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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My, my, where to start...?

[he seems tickled by the question, pressing his mismatched hands together while he thinks about what is important and what is not. the sounds of the market seem far away, pleasantly muffled in the comfortable room.]

Well, you may find it funny to hear that in visiting my storefront, you've also visited my warehouse, workshop, and home all at once. [the good side of his mouth quirks up in a funny little smirk.] Not a particularly luxurious lifestyle, I suppose, but I'm very fond of what I have.

Is it really? I suppose I'd made some assumptions, again.

[there's definitely some surprise there, but he seems fairly neutral about it. not too judgmental, at any rate.]

Well, it all is very you. It shouldn't be surprising that you would want to spend all of your time in this space.

[he does appreciate a lack of obvious judgement. he remembers Tek's various privileges very well.]

That, and property is very expensive.

[he looks thoughtfully up at nothing, curling his hands around his cup, tapping his lovely nails in a line down the side.]

The ironic thing is that this used to be a front for my other business... I only resold things that other people brought me. But then, business would get slow, and I was practically bedridden at the time, so I started sewing things together to stave off my own crippling boredom.

[even though it's only a short shadow of a story, Tek still gratefully settles into the role of "audience." he may enjoy talking about himself, but listening to someone tell their own tales is a genuine love of his.]

Is that what you meant when you'd said you "fell" into it, or was that something else?

Oh, that... [he looks back down, still half-smirking.]

No, that was referring to my literally plummeting hundreds of feet into a pit filled with rusted-out machinery. That was where I lost my leg. I'm told I shouldn't have survived the fall at all.

[casually, he takes a sip of tea.]

But that was the turning point for a lot of things.

Oh.

[Tonic can enjoy the satisfaction of having successfully surprised his enigmatic new friend. his eyebrows go up, and he covers the startled smile that forms a full second afterward.]

I see.

[oh, Tonic loves the reaction, as evidenced by a deep, satisfied chuckle. it's not as though he's completely over the incident himself, but this makes it a lot more fun to talk about.

he leans forward playfully, smile pulling at both sides of his face.]

I'm curious, would you say that I have very good luck or very bad luck?

Neither. [he answers easily and unwaveringly, like he would at any time, in any world. he busies casually with his tea as if there couldn't possibly be an argument on this point.]

I would say, perhaps, "unfortunately unique in circumstance," but luck has nothing to do with it.

Wow. Not even a little hesitation.

[Tek must have some strong opinions on the subject... but Tonic remains just as pleased as before, lifting his cup closer to his mouth.]

But I like that. I've never really bought into the idea of having luck anyway.

If it had been luck, then it could have been anyone falling into that pile of machinery. But this person had already had half of their face eaten by acid, they then survived another round of terrible odds, and had just the sort of skills and unique outlook to turn a pawn shop into an entirely singular gallery of oddities while stuck suffering inside of it.

[he shrugs over the glass that he's warming his hands with.]

Doesn't sound like luck to me. And it makes for a much better story.

[though his demeanor is still casual, he listens very attentively to Tek's explanation. he's never been particularly interested in philosophy, but hearing his life framed by someone else, in this particular way, is very flattering.

at the mention of a better story, he makes a curious sound, absently swirling his tea around in its cup. his reply does not come immediately; he has to let a couple of strange thoughts congeal.]

Mm. [he rests the good side of his face on an open palm, sighing almost begrudgingly as he gives in to being completely and utterly charmed.] You sure know how to flatter a guy.

[if it makes Tonic feel any better, Tek looks entirely pleased with himself at that response, and he chuckles. don't worry, he's not actually that charming.]

I just use honesty very well.

Disgusting.

[half-muttered into his hand, fondly. but too much of this will make him look soft, or like he has a want that can be exploited--so he elects to put the conversation back on track.]

Do you have any other questions about the shop? I do plan on dressing you up, later.

[and Tek doesn't want to seem too hungry and complimentary, so he goes along with the topic shift without hesitation. he even finally takes a sip of his tea as they move from one line of conversation to the next.]

Questions--not that I can think of. A general excitement to go exploring and be dressed up--yes.

Ah, I'm so glad...

[the tea is a little strange, some blend of mint and another earthier, smokier taste. it would be bitter if it weren't for whatever Tonic scooped on top of it, which leaves each sip with a surprisingly smooth, almond-like aftertaste.

Tonic gestures around to some of this things, having one last opinion to validate before they move on.]

This place is built to be explored, so please--it's so much more personal that way.

Well, the last time I explored on my own, I gravitated towards some... problematic items. So, if you have any guidance to offer, I wouldn't be opposed to it.

[besides, he's extremely curious to see which things are some of Tonic's favorites here, or that he would choose himself for Tek to try on.]

Mm...

[while Tonic would normally be thrilled to give guidance, that sticking point from earlier catches his attention again and does not let it go. logically, he should drop it... but his gut is telling him to dig in harder, and at the end of the day, following his gut is the only reason he's still alive.]

I know I said I'd pretend it didn't happen, but may I ask you a question about it anyway?

[Tek can say no. he doesn't want to intrude in a way that will spoil the now-pleasant conversation. still, he fixes Tek with an intent stare, clearly set on mulling it over whether Tek agrees to talk or not.]

[Tek keeps the eye-contact long enough to have some vague weight behind it, but returns to sipping politely on his tea while he responds. they both have at least some idea that there may be various implications behind the topic, so he keeps his voice light. discussing it won't bother him. it's the other party involved that he's concerned about.]

If you want an answer, then yes.

[they aren't playing a game this time--not formally--but the question is just as weighted as the ones they passed back and forth at the party. he won't lose any clothing over it, but he might lose something else.]

Why did you pick out those items in particular?

Why did you?

[it sounds much more accusatory than he means (or at least could be taken pretty badly in a place where an admission could get you in trouble) so he does put himself a little more in the potential line of fire.]

I felt that they were special.

[unfortunately, Tek finds a way to describe Tonic's attachment to those items before the words occur to Tonic himself.]

So do I.

[but therein lies the issue--which he settles into, hunching his shoulders forward a little and frowning as if trying to solve a difficult math problem.]

But they aren't special, objectively. They're just things.

[his smile lights up a little--looking both a bit surprised and as though a thought is occurring to him.] You think so?

[yes, he's definitely getting an idea. he takes a final sip of his tea and sets the cup down with finality. he's done with that. he has something much better to move on to now.

as he stands, he waves a flippant hand back at his friend.]

I want to try something. Close your eyes.

That's a distressing request.

[he continues staring attentively at Tek. he isn't deflecting from the situation yet, but he will need a little more convincing than that.]

[that's okay, because Tek has enough resolve for the both of them. he hardly glances over his shoulder while he begins looking through some of the collections of objects he'd been exploring earlier. the traces of magic are so faint that he needs to get close and focus while rummaging through them to remember which ones they had been. it's more difficult to pick up while multitasking.]

No, it's fine. If anything, it will probably prove that it's just a coincidence, right?

[or he'll be able to claim so, anyway. that's the important element of this test. and with a few objects collected safely in his hands, hidden from view, he turns back around.]

Don't worry. You won't even have to say anything. Just close your eyes and hold out your hands.

[it won't be a coincidence. the man watches Tek busy around for a moment... but his gaze eventually falls to the tea kettle, and the few small furls of steam still rising from its spout.

but nothing comes of it. he lifts his eyes back to Tek as the other man turns back to him, with no guesses as to what he's got in his hands. eventually, sigh a sigh and a small, crooked smile, he closes his eyes and holds out his mismatched hands.]

I really should stop assuming that I know how these meetings of ours will go.

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