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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I am. [and he takes a moment to consider something, but ultimately sets the thought down again, along with the bottle on the shelf. his friend is done with his chores and ready to be comfortable, so he won't just go and dump another one of those big, strange surprises on him when he's not expecting it.] But, it's because of one of those answers that you actually need to want first.

[with the bottle replaced alongside with the others, he moves back to the table and pushes a few of the cushions over to be closer to his host.]

Mm, no.

[muttered as he absently begins rolling back the sleeve of his bad arm; at first it seems like he's saying he doesn't want those kinds of answers, but he's actually looking at the cushions that Tek is pushing around, the way he's starting to arrange himself, and knows with distinct clarity that it isn't really what he's interested in.]

Come here. [he gestures Tek closer with a wave of his perfectly-painted fingers, pausing with his sleeve half-crumpled to grab the side of the small table and shove it very deliberately to the side, out of their way, in a single motion.

it's a quick thing, before he's back to reclining, stretching his legs (well, leg and a quarter) out and returning to his sleeve.]

[he had assumed that Tonic was referring to his answer, so he's visibly surprised when the table is shoved away instead.

it's not an unwelcome move, though. it takes him a beat, but as soon as he catches up, he's smiling and graciously altering his destination as he goes to settle down. he'll sidle up however it seems that Tonic wants him to be.]

[Tonic quickly pulls his sleeve up the rest of the way over his elbow. this exposes the thin bands of metal and wires plugged into the crook of his arm, likely the main reason he'd gotten the restricting fabric out of the way... but it also reveals old scars, both the incidental and the purposeful.

but from the way he holds both of those arms out as soon as he can, he seems to want Tek to come sidle in very close. he sidles back, getting them even closer, in case there was any doubt that this is what he wants.

yet, through all of it, he seems a little preoccupied. working again despite himself, it would seem.]

You know, there's a saying in my line of work... [he says this as they're really getting comfortable.] That what you don't know will kill you, but what you do know will get you killed.

[there are still gears turning; Tonic is still talking. so, at first, Tek slithers alongside him with enough room left to speak and watch his face in. physical contact and all of the nice things that go along with it are wonderful, but he's curious, and that tops everything. he wants to see where this line of thought goes. it's not so different from a much closer and more comfortable version of their nest from the week before.

he's close enough to really feel the fabric of his friend's dress. he can smell the herbs and smoke. while he considers his statement, he takes the chance to look at his scars up close--his arms and his face--as if they will tell him something about it. after a minute, he smirks wide.]

So, either way, you're dead.

[now that his bad leg has been cracked open, cleaned, and cared for, he is feeling much better about the idea of any sort of physical contact between them. it's actually very comfortable, being lighter, not having abrasive metals digging into his skin. even his arm feels better, now that his sleeve isn't smashing all of those delicate wires and plates down underneath it.

he likes Tek a lot. he likes the rapport they've built, he likes the way that Tek looks him over as he thinks, and he likes that the man has any interest in him when he certainly doesn't have to. having him here makes it harder to remember the sharp edges of his own calculations, and Tek's very astute comment makes him laugh.]

That's the thing, isn't it? I know so many things, I don't need more to trouble me...

[he drapes his misshapen arm around Tek's waist, looking into those strange, nearly-glowing eyes of his. it doesn't feel real, having him back here, but that's all the more reason to sink into him before he disappears for good.]

But here you are-- [he smiles again, letting his head plop back against a cushion.] --Welcoming me to ask, over and over again.

[he doesn't want to verbally point out that he wouldn't keep welcoming if Tonic didn't (more often than not) keep asking. it doesn't need to be said, and who knows if saying it out loud will be the thing to tip the scales and cause some small sort of retreat. he wouldn't risk it for the world, right now.

instead, he smiles and follows Tonic's face with his own, just a bit--taking advantage of him resting his head back to get a little closer.]

Like I'd said before. I wanted someone who would keep playing with me.

[Tonic loves the way those words sound, coming from Tek. it's hard to tell if his expression is more a smirk or a smile, or if the difference really matters, when he's fixed in on the other's face with a look of such blatant adoration.

it's the same way he stares at him when he gets to admire his without his shirt on, as if it wasn't just a strong attraction, but a deep gratitude that such a beautiful piece of art could exist in the world. Tek can feel Tonic's fingers grabbing gently at the fabric of his shirt, playing idly while he gazes at him with those mismatched eyes.

he wants to keep playing. he never has anyone fun to play with.]

I could dig in pretty far, you know...

