Chevi

"Absolutely." He smiled softly, sitting up to reach out to her. He knew why he liked to see her sing. She was herself then, in a way she rarely showed otherwise. "Thank you. That was... worth the wait." She was blushing, although he was not sure why. Her performance had been perfect. He took her hand and kissed it. "Beautiful." @Sara

She tossed the palla at him and Lucius grinned, pulling the fabric off his face and running it gently through his hands. She would make fun of him for wrinkling it, but it did smell just like her. He watched her as she sang. She was gorgeous, as always... but she was also shining, as she sang the song, her voice sweet and clear and carrying the emotions that when with the words. It was enchanting. Lucius watched her with a look of pure admiration. @Sara

Lucius watched her huff and pout. He knew her moods by now; he also knew that the chiton sliding up her legs was not incidental. It distracted him anyway; the smooth skin and the arch of her calves. He did consider her question though, glancing up at her. "Because... you said you enjoy singing. And I like seeing you do things you enjoy. When there is no one watching." @Sara

"Oh, that is so not fair." Lucius breathed, looking up at her. She was beautiful. And alluring. And she knew it. He was very tempted to just give her whatever she wished for. Always. "You know I thought about wagering a kiss, back then" he admitted, watching her from the couch. He was playful, but he meant it. "But then I thought... whatever kisses you give me, I want them to be given freely." @Sara

"See, I am a generous winner, and I'll let you choose what you would like to sing" he grinned. They had no accompaniment, that was for sure; he wanted to gift her a cithara, but those damn things were expensive, and he had yet to find a good one for a gift anyway. "Alas, I have no music for you. But a deal's a deal." @Sara

"No." His look was more serious now. "I told my men anyone who steals anything will get lashed for it. The vigiles have a bad enough reputation. It will take a long time to improve it." And the gods knew it would take a lot of work on both sides. His men were not happy with the hard work he put them through. He lifted her hand to kiss it. "And as far as I remember... it is you who owes me a payment. For Hop." @Sara

"Good to hear" he smiled, thinking about Floralia, and Ovinia chasing bunnies in the gardens. One of his favorite memories of her. She held his hand and he let her, enjoying this moment. "Work is... never dull" he grinned. His hands and arms were sporting some new scrapes and scratches. "Put out a fire before it could spread on the Esquiline the other day. Some man insisted we were looting while we were trying to save his damn house. Go figure." @Sara

Ovinia felt right at home, reclining on the couch. There was no trace of the panic she had had before. There were moments when Lucius worried she'd been scared of him, rather than the place... but it seemed far away now. He poured them both wine, and took the other couch. "No" he chuckled. "We are completely alone here." His look softened too. "I missed you too. How is Hop?" @Sara

All three of them knew the truth, but they went through the motions anyway. Lucius could see Lucia hesitate; she wanted the best for her domina. So did he. "I'll be a perfect gentleman." He promised her. Well, maybe not a perfect one. But he had no intention of ruining Ovinia the way Lucia feared. Once they were alone, he smiled, leading her to the triclinium that opened to the small garden. The doors were wide open to the warm spring afternoon, with couches and a low table set with some food and wine. "You said, somewhere more expensive." He reminded her. @Sara

"Currently, no one" Lucius answered, opening the door. "The owner had moved to the provinces, and it has not been put to sale yet. The vigiles... make sure it is not a fire hazard. Or that no criminals move in." He added a little sheepishly. Lucia gave him a withering look. "I just... thought, since you can't exactly visit me for lunch at the barracks... well. This is a better place than the gardens?" Hopefully, Luciua would not beat him up for what he was suggesting. @Sara

Ovinia made an appearance, and Lucius smiled brightly at her. She looked wonderful; the dark red really was her color. Lucia on her part looked more hesitant, but... honestly, she had good reason to be. "Not the bakery" he grinned at Ovinia's question, and nodded at the smaller street nearby, leading them to the side door of the domus. "It's a... more private household." @Sara

May, 77AD It took Lucius a week or two to find a place that would be fit for a meeting with Ovinia again. She had said no hospitia and no brothels (as if he would have ever taken her to one of those...), and after their last encounter, small enclosed spaces were also out of the question. In the end, his work as a vigile led him to the solution. Patrolling with his cohort he discovered there were a few domi around the Esquiline and the Aventine that were locked down; the vigiles checked them for fire hazards and criminals from time to time, but otherwise they stood empty, waiting for buyers or investors. He visited a few of them, until he found one that seemed decent enough, recently closed down as its owner moved to another province on official business, leaving it to his clients to find a buyer for the house. In the meantime, it was empty. Lucius was not sure Ovinia would show up. She always did, but he was never sure. It was always possible she would come to her senses and just say no one day. After all, they had no chance to actually be together. But that did not make him love her any less. So today, he waited for her by the domus, in the hot hours of the early afternoon when everyone in the city seemed to be taking a break to nap. He hoped she would show up. @Sara

"Something more expensive. I know" he chuckled, watching her cradle the bunny. "Take good care of her." He stroked the bunny's head and pressed a kiss to Ovinia's cheek. "I love you."

