Lucius Armenius Valerius

• Quote

  In the land of the pigs, the butcher is king

• Face Claim

  Gerard Butler

Recent Posts

1. 

   Business is business

   Saturday at 05:02 PM

   Lucius was pleased to hear that Ione pleased clients, even outside of the brothel. He knew that she'd left a few times and one of the guards had mentioned she'd stayed away for too long once, but as far as Lucius knew, she hadn't done that while he'd owned her. Hopefully because she didn't dare. She wouldn't want to feel his anger upon her. But so far, she was pleasing to everyone. Still learning, of course, but he did predict she had a bright future ahead of her... as a whore, of course. Nothing more. Claudus explained the arrangement he had with Ione and that it was most efficient if it stayed like it was. Lucius nodded, "Of course. I have no objections." He replied and then he'd wondered if Claudus had had the pleasure of her body too.
   And he had! Lucius couldn't help but smirk while Claudus explained himself and said he wanted her for a longer time next time. Lucius nodded, thinking that would up the cost for her, but then Claudus had another idea that might serve them both. Not that Lucius was very fond of the idea of not making actual profit from the girls, and especially Ione, but on the other hand, free use of Claudus' work teams sounded like a very good deal. Some of those teams could be quite expensive! 
   "I think I'd feel very good about that." Lucius said with a pleased smile to the other man, "I think we are going to work well together, Claudus." He then added and glanced at Ione, as he had an idea to seal the deal - or deals - properly... his gaze returned to his guest then, "Would you like to make use of this deal, with Ione, now? Free of charge, of course. Then I will write up a contract and you can return to my office once you're done with her?" 
   @Sarah @Sara
   
2. 

   Business is business

   May 28

   Lucius deemed himself as a very practical person and especially when it came to his business. He’d come a long way from the time he still worked for his father, keeping up with the treasury and all that. Then his father had died, Lucius had taken over, he’d risen in social rank and then he left Rome with his very young wife. In Hispania, that’s where he really began learning how to do it all, because they got the chance to start from scratch. By now, he knew what he wanted and how. And he was pleased that Claudus could see what had been done to the house already.
    “It wasn’t very useable at all, but it’s becoming better.” Lucius replied and Claudus observed how the service area was doubled. He nodded, proud that Claudus could see how things were improving. Then he decided to show off one of the better and improved cells for the whores and pushed the curtain away from a cell where a client just left. He wouldn’t interrupt anyone taking their pleasure here, but this should be fine. Ione was inside and the moment he pushed away the curtain, she’d hurried to her feet and stood there, with her hair all tangled and her eyes downcast.
    Lucius spoke of the cell first and then introduced Ione with a smirk and glanced at his guest, wondering if he too would be pleased with her. Claudus said the cell was neat and said he knew Ione, as he had an arrangement with the previous owner of the Elysium. Lucius arched a brow, now this was new! Well it was hard to keep track of all arrangements done with Titus, but as long as the coin kept flowing in and his whores worked well, that was what mattered. Claudus commented that Ione had behaved well with him and his slaves had seemed satisfied with her.
    “That’s good, I’m glad to hear that. And this arrangement, is it something that’s still happening then?” He assumed it was and glanced at Ione, glad to hear she pleased the clients and hearing it so directly from the source too. Well, almost… “Have you had the pleasure of her body too, or does she only service your men? If you want her, I’m sure we can make a deal too. She is rather pleasing.” Lucius had had her too after all, even before he owned her and he looked at her with a small smile. Very profitable future ahead of her indeed, if she was someone to be used for arrangements outside the house. Maybe he should soon make contact with the lovely Vibia, see if she might be interested in training Ione further.
   @Sara @Sarah
   
3. 

