Kah

"Out of my way, plebians! Make a hole!" The crowd parted like waves under the prow of a ship. Stares came Bestia's way - as they always did - and vigiles nearby reached for their implements. The woman's face was a mask of frustrated determination, her hair more tangled than usual. Old leaves trailed down to the ends of her curls, and on either side, twigs laid flat against her skull. It gave the impression of an animal with its ears laid flat, or a deer with its horns growing down. Her feet and legs were muddy to the knees and elbows, and her ragged, patchwork tunic was in ribbons at the bottom. Fresh scratches and bruises covered her face and arms, dry trails of blood streaking down. Fear and disgust painted the Roman faces around her at her state. It didn't matter. Bestia came painted in the hues of earth and body for a reason, and that reason was prophecy. In the forests outside of Rome, in shelter only known to her, a message had come amidst drinking and dance. Intoxicated and thoughtless, Bestia throwing herself into shadows brought alive, she'd heard whispers. They came between the crackles of a fire heavy with offerings and the woman's ragged panting. And then, in the corner, crowned with laurel leaves and holding the bottle of wine she'd poured, she'd seen his face. Bacchus. Her god, standing there in the skin of a leopard, half-realized and half-dream. The whispers came and drowned her then, and though his lips were unmoving, Bestia knew the words were his. Now it was time to act on those words. Bestia marched up to the steps of the Senate, a white cock under her arm squawking and kicking wildly. She'd bound its legs and body with twine, but that didn't stop it from wriggling, crowing and trying to peck at her. The praeco, crowing out the day's news as he always did, trailed off to turn and look at her from his podium. "Madam!" he called. "Madam, please, Senate is in session and no man or woman is to - " "Shut it, you fat bastard!" Bestia snarled back, looking over her shoulder at the praeco. "I have a message to deliver!" @Sharpie

Name: Kah Discord: PM me.

Bestia stared angrily. She bared her teeth a little, looking like she was going to bite Titus's finger off. The rooster squawked in pain as she tightened her grip on it, fists clenching hard. If Bestia squeezed them any tighter, one might wonder if she'd break the poor bird's feet off. All the tension and irate feeling in her escaped with a long sigh. She rubbed her nose and eyes with a free hand, then held out the cock toward Titus. Bestia looked up with a sullen expression. "I get it," she said. "You deal with too much shit for this. Here, take the bird. It's yours, and I don't want to waste any more of your time. I'm not conning anyone, all right?" She'd stand there and wait for him to take it, or for him to instruct her to do something else with it. Had Titus won the argument? It was seeming so, and Bestia's posture had slumped forward in a pose of surrender. On the other hand, Bestia changed moods as often as markets changed coin, so she still might bite his finger off. @Sara

Bestia, surprised, nonetheless held out her wrist for Thessala. She watched with a curious expression, sipping at her wine. The wildling never winced, but she did frown a couple of times, making no sound save her gulping. She was used to small aches and pains, and even worse - all hurt led to a greater ecstasy in her line of work. "Really now?" Bestia answered. "I bet that makes small talk with the noblewomen a pain. They're always so interested in the strange and far-away. I don't blame them - they're all cooped up in their homes, traded around like commodities, never allowed to be rowdy.... We don't even vote, for Jupiter's sake." She sighed a dramatic sigh, then tipped her head back and downed the wine like it was fresh water. Bestia smacked her lips together and let out a quiet, "Ahhhh." She put her drink down on the nearest hard surface, which one would hope wasn't the floor. "But I digress. Politics are boring. I wonder if letting the gladiators fight a lion in the senate might liven things up a bit." @Chevi

"I make do," Bestia said. She took the wine, nodded, and tilted her head back. Despite her wild presence thus far, she was delicate and restrained with her drink. Polite, even. Her sip was quiet, she wiped her lips with the tips of her fingers, and she thanked Thessala quietly. "I'm exotic," Bestia answered next. "Or so I've been told. I couldn't tell you where, exactly, I'm from. Just that there were a lot of trees." She shrugged. It wasn't so uncommon a situation for oneself to be found in. How many slaves entered the trade as children, never remembering who they came from? How many orphans were the result of war, famine, disease, or sudden abandonment? How many people turned up somewhere they didn't expect, their mind blurred by drink? "But I've known Thrace," she said, after taking another drink. @Chevi

