Atrice

So it's time for you to read my plotter - here is a little bit of information about all my characters and what plots they might be good for, if you wish to plot with them. They are here listed after rank, with my highest ranked character (Senator) at the top and the lowest (Slave) at the bottom. I'm always open for new ideas too! Just send me a direct message here or poke me on Discord, if you want to play with any of them. Here we go!

Tertius Quinctilius Varus

Tertius is a senator, back-bencher... and a praetor in his mid 40's. He's a widower with a now 11 year old daughter and has not remarried since his wife died. He's rather bored with life at the moment, so he needs to be cheered up. Tertius likes to have control over anything and mainly his own household - and things easily turn complicated because of this. He recently freed his slave-born son Teutus and his slave Charis has given him a son, who he has recognized as his own. On top of that, his bastard son Wulfric from his brief time near Germania, has come to Rome to complicate things further. He believes he is a good and kind master to his slaves, but sometimes, he isn't. He just wants them to behave well and if they don't, he's very disappointed. Tertius has recently freed Charis and named her his wife, although technically, he can't marry his freed slave. He doesn't seem to care though.

Plot Ideas:
- Tertius has freed and married his slave. Anyone's welcome to confront him about it, in a good or a bad way
- More slaves to be played in the household. Played slaves so far are Charis and Hector, his body slave.
- Tertius is very neutral when it comes to politics, but anyone in Rome can be bought...
- His siblings and nephew and niece are also up for the taking, should anyone want to play them. Look in the Qunctilii Vari thread.

Marcus Junius Silanus

Young Marcus has just turned 18 and is more than ready for a life with wealth and influence - if he can pull himself together to go that way. Right now he lives with his step-mother, Flavia Juliana and her husband, Quintus Caecina Tusca, and their family. He is also good friends with the young Imperials at the Imperial Palace in Rome and Marcus is known to enjoy a good party. He likes going out, he likes to do what he wants and he likes wealth and luxury. He has in 77 AD joined the Viginitiviri and thus began his Course of Honor. He deals with prisons and executions as one of the college of twenty.

Plot Ideas:
- A love interest/flirt would be very welcome. Perhaps a future wife, but he's far from ready for marriage right now
- Marcus has many connections via his step-mother and his friends at the palace. Anyone connected to Imperials, he could run into - slaves, senators and their families, praetorians/guards
- Marcus' father was Decimus Junius Silanus, so anyone with connections to him in the past could meet with Marcus (his brother is currently not in Rome)
- Could probably use a proper father figure
- His body slave Silvanus is up as a wanted ad

Pinaria Gaia

Pinaria is a noble lady of a Senatorial family. She was married until last year, when her husband died in a hunting accident and she has been keeping to herself since then - it is first now that she is entering the social life of Rome again, because her brother has urged her to do that and make friends and find a new husband. She has a somewhat pessimistic outlook on life, but is otherwise mostly a warm and friendly woman. She has a secret relationship with her former body slave, Gaia Lucia.

Plot ideas:
- A new husband, obviously, or just men that might be interested
- Someone to play Gaia Lucia, she is a wanted character
- She needs friends or maybe former friends, who knew her before her husband died... but they haven't seen her much since he died
- Slaves of Publius Pinarius Natta's household, since that is where she currently lives (he's her brother)

Horatia Sosia

Sosia is a young, noble lady of a good Senatorial family. She is cousin to Horatia Justinia and Livia Justinia. She arrived in Rome in 76 AD after having spent most of her life in a countryside villa, sheltered from both other young people and especially young men. Her parents are quite strict and she's very inexperienced, but also very eager and curious to learn. She is supposed to get married soon, so she's in the market for a husband.

Plot ideas:
- Possible future husbands
- Charming men who might take advantage of her youth and inexperience
- She needs friends in Rome, both male and female
- Someone to play her body slave, Helia

Lucius Armenius Valerius

Lucius is a quite manipulative guy, who can appear charming and friendly to get what he wants. And what he wants is to make profit from anything he's doing - and to feel superior to anyone who thinks he should feel the opposite. He uses people, he enjoys playing mind games with people, he takes advantage of any situation he can and he's not afraid to go far to achieve what he wants... as long as it doesn't endanger his own person or profit.He is 52 years old, married to a woman now in her early thirties. He has three children and grew up in a brothel himself. He left Rome in 62AD and has only just returned, planning to bring his family here too, once he has established himself. So far his family is still in Hispania. Lucius owns the brothel Elysium and plans to give it a better reputation once more.

Plot ideas:
- Lucius needs bouncers and guards for his brothel, ordinary slaves, henchmen and of course prostitutes to work for him
- He is bad news for most people, although they may not suspect it at first
- He may be married, but he doesn't care and sleeps around if he wants to
- His wife, Leontia Elianilla, is a wanted character

Septima Major

Septima, sometimes called Thalia by her twin sister Septima Minor, is 16 years old and a bright and bubbly young woman. Her parents both died in the civil war over ten years ago and she has lived with her grandparents and the entire family ever since. Septima enjoys being social; she loves parties and going out and is a romantic at heart, hoping to find the perfect husband sometime in the future. And unlike her twin sister, she's becoming quite curious about boys already.

Plot Ideas: 
- Septima is looking for friends around her own age or maybe a little older
- Potential future husbands are welcome
- Could easily be manipulated by someone with ill intentions
- Septima longs for romance and love. Offer her some, with or without good intentions

 Marcus Barbatius

Marcus is 30 years old and works as a barber in Rome - and he is not poor, because he knows how to do his job well. To anyone coming to him as a patron or really any stranger he has not met before, he is friendly and all smiles. He likes to make friends and likes a good cup of wine as much as anyone. But he easily makes up his mind about people and Marcus has two boxes in his mind... one for people who deserves his respect and his kindness. And one for those lesser than he, people beneith him, who should do nothing else but respect him and do as he says. He has access to sharp objects and he's not afraid to use them. And he knows that you should not go around hurting other people, so he prefers to keep this secret. Perhaps he will continue to escape justice... and perhaps he will end up in jail. It will be interesting to see what happens to this character.

Plot Ideas:
- Marcus Barbatius has been caught and is currently in jail, hoping for a trial so he won't be executed (but he will)
- Past threads with Marcus could still take place. Both with victims to him and other connections too.

Lexus Naevius Gineverus

If this name seems a little familiar, it's because Lexus is Alexius' son. The two have never met though and Lexus is now 16 years old and recently lost his mother, who was attacked by a gang in the street and lost her life because of the injuries. He now lives in the house of Oriana Laecinia, where his father also lives and Lexus works in the gardens. He's your ordinary curious, but inexperienced, teenager and easily get in trouble. He is also more thoughtful now than he used to be, after he lost his mother. He's also nice and polite though and just wants to make people around him feel good. Lexus tends to be a bit awkward around girls.

Plot Ideas: 
- Although he has now met his father, he is still interested in learning about him from others
- Lexus is curious and openminded and talks a lot... some could see that as being nosy and he'll get in trouble
- Friends at his own age are welcome
- A first love and a proper first kiss (perhaps to be Septima Minor)
- Someone to guide him in life (Alexius is many things, but he will not be a good and proper teacher)

Lucius Antonius Alexius

Alexius was born in Germania, captured by raiding barbarians and sold to Rome as a slave when he was 7. Back then, he was known as Lexus. When he was 15, he became a gladiator and became rather famours. In his mid-twenties, he was freed and made a lanista. Eventually he left Rome to return to Germania, but it wasn't all that he hoped, so he has come back to Rome. He is 40 years old now and lives in a flat with his son Lexus. He works as the head guard at Teutus Quinctilius Varus' warehouse and also takes odd jobs as bodyguard if someone wants that. 

Plot Ideas:
- Old and new lovers are always welcome for Alexius. His list is here: Alexius' Special Tracker
- Alexius is currently in love with Calpurnia Praetextata 
- He likes to get drunk and likes a good brawl... could get in trouble with that
- Old and new friends are also welcome
- He has a wanted ad for his sister Amalia, whom he's been looking for ever since they were separated as kids. 
- Alexius actually does long to settle down with someone. Find his one true love?

