psychoshenanigans | GRATIA // PSL

Entry tags:

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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Something about myself, hm...?

[that's almost worse than being asked a question. there are a lot of things he could talk about. a lot of tidbits that don't really amount to anything, truth or lies. Tek definitely threw him an easy one. the next one will probably be harder.

he reclines against the pillows in quiet contemplation... until he starts leaning over in Tek's direction, his smile becoming a little mischievous. or, half-so.]

"Tonic" is my actual given name.

[oh no. well, Tek gets his wish. the mood is definitely shifting.

he'd been eyeing Tonic a little warily as he got closer, but the expression changes to one of vague dismay when Tek is finally presented with the puzzle. of all the things that he had been wondering and going back and forth in his head about...]

...You're lying.

[but he absolutely does not sound sure about his decision at all.]

[Tonic draws back, trying valiantly to keep his expression straight... but he can't for long, that composed smile breaking back into a laugh.]

You're right, darling. It's a nickname.

[you caught him again, and he obediently starts unlacing his second boot. once fully unzipped, he has to squirm around a little to get his leg in a position where he can take the boot off.

the foot underneath is in a black stocking just like the other one, but something about the foot is... well, it isn't quite the same shape as his other, normal foot, and it flexes at the ankle and uniformly at the toes, but otherwise doesn't seem to be very mobile as he stretches it out to match his other leg.

Tonic uses this as an excuse to put both arms back on the perimeter pillows, making a small show out of lounging there. he'll even cross one leg over the other, knowing full well that Tek's attention is going to be sticking in that direction.]

All right, I want you to tell me something about yourself now.

[Tek absolutely does not try to hide his sigh of relief when he wins. he also doesn't hide the fact that he is observing Tonic's weird leg when it's (partially) revealed. he won the right to do so, fair and square.

and then it's his turn to think again, and he returns his arms to the folded place behind his head as they'd been before. just two creeps lounging together while they scheme on the best ways to pleasantly pick each other apart.

when Tek finally comes up with an idea, he looks over with a grin. he's got a good one.]

Ah! I'm one in a set of triplets.

...Huh.

[another perplexing statement. Tonic gives Tek a good, long stare with this one, trying to find any hint in his face or his posture or his attitude that might betray whether or not this could possibly be true.

triplets are extremely rare in a world where infant mortality is all too common... but if they're going to be anywhere, they're going to be with some weird rich family up in the Capitol. and that would be such a spectacle, such a family affair... might be enough to bring one of those siblings down here, where mommy and daddy can't track them down.]

...True. [but he doesn't sound fully confident of his guess, either.]

No, that one is a lie.

[and he waits just long enough for that fact to sink in and to be able to observe the beginning of Tonic's reaction to it before he holds up four fingers.]

It was quadruplets, actually. It was an unbearably competitive childhood.

Damn... [at his apparent defeat, Tonic's fist instinct is to wince, even if he's still hanging on for the follow up he knows must be coming. however, he never could have guessed that the number would go up, not down.

so he stops dead in the middle of moving an arm to pick some article of clothing, staring in open surprise.]

You're kidding. That can't be true.

Believe me, I often wish that it wasn't. [and the grimace over the subject of his siblings seems honest enough.] And with three perfect, charming, upstanding children all eager to step into my family's legacy, you can imagine how much energy they would bother spending on a fourth.

[but he sighs and brings his arms around to drop to his sides.]

But that wasn't a fair one at all, was it? [he leans forward to begin to unbuckling his remaining boot, unless Tonic stops him.] My other foot is also getting hot.

[Tonic is only human, he had no chance of guessing. he makes a face as he tries to accept this as reality, his expression somehow even more dramatic with how only half of his features really follow along.

but he doesn't think he's lying. he laughs, still surprised, as Tek admits it was mean and goes to remove one of his own pieces of clothing. shaking his head, Tonic reaches forward to pull off one of his socks (on the good side, the boring side).]

I can't argue you, there. Didn't even occur to me that that could be possible...

[his foot looks nice, for a foot. his toenails are painted black. he goes to set his one stocking by his jacket, and starts rummaging through his jacket pockets while he's there.]

Hey, do you mind if I smoke? [he glances up at Tek to catch any reaction, heading off the first smart-ass comment he can think of:] That's not one of my questions for the game.

[well, he gets to catch Tek making a face over the idea, and then Tek can't pretend that he didn't.]

