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Járnviðr

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  1. Járnviðr
    Secundus inclined his head at Livia's words. He was glad of her cooperation in this matter. He was used to a wife who spent her days listlessly floating through life, but in recent months, Livia had seemed almost like any other woman. He wondered if Aglaea had been right all along; perhaps she would be ready soon to discuss the prospect of children. They still slept together rarely. Livia was so rarely in the right frame of mind to tolerate his advances, and so he did not ask when he did not want to ruin his mood. He put the thought out of his mind; focusing on this pickpocket gave him renewed fervor. The hunt was on. The fantasy of vengeance distracted him from his wife's frigid rejection of his touch. She was not willing to entertain his passions today, but that was alright. There was Aglaea for that, or one of the women at Domus Venus. Already, he could see the next steps before him. He would contact some of his fellow senators- ones that he could trust. He would find this slave, Rufus, and speak with him. Aglaea described the male slave, Rufus, in some more detail. He would track him down and confront him, asking for more details about what he had seen. Surely, whatever Livia's slave believed, this other slave had seen something that they could use. If not, then he might have some other leads which Secundus could pursue. "I will you to administer punishment as you see fit, domina," he said teasingly. Secundus seemed bouyed by the conversation, distractedly looking into the middle distance. "I will speak to this Rufus, and ensure that this pickpocket learns not to cross the Varus family." With that, he left the women to continue their conversation in private. @Liv @Echo
  2. Járnviðr
    Secundus rubbed his temples. He preferred to leave disciplining Aglaea to her mistress; despite their marriage, he often thought of Aglaea as Livia's slave, and not his. Livia had treated this matter with the appropriate gravity, something which surprised him. The woman knew how to be deferential, but very rarely was she practical or helpful. This was a welcome exception, he thought gratefully. Perhaps he had been wrong about her relationship with Aglaea; the two improved each other. "I will make inquiries. I will visit both the jeweler and this slave, and we will do what we can to find your purse, Livia." Secundus addressed the comment to his wife, well aware that his sudden desperation to catch this pickpocket was a product of his own anger and not a favor to her. His mind already raced with the necessary next steps. With that, he placed a hand on Livia's shoulder to offer some comfort; she seemed quite shaken by the entire situation. He would need to leave soon, so as not to waste time. "Tell me what you know of this male slave, and I will be on my way," he said to Aglaea. @Liv @Echo
  3. Járnviðr
    Secundus turned away. He heard Aglaea defend her mistress, yes, but he also heard that her grief was greater still than he had imagined. He had married someone who could perhaps never give him what he needed, and there was nothing he could do now to change that. Aglaea promised him that it might change one day- and she knew Livia better than he knew her, a fact which stung deeply. He was the master of the house. He should have every right to know his wife, to lie with her, and to sire her children. Instead, her miasma of despair held his rights and responsibilities as paterfamilias hostage. Livia had lost daughter and husband, and now he could have neither son nor wife. A calm environment. A calm environment. Because even the newest slave in the household could see how unstable he was. Secundus knew that his temper rested on the shakiest of foundations, triggering from the lightest touch. This awareness did nothing to tame it. At Aglaea's words, his anger rose. He had done everything within his power to make his wife comfortable. That included this repugnant, ill-considered plan to bed a slave and use her to bear his heirs. What had he been thinking? Yet, what else could he do? The choice between forcing himself upon his wife and sleeping with her slave was ultimately a simple one. He would not resort to taking from Livia something which should be able to give him willingly. What man would do that? He would seek out whores, and rely on Aglaea for producing children in the case that Livia did not come to her senses before senescence came upon him. Secundus turned to face her again as she stood. He heard her words, and gazed into her eyes. In the moment that she touched his arm, he felt a lurching sensation as his anger surged, along with a desperate fear, one he had not felt since Germania. Everything in him screamed out to hit her, to remove the threat. She was not the master here. He was. "No more patience," he growled, and took her to bed.
