Chevi

"He's my cousin, it's his first time here and he's worried you might think I, uh, bullied him into coming here." Azarion rolled his eyes. Technically, Tiranes had said what he wanted him to say. "Do you want a massage?" He looked at his cousin. A massage. His muscles would have loved that, but this whole situation was already weird enough. Are you offering? "Good. He is new in Rome, maybe?" Azarion shook his head. He gestured at himself, with all the obvious scars, and then the place around them. Not new just... not exactly used to luxuries. @Atrice @Sharpie

"How rich were you? Before you joined us?" Lucius chuckled. He'd expected the question. He had not revealed much about himself other than the obvious, and he was sure Titus wanted to know more. Which was why he'd offered this game in the first place. He emptied his cup and refilled it, as per the rules of the game. "I am from a patrician family, so... rich, by most people's standards? But we were not one of the wealthiest. My father died when I was a kid, and my brother was just starting his career, so... moderately rich?" he chuckled. It was still more than most people ever had. They rolled again. "Your guess first." "Seven." @Sara

"As you say! Getting hit isn't the aim, but I'll help you through that too." "Oh, fun." Lucius grinned. It was not gonna be fun at all, is it. "Anyways, lets get to some demonstration. Ready your feet and we'll practice the most common attack of your average man. The charge." Lucius blinked, then spread his feet into a wider stance, and bent his knees. It felt more stable that way. If he was going to get charged... well, that brought back memories, from playing around with other boys his age. However, that had been a long time ago... @Sains

"You might prefer something more...substantial. But what would you say to the loser telling a story?" Azarion nodded with a grin. Stories were good. Better than seeds. Gambling for walnuts could get boring quick. Cynane seemed to approve of the idea as well. "That sounds like a good idea. I'm not so skilled though. So I hope you won't mind my stories." Azarion was sure whatever stories she had to tell, they would be interesting. He already knew she had not lived a boring life. And Azarion was curious about whatever the young chief had to say. Sure, it was not new for Jason to be in the company of the imperial, but Azarion was still curious about him. "I wouldn't say 'skilled'. I can play dice, but Titus usually beats me. But I don't need to lose to tell a story." Azarion sat up, fishing the knucklebones out of the bag. There was a handful of them. Back home, they played with them without scores, but since he had started playing here at the stables, he had scratched numbers on their sides to make it easier for the others. Lowest score loses? He signed to Jason, waiting for approval before he tossed the bones. @Sharpie @Atrice @Sarah

"For not telling Grandfather" Clio muttered, walking with her sister. Thalia would have been well within her rights to run screaming to the paterfamilias about what she had seen. But the sisters loved each other, and hopefully they would find a better solution. Or no solution at all. Maybe it weally just wouldn't happen again. She did not want to think about it. @Atrice

"Yer generous, but I'd be a richt fool tae let ye dose me up wi' wine afore we spar. 'Less yer goin' to match me." "I can" she drank some of her own wine as they walked over to take a seat. "But it is terribly hot to spar. Maybe later?" She wouldn't say no, she always enjoyed the challenge of sparring with the male gladiators. In the meantime, they could talk. "I wish. From whit I hear th'auld lady kin keep up; tis the young 'un whit owns me. She haes a temper." So, he was not a lover that someone got bored of. Interesting. "So whit's new?" "Not much, really. I'm still the best fighter at the ludus" she grinned at him, refilling the wine. "Haven't had big games in a while, though. I think everyone is trying to come up with something new..." @Sarah

The girl shook her head. No experience. She picked up a tablet and wrote out some words. She could read and write, then. That was useful, for someone who didn't speak. Whoever gave her the chance, and the skills, to do so, was clever. Calpurnia tilted her head, reading the words. “My former owners were all male. I was a general slave.” "Oh. I see." she nodded "Well... would you be interested in learning? I promise, I am not terribly fussy. But you'd have to learn to do my hair. On normal days, when the ornatrix is not needed." @Jenn

"The Emperor - the new Emperor - is only young and isn't married himself, yet. I don't think you have anything to worry about there, and I daresay you wouldn't be the first retired Vestal to veto a Pontifex Maximus' selection." Calpurnia smiled. She knew the process would take a while. A retired Vestal was a huge honor for a family, but she was somewhat past her prime child-bearing age, so whoever married her would have to be a widower at least. And most older senators that would fit the bill did not interest her at all. Sometimes Calpurnia wondered if she would ever get married, and found that she would probably be content either way. "I hope you do stay for a while, the house is quite big enough that we won't be falling over one another - and I promise you that I have no intention whatsoever of questioning you every time you want to go out, or going over your accounts. Although, if you do want a hand with your accounts, I can lend you Xanthos when I don't need him. And if you want anything else, you only have to ask." "I appreciate that." she nodded with a smile. She could do her accounts, but it didn't hurt to delegate whenever one had the chance. "Although if he chooses some vastly wealthy Senator who looks as if he's about to drop dead of exertion just by standing, I might have something to say about it," "Brother!" she raised her eyebrows in mock surprise "Surely you are not saying I should wish for my darling husband's death for monetary gain?" @Sharpie