Manius Rutilius Gallus

Manius was born and raised in Rome as an ordinary Plebian. When he was young, he worked at the slave market and married and had a child. They were murdered when his son was 2 years old, due to Manius owing debts for gambling. After this incident, he gave himself over to slavery and he's been feeling more or less miserable since. He had three different owners as a slave, the last one being Manius Rutilius Cyprianus, the infamous dictator, who is now dead (by execution). Cyprianus freed Manius, who married fellow former slave and freedwoman Salacia and they lived as happily as possible for 15 years. Salacia however disappeared during the earthquake and is presumed dead. Manius is currently employed by Spurius Antius Claudus at the slave market, where he guards the slaves to be sold. He has a strong sense of what's right and wrong and will act upon this. He enjoys pain and may pick fights just to get beaten up - because he believes he deserves and because he likes it, but he'd never admit that to anyone.

Plot Ideas:
- Anyone coming into contact with Spurius or is just at the slave market can meet him
- Manius holds grudges against anyone who has harmed anyone he cared about in the past
- Slaves may have come across him during his many years working at the slave market
- A lover or maybe even more, although he is afraid to marry, since he already lost two wives. He believes he's bad luck to wives.
- Someone who may hurt him. His son and wife were murdered in the past by the Servian Collegium because he owed them coin. They could get him in trouble again.

Wulfric of the Chatti

Wulfric was born in Germania, his mother a princess and for many years, he believed his mother's husband was his father. But after said father's death, his mother Frieda revealed the truth... Wulfric's father is actually Tertius Quinctilius Varus and she wanted Wulfric to find him. This is why Wulfric now, at the age of 23, has arrived in Rome, searching for knowledge about his father and his father's people. Wulfric is generally a friendly and outgoing man, he prefers to talk rather than fight (but he can fight) - but he can also be rather stubborn if he believes he's right about something. A trait he may have inherited from his father. He looks quite a lot like Tertius and anyone meeting him and knowing Tertius will pick up the resemblance between the two. Wulfric will eventually find his father, but not too soon.

Plot ideas:
- Any foreigners, especially of Germania, could come into contact with Wulfric
- He won't like the thought of his people being enslaved in Rome, so he may actually try and get some free
- Wulfric may also meet someone to love and/or marry in Rome
- He does not exactly hate the Romans, but he will most likely be a bit defensive towards them

Cynane

Cynane has been a slave in Rome for over 10 years now. She's a war captive from Britannia and originally comes from the Brigantes tribe. She spent most of her years in Rome as a gladiatrix, but the last two years she has been a personal bodyguard to the imperial princess, Claudia Caesaris - secretly training the princess and Cynane feels very strongly for her, a strange mix of protectiveness and deep care - perhaps there are even romantic feelings involved. Cynane does not always speak much, because when she does, she speaks her mind. She is a very skilled warrior who takes her job seriously; she does not trust people easily though. She can use anything from friends to enemies and lovers of course.

Plot Ideas: 
- She's bicurious, meaning her lovers so far have been men, but few were by her choice
- She has a crush of sorts on her mistress, Claudia Caesaris
- Anyone connected to the Imperial family could run into her
- Anyone she might have met during the last 10 years she spent in Rome, she must have met a lot of people
- She has a longing for freedom and still dislikes most Romans
- I have a wanted ad for a Lover for Cynane because she deserves some love and romance in her life

Helios

Helios is a slave and prostitute working at the Domus Venus, where he's been for over 10 years. He also functions as a spy for his mistress (and other people who will pay for it) and often takes senators and wealthy Romans to his bed, to lure out secrets. He claims he's accepted life as a slave and does not want anything out of life, but secretly of course, he does want that. Lately he has had a desire for freedom and will try and buy himself free. He enjoys working as a spy and will happily buy and sell secrets, also for his own gain.

Plot Ideas: 
- People Helios can meet and talk to to gain secrets and information
--- These could be returning patrons/lovers at the brothel, but also people everywhere else in Rome
--- Helios so far has secrets/info about Oriana Laecania, Alexius, Nymphias, Charis, Teutus, Hector and Tertius Quinctilius Varus
- An actual real friend
- His job as a spy could get him into trouble if he found out secrets about someone really important
- Fellow slaves/whores/guards at the brothel 
- He has a secret and unrequited crush on a bouncer in the Domus Venus (Marcus Falco)
- He has also managed to seduce Nymphias, sister of Charis and may have feelings for her

Caeso

Caeso is 25 years old and was born as a slave in Rome and has always lived here. He is a charioteer for the Green racing team and passionate about it. He is known to be good at calculating his next move in the races and in general and he is also the mastermind behind some sabotage against the other teams. He has a strategic and retentive mind and memory and is easily bored. Usually he is in a good or at least content mood, but he can lose his temper if something does not go the way he wants to. He is not really a romantic type, nor is he a womanizing type, as he is turned on and attracted to intelligence rather than looks and appearance. 

Plot Ideas:
- Rivals (or frenemies) among the other racing teams
- Someone who will bore him immensely - or the opposite
- Someone whom he will get along with, but he finds out they root for the other team
- A friend or even a lover who is clever enough to catch his interest
- His brother Gaius, 22, will be made into a wanted soon. He is nothing like Caeso though.

Background: Teutus is the now grown up son of senator Tertius Quinctilus Varus and a slave called Varinia. Teutus is still officially a slave, but Tertius is planning to free and adopt him soon and make him his legitimate son and heir. Tertius used to be ashamed of Teutus, but after his wife died and he still has no male heir, he has been taking better care of Teutus, even making sure he has learned to read and write and learned more about what a proper Roman should know. This has begun happening since Teutus was 15 - before that, Tertius didn't care for him. Tertius' daughter, Antonia Varia (9), is his half-sister. Both are motherless today - whether Teutus mother was sold, freed or died is up to you. I imagine Teutus is a good big brother to his sister and that they are good friends. He also has an uncle, Tertius' brother Secundus and of course Teutus knows all about their rivalry. What Teutus thinks about Secundus is up to you.

Personality: Teutus is happy to learn new things and does what he can to please his father, because of course he wants to be freed, adopted and become heir to Tertius' fortune. At the same time he holds a grudge towards his father, because he didn't care about Teutus when he was a child - and he has always known Tertius is his father. On the other hand, he's also glad that his father is finally showing him some respect - so as you can imagine, he has mixed feelings about his father. There is definitely going to be some tension between the two. Other than that, his personality is up to you.

Playby: Up to you. When it comes to his appearance, the only thing I'm sure of is he's taller than his father, just to rub it in - and he has brown/dark brown hair. Steve Lund, Will Kemp or Santiago Cabrera are good choices for a playby, but it's up to you. 

Tertius Quinctilius Varus' application

He was still thinking about his gladiator days. There were times where he considered going back to being a gladiator… if he had nothing to do with his life, couldn’t he just go back to his old ways and survive until his body couldn’t take it anymore and he’d die in the arena as a proper Germanian warrior in battle. When he couldn’t fight where he was born, maybe he could here. But right now, he had a proper job and a beautiful mistress, so he could not just give that up, could he? No, he couldn’t. At least not yet…

 Alexius was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t notice the beautiful and familiar woman who came right up to him or when someone else walked in between them. He appeared to be looking at the gladiators, but he was not really watching them.

 Suddenly though, he was torn out of his line of thoughts, as someone exclaimed his slave name and a pair of slender arms wrapped around his body. His first thought was to wrestle away, but then he looked down and saw her face. Alexius’ jaw might have dropped for a moment there and his eyes widened…

 “Gaia?” He asked, shifting to see her properly… it really was her! He’d barely seen anyone he used to know since he came back to Rome this time, but Gaia, he’d never forget her or her peaches. Or the first time she came to see him after a fight… this woman, she was not someone easily forgotten! He felt his heart beating with the surprise and the… thrill he felt, to see her again!

