Chevi

Felix managed to get his arm around the man's neck and drag him backwards. There was not much resistance... quite the contrary, the man threw himself backwards, slamming them both into a way. Felix groaned at the impact, as Alexius threw his elbows at him, trying to get away. He had strength, and he did not panic. Felix kicked out at the back of his knee, but his hold around the man's neck slipped anyway. As a second best option, he brought his own elbows down on the back of the man's shoulders. @Atrice

Lucius could have very easily been the kind of man Alexius was. He liked the pleasures of life, he had had the privilege of a patrician to pursue them... except, somehow, he wound up throwing it away for something that felt important. And then he went and got himself tangled with the most unattainable woman in the city. "But you should have confidence, Lucius. You're very attractive and you're bright too. I know there's something you want, but can't have... and it messes you up. You want to know what I do, when I feel like that?" That something being Ovinia. "Please, share." Lucius sighed. They were done with work for the day, anyway. "I distract myself... with the goods that life has to offer. Drinks, pleasure, fun... We could go somewhere to find it?" Lucius smiled a little. He had sobered up by now from the drinking he'd started at the insula. "I make no promises it will work. But I can pay. Lead the way." @Atrice

Wulfric sat on the bed, while Iophon scoured the scantly furnished room for something to administer first aid with. The smells and the state of the bed spoke for themselves. His guess had been right. Sort of. "Her guard. She is... a whore. I paid for evening, not night. But we slept, after... and he was mad. Drunk and mad." "Oh. Boy. Mistake, my friend. Rookie mistake." Iophon shook his head, finally locating a pitcher of water and some cloth. "You never overstay what you paid for. They don't like it. And you need to find a better brother, if the man was drunk like that. Next time, ask me." He returned to the bed. "I feel tired." "Oh no. No, don't sleep. Hey." Iophon tapped Wulfric's face, and then dipped the cloth in water to start cleaning the blood off of it. "Tell me. Was she that good that you just passed out or something?" @Atrice

How did one even carry out a hit on someone? Felix felt wildly uncomfortable as she waited in the alley behind the popina. He probably made an intimidating sight with his tall, bulking form in the shadows, which had been the whole point of the dominus choosing him for this task. But being strong and tall did not really mean Felix was a violent person. Or that he knew how to 'teach someone a lesson.' The someone in question was a man named Alexius. A freedman, whom what Felix knew; someone who frequented this popina among others, and someone handsome enough to also frequent the bed of the dominus' eldest daughter. Who was unmarried, but definitely not a maiden anymore. The dominus wanted to keep the scandal under wraps, but also wanted this Alexius to pay for what he had done. Hence, he picked the largest slave in the household - Felix - and sent him out to beat the man up. Thoroughly. Break a few bones. Maybe punch an eye out. That sort of thing. Felix could not refuse a direct order. He'd just have to get on with it. He had been in fights before a couple of times, and he had also been beaten occasionally when the dominus felt he did not do his job well enough, so he was familiar with the general concept. And the man definitely deserved the beating, for doing... those things with the lady, and ruining her honor. That part really angered Felix. The domina was kind and friendly, and she did not deserve to be seduced by some freedman from the Subura. Yes. He should focus on that. Just punishment. There was movement at the door of the popina, and a man stepped out into the alley. He was tall, and decidedly handsome. Fit the description. He had to be it. Felix waited for him to look towards the exit of the alley before he moved from the other side, lunging at the man, aiming to get his arm around his throat and drag him back into the shadows. @Atrice

July, 61 AD Calpurnia was excited to meet her sister-in-law for the very first time. She had gotten a letter from her brother a few weeks before about their impending return to Rome, with the good news of the new bride already being with child. Having a family of her own was a far-off concept and a vague possibility at best for Calpurnia, and thus she was fully prepared to dote on her nephews and nieces in the future. She just hoped that the new sister-in-law was someone she would get along with. The tall woman hurried along the hallway of the Vestal House to the room where they entertained guests. A servant had told her earlier that Horatia had arrived, and they had shown her in. Calpurnia was wearing the traditional white clothes of a Vestal, but her face was flushed with excitement. Now she'd get to see if her brother had chosen well... "Salve" she smiled politely as she entered the room. "You must be my sister-in-law." @Sara

