Chevi

Lucius knew that Father Camillus was none too pleased about the news. He also knew why. Ovinia had (accidentally) stabbed him for the exact same reason the night before. "How many people know about this? You must have forgotten, vigile, that I asked you explicitly to handle this quietly. I don't foresee a lengthy trial in front of the plebs as being handled quietly. Do you?" "He was apprehended in the middle of another attack. Luckily, someone was injured but no one died. But there were quite a few... witnesses." Lucius tried to keep a neutral face, glancing at Ovinia. She was doing a better job than him. "I-It's impressive that you caught him. Thank you. What will happen now?" "Well, he's locked up. And I personally talked to Tiberius Claudius Sabucius, to make sure this would be handled discreetly. Very discreetly." Lucius took a deep breath. He knew the next part would hurt. "But... he's a freeborn man. And the witnesses we have now might not be enough to make sure he is executed for his crimes. Tiberius said that he needs one patrician woman to come forward. To talk to him. To give him enough to deal with that man for good." @Sara @Sarah

"He better not" Metella frowned. She was usually patient with the dominus, but pregnancy did not have a good effect on her temper. And she did not like the idea of Longinus naming their child something asenine, like Rufus. "But I doubt he'll let me give her a Briton name... do you have one in mind?" @Sharpie

So, he did win. A slight smile played on Calpurnia's lips, seeing his confidence. He had narrowly avoided death, judging by his injury; she had seen enough in the arena. And yet he spoke like it was natural. "No, we don't" she answered his question. Dealing with blood and gore was not something the Vestals did. Also, he was likely a slave. A touch of her hand could free her if she wished. Every time she thought about that, it always came with a strange sense of power. The wagon was still not going anywhere, though. Calpurnia tilted her head, thinking, then waved over the novice that accompanied her, whispering to her. Surprised, the girl scurried away. Calpurnia turned back to the gladiator. "What is your name?"

"You come from the arena." Calpurnia observed. No doubt they were on the way back to their ludus. "Did you win?" Not all fights went to the death. Although the men, at least the tall handsome one, seemed like they would win. She tilted her head; at her height, she could see over the edge of the wagon. "You are injured." @Atrice

From the Vestal House the roar of the crowds in the Amphitheater could be clearly heard. It was a day of games. The Vestals had good seats reserved for them, but not all of them attended at once; the senior mothers were gone, leaving the other sisters to tend to the ever-burning flame and their other duties around the temple. Calpurnia didn't mind. She visited the games on occasion, but she had never been invested in them She noticed the wagon with the gladiators on it as she walked out of the House. It had stopped, and a woman was offering thr gladiators a drink. Calpurnia, curious as ever, stepped up closer to the wagon. The men sitting on it were covered in blood and dirt. Straight from the arena. "Is everything alright here?" She inquired, looking at the stalling wagon and the men in it. @Atrice

"I'm guessing it's not Blue." "Smart man" Rubina grinned, momentarily distracted as the blast of the horn started the race on the other end of the tracks. "Brown. I'm more interested in the horses, truth be told. The way they move is pure freedom." Rubina smiled. Good answer, indeed. Many people in Rome were so fanatical about their teams, they didn't always pay attention to the finer details. And she did share his affection for the horses. "So go on, what's the right answer then?" "Reds, obviously" Rubina noted; she was wearing a red ribbon in her hair and a rust-colored tunica. The horses were thundering past them now, the young White racer and Paullus among them. Rubina jumped up, yelling at the top of her lungs. "MOVE YOUR BLOODY ASS PAULLUS! COME ON!" @Sarah @Insignia

The man was sulking, alone, in the middle of a day of festivities. And no doubt drinking sub par wine. Iophon was curious now. It wasn't that there were no grumpy people in the great City of Rome (there were quite a few) - but it was always different when someone looked grumpy when they did not seem to have that general disposition. He decided to investigate. "That is a way too serious look for a way too cheerful day" he noted, taking a seat next to him, uninvited. He waved at the popina's owner to bring out some wine. "Did something tarnish the spirit of Neptunalia for you, friend?" @Mobius

"Romans and their laws." Aia grumbled as they lay down, snuggling closer to Decimus. She was too cynical to trust anything working out until she saw the dead body with her own two eyes. "It was a close call, you know" she muttered. "He really wanted Didia dead. If Alexius and I did not show up when we did..." someone might have died. Like others had, from what she understood; others not mentioned or not discovered, killed by the same sick person. @Sains

