psychoshenanigans | GRATIA // PSL

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GRATIA // PSL

The first thing he feels is the cold.

It permeates everything down here on the lower levels. What little warmth humans have made for themselves is greedily gobbled up by the stone walls that surround them on all sides. Despite the stirring of people in the streets, in their homes, and around corners, this place feels like a grave. A similar sense seems to loom over the heads of most who make their way through this deep, dark part of the world, hovering around them like a cloud of inevitability. No one has been outright sentenced to death, but they may as well be.

Upon waking, Tek will have found himself in a dark, wet alleyway. Attempts to orient himself reveal that he has been brought, somehow, to an impressively large network of tunnels that all lead, more or less, to three or four larger chambers. There is far more vibrant life above him somewhere, far, far above the layer of caves he's in now, and there is also a very deep, sluggish form of life somewhere far below his feet.

No one is coming to get him. No one follows him in his immediate vicinity--the few stragglers hanging around doorsteps and windows don't give him a second glance, or even a first one. The place is crowded, but not busy. Everyone keeps their heads down. The people are all dressed poorly, in rags and robes and bundles that suggest a certain level of consistent poverty all throughout the level. The buildings in these tunnels look man-made, either built from scrap or carved straight out of the rock of the cave, but the majority of the actual roads and cave walls seem to have been formed with very little help from human hands.

The place is lit with lanterns and dirty-looking florescents suspended high above in the cave ceiling. The air is thick and stuffy, the smell of mold and mud prevalent over even the smell of human stagnation. It would not be hard to drag someone off, and he gets the immediate feeling that if he did, it's unlikely that anyone would come looking for them.

What does he do?

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[Robin takes a couple of steps down the street, but stops short and whips his head back around the other way. the thing he's looking for is here, he's sure of it, if only he could just...

another monster charges him, ricocheting off the wall right towards his back--but it gets knocked aside by some invisible force, and is dead before it hits the ground. Robin never strays from his search, eyes darting over hiding spots and dead bodies until...

he sees him. he looks surprised--and then startled as what he's seeing clicks into his memories of that familiar face. he took care of him when he was sick, back on the ships, back in the Fleet, back when...

the taller man yells something about "can I get a hand over here", but Robin is too dumbstruck to even hear it.]

[he's already as still as can be, but something in him somehow freezes when he can tell that he's been spotted. it's probably a relic of old habits, hiding from hunters.

he doesn't say anything when Robin's eyes lock on him, but something else shifts and he hardly notices. another reflex, much newer than the one that has him hesitating like a cornered animal, changes his face. once Robin has caught him for sure, Tek's mask goes up--covering the wrinkles and sallow skin, putting on the persona that matches the resurfacing memories.]

[and if Robin had any hesitations or doubts in his mind, that seems to settle them.]

...Tek?

[it's not a good idea to approach a cornered animal, but Robin rushes in anyway, dropping his weapons just so that he can fling both of his arms around the startled dragon. he holds him tightly no matter what he tries to do, and for a moment, Tek can feel a rush of confusing, vivid emotions welling up inside the demigod's form.

it is much less noticeable, but at the same moment, the magical presence of the creature beside them is quietly snuffed out. the taller man is still trying to call to Robin, though he sounds increasingly sarcastic about it.]

[at first, there is a little bit of a struggle as Tek is forced to clumsily acclimate to being crowded and touched. with how primed for trouble he'd been, it takes him a few seconds to switch gears. he would like to be able to keep his distance until he can verify all of this as being both true and safe, but Robin doesn't give him that luxury. he has no choice but to sort through his nerves and fears while clutched close.

when it does all register as being reality, he can finally get himself to calm down. after those few seconds of flighty discomfort, he eventually settles--letting his shoulders droop with a halting, hesitating sigh of relief.]

[that's good enough for Robin. with one final squeeze, he finally lifts his head so that he can bring their foreheads together.

he's sorry to be so rushed with this--and Tek can feel that, now, with the mental connection that Robin has created between them. the demigod keeps himself very open, so that Tek can see it is truly him, the way he remembers.

