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 is pretty funny. Tek echoes the laugh before he can even think to stop it, and then giggles again when he thinks about how much he keeps laughing. is that a common symptom of their current affliction, or has the world always been this funny to him? he has a feeling that it's mostly due to his own horrible personality, but the fact that his mood is buoyant and easy enough to let that laughter actually out is strange to him.

while his giggle is still trailing off, he compulsively brings up the hand that he keeps bothering, pressing a kiss to the backs of Tonic's pretty fingers.

...and immediately makes a surprised noise.]

Oh. My mouth. It feels like...

[he trails off, though. he needs a minute to find the perfect word.]

[the kiss is certainly a very romantic gesture... and he would have been more enraptured with the thought if not for the sudden distraction. a very welcome distraction, though. Tonic looks excited, shifting around to lay more on his side.]

Like what?

[he tries brushing the backs of his fingers over the other's lips... you know, to help him think of a word.]

[and Tek might have gotten lost in thought, pondering over the fading feeling and drifting away in the search for words, if Tonic hadn't helped speed the process up. Tek's eyes suddenly blink open a little wider as fingers brush over his mouth and surprise his nerves again.]

Mm! [he's figured it out, and he's absolutely sure about his judgement.] Feathers.

Feathers... [Tonic repeats the word, half of his face absolutely glowing with fondness while the other half stares on in mild admiration.] That's perfect...

[he holds one side of his face, as if smitten.]

I should find you something to taste... And we could light candles...

[oh, he's so thrilled. he even contemplates finally getting up, looking around at his surroundings for anything that would be fun to put in front of Tek.]

[Tek doesn't look like he's exactly ready to spring to his feet, but he does finally stretch out where he's at, which is almost the same thing for him. he remembers the rest of his body, stretching out bones and muscles and everything else that feels just a little bit different now. just a little bit more.

it leads to a pleased, boneless sigh a moment later, as he conforms to the cushion pile like water again.]

...You do need more pillows in here. Have I mentioned that before?

I can't recall.

[he says this pleasantly as he gets up, tucking his leg underneath himself and folding up the length of his dress so that it won't drag along the floor.]

I'm not used to having more than one person back here, so they haven't exactly been a priority...

[and then he half-slithers his way across the room, maneuvering himself around the tables with surprising dexterity until he reaches the shelves he's looking for.]

But I can keep an eye out.

I wonder what a Tonic-made pillow would be like...

[but he's more of murmuring the thought to himself than actually asking it out into the world and expecting an answer. he's paying more attention to his own hands. as Tonic slithered away, Tek discovered why the other man had been rubbing his fingertips together--he's distracted by it now, admiring his own shiny black nails and the surreal, tingly feeling between his thumb and fingers.

he doesn't look away from them as he asks something of his host, off in the direction that he can hear him shuffling around in.]

How long is this expected to last before it starts wearing off?

[Tonic makes a thoughtful sound from across the room... but whether that is in reaction to the wondered comment or just in response to something he sees on the shelf is not entirely clear.

he pulls down a couple of things. a paper bag, a tin, and something wrapped in cloth. something gets pulled out of his small ice-box as well, a box of leftovers from somewhere, it would seem.]

Oh, just a couple of hours. [he casually mentions this as he brings his things over.] Maybe less, depending on how quickly your body processes these kinds of things. I'm not sure what the rules are for people made of poison...

[he sets his packages on the table with a clever little smirk.]

But we'll have to see, won't we?

Edited 2019-01-23 06:22 (UTC)

I suppose so.

[he may very well be working with a quickly-ticking clock, and he's halfway wishing that he'd paid more attention to the griping of his substance-abusing cousins in the past. it prompts him to begin the process of sitting up more properly at the table. his loosened nerves are encouraging him to be lazy and unhurried with everything, but he doesn't want to miss out on a second of exploration, especially while his companion is also motivated.

once at least mostly propped up at the table (but it still can barely be called sitting up) he looks over the articles being laid out, trying not to seem too eager about it.]

What do we have here?

I'm afraid it's not very exciting, on such short notice...

