skeletoncity: (HERMIT)
Gratia ([personal profile] skeletoncity) wrote in [community profile] psychoshenanigans2017-03-17 10:30 pm
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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?
heresyandlace: (trust me)

[personal profile] heresyandlace 2018-11-05 06:37 am (UTC)(link)
I don't know.

[without an obvious complaint before him, he forges on. he at least makes sure to remain looking as neutral as possible about it. he's morbidly curious, but he doesn't want to be rude.]

Things seem to be somewhat... unilateral. So, I'd wondered what the story was behind it.

[why is your whole left side fucked up, friend?]
heresyandlace: (not EXACTLY what I had in mind)

[personal profile] heresyandlace 2018-11-05 06:54 am (UTC)(link)
[funny, the middle point there is the part that shocks him the most. Acid is interesting, but Tek's neutral expression is blinked away for one of surprise at what comes after. being a creature that uses it as a weapon in a few very specific ways, it never would have occurred that someone could be dunked into the stuff.

and then, when he tries to actually imagine it, the image becomes even more absurd. before he can really think about it, he incredibly blurts out--]


--Sideways?
heresyandlace: (sits like a whore)

[personal profile] heresyandlace 2018-11-05 07:02 am (UTC)(link)
[Tek's hand is on his forehead, obviously struggling to imagine this scenario. Tonic's laughter only encourages him to not bother trying to hide his incredulity.]

...How does that even happen? Were you attacked by some kind of giant?
heresyandlace: (sits like a whore)

[personal profile] heresyandlace 2018-11-05 07:22 am (UTC)(link)
[Tonic even gives him a little bit of a story--Tek's very favorite thing. he nods in avid agreement, because... yeah, he knows very well that it could have been a lot worse. he himself has caused a lot worse.]

Incredible... I do hope something very bad happened to that man.
heresyandlace: (snake kisses)

[personal profile] heresyandlace 2018-11-05 08:15 am (UTC)(link)
[oh, how Tek is so instantly and utterly charmed. he almost looks proud, with the way he grins with all his sharp teeth, the expression easily lighting all the way up to his eyes.

he must be able to imagine it well and love what he sees in his mind's eye--vengeance looks good on his fascinating new friend. in his glee, he even extends his fingers and reaches like he wants to touch Tonic's face, but catches the reflex before it can go very far.]


At least there's a happy ending, then.
heresyandlace: (merciful king)

[personal profile] heresyandlace 2018-11-06 12:20 am (UTC)(link)
[oh, he does--he so does. he takes the permission and doesn't look back.

with nothing but overflowing fondness, he brushes his hand along the marred side of Tonic's face, fingers smoothing over the strange, smooth plane of scars there. he briefly wonders what it would be like to feel the sorts of things that Robin can detect, and then also wonders if that's one of the reasons that Robin seems intent on bothering this man.

it's not just about the scars, though. the original gesture had nothing to do with it. he'd just been caught up in the story, marveling at this half-polished gem he'd found and feeling a little covetous over it, and that's the sentiment that shows on his face more than morbid interest in some damaged skin.]
heresyandlace: (above you)

[personal profile] heresyandlace 2018-11-06 05:24 am (UTC)(link)
[the fact that Tonic invited him into this position matters a lot. sure, he is feeling greedy and possessive, but there isn't anything to prove here. with Robin, there's always a fight, a constant tension, and it defines them. here, it's still just a game--easily taken, easily let go.

so, he doesn't pin him there for long. after some doting, he breathes a pleased sigh and takes his hand back--giving Tonic just enough room to make his next question a little less oppressive. the way his smirk twists to match is another little warning.]


...Would this be a bad time to call that a truth?
heresyandlace: (trust me)

[personal profile] heresyandlace 2018-11-06 06:24 am (UTC)(link)
Well, that would be fair, wouldn't it?

[something about turnabout being fair play would be appropriate here. and like Tonic had done earlier, when the roles had been reversed, he rests the side of his face in his hand. just charmed and happy to be here.]
heresyandlace: (merciful king)

[personal profile] heresyandlace 2018-11-06 05:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[he feigns a surprised, low chuckle.] Are you trying to get into my pants?

[around the joke, however, he's gazing at Tonic with patient adoration as he undresses, and he's almost surprised with how much he likes what he sees.

the man has stories written all over his body. how could he not be drawn to that?

so, if Tonic had been hoping for an ego boost based on a look alone, he could easily find one here. Tek doesn't know what to do with him now that he has him like this, but he's very glad he pushed the game this far.]
heresyandlace: (be my valentine)

[personal profile] heresyandlace 2018-11-07 06:46 am (UTC)(link)
[again, the invitation goes a long way, especially with the delicate game they had been playing earlier. he's taking more care than he often does in not wanting to cross some line--whether in conversation or something else--and scare this one away. the gesture is maybe not needed, but definitely appreciated.

the invitation also means that he is wanted, and that will always be his very favorite thing. he is both grateful and full of pride when the other man beckons him over, and he doesn't waste a moment to go slinking forward to meet him there.

he's excited just to be closer to him. the impending prospect of touch, all that uncovered skin, permission to tilt his face in near his companion's and revel in the tension that exists in the space there--he gets close and breathes it in.]
heresyandlace: (snake kisses)

[personal profile] heresyandlace 2018-11-09 12:50 am (UTC)(link)
[Tonic had the right idea when he'd claimed a reward for his efforts. this moment can stand as a trophy for both of them, a prize won for all their careful gaming. the challenge will almost certainly continue at some point, but tonight's round can be considered a draw, with both opponents indulging in (and not demanding) a victory.

Tek is treating himself to this just as much as Tonic is. it's been a long time since he's touched someone new--especially someone who has managed to capture his interest so thoroughly. he immediately rests a light, affectionate hand on Tonic's good wrist, but it soon moves to his shoulder, finally gliding up to his neck as he can't help but smile against the scars of his companion's mouth.

he doesn't mind the strangeness of kissing him, really. when you've spent hundreds of years with creatures who sometimes have fangs or scales to work around, a little unevenness isn't that bad. he meets him with just as much warmth, and makes sure not to seem too greedy about it. the little bits of pointed teeth against the good portion of his lip are just to tease him. it's just a little sharpness for fun.

even when he shifts over enough to begin placing a few experimental kisses along the unscarred skin of Tonic's jaw, he's slow and doting about it. this is one of those instances in which he's actually interested in gauging what his partner likes before he goes for the throat.]
heresyandlace: (his own masterpiece)

[personal profile] heresyandlace 2018-11-09 06:40 am (UTC)(link)
[especially with pretty nails dragging along the back of his neck, Tek finds it very hard not to begin purring against his friend's throat. it's probably a slowly-failing attempt, but he's at least still trying to keep his various inhuman tendencies in check.

so, he spends extra attention on his partner to make up for it. his mouth and teeth and a little bit of that strange tongue that Tonic had gotten a glimpse of pick their way along scarless skin. it's not that he doesn't love the marred half of the man's body just as much, but he wants to make sure that there are as many nerves as possible there for him to play with.

he revels in the fact that he's being trusted enough for the other man to lower his guard and let him get this close. he drags fingertips down his back, feeling along smooth skin and the little interruptions of scars, until he can settle and hold him at the shape of his waist. he breathes him in. he waits for the little hints that tell him what his partner likes, and follows them. he wants to learn more about him.]

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