Chevi

"I'm afraid I've married none since we left Britannia, let alone these fine folk. Too ugly you see?" Honestly Decimus was far from ugly. He was a decent man, and also decent looking, at least when he was not covered in grime and dirt. No one ever really got fat in the legion (other than maybe some high ranking officers), and even ten years older than when they first met, he was not any uglier than the noblemen she had seen so far. The attitude was different, though. Noblemen didn't usually dole out bear hugs. That she knew of. Not being married didn't exactly explain what he was doing in the palace, though. "We should go somewhere. The halls are no place for such talk..." Before she could comment, he was already pulling her along by her wrist. If she had known where she was before, she would have lost track now, but since she was already lost, it didn't exactly matter. "So what do these sacred halls think of you dragging a woman around at night to a secret location?" she challenged in a hushed voice as she did her best to keep up, using one hand to hold her dress out of the way "If you are not in the family, then what, you work here? Or..." her eyes widened, and she used her free hand to punch his arm lightly "Hey, are you an intruder?"

Before Aia could proceed with the string of baffled curses that popped into her mind, Decimus' hand covered her mouth. In the sudden silence, she herself could hear how loud her words must have sounded. Dammit, she already forgot she was inside a palace and not a camp. "Hush yourself!... Silence! You exist in one of the most sacred houses in Roma." Yup, this man was definitely good old Decimus. As if she needed any more confirmation, the hand was removed from her mouth (before she could bite it), and she was picked off her feet and wrapped in a bear hug. Aia made a muffled sound, but only struggled for good measure. The young soldier had not really been the hugging type before, but damn, it was good to see him again. Aia had a wide grin plastered on her face by the time he set her down. "Aius! You live... I left you in Gaul, why are you here in these halls? Are you mad? Do you know what they do to intruders here?" "I might be mad, but I'm not an intruder"Aia rolled her eyes, folding her arms, still not presenting a very feminine image "I came here with Flavia Juliana. I belong to her household. What are you doing here? Did you marry into fame and riches?"

@Echo Tutoring a young noblewoman could not be any harder than negotiating with barbarians, right?... When the Fates offered Aia a way to not die, she took it, every single time. When "not dying" involved taking on a new life in a new place, and giving up her service as an interprex for the legions, she took that too. A fancy household of a noble family could only be an improvement on her previous circumstances, surely. And if she had to teach some barbaric languages to some children, then what? She had faced down stark naked Britons waving swords and spears before. Granted, it did not always go that well, but she was here, wearing a dress (Juno damn the dress), and ready to live a better, more comfortable life. Which, in this case, involved presenting herself to the members of the household. Among them, young Caecina Tusca. Aia was told that the young lady was to be found in the garden, so she headed there, doing her best to look presentable in her tunica and stola, and keeping the scarf on her head in place. Her short-cropped hair was a disaster, so for lack of a better option, she was going to keep covering it until it grew out. She looked around sheepishly, trying to see where Caecina was waiting. Or if she was waiting at all. One could never be sure about the daughters of nobility...

Aia's reflexes were not exactly fine tuned for the high living yet. When, turning the corner, she ran into a figure between light and the shadows, her very first reaction was to bring her fists up, ready to defend herself. Things happened with an alarming speed from that point forward. "Oh, excuse me domin-.." Get your head straight, Aia, you're a woman now The fists were quickly lowered, and Aia was just in the process of trying to strike a more lady-like pose, clearing her throat in the middle of the confusion, when finally the tone of voice, and the baffled expression that went with it, managed to reach her conscious mind. It was so out of place, so incredibly unexpected, that it took her a moment of blinking to assess what was happening. Apparently, that made two of them. The sight would have been ridiculous to an outside observer. "You're...?" "Decimus?!" Aia gaped at the unlikely face that she had sorely missed since Britannia, without even realizing it, and immediately lost her tenuous grip on her newly acquired feminine graces "What the fuck?!"

