Chevi

This... was a whole different side of Ovinia. Something had changed. Lucius was not sure what, but he was also not complaining at all. The last time they had met, she refused to entertain the thought of... anything more than kissing. That was maybe still the case. But for what it was worth, he desperately wanted to kiss her. She bit her lip, just for a moment, and he lost the game, dipping his head to press his lips against hers. @Sara

No, he was not alright. Then again, when had he ever been since the Romans came into his life? Azarion struggled with not being able to explain. Or even to curse about it. In the end, he gestured at the arena, and drew his hand across his neck, pressing a hand to his chest. He killed someone I cared for. In the and, that was what it was about. Personal vengeance. He pointed at the arena again, then himself, and made motions like stabbing someone. I wanted to kill him myself. @Sara

At night. Lucius had been teasing her, but her words made his eyes widen just a bit. The woman had no idea what she was doing to him. Or maybe she did? Her eyes were dark and her lips parted. His gaze flickered down at them. Have you been thinking of me? "All the time" he smiled softly, running his thumb over her cheek. "And what do you think about?... At night?" @Sara

She blushed, and it was a lovely look. Lucius grinned at her question. "I like Flora better." Venus had been... capricious, according to most stories, and if his own life was any indication, she was not very kind either. He leaned closer, admiring he as she blushed at his touch. He lowered his voice, although there was no one around to hear. "Have you been thinking about me?" @Sara

"That's not true!" he protested, looking up at her. He knew she was playing; Ovinia liked to be complimented. "Who's fishing now?" he added, arching an eyebrow, but he did not let go of her hand. He knew he was not going to win this game, but he didn't mind. He sighed, throwing his free hand up in mock defeat. "Fine." he bowed his head to kiss her palm again. "You are beautiful." He murmured, pressing another kiss to her wrist. "And damn attractive." He shifted closer to her on the bench, watching, and reached up to trace her cheek. "You look like Flora herself." @Sara

“Getting ahead of yourself, no? Don’t you have to make Tribune first?” "Gods help me, I do" he chuckled, allowing her to trace his cheek. He knew that becoming tribune was still far away... and that he would have to fight an uphill battle against the born equite to take the position of praefect, if ever. For now, he was content that he had a job he liked doing. “I hope you are sensible though. It would be a shame for such a nice face to get burned in a fire.” "It's my best feature isn't it" he grinned at her. "Good to know you think it's nice..." He tilted his chin, pressing a kiss into her palm, then another at her wrist. @Sara

"Are you calling me a criminal for what I did? I suppose I was..." "I'm not" Lucius laughed softly. "I'm saying I was sort of present when he was apprehended." He did not blame Ovinia for his injury, they had talked about that before. She was still tracing his skin, and it was definitely distracting. "I'm having less nightmares now. And I feel better, in crowds. I think it was worth it. Speaking to Tiberius. In the end... But I think it's fair to say you won't be invited round for wine and pastries at my fathers house any time soon." "Oh, I know. Maybe once I make praefect?" he smirked. He lifted her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "One can hope." @Sara

"I thought I would take a leaf from your book. See what the plebs can offer me." Lucius chuckled. Offer, indeed. Even when venturing out of her small world, Ovinia was still very much Ovinia. But he was glad she was in the company of good people, at least. He watched her; she looked comfortable, curled up on the bench. Her fingers traced his arm and his skin felt warmer at her touch. She paused at his latest scar. "They are. A very odd bunch indeed though. How is it?" "All healed" he smiled softly, covering her hand with his. "I think most people assume I got it while apprehending a criminal. Which is... sort of true." he smirked. Close enough. @Sara

She looked at his scar; Azarion was not sure she understood. She seemed skittish, and he was not exactly the kind of person to comfort anyone right now. "The...man...he enjoyed it? The cutting of people?" He nodded. And then she pulled her tunica down, and he saw the scar on her skin. His eyes widened a little, realizing what she was showing him. He had cut her too. She lived. And she was here to watch him die too. He pointed between her, and the arena, which was now a scene of blood and gore as the cats feasted. He's gone now. @Sara

"Maybe a little strange" Calpurnia chuckled, following along "But it makes sense." The arena had been his life; a place he survived long enough to live to sit among the spectators. That in itself was impressive. No wonder he returned. They walked together along the hallways, then Alexius led her down the stairs to the corridors under the arena. Calpurnia had not been down there yet. It was a whole other world. There was a rumble above them, the sound of people roaring and cheering at the games, like distant thunder. This was the place Alexius had come from. She looked around curiously. "Where are we going?" @Atrice