"Thank you, sir," Bestia said. "If I may request: could you allow his performance for tonight to pay for his drinks? I highly doubt he'll be back if he humiliates himself enough. If not, I promise to come by in the morning and work out an arrangement with you on payment. I did, after all, agree to cover his tab." Bestia wrinkled her nose. "Not my best idea, but alas." She took the blanket and turned back to the man, trotting over with the look of someone scheming. Grinning, she thrust the moth-eaten blanket into Titus's arms. "Here," she said. "The poppina has asked you to perform a parody of a senator. You have been instructed to make as much fun as possible of whoever you decide is the biggest git in the Senate. Put on this and pretend it's a dignified asshole's toga." She stepped back and waited for the calamity to unfurl. Bestia was sure that this would end up entertaining, embarrassing, or just plain sad. Who knew what chaos her "friend" would unleash on this poor poppina? (Actually, she seemed to have considered what sort, as Bestia quickly added, "And don't break anything!") @David

Titus would be in no such luck. "Ignore him," Bestia said. "He sometimes comes to me for herbs when his manliness leaves him. We are business associates, nothing more. We were supposed to be discussing work, until this moron decided he'd get smashed first." Her grip on his nose didn't let go. "You'll be paid before we leave, trust me." She then waited for the owner to leave, which allowed Bestia the pleasure of throwing Titus's arm off. Or, at least, as best as she could. Even with her ropy muscles and a limber body capable of scaling cliffs, he was bigger than her. All of this came with a bemused face, and an arched eyebrow when Titus finished rambling. "I stock the menageries," was her dry reply, "and the women's larders. Go to Elysium if you want a fuck. No, we're going to do good, honest work tonight. How good are you at acting?" Bestia didn't frequent Rome's venues of entertainment. Her haunts were its markets, streets and alleyways. The most lively place she remembered being was the Forum Boarium, and the vigiles had kicked her out. What this all meant was that this Titus was unknown to her, and therefore, another drunk nobody. The woman released Titus's nose. Attempting to hop to her feet, Bestia cleared her throat, adjusting her poor clothes as best she could. If not stopped, she'd start striding over to where she saw the owner go. Clasping her hands together, Bestia asked, "Good sir, would you permit I and my acquaintance to entertain your poppina? I promise no damage will be done, though I encourage you to encourage others to throw things at his face. We would like to attempt a parody." She paused for a moment. "Oh, and an old sheet you wouldn't mind giving to us for a fake toga." @David

In response, the stranger shot out a small hand to grab at Titus's nose. If he didn't jerk back or swat away at her calloused fingers, she would grab and threaten to twist his snout off. Leaning in with hard eyes, messy hair all tangled with things of the wilderness, Bestia smiled. "Threaten me again," she hissed, "and I will break your fucking nose off. Now sit in your chair, half-wit, and let me handle this nonsense before you show people how much more of a pot-shagging fuckwit you are." Bestia looked over and snapped her fingers at the poppina's keeper. "Good owner! Good sir!" she called. "Tell me, how much has this man had to drink tonight?" She put on her most winning smile, which wasn't saying much. Her wolf-fur pallium was dust-covered and ragged, sodden at the bottom where it dragged in the mud. It was shoddily held together by a rusted pin that'd seen better days. The shabby, half-stitched tunic beneath it was threadbare around its hems. There was a fair covering of dust and smears up and down her body, interspersed with scars new and old. The freshest looked to be on the wrist of the hand that had shot out, resembling the bite of something dog-like. @David

"Because you didn't ask for other options!" Bestia snapped. "If you didn't want to provide the wine, I would find water from a fountain, or use my own blood! If you didn't want to give me bread, I would've begged for it or saw if a Patrician would spare some!" The woman stomped through the muck of the street, who-knew-what splattering her legs. She sped up and aimed to swing around in front of the vigile, aiming to jab a finger at (or into) his chest. Baring her teeth, Bestia spat, "And the offering of chicken is because I'm willing to share such a gift! Unlike what the people of this gods-damned twice-forsaken city believe, some people [i]still[/i] do that! And, unlike them, I do actually do all of this out of respect for you lot, even though we both know very well some of you are out fucking around in more ways than one!" People were stopping to stare. Hands went over the ears of children. Coin was swapped between two fisher-folk betting on how long it would take before Titus beat her. A water-bearer rolled her eyes, incredulous at the display. Bestia fumed and glared, fists clenched but held out at her sides. @Sara