Aius had seen battle back in Britannia, but her heart had never been in her throat quite the same way as it was now, standing in the atrium of a magnificent villa (then again, all villas looked magnificent to her), waiting for some unseen person to decide her fate. In a battle, you could fight like a Fury and hope to get out alive. Here, she had already been judged. The decision was out of her hands. Or rather, in her hands, in the form of a carefully wrapped letter from the Proconsul himself, addressed to his wife. Aius scratched the back of her neck, then caught herself. She was not in an army camp anymore. Clearing her throat, she glanced around sheepishly. Somewhere deeper inside the household a slave was reporting to the domina that a "young man" was here to see her with a letter from her husband. Aius knew she did not exactly cut a dashing figure. The road from Britannia had been long, and while she traveled with others most of the way, by now she was dusty and worn. She decided to travel as a man rather than a woman, because even with all the signs of long travel, she was sure she would have looked a lot worse in the end. Her hair still cropped short, she was caught between a questionable past as a man, and an unpredictable future as a woman. Hopefully, the woman who got to decide her future would be kinder than the Fates had been so far. @Gothic

Back in the forests of Britannia, in the middle of Rome's latest conquest, in falling snow and frozen dirt, never in a million years would have Aius imagined living in Rome one day. Sure, she had dreamed of visiting many times, and listened to the stories of soldiers who were born there or had been there, but back then, for the merchant's daughter - turned - interprex those dreams seemed too far fetched to come true any time soon. Occupied with the immediate issue of survival without being discovered, she did not exactly have much time to contemplate her future. Until she was discovered. And now, by some strange and mysterious will of the gods, she was not only in Rome, but as a woman - walking the hallways of the beating heart of the greatest empire in the world. Aius, former auxiliary Interprex Britannorum, tutor to the children of an imperial household, walking in a palace. Allowed to walk inside a palace. Being completely bloody lost. Flavia Juliana traveled to the city, taking her entourage with her, for some kind of a family visit. At first, Aia did not even thing that she was included in that plan, but then suddenly she found herself traveling along, and before she had the time to gape, they were already at the Palatine. She was housed with the other servants of the family in a small room, and yet, small room aside, she was in a palace. Jupiter's balls, the change of scenery was making her head spin. Once things settled down for the evening, she decided to take a short walk to clear her head. Many parts of the palace were off limits to people like her, including the gardens, but she figured just pacing a corridor before she went back to bed would not be too suspicious. She felt jittery, both from excitement and from nerves. Wearing a woman's dress, she felt more exposed than she had on scouting missions, even though she was inside one of the most secure buildings in Rome. Maybe it was because of all of that that she turned a corner one too many while pacing. And now, she was turned around. Aia huffed in frustration as she once again turned a corner to an unfamiliar corridor, and kicked the corner of the wall. "Dammit to Tartarus..."