"I hope so. But...I hope to see her happy. And just think, if she's as blessed with Gaius as she has been with her late husband you will be an Uncle Lucius again. And Vipsania's children will have some playmates." Lucius smirked at the idea. He did not meet Vipsania's family very often, but he did love the kids; being an uncle sounded a whole lot more fun than being a father. "Gaius will make a good father. He's got practice" he pointed out. His brother had been the head of the family, with a nuisance of a little brother, long enough. "I've not seen her since that games. I should visit...nor have I seen...anybody really. Alexius, of course, but not the others. Although I ran into the red-head that had been cut in the baths... Have you seen many of them?" "Making friends with the plebs, are we?" he arched an eyebrow, amused. Somehow she seemed embarrassed about having met Aia. He shook his head. "I've met Alexius, we talk sometimes... I see the othes on patrol occasionally. It was... a strange bunch of people. But all of them are good people, I think." @Sara

"You? And Pinaria? Oh Lucius, she's far too good for you." "Alright now, don't laugh that much" Lucius muttered, giving her a mock hurt look. It was actually lovely to hear he laugh. It was a sound he had only heard a few times, and dearly missed. "I hope it won't be awkward...if it goes anywhere. Pinaria's now a close friend. Since...what happened. If she marries your brother I somehow get the impression I won't be hugely welcome in his domus...?" "My brother doesn't hold grudges" Lucius shook his head. "Neither does Pinaria. You'll... be just fine." Without him. If Gaius found out why Ovinia had actually rejected him... well. He had already left the family anyway. @Sara

He sat on the bench with her, holding her hand. It was a stolen moment, just like the others, but for a little while he felt like they had all the time in the world. "You realise being hopelessly soppy doesn't suit you? You're truly interested in anything I have to say? What about the dinner I went to with Nesennia when she was complaining for hours over the quality of the garum her slaves had bought?" "Garum sounds fascinating." he teased her with a grin. "Although! Speaking of gossip, at...the end of the games. Pinaria joined me and I saw who she was with... Was that your doing?" "Pinaria and my brother?" he gave her a mischievous smile. "It might have been... she's a clever woman, and has the same temperament as my brother. They both deserve someone decent... and they can probably bond over me being a nuisance. Silanus tried to set her up with me first, you know." @Sara

Lucius snorted at the idea of Ovinia's father choosing the heaviest instrument on purpose. Hydraulis were notoriously cumbersome, for sure. And he also knew hers was a house where he was not going to be a welcome guest anytime soon. But for today, they were together. And they had a nice spot full of flowers that she seemed to like. He sat with her, still holding her hand. "I wish to hear anything you have to say" he nodded, only half joking. @Sara

"Ah yes, you are right, I completely imagined that blonde musician at Tiberius' party all those months ago." Lucius knew better than to comment on that. He had not visited her for a long time now, mostly for lack of money. But even mentioning Vibia was not going to bode well for him, and there was no need to ruin a perfectly good day. "Oh honestly nothing of importance. There was a good one on the history and fashions of the ancient Greeks and Egyptians if you're interested to know the difference between a peplos, himation, and chlamys, perhaps?... Oh! And I've actually mastered a tune on the hydraulis now. Just the one, mind. But it's progress..." "That actually sounds fun" he laughed. "I hope I'll get to hear you play sometime." He liked her genuine enthusiasm when she talked about her music. Or the book on fashion, either. Or anything she was interested in. "Good. Spacious. The women's section is beautiful and I've heard it's as grand as the mens. Maybe he listens to his wife, hm?" "All smart men do, I hear" Lucius grinned. The path turned again, and among the bushes there was a small bench half shaded by greenery, and surrounded by rose bushes. Against all odds, no one had claimed it yet. Lucius glanced at Ovinia, arching an eyebrow. "So, do you want to sit and tell me what the difference between a peplos and a himation is?" @Sara

"Another of my women? Did you not hear how much work I have?" he looked at her in mock offense. As if it was only the work that kept him from thinking about anyone else. "And it's not dull. What have you been reading?... And how were the baths? I heard about them, but I have not had time to visit them yet." @Sara

"Tiberius will see to that" Lucius nodded. He deserved the least amount of credit for catching the killer, he knew that. But he was also the link between the group at the insula and the imperials... him, and Jason. Who also deserved to be rewarded. He smirked at her words. "Look at me now. Everything still seems ridiculous, but now I also have a job." he noted, grinning. "How about you? Have you been up to anything interesting recently?" @Sara