"You'll get tired of saying no one day and say yes just to shut me up. I'm not that bad, am I - no, don't answer that, I probably don't want to hear the answer." Metella had rolled her eyes about his claim, but couldn't help but chuckle a little when he walked it back. Attis was sweet in his own way, even if she did not want to admit it. She would not have taken him to her bed otherwise. But being married... that was a whole other thing. She could only deal with one life-changing event at a time. "Let's go and 'fess up. You think he'll send me back to Sulpicius Rufus again? Though he never said he minded us doing, you know..." "If he sends you, he'll send me too." Metella muttered, getting up from the bed. Although Sulpicius Rufus probably did not want a pregnant slave around either. But Attis was right, might as well get this part over with. "Let's go." @Sharpie @Sara

He let out the breath he had been holding as she wrapped her arms around him. He held her tightly, breathing in the scent of her hair. How could this ever be enough? They had tonight. She kissed him. It was slow and sweet and almost unbearable. He kissed her back with more desperation, one hand tangling in her hair. Gods, he had missed her. He hummed deep in his chest and gathered her closer. I love you.

He broke first. Her words, her tears, the look in her eyes. She reached for his hand and he grasped hers, feeling his resolve slip away. For the first time, she was the more mature of the two of them. He pulled her hand to his chest. "Just tonight, then." He said quietly, pleading. "Before I leave. Tonight, let me love you."

Of course she had expected more. She was Ovinia. Lucius watched her as she watched him. "Marius... Marius said that you loved me. It's why I had to say it then, that night, on Saturnalia. We couldn't love each other in a relationship like that, I knew that." Lucius sighed, shaking his head. Damn Marius. He had suspected he'd said something to Ovinia. But not this directly... "And I'm glad you don't anymore. But it still hurts me, Lucius. What happened, after everything...it still hurts." He looked up this time, and it was his turn to stare at her with a burning intensity. She was not trying to prod him. She just looked... "You think I... don't love you anymore?"

"Do you even know why I...said what I said on Saturnalia? Why I did what I did?" He looked at her this time. She looked ready to bolt, but for once, she was staying. And talking. He listened. "I realised you would never risk me...I just...I couldn't imagine a life when I was a slave in every respect unless I was in your bed. That wasn't how I wanted to live my life. Serve you one moment, and laugh with you the next. I...wasn't accepting my position. My lot." He shook his head. Her words hurt, but she was only telling the truth. "It's not a lot anyone should accept." He had freed his household slaves for a reason. "And even if you stay here, I'll try my best to get permission to free you, eventually. I promise. "

"You don't want me around. " I do. I do. "We've barely spoken in six months L-Lucius. And...we can get a clean break." I don't want one. Her pebble skipped, but neither of them paid any attention. "You can get a decent servant that knows how to sweep and help your arm." This time, he sighed. "I don't really care about any of that." He had servants. He would be fine. "I..." it didn't really matter how he felt, he reminded himself. "You are an amazing woman, Ovinia. You are... more than what you get credit for. I can't free you. But I want you to be happy. Here, if that's what you want. "

He was not trying to make her feel bad and they both knew it, but he winced at the accusation anyway. Ovinia, when she was sad or upset, tended to atrack rather than retreat. "I know." As a slave, she could scarcely build a life anywhere, reall, but the villa was... more freedom. "I was being selfish. I'm sorry."

He had expected that she'd decide to stay. He had told himself she surely would, and it would be better for her, and for him. And yet, it still hurt. "I wanted you to have a choice." He said quietly, watching the water. "I hope you will be happy here."

"Should have known you preferred the sand" he chuckled, listening to her story. They skipped stones for a while; his only skipped once or twice. The full moon came up, and music filtered down from the villa. "We shouldn't be too long. We...you...still need to pack." Lucius sighed, staring after the last pebble. He had caught the hesitation in her voice. "You're staying, then."

"That's... true." Lucius looked down at his hands. For the first time in a long time, he hadn't even noticed that he was using his left hand. Ovinia was right. It was still more awkward than the right, but it was starting to feel natural. She offered him pebbles and he took one. Hers skipped once, his still sank. "Have you done this before?... It's better. Doesn't hurt much, anymore."