   Business is business

   May 25

   Lucius definitely thought they’d work well together, so far the conversation had been good and useful and he thought an arrangement in the future with Claudus was very likely to happen. Now though, he’d show off the place a little bit, give his guest a tour and Claudus, despite the staff he had to support himself with, happily followed. At first they walked down the hallway with the office in it, where the other end of the same hallway held all the cells for his best whores. There was the staircase leading down to the ground level near the office, but they were not going that way yet.
    Meanwhile they talked, Claudus asking into Lucius’ connection to the brothel and Lucius shared the story, because honestly, it was not really a secret that he grew up here. It was his place and he was glad to have it back. But he explained that it had been his father’s place and his father had been married to his mother. Claudus said he didn’t wonder about Lucius’ parents, but added that he would sometimes pick up a whore-born child. Lucius nodded. Good to know.
    Claudus then commented that it was quite the project, “It is, which is why it’ll take some time. And while I want to cater to finer patrons too, for now I must keep the old ones coming, as I need the profit for the project.” Lucius explained and saw a man leaving a cell, seeming to just having tossed his tunica over his head. The man was still tying his belt.
    “I’ve done some work in the cells too, fixed the walls that were bad and the beds too. And they have better mattresses than before.” Lucius explained, “You can have a look.” He said, unembarrassed and opened the curtain to the cell that a man had just left. Inside was Ione, seeming to take a rest after working and Lucius tilted his head, looking at her. Shouldn’t she clean herself and get ready for the next client?
    “See, it’s nice, isn’t it? Looks almost cozy.” He then commented to Claudus with a smirk, unaware of the arrangement she had with his guest, as that had been set up before Lucius’ time here, “The girl is Ione, by the way. I think she has a… profitable future ahead of her. Very obedient.”
   @Sarah @Sara
   
4. 

   Tourists and Trouble

   May 22

   Like the good slave and whore she was, Ione did remain in the room, but stepped into a corner and remained there... quiet and with a downcast look. She pleased him more and more, Ione, even despite that event one of the guards told him about, where she'd stayed the whole night with someone who hadn't paid for it. But the guy had been beaten up afterwards and Ione didn't seem to have any issue with the incident. She worked hard and as soon as the kitchens were ready, she'd be down there too, sometimes. But not all the time. It would be a waste to let her body and her thighs wither away, instead of putting it all to good use with the visitors to the brothel. Like Iophon! It was kind of surprising that a man like him came here, but of course, why not?
   Iophon was all smiles and curls at Lucius, even when he asked if Ione satisfied him. Lucius gave a nod to Ione, glad to hear she'd pleased her client. But then his attention returned to Iophon, who told about a previous arrangement with the brothel, where he'd direct travelers to this place.
   "There's no reason at all why we shouldn't revive it." Lucius agreed, "That's a very good idea. As long as you don't overcharge, I mean... there's still improvements to be done here." He couldn't afford too much, not yet. He thought it over, how this arrangement might work out, "How about, if you direct travelers and other people here, make sure they know to mention your name. Then you'll be paid for how many people you directed here." Lucius suggested and then smirked, "And maybe get a little benefit besides that, if Ione pleases you so, you can have her again, if she's available. Else, one of the other girls?" 
   @Sara @Chevi
   
5. 

   Business is business

   May 22

   Lucius found that he enjoyed speaking to a fellow business-man and one who seemed to know his trade. Claudus knew what he was doing and he was good at it too, at least that was the idea Lucius got so far about him. It was very pleasing indeed, to speak to such a man. Claudus smiled at him, assuring him he'd remember what Lucius said to him about wanting a slave from the Domus Venus, should Spurius get his hands on one. 
   Then he thought he might extend the visit for his guest, more than happy to show off what he'd done and what he wanted done - both so Claudus had an idea about what Lucius might want in the future, but also of course so that Claudus could tell others about what was happening here. The other agreed to a tour and they both emptied their wine and stood. Claudus explaining he'd never been further than this office, "Well then it's about time you see more." Lucius said and opened the door for his visitor to let him out. Then Lucius skipped past him to lead the way away from the office and down a hallway. The office was in the first floor of the brothel, where some of his best whores had their cells. There were more floors, but those whores there were either cheaper or they catered to special types of patrons. Ione had pleased him well so far, so she'd been moved into one of the first floor cells. Sounds of pleasure or at least something like it could be heard from various cells, that only had curtains between them and the hallway.
   Claudus asked about Lucius' involvement with the brothel and he nodded at the question, "I were... very much so. My father bought the building many decades ago and opened the brothel here, with the name it still has." He explained, "So I grew up here and after my father died, I continued to run the place. My parents were married, just in case you wonder... my mother was not a whore." Lucius added, feeling that was important to mention. Whores did have children of course, but he preferred to avoid it and his mother had certainly not been one. And that old rumor had died out the years he'd been gone, the rumor that his mother had bedded one of the male whores and that's how Lucius gained his impressive height. Lucius never believed it. Words from vicious snakes, that's what they were. But there was no need for Spurius to know that story.
   @Sarah
   
6. 