[but he opens all of the packages. the paper bag is filled with hard, dried meat of some kind. the tin is filled with some kind of thin-looking cracker. the fabric is peeled back to show a lump of hard cheese (he produces an accompanying knife, as well), and the box is half-filled with something that has been breaded and sprinkled with small seeds.]

But please, feel free. Try everything.

[he gestures at the food in front of him, and doesn't hesitate to pick up one of the little nuggets of something from the box of leftovers and pop it in his mouth.]

Everything tastes really good on this one... [he says, with his mouth full, having to cover part of it so as not to spill out of the bad side of his face on accident.]

[it at least smells amazing, even though none of it has been warmed, and that gets him moving. the only reason there is a appreciable pause at all before he starts scavenging is because inspecting everything and just basking in the scents brings its own moment of enjoyment.

he goes for those little (fried?) nuggets of food first, and takes another moment to just look the thing over as if it's a little gem in his hand, before finally pushing it into his mouth.]

I thought you said it wasn't dangerous.

[he chuckles at his own joke, but it's mostly because he can't actually get fat. joke's on you, world.]

[on a normal day, the amount of meat in those fried nuggets would not be enough to really satisfy anyone's hunger... but under the influence of a little Rapture, the texture is fascinating. crispy, cold. the seeds are dry and light and hollow. the meat inside tastes a little fishy, has a flaky sort of texture, except for when it is suddenly a little denser and potentially from an entirely different animal.

Tonic laughs at the joke, still having to cover his mouth, and then coughs a little so as not to choke on his food.]

Someday, darling, what we should really do... [he looks and leans to the side, suddenly remembering that he also wanted to light candles--and brings several of them back to the table as he talks.] Is go somewhere, order a bunch of different little plates, and then get high. Ugh...

[it's a disgusted sound, but only because it sounds like paradise. he pops another nugget into his mouth before lighting a match.]

It'd be so expensive... But so worth it...

[the chuckle that he answers that suggestion with is low and awful. because he still can't believe that he'd really gone through with this in the first place, and that it worked. he can't believe that he likes the idea that Tonic is putting out there. he can't believe that he's even in a place where he is considering it.

when he finally replies with more than a laugh, it's while he's inspecting a bitten-in-half nugget as if he's trying to figure out exactly where all these tastes and textures are coming from.]

Is that before, after, or during our trip upstairs? [because he's still serious about that one.]

[oh, that strikes Tonic as very funny. he pauses between lighting two candles, almost letting the match burn down to his fingers as he laughs at the absurd idea.]

Please, I could not afford to eat like that upstairs, babe.

[he giggles as he flicks the match out, busying with lighting another candle. scents of burning wicks and melting wax start to mingle in with the other foods, and the room is slowly filled with a warm, soft orange light. not long after, he adds with a smirk:]

But before or after, that's fine.

[he makes a musing sound that is absolutely him already beginning to scheme on how to make this plan work. it might have to wait a little while, take some time to pull off, but it will happen. just watch.

he gets distracted pretty quickly after that, though. the light is changing, and he needs more food. he smiles as the candles wink to life, reaching for the cheese knife as he does so.]

Well... this is romantic.

[and he seems as though he may have a follow-up comment, but the knife feels almost startlingly light in his hand when he picks it up. so, instead of using it to cut himself a snack, he brings it back with him as he straightens again, looking at it thoughtfully...]

[Tonic lights a final candle and stretches to the side to place it back where it came from, on one of his many shelves... but his return is slowed as he glances back at Tek, his look becoming only more suspicious as the man mentions romance and casually picks up a knife.

...but by the time he returns to the center to grab another candle, he snickers.]

Listen, I think I know what you're doing... But that was extremely ominous, babe.

[at least Tek looks momentarily confused by the comment, having to look down at the knife in his own hands to catch up again.

and then he just giggles and starts twirling the thing around between his fingers, marveling at how the little knife feels like water in his hand. easy and light, he can't help but feel a little inspired by it.]

...I was just wondering what swordplay might be like, in this state.