Robin tells him that they can talk about everything soon. he imagines a small room in large, glittering mountain suspended from the ceiling. he warns Tek that there are spies all around, most of which will be looking for magical creatures like them.]

--Guys, are you--hugging? What the fuck is going on over there...?

[--and that's Vincent, someone Robin considers a friend. he breaks the connection and steps away from Tek, turning to yell back down the street.]

What, like you needed my help. They're puppies.

[Vincent, as he is apparently named, yanks his sword out of one's skull with a wet squelch. the monster-dogs, for as ferocious as they'd been, have now either retreated or died at the hands of these two hunters. Vincent seems to look down at the ground.]

Yeah, but--did you know they were gonna spring up under us like that?

[Robin smiles wide--getting back into his role. Vincent wanders over, keeping his eyes on the ground.]

[Tek tends to keep his own mind pretty well-shuttered during connections like these, but he still can't quite keep his seething gratitude hidden. he is so glad to have something that makes sense directly deposited into his brain, as well as trustworthy confirmation that this really is Robin. this is his friend. nothing important is missing.

so, when Robin smiles, Tek is able to pretend right along with him. he smirks, as if any of his confidence is real, and continues to keep a tight rein on his aura. his eyes still aren't colored right, but they no longer glow.]

Goodness. Who's your friend? [--he asks, even though he's already been granted the answer.]

Ugh, [is Vincent's immediate reaction as he joins them.] Who's that guy?

[he's probably asking Robin, but Tek will quickly notice that Vincent doesn't move his head to look at either of them like a normal person would. he points with his ears more than his eyes, on account of his eyes being nothing more than pretty painted spheres of glass in otherwise empty sockets. they're blue. Robin must have picked them out.

the man towers over the both of them even as he slumps forward over his sword. for a blind guy, he's incredibly expressive, scowling openly between his friend and this stranger.

Robin offers an explanation to both of them.]

Tek, this is Vincent. He's my... Business partner, for lack of a better term.

[Vincent makes a disgruntled sound, though his expression changes a little as he... smells the air. it is subtle, but very intentional. Robin pays it no mind, gesturing between the two even though Vincent theoretically can't see it.]

And Vincent, this is Tek. He is a man from the dream I told you about.

[...Vincent stops sniffing, pauses, and then lifts his head just to shoot Robin a flat look.]

Okay. [the man seems unconvinced.] That sounds crazy, but okay.

[Tek wonders if his cloak and stolen belongings is enough to make him smell like a human, or if the blind man can pick up on the traces of gravedust and dried leaves.]

It's wonderful to meet you, Vincent... though, I can't say that I'm impressed with your judgement of character if this is the company you keep.

[it turns out that Vincent can laugh just as hard as he can scowl. he finds that very funny, leaning forward with a hearty chuckle as Robin takes a turn to frown.]

Oy... So you do know him. Real pain in the ass, ain't he?

[Vincent may be grinning, but Robin's eyes flit up to the windows of the building behind them. since the noise has died down and someone is laughing, the terrified residents of this level have finally started poking their heads out to see if it's safe to leave. the three men standing in the open street next to a couple of monstrous corpses are quite a sight, and Robin is keen to avoid making a lasting impression.]

Vince, we're going up to the church. Clean up here?

[Robin takes Tek's hand and leads him along, heading past a confused Vincent, who asks:] What, you led me all the way down here just to ditch me?

[Robin turns back just enough to reply, with a new grin:] Moving parts, friend! See you at Molly's!

[this does not slow his attempted exit, and Vincent's shoulders droop a little in admitted defeat. this is definitely not the first time that Robin has ditched him under bizarre and poorly-explained consequences.]

[at the very least, Tek is pleased with the brief impression he's made on Robin's old friend. he'll undoubtedly ruin his own hard work later, but it seems smart to ingratiate himself at the start of things--especially with Robin breezing them both away right afterwards.

once Tek catches up to fall in familiar step with his friend, he's sure to stick casually and comfortably close at his side--for the sake of both comfort and safety. and if Robin needs any more evidence as to how Tek is feeling about the current state of things, he doesn't seem particularly eager to let go of Robin's hand.

and he doesn't speak first. hood still up, following companionably along, he's waiting for Robin to take the lead in conversation too.]