  4. Járnviðr
    Secundus listened dourly as Aglaea communicated her speculation. Hearing that there was some hope was somewhat comforting. If he had one child by Aglaea, there still might be time later when Livia was more recovered. Still, it was true that an unfamiliar kind of grief would challenge the woman differently; Secundus had never lost a wife, and so he did not know how it must be to live with it. Perhaps he needed to be more patient. He could move slowly, biding his time. One day, Livia would be ready once more to live as a man's wife, and not just a ghost. Or so he had hoped. Secundus's heart sank as Aglaea confided in him the dark truth. He had been married off to a widow who had already lost a child. That would explain why her father had pushed for the marriage so strenuously. Pieces of his wife had already been taken by this dead husband and infant, and he would never be able to claim them as his own. How could he have accepted this without thinking to ask more about her past? He had simply been grateful that his difficulty finding a bride had been so easily resolved. Now, he was trapped in a marriage to a wife who could never bed him long enough to produce children. "I am not a patient man," he admitted. "I married to ensure that I might soon have an heir. It was not out of love for Livia. She is a beautiful woman, but beauty matters less than children. If I had known- I cannot wait for her. I ask that you not tell your mistress of our arrangement. She takes everything I do as a slight against her." @Echo
  5. Járnviðr
    Secundus glowered as he listened to her words. The very idea that his wife would never perform her duties- what was the point of marrying, if not to lie with him and produce children? He stood, leaving his glass. He paced around the room, arms crossed. Livia was too melancholy, but Aglaea was clearly too spirited. If only he could have one women with both of their virtues, he might have been able to get somewhere, but instead, he had a slave who might have been willing if not for his wife, who would perhaps never touch him at all. “You are forgiven, if it is forgiveness that you seek. If my wife will not treat our marriage with the respect that it deserves, then I must ask that you serve in her place. You understand that I am not a young man, and yet I remain childless. Our arrangement must continue, if you wish to protect your mistress in this way. Are you quite certain you could not convince her?” After all, he couldn’t be certain that it would even be the same, with his slave. Secundus had never slept with a slave before, and starting now left him at a disadvantage. His morbid sense of humor prompted him to ask Tertius for suggestions, but his paranoia prevented him from indulging such a childish urge. It would only have the benefit of scandalizing Tertius, but the cost to his reputation would be great. That was true of every detail of this arrangement. And yet. He still wanted a child, and he did not trust in his own body to keep him alive long enough to wait for Livia; it had betrayed him in Germania, and he could not rely on it for anything of this importance. @Echo
  6. Járnviðr
    Secundus frowned disapprovingly as Livia probed Aglaea gently. If it was simply an innocent mistake, then he supposed she could be left alone for now. There were greater priorities. At his wife's question, he thought about some possible contacts he could reach out to in Rome. There were other, official matters to discuss, but there was always some time to bring up personal issues such as this one. He could move alongside allies against this greedy pickpocket, and see him punished for his crime. He started to consider the appropriate conversational approach. Different men responded to different appeals. For some, an impassioned speech about protecting his household; for others, a disdainful complaint about the foibles of women and slaves. At Aglaea's words, though, he clenched his jaw. Another slave! Secundus relaxed slightly as she anticipated his next question, and he let out a slight sigh of relief. If the other slave had been helpful, then he might still prove useful. He would need to involve this slave in his search. He paused, trying to control his temper. After all, Aglaea was not known for her irresponsibility. She had always served faithfully and competently to both of them. He would stay his judgment here. There was a thief to catch. "Do you remember the route you took to the forum? Perhaps retracing your steps would help us narrow down the search. I will bring the subject to my friends in Rome when I next return." @Echo @Liv
  7. Járnviðr
