I digress - is bigger than I'd imagined. This vampire in question doesn't seem to have aversion to sunlight, or garlic, though he's not fond of consuming food in general. We've been doing woodworking, but I'd have to check if any of the lumber we are using is hawthorn. In terms of soil, I doubt I will be able to find any samples, though if it's the connection to their place of origin, would other objects from their place of origin work? I had another thought regarding, for example, if I were to ingest medication or vitamins and the vampire were to drink my blood, would they also get the benefits of it?
I got in the habit of using "people" as a generic. Most creatures, whatever their nature, are comfortable with thinking of themselves as people, but not necessarily human. Personhood is more about individuality, autonomy, agency. Things most people would agree they deserve.
The soil, I think, was an old shorthand for a connection to a familiar place even when far from home. Not something that would ordinarily travel with you, and thus be more transient in...how do I put this well. "Identity"?
...An architecture analogy. It's the difference between a fixture and the furniture. You might take a chair with you but you'd not be like to take the carpet.
The restorative quality would attach to the figurative carpet, but not so much to the chair. So the objects themselves, maybe not, but if you could use those objects to prepare something that achieved a gestalt of "home", maybe.
Regarding the blood, it varies. I'm familiar with vampires getting drunk after imbibing blood from a donor who'd had a few too many; I've also heard of ones resistant to it. So on that score it'd likely just be trial and error.
Personhood... I like that. I like the term, I like what it espouses, I like how it gives us a foundation without fully defining us. I'll remember this. And your analogy makes sense, Miss Ghost. I appreciate you bringing architecture into it. The idea of a gestalt home is nostalgic. When I was in school, we debated endlessly about what makes a house versus a home, and the elements of design that would go into a place livable for people. People-driven, people-oriented spaces, I always took the stance that a house was not a home unless the people within made it so. To that end, I understand the power of sentimental objects; I think the people ought to be involved too, if possible. This has given me plenty to think about. The vampire who was drunk off of imbibing blood from a donor who was similarly drunk - did they recover alright? Was the blood still effective in sating hunger regardless?
The vampire was fine, yes. They're not the only creature that can pick up compounds carried in the blood; there are some herbs like vervain and wolfsbane that people would ingest and allow to enter their bloodstream because it would act as a repellent to any creature that might bite them and pick it up secondhand.
Repellent at best. A toxin at worst.
I apologize if this is a personal question, but IS your vampire comfortable with feeding from a donor? Caffeine, for example, is readily available around the city, and it might be worth seeing if that helps some with the lethargy.
I see. This is very helpful, thank you. Is it possible for me to ask you for a list of possible compounds that are deadly to vampires in the bloodstream? I would like to avoid them, if possible. This vampire is a friend. Perhaps the two of us are more alike than not after all - I owe him something, and this is the least I can do.
And to answer your question, ah - first, he isn't my vampire. But he is comfortable with select people, I think. He's that sort of man, he doesn't trust easily and doesn't want to be a bother even less. An incorrigible combination. I hesitate to recommend more caffeine to him, though; he seems like the sort to rely on it just to function on a day-to-day basis, and I'm hoping for the betterment of his health, not the warping of it.
I can give you the more common ones, at least. As I've mentioned, "vampire" is a fairly large umbrella term for a varied subset of creatures, and those variations can make a significant amount of difference. That said, it's far more likely that a variant will prove immune to something unexpected rather than unusually susceptible to something unexpected, so my list should cover you on the basics.
I see. So it's possible he's masking the extent of his infirmity behind a stimulant already.
...Ugh. Like I said, I'm not a doctor, but I hate not being able to offer some type of avenue to pursue. Is it possible the blood he's imbibing is the wrong type somehow? Like a vegetarian with a nutrient deficiency. Rather than having taken in something actively harmful, maybe he's not getting enough of something he needs?
That's perfect - I really appreciate it, Miss Ghost. I am hoping that you are also keeping track of what I owe you for all of this, I barely know how to put a price on information, but I wouldn't feel right for taking up your time without some kind of repayment. That is a thought, however. I am consulting a doctor on this case as well, but as the doctor isn't familiar with vampires, I suppose it's a bit of piecing together advice and hoping for the best. If it's a nutritional deficiency, perhaps that's something I can supplement through eating something that will help with it and having him feed from my blood. The key is to figure out what he's missing, I suppose.
My immediate thought would be blood lacking in hemoglobin — feeding from someone with an iron deficiency. But I'm also far from an expert in the intricacies of how vampire physiology processes what it eats.
See if you can find out who or what he's been eating from. Then we can at least go to the source and run some tests.
...
"We". You, I mean. I didn't mean to sound as though I was sticking my nose into your business.
Well, I invited you into my business when I sent you this message, didn't I, Miss Ghost? I think that's a good direction to head into. I doubt I can find out everyone that he's been feeding on, but a quick question here and there should at least build a broad picture. You know, I've always been better with something to do when faced with a problem; having a way forward is a tremendous relief. I feel better after speaking with you; thank you.
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text. @kaveh, pre-event
This isn't a follow-up regarding our previous projects, but I have a question, and I thought that perhaps you might have a bit of knowledge in it. Do you happen to have some time?
no subject
I like questions. I like knowing the answers to questions too.
How can I help with yours? Or is this the sort of question that necessitates an in-person meeting?
no subject
But before that - falling off of Ferris wheels? That seems terribly specific. What brought that on as a comparison?
no subject
Thus, I'm in better circumstances at the initiation of this conversation between us, compared to where I was at the start of the previous one. I've not added on any additional life debts. No more Ferris wheels.