"Not really afraid, I think. Concerned, sometimes... but you know, when you're caught up in a moment and you forget to think, until after...? And then after, it's too late. So, you move on." Yes. Lucius was familiar with the concept of being caught up in the moment. But it was somehow stunning that Alexius had gotten away with it again and again... the gods must have favored the man. Venus, most likely. "Pleasure isn't just about inserting one part into another, Lucius, but you know that. You can share pleasure and the woman can remain virgin." Lucius cleared his throat. Yeah, he knew that too. He did not want to think about it, because it conjured up a whole lot of distracting thoughts and feelings. Also, if anyone got caught, it was not really going to be a very solid defense to say things had not been... inserted. "But I would never want to put anyone in danger. I'd do all I could to keep it between us. And if someone would have my head bashed in, I'm pretty sure I'd bash theirs first. Unless they fall for my charms too. I never had the issue, though." Lucius laughed a little at Alexius' confidence. He had no doubt the man could seduce anyone if he put his mind to it. And he did not point out that Alexius had just blurted out Ovinia's name to someone else... still, he meant well. "I wish I had your confidence." @Atrice

Maybe Lucius had gone too far, reminding Alexius he was not a patrician. Neither was Lucius, not anymore, but to other people comments like this still came off as him feeling superior. Which was never a good thing. "Unmarried women can be an issue, yes... but people who don't match? Don't you think I've met women like Pinaria before? And do you think I only flirted with them?" Of course not. If Lucius had to guess, he'd have safely bet on Alexius having slept with several noble women who had a taste for handsome men. How many unmarried, though? That was another story. "It's all about how you do it. Sure some will think something's wrong with the attraction. But if the desire is strong enough... you make it work." "You were never afraid of getting caught?" he ventured, looking at him curiously. Even as a freedman, families of patrician women would not have taken kindly to the transgression. "I mean, for an unmarried girl, her life is at stake." Even a hint of scandal, and she was spoiled goods. Like Ovinia, after being attacked. And if they turned out not to be untouched, on their wedding night... Lucius did not wish that on anyone, no matter how much he may want them. "But even for married women, or widows... You're not worried someone would have your head bashed in?" @Atrice

"Women... and men." Lucius smirked. Alexius did seem like a very popular man. There was nothing wrong with that. Lucius himself was no stranger to flirting with men from time to time, although he suspected Alexius' list of flirts was way, way longer than his. "Although sometimes I wonder who's lining up for whom. I mean... it's not hard to tempt me. And Rome is full of good looking people." "It is." Lucius agreed, laughing. Alexius, devoted to the pleasures of life. Lucius generally liked people like that, as long as seeking pleasure did not turn them greedy or selfish or cruel. Alexius was none of those things. Best of both worlds, really. "But as long as everyone's happy, right? If the attraction and the desire is mutual... then there's nothing wrong with it. Not the way I see it anyway." "That is because you are not a patrician." Lucius smirked. If only it had been so easy. Life would have been... better. "They can find a whole lot of wrong with attraction, if it is between people who don't match. And definitely a whole lot of wrong with it, if it involves unmarried women." @Atrice

