Atrice

Lexus worried it might be his fault that the other guy fell over and was almost trampled… but the other claimed it was not his fault and blamed the crowds here. He said he was fine, but then also noticed his knees… “It could become bad, or so m… many people say.” He almost spoke about his mother, but it somehow felt a little but degrading for a young man like Lexus to talk about his mother in public like that. He was trying to grow up, after all. He couldn’t stay at home by the hearth forever.

The other then wondered where Lexus was going and was very talkative. Lexus kind of liked that, although he was sometimes told he spoke too much. He just couldn’t help it, if something caught his interest or got him going, he was on it! 

“We were going the same way then, I think I was going to that festival. There’s so much going on in this city, all the time… it’s so exciting. I just wanted to see.” Lexus explained, probably sounding as excited as he felt, “But yeah, the crowds are a problem… but you were part of them? That must mean you’re a… I mean… uhm…” He felt the heat rise in his cheeks as he realized the guy he was talking to might be a prostitute! He never met one before and certainly never expected that if he met one, it would be a guy. And suddenly he had no words, what did you say to someone who sold their body like that? The guy here must know a lot. A lot about all the things Lexus knew nothing about.

Phaedo

The friendly looking guy looked at him, but only shortly, for the place was so crowded and everyone so busy… that suddenly the guy was on the ground, only just managing to not hit his face flat on the street. Lexus spent no time thinking, he tried to push people out of the way to rush to the guy to help him up. This was really too much! Perhaps being in a crowded city like Rome was a bad idea, no matter how exciting it was too. If people acted like this… that was no fun. Lexus reached the other guy and stretched out a hand to help him up, if he would take it.

And the stranger did take it and soon stood next to Lexus by the wall. He gave Lexus an unsteady smile and commented on the incident.

“Definitely, are you alright? Sorry if I… if it was my fault, I didn’t mean to get you distracted.” Lexus said with a shy smile. He looked the other over to see if he was perfectly fine. He did look fine, at least… or at least most of him… “Your knees… you scraped them…” He didn’t quite know if he could do anything about it, but he wanted to get away from here and if it was his fault the stranger got hurt, then it was up to Lexus to help him, right?

Phaedo

You never really finished exploring Rome! They had been here a good long while now, Lexus and his mother, but the city often still felt new to him and he still didn’t know every alley and every corner. How could he? This was the biggest city he’d ever been in and there were people who said that Rome was the biggest city in the entire world! It was amazing, the buildings beautiful. The streets of the commoners often smelled disgustingly, but everything else made up for that. Lexus was easy to impress though.

He’d gone out today to explore some more. And someone told him there was a grand festival held today, one that apparently had to do with wine and so far, Lexus liked wine. Not unlike the father he never knew, but no one ever told him that his father would have enjoyed this festival very much. All the people and especially all the women and the men attending it. But where his father, wherever he might be now, had been almost famous in certain circles for his libido… young Lexus was not like that. He had never kissed or touch a woman, or a man for that matter, at least not like that. Still that just made this festival even more interesting to take a closer look at. He’d been told that both women and prostitutes would come to a certain temple and perform rituals and Lexus was mostly curious about the young women. 

Only he’d gone to see the rituals and the festival at the wrong time of the day, but how could he know, right? Suddenly though, he seemed caught by the crowd and was carried with the people. He had no chance of turning back or away and it almost looked like he was part of them now. And this was not just young women. And they certainly weren’t dressed like wealthy or ordinary young women, those that were here.

Were these the prostitutes? And would people think him one of them now? Lexus suddenly felt very uncertain in the crowd, but he couldn’t get away. He’d gone towards the sides though and suddenly he managed to break lose… only to almost be pushed up against a wall by someone who was apparently busy to get past him. He rubbed the back of his head, the wall was hard! And now he stood here and had no idea where to go or why. He was lost in more than one way! Fuck! He looked at the people walking by him and saw a young man who seemed friendly and not dangerous… he reached out for his shoulder, “Uhm… excuse me? Do you know how to get away from here?” 

Phaedo

His new found companion seemed to gladly take the wine Alexius offered, and well, that was a good sign. Alexius was usually friendly with people, especially people who did not really fit in, since he was also one of those people. He was not born here, but he did not belong in Germania either. He belonged in the tavern here though, he thought to himself.

The Greek man repeated his name and Alexius realized he’d said it wrong. He better pay better attention! Then Cleisthenes explained a woman had brought him here and he’d been in Rome for about a year now.

“Oh…” Alexius said, “Apologies, I just thought you might just have arrived… I’ve never seen you here before.” He added with a small smile, “So a woman brought you here… women, right? They make us do so many strange things.” Alexius’ smile widened then and he looked at Cleisthenes again. Alexius had been married and he’d been in something like a relationship with other women, but men had just been friends. Well, sometimes with benefits. But certainly friends… and it was always good to meet another. 

Cleisthenes Of Athens

Alexius picked up the jar to fill his cup with wine again and just as he was about to take a sip, the young redhead sat down just next to him. He gave the younger man a look, he certainly wasn’t bad up close and the more wine he drank, the more fine the redhead would look. And the more certain Alexius would be. So he downed some of the wine and then the other man decided to simply start up a conversation. 

Alexius gave him a warm smile, “I’m Alexius… or, I have a longer name, but Alexius is fine. Good to meet you too. Are you thirsty?” He asked, but before Cleisthenes could answer, he’d waved for the barmaid and pointed at his new companion – so she knew to fetch a second cup and place it in front of the newcomer. She gave the odd pair a look and then she disappeared to serve other patrons in the tavern. Alexius picked up his jar of wine again and filled Cleisthenes' cup.

“So, what brings you here… Cleistheus?” He did not deliberately say the name wrong, but he’d never heard it before and it was quite long. 

Cleisthenes Of Athens

December, 73 AD

Somehow, life had brought him back to Rome again. It would seem that no matter where he went or with whom, somehow he’d end up the greatest city of all times… again. It made sense, of course. This was kind of where he grew up, where he worked and fought and gained fame and eventually freedom from slavery. But since he gained that freedom, he’d been searching for a new purpose with his life. It had been a hard struggle, at least to begin with, after the visit to Germania and back again. At least he was used to travelling now, wasn’t that good? He’d seen most of Italia, he’d seen Germania and Gaul. He’d not yet been to Brittania, but you can’t go everywhere, right?

And now here he was. In Rome. He knew the city well and knew where he preferred to go. In the poorer area of Rome, there was a good tavern. It was owned Bellona, a former gladiatrix, and maybe that’s why he felt so at home here? She knew him too, of course, he’d been here many times and they’d both aged quite a lot since their time in the arena. Not that Alexius wasn’t still good looking – he was told he was – but he also knew he wasn’t young.

Tonight, he settled down on a stool by himself and asked the sweet slavegirl strolling by, if she’d get him a jar of wine and a cup. Of course she could. When she returned, she gave him a kind smile and wondered if she could serve him otherwise tonight. Alexius grinned, promising he’d let her know and then he poured some wine into his cup and looked around to see who was here tonight.

He downed some wine and as he looked over the rim of the cup to set it down, he saw a young man enter the tavern. He looked kind of misplaced, with his red hair and pale skin, so pretty in comparison to most other men here. He seemed well-dressed too, maybe even too well-dressed for this area of Rome. Perhaps he was lost? Alexius decided to keep an eye on him, just in case, while he emptied his first cup of wine. Surely, the first of many to come.

Cleisthenes Of Athens