   Business is business

   May 18

   He smiled, when Claudus assured him he had some of the best slaves - also for brothels. Of course no slaver would ever say he had poor or bad slaves, but there were well-trained and well-behaved slaves and then there were... those who'd just come in from the North or from the South and who knew nothing and had to be beaten to behave. Lucius was not interested in that. Not that he could not beat a slave into proper submission, but why do the hard work when you could have other people do it for you? Claudus went on, said he had not had any slaves return because they weren't satisfactory to their new owners. Though of course he guessed what Lucius was after and Lucius nodded.
   "We understand each other I think, Claudus." Lucius said with a grin, "That's exactly what I am asking for. I would be very interested in such a purchase." Both because a well-trained and good prostitute was useful to the business itself, but they might also be able to teach some of the younger whores how to behave properly. On top of that, wasn't it quite the commercial to boast about having a Venus slave at the Elysium? Just because they're not useful there anymore, doesn't mean they're not good or useful at all. Lucius was pleased, he had not planned this meeting, but it was going very well.
   "Do you want a tour of the brothel... or perhaps you've been here under the previous owner? In any case, I'd like to show you, if you want." Lucius said then and downed the rest of his own wine, wondering if Claudus would be interested. Of course he had that limp, so he might not walk so well, but Lucius would not mind showing off the improvements that had already been done and what still needed to be done, so Claudus knew what to tell the work crew Lucius might hire.
   @Sarah
   
7. 

   Business is business

   May 15

   Lucius was glad to see his guest accept the wine. He had not expected this guest and he had nothing against Claudus so far - in fact he seemed to be someone easy to work with, so why would there be anything but wine in the cup? Meanwhile Lucius explained about how he wanted to bring Elysium back to what it had once been, and how he expected it to go right now. First the building would have to be mended and all that, then he could begin considering new slaves and whores. Claudus suggested work crews to help fixing the building further and said they were experienced. Lucius nodded, "I may take that offer." He said with a smile and his guest complimented him on how much had been done already. He seemed to understand business well too.
   He nodded once more, "I do know all that. But no worries. I know what I'm doing." He promised. After his father had finally passed away, Lucius had made quite the career out of his brothels. First here and then in Hispania after the riots more than a decade ago. Now he was back though. And he had business to do and money to make, to make sure his children wouldn't grow up poor and become what he was. Except maybe Aeneas... because he had been born into the brothel. It was different with him. 
   But he grew curious about Claudus and wondered if he traded with other brothels too. He most likely did and Claudus confirmed it. Lucius listened while he sipped his wine and the other finished with mentioning the Domus Venus.
   "Of course. You must have good slaves then." Lucius explained and set down his cup, thinking as he had an idea, "Do they ever sell any back to you?" 
   @Sarah
   
8. 

   Pay, then get paid

   April 28

   Lucius liked that Gaius had been a soldier. That meant he was used to discipline and restrictions and that meant he'd work well if he had rules and routines. Sometimes he would also hire freedmen that had been gladiators and such, for work like this, but they were less schooled. Gaius would work just fine. More than fine, he thought. They got along so far and it was easy to talk to him. The other paid attention while Lucius spoke and didn't try to interrupt. Once Lucius was done, Gaius let out a laugh and said that Lucius had gained his attention and his services too.
   Lucius face lit up in a smile too, "Very well, I guess we have ourselves a deal then." Lucius said and stood, reaching out to shake hands with Gaius on the deal, "I imagine you want to go home and get some sleep now, and if you have other business you need to tend to... do that. And then come back here as soon as you are ready to begin. Do you have a place to live?" He didn't look very scruffy, so Lucius imagined the man did have his own place. Which was fine and perfect, because it meant Lucius didn't have to make room for him here.
   @Faustus 
   
9. 

