the grey man

 

"The junk merchant does not sell his product to the

consumer, he sells the consumer to his product.

He does not improve and simplify his merchandise.

He degrades and simplifies the client."

-- William S. Burroughs, Naked Lunch

 

Attributes: The Grey Man is the Pusher, the Man who sells Product to the Addicts. Junk, crack, porno, booze, cigarettes, television, love...

 

There are only two "facts" that need to be known:

 

a) The Grey Man knows his product, and

b) The Grey Man knows his audience

 

The Grey Man has always been around us, hovering close by but rendered spectral and vague. He exists within our collective blindspot until he's needed, and then we can never "un-see" him. The Man is never on time, but also, he is never late.

 

Taboo: Pushers can never become Users. The Pusher/Addict is relationship is first and foremost a predator/prey relationship. If the Pusher begins Using, this relationship becomes diseased and parasitic...a lamprey sucking up his own blood supply.

 

Symbols: Needles, pipes, condoms, broken bottles, cigarette butts. His symbols are the detritus of the street and the gutter. Disposable goods are the Pusher's bread and butter.

 

Suspected Avatars in History: The Grey Man is never seen or heard by anyone except his Audience. His famous clientele is far more well known.

 

Channels

 

1%-50%: The Grey Man can hum or whistle a tune, tap a beat out with his hands or snap his fingers and any addicts around him will unconsciously begin mimicking his behavior.

 

51%-70%: The Pusher can suck the warmth out of a room just by thinking about it. His grip is as hard and cold as glacial ice.

 

71%-90%: At this level, Grey Men begin to lose coloration and substance. He seems to drift around, effortlessly. Most people won't even register his presence.

 

91%+: The Pusher can now exude a terrifyingly addictive substance from his pores which can prolong life. Addicts of this juice ("Reptiles") can be identified by their grey, scaly skins and lethargic stupors. The only time the addicts move with any rapidity is when their "supply" is threatened.

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