"On the walls? No - I don't really have anything I need to let people know about. I've got a tabula to practise in. Besides, I don't have any urge to write about sex all over the walls of Rome and I don't think anyone round here writes about much else." Azarion grinned. Rufus was probably right. People did write a lot about sex. Wanting it, having it, having had it, or just... sex words in general, as far as he could tell from perusing any portion of the wall for any few minutes. Sure, sometimes there was the occasional advertisement, gladiator name, or political graffiti, but those were not very close to Azarion's everyday life either. "I don't suppose you've been leaving messages, either," He shook his head. Messages, no. The only thing he'd scratched on the wall so far were some Sarmatian signs (Tiranes had started that one), and Safinia's name, at the alley where she'd died. He turned back, looking at the wall again. As his eyes wandered over the scrawled letters, he blinked. Was that... his name? He'd learned to recognize his own name easily, although he knew not all Romans knew how to spell it. Hell, he didn't know how to spell it either, he'd just gone with what sounded right. But now... there was his name, on the wall. He leaned closer. @Sharpie

"Hey - we can't all be as good-looking as your friend the Consul, Domine," Metella shot Attis a look. His big mouth had gotten him into trouble before, and this would have been an especially awful time to repeat the experience. He must have realized he was on dangerous territory, because he decided to flatter her. "If it looks like Metella, it'll be the prettiest baby you've ever seen," "A small red-headed, squalling hellion in my house? It'll be just like being back in Britannia." Metella smiled a little, but felt a pang somewhere deep down. She had not thought much about Britannia, or her family, in recent years. It was easier not to. But now that it was dawning on her that she would be a mother... "I won't sell the child. I wouldn't do that. This house deserves to have some sort of family living in it, and it's not like I have one of my own." "Thank you, domine." Metella nodded. She meant it. Longinus was strict sometimes, but he did keep his promises. And it was a little sad, that he'd not think of his home as a family. Maybe with a new wife, that would change. "I'll still take care of Cassia, of course." @Sara @Sharpie

Romans sure loved to scrawl on walls about fucking. Even Rufus had to admit, if one wanted to practice their letters, this wall was as good as any. "Have you been practising your writing as well?" Azarion shrugged, making an ambivalent gesture. He had not written much, unless he really needed to explain something to someone, and Jason was not around. Otherwise, what should he write? He raised a questioning eyebrow at Rufus, making a writing gesture and pointing at the wall. Was Rufus in the habit of leaving messages? @Sharpie

"Of course it's spinning, it looks like you got punched pretty bad" Iophon pointed out as he hauled Wulfric to his feet. At least he was well enough to stand, although he probably did not have it in him to walk far. Luckily, he lived in the building. "Oh, that makes it easier." Iophon supported Wulfric up the stairs to the door of his apartment. He'd need to find a place for him to sit. "You got some water in here?" he asked, looking around. He wrinkled his nose. "No offense, my friend, but it smells like sex in here. Did a woman beat you up like that?... Or her husband?" @Atrice

"No. I don't think anything will help, until you all find him." Lucius nodded. He knew. Part of her would not feel safe unless the man was caught. Part of her might never, even after that. But at least it was something he could do. The way she looked now, the way she held herself, he wanted to hug her again. He couldn't. "But you can paint over this. Isn't manual labour what you vigiles do?" He smiled a little. "I'm surprised you know what manual labor is." He shot back. But his look was still soft, and he'd paint over the wall later. He glanced at the misguided messages. "You know it wasn't Saturnalia. Right? It really wasn't." He added, more quietly. @Sara

"He did. He also told me of you both deciding to share my secret," Lucius' jaw dropped. She'd accused him of a whole lot of unfair things, but this one was actually... ow. "Wha..." "So if I hear it has gotten out I know exactly whose door to which I can lay the blame." "That's not..." Honestly, Alexius didn't deserve it either. It had been an honest mistake. Did Alexius tell her they both did it?... He doubted that. More likely, Ovinia had just decided to lump sum blame him for everything, from Alexius' mistakes all the way to the Civil War and water being wet. She was clearly not well. "Fine. I'm no longer being shipped to Crete, so there's that." But at least she answered the question. Lucius felt a bit relieved. "That's... good." he nodded. He didn't really believe she was fine. But at least she was staying. "Is there anything I can do?... To help?" @Sara