   Business is business

   April 28

   He could tell his guest was pleased with sitting down, though obviously also quite used to standing. He was a man of principle, Lucius thought to himself. Perhaps he'd been a military man in the past. Perhaps that's why he had been injured. Or perhaps his work with slaves had been hard on him. You never knew and Lucius could only guess. He often guessed right though, because he liked watching people and getting to know people and then using people. He offered a drink to his guest and Claudus accepted it, "It's no trouble at all." Lucius replied and called for a slave to bring in a second cup for the guest. It was nothing out of the ordinary for him. Of course he'd treat a guest, who even traded in slaves, with a cup of wine.
   Claudus looked around then, before he said he had noticed the improvements on the building and then explained how it had been with the previous owner of the Elysium. How the man allowed the place to be run down and wanted cheap slaves. Lucius had heard about the earthquake a few years ago and suspected that's why it was so run down - because the previous owner had just wanted to make profit, not spend it. Useless. Sometimes you had to spend profit to make a better profit. At least he knew that. A slave arrived with the wine for Claudus and Lucius waved the slave off again, while Claudus continued to speak. About what he could offer Lucius, although he did not have the cheapest slaves. And he also had work crews available for hire.
   "I might be interested in that. I want to bring Elysium back to its former glory. And possibly beyond that, if I can." Lucius said with a smile, "Currently I think I have what I need, in the brothel anyway. But once everything has been mended and updated, maybe there will be profit enough to spend on new whores for the brothel. So far I have what came with the place and right now I need the coin to make it better, but after that. I'm sure we can do business." Lucius added and picked up his own cup, "Do you trade with other brothels in Rome too?" 
   @Sarah
   
10. 

    Tourists and Trouble

    April 21

    Instead of answering outside the door, it opened and in stepped Ione, replying to his question. Idiot, indeed! Why was she coming now? And didn't she hear the way he asked, didn't she know he was not in the mood for her? But she stood there, clearing her throat and he was just about to ask her to leave if she'd not say more, when she finally spoke of a client he should meet, who told stories about the Elysium. That was kind of strange. But she continued to invite the client inside and in stepped a curly haired man that Lucius had met before. Iophon also recognized Lucius and Lucius nodded with a smirk, "Indeed. Iophon." He replied, letting the other know he had not forgotten the name either. Meanwhile, he was not offering Ione a second glance. Iophon seemed surprised to find him here, but of course, why wouldn't he? Lucius had not told him much the day they met.
    "I do now... it's very recent." He added, "But it's been mine before and I am determined to improve its reputation." He never considered that Iophon could aid with that, but now that he recalled their conversation and then with what Ione just said... it made sense...
    "Please, take a seat. And forgive my grumpiness before, I didn't expect more company. But... do tell me what Ione is talking about. I hope she's satisfied you well?" 
    @Chevi @Sara
    

Topics I Participated In

1. 

   Business is business

   Started by Spurius Antius Claudus · April 2

   March 77AD
   Spurius hadn't been back to the Elysium personally since the last time he'd sold them a slave, a previous house slave who'd been used and abused by her dominus until she wasn't suitable for much else, but whose sale Spurius had since considered he might regret if his name was associated with a badly kept slave. It was also the day he'd hired Ione to see to the needs of his twin slaves, large, half-germanic lad who carried his litter. Apart from the one time she'd shown up bruised and beaten, he hadn't regretted that.
   Two days ago when she'd paid her weekly visit she'd mentioned that the Elysium had a new owner, and Spurius decided that it would be worthwhile to pay the man a visit in order to get his measure and establish whether there was a potential business relationship to pursue. Did the new owner intend to continue exactly as the last had done, or did he have other plans? There was only one way to find out.
   So it was that two days after Ione's last visit to his domus, Spurius arrived, crook in his hand and twins in tow, to talk business with the new owner of the Elysium.
   @Atrice
   
2. 

