GRATIA // PSL

[skeletoncity]

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?

Comments

[heresyandlace]

[it is a shame that Tonic is taking the high road (so far) on this, as there's very little to discourage Tek from continuing to enjoy this moment to the fullest.]

Yes. It is. I bet you were adorable.

[and then, before either of them can dwell on just how cute he imagines a young Tonic to be, Tek gasps as another thought occurs to him.]

Oh, gods... flying would absolutely kill you, I think.

[skeletoncity]

[he also would not have called himself "adorable", but before he has time to even consider objecting, Tek's newest thought is enough to finally make him pause in his line of pins, sounding audibly nauseous.]

Please. I would kill myself. I'd jump off the fucking ship.

[half his mouth turns down in a grimace, until the other half follows in a slightly lopsided attempt to match. just to show how awful that sounds.]

[heresyandlace]

[that vehemence, combined with that face, gets a good-natured chuckle out of him. how could he not continue the subject, with reactions like that to enjoy?]

I love flying. Especially on a good clear day, when you can really see everything--horizon to horizon.

[it really is a miracle that he hasn't been jabbed with pins yet.]

[skeletoncity]

[up until this point, Tonic's reactions have been based in truth, though played up a little for the sake of letting his new favorite guest have a good laugh. but something about the idea of being able to see the edge of the world in all directions causes him to look genuinely haunted, if only for the split-second it takes him to decide they should wrap up this little exchange.]

Awful. Truly dreadful.

[he reels himself back in, continuing on much the way they had before--with a good-natured tone and a crooked smile. he is almost done with a sleeve hem, so he focuses on that.]

But you can have all the fun you want... I don't think they'd even let me upstairs these days, even if I suddenly lost my senses and decided to go...

[heresyandlace]

[Tek is perfectly satisfied with the interaction--even treated to a tangible flutter of horror there at the end--so he lets Tonic out of his imaginary sky-prison in peace. he's not feeling that cruel.

he'll let his friend carry the conversation in a presumably more comfortable direction.]

Oh, no? Not even with an escort?

[skeletoncity]

[Tonic laughs at the incredulous thought. he finds it hard to believe that someone, anyone, would be an accomplice to the social crime of bringing someone like him all the way up there.]

And who would be escorting me, you?

[his hem finished, he stiffly crouches down to start bringing around a hem at the bottom. his work on this outfit is almost completed, at least for today.]

[heresyandlace]

Am I that bad? It sounded like it might be fun.

[which are two separate thoughts of his, though he puts them together as if they're related.

he doesn't entirely understand what all is up there, but it's something more than Down Here over and over again--and if there are social feathers to ruffle in the process, that only makes it more appealing. he thinks the idea makes sense, at any rate, if Tonic doesn't have other problems with it.]

[skeletoncity]

[Tonic laughs again, shaking his head a little.]

It sounded like you just want to see my suffering in-person...

[but the end of his sentence doesn't sound final. he hasn't said "no" yet. he's just waiting for a better offer while he pins his way around Tek's legs.]

[heresyandlace]

Well, that's part of it, obviously. But there are other things to do up there, right? And on the way up?

[he doesn't know if it counts as a "better" offer, because the suffering is still included, but they could at least do whatever they wanted with the rest of their time. what he gathers from Robin's descriptions makes the idea sound appealing, at least.]

[skeletoncity]

Oh, there's plenty on the way up...

[he knows all about the many establishments that line the cave streets between here and the idyllic world above. the silence that follows that thought is very familiar; it's the intense quiet of a man piecing together everything he knows and weighing his options in order to make the best possible decision. it's a little like their guessing game all over again.

finally, a serious (if not casual) admission:] There are a couple of shops I'd kill to get into, up there. Things I can't easily get down here.

[heresyandlace]

[ah, he has missed people who take time to think before they speak. he actually enjoys the moment of silence, sensing the gears working away in the other man's head.

and even if Tonic doesn't glance up once he finally responds, the smile is there for him in Tek's voice.]

Sounds like good material for a trade, to me.

[they can even treat it like a business transaction. it'll be fun!]

[skeletoncity]

[this must be exactly the kind of better deal he was looking for, because his smile returns as he pins the last few inches of fabric in place.]

It does, doesn't it?

[he'd trade a lot for a chance to haggle with a few of the vendors upstairs. that's all he needs to make it worth his time, and then-some. it's quantifiable, it's fair. Tek can have his fun, and Tonic will be paid appropriately.

he stands up again, this time reaching for Tek's arm to help pull himself up onto his wooden leg.]

All right, babe. Let's get you out of this thing.

[if there are no objections, now begins the work of carefully removing a half-assembled mass of fabric away from Tek without accidentally sticking him with pins.]

[heresyandlace]

[no objections at all--Tek helps up him up and then allows himself to be disassembled as smoothly as possible. he's quite pleased with everything around him, at the moment. the promise of future interactions and trades, custom clothing, the prospect of teasing Robin with his antics. it's all wonderful.

in his contentment, he takes another minute to marvel at the coat that has been built around him.]

...Do you always work this fast, or only when pieces of dead men are involved?

[skeletoncity]

[Tonic folds everything very carefully and sets it aside (rather than tossing the project into some pile, proving he can be nice to his things if he needs to be), looking charmed by the question.]

No darling, I always try to keep things as quick as possible. Most of my return customers are the kinds of people who don't have two weeks to wait around for a custom-fitted dress...