"You don't have to like it," Lucius frowned again. If she had insisted on being this stubborn about not hating him... imagine the possibilities. She scratched at the wall, but with not much succes. "I told you we do not need to see one another. Alexius is keeping me appraised of your hunt and your progress... Or lack thereof." "Yeah, he told me." he sighed. Alexius had visited her at least. He was a caring friend. "We're doing our best, and following leads, but I'm sure he's told you all that." It was slow progress, but it was progress. His look softened after a few moments. "How are you feeling?" @Sara

There was a point, that Ovinia tended to get to, where being wrong just pissed her off even more. But at least it meant she knew she'd been wrong now. "So this is you being a man? Going to see your girl?" Lucius signed again. She was not his girl. He had told that to Vibia, who'd laughed at him, and now here he was, and here she was, nowhere in the broad vicinity of the point. "Go on then, use your words." "Honestly, I just wanted to tell you you were wrong, before you brought your father down on me." he noted. Even with the veil, he could see she was gearing up for getting even angrier, so he quickly continued. "I am not sure why you are so angry at me. I've been trying to figure it out, but I still don't know, and I don't like it. I don't want to fight with you." @Sara

"Perhaps you got one of your vigile friends to write the latest message. I don't doubt you've been keeping them very well informed." Lucius sighed. Clearly, Ovinia was still angry enough at him to make accusations that were nowhere near true. The only person who knew about her was... well, Alexius. Who was not a vigile. And Titus knew... something. Not this, though. "That. Was definitely you. And I didn't appreciate it." "No, it wasn't me." he frowned, frustrated by the accusation. "Or the vigiles, because most of them can't write, and none of them know about any of this." He turned to face her, and tapped the wall with one hand. "That was me." It was a newer message, spelled out next to their column of arguments in Lucius' neater handwriting (if wall scrawling could be called handwriting at all). You are writing to the wrong girl. Be a man, go see yours, and use your words. @Sara

Alright, so in retrospect, this had been a bad idea. Lucius realized that a split second before she screamed, and did not have time to correct course before he was slammed into the wall full force by the same bodyguard he'd managed to piss off last time. This had been a long time coming. "S-stop!" Lucius could have fought the man if he had to, although he was not quite confident in his chances. But so far, the man was doing his job. So he stilled, held roughly at the collar. "Lucia, Perses. You remember the Vigile, don't you? From the domus and the Portico? I am perfectly safe with him." Lucius kept his eyes on Perses. He really did not feel like getting his nose broken, so he tried to embody the 'perfectly safe' part. Finally, Perses let go and retreated, although Lucius could still feel his glare. Which was no match for Ovinia's glare at all, even though she pretended to be glaring at the wall. "I don't know. It seems fairly in character for you." This reminded him of the whole reason they were here. "Does it really?" he frowned. "I know you are angry at me, but do you honestly, hand to your heart, believe that I'd call you... all that?" @Sara

"I... fought. Did not end well." "Yes. I can see that." There had been a fight alright, and Wulfric did not look like he'd won it. Which was strange. Wasn't he a warrior prince or something? He waved the questions away for later. "I do not know... what to do, now." "Well, first off, let's get you up." Iophon offered, crouching down to support Wulfric with his shoulder. "Do you think you can stand?" @Atrice

Rufus inspected the writing on the wall. No doubt he had an easier time spelling the words out, but Azarion was still proud of his progress. He now recognized FUCK at first sight. "Is this the only thing you can find to practice your reading with?" Azarion shrugged with a smirk. As good as any. He made a wide gesture at the hundreds of notes and words and scratches on this tract of the wall. There was a lot to work with there. @Sharpie