   Pay, then get paid

   Started by Lucius Armenius Valerius · March 20

   Late February, 77AD
    Things were progressing at the brothel, although a bit slowly. But upstairs, he had workers who were busy mending the roof of the place properly. So the highest floor wasn’t in use at the moment, until that was fixed. Some of the girls had to share their simple rooms. Which honestly wasn’t too bad, because Lucius naturally made some profit from that. With certain girls, you got two for the price of one! And it was quite popular, which Lucius enjoyed. The coins that he gained, of course.
    Once the workers had finished the roof, they’d continue with the rest of the building and the cells where the girls slept and worked also needed to be fixed, at least some of them. And once he’d made enough new profit, they’d have new pillows and blankets, but such were expensive, so he had to wait. As long as he was making money though, all was well. The kitchen had been cleared out too and that would be working soon too. And the girls had been divided into smaller groups, so it wasn’t all of the girls who were given to patrons who liked to hurt them. Meaning some of them were no longer bruised and that was good too.
    All in all, he was quite satisfied. But he needed more guards and bouncers and he needed some strong men to do the dirty work, when that had to be done. So he’d let it be known, that he was looking for people. And he kept his eyes open too; after all, sometimes there would be visitors at the brothel, who matched what he was looking for.
    And he saw just that now, as he was leaving his office and closing the door behind him. Out from one of the rooms down the hallway came a man, who seemed just about perfect. Almost. If he was younger, it might have been even better, but Lucius could not really be picky, he wasn’t young himself, after all. He approached the man with a friendly smile, “Greetings! I hope you got what you came for and enjoyed it too!”
   @Faustus
   
3. 

   Tourists and Trouble

   Started by Ione · February 26

   February 77AD
   Ione brushed down the wrinkles from her toga. Balling it up on the floor whilst she was working always meant it looked like a crumpled mess...which she didn't think her new dominus would appreciate. She equally raked her fingers through her hair to neaten out the curls one of the other girls had kindly styled for her that morning. The last man had been quick and quiet, which was absolutely her favourite type of customer. She was tired though and stifled a yawn on the back of her hand as she loitered in the corridor with a couple of others.
   The Elysium was busy, it was after cena and the lonely husbands and bored workers were flocking for some early evening entertainment. Sounds of pleasure and exertion drifted out from the cells and Ione, needing some air and a break, she ducked out of the door. The guard grunted at her but let her linger against the stone wall with him as she tried to catch her breath and cool her skin. The streets were as busy as the brothel and she offered what she hoped was an enticing smile to passers by as she endured wolf whistles and comments thrown her way. 
    
   TAG: @Chevi
    
   
4. 

   Fresh Starts

   Started by Ione · February 19

   February, 77AD
   Ione dunked her face in the cold water basin she kept in her room, trying to wipe off the kohl that circled her eyes. The man who was chatting idly to Darius outside having just had the use of her body, always demanded it, but she hated it. It itched and looked ridiculous on her complexion and she cupped her hands with the water trying to scrub it off. Pulling the dark black wig (another requirement) off her hair after her eyes were clear of the dark smudges, she set about scrubbing her body as clean as she could. It never felt like enough though. 
   There was some sort of commotion in the corridor but she payed it no heed. Things had been happening all morning - boxes being ferried out of the small cell at the end of the corridor that served as the dominus' office, and others were being moved in. She didn't pay it any mind, Titus was probably merely ferrying things between his home and his office. It didn't matter to her - scrubbing herself of every trace of the dumpy little man she'd just been with, did. When she was satisfied she slipped back on the red toga and raked a comb through her hair. All that time she'd spent on it this morning with Eris to make the waves fall just right was virtually ruined. Still, she looked presentable - if a little flushed from the cold of the water. 
   Steeling herself, she padded to the curtain and drew it back to be greeted by a huddle of women looking confused in the corridor. That was not the explanation to the commotion she had been expecting. She had assumed it was probably some drunken customer being escorted out. She frowned but glanced at the other girls who merely shrugged and continued their conversation; "I heard Titus isn't coming back." one said and Ione scoffed. She hadn't seen him all morning, but that wasn't unusual. "He's probably just out on business." She offered and an older woman frowned, "He didn't say goodbye." Ione rolled her eyes, "If he's just gone to the baths he wouldn't need to-" Eris interrupted her; "But all of his boxes are gone. Darius said-" They were cut off as the man himself awkwardly entered from the street, with a taller figure in tow. Ione felt her stomach lurch.
    
   TAG: @Atrice
   
5. 