[the tall hunter and the giant mess he made are left behind. Robin meant to let go of Tek's hand as soon as they were both heading in the same direction--but immediately finds himself making excuses to not. Tek himself doesn't seem to mind it, so why not? of all the things that could get him in trouble around here, holding hands with a beautiful man is not one of them.

holding hands with a beautiful mystery man, however... he stays quiet for a little while, formulating a plot while he knows he's got the time. Tek is led down a side alley, into a tunnel, and right up to a flight of stairs that leads up until the steps are swallowed in complete darkness.

Robin finally takes his hand back, but it's just so that he can reach into his shirt and pull out a now-familiar tube of color. his is much smaller than the ones Tek has seen so far, more artfully made and capped with a stylized piece of metal. it glows red, and it glows brightly. as Robin holds it up, small striations in the rock walls around them seem to glow with a surreal, ambient light in response to its presence. it makes the staircase before them much easier to see.]

So... [he smiles, taking Tek's hand again.] How long were you wandering around down there before I found you?

[up the stairs they go. there's just room enough for two.]

[the light and its associated reflections are beautiful enough to be pretty distracting for an aesthetics-starved dragon. he almost seems a little surprised when Robin speaks up and takes his hand again, bringing his eyes back down to the conversation.

he grins a little. the edges of his teeth are humbly flat and normal, and Robin's light is still the only glow here. even around his inhuman friend, Tek isn't reassured enough to remove his hood or enough of his mask to feel comfortable again--not that he isn't eager to, however.]

Hours. Two or three, by now. [he glances over his shoulder, back down the dark stairwell.] ...And you found me that quickly?

[the stairway tunnel is empty and fairly uneventful. it doesn't look like it was carved with any more care than strictly necessary for function--so even Robin has to look down and make sure he doesn't stumble on the craggy steps.

his glowing pendant continues to light their way as they ascend. every once in a while, they pass a small cluster of fungi along the wall that responds by turning the same vibrant, glowing red.]

Honestly, not quick enough. [he laughs a little--because it is true, despite the cover he is about to start weaving.] I know you're new in town, but someone of your standing shouldn't be milling around the lower levels without protection. It's very dangerous.

So I've noticed.

[he probably should have sounded more genuinely alarmed and less flat about a pack of murderous, monstrous dogs, especially if someone may or may not be listening in... but sounding any less flippant about anything right now would be too close to the truth for comfort.]

Trust me, if I'd had a choice in the matter, I would have been anywhere else but there.

[Robin gets to choose exactly how Tek might have ended up where he was. he's mostly making mention of it to subtly confirm the fact that he has no idea why he is in this place at all. though he has hopped between a few worlds during recent years, it never makes much sense, and this time has somehow seemed... different than the others.]

I assume that you've been in town for a while, then?

Oh, yeah. I've been back here for months.

[he says this offhandedly, but it's a very important point. he's been here for months, thinking more with each passing day that his time in the Drift Fleet and in Court and on Nor and in the Tower were all a long, distant dream.]

But Skeleton City is my home town, more or less, so I'm never away for very long. It's not much to look at from the bottom... [he laughs a little, almost apologetic.] But I think you'll like the higher levels.

[at the top of the stairs, the two of them reach a doorway that opens up into another tunnel. Robin leads them along again--and at least he seems very sure of where he's going.]

[Tek doesn't give much of a reaction at that, of course, but he has taken careful note of it. Robin has been here for months. he has been back home where he should be, settling in his place, unimagining all of the impossible places they'd ever been to together.]

If there is running water and a place to lie down, I'm sure I will love it.

[he says it in that light, joking way that he says most things... but the silence that follows is pretty telling. he's doing his best to adapt and put on an impervious smile, but he can't think of how to safely phrase all of the questions and worries in his head. he can't even drum up some decent small-talk. he is stressed and unsure, very eager to reach someplace where he can finally retreat with his friend, and try to find some semblance of normalcy.]