 “Fuck the gods, it really is you!” He exclaimed, wrapped his still strong arms around her too - and he just couldn’t help himself, doing what he did next – she was smaller than he, still light and delightful compared to Alexius, and he scooped her up to sit in his lap, still watching her pretty face, “You’ve barely changed, still  divine …” What else could he say?

@Gothic

Lexus was so not going into that water to fetch the ring for Corinthia. It just wasn’t happening – it wasn’t why he came and he didn’t really like the thought of it. Maybe the strange fish-like things just didn’t look like something you wanted to get too close to, if you were not even familiar with fish in the first round… so he had hurried away before she could stop him, trying to find help elsewhere. He had persuaded a young female slave to help him, and took her hand.

 It didn’t matter to him what Corinthia thought – he could see the slave wasn’t happy about this and holding her hand might help a little and make her feel better and safer, because he would be there too. That was the least he could do.

 When they reached Corinthia, she had her hands clenched and a tight appearance to her face, but Lexus tried and ignore it while she cave orders. The slavegirl still wasn’t happy about the job and he thought he had to do something really good for her sometime. It wasn’t her fault she was a slave, probably. She didn’t even seem to want to be here, poor girl.

 When Corinthia looked at him again, she thanked him for finding assistance.

 “Of course, it seemed urgent.” Lexus simply replied, “I think we should find our mothers when you have your ring. Maybe the food is ready for us.” He said, trying to sound friendly, although honestly, he wasn’t sure if Corinthia thought it worked. She was hard to please. So beautiful and so hard to please, it seemed.

@Gothic

Alexius had a tendency to truly feel things deeply, whenever he felt something. If he was angry, he’d be about to break a place apart or kill the person angering him. If he was sad, he felt it all the way into his heart and he’d be down for a good while. If he was aroused, well, he was all in it for the pleasure and the satisfaction. And if he needed to prove himself worthy and certain of something, he would do all in his own power to prove and to appear certain. Alexius could tell that he needed this job for so many reasons – it would be just the thing he wanted to do and she would pay well and he’d have an actual home again. And his mistress would be lovely to look at. So many reasons… so when she mentioned family, he could only point out that he had none, because he truly did not. He would be devoted to her, his new mistress. 

Finally Oriana said she felt he’d be more than adequate – well he hoped so! – and she said he’d impressed her. He could have the job if he wanted to. She smiled when she said it, a very pretty smile that he could only return.

“Thanks very much, Domina. I’m grateful and I’ll make sure you know and see this.” He promised her and watched her stand. She fetched a key for him and some money and handed it to him. Alexius took both items and stood too, when she spoke of showing him the room he’d have.

“I’d very much like that, Domina. I’ll look forwards to taking good care of you… concerning your safety, of course.” He quickly added, towering over her as he stood and then he followed her away from her office and into the rest of the large home.

@Sydney

Old posts (Helios and Calvunus)

Helios' new post: 

LEXUS NAEVIUS GINEVERUS

15| September 59 AD | Plebian | Gardener for Oriana Laecania | Unsure | Original | Landon Liboiron

Personality.

Lexus Minor is young and so far somewhat inexperienced in all the pleasures life has to offer. He feels he has something to live up to though, because his mother has told him about his father and since their return to Rome, he has been asking around and found out the tales were probably true - his father was a player, loving both men and women and plenty of them in his bed. And he had a bad temper, which was why he was such a good fighter in the arena as a gladiator. 

Young Lexus isn’t sure he can live up to all this – he has never even kissed a woman and not a guy either and his mother won’t let him even try to fight; she fears he'll inherit his father’s love for fighting and she thinks it’ll lead to his fall from grace, and she wants her son to become a good man. Young Lexus does indeed sometimes have a bit of a temper and he's at the same time very curious, sometimes to the point of being nosy... which means he also has a knack for getting himself into trouble On top of that, he's also often quite clumsy, which doesn't help at all and more often than not lands him in trouble. 

He’d love to learn how to fight though, and how to argue properly. He is in general just very curious and wants to learn about life. Maybe he'll take an interest in politics with the right teacher? And what else does Lexus want? He just wants to find his place in Rome, a meaning with life, something to do with it and in the meantime, explore the city and the people with an open and curious mind. Sometimes too curious and openminded, probably…

Appearance

Short brown hair, often just tousled, a handsome jaw and cheekbones and clear blue-grey eyes is what Lexus appears to have inherited from both of his parents. There’s often a playful glimpse in those youthful eyes, although Lexus is far more inexperienced than he’ll often let you think. He’s still growing and has not reached his full height yet, but he’s told that he is tall for his age – probably also something he inherited from his father, for his mother is fairly short. He does not own a huge amount of clothes and most often he can be seen in a dark grey tunica and dark crimson breeches underneath. Of course he wears a belt too and usually simple sandals or slippers. For colder days and evenings he has a brown cloak to wear.

Family

Father: Lucius Antonius Alexius, 36

Mother: Naevia Ginevera, deceased October 74AD

Siblings: N/A

Spouse: N/A

Children: N/A

Extended family:
-- Aunt, father's sister: Amalia (unknown whereabouts)

Other:

History

CHILDHOOD [59-72]:

• Lexus' father was the infamous gladiator from Germania, Lexus, who lived as a gladiator in Rome in the 50's AD. Ginevera, his mother, was once given to Lexus after a fight in the area, as her mistress was Lexus’ patron and had been very fond of the gladiator. She became pregnant with his son and was later freed by her mistress, Naevia Geta, before she gave birth to the child. That meant Lexus the younger was born in freedom and not as a slave - and he has always been grateful for this. 
  
  The first many years of his life was naturally spent near and with his mother and her new life as a freedwoman. At first they lived in Rome, but eventually they left and travelled and settled down where ever she could find work – often as either a seamstress or as a nanny. His mother never married. Lexus does not recall it as a troubled childhood though, although it was often hard having to move around and try and find new friends. Sometimes he also misses having an actual father, but he never mentioned this to his mother.
  
  He only knew what his mother had told him about his father - that he was from Germania, that he became a famous and surviving gladiator in Rome and that he had many other lovers than just Lexus' mother. Young Lexus never actually met his father.

TEENAGE TO EARLY ADULT [72-73]:

• They returned to Rome when Lexus was 13 years old, only a year ago. It was only after their return to Rome, that Lexus learned that his father had been freed many years ago. Apparently his father even became a lanista and married another woman, before they both left to return to Germania where his father was originally born. Young Lexus has no desire towards that though; he is now 14 years old and has a desire to make his own life in Rome. He has considered signing up for the legions and go fighting - he always had a bit of a temper - but his mother will not let him fight. His father was a gladiator and could easily have died and she will not risk the same for her son. Instead young Lexus must find something else to spend his time on, while in Rome... but what? 
• In October 74AD, Lexus was invited to work for Oriana Laecania and also encountered his father for the first time. Shortly after that meeting, his mother died after an attack in the streets. He now works in Oriana's garden and does not quite know what to feel about anything after his mother died. 

Atrice | GMT+1 | PM or Discord #7964

HELIOS.

30 | 47 AD | Slave | Prostitute | Bisexual | Original | Brad Pitt

Personality.

Helios has lived most of his life as a slave and barely remembers free life – but at the moment, he lives a rather free life as a slave, actually, or so he thinks. He’s quite confident and believes that although he is a slave, he can rise higher in the hierarchy among his own. After all, he gets pleasure (and sometimes pain), he gets to leave the domus unattended and he always returns. Why shouldn’t he? It’s his home. Helios is known to be a good and obedient slave, but within there are some unspoken desires to become more. Of course he knows freedom can be earned, but while he does not have the life he would prefer, it is much better than what it used to be. So far he has made from ordinary house slave, to prostitute and then to someone who is something like a spy or a messenger. Lately he has begun to desire freedom after all and he has begun saving up for purchasing said freedom. But it takes a while and there is so much to do.