   Bad Habits

   Started by Lucius Armenius Valerius · January 15

   January, 77 AD
    Lucius knew the area well. This was where the infamous Gardens of Sullust were to be found and the hospitia he stayed in, was here too. He planned on settling down on the Quirinal Hill with his wife and the kids and a good amount of slaves too of course. They had a good home in Hispania and they were going to have that here too. A large enough domus for two busy parents and three growing children. Armenia would soon be ready to marry off and he hoped that he could find a future betrothed for her here in Rome. He was betrothed to his own first wife, when she was just 12 years old, after all.
    But he didn’t meet her until a few years later. And was it here, in the gardens, that they met? He could barely remember and he hadn’t been married to her for very long either. Then Leontia entered his life and she was a good wife to him. In the beginning it was hard, because she had not known she was to marry a brothel master like Lucius, but she learned to tolerate it and today, there was no issue with it. She even helped him and she had given him three living children. He couldn’t have wished for more in a wife.
    Yet she was far away and he was right here. There were plenty of other women in Rome though, and men, and Lucius was here to see if the city and its people would be useful to him once more. He'd grown, while he was gone. And not just in age, but also in coin. He'd bought a few honey cakes and brought them with him to the gardens. There weren’t a lot of flowers in the gardens at this time of the year, but it was always interesting to walk through them. There was a shrine here dedicated to Venus and he sat down on an old fallen stone pillar near it, not because he really had anything to say to the goddess, but more because he was curious who else might show up here. As he sat there, he unfolded the cloth he'd carried the honey cakes in. Just as he picked up the first piece to eat it, he heard footsteps on the path towards the shrine and looked up to see who was coming this way. He was intent on always keeping his eyes open and staying alert. You never knew whom you might meet and when they'd be useful to you, after all.
   
6. 

   I Want It That Way

   Started by Lucius Armenius Valerius · January 14

   January, 77 AD
   He was not looking to move to the Esquiline, because there were homes on the Quirinial Hill that were closer to the Absidata. And if he was going to have a brothel in that area, he wanted to live close by. Although since he currently lived in a hospitia, he toyed with the idea of opening his own and maybe with some additional services to those who stayed there. That’s if he didn’t choose to buy the Elysium back, which was still something he considered. He hated that it had fallen into disrepair like that, that it looked so bad. His childhood home, ruined for good.
    He hadn’t returned since that day he encountered Ione though. Rome was a huge city and he had many places to revisit and much gossip to pick up. One old comrade, or whatever you’d call him, had moved ranks too and had friends higher up too. He suggested Lucius should join him at this party he was invited to, said there’d be all sorts of people, high and low. It was in a private home on the Esquiline though, so there he went. Wearing his best clothes, a knee-long tunica and a toga, mostly in dark blue, which suited his eyes and his slightly greying hair well.
    Once inside, he said his goodbyes to Publius, who brought him here and they might catch up more later. They already had a drink in Publius’ home, but this party looked promising too. He could see what the other meant, that there were all sorts of people here. Lucius made his way to the triclinium, where there was an empty couch and he claimed it instantly. Picking up a bit of food from the table and looking around, until his eyes fell on a beautiful blonde playing the cithara and singing. Her hair was down and although she was finely dressed, he knew a prostitute when he saw one. Perhaps this one was more like a courtesan of sorts, she looked almost regal.
    But there were other people too. An already half-drunk Senator fell down into one of the other couches and gave Lucius a look, “Salve, haven’t seen you before.” The man simply said and looked to see who had caught Lucius’ attention, “Oh, you know Vibia? She is a joy…” The Senator grinned and waved at her to join him and Lucius tilted his head when she stood and approached them. Interested already.
   @Sara
   
7. 

   Gone Fishing [M - S]

   Started by Ione · January 7

   January, 77AD
   Ione hated this part. The rain was drizzling in a thin mist that soaked her to the bone and standing on a street corner in a gaudy yellow toga, hair plastered to her forehead, teeth chattering reminded her just how low she'd fallen. The fact that the Elysium's walls and roof were only just being reconstructed after the earthquake so many months ago should have meant she'd be happy to spend time outside of its walls, but fishing for business on a grey, dreary January day was hardly the escape she wanted. Nobody came looking for whores at midday, and those that did, did not want a half-frozen slip of a thing that was - she was sure - about as enticing as a block of marble. So she'd been sent out to try and entice some men in. It was not going well.
   She tried to adjust the folds of the toga and wished she'd been allowed to bring her cloak to conceal it, but no dice. Given that the only women that wore such garments were prostitutes - and cheap ones at that - she was immediately singled out with judgement glares and pitying glances by the passing people who ventured to look at her. She tried to plaster a smile on her face and fluttered her eyelashes at men who walked past. Nobody stopped, although she did garner a whistle from a man working on some scaffolding across the street. She made to move over to him, a grin like a Cheshire Cat on her lips but he waved a hand, signalling he wasn't interested. "Are you sure?" She teased as she moved within earshot, "You'd be surpr-" She was cut off as he turned his back and stalked to the other end of the platform, ignoring her. Men liked to look, but seldom few paid. 
   Shuddering in the cold and at the rejection she stalked back to her spot, glancing around, desperately, for somebody. She was no good at fishing - the other girls and men had always been better at it  than her, but she owed a debt for the wine pitcher that was smashed in her room last night by the drunken thug she was servicing and to repay it she needed a client. Anybody. Soon. 
    