[he doesn't intend it as a boast, or even a promise, but a warning. he doesn't think Tek is ignorant of how much he is capable of, but he may not be fully conscious of the potential swaths of destruction that could follow for the both of them, should Tonic learn too much.

he wants to ask, he wants to know, but he doesn't want it to come at the cost of these wonderful moments between them. he asks, just to be sure that this is really what the other wants.]

Aren't you worried?

[the fact that it is a warning and not something else is probably the fuel behind why Tek's smile grows the way it does. it's nearly a grin, with how the sharp points of his teeth show.]

I probably should be.

[and he really does sound like he agrees. he doesn't actually doubt the trouble that he's risking. he also doesn't seem quite as excited about it as someone who was actually hoping for it would be. he's something different from either.]

But, I suppose that I'm not afraid of the same things that most people are.

[this answer is both strangely reassuring and highly informative, delivered with a smile that pulls the man's attention back down to the sharp little points of the other's teeth. they've always been something of a bother to him because they imply a lot of things he does not want to have to think about--but right now, he finds himself caring very little about that and more about what they would feel like on the scarred-up side of his neck.]

I am... [he admits it without quite having thought through it, which gets him to laugh again, quietly and mostly at himself.] Though I hardly think that's much of a secret, is it?

[Tek laughs low, because--yeah--he has maybe noticed that one a little bit.]

Would it help if I told you that I'm not intending anything bad to happen to you?

Mm...

[he weighs this one for a moment, giving it consideration, fingers still idly playing at Tek's side. eventually, with his mind occupied, the rest of him is driven by impulse, and his impulse is to slither in closer; he moves so that he can feel more of the other against his body, encouraging him to to the same with a gentle nudge against the small of his back.

their faces are so close that they practically touch, and he finds it much easier to look down at his friend's neck and collar, framed elegantly in one of his shirts.

he sounds pleased, despite his small concern:]

It would, though I might find it a little hard to believe.

[Tek likes this proximity. he's got a good voice for it--low and clear and soft around the edges--so, conversing is sill comfortable even with how close he is to the other's face.

when he shifts closer, running a hand down the shapes of Tonic's side until it rests indulgently on the remains of his thigh, he makes sure to do so before he answers. he wants his meaning to land without weight and pressure that he doesn't mean to imply. he's trying to remain as nice as possible while still being honest.]

Well, you'll probably be able to believe that I am known to be possessive of things that I like. And it stands to reason that I would take great exception to anything happening to those things... so, does it make sense that I would want to keep them safe?

[the combination of everything, his voice, his hand, this tone, his reassurance... what few reservations Tonic may have still had are banished somewhere else, to another place and time when there won't be someone unbelievably attractive in front of him, with a hand on his thigh, all but promising him pleasure and safety and a very, very good time.

whatever answer he could have prepared is bowled over by a soft groan--maybe in agreement, but mostly a mindless expression of want as he ducks his head and shifts again, encouraging Tek to keep touching him but mostly wanting to feel friction below the waist.

he's done talking now. he's good.]

[so, he'll take that as a yes.

and the fact that it is a yes, affirming that he has successfully talked his way past the guard of such a careful, self-serving person, is a pleasant rush of ego. he's quite proud of himself when Tonic doesn't answer with words. he has proven himself to be arrogant and dangerous and covetous, but he's pulled in anyway. it's everything he could want.

he responds in kind, slinking closer to press his body against the other man's, the hand on his thigh hugging him closer--but he can only get so far when he follows his automatic impulse to go for the throat. he hums low, leers in along his jawline as he gets close... but hovers right where there are big, thorny, fabulous earrings blocking his way to Tonic's neck.]

[they are a bit like barbed wire around his neck--something that Tonic forgets until one of them is crushed between his face and a pillow and causes a very uncomfortable sensation. he laughs in surprise, just as Tek is blocked from what is otherwise a very welcome advance.]

Oh, sorry babe...

[the good half of his face looks a little apologetic (but mostly amused) as he picks his head up, working quickly to pull apart his earrings and free up the space for much more comfortable things. like Tek's mouth.]

[Tek laughs too, and grins in that way that says that he finds it pretty hilarious that after all of Tonic's thorough disassembling and prepwork, he forgets something as basic as this. it also maybe says that he's scheming something up.

it's nothing mean, though. it's only the mildest of punishments.

while Tonic is steadying himself to navigate his unwieldy earrings, Tek helpfully divides his attention. he doesn't retreat in order give him a ton of room to work, still sort of looming near his face. and while he does, the hand on Tonic's thigh lifts away... to go sliding tight between the two of them instead.]

[he has a feeling that something is about to happen, when Tek continues looming near his face instead of taking a moment to pause. however, his foolish guess was that Tek was waiting for the first opening shot at his neck. he is very surprised when a hand slides towards his dick instead.

with a startled laugh, he pulls out his first earring and tries not to sound too happy about the sudden development; he makes a genuine effort to take his second pair out quickly.]

