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

[Tek likes this shift a lot. after all of the convoluted turns in their strange little game, the fact that his new friend is settling down like this, instead of looking for the nearest polite exit, is a wonderful sign. he can't help but gravitate toward it. it shows in subtle ways--moving his shoulders so he can slink an inch or two lower on the pillows, turning just a little closer toward Tonic.

the question isn't one he expects, though. he picks up the much more valuable of his two necklaces, to look at it himself.]

This one? I assume you mean the pendant, as there's nothing special about the metal. It's just gold.

It's just gold...

[Tonic rolls his eyes at that profoundly priviledged statement, but he doesn't let it sit for long. he really is more interested in the pendant, eyeing it as well.]

Yes, I mean the pendant. I'm not a gem expert, but it's very pretty.

[Tek chuckles a little bit; he had tried to warn him about the whole being-enormously-privileged thing. and he gazes at the stone, rubbing a thumb over the surface to clear any smudges. it has been a very long time since he's bothered even looking at the thing.]

You won't find anything like it around here, I can tell you that much.

[for as beautiful as the gem is, and it being the only piece of jewelry he's wearing tonight, he doesn't seem to be looking a it with a whole lot of fondness. it's a mixed expression; if anything, it's somewhat similar to how Tonic had been looking at the false leg strapped to his own body.]

It's sort of a family symbol. The type of stone doesn't have a name, but there's a local legend about them being the petrified, fallen tears of some ancient creature. The stone has many colloquial names, and they all have to do with that.

Ooh, interesting...

[he tilts his head a little, watching the way the stone catches the light. he was being honest about his lack of knowledge of gems; unless they've got some sort of medicinal property (and they rarely actually do), they're mostly all just fancy rocks to him.

he doesn't find Tek's jaded opinion of the stone all that strange, especially after hearing that it's got some connection to that "family" of his. after a beat of silence, and then another, he looks back up at Tek.]

I really couldn't think of anything else to say about it. It's just pretty.

[he shrugs. he's not about to put more effort into it than that.]

[really, after being so used to the way that Robin gets all over every single thing in his vicinity, Tonic's aloof attitude is refreshing. he doesn't need to dig in deeper with everything. Tek has always liked the way that Robin always needs to touch things, but a break from it is nice.

and he always appreciates blatant honesty. it makes him laugh, and he drops the necklace back onto his chest without care.]

It is pretty; they wouldn't have it any other way. And it does make it easy to put outfits together when you always have a unifying color palette to work with.

[at the laugh, he smirks just enough to show some teeth. it's nice to know that their honesty can continue for a little while.]

A good point; imagine being stuck with a big emerald, clashing with everything.

[gazing out at nothing, where he can clearly picture the image that Tonic is summoning forth, Tek wrinkles his nose.]

Can you even imagine how that would look with my skin tone? Awful. [he would look even more dead than he already does.

and then there is another one of those pauses in conversation--a juncture where he must decide whether to continue the casual back-and-forth line that they happen to be on, or veer off down some other path. Tonic will at least have the hanging momens of silence and visible way that Tek is mulling something over in his head as a warning.

they seem to be on a little kick of honesty, right? he should probably leave well enough alone, but there is one thing that is still eating away at his curiosity. so, he makes a leap. first glancing over at Tonic's augmented arm, and then up to his face.]

What happened to your body?

Just terrible...

[Tonic agrees about the idea of an emerald, sticking out his tongue a little again. but beyond that playful expression, he has nothing else to say, and so lounges quietly while Tek mulls something over.

the period of thoughtful silence is plenty of warning, so he is well and truly prepared for a personal question as soon as Tek decides to speak again. as such, his answer comes with a raised eyebrow and a quick, twirling gesture of his hands.]

Which part?

[what hasn't happened to his body, man.]

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?]

[oh, yes... he considers lying about it, coming up with some fantastical story to keep from having to take off another piece of clothing... but his physical malformations are something he really doesn't mind talking about. honestly, he sometimes wishes he got more chances to complain, without making the people around him nervous.]

Acid. [he nods his head.] Believe it or not, someone tried to dunk me into a vat of it. The leg thing came later, ironically.

[the words are delivered rather matter-of-factly, so it is up to Tek to decide whether they are the truth or not.]

[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?

[oh, that causes Tonic to burst into laughter, deeper than usual as he's propped up on his stomach. he's got a big half-grin on his face now.]

You don't believe me?

[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?

Well...

[he laughs again, moving his arms to do his best to illustrate the general motions that led to his unfortunate state.]

Fairly large for a man, yes. And I was a little smaller, at the time. And the vat was probably, oh, half the size of this chamber? And not very tall.

[he should really be holding Tek to admitting whether or not he thinks that he's lying--per the game--but seeing the other man incredulous for once is too good a treat to pass up.]

Picked me up and tried to dunk me in head-first. I tried to twist in the other direction-- [he turns his head, now bad-side out, to illustrate that hitting the surface first.] --Stuck my whole arm in to try and keep the rest of me from going further down.

[he wiggles his bad fingers, too, turning back to face Tek normally.]

Could have been a lot worse.

[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.

I kicked his face in.

[and oh, the look that comes over Tonic's face suggests that it was the kind of face-kicking that people don't get up from, and that he thoroughly enjoys the memory of doing so.]

[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.

[his eyes flicker over the hand that reaches in his direction, but as Tek catches the reflex, Tonic sends his good hand up to go catch it and pull it back down towards him anyway with a twisted smirk on his face.

go on, touch his weird face. he knows you want to.]

[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.]

[Tonic is very aware of the power dynamic being established here. he is presenting himself as a possession while the person over him is presented as the possessor. but he fell into it a little more naturally than even he is ready to accept. and even though a part of him instinctively dislikes being coveted, another part of him very much wants the attention and good favor of this mysterious, dangerous person even more.

he looks up at him the entire time, always a little wary of things happening so close to his face... but the genuine smirk remains, fueled by the dark twist in their conversation and the pleasant feeling of human contact that... well, frankly, isn't based in some weird sex thing the other person has for dramatic scars.]

[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?

[he didn't feel the hand on his face all that much, but something about it being missing makes him shiver. he's been watching Tek the whole time, so he knows that the question is coming, but...]

Depends. [he smirks, but tilts his face up a little, perhaps hopeful.] Are you just trying to get my shirt off?

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.]

I could point out... that you missed a penalty, last question.

[Tonic picks himself up, rearranging himself a little stiffly so that he can sit up and lean backwards. getting his shirt up over his head is tricky, having to navigate the bits and edges of his mods without having the full, fluid motion of a normal person... but he's done it enough times that he at least doesn't make an idiot of himself.

if Tek can be patient for a few extra seconds, Tonic will have his shirt off and his torso fully exposed. it is marred more in the way that his good arm was, with nicks and scrapes and a couple of deep-looking scars where he's had unfortunate run-ins with sharp objects... the real visual interest comes from where his arm was apparently dunked down into a vat of acid, Tek can actually make out specks and splashed shapes where the splatter must have been, eaten away and causing the skin to have that same sort of uneven, strangely-scarred texture as his face and arm.

no big holes for metal bits, just a couple of flat, metallic brackets punched into parts of his shoulder, maybe for support. they almost look fashionable, polished to a reflective shine.

Tonic drops his shirt near his other clothing, not much caring if this one wrinkles.]

[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.]

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