Titus Balventius Marcianus

Freedmen

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Sara

About Titus Balventius Marcianus

Vigiles Urbani

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Joe Alwyn
Location
Rome

Face Claim

Joe Alwyn
Location

Rome

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All talk

Started by Lucius Vipsanius Roscius · December 31, 2021

Evening, December 17th, 76AD
Lucius and the rest of his cohort finally made it back to the castrum. It had been a long, eventful patrol - including the part where Ovinia's kitchen almost burned down, and then Lucius somehow inexplicably ended up making out with her in an alley, and then the rest of the cohort carried food for her (and got some for themselves). Lucius knew he'd burned what little good will the others had for him as the weird rookie. Literally. And yet, for the rest of the patrol he had a goofy smile on his face (which probably pissed the others off even more).
The day was over, but that only meant a short break for rest. They would be up and about early again tomorrow morning. And yet, it was Saturnalia. Everyone celebrated in their own way. He knew he could not win all of them over at once, so he started with one person who deserved his apologies more than the others.
He caught up with Titus crossing the courtyard of the castrum. "Hey, Titus? I've got some wine... and food. And walnuts." he offered a little sheepishly. They didn't really had money to gamble with, but it was customary to gamble for walnuts on Saturnalia anyway. "I mean, if you are not too tired..."
@Sara
Once, on Saturnalia eve...

Started by Ovinia Camilla · December 19, 2021

December 17th, 76AD
Domus of Gaius Ovinius Camillus
Smoke filled the kitchen in great plumes. It choked her, tarring her throat in a thick, horrible sludge and burning her eyes. She didn't understand. The kitchen girls had said to use oil, which is what she had done - liberally dousing the flames with the olive oil kept in its little stone jar. It had started to smoke immediately, which in Ovinia's mind meant there wasn't enough. Smoke came from when fires died, didn't they? She'd poured more on - plugging the liquid onto the flames until the smoke was so dense in the room that she feared she'd loose her way back to the triclinium where the slaves and her family were lounging. She'd groped into the smoke, finding a cloth which she used to wave over the flames, trying to stoke the fire and stop it smoking and start it burning, but in the gloom of the room she hadn't seen the end of it catch alight until she felt the pain snake up and over her fingers and she dropped, it, screeching, onto the wooden bench where her ingredients were laid out.
The scream she let out as flames started to lick the wooden bowls prompted the arrival of the cook, red-cheeked and grinning from too much wine. When she pulled back the curtain though, to see her domina screaming at the fire and the choking cloud of smoke, the colour and grin drained from her face and she yanked Ovinia's arm to pull her out of the rapidly spreading fire. "Fetch dominus!" She bellowed down the hall as Ovinia, spluttering and choking, made her way into the garden, desperately drawing fresh, clean air. She heard her fathers booming voice, calling for the slaves and her brothers to fetch buckets of water from the pool in the atrium and the fountain she was slumped on. She heard a voice above her and blinked up to see her mother, leaning on a cane, breathing heavily; "What did you do girl?" Ovinia choked, coughing up more smoke, "I used oil! Like you and she -" She jabbed a finger at the panicking kitchen slave, "Told me too!" Her mother was usually in charge of the meal for Saturnalia, but given her illnesses this year, had delegated to her only daughter. And the rapidly spreading fire in the kitchen was the result.
She heard her father again, louder this time; "Draw the curtain, stop it spreading into the domus and send for the vigiles!"