Sorry, am I not going fast enough for you?

[he sticks out his tongue at Tek, piercing and all--though his own impatient squirming betrays the idea that this could ever be a legitimate complaint.]

[ah, and Tonic finally makes the mistake of teasing Tek with that face while he's close enough to actually do something about it. the low laugh in his throat is nearly a purr, and he doesn't give much more warning than that before he leans into the other man's mouth with a hungry kiss.

meanwhile, his hips begin to move with his hand against Tonic, doubling-down on the distraction. he has firmly decided that he is going to make this as hard as possible on him.]

[if nothing else, his sounds are priceless--at first a small yelp of surprise, which turns into helpless, stifled laughter against this hungry kiss, which can't help but melt into more hungry groaning against the other's firm advances.

he does try, honestly, to get that other earring off, but after a moment of confused fumbling he realizes one of his hands has just forgotten what they were doing and is winding itself into gratefully into Tek's hair. so maybe he'll have to take out the other one later. or maybe it'll just fall out somewhere, fuck if he knows--but if they're going to play this game, he's going to drag his fingernails over the other's scalp and neck for the trouble.]

[the retaliation is very effective. the drag of nails doesn't slow down the motion of his hand, but a low groan does croon out of him, betraying exactly how much he likes it. his touch can't help but turn a little more indulgent and lingering over it.

and when nails actually pull down across his neck, he falls away from the kiss as he leans into them. the sound it draws out of him is a low, terribly grateful rumble in open air, but he's quick to burrow again into the other man's neck--the side without the earring hanging in the way.

if Tonic keeps doting on his scalp and neck like that, he'll have a moment of peace while Tek just breathes and hums against the side of his throat, expressing just how happy he is with the constant, slow roll of his hands and hips.]

[Tek actually is very lucky in his choice of playmate. a lot of other people could have picked out that rumble and recognized it as a sound that humans should not make, but Tonic has been around plenty of performers, weirdos, and modders, and he thinks that an unusual noise isn't the strangest thing that could come from someone so obviously unique as Tek. it's so easy to write off, it barely even registers to Tonic that it happened.

besides, he's preoccupied with this moment of leverage he seems to have found. if Tek likes the feelings of nails on his neck, he's going to keep getting it, as Tonic has absolutely no qualms about the blissful, steady feeling of weight and friction moving against him.

in fact, a sigh escapes him as Tek breathes against his neck... though it isn't quite enough to keep him from feeling that other earring digging into his cheek. it will be a clumsy attempt with his off-hand, but he'll try all the same to pull the distracting thing out of his ear and out of the way.]

[whether because Tek notices Tonic's preoccupation with his earring and wants to bother him some more, or just because the nails against his neck are lighting him up, the breath against Tonic's neck soon turns to mouthing. maybe he just happens to tilt his head back while fumbling with an earring, and Tek can't help but pursue.

either way, the dragon's sharp teeth only scrape over skin once before he remembers the particulars of who he's with, and he follows with his tongue to make up for it. Tonic might even have a little more room to move as Tek begins to work his way slowly down his neck, heading toward his delicate, exposed collarbones.]

[ah, well. the distraction does make it a little more difficult again.

much like last time, he answers being bitten with the smallest sound of discomfort, a light warning to his partner--but his tune changes once he remembers what he can do with that tongue of his. it more than makes up for it.

it just makes his distracting earring all the more frustrating; by the time he finally gets it off, he tosses it away like he's fine with never seeing the damn thing again. it clatters harmlessly off somewhere else in the tent, with the return of Tonic's full attention bringing another round of fingers and nails running gratefully over the other's neck.]

[whether Tonic notices or not, Tek grins to himself when he hears the earring hit the floor somewhere. it's a sign of a job well done.

otherwise, his journey down the side of Tonic's neck goes uninterrupted, drawing down to the ridge of his collarbone--which Tek has a very hard time resisting the urge to bite into the edges of. Tonic may even feel the warning hesitation of it. just a moment or two of hovering breath before continuing.

meanwhile, the rest of him rearranges a little. his hand finally slides away from where it had been busying against him, but it doesn't go too terribly far. his fingers draw down and off to the side, hugging around the back of the other man's thigh again and keeping him close. he doesn't want to interrupt all that closeness and pressure that he'd been lavishing him with, so he moves his body close to take up the space.

with Tek's hand on his thigh like that, it's easy to hold him tight against himself as he moves, but more than that... he can start curling his fingers, walking the fabric of Tonic's skirt up higher and higher on his leg.]

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