He has a smooth tongue, knows how to address different people and is good at reading people to guess what they want from him – so that he can get what he wants from them. Helios can be a good friend to have and a powerful ally, despite being a slave. But he also knows how to pull the right strings if someone crosses him. To the other prostitutes, he’s a good friend and takes good care of anyone seeming weaker and more fragile than he – and especially those who are treated much worse than he. Helios prefers justice to people he call friends, but he also knows it's not always to be found in a brothel. Still though, he tries.

Sometimes he has nightmares - about fires and screams and the image of a woman, telling him to hide, only for large men with weapons picking him up while crying. When he's awake, Helios never thinks about this and he has little thought for his childhood in Britannia... but apparently it is still there sometimes when he sleeps. Not every night, but sometimes.

Appearance

Helios is somewhat tall compared to most Romans around him. He has a rather masculine build, slender and fit – yet still there seems to be something feminine about the way he moves and the way he looks at you at certain times. He has blue eyes, often seeming playful or kind, wanting to charm the world around him. His hair is dirty blonde, in the summer entirely blonde, as he makes sure to get out, get a tan and let the sun brighten the hair during the day time. Helios keeps the blonde hair long and often loose, as his master believes this attracts more clients for him, than if he wore a more masculine hairstyle. In the brothel he often just wears a simple loincloth and perhaps a few pieces of jewelry, or he’ll wear a simple and short, light brown tunica, only just covering his most intimate parts. When he is out and about in Rome, hired to be a companion for a noble or hired for a party, he wears whatever he is told and given to wear. Sometimes he shaves, sometimes he don't - that depends on what his most important next client prefers.

Family

Father: Bear (dead)

Mother: Hertha (dead)

Siblings: N/A

Spouse: N/A

Children: N/A

Extended family: Anyone working at the Domus Venus or Elysium brothels

Other: 

Current Mistress: Titania Novella

History

CHILDHOOD [47-58 AD]:

• Helios had another name when he was born, but he does not remember it. He was born in Britannia, but the attacks from the Romans upon his tribe grew worse and worse. Helios does not remember much from his early childhood, other than playing in the middle of the village and wandering off to the forest, only to be picked up by his mother telling him not to stray. There were dangers outside the village. Eventually, danger entered the village. Helios was just 5 years old and his mother had him hidden in the stable of their house, when the Romans came. He never saw his parents again. Instead the Romans found him and took mercy on the young child and brought him with them, to make him into a slave. 
  
  A slave trader took care of the boy and brought him the long way to Rome. Now 6 years old, the boy was sold to a wealthy Roman, but didn’t understand the language and missed his parents. An older female slave took him under her wing and cared for him as his substitute mother. Eventually he learned the language, he learned to carry out the jobs he had and most importantly, he learned how to avoid the whip or a beating.

TEENAGE TO EARLY ADULT [58-66 AD]:

• Helios, as the boy had been named, grew to be a handsome young man with blonde hair and blue eyes. The youngest daughter in the household was about his age and they had become friends as children, but now the father didn’t care for the friendship. He feared for what would happen. And so Helios was sold, just like that. His new owner, Lucius Armenius Valerius, had a brothel, Elysium. First Helios was to just serve the whores and their clients, but when he was 14 years old, his master thought it was about time the boy was broken in as a prostitute. He lost his virginity to his master first – he would never have thought it, but a man was the first he slept with in a bed. It hurt a little, but it was actually not as bad as he expected. And he just had to get used to it. At least this was what his master told him, so there wasn't much to do about it. He better just get the best out of it, if he could.
  
  Soon Helios was used to the looks the men gave him and the care – and sometimes abuse – they showed him. This was his lot in life though and he had to live it. He also slept with women and did what he could to figure out what they wanted, for they were often quite different than the men; often more romantic and the sex he had with them was not the same as with the men. He became better at serving in bed, guessing what his clients wanted even before they said it. Meaning that sometimes he was given presents, coin and jewels and nicer clothes, and so he worked on pleasing them all even more. Eventually he was moved into the Domus Venus instead of the Elysium. Still though, this was not how he had imagined life to be. Helios did not want to just be a whore.

ADULTHOOD [66-77 AD]:

• He was 19 years old, when he spoke to his mistress about the matter. At this time, his old master had moved on in life and the brothels had been passed on to a new owner, so he had a mistress instead of a master – one he hoped he could influence more than his former owner. Helios spoke charmingly about how he had strong arms and legs, how he was still good looking, how he was good at talking and sweet-talking and how he could be useful in other ways than just pleasing the clients. The owner agreed to let him try; he managed to sneak out secrets from the Romans and told them to his owner, who made good use of the secrets and made sure no one knew they came from the mouth of young Helios. It meant an upgrade in his lifestyle. He was given a better room and better clothes to lure in better and more important clients. He now sometimes works as something like a courtier; a companion for wealthy Romans – both women and men - to parties and such. Here he can both please the client and watch what is going on among the upper classes. He works both as a skilled prostitute, but he’s also a spy and messenger for his mistress and her associates.
• Helios, now 28 years old, has begun considering the option of freedom in his life after all; a friend of his set him on this path. He has now begun saving up his earnings to eventually buy his own freedom, although he will likely continue working for the brothel or something like it. He has aspirations to become a real spy for someone of importance, but so far, those are only dreams. So far, he collects all the secrets he can and sells them for a price, no matter the cost for anyone else involved.

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TERTIUS QUINCTILIUS VARUS

46| 15 November 30 AD | Senator| Praetor | Bisexual | Original | Craig Parker

Personality.

What Tertius wants is to honor his family and family name. He has done this in many ways… he has been a loyal brother to his siblings and a good son to his father, when the old man was still alive. He has done his best to delicately climb the Course of Honor and he believes he has done well in all the things he has done. Only in one area has he failed so far; and that was when his brother returned to Rome, alive and apparently not speaking about his years away. The relationship between the brothers has not been good since Secundus returned. 

Now Tertius isn’t a bad man. He can certainly be kind and charming and if you want to talk to him, you definitely can. He is loyal to those that are loyal to him, or so he says. So if you open your heart to him and he can do the same to you, you are both good. He wanted and gained that kind of relationship with his wife; they were open and honest with each other and did not keep secrets. It functioned well, although the two were never in love. It was a very practical marriage and they remained good friends. Tertius was surprised and mourned for a long time after her death, but he also began taking better care of his daughter… to the point where he actually spoils her badly. 

So really Tertius believes he is a good man. But don’t cross him or force him to distrust you. He can be manipulative and can lose his temper, but he is very careful about it as he won’t dishonor his family or their name. This is why he mostly stays neutral in politics too, so far, because he would rather know what is going on than fall for some blade murdering those on the wrong side. However, if his loyalty in you should fail, he will do his utmost to make sure that you take a heavy fall from grace. But if his loyalty in you stays the way it is, then he is your best friend and with benefits too. 

Appearance

Tertius likes to give a good impression to people who don’t know him well. This is why he dresses well, but not too well… and yet not poorly either. He wants to reflect someone trustworthy. Tertius prefers colors like dark crimson or dark blue, and not because they match his eyes, but because he feels they match his personality. His stunning blue eyes are mostly kind and yet there is probably a calculating spark to them, if you take a closer look. His brown hair is worn short and neat and he is sometimes, but rarely, seen with a bit of a stubble. Beneath his clothes, Tertius may be of short height, but he is also strong and has a good physical form. If he hadn’t been born a free Roman, he would probably have made a good gladiator. But he is far from one.

Family

Father: Publius Quinctilius Varus Major (dead)

Mother: Laelia Calida (dead)

Siblings:
--Brother: Publius Quintilicus Varus Minor, Deceased at age 15
--Brother: Secundus Quintilicus Varus, 48
--Sister: Quintilia Varia, 40, Widow

Spouse: Antonia Justa (dead 65 AD)

Children:
Antonia Varia (b. 64 AD, 9 years old)
Teutus (23, son of the slave Varinia, no longer in the household)
Peregrinus (b. 75 AD, son of the slave Charis)
Wulfric (24, b. 52 AD to the Chatti princess Frieda, with whom Tertius had a short affair)

Extended family:
-- Niece – Sergia Auletia, 18
-- Nephew – Marcus Lucius Auletius, 15

Other:

Body slave: Hector (22)

History

CHILDHOOD [30-44]:

• Tertius Varus was born as the third son to his parents and thus he never thought he would inherit very much at all. He was well liked by his family and had more freedom to do whatever he wanted to do than his brothers did. You could say he’s the spoiled youngest son, although Tertius would never say that about himself. He enjoyed a fairly carefree childhood with the usual fights between brothers, but it was never a big deal and they all got along very well.