"I need no bath!" Bestia said, giggling cheerfully. "I'll just scrape some dirt off and splash my face in the Tiber. Baths are too noisy. I only have them when I need to. Romans make cleaning oneself so [i]complicated[/i]!" Bestia trotted in and made herself at home, sitting on the nearest hard surface. It needn't be a chair, but it could be a stool, a chest, a tipped-over basket - if it fit, she would sit. She watched Thessala in silence, canting her head to one side. Messy tangles of brown-black hair swayed into her face, and drops of blood dribbled down her wrist. Her hands rested on her knees. "What is it that you do when you're not conquering hearts or trying to rip them out in the Coliseum?" Bestia asked. "Preparing for the next war with Troy? No, wait - that's the Greeks. Silly me." She giggled again. @Chevi

Sorry for the late reply to this - I've been away, unfortunately. :p I would be in favour of a thread between them. Where do you think they could meet?

"You have a connection with the Gods then?" Bestia nodded with vigour. "You're an honest, hard-working woman?" Bestia nodded again. "Mhm-hm!" "The fauna and flora and...chickens, I grant you, might be honest." "They are!" Bestia insisted. "I go the fields and pick the plants myself! The animals I catch alone, with my bare hands! I do only the best I can for my customers!" And then Titus called her readings "horseshit". Bestia scowled, looking ready to launch into another tirade. The mean face disappeared when Titus asked her to prove herself, and Bestia stood there for a moment. One had to wonder if there was whiplash from how fast her mood seemed to change with the situation. Then, she said, "Of course!" and collected herself. She cradled the chicken in her arms, among her furs. "Gladly, my good Vigile! For you, I charge nothing. All I ask is that you give me bread to divine with, and enough clear space that I can let the chicken work." She began to walk forward, as if to start searching for the latter. She stopped and then added, "And some wine or water, for a libation. If not, I can use other means." @Sara

"A bandage for what?" Bestia asked. She glanced down at herself to inspect for injury - oh. That. Bestia lifted up her wrist and inspected it, following after Thessala. "You can get a bandage if you want," Bestia said, "but I'm sure it'll heal up just fine." The woman held the cut to her nose, sniffed it, and then gave it a lick. The blood disappeared, and a slave tending to some amphorae nearby had to stop and stare. Bestia flashed him a grin and an eyebrow waggle, and the young man quickly hurried along. "This looks like a sturdy place," Bestia commented. "Little dusty, but it can't be helped. Especially at this time of year." She glanced at her cut again, slowing to marvel at the pillars and tiling. It was a plain place, not a particularly special part of the building they walked through, but Bestia took it in. Thoughtful humming accompanied a swipe of her finger across some graffiti. "This place has seen many," she noted. "Scrawls, all over the place. Almost as many as on the walls on Rome. When do the tributes to Vibia pop up?" She realized she was falling behind. From where she bowed to examine the writing, she hurried to join Thessala. "Some things I don't recognize, too," she said. "Greek letters, but then strange shapes. Unless they're supposed to be gladiators comparing their 'equipment'." Bestia held up her fingers to make quotes, pallium batting at Thessala's side. @Chevi

"Just keep off the bloody streets. I know of you." "Oh?" the woman asked, arching her eyebrows. "And how do you know of me? Have you seen me peddling? Are you interested in my wares?" Her pleasant expression vanished when Titus asked her about her "scamming". Scamming? Scamming?! "Who in Hades has said that I'm scamming?!" the woman said, voice pitching high. The request for her name was ignored. "I catch fauna for menageries and food! I bring herbs into Roma for the sick and the hungry! I read the birds for anyone who asks me! I do not scam people, my good vigile - I ply an honest trade!" Her voice dipped into something sounding hurt. Her eyes plead with Titus as a dog might with its master for a bone. "I beseech you, good Titus of the Vigiles! Please, listen to me! My reputation has been besmirched! This is all a mistake! Allow me to show you the honesty of my work, somehow!" She swung the chicken off her shoulder and held it up. "I would give you this cock for free as proof of my word, not a bribe! I would read your fortune and give possession of him unto you! Please, let me clear my name somehow - if not through augury, then something else!" @Sara

