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]

[Tek nods at Pierce instead, then, and seems perfectly content with this exchange. and he'd made sure not to wear any extraneous bracelets today, so there isn't anything weird to be felt under his sleeves.

then, to the smaller, yet-unnamed man--]

There's a 'k' at the end.

[skeletoncity]

Damn. That's a shame.

[it may not be entirely apparent why that is a shame, though the context he gives next might help. he gestures to the big guy--]

Like I said, that guy's name is Pierce. [and then he gestures to himself.] Mine's Rend. And you are fortunate to have shown up to a party with us two in attendance, and not some guys from down in Dark Quarter. They'd scrap you for parts.

[this is all taking on a rather conversational tone, as Pierce settles back in his seat and "Rend" seems to have reached a conclusion about the man in front of him.]

[heresyandlace]

[Tek seems quite pleased to be settling into something roughly approximate to a conversation with these two, though he seems inappropriately delighted by the prospect that Rend now brings to the table.]

I see! Indeed, I feel very lucky to be meeting the pair of you, then. I do appreciate the lack of dismembering, so I feel some thanks is in order. You've been perfect hosts.

[skeletoncity]

See... [Rend points at Tek now, practically wagging his finger in disapproval.] You get way too excited about that. Just like the other guy.

[he glances back at the bar, while Pierce continues to keep a calm eye on Tek.]

I got a question, though. He introduce you to a guy named Kneecap yet?

[Robin has mentioned someone with that name in passing (it's hard to forget a name like that), but as far as Tek knows, he has not actually met the gentleman in question.]

[heresyandlace]

[Tek's exceedingly good mood bubbles over into a giggle when Rend points at him like that. guilty as charged. it's terrible.]

Mm... only by name, and in mentioning their proficiency with machinery. Why do you ask?

[skeletoncity]

[Pierce makes a face at Tek's abundant joy. he may have plugged a bunch of corroding metal into his body, but these guys are weird.]

He's a good guy. Cousin of mine.

[Pierce nods in agreement, though... it's not clear exactly what he's agreeing to. Rend continues.]

You outta stay out of mod work down here unless you plan on being a repeat customer.

[he shrugs again, since it could be a possibility.] Should you decide that your, uh, personal agenda starts going in that direction, go hit him up. Don't let anyone else tell you nothin' about the business.

[heresyandlace]

[eyebrows a little raised, he makes a musing sound as the conversation takes an interesting turn that he hadn't been expecting.]

I'll be sure to keep that in mind. [he glances at the patchwork of metal and inflamed skin that is the man's arm and keeps his voice from sounding as skeptical as he can. he means it as an honest question.] ...Is it a lifestyle that you suggest?

[skeletoncity]

Nah. [he shakes his head, smirking a little.] Not for you.

[Pierce also shakes his head, almost a comedic mimicry of earlier.]

But it can be lucrative to supply to other people. There's always demand, 'round these parts.

[heresyandlace]

[Tek smirks too, because he can't begin to argue him there.]

May I ask why? As is apparently obvious, I'm failing to understand the appeal.

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[Rend laughs, which is a little unsettling.]

You ain't spent a lot of time down here, then.

[Pierce, suddenly a little more alert, nods over in the direction of someone approaching the table--but it's only Robin, who has finally made it back from the bar with a glass of amber-liquid that is already half-empty. he gives everyone at the table a flat-look as he approaches.]

I leave you alone for five minutes, and you're already talking to the biggest illegal parts dealers in town.

[heresyandlace]

[Tek folds his hands behind his head as he leans back to gaze up at Robin. if there had been something there to comfortably kick his feet up on, he probably would have done that too.]

I'm learning quite a lot! It's been fun.

[birdsbirdsbirds]

I'll bet.

[Robin zeroes in on Rend just in time for the smaller man to give an explanation, putting his hands behind his head in a very similar manner to Tek.]

We're just getting to know each other, that's all. We wanna make sure your friend here ain't gonna go getting himself in trouble.

[Pierce, meanwhile, raises his hand to give Robin a short wave and a nod. Robin nods back, even just having seen him out of the corner of his eye.]

Fine by me. Should I let you three get back to your civil service, or...?

[heresyandlace]

I think I'm ready to stretch my legs and avoid overstaying my welcome.

[no need to pout, Robin. Tek then turns back to his two new friends.]

Would you boys like a drink to thank you for your hospitality? [Robin's buying.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[Rend laughs again--] Hey, who are we to pass up such a polite offer?

[Pierce also nods. free drinks are free drinks, man. Robin looks directly at Tek, because he knows that Tek doesn't intend to pay for these drinks himself.]

[heresyandlace]

[Tek nods happily as he excuses himself from the table, and once standing companionably at Robin's side, he nods for his friend to accompany him back toward the bar as if there is no inconvenience to be had here at all.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[if that's how they're going to be playing it, Robin gives a shrug and follows right along as if the meeting he'd just interrupted had only been a mildly amusing "what can you do?" detour and not something with widely-extending ramifications.