TEENAGE TO EARLY ADULT [45-50]:

• When he was 15 years old, his eldest brother Publius died from decease, leaving Tertius the second inheritor of the family fortune, name and reputation. He still had his brother Secundus though and Tertius was actually just fine with being second in line. Still though, he aspired towards becoming a senator in Rome and wanted to honor his family and his name – and he worked hard towards the goal, encouraged by his father. 
  
  When he was 18 years old, he was elected as one of the ten judges of lawsuits, possibly because of his father pulling quite a few strings for his youngest son. At the same time, he began keeping a body slave in their household and the slave, Varinia, gave birth to his son a year later. Tertius however could not act as a proud father, since she was not his wife and his son was simply a slave. They named the boy Teutus. A few years after this incident, Tertius was sent abroad to serve as military tribune along with his older brother Secundus. The brothers both served in Northern Gaul, near Germania.

ADULTHOOD [50-73]:

• Tertius had been in Northern Gaul in four years, when his brother Secundus was reported missing after a mission in Germania. Tertius was a bit embarrassed over this, after the history of his family with those in Germania and the infamous battle against the Germans in which his ancestor lost his life… but he did not speak about it much. Instead, the same year, Tertius returned to Rome to tell the news about his missing and presumed dead brother – and of course to help his father out, since Tertius was now the only and eldest son in the family. Suddenly, he was the heir.
  
  A year later, Tertius was elected as quaestor and was quite content with his life as it was. He did not have time for much else though – he enjoyed helping his father and serving as quaestor without also having a wife to take care of. In fact, his interest in women wasn’t that great. He had his slave lover when he was a younger man, but after having spent time in Germania and among mostly men in the camps, Tertius’ like for women had lessened and he now kept a male body slave instead. Not that he dislikes women though, but men just seem more convenient for him - and easy on the eyes. The good thing about this was of course also, that the male could not get pregnant with his child and Tertius did not want another bastard like Teutus. Meanwhile, he also entered the Senate as a back-bencher and enjoyed following the discussions. At the same time though, Tertius was careful when it came to politics, because he over the years saw what happened to those who involved themselves too much. He decided that working quietly in the background was safer.
  
  In 61 AD however, his life changed despite how content he was. The family suddenly received a letter from Secundus, who was apparently alive but had survived with a tribe deep in Germania. Secundus returned to Rome, but refused to speak much of his time in Germania. Instead, with their father becoming old and sick by now, he buried himself in work and pushed Tertius aside. Tertius was naturally very frustrated and upset over this. He’d served his father and Rome and the family for years now, assuming he was the heir, just like everyone else did. And now Secundus came back to ruin it all. At least Tertius could calm himself by thinking that Secundus had no wife and heirs and at least Tertius had a young son. He knew he needed a legitimate heir though and perhaps gaining one would make his life and his part in the family safer again. Meanwhile he also did what he could in the senate, as he got to know more of the others and got himself involved to climb the Cursus Honorum further.
  
  Eventually Tertius married Antonia Justa, and the marriage was perfect for both of them. Antonia actually preferred women in her bed and Tertius men in his. They agreed to marry and produce an heir and beyond that, they could sleep with whomever they wanted and no one would ever blame the other. The marriage worked out perfectly. Tertius moved into Antonia’s home and became the Pater Familias of his own household and could now care less about his brother Secundus, with whom he’d had quite a few fights since the other returned. His marriage with Antonia was however short-lived. She became pregnant, and she gave birth… but to a girl. After the birth she was very weak and she never fully recovered. Antonia died in 65 AD, leaving Tertius alone with their daughter, whom they had named Antonia Varia. Even though she was a girl, Tertius came to care about her a lot and spoiled her as much as a father could. In their household his son with a slave, Teutus, also lives. After Antonia died after failing to bring him a male heir, he has been taking better care of Teutus and is considering to adopt him, since he has no true desire towards marriage again - unless of course he's given an offer he can't refuse.
  
  Now, in 74 AD, Tertius still serves as a praetor in Rome - he's done that for over 10 years now - and has no desire to rise to Consul. He's content with his life as a Senator. On the homefront however, he is growing a little bit bored with life and wants something to spend his time on. The last four years, he's spent a lot of time and coin on his body slave Hector, who has also become his lover and is quite obedient, but although he enjoys that part, it is also not very exciting. He has recently thrown his 'love' on his newest slave, Charis, who may threaten Hectors position in the household. Meanwhile he also spends his time spoiling his daughter, teaching Teutus useful things to prepare him for free life, but it is still not enough it seems. Tertius wants more. He just doesn't know what it is.

Timeline: 

30 AD - Tertius is born as the third of three sons to his parents
45 AD - Publius, the eldest brother, dies. Secundus becomes the main heir of the family
48 AD - Tertius joins the Viginitiviry
50 AD - Tertius' son Teutus is born to a slavegirl in the household
51 AD - Tertius serves as a a military tribune in Northern Gaul near Germania with his brother Secundus. He has an affair with a Chatti woman called Frieda.
52 AD - Frieda gives birth to Wulfric, Tertius' son, without Tertius' knowledge.
55 AD - Secundus goes missing after a mission in Germania and is soon presumed dead. Tertius returns to Rome to help out his father, as he is now the last male heir to the family.
61 AD - A letter arrives from Secundus, who is alive and soon returns to Rome and takes over from Tertius. The brothers don't get along well.
63 AD - Tertius marries Antonia Justa and moves out of Secundus' home
64 AD - Antonia, daughter to Tertius and his wife, is born. It was a complicated birth, leaving his wife weak.
65 AD - Antonia Justa never recovered after the complicated birth and dies
67 AD - Publius Quinctilius Varus Major dies, making Secundus the new Pater Familias.
75 AD - Teutus is freed in the spring. Later that year, Peregrinus, son to Tertius and the slave Charis, is born. Peregrinus is recognized as Tertius' son and heir.
76 AD - Tertius' son Wulfric appears in Rome, wanting to know his Roman family. Tertius does not trust him. By Saturnalia 76AD, Tertius frees Charis to live with her as his wife

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Info about Tertius' daughter, Antonia Varia - click spoiler:

LUCIUS ANTONIUS ALEXIUS.

38| 15 May 37 AD | Freedman | Guard | Bisexual/Hypersexual | Original | Dan Feuerriegel

Personality.

As a slave, Alexius – formerly Lexus – used to dislike Romans a great deal. He tried to keep it quiet on a daily basis, but among other slaves, it was hard for him to keep his mouth shut. He was determined to gain his freedom someday, and this was why he managed to stay silent after all, so he would not die before he could reach his goal. He hated being a slave though, so as a gladiator, he took his anger and hatred for the Romans out on other gladiators in the arena. This was how Lexus grew strong and gained the good reputation for surviving so many years. After Lexus was finally freed and changed his name, his outlook on Romans has changed too. 

Many things have changed though, since he was freed a little more than ten years ago. He has worked as a lanista and experienced being an outcast among former friends. He returned to Germania, but was an outcast there too, after many years in Rome and returning to a tribe where no one knew him. Now he’s back in Rome, but among the Romans, he’s still just a freedman and not an actual Roman. Where does Lexus really belong?