    Secundus chuckled as she waxed poetic about the many virtues of life as a whore. He did see the logic. There was something alluring about having all of the privilege without any of the responsibility. He was happy to be a man and a senator rather than a woman of Domus Venus, but he could admit that there was something to be said for the freedom. He wondered if Vibia would marry one day. Did the laws preclude it? He had never thought at all of the laws surrounding whores, besides the ones that affected him. Idly, he wished her the best. It would be challenging to command respect after a lifetime of prostitution. "You make me a very happy man, Vibia. It's quite the testament to your skill- or a sign of my low expectations." He sighed, thoughts drifting homeward once more. Secundus shook his head slightly to clear it. He should think about something else while lying in bed with a beautiful woman. In fact, now that she had discussed her future, he wondered about that. He knew so little of what her prospects must be. Would it be impolite to ask her? His fantasies did not require that she be available to him forever, so he might even stand a chance at hearing her honest assessment of Rome's laws. "How would you come to run your own establishment? Are there special laws governing whores and brothels? It has never been much a point of much interest in the past, but I am curious." @Sara
  8. Járnviðr
    Secundus frowned. She had lost her purse in the forum, of all places! He had believed her somewhat intelligent, for a slave, but he had misjudged her in the past. He lowered his estimation of her practicality. She had been a body slave, and perhaps allowing her so much freedom outside of the house had strained her faculties. He would need to discuss that with Livia, a conversation he already found himself dreading. He wondered if it might be best to discuss that out of sight of Aglaea. Slaves could become inconsolable if he criticized their failings in their presence. He nodded to Aglaea to show that he had been listening, as he realized he'd fallen silent for too long. "Pickpockets in the forum. Hardly enough to find whoever stole the purse. Did you speak with anyone there, or see anyone you recognized?" He also gave Livia a glance, to see how she was reacting to this. Livia had always been too soft with her body slave, but it had never caused problems before. Secundus needed to ask her how she would discipline her, so that he could know whether he would need to take charge of doling out the punishment instead. For other reasons, he found the prospect of punishing Aglaea discomfiting. @Echo @Liv
  9. Járnviðr
    Secundus leaned back, closing his eyes. He breathed in and out, just feeling the warmth of the wine. This decision had been meant to simplify matters, yet everything seemed more complicated. He wondered if this was how his brother had made so many mistakes, or if he operated only on impulse and passion. Secundus had chosen this in order to alleviate the pressure he had placed on Livia. The woman needed a softer touch, for now. His attempts at speaking with her had all ended in hurled invective. He simply could not understand how to control her, and it caused endless, unneeded conflict. So he had removed the pressure of children, and in return, he had the company of someone who respected him more than his wife did. Or so he had thought. Aglaea was doubting him, as though the two of them were equals. "I should clarify our arrangement. I realize I may have erred in explaining to you what I need. I need a slave who will keep me company, and who will assist my wife and I in producing a child. I do not seek only a night's entertainment, or I would not need to seek it at home. What I need from you, Aglaea, is your voice. Domina listens to you, for whatever reason her grief-addled mind has produced. I need a child. If she is unwilling, then your role as a part of this household is to convince her. My orders fall on deaf ears, and she cowers from me. You are her bosom companion. If she is unwilling, in her grief, only then do I have need of you as a mother. The nature of our arrangement depends on whether Livia is ready to provide me a child, and asking her such questions only leads to strife. Do you understand?" It was more than he had ever said to a slave in his life. Secundus ignored the strange feeling of subversion. He continued to ask her what she thought and what she felt, which he knew his parents would never have asked a slave. However, there was nothing wrong with that, he reasoned. As her master, he had every right to be as open and honest about his intentions as he wished. He was not asking for her input, or her advice. He was asking for her to use her unique position to his advantage, and so she needed that information. @Echo
  10. Járnviðr