[Tonic's eyes are drawn to the knife, following the graceful twirl of it, both wary of potential danger (he can't help it, with his background) and transfixed by the way Tek's fingers glide over the handle.

and then he goes and says that... and Tonic gives up on whatever he was doing, sliding those candles just far enough out of the way to go leaning forward himself, a dreamy little smirk sliding over his face as he gazes up at his friend.]

That is the sexiest thing you've ever said. [he props his face up in his hands with an infatuated sigh.] Tell me more.

[his eyes flick up from the knife (which of course doesn't slow in its rhythm) and he fixes Tonic with a look that is somehow both predatory and quite appreciative. it's not a bad look. it's a smile with sharp little teeth.]

Have I failed to mention that hobby of mine before? [the knife flips around to be held point-first in his hand, and then flips along his fingers to be gripped point-down, while he thinks.] I just couldn't help but imagine that it might be more effortless, like this. Maybe something more like dancing than a struggle.

[he watches the knife still, unblinking, not losing the movement for a second. he is just sober enough to keep up, but not sober enough to pretend he isn't wholly preoccupied with the motions, for several reasons.

the smirk on his face only grows wider. he is both potential prey and an appreciator of fine art.]

Hah, you'd think that... Until you get distracted by the glint of your opponent's blade.

[...he reaches down, not really looking, and grabs a piece of jerky. he twirls it out towards Tek, almost mocking his knife-play, but intends to jab it in the direction of the other's mouth. keep eating, friend. he still seems perfectly infatuated with the situation at hand--he just got tired of being the only one not doing something.]

That's interesting, though... Just swords?

[between Tonic's counterpoint (which Tek clearly finds very funny) and the lure of food being dangled in front of his mouth, he relents. obligingly, he rests his knife-hand harmlessly down on the table and takes the piece of jerky from his friend with the other. he'll use it to gesture with while talking, before finally taking a bite out of it--]

Knives are fine too. They're just messy.

[and when he does bite down into the piece of dried meat... he almost immediately begins to get preoccupied in the actual feeling of biting it. the way the tough pressure on his teeth makes the bones of his mouth feel is fascinating...]

Edited 2019-01-24 08:52 (UTC)

[he can relax again, once the knife has been replaced with a stick of jerky... but just to be safe, he reaches over himself to pick it up again. he starts slicing wedges of cheese off for himself (and presumably Tek as well), but it may just be an excuse to not let the knife fall back into dangerous hands.]

Oh, they are... I can't say I'm a fan of blades in general, having been on the receiving end of one a few too many times...

[but he sets his knife down, starting to idly chew on some cheese with a smile on his face.]

But I wouldn't mind watching, certainly. I'm sure you're stunning with one.

[his stare is a little distant while he listens to his friend, but he's definitely paying attention. he's just a little wrapped up in the shocking amount of smoky, salty, depthy flavor coming from one piece of dried meat.

he's still looking off through the middle distance when he's complimented, but he grins. he agrees, at any rate.]

I did buy a blade on a visit upstairs, and it's very pretty... but it still pales in comparison to ones that I've had in the past.

Ooo...

[Tonic settles down on the table again, continuing to enjoy the texture of what he's eating, and the small warmth from the candles that have become inadvertently nestled around him. he looks more than happy to listen to Tek talk.]

Tell me about them. Any favorites?

[having a dedicated, if intoxicated, audience does feel like it would really hit the spot right now. he chews little savoring pieces at a time off what's left of the jerky, and indulges in a little nostalgia.]

Yes. And I think I'm always looking for its replacement, but I know I'll never find exactly what I'm looking for.

[it's a good thing that Tonic has moved the knife away from him (and that Tek has always been courteous enough to visit while unarmed) because he would absolutely love a knife to gesture with right now. his eyes even move thoughtfully in that direction while he holds and demonstrates with nothing instead.]

It was unique primarily because it was balanced poorly. It had once been a longer sword, but the blade had been broken and reshaped into a shorter weapon, leaving it hilt-heavy. It was useless to most people.

[but, by his wistful expression, it was perfect for him alone.]

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