The question made him go through a quite dark period of his life and in a way, he’s still there. Sure, the old Lexus still shines through. Outwardly, he still appears as the man he used to be, with plenty of self-esteem and libido to go around. There is a good possibility that Alexius is actually hypersexual and addicted to sex, since he just can't stop, even when he ought to. He wants to stay true to someone; he wants to settle down. But there's still nothing he likes more than a good night on the town, with a drink, maybe a brawl and then of course a beautiful woman or a handsome man (or maybe both) in his bed, or wherever else they may go together. This is how he likes to spend his free time, drinking and drowning himself in pleasure to forget how he does not belong anywhere. But behind the façade, there’s a man longing for someone to accept him and someone who will make him feel as if he belongs. The question is if he will ever get that far...

Appearance

Alexius is a tall and muscular former gladiator, hailing from Germania, just outside the Roman empire. He’s quite tall in Rome especially, standing 6’2” tall, towering above most Romans. His brown hair is worn short and is just long enough, so that you can see it’s slightly curly. His eyes are blue-grey and you can easily tell his emotions by looking at them; he’s bad at hiding his emotions. He’s tanned from being outside a lot. He has several scars especially on his arms and chest from his years as a gladiator.

Family

Father: Eberhard (dead)

Mother: Ishild (dead)

Siblings: Amalia (33, unknown whereabouts)

Spouse: N/A
- previous spouse: Ariella Alexia (divorced)

Children: Lexus Naevius Gineverus (16)

Extended family: N/A

Other: Former lovers include Claudia Gaia, her freedwoman Nahia, Naevia Ginevera (his son's mother), Achillia, Agapetus, Annis... and many more!

Current employer: Teutus Quinctilius Varus 

History

CHILDHOOD [37 to 46 AD]:

• Lexus – who to this day cannot recall the name his parents gave him - was born into a family within the Chatti tribe in Germania. They lived on the Northern side of the Rhine, and when he was born, there was peace. As a child though, he often heard the stories of his greatgrandfathers who fought against the Romans and the general Varus in the Teuteburger Forest and beat them, so that they would never take his tribe’s lands. His ancestors were the reason why Lexus was free and not a Roman, and he was proud of this, already as a child. He loved sitting around the fire at the hearth in the house in the evenings, listening to stories about the battles and often he would imagine himself as a great warrior, fighting the Romans and winning. But his mother told him, that there was peace now, and Lexus would grow up to become a farmer, just like his father. There was no need to consider fighting in battles or wars, even if this interested him greatly.[br]
  
  However, he thought he would indeed be a farmer like the rest of his family and most people in the village. Of course though, this course of life was prevented. There was a constant demand from the Roman Empire for slaves, and though German slaves were not considered the best sort, they could be useful. The village was one day attacked by another roaming tribe of Germans, looking for slaves to sell. They were not prepared in the village, and those who did not die during the attack, were captured and enslaved. Lexus tried to hide along with his sister, Amalia, but their parents were killed and the children were found. Lexus was 7 years old at the time, and he held on well to his little sister and did his best to protect her. 
  
  It was on the way south that he came to hate being in close spaces and cages, for this was how they travelled – he sat in a wagon with his sister, embracing her most of the time. It didn’t take long for him to begin missing freedom and the ability to run… but Lexus wasn’t able to ‘run’ for many years though, for after the long journey South, he and his sister were sold as slaves to the same household in Rome. Amalia came to work in the kitchens, while Lexus was taught how to take care of the horses. He absolutely hated being a slave. Lexus could often be caught daydreaming about the old stories about how his people fought the Romans and won… but here he sat, as a slave to the very same people his ancestors fought against!

TEENAGE TO EARLY ADULT [46 to 56 AD]:

• As he grew older, he would learn how to fight though. He grew tall and working with the horses ensured that he grew strong too. So when Lexus’ owner lost his fortune, someone else luckily saw Lexus’ potential. In the year 51 AD, when Lexus was 14 years old, he was sold to a gladiator school – to become a gladiator, of course. At the same sale, he lost his sister, who was sold to someone else while Lexus went to the gladiator school. He missed his sister a lot, but he also knew he had to work even harder now. Lexus was aware that he could die in the arena, but he was also aware that his purpose was to fight and win and live. He knew that he could honor his ancestors by staying alive and fighting to become free again and eventually one day leave Rome. Lexus still hated the Romans, but he tried his best to follow orders on a daily basis. When he was 15 years old, he experienced pleasure for the first time with an older and experienced female slave of the same house, as his owner thought that losing his virginity would do him very good. And it did. It became the beginning of his neverending desire for more of that. Meanwhile, he also grew stronger and more skilled at fighting. He fought his first fight in a smaller arena when he was 17 years old, and he has survived since then, moving on and towards the grand arenas. He learned how to give the crowd some entertainment, but never did he forget his longing for freedom. He also hoped that if he gained freedom, he’d find his sister… and go home.

ADULTHOOD [56 AD to 73 AD]:

• Eventually, Lexus would get at least one of the things he hoped for in life. He fought for years in the arena and gained quite the reputation – both in the arena and it became quite known that he enjoyed sex with whomever would sleep with him. Lexus was not fussy, as long as he thought his partner was good looking. When he was 22 years old, he was sold from his original lanista to another Dominus and another ludus. At this point of his life, he was a champion - a primus. After a win in the arena for his new owners – patrons - he was given a night with the personal slave to his new owner’s wife. Her name was Ginevera and she became pregnant and had his son in September 59 AD. Ginevera was freed however, before she gave birth and Lexus had never met the child. Later that same year, he also met Achillia, a gladiatrix with whom he fell in love. She even became pregnant too, but sadly, she lost the child before it was born. In the spring of 60 AD, Lexus changed owner again, as the ludus was handed over to the nephew of his first lanista. His new owner was Lucius Antonius Octavianus. And it was at this point that Lexus thought it was now or never – and dared to request freedom from his new owner. To his great surprise, Lucius took him up on the request, freed him the next day, and made Lexus the new lanista of his newly acquired ludus. Lexus took his owners name, changed his slave name slightly, and has since then officially been known as Lucius Antonius Alexius… although among friends, he’s still known as Lexus.
  
  As a lanista, he married Ariella Alexia in 61 AD and in 62 AD, he left the hard work of a lanista to someone else, as his former owner allowed him to leave Rome to finally return to Germania – as he had longed to do since he was a child. He brought Ariella with him on the long journey and was glad to at least have someone. For when he returned to Germania and found the area where his village had once been, he learned that it had been burnt down decades ago and no one ever rebuilt it the same place again. Now there was just a field where he had once played with his sister… and everyone who once knew his family were gone. Germania was not the paradise he’d dreamed it would be and he returned to Rome with his wife, now feeling as if he did not belong anywhere. In Rome, he had always been a slave and a gladiator. When he was freed, the gladiators treated him differently than before and the Romans still did not consider him a real Roman. And in Germania, he did not belong either.
  
  In the end, his marriage suffered under all this. Alexius fell into a dark pit in his mind, and began sleeping around again and drinking, despite having a beautiful and young wife who adored him. He also took work as a guard and spent more time away from home than in it. The life Alexius was used to live was gone and while his wife became pregnant and they hoped to become parents, she miscarried. Eventually, Alexius decided they’d both do better without each other. Since he divorced his wife, he has not taken a new one. He spent many years working as a guard for various nobles, escorting them around in the Empire, but he has now returned to Rome to try and settle down once more. Alexius has even considered returning to life as a gladiator, thinking if does, he may actually stay until the arena takes him for good. This is where his life took him. Lately he has worked as a personal bodyguard (with benefits and feelings involved) to Oriana Laecinia, but Alexius found it hard to stay true to her and she was bound to marry sometime. Now he lives in an insula with his 16 year old son, whom he only just met recently, taking various small jobs when he can, while he still hopes for the next proper job and perhaps, someday, a lover who will accept him as he is with his desires to sleep around with many.

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Lexus was beginning to feel that this odd talk and audition with Corinthia ought to be over soon. She was stunning to look at; he didn’t know if he’d seen such a beauty before, but there was also something about her and he had this odd feeling that she might be trouble. So he hoped that when he told her he had no skills concerning ponds and that he was here to have dinner, he hoped she’d accept that. She was silent for a while, but then suddenly there was a plopping sound – something had fell into the water.