How bad does it smell? [a beat.] That is also not one of my questions.

I don't think so.

[Tonic removes a carton of cigarettes from his jacket, holds it out towards Tek, in case he wants to inspect them. even from here, they have kind of an earthy smell to them, like cloves or sage. they actually smell a lot like Tonic himself. the package they're in looks a lot nicer--black with silver embellishment--than the kind that Robin normally carries around.

again, with that crooked smile:]

But I don't want to offend. If you aren't a fan, I'll just wait.

[he does want to inspect them, thank you very much. just enough to judge exactly how much he'll hate his clothes smelling like them for a while.

however, they're close enough to incense for him to find it tolerable. that's the sort of thing that he doesn't mind so much. so, he hands them back with a little shrug.]

Who am I to deprive my lovely host of a little bit of joy? Go ahead.

[he takes back the carton with a small chuckle.]

That's very kind of you.

[one cigarette comes out of the pack, and he props it between his lips... but he doesn't bother lighting it, yet. he just kind of moves it along the good side of his mouth, like he's using it to think.]

So, do you have another question for me? [he wiggles his toes, just on one foot. the other remains stationary.] Or is there anything you'd like to do to get more comfortable, darling.

[that last sentence doesn't really come out as a question, more as an invitation.]

Edited 2018-11-01 03:18 (UTC)

[he chuckles in a rueful way. the invitation makes him wish that he too had a vice to fall back on. he does have his pitfalls and indulgences, of course... but none of them seem particularly suitable for present company. not yet, anyway.

however, it makes him think of something else entirely, which leads him onto another thought. the mental path continues on for a minute or so, until he reaches his next question.

he doesn't ask it as if it's part of the game, however. aside from the sideways glance afterward and the touch of a smirk that goes with it, it could have been an honest question.]

What do you think of me?

[with all this waiting, he still hasn't lit his cigarette. he pulled out his lighter, waited, flicked it a couple of times, waited again, all the while patiently watching Tek with the kind of vested interest that a predator would normally have in their prey.

maybe he was thinking of the kind of questions he could ask to stump his opponent... or maybe he was considering what Tek might ask him next, because it doesn't take him more than a few seconds to answer, very pointedly:]

I think you're boring.

[and then he continues watching.]

[Tek prides himself on being a very smart, savvy creature... but there are some pitfalls that he will always fall into. he must have been expecting Tonic to continue to play nice, to indulge in their game full of unspoken etiquette and intrigue, because he's visibly caught off guard by the answer.

he happens to be looking off somewhere else when Tonic responds, but the other can still see him blink and pause, and watch the slow way he inhales as the words sink in and flood his brain. even if it is a lie, even if it had just been some lightheated joke, the insult sticks.

you don't say things like that when you're playing a nice game. that's not how you play.

when he turns to his opponent again, his smile spreads like a knife leaving its sheath. he's working to keep a hold on the expression, but it still edges into a sneer. its all he can do to keep his teeth from becoming sharper.]

You're lying.

[it almost sounds like a threat.]

[this was a calculated risk. Tonic was not ready to give Tek the satisfaction watching him mull over how much he does or does not like him. if he told the truth, well, there'd be nothing for Tek to chase anymore. Tonic would look easy.

if he lied, obviously, he'd lose... but protect a lot more than just whatever secrets are under his clothes. and his risk paid off. he's discovered a very interesting crack in the armor.

but he didn't mean to make him mad, genuinely, and he isn't above backing out if it means it will keep him from getting murdered by some potentially very dangerous stranger. he smiles too, a wide one that grabs at both sides, but only on accident. his brows also furrow up, a little apologetic.]

Yes, of course. [and then he leans back from where he had been unknowingly tensing, shaking his head, breaking that eye contact now that he has what he wanted.]
Sweetheart, you're already one of the more interesting people I've ever met.

[hopefully that's enough of an apology for now. he diligently starts undoing the ties that hold his sleeves together in the front.]

[it might have been enough of an apology, technically, but it has also changed the lay of the land a little bit. for better or worse, things have been slightly shifted.

Tonic might be leaning back, but Tek props himself up a bit more. that restlessness, or something a little less nice, has returned to the subtleties of his body language.]

What's next?