Bestia moved forward. First came the todd off of her neck, the vixen held by the legs and put to the side on the ground. The female kicked and flailed as she sensed freedom, Bestia ignoring her. The woman held the todd's legs tight as she undid the rope, deftly pulling loose a series of bowties and knots. It tried at once to stand and flee, only for the woman to grab its feet, swing it back and forth, and shake it with vigour. The animal stilled for a moment, long enough for her to pin it. "Next, the mouth," she said in a murmur. Her free hand reached up toward the todd's neck, the male squirming and fighting all the way. She grabbed the edge of its scruff, her fingers pulling back until she felt a vein. Bestia pinched it, and the animal went limp. Swift as she could, Bestia pulled the rope free, tongue sticking out of her mouth as she did. When that was done, she took her new free hand and clamped it on the todd's throat and held it up. "Now!" The todd was tossed in, flopping like cloth. Its eyes had rolled up a bit in its head, but the movement seemed to rouse it. As it weakly lifted up its snout to sniff, Bestia repeated the process with the vixen. It struggled and kicked more, necessitating Bestia to do the neck-pinch on it twice to still it. The small woman muttered a curse under her breath as its sharp nails caught the edge of her wrist. "Again!" Bestia called. Once more came a two-handed toss, and the vixen ended up in the same position as her counterpart. Bestia stood up, brushed the mud off the front of her pallium, and wiped her hands against one another. Blood had begun to bead on the scratch on her wrist, but she either didn't notice or care. It was a flesh wound, anyway - no different than a scrape against rock. @Chevi OOC: I sped the process along a bit to keep with the narrative, but you can have something happen if you want. I can go back and edit/cut off at some point to fit it in.

Bestia flashed a grin at some of the gladiators. It was as bright as the ones she gave Thessala, or even more so. A little too bright to some of them, at one point. The unbroken eye contact she gave, evaluating and hungry, raised a few eyebrows. Some of them turned their heads and looked away, either annoyed or unnerved. Bestia smirked, then turned her attention to Thessala. "Yes, those will work well," Bestia said. "The animals will not like them at first. They are too used to being loose. You may have to grind up poppy seeds and drug them when you clean out the cages, which should be every few days. They should be fed a third of a chicken once or twice a day, including the organs in whatever piece you give them. If not that, scraps from the kitchen and garum no one wants. Bones they may choke on, as dogs do." She unfolded her cloak and put the vixen on the ground, then lifted the todd over her head. Both flopped and cackled in her grip, slapping around in the mud. Bestia stepped past them to inspect the crates and cages, testing a hinge on one of the latter. "Once they settle down," she said, "you can try to teach them to take from your hand. It may not work, and they will bite instead. Can't tell you if it's out of confusion or spite, just that it hurts." She picked up another cage, slightly larger than the last. "They will need exercise to stay happy. A small pen or unused room will do, and better if you can put down some straw. You can sit in their pen to try and let them warm up to you. You should bring flowers, sticks and branches to scatter around and make them feel at home, and for them to hide in. A few torches will keep them in comfortable lighting. They stink, and so do their droppings, but you can smear and spread it in gardens to fertilize and keep away beasts." Bestia put down the cage she was checking, and reached around the pile. After sorting through the pile, she brought out two cages that might've housed puppies. They were bulkier and larger than the rest, but still able to be carried by a woman like Thessala. Bestia put them down in front of the foxes, saying, "If you could get the door, I will toss them in. They may try to dart away, so be quick. The vixen's the faster one, but the todd's not as tired as she." @Chevi