Corinthia was practically screaming, talking about her ring that fell into the water. How did it do that? And then she wanted help. Gods he didn’t want his hands into that water with those odd fish and looked around. A slave was looking from around a corner; he’d clearly heard her too. Lexus tried to catch his eyes, but then the slave hid. Didn’t want to help his Domina? That was weird… 

“Oh I don’t know… what to do.” Lexus said, sounded bewildered. The only way he could imagine getting that ring or going into that water was if the fish were gone… but killing them wouldn’t look good either and he wasn’t sure he could. Oh he ought to be a man, but right now he felt more like a boy…

“I think we need to go and get help from someone who knows the pond and the… I can’t remember their names. I’ll be right back!” And before she could stop him, he was running in the direction where he’d seen the slave. And quite right, there were actually a few of them, women and men, apparently hiding out of sight from Corinthia… what was that all about?

“Hey, I really need help! Your Domina dropped a ring into the water and I don’t know how to get it back to her. Please help…” Lexus asked, his eyes pleading, because he could see they didn’t want to, but they had to, “If not for her, then for me… then I promise I’ll help you some other time. Please!” He begged and finally one of the young women stepped up and said she’d do it. Lexus took her hand and led her back to the pond.

Lexus looked at her, when she pointed out he should be more polite regarding his name. Wasn’t it she who forgot his name or did she say it wrong intentionally? And he had been polite, at least he thought so. He hadn’t said it harshly, he just said it. But he decided to stay quiet for now, she was clearly a special kind of woman and Lexus didn’t know much about them in the first round.

Then they were talking about the pond and he explained he didn’t know much about fish and she wondered if he had learned to clean ponds. And wondered if he’d demonstrate his skills. Lexus looked at the pond and decided it might not be a good idea.

“I could, if I had any, Domina. But I do not have any skills concerning ponds.” He explained, “Besides, I am here to have dinner with your mother and mine… we have not agreed about any work yet.” He added, hoping she’d not be mad about that, but it was true. And he didn’t want to get wet or dirty before the dinner, so he better just not touch that pond at all. 
 

He wondered why she kept saying his name wrong – it wasn’t a hard name to remember, he thought. His father had been a famous gladiator, after all, but it might have been way before Corinthia here also knew about such things. So of course she wouldn’t know. She commented that it was a lovely name and Lexus nodded, “Gratitude, for saying that. I hope you’ll learn it better then.” He said, but still thought it was odd she didn’t remember. Meanwhile though, she looked at the pond and moved them closer to it and spoke about the fish.

“Yes, Domina.” He replied simply, watching her pretty hand and the rings on her hand. He never even had one ring and she had so many. It was very obvious they came from different lives, but that’s just how it was. Lexus never knew another life, after all. Corinthia then wondered if he liked the fish.

“I suppose. I don’t know much about fish, but they are pretty. They do fit this house well.” He added and looked up at her. So Corinthia liked pretty things; he was glad he went to a bathhouse before they came and that his mother made sure they were both well dressed. Lexus wanted to make a good impression, even if he wasn’t sure yet what to think of Corinthia. He would honor his mother though. 

Lexus had explained to Corinthia how he met her mother, all while they were walking with her arm around his shoulder, as if they were best friends. He had not put his arm around her though, didn’t know if he could or should. She was clearly older than he, old enough to marry, but she treated him like a friend. Yet there was something off… but he said nothing and when she asked if he’d be here more often, he looked at her, “Maybe, if we can agree on how it might work. But I guess it’s up to our mothers to decide.” Lexus then explained, looking at the beautiful garden then and the pond. 

He’d never lived in a place that had its own pond before. It was all very magnificent! Meanwhile Crinthia wondered if her mother would have many parties and if Lexus liked the pond. However, she almost said his name wrong… again. 

“I do like the pond, yes. It’s beautiful.” He said, “Would you prefer I had another name, domina? Is it so hard to remember it?” Not that he had any plan to change it, but he wondered why she kept saying it wrong. 

He could only assume this was Gaia’s daughter – but he had never met her, so how could he be certain? She was beautiful though, like Gaia, although taller. It was rare that he met such tall women, his own mother was not tall either. She confirmed she was Gaia’s daughter though, and then he had made sure to praise the villa she lived in. She might think it was not grand enough; Lexus had not seen its likes before!

She then pointed out how it must be an honor for him to be here, although her tone was a bit strange. Lexus only nodded though, “It certainly is.” He agreed again. Then she shifted and draped her arm over his shoulder, as if they were friends, and she began walking. Lexus followed, thinking he should probably do as she wished, as he didn’t wish to offend her. And he realized he might never have been so close to a woman before, one that was not his mother at least. He inhaled a silent breath and Corinthia wondered how he met her mother.

“I was serving at a party… but some of the men thought…” He trailed off, perhaps he should leave that part out, unless she had already guessed. He moved on quickly, “…anyway, I needed a break, and that’s when I met your mother. She was very kind to me and offered me and my mother to come and work here, if we would. That’s why we have come now.” Lexus seemed to miss her strained smile, as he was busy talking and trying to tell her what she wanted to hear. 

Gaia had warned him about his daughter, but so far, she just stood there, looking stunning and tall and every bit the young Domina of the house that she was. Lexus felt almost shy in her presence and gave her a small smile, stating how she surprised him. The young woman smiled strangely and came closer. Then she seemed to have forgotten his name, but recalled it. 

He nodded, “Yes, Domina, my name is Lexus. Lexus Naevius Gineverus. You must be Claudia Gaia’s daughter?” He replied, while she touched the statue he’d been looking at, but she kept watching him. His mother had said he might grow taller and he knew he was still growing – and that his father had been quite tall. He and the young woman, who had to be Corinthia, were almost the same height. She was tall for a woman, he thought. Tall and beautiful. She was naturally much better dressed than he was.

“The villa is beautiful, Domina. I don’t think I have visited such a beautiful villa before. It is an honor just to be here.” He said; he had his manners and he knew what to say. He had taken a few jobs as a servant for senator’s before, so he’d learned, but there was something special about this villa – where he assumed there was no Dominus, but only Gaia and her daughter. 

April, 73 AD

His mother had become sick and that meant they couldn’t travel to Claudia Gaia’s villa outside of Rome on the day it was meant to be. Luckily Lexus’ mother wasn’t too sick though, but he still had to make sure they had some food in their house and he’d taken a job for some different shopkeepers in the area – running errands for them. They had to have some coin, after all, if they wanted some food and wanted to stay in Rome. Lexus liked it here and didn’t want to move again. He hoped they could stay for a while.

Two weeks had now passed since he met Gaia and his mother was finally doing better again. She dressed in a fine, light green dress and did all she could to look her best – Lexus wasn’t sure he’d seen his mother so beautiful before. She made sure he was dressed well too, it wasn’t every day you went to visit a former imperial’s widowed wife, after all. From a friend she'd borrowed a green tunica and even gained Lexus' first off-white toga virilis for him. Lexus never wore a toga before and thought he looked very mature in it. They travelled in a carriage together to the villa and Lexus stepped out first, helping his mother. 

Guards allowed them into the glorious villa, explaining the hostess was not quite ready yet, but they were welcome to explore the villa. Lexus’ mother, Ginevera, went to the peristyle and Lexus just stood looking at the entrance for a little while. And then he began exploring the insides of the villa. There were many beautiful things in here, he thought. The walls were painted and doorways were decorated and there were all signs that this home belonged to someone wealthy. And someone who knew his father, he then thought. 

Lexus stopped to look at a bust of some fancy old senator, but he then had that feeling as if someone watched him. The young man turned around to see a tall and very stunning looking young woman standing a bit behind him and remembered that Claudia Gaia had a daughter. Was this her? She was taller than her mother then, and she almost looked exotic. He gave her a small smile, “Domina… you surprised me.” 