"Damn right" she agreed with his assessment. He had never tried to drive a chariot, but she was sure she'd be good if she put her mind to it. And if her parents, and the faction leaders, would ever agree. Rufus wanted to know what she did instead. Rubina shrugged. "Try to help out, and control the general chaos?" she smirked. "I am... basically everyone's little sister and den mother at the same time.It's not an official position, it just kind of happened." she added with a grin. "How about you? What do you do in that fancy house up the hill?" @Sharpie

July 23, 77AD It was Neptunalia, one of the old and half-forgotten festivals of Rome only the plebeians really celebrated anymore. The gates to the Via Appia were wide open, and in the stifling summer heat groups of people were heading out of the city, seeking the cool shade of the trees by the road, and the fountains along the aqueduct. Iophon, by his part, was hoping that the festivities would make people generous, or travelers inbound more inclined to listen to a story or two about the festival. So, he headed out to the Porta Capena too; he only stopped at a popina to pick up a jug of wine and some pastries for the day. Which was when he noticed the strange, quiet man, sulking in the middle of all this cheerfulness. Looking slightly out of place, he immediately aroused Iophon's curiosity. @Mobius

"Ha! I wish" she grinned at his question about being a charioteer. "I'd be better than half of the charioteers in the Circus. Trust me." Rubina had never had the drive to try to make her idea a reality. She enjoyed spending time at the stables, she adored the horses, she was friendly with the charioteers... but while she would have loved to drive a chariot sometimes, she was in no great hurry to break herself into pieces in an actual race. "Someone one day will come up with that idea, I bet. Like they did with gladiatrices." @Sharpie

"You have served me very well and loyally, for more than fifteen years. We are here to celebrate your manumission," Felix had learned to control his emotions in the presence of his dominus, but hearing those words made the surprise clear on his face. His jaw almost dropped. Manumission. Aulus was giving him his freedom. "So, please join us." The empty place at the table was for him. He had never sat down in the presence of free citizens (unless one counted the very unusual circumstances of his flight with Aulus, once upon a time). It just felt... strange, to think of himself as a free man. Someone invited to... join them. He looked at the others - Aulus' family, and even the young imperial he knew from sight. Seven citizens. He knew well enough how a manumission worked. In theory. "The invitation is the informal manumission, this is the formal one. I want you to have all the rights possible, which this confers." He took the scroll and read it. It was official. He was free. Felix felt like his head was spinning, as he looked up. "Thank..." he swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. "... thank you, domine. Truly. I... don't know what to say." @Sharpie @Sara @Sarah

Calpurnia knew that Aulus held Felix in high esteem. Ever since his flight from Rome, the body slave had been at his side. As far as Calpunia knew, Felix was an honest and stalwart man. Now that her brother felt it was time to grant him his freedom, she knew it would be an important occasion. She smiled, reclining on the couch as she watched the scene unfold. The young man seemed like he was about to faint. Clearly, he had not expected this honor. Or not so soon, anyway. Calpurnia gave him an encouraging nod, sipping her wine. She'd let Aulus do the talking for now. @Sharpie @Sarah @Sara

Lucius made an effort to keep his face straight as Ovinia made an appearance. Her own face spoke volumes. She already new what he came here to say, but she couldn't give it away, and neither could he. He could also see her glancing at the bandages on his arm. A reminder from the previous day. He had not spoken to her since. Lucius tried to focus on her father, and her brother, and the task ahead. At least it was the nicer brother that made an appearance. Vigile Roscianus. "Good news" he hurried to say, clearing his throat. "The attacker... the man we have been pursuing, has been apprehended last night. He is now locked up in the Tullianum." @Sarah @Sara

The look on his face was priceless, now that he caught up to what was happening. Metella grinned at him. Gods bless this man. He was an idiot, but he was a kind, sweet idiot, and he was her idiot. For better or worse. She opened his mouth to tell him no, he was not going to make a bad father at all, but he was kissing her now, and she had no chance to speak. She smiled into the kiss and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. @Sharpie

"Limpet." she giggled, watching his face. He had tried so many times to needle her into marrying him that he flat out missed the point she had just made. She raised her hands to frame his face. What a magnificent dumbass. She still couldn't believe he somehow ended up in her life like this. "I just told you I'd marry you, you idiot." @Sharpie

Lucius blinked, surprised. What kind of a fucked up mission was this? People, locked into the burning zoo with animals on the loose? "Someone better lose their fucking job over this one" he muttered, standing up, ready to leave. It felt like the whole thing was tailored to their skill set - his, Camilla's, and Jason's. They headed out together. "So, Jason... if you tell a lion not to eat us... what are the chances it will listen?" @Sharpie @Sara

