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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[he laughs. it's the good kind, coming from Robin, where he sounds a little like he never really learned how to laugh right. his smirk comes very easy and feels very honest.]

For having spent so much time in other people's houses, you'd think I'd know a little more about bringing someone into my own.

[before he can think twice about it, he leans in to give Tek a quick peck on the cheek. his hands are full, after all.]

Okay, I'll give it another shot.

[and then he just... starts walking away, back towards the two they'd left earlier, to deliver them their drinks as offered. it is up to Tek whether he wants to follow, stay, or start moving in a new direction.]

[an admission of fault, acceptance of responsibility, and the offering of an open door. Robin even goes the extra inch to be sweet on top of it. it's all Tek could ask for, really.

it feels as though there's a little extra room to breathe in as Robin turns to leave. against all odds, nothing feels worse, and Tek even manages to reclaim some sense of relief.

despite this, he turns to head the other direction without hesitation.

he feels better, but he still needs to be somewhere else by the time Robin returns.]

[the middle of the floor is crowded, but Tek can make an easy escape by skirting towards the edge of the cave and continuing to follow the wall. there are some people mingling here and there in little groups, and the less-social attendees pretty much live back here, but it isn't hard to wander by without being noticed any more than usual.

Robin was right about there being back rooms... sometimes the slope of the wall changes dramatically, opening up into smaller sub-chambers. some are very low, requiring party-goers to sit or duck their heads if they don't want to hit the ceiling. some are proper tunnels that lead to a flight of stairs, up or down. there are also a couple-dozen man-made alcoves all over the cave, at varying heights above the ground. they're just deep and tall enough for two people to sit comfortably and facing each other, but not much else. a few of these are a good fifteen feet off the floor, accessible only by rungs carved into the wall itself.

there are a couple of standing pools of water in this cave, mostly off to the side. one such pool is in Tek's path, sending flecks of rippling light to shimmer against the rock wall behind it. much like a flickering candle, it seems to have attracted a number of nighttime insects--poets, artists, and doomed romantics, probably--all sitting around, crouched or reclining, chatting quietly with each other. Tonic can be spotted nearby, in the group but not technically participating. he's standing by himself, idly watching the stage, sending a long stream of cigarette smoke drifting away from the good side of his mouth.]

[he'd initially thought he'd been looking for something more lively, something that posed a more thrilling and immediate risk to dispel everything that had happened in the last ten minutes, but the sight of still, shimmering water in the dark manages to catch him first. he'll always be an aquatic creature at heart. and with the sort of crowd already gathered there, it makes sense that he'd also be drawn inexplicably in.

Tonic's presence goes unnoticed until he's actually quite close. Tek immediately remembers the promise he'd given earlier, even though it had technically been to the currently-missing half of the party. in his mind, it still works perfectly well as an excuse to go up and bother the man.

so, wandering casually through the gathering until he comes up alongside his target, Tek asks a question that he'd wanted to ask when they'd been first introduced.]

...Potion or poison?

[his passing catches the eyes of several people. they lift their faces to observe; some seem transfixed by him, others barely notice before the pool casts shards of gold into their fields of view, drawing them back into their own little thoughts and conversations.

up close, Tonic smells like old medicines. dried herbs left in sandalwood boxes, perhaps, or the incense traditionally burned alongside them. some would say it's a bit much--but others would say it's better to smell strongly of tea leaves than smelling like the wet earth and cold stone.

he has an attractive good side. he's got a slender face with dark, heavy makeup around his eyes. expert contouring work to really keep those angles sharp. it also brings his bad side into contrast as he turns his head to look at the man approaching, fixing both mismatched eyes on the not-quite-stranger.

after glancing over Tek once more, perhaps more for the performance than any actual gathering of information, he plucks the cigarette from his mouth to give the dragon a lopsided smirk.]

Hah, well. That depends on who you ask, sweetheart.

[ah, that beautiful wreck of a face. it reminds him of home--the fun parts of it, more than anything else. it's a pang that he lets himself happily wallow in.]

I'm asking you. [he reflects the smirk, a little wry, as he tucks his hands into the slim pockets of his jacket and stands beside the other man as if he'd been invited.

he's compelled to be over-familiar, because that's how things were done among their types back home. whether by blood or simple similarities, family is always close.]

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.]

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