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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Ah.

[if the man named Tonic is bothered by this at all, he manages not to show it, taking a quick drag from his cigarette instead. smoke goes in through the good side, vents out of the bad side.]

I suppose it depends on how well this conversation goes.

[his expression makes it to his eyes, though. both of them. he seems to find this genuinely amusing, or charming, or both. he gestures vaguely with the hand holding his cigarette. it looks a little stiff, also on his bad side.]

You're Robin's friend, right?

That's one way to sum it up.

[he compulsively smiles to himself over it, but it's not necessarily one of fondness. it's more like he's trying not to chuckle at some internal joke.]

And are you not? [he glances over toward the other man's face so he can read any expression that may or may not be there along with an answer.]

[Tonic snorts indignantly, that same disdainful expression from earlier making an appearance as he stares, dead-eyed, across the empty stage.]

Fuck no. He's a pain in the ass.

[seems genuine enough, though he obviously isn't telling the whole story with this one little statement.]

[and now, Tek is free to giggle away at Tonic's rampant disdain. he loves it. it's a good, genuine laugh.]

...So, you know him pretty well, then. [it's not a question.]

[well, that gets his attention again. something about that reaction hooks his interest and he lets out half a laugh himself.]

That's one way to sum it up, yeah.

[it sounds like they're on their way to speaking the same language. after thinking for just a moment more, Tonic exercises some finer control over his face and lifts both sides into a proper, nearly-even smile.]

I should apologize for not introducing myself earlier.

No apology needed. Our friends both filled in those gaps.

[he hadn't introduced himself either, after all. that had been all Robin's doing.]

Speaking of which--where is dear Sarah? She should know that I'd at least attempted to keep my promise.

Oh, yes...

[half of his smile fades as he loses focus, looking back in the direction of the stage again.]

She'll be up on stage, soon. She's probably still getting ready.

[when he glances back at Tek, his expression grows curious. he also taps out the end of his cigarette, which is quickly dwindling.]

I could give Sarah the message later, if you don't feel like waiting around for her...?

I'm sure I'll run into her again.

[it's the dismissive sort of answer that says he's not married to the idea; he has fulfilled his end of the bargain as far as he's concerned. but, he also doesn't want to give his lovely new friend the wrong idea, so he smiles as he clarifies.]

Though, I don't have anywhere else I need to be.

Hm, how fortunate. Neither do I.

[he drops the remainder of his cigarette on the cold cave floor. it extinguishes almost immediately, but he still crushes the remains under the heel of his dainty black boot all the same.]

Would you like some company, darling? You seem decent.

[though probably not by the same definition of "decent" that other people usually use. now having stepped away from the wall, he looks ready to wander. another cascade of ripples glitters over the both of them, reflecting the dirty yellow light from above.]

I'd be a shame to just keep thinking of you as "Robin's friend".

[he tries not to make a face at the term, but there's just something about it that manages to make him grimace a little bit. it's not for show; it's a genuine compulsion.]

A crime, honestly. So, yes... let's fix that.

[he takes a step to show that he is also ready to set out somewhere, but he's waiting for his new friend to do most of the leading.]

I'd ask you if you wanted a drink, but that's only because it's the only part of this fine establishment that I've seen so far. [--what with being Robin's friend and all. spending a lot of time around the bar just comes with the territory.]

[Tonic seems to follow social cues very well, stepping forward to take them in a direction away from the pool, simply letting them wind around the edge of the action while they talk. he has that slight limp again, but acts like he doesn't.

in fact, he has a pleasant disposition now.]

Well, there may be time for drinks later, but there are plenty of other things to see in the meantime. What interests you?

[the pleasant demeanor is a nice change from the scrutiny and mistrust of earlier. Tek is delightfully at ease as the two of them stroll along.]

Oh... many things. [of course he's smirking to himself a little.] I'm eager to see it all. And I prefer to remain at the whims of my host, so I am quite open to personal suggestion.

[he's a Capitol man on vacation. lead the way and he'll be happy to follow.]

[the man chuckles to himself at his new friend's lack of opinion.]

Oh, so it will be my fault when you aren't entertained, is that right?

[he does not say this accusingly so much as... teasingly.]

[he grins quietly at whatever is in front of him.]

It's always my policy when I travel, and it has yet to fail me. You can't blame someone for trying to be a gracious guest, can you?

[which is, of course, not a denial.]

You know, you'd be surprised.

[said with the tone of experience. customer service has its ups and downs, especially in the dangerous fields he's worked in. but now they are here and now, and he snaps the beautifully-lacquered fingers of his good hand as he gets an idea.]

No one can say no to food, though. Have you eaten yet?

[he's in the middle of considering whether or not to ask for examples of what his new friend is hinting at, but his attention is immediately distracted by the mention of food.

he can't hide the glint of eagerness in his eyes now; Tonic does not have a picky or shy eater on his hands.]

I haven't, actually. I am feeling rather starved, now that you mention it.

[upon a successful reception, the slender man claps his hands together in graceful delight.]

Good, good. That'll be the perfect place to start.