I like strange questions best of all. What's on your mind?
no subject
Yes, if you make that comparison, truly you are in a better position than you were before. You remind me a little of an acquaintance - though I think that would be an insult to you, given who the man is. Still, I'm glad you're alright.
In any case, this is my question: as a facilitator who works with a variety of clientele, and who is helping someone with supernatural ties - are you familiar with vampires? I have some questions regarding them, and these are questions I'd like to get second opinions on before I ask the vampire in question directly.
no subject
But that can wait until I've settled your matter. I am familiar with vampires — and will caution you that the folklore surrounding them can be extremely varied, so one has to be careful not to make any hasty assumptions about what might or might not be in play. That said, I imagine I should be able to elaborate on whatever you want to know.
no subject
I'm glad! You must be the first person I've spoken to that has some idea. I have a vampire in mind. The vampire in question has been lethargic and unwell. He lacks energy and runs a high fever.
This may be due to his tendency to run himself ragged, though I don't know if vampires have a different reaction to stress or exhaustion.
However, oral medications to alleviate his symptoms are out of the question. I was wondering if there are any topical treatments - herbs or salves and the like - or perhaps even magical means that can help a vampire's discomfort.
no subject
You mention lethargy and lacking energy. Have his inherent powers been diminished as well? There's a subset of vampires that are severely weakened by the sun rather than finding exposure to it fatal. There are also certain plants that can have negative effects on vampires — garlic is the most commonly-known one, of course, but wild rose can be incapacitating and hawthorn can cause injury. Has he done any woodworking or gardening lately? A hawthorn splinter or an errant rose thorn might be causing problems in a way that could otherwise be easily overlooked.
As far as restoratives go, obviously there the most universal option is blood. However, barring that, napping in the soil of their homeland is also effective. Since you mention topical treatments, I would assume that a mud mask spa treatment comprised of the soil of their homeland would work equally well. It's the connection to their place of origin that controls.
no subject
This vampire in question doesn't seem to have aversion to sunlight, or garlic, though he's not fond of consuming food in general. We've been doing woodworking, but I'd have to check if any of the lumber we are using is hawthorn.
In terms of soil, I doubt I will be able to find any samples, though if it's the connection to their place of origin, would other objects from their place of origin work?
I had another thought regarding, for example, if I were to ingest medication or vitamins and the vampire were to drink my blood, would they also get the benefits of it?
no subject
The soil, I think, was an old shorthand for a connection to a familiar place even when far from home. Not something that would ordinarily travel with you, and thus be more transient in...how do I put this well. "Identity"?
...An architecture analogy. It's the difference between a fixture and the furniture. You might take a chair with you but you'd not be like to take the carpet.
The restorative quality would attach to the figurative carpet, but not so much to the chair. So the objects themselves, maybe not, but if you could use those objects to prepare something that achieved a gestalt of "home", maybe.
Regarding the blood, it varies. I'm familiar with vampires getting drunk after imbibing blood from a donor who'd had a few too many; I've also heard of ones resistant to it. So on that score it'd likely just be trial and error.
no subject
And your analogy makes sense, Miss Ghost. I appreciate you bringing architecture into it. The idea of a gestalt home is nostalgic. When I was in school, we debated endlessly about what makes a house versus a home, and the elements of design that would go into a place livable for people. People-driven, people-oriented spaces, I always took the stance that a house was not a home unless the people within made it so. To that end, I understand the power of sentimental objects; I think the people ought to be involved too, if possible. This has given me plenty to think about.
The vampire who was drunk off of imbibing blood from a donor who was similarly drunk - did they recover alright? Was the blood still effective in sating hunger regardless?
no subject
Repellent at best. A toxin at worst.
I apologize if this is a personal question, but IS your vampire comfortable with feeding from a donor? Caffeine, for example, is readily available around the city, and it might be worth seeing if that helps some with the lethargy.
no subject
And to answer your question, ah - first, he isn't my vampire. But he is comfortable with select people, I think. He's that sort of man, he doesn't trust easily and doesn't want to be a bother even less. An incorrigible combination. I hesitate to recommend more caffeine to him, though; he seems like the sort to rely on it just to function on a day-to-day basis, and I'm hoping for the betterment of his health, not the warping of it.
no subject
I see. So it's possible he's masking the extent of his infirmity behind a stimulant already.
...Ugh. Like I said, I'm not a doctor, but I hate not being able to offer some type of avenue to pursue. Is it possible the blood he's imbibing is the wrong type somehow? Like a vegetarian with a nutrient deficiency. Rather than having taken in something actively harmful, maybe he's not getting enough of something he needs?
no subject
That is a thought, however. I am consulting a doctor on this case as well, but as the doctor isn't familiar with vampires, I suppose it's a bit of piecing together advice and hoping for the best. If it's a nutritional deficiency, perhaps that's something I can supplement through eating something that will help with it and having him feed from my blood. The key is to figure out what he's missing, I suppose.
no subject
See if you can find out who or what he's been eating from. Then we can at least go to the source and run some tests.
...
"We". You, I mean. I didn't mean to sound as though I was sticking my nose into your business.
no subject
You know, I've always been better with something to do when faced with a problem; having a way forward is a tremendous relief. I feel better after speaking with you; thank you.