    Secundus made no move to take the wine just yet. He considered her question. He would not mind forgetting Livia, for a time. His duty to her was one of the most important parts of his life, but given how little stock she put in her duty to him, he thought he deserved a respite. That wasn't why he came to Vibia, though. He couldn't imagine involving Livia in this. She was constantly on edge, preparing for the next threat, as though he would allow anything to touch her. He resented the implication that he could not protect his wife. Vibia, though, did not imply anything. She stated it outright. He found that refreshing. There was no pleasure in having both of them, or in replacing his wife. While Secundus did use Vibia for things which his wife would not assist him with, she was not merely a stand-in for her. He would rather have had Livia in his bed than Vibia, if she would have him- but when he was Vibia, he did not think of his wife, most nights. Today, he'd found himself discussing his marriage with her. He resolved not to mention Livia in front of her again. When he thought of his wife, Secundus always thought of what he needed to do to leave his mark on Rome, and if wives were a poor choice of topic in front of a whore, children would be even more distasteful. "Livia has some regrets. She married shortly after she was widowed, and was unprepared to be a wife so soon after her loss. She's not a practical woman, as you are. She follows her emotions over her sense." He sighed, running his hand through her hair as he spoke, more relaxed now than he had been all evening. @Sara
  11. Járnviðr
    Secundus looked into his cup. Why had he chosen her? To punish Livia? Or to spare her? He wondered what his wife would think if she found it; better her body slave than someone else, or the worst betrayal of their marriage? She had surely accepted that he might visit the women of Domus Venus. This, though, was different. He'd always believed that the worst kind of men bedded their slaves. So now that he was joining their ranks...he wanted a child. He wanted a child, and Aglaea had been extremely convenient. Her proximity meant that he could maintain some discretion. A slaveborn child was not worse than no child, no heir to his family name. Secundus had chosen Aglaea because he was running out of time. He could not wait for Livia. There had been some desire to punish Livia. She had not been performing her duties. A wife's job was to offer solace, and instead, she trudged through a grief that he did not understand and could not free her from. Secundus was left alone with his thoughts in the empty villa; he had demanded that she come stay with him to prevent infidelity, but he found that her fidelity lacked many necessary components. She had not strayed, he believed, due to lack of opportunity. Livia might take any man who could make her feel anything besides sadness- and he was no such man. For that reason, too, had he selected Aglaea. Livia should see how easily a slave could fill her role. "Because you are hers, and because I need a child. Are you doubting the wisdom of my decision?" @Echo
  12. Járnviðr
    Secundus sighed happily. This was the simplest pleasure. Under the roof of Domus Venus, with a woman at his side from whom he needed nothing else, and who needed nothing else from him. Concerns of wives and payment did not belong in this moment. This, at its core, was the only thing he could do to escape the whirring gears of his own mind. Weightier concerns, of blood and state, awaited, but he had put them aside. He breathed in, and out, and reveled in her touch. He snorted disdainfully when he saw her covering herself. "More wine," he repeated slowly. His voice was no more hoarse than it always was, but he appreciated that hers was. He shifted on the bed, watching her lazily as they waited. Even covered up, the sheet did little to disguise her shape. He allowed himself to be taken in, only for her words to dampen his enthusiasm. What had driven him here was the ongoing family drama he had started at home. Between his wife and her body slave, Secundus had created a problem nearly as big as the one Tertius had long since left in the past. He would be the laughingstock of the Palatine. She smiled, a monster in fair guise, as she offered him the wine. Secundus glared haughtily from his unwieldy perch, one arm now dangling off the bed. In the time since she had stood, he had managed to completely take over the available space. She was shamelessly plying him for gossip. Women always wanted gossip. Vibia was more interested than most, though. She cared about his life, not about the stale gossip of the senate. There was so much he should not say to her, but he found himself tempted. At least she might listen. "What else drives a man to Domus Venus? Marriage." @Sara
  13. Járnviðr
