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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It's a gift now, is it?

[he can't help himself, laughing quietly at the way his guest has shifted a clearly agreed-upon payment into something that he has given Tonic out of the goodness of his own heart. no matter what state he's in, he wouldn't let something like that go without at least pointing out that he sees it happening.]

[he rolls his eyes a little and waves his hand, brushing the whole thing off. he seems amused and isn't looking at the other man's face when he does, so it's a good sign that Tonic has absolutely caught Tek in showing some of his opinion in himself. he does happen to think very highly of his clever choice in payment.]

You know what I meant. And don't think I'm planning something else as payment instead. You've already wrung me of most of my belongings to spare.

[the small, pleased little laugh of his is a good indication that he isn't taking this too seriously. if anything, this proves that Tonic is still thinking clearly and quickly, despite other influences working through him.]

Don't worry, darling. I knew what you meant.

[he seems content with looking up at the ceiling, at the moment... it isn't that far from them, a slanted, layered collection of canvas and tarps. not much to look at, really.]

But ideas, yes. I have a lot of those--the first of which is to see what it's made of, of course, and how it reacts to different materials.

[and Tek contents himself with watching Tonic's face. part of it is genuine interest and fondness, curious about his thoughts... and the rest is absolutely still watching for anything that could be construed as telltale changes in the other's behavior.]

Do you enjoy that part? The deconstruction and exploration? Or is it only a step to the things you're actually interested in?

[he makes a thoughtful sound. doesn't answer right away, stewing through a few things while his eyes drift lazily over the simple patterns of woven fibers above them.]

Mm-- [he suddenly sits up, reaching forward... for his tea. he forgot it at the edge of the table. he laughs a little (how silly of him) before reclining back in a slightly more upright position than before.]

I'm not sharing an ounce of it with anyone, if that's what you're wondering.

[he looks pleasantly down at his tea, as if he was still considering saying something, but ends up saying nothing for the moment.]

[well, a little more of his curiosity becomes genuine as he watches Tonic move through... several thoughts? is that what's going on in his head there?]

It wasn't what I'd been asking at, but it's a flattering thought nonetheless.

[the motion at least reminds him about his own tea, which he'd also only taken a single sip of. so, he'll busy himself with that.]

I was mostly curious if you'd have fun playing with it, or just find it frustrating.

Oh. [he laughs quietly at himself, lifting his cup to drink.] I see.

[whatever's going on in his head continues just up until the point where he actually tastes his tea--to which he looks a little surprised, and then starts giggling, and then has to lower his cup so as not to make a mess. unless this is some bizarre coincidence, this is probably one of those changes in behavior Tek was looking for.]

Yes, sorry-- [he finally gives in to the dragon's question, dropping his mysterious facade in favor of smiling fondly at nothing across the room.] I'm very much looking forward to taking it apart. It might be fun to build with, too, but...

[he stretches out the fingers of the hand not holding his cup, grabbing absently at the air.]

I'm excited to play, see what I can learn.

Good. Playing should be the fun part.

[which is, of course, a much grander statement than just referring to toying with mysterious poisons. and it goes well with how he rests a hand against the side of his own face, fighting a smile of sheer amusement as he watches Tonic giggle and reach and generally show signs of appreciating his own skin.]

...Enjoying yourself?

I am, thank you. I hope it isn't distracting.

[because he isn't going to stop any time soon. he's always fighting off stiffness, soreness, tenseness, or other general states of unwell... so any break from that is something he wants to explore thoroughly, quietly observing the way sensory experiences are starting to change.

the light seems warmer. his tea tastes very good. he sips it again, checks himself to see if he is still conscious of the dangerous position he's putting himself in, having abandoned his important work to play question games with this mysterious (and possibly not even human) stranger for another day.

he is. this could still ruin him, with just a few wrong moves. but he's content just knowing that he still knows it, and the Rapture makes it easier to shove such thoughts aside, which is why he is able to sigh contentedly again and relax a lot faster than he had during their previous visit.]

Now, would you like me to ask a question?

[Tek is running similar self-checking questions through his own mind, but watching Tonic succumb to a compromising situation (and the growing length of time between himself taking the drug and nothing happening) is putting him at ease.

especially when his companion starts talking about asking questions again. it's hard not to feel confident and mischievous in the face of that.]

By all means. As long as you can handle answers in your current... state.

[he has to smirk to himself, now holding his teacup with both hands. the warmth is wonderful against his fingers.]

Honestly, I may find it easier like this. Well-- [he immediately corrects himself, because this is for science, and he doesn't want to give his friend the wrong idea.] Not easier, actually. Funnier is a better word.

[that's the nice thing about this particular drug, and the other reason it isn't widely popular... it doesn't numb him to danger so much as it gives him the ability to point at danger and laugh about how stupid it is that he keeps falling into it. similar experiences, but different where it counts.]

Now... [before he can ask, he lets out a sigh. already resigned to the fact that he's going to hate the answer, but knowing full well that he's going to ask the question anyway. see? hilarious.] ...Did you make that acid you gave me?

[ah yes, he understands the difference quite well, and it endears him even more to this particular drug. someone sliding just a little bit closer to how he generally regards the world--especially during in the recent years? he would give it out to most people he interacts with, if he could.

and his brow raises with this particular question. he swirls the cloud of leaves in his cup while he chooses his answer.]

I must admit that I'm not much of a craftsman when it comes to these kinds of things. I didn't do much more than harvest and bottle the stuff up from the source.

[which is, of course, a complete cartwheel over what Tonic could have actually meant by the question. but he's not going to walk right into that one without some work--especially if it turns out that Tonic is actually asking a question with much less sinister implications.]