She grinned at him, and he slipped his hand around hers. Just like at Saturnalia, one more young couple walking hand in hand would not raise any eyebrows in the gardens. Her hand was soft, but his had changed a lot from the work of the past few months. Still he held hers gently. "Honestly, it wasn't that big of a deal. I'm still equite, I was never supposed to be a recruit in the first place." he noted. "But playing a part in catching a dangerous criminal... probably helped." He glanced her way, and quickly added. "Not that I asked for any of it. But now I can do more... and have a whole lot more responsibility." He smirked. "Look at me being dull now." @Sara

"You have every right to revel" Lucius told her. He was happy to see her smile. She had a lovely smile, sure. But also, it signaled that she truly was feeling better than the last time they'd talked. The monster was dead now, at least. He reached up to smooth her hair behind her ear, a quick motion, before he pulled away. "Me? I am fine. Worked half to death." he joked. "But it's good to know you are... safe." @Sara

"I don't know, I think both of those were quite fun" Lucius chuckled. Both festivals lived in his memory in vivid detail, and he assumed they did so in hers. As the crowds thinned, he shifted closer to her, his hand brushing hers. "And I never thought you're dull." Sheltered, maybe. But she was fascinating nonetheless. He glanced down at her as they meandered among the flowerbeds. The wreath she was wearing reminded him of the one she had at Saturnalia. "How are you feeling?" he asked more softly. He had not had a chance to ask since. @Sara

She looked genuinely happy for him; she didn't even make a quip about how he could be a senator instead. He gave her a warm smile. "It is crowded" he agreed "But I think that's... good, for once. These gardens are lovely, and no one really stands out in a festival crowd." Definitely not a patrician girl and a centurion. Everyone was half covered in flowers anyway. He nodded towards the path that wound among the hedges. "This way?... How do you usually celebrate Floralia?" @Sara

Lucius watched, a little amused as Ovinia bought the wreaths and dismissed Lucia. She looked shy, like she always did when they met in secret. He doubted they would ever get used to it. "Actually, it's Centurion Roscianus now" he grinned, taking the wreath from her hands and placing it carefully on her head. "Lovely." he added quietly, and shrugged at her question. "You." he said without missing a beat, then laughed. "It's Floralia. We can walk, we can sit... we can catch some rabbits. It's entirely up to us." @Sara

It was the first time they could both get away and meet without raising suspicion - the first time since Cerealia. Lucius wanted to see her right after, but she was with her family; and in the weeks that followed, a whole lot of things were changing. Lucius was a centurion now, and that came with new responsibilities. Ovinia disappeared for a while too; he suspected she needed time alone to process all that happened in the past months. Or maybe she was still angry at him for how the thing with Barbatius turned out in the end. he did not blame her. Finally, a message came. Lucius was ready. He'd missed seeing Ovinia, truly. And Floralia was such a happy festival anyway; perfect for spending time together without the shadow of the trial hanging over them. Lucius lingered by the gates of the gardens; they were less popular but no less crowded. Ironically, that worked in their favor. Lucius noticed Ovinia and Lucia as they walked in through the gates, looking a little hesitant. He smiled a bright smile, walking up to them; he was wearing a plain tunica, but had a wreath of fresh flowers on his head just like everybody else. "I'll pay for those, Marius." he told the lad, patting him on the shoulder. "You did a good job with them." @Sara

"Are you...sure?" No he wasn't sure. Azarion huffed, but he couldn't exactly explain it to her, and she looked kind of upset anyway. If it was the crowd, or the gore, or him, Azarion couldn't tell. She looked about the same age as him. And if she was sitting up here she was clearly a slave. "Did you...know him?" Wild guess. Azarion frowned. He turned his arm, running a finger along the scar Barbatius' blade had left on it, next to the FVG brand he had. It had healed as well as it could be expected, but it was still visible. He nodded towards the sands where the cats were still feasting. He did this. @Sara

Aia was sitting with Didia and the others. Her wound had mostly healed now, but that did not make her any less furious about the man. At least he would die now. With a whole lot of blood. She watched as the cats stalked him. She'd never seen anything like that; she didn't frequent the games much. But she had seen plenty of gore in Britannia. Didia might throw up, but she wouldn't. She would watch all of it and make sure the fucker was dead. “YOU ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!” "FUCK YOU!" Aia screamed back enthusiastically. She was not the only one in the roaring crowd, but she was definitely loud. She glanced down at where Decimus was standing stoically by the imperials. She knew he was just as glad to see the man die. And he did. With screams and blood and a crunch. It was shocking to watch, but there was a satisfaction to it, to see a monster get what he deserved for once. Aia folded her arms. "Good kitty." @Sara @Sarah @Sains @Atrice @Sharpie