   TAG: Open!
   
8. 

   Lucius Armenius Valerius

   Started by Lucius Armenius Valerius · January 7

   Lucius Armenius Valerius
   52 | 20th March 24 AD | Equite | Brothel Master | Whatever fits his mood | Original | Gerard Butler
    
   
    
   Personality.
   Lucius has never really been known as a kind man. Last time he lived in Rome, everyone knew he was up to no good – now however, it is many years ago and his return to Rome so many years later might do him good. After all, now there’s a lot of people who don’t know him. And they can be fooled into thinking otherwise about him. Lucius can be as charming and seem as kind as any man, he is friendly -especially if there’s a good deal coming up for him… but don’t turn your back on him and don’t threaten him in any way. He will do anything he can to gain what he wants, but he is also always looking out for himself and what is his. That’s why he left Rome, so many years ago. But it is his home and after the Empire gained another new emperor, he thought it was about time to see if he could take back what was once his, in the city of cities.
   It’s not beyond him to threaten or manipulate people so he’ll get what he wants; this is how it has always been. Lucius does hate it when people tell him what to do and when people tell him there’s something he can’t do. Yet this does not mean he’s aggressive and turns on you from one moment to the next; he’ll plot and he’ll plan and he’ll wait for the right moment to strike where it hurts most. And it won’t always be with violence he hurts you – there’s a time and a place for that, but if he gets the chance to choose, Lucius is more fond of mind-games, manipulation and blackmailing.
   He claims he does not believe in love and never seems to regret anything. He uses people and does not seem to care about what happens to whoever he is using for anything at the moment. People are merely tools in his life and they’re there for his pleasure, satisfaction and gain. Like his whores, for example. The whores, both female and male, that are bought into his brothels are always ‘tested’ by Lucius first – unless they are exquisite young beauties who also happen to be virgins; then he’ll save their virginity for the highest bidder and sleep with them later. At his age and despite being married, he still does this. Luckily, his wife is now more than used to the way Lucius does things and she doesn't mind. As long as she can keep her place as his wife and partner in crime, she is satisfied. And so is Lucius.
   Appearance
   Lucius Armenius has dark brown hair, now with gray stains, these days sometimes long enough to curl. He has put away the habit of shaving often and can often be seen with a stubble or even a short beard - dark with gray stains like his hair. His blue-grey eyes appear friendly, but also constantly calculating and alert. He’s rather tall for a Roman born man and it was once rumored that he is the son of his mother and a slave in the brothel and not his actual father. Whether this rumor is true or false, no one knows. He is strong and works hard to stay fit, especially as he is growing older. Lucius likes luxury and that means he likes clothes that feel nice to his skin and clothes that make him look ‘important’. He has several outfits of different lengths and looks to fit the situations he encounters. Lucius never leaves home without either a guard or a blade… or both. He can fight on his own, but prefers to have other people do the dirty work for him. And so he prefers to have both a guard and a blade near his person. 
   Family
   Father: Hostus Armenius (deceased)
   Mother: Numeria Fausta (deceased)
   Siblings: none official
   Spouse: Leontia Elianilla (31, born April, 45 AD)
   Children:
   Aeneas (14 years old, born February 62 AD, son to Lucius and a prostitute. Aeneas is still a slave)
   Armenia Valeria (born in the winter, 63 AD in Hispania, 13 years old)
   Lucius Armenius Valerius Minor (born 66 AD in Hispania, 10 years old)
   Lucia Valeria (born 68 AD in Hispania, 8 years old)
   Extended family:
   Other: 
    