"The vigiles aren't morons! They're just overworked! And sometimes distracted by women," Bestia said, frowning. "I met one the other day. A very nice man he was, helping me get a chicken I was owed. It's not their fault some of their men are idiots. That's probably the prefect's, or whoever elects him. I forget how things work in Rome." She waved her free hand above her head, dismissive. Bestia spent the rest of their talk trying to keep the foxes still. Now that they weren't getting dizzy from being flung around, they were starting to fight. Angry sounds and desperate kicks meant they almost fell out of her hands, which led to her shushing them. If they grew too combative, she would shake them in her folds and spin around a few times, earning her stares. Bah, these Romans, she thought. They were too busy looking at everything around them, not minding their own business! Curiosity overtook her as they came to the ludii. She'd seen the four great schools many a time, but the specifics were lost to her. There was one for the bestiaries, those who fought animals. Another was for murmillones, who sparred with sword and shield. A third was for...well, she couldn't remember what the third was for. Or the fourth. Wait, wasn't the fourth one the big one favoured by the Emperor? She'd have to ask Thessala. Following in the taller woman's shadow, Bestia said, "Could we ask a bestiary? Or are all their cages the big ones, for the tigers and elephants and lions?" @Chevi

This is my plotting discussion and thread setup space for my cast of characters. I prefer messages and discussions on the AeRo site than on Discord, so PMs here are the most reliable way to contact me. Click on the name of a character to go to their profile. BESTIA - Born on Saturnalia in Galatia to a slave (father unknown) - Allegedly a freedwoman - Lives in the wilderness around Roma, coming into the city to sell and trade for food, some goods, and money - Practices witchcraft (not public knowledge), gathers plants (dangerous and mundane) for coin, and will catch animals to sell - Doesn't know of any extended family, but may have an aunt (or grand-aunt) on her mother's side named "Locusta" - Known as a pest to some vigiles in Rome for her antics in the streets, including trying to sell wild animals and dramatic outbursts - Worshiper of Bacchus, and sometimes attends Bacchanalia celebrations (not public knowledge)

"Yes, yes, of course I will come!" she said. "I will cook it for you outside of the gates, over a fire! I can promise no spices this time of year, but it will be good! And it will have all its organs! That way you can have the cock's strength and bravado, and should you ask for it, as many hens as he might!" The rooster was flapping around, absolutely done with the chaos of the day. The big man was turning around and grumbling, Bestia ignoring him. She kept pace with the vigile, even though her crude pallium must've weighed heavy on her frame. The bottom was filthy and soaked, the leather torn and rotting, snagging on stones and bits of road. Her smile didn't waver, even as some people looked over and stared at her. "What is the name of my saviour, O Praetorian of the People?" she asked. "To whom shall I ask in the temples to bless you? Is there a woman I should pray for, or children to offer for so that they may have good health?" She swung the bird over the shoulder, and it gave an awful squawk. It tried to reach up and peck at her, but she shook the rooster to befuddle its mind and slow its efforts. @Sara

The woman held back, glaring, as the vigile sorted the taller man out. She winced sympathetically Titus was hit, and when he moved to address her, she gave a little bow. The chicken clucked and tried to run, only to squawk as it tripped on the yarn. The woman ignored it, instead walking up to the vigile. "A thousand praises upon you, vigile!" she said, holding her hands together as if praying. "Keeper of order, humble servant of Justitia! Please, please, have my thanks and my regards. This chicken is more than a mere bird - here!" Swift as she could, the woman ran over and grabbed the fowl by the legs. It crowed in surprise as she hefted it high, undoing the string and tying its legs together. Shuffling back over, her stitched-together wolf furs dragging in the mud, she said, "I gift this! Please, let me sacrifice it to a god of your choosing, to ask for a blessing for you! Or...yes! I could feed you! I know how to cook many things. Rooster has a good, lean meat. Oxyzonum chicken, perhaps? Pullum frontonianum? Perhaps you'd like your chicken Parthian?" Her eyes were bright and shining, and her grin eager. She looked as if she'd met the Augustus himself, rather than have a simple vigile step in. @Sara

The faun comment Bestia answered with a sly smile. The rest to she responded with, "No animals? Really? I should've guessed by the lack of claw marks. But gladiators count. Man is an animal too, though one the gods found amusing enough that they gave him fire and a penchant for argument." A mischievous smirk crossed her face. She dared lean in a little closer to Thessala, as if about to speak conspiracy. "So," she asked, "who's your favourite catch so far? Anyone juicy, or are you the kind not to kiss and tell?" Bestia's giggle was impish, and the foxes perked their ears up, wondering for a moment if one of their kind was about. "I promise I won't say a word. Even if I did, no one would believe me! The vigiles have told me such." @Chevi