    Secundus watched her intently. She seemed uncomfortable, more than he would have expected. Perhaps the rooms were too cold for her tastes. She seemed hesitant to speak ill of her mistress, so Secundus let the matter lie. Livia was likely trying to poison her slave against him. He imagined that she felt somewhat possessive of her. He might have, had he any slaves worth protecting. Next time, he would have to inform her well in advance, so that she could urge Livia to bed more urgently. The time they had together was so limited. He wanted her to feel safe with him. "Does it grow tiresome? Service? I would have talked back and been beaten within an inch of my life on the first day." He asked with a casual air. He wasn't sure what he wanted to hear. Honesty? Surely none could be truly happy as a slave. He had been desperately unhappy during his years in Germania. But perhaps there was more to it. Secundus had seen the close bond between Livia and Aglaea. He envied them their intimacy. He only felt that when he sought out the right sort of person- a barber, a whore, or someone similarly capable of attending to his needs and his needs alone, for the right price. Without allowing her to overcome her shock to answer, Secundus continued: "The cold does not belong in Rome, and we will soon fight it back past our immortal hills. The cold will return each year, long after death claims us, but the Romans will never stop fighting through to the next year. I have been keeping as well as can be expected." @Echo
  14. Járnviðr
    Secundus could not understand why his brother insisted that there was a difference between a slave bearing the child of his youthful indiscretions and choosing a slave to bear him a son. Secundus was now making a similar choice, after all, and it was no less disgusting to consider. Why had Tertius come here? Had he guessed, somehow, what Secundus and Aglaea had been doing? Leave it to his brother to sniff out another man's deviancy. The man enjoyed Secundus' failures, he knew. He wanted to punch the smug look off his face. Instead, he watched him go. Backwards. Of course he would leave the peristyle backwards, refusing to turn his back on his brother. A coward and a traitor to their name, 'til the end. Secundus grimaced as he heard the parting jab about the house. He wondered whether Tertius had even been concerned about the home, or if he had merely come to challenge him. It did not matter. When it came to him, Tertius spouted off insults like an on overflowing fountain. Secundus turned away from him, his anger still keeping his heartrate up. He had nothing else to say to Tertius. He focused instead on yelling at the slaves to help him repair the house. They had work to do, and he needed someone to listen to him, for once. @Atrice
  15. Járnviðr
    Secundus felt her body against his, knowing both that she was unafraid and that she could not stop him. It was a heady combination. He allowed her to move his hand. He was under her control, no matter how much they pretended he could control her. He should be in control, but this was her domain. Vibia understood the art of pleasure. He had known only war. They lay at an impasse, and no matter his strength, Secundus could not break it in the ways he was used to. For him, most interactions with other people were combats in miniature. This was not his area of expertise. He listened to her intently. If his queen wanted him to pleasure her and prove his worth, then he would. They had only played this particular game once before; other nights, Secundus was not in the mood to be told what to do by a woman, no matter her status. But tonight- he served her. Secundus tried to please her, and if she was dissatisfied, he awaited her next command. They were both predators, of sorts, contained only by the rules of formality; no such rules remained here. Only the give and take. Only his role and hers. Perhaps by the standards of a woman of Domus Venus, his most impressive contributions were too traditional, but one thing that he had over other men his age was surprising stamina. @Sara
  16. Járnviðr
    Secundus's temper flared brightly in the winter months, as though he needed it to keep warm. If his slaves would only do their jobs, if his wife would only touch him, if he could move with the spryness of a youth again...there were many things to be angry about, lately. Livia did not behave as though she were dominus. She grieved like a child, keening and moaning rather than fulfilling her duties. When his brother had died, Secundus had not grieved. There was no time for indulging feelings. Livia had been indulged too long by her previous husband, he thought darkly. Aglaea had been distant as well. It was natural for a body slave to cling to her mistress. More concerning was that the light he had seen in her on that long, sleepless night was fading quickly. Was the idea of bearing his child that disgusting? She seemed so lost, these days. He had thought that the suggestion brilliant, at the time, but as their conversation receded into the past, Secundus questioned his own judgment. Bedding a slave was one thing; this was something else. He had never quite forgiven Tertius his mistakes in this arena, yet now he was considering the same. Still. He needed