Lucius laughed at her comment about the singing. It was a very Ovinia thing to say. However she wanted to explain it, it was still fun. She needed to learn to admit that. They stood on the shore together. His heart sank at her question. You could stay... she was staying, then. "I need to get back" he shook his head. "End of summer is always dangerous in the city." Everything was dry, dusty, and flammable. Ovinia picked up a pebble, and tried to skip it. It sank. Lucius chuckled, picking one of his own and trying the same. It sank too. He grinned. "Damn. I used to be good at this."

"I didn't really see him. He came from behind. He... he held me close, threatened me with a knife. He said he did not care about money or jewelry. And then he... cut me. Here... He... touched it." Lucius frowned. He had heard Ovinia tell her story, and hers had been more raw, but Pinaria's collected demeanor did not make the words sound any less horrible. The man... cut people, cut women for... some kind of a sick pleasure. And he left his mark on them. Alexius felt the same rage as he did, and he voiced it too, in his own way. Lucius couldn't fault him for it. "Then my servant came and he let go. But he cut me again. Maybe by accident. It was worse. His knife cut through my palla. Here... It was stiched." She even showed them the other scar. Stitches, just like Ovinia's. He had cut her as he was fleeing... his blades really had to be sharp. "Thank you for telling us." he nodded. "We have some... ideas, about who he might be. You didn't see him, but... do you remember anything else about him? Or anything he said that might help?" @Atrice

He honestly expected her to say no. They had not really been alone together, apart from the few words they exchanged the other day, when he told her to think about staying. But she said yes, so he emptied his cup too. One last walk. She was probably going to stay tomorrow. "But I have to be back soon. They need a singer, apparently, for the celebrations." "You're going to sing?" he asked, genuinely surprised. She did not... seem like the kind to sing in public. She really had found a place at the villa, after all. "That is... really nice of you." Singing for a slave wedding. Would she have ever imagined it, in her old life? They walked down from the villa together. Lucius would have known the way with his eyes closed, tracing the path among the rocks and down to the slim crescent of the pebbled beach. Fishermen had pulled their boats up for the evening and were gone, and the water lapped quietly at the shore.The colors of the usnset were fading to pale glass, and the air smelled like salt. Lucius breathed deeply and smiled. "Oh I'm gonna miss this, in the city." @Sara

Ovinia had seemed... comfortable, in the past weeks. She was less frustrated with Lucius' presence, and seemed to enjoy being among the servants. Or rather, being unseen among them. But that didn't mean she was not secretly harboring other feelings. One never quite knew with her. "No. I haven't seen the beach. I haven't found the time. Is it as beautiful as the rest of your villa?" "It really is." He nodded.Especially on summer evenings. "I can see why you had a charmed childhood here." "Mostly. Sometimes it did get lonely." After his father died and his siblings left. Lucius smiled, glancing out at the sunset. "Do you want to see the beach?" @Sara

It was the perfect last day at the villa. Or as perfect as it could get, anyway. Who didn't love a wedding? There were flowers, and pastries, and wine, and happiness all around; a large full moon rising as the sun slowly set over the sea. Everyone was celebrating. Tomorrow, they would return to the city, leaving behind only the staff that belonged to the villa. Lucius tried not to think about tomorrow. Ovinia stood apart from the others, holding her drink. She had not told him her decision yet, and with every passing day it weighed heavier on him. Would she stay? If anything, tonight was bound to show her just how beautiful love at the villa could be. But then... Lucius picked up his own drink, walking over to her. "It's so sweet, isn't it?" "It's lovely" he nodded with a genuine smile, watching the celebration. He was happy that he could contribute, in a small way, to someone else's happiness. "So... have you seen everything you wanted to see, out here?" There was much to enjoy, and experience, at least to him. Her family probably owned a villa too, so maybe it was just him. @Sara

Part of him wanted her to say no. Most of him, anyway. He knew that he was torturing himself by seeking her company, and it would be better for the both of them to be apart. That was what she had asked for. What she wanted. The fact that he didn't, was not important. "Of course" he nodded. "You have until it's time to go back to Rome. If you make a decision before that... let me know." He would just have to learn to live with it.

“You want me to stay?” No, I don't. “I…thought I had to be in the city as your prize?” "I don't think anyone pays that much attention anymore. You have been mostly out of sight." Maybe they just lost interest. Or maybe they assumed whatever Lucius had done to her, should not be seen in polite company. Either way, he could come up with explanations if anyone ever asked. To many slaves, a villa would have been punishment anyway. "... but only if you like it here." he added. "I just thought you... might prefer it." Prefer to be away from me.