[even with the length of time that has passed between them, Robin understands. the motions of their friendship come back to him with every new word and every fine silence that Tek creates. he understands, and he squeezes the dragon's hand to let him know that it's going to be okay.]

Mm, I suppose the bar has been set fairly low thus far, hasn't it? No matter...

[he tucks his pendant away as they enter a wider cave filled with more lights. there are a few people mulling around, but they already look like a more colorful bunch than those below. while not much better off financially, they seem to at least have a sense of life about them that the lowest level was definitely missing. Robin steers them away from traffic, back down another side corridor, and ultimately up to another flight of stairs.]

I'd engage in more small talk, but honestly... this isn't really the place or time.

[this staircase looks much more frequently traveled. the steps are smoother, the walls are wider, and the way is dotted with the occasional dim lantern. someone else passes by them with a dimly-glowing blue pendant, which the fungus responds to by glowing blue in kind.]

We can catch up when we finally get there.

I'm looking forward to it. I'm sure you already have quite a few stories to entertain me with.

[in other words: message received. they both have an excuse to keep silent, whether for reasons of security or general discomfort, and there is some sanctuary up ahead where they can safely let their guards down. or so Tek hopes, anyway.

he is more than content to spend his attention on memorizing what he can of the path they're taking, and focus on his own mask and demeanor, in the meantime.]

[Robin smirks at the comment.]

You know me. Can't walk six feet without running into a veritable adventure.

[sometimes the adventure is bandits, sometimes it's politics. sometimes it's waking up on a spaceship in another dimension. sometimes it's running into someone he thought he'd never see again. he'd thought that, perhaps, his days of high-octane, chaotic adventure could be over... but it's clear to him, now, that the Gods are not done with whatever They have planned.

there comes a point where Robin has to let go of Tek's hand so that they can both climb safely--as the wall to their right falls away to reveal an open view of the world they're passing by. from here, Tek can see a massive, spiraling network of houses and buildings and strange structures built up from the ground. very little wood makes it down here, but there's a strong theme of scrap-metal and stone. the crowds are denser and far more lively.

the wall fills in again, first as reaching stalactites and then, eventually, as more solid rock. another tunnel takes them into a large, wide-open chamber with an arching ceiling. the floor is the smoothest they've found yet. groups of people congregate near the walls, chatting, laughing, catching up after a long day--but otherwise, this room has no purpose other than to connect one path to another. Robin leads him to another set of stairs, this one wide and well-constructed.

they climb again. with each progressive level, the structures and the people within them appear healthier and more lively. color and art come back into the world. the chill in the air starts to wane. the buildings start to look like residences mixed with businesses, game halls, restaurants, and other shops. each chamber seems a little wider than the last, with massive supportive columns of stone serving as more latching-on points for houses and stairs to other parts of the city.

and then, finally, they hit flat ground again. down a hallway, they go through one door that opens into a wide room filled with large, metal creates stacked up in huge towers all around them. various things are marked on the boxes--and several people are standing guard around them, dressed in armor and very obviously armed with clubs and swords. a female guard (with an impressive axe strapped to her back) steps forward to start asking them questions, but Robin reaches into his pocket and flips open a wallet, revealing some kind of badge.]

Sorry, officer, we're just taking a short cut.

[the woman, realizing what's on the badge, steps off immediately. she even smiles apologetically and waves them through. another guard, a male one, laughs and speaks up as the two of them pass.]

Heeey, Robin! You catch that crazy serial killer yet?

[Robin spins around, of course, to answer--but never stops walking, even backwards.]

Trust me, Rich, you'll be the first one to know when I do.

["Rich" the guard just laughs. maybe this is some joke they have between them, but the subject of a serial killer really doesn't seem all that dire to the people in this room. Robin takes them through another door and across one more large, crate-filled room... where an elevator is waiting for them at the end.]

Finally. [he sighs, relieved.] This thing will take us most of the rest of the way.

[he pushes a button for "up". somewhere, a bell rings. they have a moment of pause while the mechanisms and gears in the empty shaft in front of them start to turn and click together, slowly lowering the lift from somewhere high above.]