"They're smarter than their reputation, ladies are. And when something feels good... I think we're like open scrolls to them. We'll tell them anything if they make us feel good." Lucius chuckled. Alexius was not wrong, really. He wondered how many secrets Vibia was already privy to. A smart woman like that, she probably knew how to use them to her advantage. She had called the attraction between him and Ovinia anyway, way before he realized it. "You really had to go and pay for pleasure though, as a Patrician? I never understood that. With your looks, any girl should want to get on her knees for you for free." This time, he laughed. He was growing fond of Alexius and his world views. "I didn't have to pay... it just kind of happened. She seemed interesting." And she was surely not doing anything for free. He arched an eyebrow at Alexius. "You're the one talking. Former gladiator? I bet women are lining up for you." @Atrice

When the boy showed up with a message for him, Lucius was surprised at first. He did not expect to hear from Ovinia soon. Maybe ever. She was angry at him, for whatever reason, and he knew Alexius had visited her and kept her updated on the progress of the hunt for the barber. Why would she send a message to him? And then he read the message, and he was shocked. What was she even talking about? Slander on the wall? He had walked past the alley where they'd "shared a moment" on occasion, and the memores still haunted him, but he knew of no slander. But now, he had to check. When he read the scrawled messages on the wall, he was amused. Clearly, Ovinia had been exchanging angry messages with someone that was not him. The amusement did not last long, however, as the messages escalated. It turned into anger. Did she really think he'd write something like that? To her? About her? He knew she did not think much of him, or his honor, but this hurt. Like he would ever. After that, he deliberately walked that way on patrol whenever he could. There was no new message from Ovinia yet. He thought about leaving one to clear his name, but it would have only confirmed that he was indeed scrawling on walls. Which he was not. Instead, he wondered if she would show up to write again. Eventually, she did. Lucius was lingering by the alley when she appeared; even wrapped in a palla, he recognized her figure. She paused by the wall, checking the writing; Lucius was leaning against the wall just at the corner, but she was too occupied with the messages to notice him yet. "You really think I'd write something like that?" @Sara

He had never heard Ovinia talk like that. He knew she was caring, and kind, deep down, but he'd never known her to give something... everything up, like that. For his happiness. Ironically, he was not sure he could be happy apart from her. She believed things would change. When? How? He tried to imagine, he had, many times before. She was safer here, at the villa, and his work was back at the city. There was nowhere else to go. "Don't give up everything for me." "I love you." he muttered, but he was not arguing anymore. He was going to spend as long as he could, before he had to leave this bed. "I'll come back to you. When I can." @Sara

"And you couldn't be a steady and caring father?" "I couldn't be a steady and caring patrician father" Lucius pointed out the obvious with a chuckle. Even as a widow, Pinaria had to make and advantageous marriage. It was not the only reason they both knew Lucius wasn't a match, but it was the most important one. "Besides, maybe a good husband and a father for her son isn't all she needs. Most women need more than that, they're just unable to admit it." Lucius grinned at Alexius. In some ways, his life was probably easier. If all Lucius wanted had been a lover, he could have felt easier too. "We all do, don't we? Want and need more. It's damned that it's so hard to find someone who's just right, isn't it?" "You can say that again." Lucius nodded with a sigh. "There was this girl, at the Venus. I used to visit her, when I... uh, still had the money. I was her client, but damn, she was also good at conversation." he chuckled. "She... saw me pretty well, it turns out." @Atrice

She snuggled closer and Lucius held her, breathing in her scent. Was she right? Would he not give up the life he had been living, for her?... Right now, it was hard to think otherwise. "But we can dream can't we? About some small little villa on the beach on some Greek island, with the sun and the sea and nobody to bother us." "We could go swimming" he muttered with a smile. He liked the idea. "I could learn to fish." He could see the image clearly, a distant shore with a small house. And Ovinia. "I could do it" he said, after a pause. He tilted his head to look at her. "I've done it before. I gave up my family, to do what I felt was right... you're right. This is right." he swallowed, resting his forehead against hers. "I can't let you go. I am a strong man, I think, but I am not that strong." @Sara