a child, and taking a beautiful woman to bed was no great difficulty. Secundus put his doubts out of his mind. However, as the months went on, his faith in the project dimmed. Surely, he was more potent than this? Secundus nearly considered asking Tertius for advice on the matter. He continued to ask for her. Secundus could not miss the opportunity to have a child before he grew too old to sire one. He continued to leave Livia to her grief. As long as he had Aglaea, he would not need to ask too much of her. It was a strange balance they had struck, but he hoped his wife would use her borrowed time to recover well. On this night, Secundus felt his bones complaining of the strain the cold winds placed on them. Secundus barked at one of his slaves to call for Aglaea, and awaited her impatiently, his eyes closed, as he poured wine for them both. The other slaves would attend to Livia, keeping her incurious and well-occupied during her latest bout of tears. He opened his eyes at her words. "Good evening, Aglaea. Sit, please, and rest your feet. I am sure my wife has kept you busy." @Echo
  17. Járnviðr
    As Tertius continued to speak, Secundus grit his teeth, clenched his fist, and smiled wider. The pulse in his head had returned; it came and went, but in moments of tension, he could reach for it if he felt the need. It was an anger not appropriate among senators. He had learned to control it, to control himself. When he was alone, or with family, he could not. They, unlike the clucking senators, could destroy him with an ill-placed rumor. If they only told enough people that Secundus was unstable- they could ruin his reputation. Tertius did not understand the damage he was doing to their family, and this- he had forgotten nothing! Secundus remembered every slight, every argument, every threat to him and his own. This was not gossip. This was defending his very identity as a man and as a Roman. This was punishing his brother for his numerous transgressions, and for believing himself superior. This was an opportunity for Tertius, who had children, who enjoyed criticizing his treatment of their sister, who did not. Tertius had always been a naive child, but now he was an ignorant, mindless traitor to their name. If Tertius did not want to be a member of this family, there was no need for him to be in this house any longer. "Brother, I recommend that you leave my house before I have reason to force you to. We clearly have nothing more to discuss." @Atrice
  18. Járnviðr
    Secundus stopped short. She was right. He did not want to think of Livia while he was with Vibia. He doubted the woman thought of him when she took those young men to her bed- speculation, he reminded himself. Paranoia. Livia was too virtuous to sleep with another man. And if virtue failed her, distance would prevent it. They spent nearly all of their time at the villa, now. When would she have the opportunity? If that, too, failed to protect her from her own impulses...her fear of the consequences should stay her hand. She knew he would not tolerate that. "Thank you for the reminder. You are so kind, Vibia, to keep my attention on the important things." Secundus returned his attention to more important things. He watched her drain her cup, listening to her pretty voice and her prettier words. Obedience. A fantasy he dared no longer dream of, but Vibia was a dream incarnate. She had been sent to please him. She was only here to serve at his pleasure. He indulged in the thought, let it twist and turn in his mind. And then she grinned. She continued, revealing the other side. He could be the predator, or the prey. It was not his choice, tonight, it was hers. Besides, a woman of Domus Venus could not truly fight him if he wanted to win. So it was his choice whether to win, or to lose. "Who will fortune favor? The warrior, or the musician?" He wondered if any men preferred to avail themselves of her other services. He had sometimes just spoken with her, but Secundus found tonight that he had lost any interest in music or speech. The pursuits of the mind were nothing compared to this, he thought. He placed a hand on her shoulder, slowly moving it down her arm. He pulled her closer, roughly, his hand around her arm gripping tightly. He wrapped one arm around her waist, breathlessly, and then stopped moving, waiting for a command. Vibia was making the choices; he was only taking action. She was the stone and the sculptor, while he was the hammer and chisel. This was the only art that mattered. @Sara
  19. Járnviðr