[Tek can't remember the last time he's felt this disoriented, but it's not an entirely negative feeling. if anything, it helps this whole thing seem like some kind of dream, instead of a real stone-and-blood, life-and-death situation. the feeling of foreign worldstuff clashing with his being, being surrounded by presences in more directions than he is used to experiencing, reeling at how unfathomably deep underground he is... and the haunting sensation that things seem more and more familiar as they ascend. it's exhausting.

by the time they pause at an elevator, he's grateful for the brief mental rest. here, he can focus on one room and one interaction. that's about all he can handle right now.

so, he lifts an eyebrow once it seems like they're mostly out of earshot of the others.]

...You have a badge now, hmm? Should I start calling you 'sir?'

[despite the gravity of their situation, Robin finds plenty of time to roll his eyes.]

Yeah, yeah. Shut up.

[and then he bumps into the other's shoulder, staying there, because he doesn't actually mind all that much. he'll regret inviting constant torment into his home after a while, certainly, but right now it's a fond reminder of the last few years of his life.

the elevator slowly rolls down to their level and stops with an uncertain wobble on their floor. the doors are just folding grates, which slide open automatically by some steam-powered hissing quietly near the ceiling. Robin leads them in and the thing seems to hold, though it wobbles again as the doors close. casually, Robin adds:]

It's "officer", by the way.

[though smirk that spreads over his face implies that he finds this fact humorous and, very likely, incredibly ironic.

the grate that covers the door of the elevator provides a very clear view of everything they pass. there are several more dark, tall rooms filled with crates, boxes, tarp-covered bundles, and as they elevate through the final storage chamber, Tek gets to see this labyrinth of boxes go on for maybe a mile. it's the first place around here that seems to have been set up with any sort of order or planning involved, and is a clear division between the low levels and the "civilized" levels of the city.

they pass through another largely residential layer, but it is the first time that these collections of houses and structures have looked like an actual city. street lamps line actual streets, bars advertise with neon signs, and the large cavern hosts multiple layers of organized walkways and buildings to fit a ton of people into a limited space. it gets even more vibrant the next level up, and the people here are look healthier and better dressed. the buildings are carved artfully, the air smells cleaner, and the artificial lighting installed in the ceiling looks closer to sunlight than the dirty synthetics running far below.

another layer reveals a vibrant marketplace, a bustling jumble of smells and sounds coming from hundreds of colorful booths lining the packed streets. suspended far above their heads is a platform with a running fountain, propped up by four massive stone bridges connecting it to the walls around them. the elevator shutters to a stop on this level, and Tek can quickly guess why--at the far end of those bridges, a massive hunk of black stone has been left hanging from the ceiling, wide at the top and narrowing dramatically by the time it meets the market floor below.

Robin steps out as the doors open. the rock structure seems to glitter as they move, but only because hundreds of small windows have been carved out of its exterior, all of them lit with candles. this is definitely the structure that Robin had thought of when he had explained to Tek where they were going.]

This is the market level. We're pretty close to the surface now... [he points up at the ceiling.] Just one more layer before you hit open air, up there.

[he looks in a couple of directions--seemingly checking for something specific, but in this busy place, who could say what he's looking for--before taking Tek's hand again and guiding him over the bridge. there are well-made guard rails here, and no real danger of getting lost... so the gesture is more for Robin than anything.

there are a lot of people here, mingling and hurrying along these platforms, but they've finally reached a level where the both of them look like they might be at-home here.]