Aia gave him a sympathetic look. He had been defeated and taken to Rome, and he had no idea what happened to his family. She knew that was a common thing. She remembered Erea, searching for her family. She shook her head. "No. I only have my... husband here." That's what Decimus was, for all intents and purposes. "You know, I met this girl... in Britannia. And then I met her again here, years later. She had been captured and brought here too. And she was looking for her family... I think she found some of them, in the end. She has been freed now." @Faustus

"It's quite impressive. I still remember the first time I saw it" Theo nodded as they walked back to the ludus. Theo led the way, to the doors that opened to the tunnel towards the Amphitheater. They were usually closed and guarded, but for Saturnalia, the rules were different. When they emerged, it was clear that some people must have had the same idea from various ludii: smaller groups sat here and there in the seats, with wine and food and lanterns, and some were playing music and dancing down in the arena. Theo smiled, heading to the seats. "Looks like others had the same idea." He shook his head at Spurius' question. "I don't know her personally, but I've heard about her. She sounds remarkable. Gladiator or gladiarix, the best ones are always more clever than people give them credit for..." @Sarah

"And do exactly what, as a free woman with a baby?" Metella questioned, turning around in a somewhat wobbly manner to face him. She didn't much like the serious conversations either but it was time to have them. And say some things she'd never thought she'd say to Attis' face. "Even if dominus helps... you're the baby's father. I don't want to raise her unless you're there... If I get to choose, I'd rather be married to you than free on my own." @Sharpie

Rubina laughed, tickled that she had managed to guess his name. It have been somewhat of a safe bet, given that Romans liked to name their slaves after obvious things. Still, it fit him. "It's honestly only just as fancy as serving in the house of a senator. Although serving in a senator's house is probably pretty fancy if you don't have to do it yourself." Rubina honestly had no idea either way. The only slaves she knew were the ones serving at the Reds' household. She always imagined the households on the Palatine being incredibly elegant. "Well, go figure, we have something in common as far as naming goes." she giggled "I'm Didia Rubina. I usually go by Rubina. My father was a charioteer for the Reds, so they called him Rubeus. Go figure. Red, and red." she grinned at him, holding another strawberry aloft. "We have a color theme going here." @Sharpie

Drinking wine and eating cherries was not so bad, for now. Aia could tell Erea was not very happy... but at least she was free. And things had a way of working out on the long run, sometimes. "But at least I can come and see you. There's terms for my freedom but not one of them concerns vetting my friends so...when can I visit your lovely new place?" "Anytime" Aia grinned. She liked the idea. "You are absolutely welcome. The place... still needs some work. But we have repainted it recently, so, you can't see the sex positions the previous owner had painted up there on the walls anymore." "And maybe you can...introduce me to some normal people? Given I can now actually socialise?" "Sure." Aia nodded, sipping wine. "They'll like you. How do you know Alexius anyway?" @Sara

"There's no reason at all why we shouldn't revive it. That's a very good idea. As long as you don't overcharge, I mean... there's still improvements to be done here." "Oh, for sure. I know you have plans to make this place much better" Iophon smiled at Lucius. He had read him as a shrewd businessman, and he was not here to scam him out of any money anyway. He was merely seeking a mutually beneficial arrangement. And maybe a way to make this place a little less crap for those who worked in it. Iophon did have a soft spot for people like Ione. "How about, if you direct travelers and other people here, make sure they know to mention your name. Then you'll be paid for how many people you directed here. And maybe get a little benefit besides that, if Ione pleases you so, you can have her again, if she's available. Else, one of the other girls?" "We can agree on a payment per person, for sure" Iophon nodded. "And as your improvements take place, I'd be happy to help with some extra boost of stories by commission. As for Ione, I do enjoy her company. But alas, I need money more than I need company, I'm sure you understand" he raised his hands "The life of a free-swimming storyteller, I'm afraid. But that is not to say I won't occasionally take advantage of your hospitality..." He liked her well enough, and he was sure she wanted a break of just talking, sometimes. "How much do you charge now, from the visitors?" @Atrice

"As soon as possible" Calpurnia nodded with a grin. She liked the idea of reaching out to a young man who already had experience with paperwork - and a wife who would soon be in need of a midwife anyway. Calpurnia did not like to idle; she liked to get things done. And she knew her sister-in-law was the same way. "This... has the potential to become something great. I know it." And she was happy they got to do it together. @Sara

"Strangely enough, yes. Though I don't have anything to do with where the kitchen slaves get their produce." Rubina smirked, enjoying the sweet, fresh taste of the fruit she'd procured with his help. She didn't give a fuck about whether the merchant got his business in the end, or not. He had not been that friendly to begin with. "I don't have anything to do with Caesar, though. I serve in the house of one of his uncles." "Ooh. Fancy." Rubina chuckled. "What's your name? Or should I just call you Rufus?" @Sharpie