    Secundus looked through Aglaea. He imagined a vast network of enemies, working together to reverse his fortune. It was unlike Aglaea to be so inattentive. It could only be that he was being targeted. She would have no way of knowing who had engineering her situation, though. He would need to subtly determine which senator's ambition had led to intrigue. Let the women believe that it was more innocent than that; a beggar and pickpocket, desperate for money. He nodded slowly at Aglaea's words. "The truth is mightier than the sword, but heavier, too. You wield it well." His wife's words were emptier. As always, she protected her slave rather than support him. Livia would never undermine his authority, his wishes, and his household in public, but in private, she often spoke however she wished. Secundus wondered why she always counseled mercy for her body slave. Surely the personal attachment could not be that great? Slaves naturally felt devotion to their masters, but he found her deep loyalty perplexing. He would let her lead the inquisition for now, though. For once, his wife was intent on pursuing his goals. Having an ally in this soothed some of his doubts. If they could retrace Aglaea's steps, they might find further clues to the identity of his adversary. @Echo @Liv
  20. Járnviðr
    Secundus Quinctilius Varus Completed, Ongoing No Escape From Reality: 73CE, after the wedding of Secundus Quinctilius Varus and Livia Justina Secundus can't sleep. Aglaea keeps him company. Everything Comes in Pieces: February 74 CE, Secundus invites Aglaea to his room. Aglaea corrects some of his misapprehensions. Confession Time: May, 75CE - After The Crush of the Crowd Aglaea confesses to Livia about the loss of three sestertii. Secundus, eavesdropping, is more interested in the possibility of taking vengeance. If He is Honest: Late May, 75 CE - After Confession Time Aglaea reveals that she has been skimming from Livia's silvium, and that she is pregnant. Secundus demands Livia's presence, but when her conversation with her slave takes too long, he interrupts their conversation and demands answers. The pair reveal Aglaea's pregnancy to him. Double Trouble: July 75 CE, one week after the earthquake Intending to assess the damage to the family home, Secundus gets into a heated argument with Tertius. They insult each other, Secundus threatens Tertius, and Tertius leaves Secundus alone at the house. In Confidence: Mid-August, 75CE Secundus returns to Vibia for her services. They discuss his unhappy marriage, her dreams of becoming a madam, and hatch a plan for Vibia to play as a musician at a party to scandalize Livia. Live Your Life: Late August, 75 CE Secundus and Gaius meet in the poppina and decide to have dinner. Celebrations, Confidences, and Confessions: Late August, 75 CE Secundus throws a party. Livia meets Vibia. Any Four Walls Are a Prison: Late September, 75 CE Aglaea reveals that she has been skimming from Livia's silvium, and that she is pregnant. Secundus demands Livia's presence, but when her conversation with her slave takes too long, he interrupts their conversation and demands answers. The pair reveal Aglaea's pregnancy to him. Undercover: November, 75 CE Wulfric visits Secundus under the pretense of delivering food the the household, and asks to speak to the dominus. Secundus obliges. Deals to be done: Mid-January, 76 CE Longinus invites Secundus and Tertius to discuss him potentially marrying Sergia. Neither men knew his brother was invited, so predictably, tension rises.
  21. Járnviðr
    Restraint was not one of Secundus' strengths. He had already insulted Tertius more than he'd intended, but hearing the boy insinuate that his wife did not love him while pretending to be perfectly polite and ever inch the proper Roman- Secundus stood, jaw set. He should not have expected that Tertius had grown into something worth respecting. Every conversation between the two of them ended the same way. Secundus spoke from bitterness, Tertius responded by provoking him, and Secundus acted in anger. Such self-awareness always escaped him in the moment, though. His blood boiled, and he stepped closer to his brother. "Loneliness is a far better destiny than the shameful things you have done with our name and our blood. How many children will your slaves bear for you before you admit that you have lost all sense of decency? Do you seek them out for their fertility? Do you select them with care? Do you consider what your children with them will look like before your passions inflame you, or are you so desperate that you cannot help yourself?" @Atrice
  22. Járnviðr