[he shrugs his mismatched shoulders as he begins to put things away, sending scraps and yardage back to whatever corner of the tent he thinks they belong in.]

It's the only reason I can claim the prices I do, honestly. There's a lot of competition down here, with access to a lot more materials...

[and the aesthetic he's created here is already appealing to a fairly niche market as it is.]

[heresyandlace]

[while Tonic cleans up, Tek leans back against the nearest stable surface and debates whether to go put his shirt back on yet or not.]

It's impressive to watch, in any case. I can only imagine what you would be capable of with more.

[--more time, more resources. he really does find it a shame that such a gem is shut up down in these tunnels. it picks at his meddling instincts. maybe, the next time he's bored, he'll play with figuring out which strings he can start pulling at around here. just for fun.]

[skeletoncity]

[he receives compliments here and there, and his work has a few devoted fans... but flattery from his new, clever, like-minded acquaintance means a little bit more than all of that. it's not entirely coincidence that he takes an extra moment to pick through his own hanging inventory, gathering his answer in the process.]

That's the hope, sweetheart... Assuming I don't somehow lose another limb before then.

[ah, a joke at his own expense. that'll do. he can turn back to Tek with half a sly smile, holding out several black shirts in his direction.]

Here, humor me and try these on while you're still half-dressed.

[heresyandlace]

[he feigns a scoff, looking affronted at the demand.] Surely you're not that short on mannequins here.

[and of course he reaches out for the bundle anyway. though, he will at least inspect the first one before obediently putting it on, just to make sure it isn't too ridiculous.]

[skeletoncity]

[Tonic chuckles, but then something hits him, and he laughs.

it's a stupid joke. a stupid, stupid joke. he looks a little surprised by his own reaction, quickly covering up the lower and smiling half of his face to feign a serious expression.]

Oh, but I keep needing the spare parts...

[...with that said, he gets hit with another wave of giggles and decides to just see himself out, walking towards that mysterious back area of the tent and disappearing behind a tent flap.

he calls out that he'll be out again in just a moment, while something else clinks together in the background. Tek is inexplicably left to himself for a second, with the option of several flattering shirts to keep him company.]

[heresyandlace]

[Tek just... closes his eyes. but it is clearly in an effort not to laugh himself. he's going to lose the battle once Tonic is on the way to the back room, because the mental image is too much to take with a straight face, but he vows not to crack before that point.

how stupid.

he's wearing something beautiful and black, admiring himself in the nearest mirror, whenever Tonic finally pulls himself together and returns.]

[skeletoncity]

[thankfully, his host does not take very long to return. he knew exactly what he wanted and exactly where to find it, and comes out less than a minute later holding a very expensive-looking glass of clear, thick, amber-colored liquid.

this looks like the kind of thing that Robin drinks when he doesn't go out, but Tonic hasn't filled his cup to near the brim like Robin does. it is an appropriate amount for a mid-day, casual drink, assuming he drinks it slowly. it smells faintly of honey, even from across the room.]

Ah, see? I knew that would look good on you.

[he crosses the room, leaning back on the edge of a dresser to settle in and watch Tek move around in his clothes. he sets the drink down next to him, not addressing it, but instead keeping all his attention on his new model.]

Do you have any interest in dresses?

[heresyandlace]

[and now it's Tek's turn to laugh at his own private joke. he halfheartedly fights a smirk at himself in the mirror while he debates what the best answer in this case should be. he would love to tell the truth, but he can only imagine the meltdown that would cause.]

...Yes and no.

[skeletoncity]

[while Tonic is obviously very open-minded when it comes to gender and presentation... Tek is absolutely right in thinking that his own personal brand of gender-swapping would crush Tonic's already-strained emotional stability like a bug. maybe they can get into it after Tonic has a chance to rest and finish his drink--which he takes his first sip of in response to that very unclear response.]

In that case, should I bother pulling out dresses for you to try on, or would it be better explored another time?

[he doesn't know whether Tek's answer was positive, negative, or completely neutral--but he'll just give him a nice, clear out in case he wants to avoid the situation for any reason.]

[heresyandlace]

[Tek's smirk grows, but it's very fitting for his answer, which is absolutely honest.]

I'll put it this way. I think they would look much better on you than they would on me.

[in his current incarnation, at least. ]

[skeletoncity]

[Tonic laugh would barely be audible if it wasn't echoed into his cup. his one-sided smile turns into a grin, and he shrugs up his opposite shoulder.]

All right, well. I do want to see you in that longer shirt, still.

[he gestures to one of the other shirts he handed over, something with long sleeves and a swooping neckline. not at all Tek's style, from what Tonic has seen of him, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't look cute in it anyway. this gives him an idea, which gets him to make a noise and set his drink down and glide over to another surface to start picking through some jewelry.]

And a necklace. That's what we'll do...

[heresyandlace]

[Tek was looking at the shirt and its generous neckline with a good amount of skepticism, until the prospect of a necklace is introduced. that last touch is apparently what was needed for the image to come together in his head, and he obligingly begins to change for his host.

though, with the fact that he's putting on a shirt that is specifically meant to show off a necklace, and it having been stated that one is about to head his way, one might expect that he would take off the one he's currently wearing. but, he doesn't.

once changed, he aligns the neckline attractively along his collarbones, leaves his necklace right where it is as if he forgets it's even there, and looks over to see what sorts of jewelry Tonic will be bringing him.]