AIUS / AIA Friends Aia doesn't really have any friends in Rome (save for Decimus, really). She is more than a bit guarded about making friends since she spent most of her life never completely trusting people. However, once she feels safe around someone, she might open up, and she can be a very dedicated friend. She has an easier time talking to men, ironically, so now that she is in Rome, living as a woman, she sorely needs some female friends, and women she can share things with. Enemies Other than the Britons, Aia didn't have any personal enemies until some soldiers discovered her actual identity, but that thing was smoother over when she left the province. She is too new in Rome to have enemies yet, although it is likely that if the wrong person found out about her military past, and did not take to it kindly, they could cause her a world of trouble. Lovers Haha, nope. Aia didn't exactly have the chance to explore that while trying to pass as a male soldier. Whole new world. Much awkwardness. Endless possibilities. Other Aia is an interprex, a language tutor currently working in the household of Flavia Juliana. She speaks Briton and Gallic dialects as well as some Germanic languages, and of course Latin, although her accent might betray her as a provincial. She is a talented translator and interpreter, so if anyone ever has plots involving language or tutoring, hit me up... QUINTUS FLAVIUS THEODORUS Friends Theodorus is generally a friendly and talkative person. He strikes up conversations with strangers, and tends to wander around Rome a lot. He doesn't have any friends in the city yet, but he is not above making some. Enemies Theodorus doesn't tend to intentionally make enemies (if you don't count the barbarians on the other side of the border), but he sometimes runs into problems due to his honesty and his tendency to talk a lot. He is not really significant enough yet to make actual enemies. Lovers None as of now, but he is definitely open to the possibility. Other Theodorus is a medicus, a physician who currently works at the Ludus Magnus. Basically, he is a medic for gladiators. Any plots involving injuries, illnesses, accidents, gladiator games, and the science of medicine are most welcome! AZARION Friends None to speak of. Azarion has been a slave for six years, moving from household to household, and he is not exactly a warm and friendly person. Add the communication problem to it (he's had his tongue cut out), and you get a grumply little shit who is hard to befriend. Not impossible, though. He tends to be less hostile towards people who share his passion for horses. Enemies Him against the world. He heavily dislikes Romans in general, and everyone is a potential enemy until proven otherwise. Lovers Hah. Other Azarion is owned by Alucio, he works in his household as a stable boy. His freedom is severly limited, but I am open to creative plot solutions FELIX Friends Felix is a body slave to Aulus Calpurnius Praetextatus, and has already recently returned to Rome, so he doesn't really have many friends around. Most of them are other body slaves he spends time with. But he is a generally friendly, if a bit quiet person. Enemies None unless someone tries to hurt his master. Lovers Not right now (unless we count the occasional intimate moments with Aulus). But he has been slowly opening up to the idea of finding a lover, maybe a wife. Other Felix is a quiet and observant person, which, coupled with being a slave, often makes people underestimate him. He is in the process of re-discovering Rome, and trying to find his own place in it. THESSALA Friends She in on good terms with a few of her fellow gladiators, and a select few other people, mostly slaves, that she has met around the city. Real friends... are few and far between. Thessala tends to show affection by being rude, which is not great for making actual friends. Enemies Rival gladiators, but none very seriously. She has no reason to have a real enemy. Lovers Lots. Mostly women, for practical reasons. She is pretty liberal in enjoying the finer pleasures in life, as long as they don't get her pregnant or dead. Other Thessala is a gladiatrix at the Ludus Magnus, gaining popularity with the fans of the Games. She's earned certain privileges, such as being allowed to leave the Ludus on occasion. SEPTIMA MINOR Friends Septima Minor (also known to friends and family as Clio) is generally a nice and friendly person, but a lot less outgoing than her twin sister. She is introverted and not big on large parties, but she can be a good friend if someone takes the time to know her. Enemies None she knows of. Lovers None yet. While her twin is ready to get married and explore the world of intimacy, Clio is hesitant about such things, and definitely shy. Other Clio is a self-taught scholar and prospective author. She loves observing nature, learning, collecting information, and writing in various genres. She is still just experimenting with her skills, but it is what she is truly passionate about.