"Far away," Bestia said. "Very far away. Somewhere in the countryside that no one in the Urbs would know. If you wanted me to be more specific, you'd have to throw a stone at a map of all the woods, and hope you'd hit where I sprang from." Her tone was on the cheeky side, but it was the kind of wording that could be sarcastic or literal. Her hair was braided with bits of the forest, and the dirt on her hands and under her nails fitted a forager. Foxes lived in many a glade, though one could find them in the meadows as well. "I suppose I could deal in other things as well," Bestia said, "but Roma has...what, three major brothels? Four? And several independents who probably make a name for themselves. I'm not good at that kind of work, anyway, and people object to how rarely I bathe." That had to be sarcasm, but Bestia looked nothing but serious. There was a bit of a foxy stink to her, she'd admit. Some of it definitely came from her catch scent-marking all over her in a rage. @Chevi

"You fought a wolf?" "'Fought' is a strong word," Bestia corrected her. "It was more 'kick and flail, then climb a tree'. I had to hit it in the snout with a rock and stun it before it got off me. Then I had to scramble up a cliff face and throw more rocks at it. When that didn't work, I climbed the cliff - a small cliff, mind you. I probably would've died if I had to climb something like you'd see in Greece." She listened as Thessala explained her origins. It was a tale as old as time, or at least as old as Roma. But when asked about her origins, Bestia only laughed. "It's winter, and the plants I gather aren't in season yet," she said. "Animals are part of my trade, but not as much the plants. No, you have to make a harder sell in winter, when Ceres's daughter has fled and taken all the flowers and weeds with her. People love novelty, and what's more novel than a pair of wild foxes?" She adjusted her grip to keep her quarry from wriggling free, an annoyed grunt coming from one of the beasts. "I could try for bigger things, but no country lass could afford a lion, much less a lion cub. Bigger things than a fox might try to eat me alive. So, until Prosperina brings me a greener bounty, I will try my luck with creatures of lesser fortune." @Chevi

"I am telling you now, that chicken is forfeit!" the wildling snarled, pointing at a scraggly rooster that was tied to a post. It flapped around and away from her, its feet and spurs almost tangling in the string of wool that kept it there. "It's bought and owned! It's mine!" "By whose will?" argued a much-taller, black-bearded man, looking one part flabbergasted and one part intimidated. He had more than a head over the crazed, wolf-fur-clad woman, but was leaning away as if she were rabid. "I told you you could have it if you could prove you were an auspex! The chicken did fuck all!" "To your eyes!" the woman snapped, pointing with vigour at the man's face. "I said the prayers and took the bread! It pecked and fled, and I gave you your sign!" "You scared the bloody thing away!" the man cried. "It stared at you for five seconds and then you screamed, 'Jupiter has spoken, aiieeee!' and waved your arms around!" He mimicked the motion with an exaggerated flop and fling of his arms and wrists. The woman scoffed, reeling back in disgust. "You dare mock your fortune? In a place like this, where you could use more fortune than what you probably make in an hour?" "What's that supposed to mean?!" "You know exactly what it means, you two-bit cheap man-whore bottom-bitch!" The man's eyes blazed. In a moment, he lunged, the wildling's furs flapping back as she darted away. "Why you little - " he growled, thick and calloused hands reaching out to grab her. @Sara

"Oh! A gladiatrix!" Bestia perked up at the word. "How marvelous! I haven't ever been to a fight, sadly. But I have seen your kind coming in and out of the Coliseum. How fierce you look after the battle is won! The dirt and blood, the scratches and the wounds! Sometimes I wonder how you keep standing when it looks like you've been through the gods' teeth." The fox around her neck made an angry sound and tried to kick. Bestia glanced down and muttered, "Shush, you," before looking back at Thessala. "Your lanista?" Her frown was curious. "I doubt I would have anything to offer a lanista. I could try catching a wolf, but that'd be it. Well, try again, at least - the last time I did, I just about had my hand ripped off. As it turns out, he-wolves have as much a temper as their bitches. And they say bears are terrifying...." Bestia rolled her eyes. "Have you been fighting long?" she asked. @Chevi