   History
   Childhood: youth in the brothel – 24 to 45 AD
   Lucius was born as the one and only child to his married parents – which with time, he thought was a good thing, because that meant he was the spoiled son and the son they would do everything for. Sure he knew his father had a bastard or two with the whores where he grew up, but there weren’t any ‘real’ siblings. His father owned the brothel, which Lucius did not see was wrong at all – this was where he grew up, after all. The brothel was his palace and Lucius was the prince who could command them to do anything. Naturally growing up in such a place meant that he saw many things children weren’t always meant to see. And as he grew older, he grew curious about those things. 
   When he was 13 years old, he finally had it in him to pull himself together to demand that one of the whores lay down on her back so he could try what he had always seen other men do. The woman became his tutor because he chose her, and he was with her several times. There were moments where he began to think he loved her, and this was where his father decided to take charge. His father knew it could not be love and taught Lucius that in Rome, love was not half as valuable as money anyway. Money mattered. Wealth and status mattered. Love did not. Sure, it was a good thing to pretend you felt something, but deep within, you had to think twice about everything and keep your mind on the agenda. To prove it, he made his son lay with another woman, and Lucius discovered he felt the same, for a moment – as if he loved her. He understood what his father had said.
   Adulthood: Greece, 1st marriage and Equestrian – 46 to 60 AD
   The older he grew, the more he understood about the brothel too. Together with his cousin Quintus, he learned about the streets of Rome and the life around him and he learned about how to run the brothel. When he was 22 however, his father sent him to Greece to learn properly how to be charming and get what you want, while he’d of course also learn other useful skills in life. He became very friendly with his Greek tutor, so friendly they slept together. He barely wanted to leave Greece and stayed for a few years, until his father wrote that his mother had passed away and Lucius should come back home to help him with the brothel. Lucius became the official treasurer of the brothel, but the older his father grew, the more Lucius took over the brothel itself.
   He was 32 when he was betrothed for the first time, to a much younger girl, whom he’d marry once she came of age. 3 years later, in early 60 AD, Lucius married the now 15 year old Claudia Tertulla. In the summer of the same year, Lucius’ father died and Lucius was finally officially the brothel owner, and quite pleased with it. In bed, his wife pleased him well enough and was willing enough to learn, but he wanted an heir and she lost a child more than once. Life went on however, and Lucius helped out a certain Manius Rutilius Cyprianus gain rank and status in Rome. He was rewarded with becoming head of the Syndicate gang and besides the Elysium, he was also given the Domus Venus to manage. A year later, he was also elevated to Equestrian rank in Rome by Manius Rutilius Cyprianus. This is also when he gains the name Valerius.
   Later life: 2nd marriage and leaving Rome – 61 to 77 AD
   In 61 AD, a little more than a year after he married Claudia, he divorces her again. In the summer, he marries the 16 year old Leontia Elianilla and is given a domus on the Caelian Hill, where he moves in with his new wife. Life went well, but sadly not for long. Cyprianus was no longer the dictator of Rome and lost a lot of his status and in the end after the civil war, he was murdered. Lucius began fearing for his own life and future in Rome. In early 62 AD, Lucius learned one of his slaves had born him a son, whom Lucius named Aeneas. Aeneas still lives and works as a slave in the brothel, although he is among the higher ranked though and is often found together with the guards. Later the same year, Lucius sold the Elysium to another owner, while the Domus Venus remained in the care of the Syndicate gang. Lucius was slowly preparing to leave Rome as the trouble in the city appears to continue.
   In early 63 AD, Lucius leaves Rome together with his now pregnant wife - along with a large group of slaves/prostitutes and some trusted men and their families. Late in the year, they settled down in Hispania in the city Taracco, far from Rome. Lucius didn’t sit down to brood, instead he opened a new brothel and made sure life could continue almost as before. In the following years, his business expanded into several brothels and other activities, while Lucius also kept his eye on Rome. His wealth grew and his wife gave gave him no less than three surviving children in total.
   Now the year is 77 AD and Lucius has left Leontia behind to run the brothels in and near Taracco – she has proven a very good help with that. Meanwhile, Lucius returns to Rome, in the first round to scout the city. It seems safe and peaceful with the new and very young emperor. Lucius is still an Equite of rank and his plan is to either take back the Elysium or maybe open a rival to the Domus Venus. Once he has made sure everything is safe and he has made some good connections, he will send for his wife, children and slavesto join him in Rome.
    
    Atrice | GMT+1 | PM or Discord
    
   @Gothic @Anna
   

Other Characters by this Player