[so with a goal in mind, he leads them confidently around the cave, choosing to cut past the crowd and head directly for the back wall. it was difficult to see past the stage lighting, at first, but now that they're closer, there are holes in the cave wall here, too--each set with a tiny pinprick of light, a flickering candle. some are in colored holders, some simply left to melt all over the stone they've been set on. past some of those points of light are faces, some turned to talk to one another, some peering out and watching the crowd as it ebbs and flows below.

the tunnel they disappear under is strung up with small lights. many people walking past have their little glowing pendants out, and Tonic removes his own from underneath his high collar. it's an orange color, almost bright enough to be mistaken for flame. it also looks fairly well-made, about on-par with the one Robin carries around with him. the tunnel quickly curves around and turns into stairs, which have been very neatly cut and are easy to traverse.]

[it takes a moment for Tek to remember that he can actually contribute to this glow-necklace ritual and not just observe it, and he's glad that he has a cover-story to help explain the awkward delay. but the Capitol boy does remember to bring out his fancy light--finally getting the chance to show off the beautiful pink (enhanced by colored glass and accented with a crystal bead hanging like a teardrop) even if he is the only one who appreciates it. it makes him feel like part of the club, and the light is awfully pretty.]

[Tonic does glance over to look, giving Tek a smile when he sees the color and extra bauble on his necklace.]

That's a nice one. Love the bead.

[his own has no bead, but instead has twisting, dark iron caps that look a little like tree roots wrapping around the ends of the glowing cylinder. a couple, holding hands as they pass in the other direction, eye the points of light--the girl gives a soft "ooo", while the boy mumbles something to her about how expensive they look. he probably didn't mean to be overheard, but he also sounds a little drunk.

they're gone a moment later, though. Tonic keeps them moving upwards.]

[Tek can't help an appreciative, musing sound when he receives two necklace-related remarks in quick succession, and he waits another few paces before he remarks on it.]

...I'd been wondering if commenting on someone else's lodasphere was considered some sort of faux pas or not. I'd thought it might have been one of those things that one was expected to pretend not to notice. I'm glad to see that doesn't seem to be the case, however.

[this makes Tonic laugh a little, as it's an interesting thing to point out. he knows that Tek is from another city (allegedly), so he chalks any discrepancies up to a cultural difference.]

It's funny, but I think they've become sort of a... Almost a symbol of the person wearing it. It's a lot like... wearing a shirt with your King-sign on it, or carrying around your economic status, or some aspect of your personality...

[he rolls his eyes a little, though one of them has a harder time making a full rotation in its socket and just kind of darts clumsily from one side to the other.]

So people get weird about it. Sort of like they get weird about, oh, a facial disfigurement.

[he grins to himself, at that. the bad side of his face has no choice but to be pulled into the expression.]

Everyone's polite and pretends not to be looking... But a few drinks in, everyone suddenly gets curious.

[especially with the topic of facial disfigurements, Tek probably shouldn't be staring as much as he is while Tonic is speaking, but his attention is definitely more on his fascinating companion that it is on the passageway they're navigating.]

So then, are you a few drinks in? Or do you just have a different definition of "polite?"

[he seems delighted about it in either case.]

No, I'm regrettably sober, dear.

[he does not seem to mind being stared at. and with how he continues to talk, it's possible that he prefers the staring to the alternative.]

I just believe in giving credit where credit is due. Life is too short to pretend you're too good for everything.

[as they reach the top of the stairs, the cave opens up into a long hallway, and the smell of food wafts in to meet them--meats, primarily, many of them fried, along with hints of salts, herbs, and some other tangy scents that mingle in the air.

to the left, there is a long line of food carts selling all kinds of things. people are calling out orders and handing down packages, plates, paper wrappers full of treats, and hungry party-goers take their things to the right side, which is a confusing-looking series of steps and ladders that lead to various levels of seating in front of all of those multi-leveled windows that could be seen from the outside. there are so many lights strung up in criss-crossing bands along the ceiling that some taller people have to duck to not run into a wire or bump their foreheads into a bulb.

Tonic will immediately lead them off to the side, so as not to block the doorway.]

Well, what kind of foods do you like? Any automatic "no"s?

[Tonic's outlook is one that Tek agrees with wholeheartedly, but he doesn't get more than a hum of agreement before they reach the very distracting next floor.

Tek could be having the most riveting conversation with the prettiest person in all the land, and he would still get sidetracked by the scent of good food. he isn't shy about taking a moment to simply inhale and bask in it before answering.]

I'm known to be something of a carnivore, but I can't think of anything that I wouldn't be happy to at least try.

Mm, in that case... I'll get a few things, to save us the time.

[he taps his chin, starting to plan his orders in the same way that a chess player may plan their next few moves... he loves food himself, but he is also very cost-conscious. he wouldn't be where he was today if he blew all of his money on every little convenience that came his way.]

You can find a seat, if you like. Top row's got the best view in the house.

[in case Tek doesn't know what he's talking about, he also tilts his head in the direction of the windows.]

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