Pierce starts talking again as soon as their backs are turned, of course, and whatever he says is enough to make Rend chuckle.]

Well... [Robin starts talking too, once they're out of immediate earshot.] It looks like you were all getting along, at least.

[heresyandlace]

Oh, yes. They were perfect gentlemen. [and the grin that creeps a little too wide on his face says that some threat of bodily harm had definitely come up at least once. just enough to make it interesting.]

Though, I suppose I should ask now, if I should be watching out for similar reactions to where I'm from?

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[Robin said that he'd let Tek go off on his own. this is exactly what he'd asked for. he takes a full second to remind himself that Tek, however petty and risk-seeking, can take care of himself and has been doing so (mostly) successfully for hundreds of years.]

That depends on how politically-minded people are. More likely, folks will distrust you because you're dressed well. Here--

[he flags down a bartender, squeezing in towards the bar despite someone next to him complaining.]

[heresyandlace]

Well, I'd expected that much... [as far as being judged for looking good, he means. that's a burden he bears wherever he goes. and once Robin squeezes in along the bar, Tek hooks a hand on Robin's shoulder and cutely leans his face up on it so he can still talk to him (and further crowd whoever is next to them)]

I feel like I should start conversations with "yes, I'm from the Capitol, but I don't care."

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[Robin ignores Tek for a moment, ordering two drinks that he thinks the dragon's new friends will find agreeable. someone beside them looks over as Tek mentions the Capitol, but looks away and goes back to their conversation pretty quickly.]

Places have history, Tek. And people have opinions. [he finishes his own drink, quickly slugging the rest down and sliding the glass back across the bar while he's there.] Maybe work on catching the attention of someone who isn't keyed directly into the slickest underhanded economy in the city.

[heresyandlace]

[Tek rolls his eyes as Robin talks to him like a mortal, and only keeps his tongue about it because there are people listening, and he would actually like to keep having fun. so, as Robin finishes trading drinks across the bar, Tek's fingers drum on his shoulder for a few dangerously-thoughtful moments.]

...Maybe it's the story that needs work.

[what if he decided to just suddenly throw away the only safe, agreed-upon thing about this entire arrangement, Robin? what if?]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

[the tapping at his shoulder is a warning sign, and he knows it. as drinks finally slide back in his direction, he realizes he's made a mistake. sent Tek down a path of destruction.]

No, no, no... [he picks up the two drinks that have been presented to him, turning away from the bar... just so that he can sidle back up to Tek, putting one arm over each of his shoulders (and holding the drinks safely away from the both of them).] No, no. The story is fine. We just need to find you the right audience, that's all.

[he does not want Tek to start making changes to the script before he even understands the heart of the story. that's a risk he isn't willing to take.]

Come on, I'll get these drinks to your boys over there. You give it another shot. There are tons of people here who won't even ask where you're from.

[just then, the crowd applauds again and the room swells up with another buzzing intermission. the singer is getting off the stage, their set complete.]

[heresyandlace]

[there's a familiar tension as Robin faces him with all of this reframing, very similar to what usually happens right before he suddenly takes off for the mountains, not to be seen again for months. the arms on each shoulder are momentarily cage-like, and Tek looks from one to the other of them as Robin talks.

he's still at least trying to stay centered, though. he's trying to tolerate the rules, the walls, the tone in Robin's voice. his own voice is calculated in its civility.]

It's not as if I was looking for politics.

[don't make it sound as if he'd somehow done something to fail in his attempts here, or he might not be able to keep the compulsion for something dramatic at bay.]

[birdsbirdsbirds]

No, no. I know that.

[the arms come back down as people begin to float from the dance floor back in the direction of the bar. he stays close, but Tek can walk away if he's really feeling cornered. his smile disappears as this becomes something of a serious conversation, fueled by Tek's increasing agitation.]

I'm not accusing you of anything, I'm just... trying to say that you don't have to spend time in boring conversations if you don't want to. Which you know. Already.

[and then he sighs, the reality of his own mistake having dawned on him while he speaks. people are all around them, now, but he glances away and apologizes anyway:]

No... I'm just being overprotective. Sorry.

[heresyandlace]

[Tek stands by as Robin walks through the whole thought, keeping his agitation at a plateau until he sees wherever Robin ultimately arrives.

and it turns out that it's at a realization and an apology. on one hand, there is a lot there that Tek now doesn't have to try and convey to Robin, and some of that tension can be released now that Robin has figured it out himself... but, on the other hand, interpersonal baggage has now been brought out into the light where it's uncomfortable and must be addressed. and Tek is still feeling too antsy and unsatisfied to do much compromising.

he sighs.]

I may be younger than you, but not by that much.

[so stop treating him like a kid and maybe things will be fine.]