[ Hal would blush furiously because he is English and repressed, but he is fortunately (un)dead and therefore nigh-incapable. ]

Either you know perfectly well I was using a figure of speech or you are an undersexed Neanderthal.

[ ...well, that IS more interesting than whatever else is happening in this conversation. Modern, indeed. ]

A necromancer? Are you a ghost, then?

[ Squint, which ...Magnus can't see. Usually he can tell, but then they're not in proximity and he doesn't have a visual to confirm. ]