Helios gave Cleisthenes a look, when the other said a little light would be appreciated – it almost sounded like he didn’t have much of it in his life at all. But it was not his place to ask questions, at least not out here where there were other people. He smiled instead at the kiss given to his cheek and then the other suggested moving to his room. 

“That depends on what we’re starting…” Helios said with a grin and draped his arm around Cleisthenes back, closing the space between them, “Are you here just for pleasure… or do you want more than just that? I’ll happily be your escort, if you want to leave, but we can also stay. Whatever you like, is yours.” He said, his voice soft and his eyes playful, when he look at the other man, wondering what exactly he was looking for.

Cleisthenes Of Athens

He’d left Marcus the grumpy bouncer behind to… do something else than hanging around someone not enjoying Saturnalia. Helios had already had his fair share of other people in his bed tonight, but this was Saturnalia and he bet he would not sleep until sunrise anyway. And had to keep up the good reputation of the brothel that was his home, even tonight. So when the handsome and young redheaded male entered the establishment, he was glad to be approached and the guy certainly did not beat around the bushes! He went straight for what mattered.

Helios couldn’t help but laugh a little, “Of course I am, did you see where you are?” He asked with a cheerful grin, “I am Helios and here to brighten up your night, if that’s what you need.” Helios added and glanced over his shoulder at the domina, who sat on her couch still. Then he looked to his new found companion, “I actually have a room here. It’s one of the best.” 

Cleisthenes Of Athens

Phaedo took the one piece of bread, with a heartfelt, ”Thanks!”, and when offered the grapes, plucked one and popped it in his mouth. It was plump and firm and burst with juiciness. This was so much fun, being out with Lexus! When the boy mentioned wine, Phaedo looked around and then dragged his friend towards a shop front – a taberna. He pulled out a coin, careful to tuck the last one he had deep inside the leather pouch. That would be to buy a sweet to send home with Lexus for his mother. The other coin he handed to the woman who was serving the many revelers who pressed into the tavern. ”A small jug,” he ordered. ”But no water.” Phaedo would not mind getting a little tipsy himself. After all, it was a festival, and a time to let loose. Plus he feared that the woman would give him a flask with mostly water and little wine in it, if he wasn’t careful. She sort of looked displeased, much as the mummer had. But Phaedo was poor as poor could be. This sort of treat was rare and he would not squander what little he had.

When the small clay jug was handed to him, he offered it first to Lexus. Over the boy’s shoulder, he spied two young women, a few feet away, who were clearly looking at him, and Lexus. They smiled. By their dress, Phaedo guessed they were from a better class, perhaps daughters of merchants or tradesmen, let loose for the evening where all things were turned upside down. Or perhaps they had snuck out from under watchful eyes. Who knew?

In any case, he smiled back, and that made them giggle. Perhaps the look on Pheado’s face would be enough to cause his young friend to turn and wonder what was so amusing. 

Lexus Naevius Gineverus

He was glad that he at least had Phaedo here to guide him – not that he couldn’t find his own way around, but it felt good to be with the older boy and it felt good to keep holding his hand through this… madness, as Phaedo said it was. And he was right! It was insane, this amount of people in the streets. How did you have fun in such a crowd? Weren’t there private parties? No matter though, it was wild to be a part of it. Finally they made it to the forum they’d been approaching for a while and at a cleared space in the crowd, some actors were performing a strange play. 

Lexus watched together with Phaedo and was easily caught by the spirit of the forum, laughing when the rest did and never leaving Phaedo’s side. When the play seemed to be over though, Phaedo was kind enough to provide one of his precious coins to the actors. Lexus would have too, but he did not have that many and he thought he’d rather save them to get something good for him and Phaedo.

Phaedo was hungry too and wondered if Lexus’ mother would come, “I don’t know. I think she had some friends to see tonight.” He said, “But we’re not there… let’s find food. What do you want? I just want something easy I think. Oh, and we should have something to drink, shouldn’t we?” Lexus added with a laugh; it seemed everyone were drinking tonight and he wanted to do the same. He’d never actually been drunk, but there’s a first for everything, right? He kept his hold on Phaedo’s hand and found a cart where the owner offered bread soaked with a bit of garum and olive oil and fruits too, if you’d want that… Lexus bought two pieces of bread and a branch of grapes and plucked one to eat, “Oh these are good. Now we just need the drinks!” 

Phaedo

Lexus didn’t care if Phaedo thought it was a modest gift – Phaedo was a slave, a prostitute even, he didn’t even actually own his own life. So that he went out of his way to get Lexus a present, that was really something. And who couldn’t use a little bit of good luck? He almost wanted to say that Phaedo should have one too, but he kept it to himself. Tonight especially, his friend did not need to be reminded that he wasn’t lucky because he was a slave. Instead they should just go and have some fun, right?

Phaedo wanted Lexus to say thanks to his mother and then added he’d thank her too, when he got the chance. Lexus smiled, “I’ll tell her you said thanks and how happy you were. I’m sure she’ll be happy to hear it.” He said and then thought they should get going. But he didn’t know where to go… Phaedo on the other hand, he knew everything there was to know – or at least, that’s what it felt like to Lexus, who looked up to his friend with all his experience – so he had to know where to go. Phaedo said stuff would be happening at the nearby forum and mentioned the plays and Lexus nodded, “I’d love to see one of those!”Not that he was entirely innocent and had been blind while he came to visit Phaedo here at the brothel, but those plays were famous!

Meanwhile Phaedo said he also had coins for food and explained how he got them because he was skilled. Lexus could only imagine just how skilled he was and that’s just another reason for looking up to him. His mother had hinted often that his father enjoyed women and pleasure a great deal, but Lexus was at least still pure when it came to all that. He was however also 14 years old now and nearly a man, so who could blame him for being curious… especially in here. But he had yet to take part in any of the action in the brothel. He was just here to see Phaedo. 

“I have some coins too, so we could get us something really good. Perhaps a drink too.” Lexus said and let Phaedo take his hand to be dragged into the night, “There’s so many people in the streets tonight!” He exclaimed while they walked through the alleys and streets towards the forum. In addition, everyone here were so… excited! It was somewhat contagious! 

Phaedo

Lexus couldn’t help but smile at Phaedo’s reaction to the present. Well of course Lexus would have a present for him. Phaedo was his friend and perhaps one of the best friends he’d ever had… with all the moving around in Italia, he never had much time to get to know anyone well. And when it happened, well… he tried to stay in touch, but it was hard and you never knew where his mother might want to settle down next. Now they’d been in Rome for a year though and he had known Phaedo a good long time. And he was just the best. 

Phaedo could even barely reply when he commented on the gift and Lexus’ grin just widened, “Of course I did. I’d not be much of a friend if I didn’t bring you something.” He said and watched Phaedo unwrap the parcel and look at the tunica. It would fit, Lexus deemed. And it might go to just above the knees on Phaedo; he hadn’t been sure about the length, but it looked to be just about right. And Phaedo blushing made him happy. Soon he was pulled into another warm hug and returned it fully this time.

“Yeah, mother made this for you. She wanted to make me another, but then I thought of you. And you need it more than I.” Lexus said in a friendly tone. Then Phaedo decided he’d wear it now and before Lexus knew it, Phaedo had undressed without a second thought. Of course he’d seen naked men and women before, especially in here, but this was someone he knew well. Lexus might not have any experience compared to Phaedo, but he could guess why the other would be popular in here. He had smooth skin and a handsome body. Soon though, Phaedo had put on the new tunica and Lexus smiled, “It looks great on you! Really! I’m glad you like it.” Lexus replied. 

Then of course Phaedo had a gift for him too, not wrapped, but it didn’t matter. Phaedo handed a little figurine to Lexus and he turned it in his hands while Phaedo explained, “It’s very sweet and pretty. Thanks.” Lexus said, “I’ll make sure to keep it close to me at all times! And it’ll remind me of how lucky I am to have you as my friend.” He added with a cheerful wink and placed it in the little purse he had hanging by his belt. Then he looked up at Phaedo, “So… should we go somewhere? Do you know a good place to go tonight?” 

Phaedo