["officer?" ...that gets a laugh. it's so damn amusing to him that it refuels the reserves he needs to continue ignoring everything. a little bit of levity goes a long way when delaying unpleasant thoughts.

and then they eventually rise into a world where Tek finally--finally--feels underdressed in his robes and rags. the compulsion to push his hood back and show off a little is nearly too powerful to resist. his senses of paranoia and self-preservation are just stronger than his vanity, and he manages to tolerate looking like a scummy creature from the lower levels a little while longer.

his hands do fidget in his gloves, though. it hurts not to be able to flaunt the perfection of his latest lacquerwork]

[the walk across the platform is beautiful. up here, one could almost forget that they're living in a cave. their destination is ringed by a suspended garden that even has real trees and living flowers growing in neatly-kept pots and planters. sure, they're being sustained by sun lamps and seem a shade paler than they should--but you work with what you've got, down here.

as they cross this garden, several figures in white tunics can be seen busying about, lighting candles and speaking with visitors on their park benches. a round symbol is embroidered in gold thread on their shoulders. a woman in a similarly tailored white robe stands just beside the large wooden entryway, and nods to both of them politely as they pass through into the halls of "the church".

the interior is a sight to behold, truly. the floors are marble, beautiful jars and sculptures line the walls, and candles burn in alcoves all around them. the most striking thing about this place, however, is how quiet it is.

the caves tend to bounce sound every which-way until every tunnel and chamber is filled with a perpetual white noise. the market was the worst of all, with vendors shouting, friends laughing, people arguing, goods being moved around--but in here, the sound is nearly nonexistent. as Robin leads Tek through the entry and up a shallow marble staircase, the outside world sounds further and further away.

it's the tapestries on the walls, mostly. many of them are works of art, exquisite depictions of history and myth--but they're also big and heavy, and do a lot to absorb echoing sound. as they walk further into the structure, they also get further and further from any windows.

Robin has told Tek about the Priesthood. they're dangerous if you're connected to magic in any way, shape, or form--and Robin's always had a particular spite saved up for them. still, it isn't a long shot to imagine why Robin has decided to bring Tek here. if there is a spot in this city where no one will see or hear them, it will be in the middle of this massive stone.]

Okay, we just need to get to the--

[Robin was about to explain when someone suddenly shouts his name from down the hallway. the demigod nearly jumps and drops Tek's hand in surprise--which is instantly replaced with unmasked irritation as soon as he realizes who it was that just called his name.

he turns. a woman with slick blonde hair and dark eyes comes striding up to them, dressed in some imposing splint mail armor and very obviously armed to the teeth. she is almost as tall as Robin and certainly looks like she could (and would) beat him in a fistfight.]

We need to talk. [she sounds about ready to make an arrest... and the golden circle painted on her shoulder suggests that she may just have the power to do that. she looks over at Tek as though he was a second thought, and then seems a little surprised (and further irritated) that someone else is standing there at all.]

[as much as Robin detests this Church and all that it stands for, and as much as Tek is sure that he feels the same way about them himself... he really can't help a little awe and appreciation for some well-executed grandeur. he has missed the sight of gleaming, overdone temples, regardless of the trouble they usually represent.

so, he's distracted by nostalgia when Robin speaks up and is then immediately interrupted, startling just as much as his partner.

when he's eyed by the imposing woman, however... he casually turns to look at Robin instead--equal parts curious to hear what his response will be, and hoping that he can deflect attention off of himself in the process.]

[the woman starts to look Tek over more thoroughly, perhaps confused by his clashing choice of clothing--but then Robin starts talking, none too kindly, and her attention snaps back to the subject of her ire.]

Now? I'm in the middle of something.

[for what it's worth, Robin looks angry. he's rarely shown that face around Tek, even less so around most other acquaintances. is this a new development for the demigod, or is he truly this furious about being interrupted so close to their goal?

all the same, this woman doesn't seem at all threatened, and continues with her demands.]

I don't care what you're doing. We talk now, where you can't weasel out of it.

[Robin sighs, irritating, starting to say that he's not... but he drops it a second later, shoulders dropping as he looks back at Tek... and then back at this woman, who crosses her arms impatiently. finally, he lolls his head in temporary defeat.]

Fine, fine. We'll talk. I'll meet up with you-- [he points back at Tek, and then gestures further down the hall. it's a straight shot down to some double-doors.] --if you want to go on up ahead.

[before Tek can comment, the woman interjects:] Good. Downstairs.

[she turns her back, and Robin follows after her. it isn't long at all before they start arguing--though whether Tek sticks around to listen is entirely up to him.]

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