    His eyebrow twitched at the change in demeanor. Of course he wanted the slave to act her place, but seeing the shift in behavior upset him as well. For her to be so comfortable around her mistress and so uncomfortable around him- any slave of Livia's was surely his slave as well, and she should act like it. Three sestertii...that he could forgive, he thought, if she had been attacked, but as he listened to his wife's words, he reconsidered. Unharmed? No injuries at all. Secundus's temper flared at his wife's dismissal of the issue. The lost coin was important, but more important was teaching pickpockets not to target him and his. "Very skilled indeed, to leave the slave unharmed," he said skeptically. "Where were you attacked? This could be more than simple robbery, if the pickpocket chose not to harm you. He may have targeted you to hurt me. I have countless enemies." Secundus ignored Livia entirely. His focus was on the slave, who had been the one who lost the money and might at least be able to help him catch and punish her attacker. His heart raced at the thought that he could ask Rome to hunt down a deserving target and watch him suffer. There had been so few opportunities since returning to Rome for personal vengeance. He would happily enjoy this one. @Liv @Echo
  23. Járnviðr
    She was satisfying. Enticing him, drawing his attention back...Secundus stared, now. Her position now proclaimed innocence, but he recognized the serpent that lie beneath the facade. He watched her eagerly. Was something the matter with him? Since the earthquake, he felt rather like something within him had shaken loose. Perhaps it was the argument with Tertius at the family home. Perhaps it was the time passing as he remained childless, with a wife that feared him. He savored her fear, even as it perfectly symbolize his failures. Yes, something was the matter with him tonight. Thinking on this always put him in the worst mood. "Have you ever known me to be a careless man? I am always bothered by something. The affairs of stuffy politicians with their ailing bodies and fading minds, or of my fearful, withholding wife. Rome vexes me. My family vexes me. You vex me." He turned the full force of his gaze on her. Secundus was not aware of just how intense it could be, to have the weight of his eyes on you. He judged her, and evaluated what he would do with her. There was something dangerous, there, a glint in the eyes- but it was contained, always, by his professionalism. Even when they were in the throes of it, he would behave impeccably until she finally took him over the edge. Then he would scream, wild, like an animal. He studied her, turning her over in his mind. He had already seen more of her than Livia, he thought bitterly. "What do you expect tonight, Vibia? Tell me what you imagine will happen next." @Sara
  24. Járnviðr
    Secundus smiled, now. Tertius was bragging about how many slaves he had. From a man who took most of them to bed, it was less impressive of a statement. How many were willing, he wondered? How many would have done whatever their master ordered? At least Secundus had found a proper wife. He found himself excited, now. The slaves would do the work of examining the family's house; he and his brother had more important things to discuss. It had been too long since he'd had a chance to challenge Tertius on how he had disrespected their parents. "I apologize for leaving my house so unattended. My slaves are required by my wife. Our life can be lonely, you understand, and she appreciates their companionship; I appreciate their dedication to their work." The fountain had been beautiful when they were children. Imposing, too, when they were so small that everything seemed big. Many a time, they had played in this peristyle. Secundus knelt by the fountain, tracing a finger along the stone. So much of Rome had crumbled, but the fountain had somehow escaped the damage. Their house had escaped much of it. Perhaps they had been spared for a reason. Perhaps the gods smiled upon them. His smile turned bitter, but then, when did they not? His mouth was always full of ashes, these days. "Do not speak again of my 'sweet wife', Tertius, or I will teach you to hold your tongue." @Atrice
  25. Járnviðr
    Secundus nodded stiffly. He didn't smile at his brother. What was there to smile about? Their house had just barely survived, he thought, thinking about the way cracks in something could grow over time. At least the garden looked intact. Even the fountain seemed less shaken than the building. He marveled for a moment at Roman engineering. Their civilization was the pinnacle of achievement. Men like Tertius did not appreciate how wonderful Rome was, to dishonor her so. "I am surprised to see you here at all, Tertius. Women can be so demanding when they carry children. Slaves must be even moreso, since that leaves no one to do the housework." Secundus wondered how many of the families in Rome openly mocked the Varus name. After their string of failures and indiscretions, he wondered if anyone could respect them at all. His sister needed to be married soon. Unlike Tertius, she stood a chance of bringing some honor back to their family. Secundus himself still nurtured a fledgling hope that one day, he could have children that might provide recompense for his own mistakes. His political career was an opportunity all its own, despite his advancing age. He had time enough to be a good senator. @Atrice
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