"Look at who's an expert on festivals now" he grinned, carefully placing the bunny in her hands, making sure she had it before he let go. Hop seemed comfortable with being held by her. Lucius kissed her on the forehead. "I'll think about it. And I promise I'll find a place." @Sara

"Payment at a later date comes with interest." Lucius told her, smiling as he held the bunny to his chest. He knew Ovinia was miffed at losing, but that was just the nature of the game. He walked over to her. "If you don't want that interest to be too high, we'll have to meet again very soon."

"I caught it, fair and square" Lucius stated, turning to look at her, flushed from the chase. He smiled, holding up the wiggling bunny. It really was adorable up close, small and fluffy. "But I'll happily give it to you. For a song" he added with a grin.

Lucius saw a flash of Ovinia's green dress among the bushes. As he rustled one, the tiny grey bunny bolted; it hopped towards Ovinia but then noticed her and changed directions, zigzagging around to where Lucius was standing. "Bunny!" Lucius called, wholly unnecessarily, and started chasing the tiny animal, until he managed to corner it by a wall. He gently caught it between his hands.

"Hey!" Lucius called after her, but she bolted, disappearing among the flower beds. He did not like her running off alone; as long as Lucia was not there, he felt responsible for her safety. So he made his way in the same direction, intent on keeping an eye on her... and maybe also finding a rabbit. He rustled some bushes as he went.

"A cithara?" Lucius arched an eyebrow. Music instruments were not cheap, but he could swing one if he lost the challenge. It was... a surprisingly honest request from Ovinia. And he wondered what her father's reason was for not just buying her one. And somewhere to play it. "Fine." "What do you want?" You. Lucius knew better than to wager that. "If I win... you have to sing to me again." @Sara

"You are very sure of yourself after one successful rabbit hunt" Lucius grinned at her playfully. He folded his arms. "Fine. What do you want to win if you catch one first?"

"Oh, I am going to catch you one." Lucius grinned. "You just wait." He could tell Ovinia was more invested in the bunny-catching game now than anything else. "I'll catch one before you do" he challenged her, taking off his flowers and placing them on her head before he headed to the bushes to find another hop. @Sara

Lucius helped Ovinia up, but the bunny took that moment of chance and got away. Lucius grabbed for it, but wasn't quick enough. "That was your fault! I had him and you intervened. It's not going to be that easy again." "I didn't intervene..." Lucius protested, but he knew it was no use arguing with Ovinia. He sighed. "I'll go catch you another one." He smiled a little, reaching up to wipe some dirt from her face. "Dirt looks good on you, though." @Sara

The room he led her to was... dark. And bare. Lit by the torch she could see it was some kind of a place for gladiators, probably to wait before a game, or clean up after. It was not a place a girl dreamed of... but Calpurnia was not a girl anymore. "Here we are. I wish it was nicer, but... you're here." The last time they had been together (the only time), it had been a hospitia that was elegant and comfortable. And then they met at the library for a stolen moment. Now, he had invited her into his world, so different from hers. But Alexius was still the same. She could see the admiration in his eyes. Smiling, she stepped closer to kiss him. "Nice enough." @Atrice

Lucius heard Ovinia calling, and came running around the hedge - to find her lying in the grass, holding a wiggling rabbit. It was quite a sight. As beautiful as Ovinia was, blushing and well-kissed, in his arms, this was a sight he would never forget: Ovinia lying among the flowers, laughing, with dirt on her face, holding a bunny. Lucius laughed too, and leaned down to help her to her feet. "Nice catch! You're a natural." @Sara

"I thought you were about to say my father was here..." "Not unless your father looks significantly cuter than the last time we've met" Lucius grinned at her. A small, fluffy rabbit was poking its way in the flowerbed by the hedge. "You...go that side of the hedge. I'll grab her from this side...?" "Yes ma'am" Lucius chuckled, quietly making his way as commanded. Apparently, Ovinia was all business when it came to catching bunnies.