AIUS / AIA 27 | 20 March, 47 CE | Peregrinus | Interprex | Bisexual | Original | Rose Leslie Personality Aius is generally friendly and naturally curious, but life has taught her she has to be very careful about whom she trusts. She is quick on her feet and tends to think her way out of situations, which is to her advantage since she rarely has the upper hand in a physical confrontation. When cornered, she tends to lash out (verbally, emotionally, or physically, depending on the situation). She enjoys the small blessings in life (especially good food), and has a permanent distaste for cold weather. She tends to put on an act of bravery that borders on audacity to keep up appearances as a young man. She dreams of earning her citizenship and seeing more of the empire (especially the city of Rome). She picks up on languages quickly and has a knack for conversation with all kinds of people. She rarely ever flirts (knowing it might have dangerous consequences), but makes friends whenever she can. She has never been raised or taught to think, behave, or live like a woman, so now that she is starting a new chapter in her life, she finds a Roman woman's life more than a bit challenging. She is equal parts excited, curious, frustrated, and terrified. (A note on the name: Aius has been using the masculine, Latinized name since she was 6 years old. Arriving to the imperial household in Rome, she will have to learn to use the feminine version again, but it is not a smooth process just yet.) Appearance When looked at as a young man, Aius definitely looks short and scrawny for her age and her military past (she is 5'3" tall). Her bright red, wavy hair is kept cropped short to add to the masculine image. She has grey-blue eyes and some freckles. Years of harsh living in Britannia, combined with the constant binding of her chest from a young age left her looking thin rather than curvy (which plays to her advantage in hiding her sex). She usually wears simple tunics, woolen cloaks or capes, and even pants in cold weather; she tends to dress in layers to add some bulk to her appearance. She smirks rather than laughs, but has a kind smile when she lets her guard down. As a young woman, Aia is not exactly attractive. She moves somewhat awkwardly in women's clothes, and finds jewelry and makeup baffling. Her hair has not grown out yet, which makes her an awkward sight. She has a lot to learn before she can be called anything even remotely elegant. Family Father: Eburo (deceased) Mother: Aia (deceased) Siblings: none Spouse: none Children: none Extended family: none Other: none History 47 CE - Aius is born, under the name Aia, to cives peregrini parents in Gaul. She's a girl. 53 CE - Aia loses her mother to fever. Her father, who is a merchant and therefore travels all the time, decides to raise her as a boy (for safety), and take her with him on his journeys. He hopes to make her heir to his business since he does not intend to marry or have children again. 57 CE - Roman legions invade Britannia. Aia (now called Aios, Latinized as Aius) and her father accompany them as suppliers for the army. Aius begins to pick up local languages over the course of their travels. She shows a talent in learning them. 61 CE - Aius loses her father in an attack on the legion's supplies in the harsh months of winter. Left completely alone, she volunteers as an interprex for the legion (and lies about her age). Since she speaks not only Latin and some of the dialects of Gaul, but also some of the local Briton languages by now, her help is sorely needed for negotiations and scouting, so no one looks too close at who (or what) she is. She makes herself useful. 63 CE - Aius works as an interprex for the legions in Britannia (Interprex Britannorum / Gallorum). She makes friends with Decimus Rutilius Atellus, who eventually discovers her secret of being a woman when she is injured in an attack. Decimus keeps the secret, and the two work together to survive various other Briton attacks and skirmishes. Aius is not great in a fight, but she is good at scouting in Briton territory, and interpreting sensitive conversations. Around 72 CE - With Rome's control over southern Britannia stabilized, military personnel is being moved around. Decimus leaves for Gaul and then Rome. Aius stays behind, training as an interprex in more languages, and making herself very useful during negotiations. She starts to learn some Germanic languages from soldiers from the Rhine border. 73 CE - Aius runs into trouble. Some of the new soldiers from the legion start suspecting her identity, and a badly planned late night hazing / confrontation turns violent. Aius fights her way out, but not without being injured (cuts, bruises, cracked ribs). The altercation, incidentally, is broken up by the legate, who soon finds out that his talented interprex is a woman. The matter is considered serious enough to be brought in confidence to the proconsul, Quintus Caecina Tuscus. It is decided that Aius is too useful for the severe punishment for her crime, and the issue is best covered up for reasons of morale. Aius is unofficially pardoned, and presented with the option of being sent to Rome with a letter from the Proconsul, to serve as a tutor in languages to the children under the care of his wife, Flavia Juliana. 74 CE - Aius arrives in Rome, still dressed as a man, but about to begin a whole new chapter of her life in an imperial household. Chevi | CENTRAL EUROPE | Discord

Hi all! Some of you might remember me from two versions of the site ago. I originally joined AeRo as a researcher (I was writing my dissertation on forum gaming at the time). Now I am a doctor (PhD anyway), and also I don't work in academia anymore, but I really missed AeRo and its wonderful people, so I am back to just play and have fun Can't wait to RP with all of you! (Just to clarify, this means I'm not here as a researcher.) Home to Rome