[he acknowledges his guest's answer with a skeptical "uh-huh" into his teacup. so either he doesn't completely believe him... or, more likely, he's aware that Tek has cartwheeled right over his real question, and is trying to decide whether or not he actually wants to put in the effort it would take to squeeze the real answer out of him.]

And that source would be...?

[this didn't work the last time he tried, but. maybe Tek will name his price.]

[there's a disappointed 'tsk' at the question, but he's still fighting a smile along with a pout.]

You haven't even tried playing with it yet, and you already want it spoiled for you? I thought that was half the fun.

[oh... this is a very good play.]

Oh...

[with the way his eyes both go a little wide, it hadn't actually occurred to him that he could be undermining his own mystery. he sits back on his pile of cushions more, sipping his drink, trying to think of any comeback and ultimately coming up with nothing.]

Damn. You got me there, babe.

[he'll stop asking, then, starting to fidget with one of his long earrings instead, shooting Tek a sidelong glance, a little curious.]

How are you, by the way? Not to derail us from my defeat, of course.

I'm perfectly fine.

[and he sounds almost believably satisfied with this fact. why wouldn't he be? he hadn't actually expected the stuff to work in the first place, and he also has a nice win to settle back with now. he shouldn't sound disappointed in the least.

but it's there, in the little details. his voice is content, but not as bright as it had been minutes earlier. his smile is pleasant but distant.

it's fine.]

Hm. Nothing at all?

[said with a similar lightness. not disappointed, or even particularly hopeful, he just... wonders what factors could be getting in the way of it working. maybe it's too close to a poison, still. maybe his friend just has a very high tolerance for any kind of substance. maybe...

while he thinks, he continues to fidget with his earring, which is very pretty.

not the fidgeting, the actual earring--it glints and catches little flecks of light, and it looks smooth to the touch. it would be very satisfying to run his fingers over, thin little chains, delicate links. like rippling water.

yeah, he's probably fine. it probably isn't working.]

[he gazes into the depths of that earring, quietly mesmerized, and sighs.]

It was worth a try. I likely wouldn't ever have gotten even that far without your encouragement, so at least there's that.

[it was fun to experiment and challenge himself a little bit, and his friend is at least still having a good time. so, he begins settling himself on that point, thinking through what they might do now instead... and he continues staring.]

Ah, well. If I can say that much, I think it was worth the try.

[he smiles easily, finally moving his hand away from his earring, returning to the exercise idly rubbing his thumb over his other fingers.

but now his earring is completely unobstructed, draped over his shoulder like a thin, golden waterfall. the glinting is very soft now, only dancing alongside those small, nearly imperceptible shifts that come whenever Tonic breathes in or out. it's not that these details weren't there before, they obviously must have been, it's just that... they seem more charming, now. more inviting.

it smells very nice back here. has it always smelled this nice?]

[--oop, and he doesn't remember making the decision to reach out and gently loop a finger behind that earring, just so that he can feel exactly how soft and drapey it really is, but there you go. like a cat with a bit of string, it just kind of compulsively happens.

he doesn't regret it, though. it really is a very nice earring. how do they even make chain links so small?]

[it feels just as nice as he'd imagined. it must be very expensive, to not get tangled up and knotted whenever it moves... the chains start out warm where Tonic had been fidgeting with them, cooling the further he lets the earring slip over his fingers.

it's very soothing, being able to feel the difference... though the chain slips all the way past him as Tonic turns his head to look, having felt something moving at his ear.

he's already halfway amused at whatever he thinks Tek was up to... but when he sees his face, his own expression takes on an edge of playful suspicion. narrowed eyes, both of them.]

What are you doing...?

[he reflexively steals his hand back when the earring disappears, fingers pressing to his own lips instead. it's because of the expression on Tonic's face. he doesn't exactly have an explanation for him, aside from--]

Nothing.

[which is true. just a friend feeling up another friend's earring. nothing strange about that. he had also meant to sit further back into his own space after that, but the other man's makeup is beautiful up close.]

Nothing?

[he sits up, quickly setting his tea on the nearby table because he needs both of his arms to lean on, bringing their faces even closer to stare into his eyes. his bright, beautiful, inhuman eyes...

...but distracting as they are, it almost seems like he's trying to look for something, focusing on one, and then the other. but Tonic has beautiful eyes too, and there are little flakes of gold at the corners of his eyes, so this may not be entirely unwanted attention.]

Are you sure you don't feel anything?

[...Tek's lips do feel a little tingly, though. now that he's pressed his fingers against them. it's nice.]

I feel fine.

[and somewhere, while staring at Tonic's eyes--getting stuck on that one particularly large piece of amber color surrounded by all the blue, and noticing that he is indeed actually getting stuck there--he realizes that he's now arguing against the very thing that he had been hoping for a few minutes ago.

he finds this fact a little bit funny. and he still thinks that he must doing just fine and nothing strange is going on at all, assuring himself that nothing has changed... until a laugh easily bubbles up inside and he finds himself suddenly giggling into his fingers.

he only found it a little bit funny. and yet, here is his, catching an abrupt giggle in his hands and seeming surprised about it.]

[he was about to say something, maybe start arguing, but he freezes mid-syllable the moment an abrupt giggle skitters out of his guest.

he looks down at the man's fingers, and then back up at the rest of him... and then it's Tonic who has to cover his mouth so as not to laugh right in his friend's face.]

I think you're... [he has to lean back, trying to keep his volume under control...] Babe, I think it's working.

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