TAG: @Chevi
Curbside patrol

Started by Lucius Vipsanius Roscius · October 30, 2021

November, 76AD
Once Lucius was on duty, he had no time thinking about whether he had made the right choice or not. This was it. He had joined the vigiles. Officially he was still a recruit, one that got a whole lot of suspicious and baffled looks both from above and from his comrades. But he was doing something to help people, to help the city - something new and exciting.
And extremely dirty.
It was late in the evening now, the twilight right after sunset, and his shift was just starting. They had already put out a smaller insula fire on the Esquiline. Lucius and some of the other recruits were tasked with clearing up the buckets on the street outside the building, as well as carrying out the burned bits that threatened to catch again or collapse, and then clearing those out of the way too. People were still standing around; some lived in the insula and were worried about getting back into their homes, and others were just standing around being disaster tourists.
"Clear the way!" Lucius raised his voice. "Residents of the insula only. Everyone else, shoo! Carts will be coming soon and the street needs to be clear. Either grab a broom, or move!" He was wearing the uniform of the rank and file vigiles, but it was already covered in dirt and soot. The cloth he used to cover his nose and mouth was pulled down around his neck, and he was sporting a burn on his arm. And he was ridiculously happy about all of it.
A litter came into view, heading for the wealthier houses up the Esquiline. The men carrying it hesitated as they came upon the slowly dissipating crowd and the debris on the street. Lucius walked out of the insula with some charred remains of a bed frame, and frowned.
"You are going to have to take another route." he told the men carrying the litter of some wealthy woman or man (he couldn't see from the curtains). "We are still cleaning up over here."
@Sara
Lost in Rome

Started by Horatia Sosia · October 18, 2021

September, 76 AD
She could barely believe it when it happened – but suddenly she saw Eucleia’s tail disappear out the front door to the domus and the dog was gone. Her father and her brother were not at home. It was just Sosia and the slaves. What should she do? She had to find her dog! She could not imagine not having Eucleia, she’d had the dog for four years already and she loved her. And how on Earth did she get out? Who left the door slightly open?
With a heavy sigh, Sosia opened the front door on her own and looked out into the late afternoon, “Eucleia?!” She yelled, but the dog did not come. She looked over her shoulder and then she wrapped her palla around her and went out. And closed the door behind her. She still stood just on the front door step to the street. She hadn’t said anything to anyone. It was kind of embarrassing, that her dog had run away and no one but her cared so much about Eucleia. They would not go looking for her.
Where could she have gone to? She stopped an old lady walking by, asking if she’d seen the dog and she thought she’d seen a blonde dog running around a nearby corner in a certain direction. Sosia thanked the lady and began walking, occasionally calling out for the dog that did not show up. She kept asking people if they’d seen Eucleia and a lot of people had noticed the beautiful and well-groomed dog running around. Finally she spotted the fur walking down a narrow alley behind some houses. Sosia followed Eucleia. This time the dog turned its head when she called. It was indeed her dog!
She finally managed to put a leash around the dog’s neck and then turned around. But where did she come from? She didn't recognize any buildings. Now she could really use Davus to help her figure it out. Or even Tiberius. But none of them were here and the sun was setting.
She was lost. In Rome.
We Didn't Start The Fire...

Started by Titus Balventius Marcianus · August 17, 2021

August, 76AD
Mercifully - and Marcianus thanked all of the Gods - the insula looked like it would hold. The fire was confined to the upper stories which meant the foundations - decrepit and decaying though they were - should hold. That fact, however, did not help those people - his sort of people - trapped on the upper floor, just above the fire line. As always in these situations a crowd had gathered outside the building, the richer (although this was the subura, so how rich could they be?) dwellers in the building had evacuating and barked orders at the freedmen Vigiles that were trying to salvage the building, whilst on-lookers from the nearby poppina's and taverna's came out, drinks in their hands and grins on their faces as if they were viewing some twisted form of entertainment as the poorer citizens of the block lost everything in a cloud of ash and smoke.
The muscles in his jaw worked as he watched them, tensing and flexing with hard eyes and a grim look on his ash smeared face. His hair - usually an unusual blonde - was almost black with smoke and dust and rivulets of sweat streaked down his face and neck. He'd been forced outside by his centurion, a humourless, useless man in his fifties who took as much pleasure in helping people as he did in socialising, which was to say, none at all. He'd had to have been yanked out by the back of his tunic and forcibly moved down the stairs, even as residents streamed past them. He'd been in the building too long - apparently - and the cough that rattled his lungs was testament to that, but as he eyed the building - the smoke billowing upwards into the night sky, he knew he couldn't sit idly by. The old and frail, the young and poor were still up there on the floors immediately above and below the fire, trying to find their way down in the smoke. He swallowed and felt as if his teeth might splinter from the set of his jaw.
Pushing himself up nimbly, he ducked down behind the crowd to avoid the glances of his superiors. His eyes caught Gaius' - a friend and a follower to the hilt - who judging by his grim expression and itching fingers, wanted back in as much as Marcianus himself. He jerked his head towards the south stairs and then the fire hooks which had been deposited there by the last of their century to leave the building for rest. He knew his friends, colleagues were in there still and surely the Centurion wouldn't notice his absence? He moved to reach Gaius and slip unseen back into the building but before he did, his shoulder collided with anothers and he glanced up - his face painting a picture of displeasure. "Go and gawk somewhere else, it isn't safe here." The building might not come down onto the crowd, but the people jumping from it might.

TAG: @Chevi
Titus Balventius Marcianus

Started by Titus Balventius Marcianus · August 14, 2021

TITUS BALVENTIUS MARCIANUS
26 | 16th May 50AD | Freedman | Vigiles Urbani | Heterosexual | Original | Joe Alwyn

Personality.
Marcianus struggles with conflict most days of his life. On one hand he wants to do the best job he can for the people of Rome now he has the chance to do so but on the other he knows the vigiles are ineffective, complacent and at worst - complicit in the crime that spreads throughout the city.
He thinks emotionally rather than analytically, and whilst he has a keen eye for his work, nobody would call Marcianus an intellectual. He is headstrong and is frequently disciplined for stepping over the mark, or doing something without the permission of his senior officers because he follows his gut, including placing himself first into the fire or brawl and last back out. Naturally a leader but displaced because of his position as a foreigner and a freedman and a young one at that, and therefore not eligible to take a leadership position within the vigiles, he struggles with authority but gains the trust of his peers (if not the officers) easily. His ambition is to enter the Cohortes urbanae to actually create impactful change, but given he needs to complete his six years of service to receive citizenship, he has a while to wait.
He has been wounded by his past and what he endured in his time as a slave and this colours his view of the aristocracy in the city. Because of all of this he can - to some - seem serious, and uncomfortable with intimacy beyond a few very close friends. He trusts precious few and those he does trust have to earn it; only then will they see a slightly lighter side to his personality. He has a dry sense of humour and will crack a wry smile when warranted but would prefer to keep his head down and do his job.

Appearance
Marcianus is blonde like many of his people from his corner of the empire and keeps it slightly longer than the close crop of many citizens. He has pale blue eyes and pale skin like his family, and keeps clean shaven for the most part. He is tall and athletically built from his work both as a slave and now in the vigiles, and prefers to take his exercise on the job or via spars with friends rather than showing off at the palestra. Given the nature of his work and his desire to get into the thick of it, he can often be seen sporting a black eye, cut lip or assortment of other minor wounds. He has scars from the more serious, including one that curls beneath his collarbone from the knife of a pickpocket. From his time as a slave he picked up more to add to his collection including a series of whip marks that have now faded to a silvery white across his back.

Family
Father: Brennos
Mother: Coria
Siblings: Toccus (brother - born 47AD), Titus Balventius Caius (brother - born 57AD)
Spouse: N/A
Children: N/A
Extended family: N/A
Other: Titus Balventius Venustus and Antonia Siricius (former owners).

History
50AD (0 years old) - Marcianus is born and named Acco, to a family of meagre means in Gallia. His parents earned their way through life with a series of odd-jobs including his mother lending services to billeted Roman soldiers in nearby settlements and encampments. The second of his parents' children, Acco is immediately considered a spare part.
57AD (7 years old) - Marcianus’ younger brother Carantus is born and much like him, treated as an extra mouth to feed.
64AD (14 years old) - As was the way with many people in his parents position, time and harsh winters were not on their side. Desperate for money and with failing businesses they did what many would think was inconceivable; they sold their sons. Two of them, at least, keeping Toccus back for support and earning potential. Acco (now Marcus) and his brother were fortunate though, in a manner of speaking. They were sold as a pair to their first owner - a farmer on the border in Raetia. Even when the farm folded and he was sold again - Fortuna smiled on him and his brother as half the work force were sold to the farm of Titus Balventius Venustus, a cousin of his former owner, over the border in Italia.
65AD - 75AD (15 - 25 years old) - Life passes by with little note for Marcus. He works the fields and watches his brother grow. His Latin becomes fluent and the accent of his youth slowly disappears (although after a drink or three it comes out again in force). He longed for adventure though and found living under the authority of another more challenging as he grew. He took to excursions; hunting in the summer to provide more sustenance for his brother, visiting a girl a few miles over, even embroiling himself in notions of a coup...earning him whippings for the former, and mercifully nothing on the latter as his owner died before any of his plans came to fruition.
75AD (25 years old) - His owner dead Marcus fully expected himself and his brother to be sold on again but Fortuna had one more surprise for him. Written into his owners will was a condition wherein any slave who had served the family for longer than a decade was manumitted. Marcus and his brother had been there for 10 years, 3 weeks and 1 day. They were freed and with a bag of gold and a cold shoulder from his childless mistress (who - despite tradition - wanted nothing to do with twenty freed slaves in her familia) Marcus - now styled Marcianus - headed for the only place he could think to find adventure; Rome.
76AD (26 years old) - He was sure some his kin would scoff at the notion of a man previously enslaved joining the vigiles after all he had suffered, but for Marcianus it was perfect. He needed a steady paycheck for his brother, and he wanted excitement and the opportunity to do better, to lead. The vigiles opened a door for him and he threw himself into it. He’s been with them now for a little over six months and has big plans for the future.

Sara | GMT | Discord
Sara's Tracker

Started by Sara · July 26, 2019

Charis
. slave to tertius quinctilius varus .

. finished .
. back in time/AUs .
How to Train Your Dragon - September 71AD - Charis (Erea) & Ambrosius (Turi)
Charis spends quality time with her brother in Britannia.

Trading Words - Winter 71AD - Charis (Erea) & Aia (Aius)
Charis trades blows with the interprex of the occupying legion.

Brothers and Sisters, Sons and Daughters - December 72AD - Charis (Erea), Ambrosius (Turi) & Nymphias (Ardra)
In Britannia, Charis spends time with her family.

Run- Charis & Cynane - AU
Charis and Cynane flee Rome

. seventy-four AD .
Little Bird Caged - Late March 74AD - Charis & Rufus
Now enslaved, Charis meets Rufus in the market.

The Meat Market - Late March 74AD - (NPC Charis), Tertius & Spurius
Charis is sold to Tertius Quinctilius Varus.

An Introduction - Late March 74AD - Charis & Teutus
Charis is shown the ropes by fellow-slave Teutus.

Great Expectations - Late March 74AD - Charis, Tertius & Teutus
Charis is formally introduced to her dominus.

Lost and Found - Late April 74AD - Charis & Cynane
Lost in Rome, Charis stumbles across a fellow Briton.

Respite - Late April 74AD - Charis & Gaius
Charis tells her story to an old Equite.

In Dreams - Early May 74AD - Charis & Tertius
In the garden, passion and tension flares between Charis and her dominus.

Years Apart - Early May 74AD - Charis & Airs
Charis chances across the interprex again.

Carpe Diem - Early May 74AD - Charis, Cynane & Helios
In the gardens, a drunk Charis is too loose with her words about her dominus.

Garden Games - Mid May 74AD - Charis, Teutus & Antonia
Spending time with fellow-slave Teutus and his half sister, their domina, Antonia.

The Bridge is Crossed - Mid May 74AD - Charis & Tertius [M - S]
Having found out about her gossip, Tertius punishes Charis and forces her into his bed.

Under the Morning Sun - Mid May 74AD - Charis & Teutus
The next morning, Charis reflects with Teutus.

What goes around... - Early June 74AD - Charis, Alexius & Helios
Charis confronts gossip Helios, and is saved by Alexius.

Daggers After Dark - Mid June 74AD - Charis & Thessala
Charis is attacked and injured, only to be saved by a Gladiatrix.

The Show Must Go On - Mid June 74AD - Charis & Tertius
Charis reveals her injuries to Tertius, who takes pity on her.

Life is a Lemon - Late June 74AD - Charis & Cynane
Charis and Cynane catch-up.

Work and Play - Early July 74AD - Charis & Helenus
Charis chances across a thermae slave.

