[The recoil is enough to have Celehar stopping well before he reaches Yusuke's personal space, even taking a step back himself, telegraphing intent not to touch until Yusuke extends a hand in more explicit permission.

Even having had it granted, though, Celehar takes a moment to explain.]

I will still have some questions. But I hope that doing so might tell me something. My calling means that touch is how I speak... spoke, to the dead. Or sensed them, if they were... twisted by circumstance.

[In truth, he doesn't expect much to be conclusive about it. Need was similar, and he felt absolutely nothing from her. But he ought at least try. Maybe he cannot feel the simple dead, but might still feel their difference from a wraith or a ghoul.

When he reaches out to take Yusuke's hand, it's not even a clasp of a handshake - his fingers rest briefly on Yusuke's palm, not at all restricting - just slightly cold, as though he still hasn't warmed up after being fished up out of the river. It only lasts a moment before he withdraws again, with a quiet sigh, those ears of his angling downwards in momentarily rueful disappointment.]