[Tonic notices. he does hope that he hasn't irreparably damaged the pleasant rapport they'd been establishing. after taking that still-unlit cigarette out of his mouth with his clumsier hand, he reaches across himself to pull down the sleeve on his good arm.

as the fabric is peeled away, it reveals a sleeveless top with a high collar, pale skin, and a light scattering of scars. it's easy to assume that they're just the result of living a hard life in a tough world, different sizes, different shapes, different situations he's found himself in... until his wrists are visible. those scars are many, and intentional, and very, very telling. they're old, fading with time, but that doesn't change the fact that they are there to begin with.]

What's next is that I apologize for being mean, I think.

[unfortunately, he sounds a little... formal about it, his tone is just a little too crisp and polite compared to before. either he is trying a little too hard to tread carefully with Tek, or--more likely--he's trying not to let on that he's getting a little nervous. he smiles at his opponent, one side of his face catching up after the other.]

Would another piece of clothing even the playing field, do you think?

[fortunately for Tonic (sort of), Tek only holds a grudge as long as the scales are tipped in that direction. there are many ways to even them out, and Tonic is already making significant progress there.

nervous is good. it lessens the urge to knock him down. vulnerability is good. the scars are helping. an offer for more is even better.

if Tek had been feeling nicer, he would have dismissed the idea of his opponent taking an extra loss. he also would have at least tried to hide how his eyes play over the marks on Tonic's skin as they're revealed. but the scales still aren't quite level again yet.

he'd also be lying if he said he wasn't extremely curious to see what's under the other sleeve.]

That does seem to the method of penance we're establishing, doesn't it?

Well then... Consider me penalized, sweetheart.

[Tonic would be a little offended if Tek was pretending not to look. it's like with his face--he prefers that people openly stare instead of indirectly implying that his flawed appearance is shameful, taboo. still, he would also be lying if he said he wasn't anxious to get Tek's hungry eyes off of this particular flaw and onto one that's a little easier to talk about.

he puts the cigarette back in his mouth, reaching forward to tug off the final stocking. as he does, the reason for the strangeness surrounding his foot becomes vividly clear... because it's obviously made of wood.

it's nicely polished, birch maybe, vaguely matching the color of his skin. there's one brass hinging mechanism in the ankle and one long hinge for all of the toes, giving it enough mobility to slip into, say, a high-heeled boot.... but while it looks very well-crafted, especially for down here, it was still carved more in the image of an ideal foot and not to match the good one that Tonic already had.

he pulls this foot towards him, resting it on his other leg, skirt riding up to reveal that this prosthetic extends up past a knee joint as well. Tonic looks over at Tek as he does this, of course, to see what he thinks of this penance offering, and judge whether or not he's finally in the clear.]

[if Tonic hasn't been completely forgiven, he has at least bought himself a ticket out of any current danger. the moment it becomes clear what his leg actually is, Tek's entire expression changes.

it's a satisfying reveal. his eyes widen, he draws in a breath of surprise, and then a grin spreads across his entire face. there's nothing lurid or gawking about it, just delighted. if anything, he looks utterly fascinated by the construct, with all prior transgressions forgotten in the moment. before he can think of whether it would be an appropriate idea or not, he's leaning closer to get a better look.]

Amazing!

[Tonic really doesn't mean to keep being surprised by the things that Tek says, but after all of their games, their careful calculations and measured negotiations of information, he hadn't expected the man to be so... delighted.

not even delighted in the "I could use this to destroy you later" way, or the bizarre way that the tinkerers down-below would covet it... but instead in the way of a child being shown a nice, fancy new toy, or maybe being told a very good story they've never heard before.

so he leans back into the pillows at Tek leans in closer, looking openly confused.]

You... Think so? Really?

[Tek didn't mean to either, honestly. but he can't help himself once he sees this clever, beautiful invention strapped onto the man's body. he has the sense to keep his hands to himself, but it looks like it's an effort. the hinges, the handiwork... when he finally peels his eyes away and returns his attention to his companion's face, he appears impressed.]

Of course. Don't you?

Well, not so... Enthusiastically, I suppose.

[maybe it's because it's his leg, and he's suffered a lot because of it, but he wouldn't go so far as to say it's amazing. while he appreciates art and sees the value of a helpful tool, his soul is not so moved as to find it especially impressive. it's just... a very good wooden leg.

the toes on his wooden foot bend up, and then back down. it's hard to tell if Tonic does it on purpose, because he appears to be preoccupied with examining the expression on Tek's face.]

You keep finding ways to surprise me.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject