Jason

• Face Claim

  James D'Arcy

• Location

  Roma

• Activity Level

  Fast

Recent Posts

1. 

   The night shift

   8 hours ago

   Tiberius sat down and indicated that the others should sit, too. Jason wasn't sure whether that included him too - being the only slave in a room of free people meant it probably didn't, but he was part of this whole thing. He opted to remain standing, but leant against the wall both because he was suddenly aware that he was bone-tired and because this whole thing was about as informal as gatherings could get.
   No gathering of the ragtag investigators had been formal, why should that change now they had a prince involved?
   "I don't know how we can prove this man was involved in all of these cases, he's been very clever about it," he said, once he was sure he wasn't about to interrupt a free person. "There was a plebeian girl outside the White stables last year - she died. There was a slave there more recently, who survived but, he's a slave." He took a breath. "And he can't talk anyway, and I'm the only person in Rome who can interpret the signs he uses." And I won't help anyone torture him, he added, to himself. "There are... some higher-class ladies, who won't come forward because of the damage to their reputations if it got out. The plebeian girl who was attacked the night the Senator was killed might come forward, maybe, but she's gone to Ostia because she doesn't feel safe here any more. And there are the two plebeian girls who were there this evening - one of them was attacked before, but I'm not sure if she saw his face. And there are the girls at the Elysium but, again, they're slaves."
   "I pulled a knife on his balls... You didn't hear that." The memory of the Roman girl's fierceness still made him smile. He wished she had cut his balls off - at least then, they could prove the man they'd caught was the one who'd gone for her.
   He glanced at Tiberius and realised he'd probably said far too much, and shut up. None of them were likely to appreciate a slave butting in like this.
   Oh well, it had been said now. Too late to take it back. He'd have to take the consequences later - if there were going to be consequences, and it would be best if he assumed that there would be.
    
   @Sains @Atrice @Sarah @Chevi
   
2. 

   Taken for granted

   11 hours ago

   Change had to start somewhere - this was not a change that Jason had ever considered could even be possible. If it could be done, it would make life better for people like his cousin... He reconsidered that; his cousin had it about as good as anyone. Azarion seemed to have a good master, from what Jason had seen of him, and he was in his element with the Whites. They would indeed have to see.
   Tiberius' next words made Jason blink, and then smile, that slow smile of his that seemed reluctant to come to his face but that transformed his whole expression. That was a gift to be treasured; he had found himself envying Azarion his closeness with the Whites' horses. To have that himself - to be able to ride Ignis if he chose to... He touched his neck where the tattooed falcon stooped. He would not be a free-flying falcon but one returning to the hand - but better that a hundred times than one pining away in a cage.
   The sunlight seemed suddenly too bright and he had to blink to clear his vision.
   Tiranes of eight years ago would have scorned books and what they might contain, but that was before he had met Tiberius, who seemed an enigma among Romans in preferring his books and scrolls - yet they had taught him things far beyond his years. Or perhaps merely brought out what had been latent in the boy Tiberius that Jason had never known.
   "Thank you," he said again, the words heartfelt. "I would be honoured to teach you - and to learn to read, if you think I could."
   He couldn't help glancing at Tiberius' dangling feet, and the smile returned, far more wry this time. "Do you Romans even know about stirrups, Domine?"
    
   @Sarah
   
3. 

   Taken for granted

   Monday at 04:52 AM

   Jason nearly sagged with relief. He had not been misunderstood a second time - and in many respects, the conversation now was of far greater import than merely suggesting they give the horses a run.
   Something about Tiberius' voice made Jason look back up, unexpectedly meeting his eyes. The seriousness of his master's gaze caught his own and he could not look away. "Jason, I acknowledge that you were once the son of a chieftain. You have your own history and your own culture."
   He unconsciously cupped his hand, accepting the words.
   Well, apparently even Tiberius could acknowledge that laws and traditions couldn't erase the past.
   "Thank you."
   But he hadn't finished, and continued speaking. Jason had once seen a mosaic maker laying a floor, and this felt very much like that - finding the right pieces to put together to make the pattern.
   "That is a noble task, Domine," he said, once they had come to a stand and silence fell between them again - not an uncomfortable awkward silence this time, but more an expectant one. "And a difficult one. Laws... laws cannot change a man's nature, whether that man is a master, or a slave. I could not teach Ignis to wait, as I have taught my own horse to. It is not in his nature now, perhaps it never will be. And there is nothing wrong with that. Laws are words, they can only guide actions, they cannot change what has been, or change what is in a man's heart to do."
   He pulled fondly at Ignis' ears again. "If you can find a way to do it, it would make the world a better place, Domine. I just... I don't know if it's possible." He looked back up, meeting Tiberius' steady gaze. "That doesn't mean that it's not worth trying."
    
   @Sarah
   
4. 

   Cerealia: A Day at the Races

   Saturday at 04:22 PM

   Jason was Tiberius' body slave and went pretty much everywhere his master did, with the exception of the Senate chamber. And as it pleased his master to attend today's races alongside the new Emperor, Jason was there with him, interested to learn that none of today's races featured the ridiculous contraptions that were standard in most Roman races. No, today they were racing like civilised people, on horseback as was only right. Though Jason didn't think that anyone would be using stirrups, which would no doubt send Azarion into a fit of sarcasm writ large across his face - if Jason were close enough to see him. Which he might very well be, considering where the Imperial box was placed.
   He would have to split his attention between the excitement of the race, and attending to his master, but this was how races should be run. Maybe the Romans could be taught civilised manners after all!
    
   @Sarah @Chevi and anyone/everyone else!
   
5. 

   Vigilantes [M]

   Friday at 09:12 PM

   "Hi, Lucius," Jason replied, and shrugged. "We're still waiting for someone - you'll be glad you weren't the last one in."
   Quite what mission could possibly use him, plus a fire-bender, plus whatever Camilla was (the most persuasive person on the planet, however she described her powers) was beyond Jason. He rarely went on missions and was perfectly content with that status quo, happy to spend his time making friends with the birds and squirrel family in the tree outside his window. Today found him with a sparrow on his head, quite comfortable to sit and admire the room around them as they waited for the stragglers to arrive.
    
   @Sara @Chevi
   
6. 

   The night shift

   June 23

   Tiberius hadn't realised that Jason was part of the group of investigators - how could he, really, when Jason hadn't mentioned it, hadn't needed to? He was involved on the behalf of a slave, after all, and nobody important had stirred themselves until the maniac had hurt a patrician or two. And of course now that a senator was dead...
   He scowled at the patrician from behind Tiberius' shoulder. Surely, surely, he could come up with a better, more reasoned, more detailed report than that? That was not going to make Tiberius see why he should be involved in all this.
   And of course, in this situation, Jason was a slave, just a slave. He knew the other investigators knew that, but neither Alexius nor Vipsanius Roscius (or whatever his name was) had seen him actually serving as a slave. It was an unexpectedly uncomfortable feeling.
   "Domine," he said, trying to sound respectful despite inserting himself into a conversation the Tiberius did not know he should be part of. "This man has been hurting people all over Rome for more than a year and some have died. People of all levels of society. And some whose reputations would be ruined if their identities were known. This man needs to die, and to be seen to die."
   They could not produce witnesses to his crimes whose reputations would survive the trial if they had to testify publicly. He supposed Didia's might, and the Praetorian's girl, and possibly Minthia from the night the senator was killed. If she would be able to testify, that was. One of the dead victims was Azarion's friend Lucia Safinia, and although Jason had never met her, he was determined to do what he could for her memory, for Azarion's sake.
    
   @Atrice @Sains @Sarah @Chevi
   
7. 

   The night shift

   June 7

   "Jason, it's the middle of the night."
   "I know, I know, but it's important. I wouldn't bother you if it wasn't, Domine, I swear."
   He stepped back as Tiberius rolled over and sat up, going from sleepy to alert in an instant.
   "There's no danger to anyone, Domine," Jason said, setting the lamp down and lacing Tiberius' sandals before finding a cloak; they absolutely did not have the time it would take to get Tiberius into a toga. "We - they - want your help to see justice done."
   At least Tiberius had roused quickly enough. Jason was well aware that he had probably used up whatever stock of goodwill Tiberius had for him since their ride and the slightly awkward conversation it had engendered. He hadn't felt quite as comfortable around his master after that as he had before, which wasn't anyone's fault, not really.
   "There are three people waiting to speak with you - I don't know if you know Alexius. I don't think I know his other names," he added, suddenly aware through the bone-deep tiredness that was setting in that Tiberius might not appreciate being faced with three men with no warning. Especially if he was awake just because he thought there was some sort of danger facing him.
    
   @Atrice @Sains @Sarah @Chevi
   
8. 

   Vigilantes [M]

   June 6

   There was an unhelpful banging on the door outside, just in case the room's occupant hadn't heard the god-awful racket already.
   "Are you coming?" There was a much quieter murmur, seemingly an aside to someone else with the person outside. "It's Briefing Room Three, if you didn't get the memo," the external person said helpfully, apparently unaware of the chaos currently reigning within.
    
   @Sara @Chevi
   
9. 

   The night shift

   June 6

   Once they'd left the killer in the non-too-gentle hands of the guards at the Tullianum, Jason had unceremoniously helped himself to one of the two pine torches set into brackets outside some bigwig senator's house; the streets of Rome were non too friendly at night, nor were they lit. He just hoped that Ovinia and the other patrician woman would get a decent escort home, though with four men heading to speak to an Imperial prince, that left the medicus and Azarion to do the escorting bit, and Azarion needed to return to the White stables before people grew suspicious and marked him down as a runaway.
   He couldn't worry about that right now, though, he had other things to think about. Like trying to work out which door would be open so they could get into the damn villa... In the end, he opted for the main door. The ostiarius glared at him, rubbing his eyes, obviously having just been asleep and having difficulty working out why Jason was on that side of the door not his side of the door. Having the torchlight reflect off the Praetorian's armour helped. Probably.
   The door swung open and Jason led them indoors and switched the torch for an actual lamp which would be much safer in the passageways of the house. He left them in an anteroom by the garden not far from his master's room while he went to wake his master.
   "Domine, I'm sorry to wake you, but there are some men who need to speak with you, urgently. Lucius Manius Victorius Roscianus and Decimus Rutilius Attelus." He wasn't sure whether or not his master knew Alexius, adding a third name would be pointless seeing as all three of them were waiting together anyway.
    
   @Sarah @Sains @Atrice @Chevi
   
10. 

    Judge and Jury

    June 5

    "Don't! We all want him dead," Jason exclaimed, speaking in Sarmatian in the confusion of events. The red-tunic vigile had seized Ovinia, getting himself a nice slice along the arm in the process and Azarion had stooped like lightning for the knife. All Jason saw was the fact he was going for the murdering bastard, and went for him in turn, though not quick enough to prevent the already bloodied knife nicking the bastard under the chin.
    "He's going to die," he said firmly, in Latin this time, taking a much firmer grip on his cousin, who had murder in his eyes and was squirming like an eel in Jason's grasp. "We are going to make damn sure of that, I swear on my father's hearthside!" It was the most sacred oath he could make, Azarion would know it even if nobody else would. Tabiti forgive him but he had no other way to make Azarion listen.
     
    @Sara @Atrice @Sains @Chevi
    Tabiti; the bit about oaths is at the beginning of the third paragraph. Also I have completely lost the posting order. Yay for IC confusion... :D
    

Topics I Participated In

1. 

   Cerealia: A Day at the Races

   Started by Tiberius Claudius Sabucius · Saturday at 10:19 AM

   Mid April 77AD
   It was mid April and the weather was warming, trees were blossoming, and most importantly the first green sprouts of wheat from the grain which had been planted earlier in the season had been confirmed in the fields; the grain was fertile and growing and Rome would not starve. Ceres' blessing was on them for another year. In celebration, as was traditional each year, sacrifices of pork, wheat, salt, and incense had been offered to Ceres. Her statue had been draped in garlands of spring flowers and ceremonially paraded from her temple to the Circus Maximus, where she held the seat of honour next to Caesar himself, who sat in the Goddess's presence. There were to be races today, not of the chariots of which Romans were so fond, but of horses, in the more traditional form. Their riders would goad their individual steeds around the track, whilst the spectators looked on.
   Imperial Area
   Immediately below where Titus sat with the decorated statue of of Ceres was the space reserved for the rest of the Imperials. Tiberius occupied this area, cool under a cloth canopy, clad purely in white as was traditional; a bright tunica and toga candida. Immediately about him there was space who those whom he had invited; family of course but also the younger generation of the Senatorial class, both male and female, whilst the more senior Senatores and their wives had space reserved to either side of the Imperials, within conversation range should they desire. It was an arrangement intended to demonstrate openness and largesse, whilst also allowing his own generation - stunted somewhat by the chaos of the purges - to meet, mingle and forge their own friendships and alliances. 
   As he watched the stands gradually fill, Tiberius wondered whether he would be able to spot Jason's cousin in the race. 
   
2. 

   The night shift

   Started by Lucius Manius Victorius Roscianus · June 6

   February 77AD (Right after Judge and Jury)
   The four of them - Alexius, Decimus, Jason, and Lucius - managed to deposit the killer at the Tabularium without further trouble. If he tried to struggle, one of them was always more than happy to punch him in the stomach, and seeing a praetorian and a vigile bring the man in, he was soon secured in a cell he wouldn't get out of. They all wanted to make damn sure of that. It was the early hours of the morning by now, but the task was not yet over. Following Jason, they all headed to Tiberius' domus, to report the news of the capture to the young imperial. 
   Technically, the killer was in the hands of the judges now. But to make sure he would not wriggle out of his fate, they all wanted to personally tell an imperial just how much this man needed to suffer before he died.
   "We'll wait while you wake him up" Lucius told Jason. The bandage on his arm was bleeding through (although more slowly now) and he felt more tired than ever. He just hoped Tiberius wouldn't be furious for being woken up at this early hour. He imagined they looked like quite the strange collection of people.
   @Atrice @Sarah @Sharpie @Sains
    
   
3. 

   Judge and Jury

   Started by Aia · May 29

   77 AD
   (Right after Whoever brings the night)
   Aia was sitting on a chair in the apartment she and Decimus had only recently vacated. No one had moved into it yet, so it was mostly empty. And thus, and excellent place to stash the piece of shit they had just apprehended. While Aia would not have minded just stabbing him right in the alley, Alexius claimed he didn't deserve that. He deserved worse. She liked that idea.
   It seemed that a whole lot of people had a bone to pick with this man. Everyone ran everywhere, carrying to news, leaving Aia to get patched up by Theodorus while the two of them waited for the rest to return. Aia had her largest kitchen knife at hand, just in case. And Theo was there to make sure she didn't just stab the man anyway.
   Aia frowned, drinking from a cup of unwatered wine as Theo bandaged her wound. It was deep, but not serious; he stitched her up, which hurt like a bitch, and put her in a foul mood. The man on the ground was still unconscious, although he groaned sometimes. Alexius had done a thorough job tying him up like a prize hog, and Theo had helped gag him in case he woke up. He was not going anywhere anytime soon. Or maybe ever.
   @Sharpie @Atrice @Sara@Sains
   
4. 

   On the trail

   Started by Azarion · May 16

   (After Crime Scene Investigations)
   It was early morning, but Azarion had not slept much. He had work to do. He had to train, and make better gear, and work with the horses, because by the gods he was not going to lose to the same Red dipshit twice. Or ever.
   He started the morning by dunking his head in a bucket of water, and now he was wide awake, motivated by sheer rage. He had lost the Equirria race to the Red charioteer, and that grin was burned into his mind. He also felt like he had been shaken and broken, which was not far from the truth after an intense race like that. He had some new scrapes and bruises. He'd live. His pride might not.
   He was on his way across the courtyard to the stables when he noticed his cousin walking in.
   @Sharpie
    
   
5. 

   Vigilantes [M]

   Started by Lucius Manius Victorius Roscianus · May 2

   Somewhere, in an alternate universe...
   Lucius Roscoe swore under his breath as he was buzzed through the gates of the imposing five-story building. Press could dress it up any way they wanted, this place was a goddamn prison for powered people. Security cameras? Security doors? High walls and barbed wire? Damn. Were they trying to keep bigots out, or keep the residents in?
   For him, it was definitely prison. Or as close as he'd get, for now. Having made a mess of things back home, he was now here as per his deal in court. Get a grip on his power,s straighten up and fly right, join an officially licenced (or unofficially accepted...) team, or else, he'd be sent to a facility that was qualified to hold powered people, and in all likelihood never see the light of day again. Part of him was still weighing that option.
   He walked through the spacious grounds to the tall building. They were on the far side of New York City, but ground this big... still a luxury. Then again, probably no one wanted to be a very close neighbor with people who could create lightning and turn into jaguars and whatnot. Or... people like Lucius. Wearing torn jeans and a leather jacket, with a beat-up duffle bag slung over his shoulder, despite his young age he was the kind of person decent folks gave funny looks at. Even without knowing why he was wearing thick, elbow-length gloves in this nice spring weather.
   Lucius whispered one last "fuck me" before he sighed, and rang the doorbell. This place was going to suck.
   @Sara
   
6. 

   Start as you mean to go on

   Started by Jason · April 5

   February 77
   Tiberius was studying or reading or something - Jason had had no idea that scrolls could be so endlessly fascinating! - which had led to Jason's being able to take a few moments for himself, so long as he stayed within call of his master's rooms. That was easily done; his master was in one of the rooms off a private courtyard which gave Jason the opportunity to enjoy the outdoor space while still being within an easy call.
   He had found a patch of grass in the sun where he could lay down and stare up at the blue sky above, trying to pretend he was looking at a portion of the vast skies over the steppe at home. It wasn't quite working, though, he couldn't hear horses from his position, and the grass wasn't tall enough for the wild prairie grass. Nor was the wind the constant fresh breeze of his home.
   It was all he could get, though, and if the force of Jason's wishes could move the steppe to where he lay, Tiberius would have looked up to find himself surrounded by eternal horizon where the blue sky and the green grass met.
    
   @Atrice
   
7. 

   Of cabbages and kings

   Started by Jason · March 28

   Jason's master had taken up residence in the villa attached to the Gardens of Sallust, but he still attended the Senate meetings regularly, and slaves still couldn't enter the Curia. Jason had wandered further, from the Forum Romanum towards the Forum Holitorium, the vegetable market. Why the vegetable market? He had no real idea, except it wasn't the meat market closer to the Palatine and the huge structure of the Circus Maximus.
   Thoughts of the Circus made him think of his cousin and he wondered for a moment what Azarion was up to right now - though if he went to see him, chances were good that he'd end up spending far too long with him and get into trouble when he finally recalled the time and went to find his master. It wasn't worth the risk, especially as he got to see Azarion on a fairly regular basis now.
   So, it would have to be apples and carrots and cucumbers and gods knew what else. It wasn't really worth getting any carrots or apples; if he had another chance to visit the Imperial stables, or the new stables at the new villa, the stable master would surely have something to hand.
   He stepped back from the stall and jostled someone who'd been standing perhaps too close without realising.
   "Oh - sorry," he said, though it was a little late.
    
   @Insignia
   
8. 

   Crime scene investigations

   Started by Lucius Manius Victorius Roscianus · March 20

   February 77AD (Right after Falling Apart)
   Blood still glimmered on the cobblestones in the light of the torches when Lucius got to the scene, but it was darkening fast. Even wrapped in a senatorial outfit, the body could have lied there for hours until a carriage bumped into it... but someone had seen a man running away from the scene, and the victim was found. Someone alerted the vigiles. Lucius, nearby just starting his evening patrol, hurried to the scene with the others. The news were spreading faster than a flame. A senator had been killed.
   Shit.
   Stabbed, no doubt. Dead as a doornail, no hope of a rescue. The vigiles formed a perimeter around the body, but Lucius managed to convince the centurion to wait before bundling it away from the prying eyes of the plebes. The man had been stabbed, in the street. Not robbed, not beaten. Maybe, just maybe... but why a man? Why a senator?
   Lucius sent one of the other recruits hurrying to the insula, for Alexius and Theodorus. Another one for Jason. The centurion was losing his patience fast, but dealing with the death of a senator made him cautious enough that he was willing to listen. That won some time, but not much of it. Lucius swore under his breath, standing by the body. he wasn't even sure what he was waiting for... but he wanted the others to see it too.
   @Sharpie @Atrice
    
   
9. 

   A Sarmatian and a Senator's daughter

   Started by Jason · February 4

   Come and see me - if you want.
   Jason didn't think that Ovinia would remember the offer, or be willing to entertain a slave, but that didn't stop him approaching the yellow and red painted house with the green door. He wasn't going to be allowed access through the front door, but it was worth a try - and he had no intention of walking all the way round the house to try to locate a service door and probably equally unhelpful slaves there.
   He knocked, and waited. The ostiarius looked out from his spy-hole with a frown that became distinctly less friendly when he saw that Jason was a slave, and alone. "Slaves go round the back."
   "I've got a message for your mistress," Jason said. He didn't like name-dropping or using his position as his master's slave - he'd been the son of a chief, he hadn't needed to rely on his association with anyone else, once.
   "From my master Tiberius Claudius Sabucius, to be delivered in person to Ovinia - Camilla." She hadn't given her second name, but Jason had the sharp mind of a Sarmatian and knew that there was only one Ovinia his master was any acquaintance of.
   "I should still send you round the back," the ostiarius muttered, but grudgingly opened one leaf of the double door. Just enough for Jason to squeeze through.
   "And I hope your prick shrivels up and drops off," Jason told him in Sarmatian in a perfectly friendly tone of voice. "Thank you."
    
   @Sara
   
10. 

    Assemble

    Started by Lucius Manius Victorius Roscianus · January 2

    December 22, 76AD, evening (after The hunt begins)
    In retrospect, they could have tried to find a bigger place for this, Lucius thought. They barely fit inside Alexius' apartment, and his son was not even home yet. But it was still better than nothing, and the place was inconspicuous enough not to raise any suspicion of the ragtag gathering of slaves, freedmen, plebeians, and one former patrician. They really looked like an unexpected group of people as they all filed in. Lucius, still in his vigiles uniform (he had to go on patrol while the others looked for more clues, and he jut got back for the evening). Alexius, the ex-gladiator, towering over the rest of them. Jason, the imperial body slave, and his cousin, the mute charioteer, who was leaning against a wall with his arms folded, sizing up everyone. A girl - Didia? - who had been attacked by the killer, and apparently also lived next door. And she brought another, soft-spoken older man along, who introduced himself as Theodorus. Medicus for a ludus, apparently. Well, Lucius thought, there was a possibility that a medicus' services were needed before this was all over.
    Lucius had brought some wine for everyone, and also a rolled-up map of the city. It was a little dated, and barely marked more than the main streets and the regions, but it was the best he could rustle up on a short notice. He also had a new writing tablet, instead of the one he'd borrowed.
    "Is this everyone?..." he asked, glancing around at the assembled people. How were they even... supposed to do this? "I know we don't all know each other, but apparently we have a common enemy. Someone who has hurt... and killed... a lot of people." he glanced at Didia, and cleared his throat. "Someone no one has paid attention to, or connected the dots, for too long. And we need to find him, fast. Before he hurts someone else."
    @Sara @Atrice @Sharpie
     
    

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