Special Treatment - Mid July July 74AD - Charis & Tertius
Charis and Tertius reconnect and take their relationship further.

New Beginnings? - Mid July 74AD - Charis, Teutus, Tertius & Hector
Charis is informed of her new position, officially becoming Tertius' bed slave.

Summer Showers - Late July 74AD - Charis & Rufus
Charis runs into Rufus and spends the afternoon with him.

Reginus Georgus - Late July 74AD - Charis & Hector
Bitter and jealous, Hector needles Charis.

Lost in the Moment - Early September 74AD - Charis & Alexius
Charis reconnects with Alexius, who faces the sting of a slap.

A Visit - Mid September 74AD - Charis & Alexius
Charis apologises to Alexius.

I'm not your errand boy - Early December 74AD - Charis & Teutus
Charis and Teutus make up after their vicious argument.

A Trojan and a Goddess - Early December 74AD - Charis & Aeneas
Charis stumbles across a face from her past.

A Proposal - Mid December 74AD - Charis, Tertius, Titus & Longinus
Charis serves at a meal of her dominus' and finds out about her sister.

About Time - Late December 74AD - Charis, Tertius, Teutus & Hector
Charis witnesses Teutus' freedom ceremony.

Festivities - Late December 74AD - Charis & Tertius
Charis and Tertius celebrate Saturnalia.

. seventy-five AD .
Unhappy News - Late February 75AD - Charis
Charis finds out she's pregnant.

Agony Aunt - Late February 75AD - Charis & Cynane
Alone and scared, Charis seeks advice from her friend.

A Favour- Late February 75AD - Charis & Teutus
Charis borrows money from Teutus for an abortion.

Revelations - Late February 75AD - Charis & Tertius
Tertius finds out Charis is pregnant after she botches her abortion. He imprisons her in her room and they argue.

Broken Conversations - Early May 75AD - Charis & Tertius
Charis, broken, submits to Tertius and they talk.

Time for Miracles- Late May 75AD - Charis & Alexius
Alexius tries to fix Charis.

Awakening - Mid June 75AD - Charis
Charis feels conflicted over her struggles.

Blue Sky - Late June 75AD - Charis & Tertius
Charis and Tertius reconnect as they discuss their child.

Evening Shade - Late June 75AD - Charis & Gaius
Charis meets a soldier in the Gardens of Sullust.

The Equality of Man - Late June 75AD - Charis, Tertius, Teutus & Hector
As an earthquake strikes rome, the domus is cast into chaos.

No Boundaries - Early July 75AD - Charis & Cynane
Charis finally reunites with her best friend after five months apart.

Exotic Finds - Early July 75AD - Charis & Aia
Charis meets Aia by chance.

A New Beginning - Late August 75AD - Charis, Tertius & Cynane
Charis gives birth to her child.

God Help the Outcasts - Late June 75AD - Charis & Aglaea
Charis commiserates with another Varus slave and learns a secret.

Transformation - Late August 75AD - Charis, Tertius & Teutus
Charis' child is recognised as freeborn.

Just One Night - Mid December 75AD - Charis & Alexius
Charis lets loose for one night.

Wait!- Mid December 75AD - Charis & Teutus
Immediately after her night with Alexius, Charis reconnects with Teutus after he discovers them.

. seventy-six AD .
Everything I Wanted- Mid January 76AD - Charis, Tertius & Wulfric
Charis meets a new Varus family member as he comes to greet Tertius.

Any way the wind blows- Mid January 76AD - Charis & Wulfric, Teutus and Tertius
A dinner for the family goes wrong.

I have something to say- Mid February 76AD - Charis & Tertius
Charis brings up her suspicions of Wulfric to her domine.

Following Up- Mid March 76AD - Charis & Wulfric
Charis spies on Wulfric.

It's All Fun and Games - Mid June 76AD - Charis & Tertius
Charis attends a gladiator match with her dominus.
(54)

. current .
What Comes Next - Late March 76AD - Charis & Tertius
Charis updates Tertius on Wulfric

I Just Called to Say - Late August 76AD - Charis & Varinia
Charis meets a very important woman from the household past.
(2)