Chevi

"Your cook is making some sort of...cake...pastry...thing with them," "Pie. It will be delicious" he smiled. Fresh apples were the best, and the cook knew exactly what to do with them. There was an awkward pause again, and he was beginning to consider how he could most gracefully leave this conversation. "What do you intend to do on your relaxing break here dom-" His smile faltered. "I... am probably going to go down to the sea a bit. It's great for a swim in this head. I hope to finish the harvest before going back..." he trailed off, looking at her. Now or never, he really had to talk to her about this. "Actually, I wanted to... talk to you about that. When we go back to Rome, you... don't have to come. You can stay here at the villa. If you'd prefer." @Sara

"I will, later. Is there something else?" Lucius winced. He had once again overstepped some unspoken boundary between them. Conversations always got awkward. He should have learned that by now. Ovinia, however, seemed to regret her tone, and apologized, taking a bite of the apple. Her reaction was... amusing. And then she actually laughed. That was... a sound he had almost forgotten. "What did you put in these? Honey?" "Sunshine" he grinned, taking a bite of his own. "Wait until you can try the grapes..." Which would be... later. Months later. @Sara

"I love it here" he nodded with a genuine smile. "This is where I grew up, but in the past few years... haven't had much time to spend here." There was a silver lining to everything. In this case, the cruel summers in the city of Rome. He had a few weeks to spare now, and he intended to make the most of it. Lucius placed the basket next to the others. "Try the apples. They are really good." @Sara

Things had... settled. Not improved, exactly, as Lucius still felt a dull ache about it all, but at least they had managed to reach some kind of new normal around the house. Ovinia got her wish, a small cubiculum of her own so that she did not sleep next to him anymore, and the exercises had been taken over by Marius. As summer arrived, and the city started to suffer from the heat, Lucius was allowed some leave to take his household to the villa. Once again, sickness was all around Rome. He would have to be back soon enough, to watch over the city. Ovinia seemed to take to the villa with surprising ease. There was more space, more fresh air; she could disappear if she wanted to, walking the gardens, or quietly moving about the other slaves and servants. Lucius' sister had not arrived yet, so it was just the villa's staff and his own household for now. Ovinia seemed healthier now, with some color in her cheeks, and also more at ease, even around Lucius. As for him, his arm had improved, although it would never be quite the same again, and he insisted on taking part in some work around the gardens. Right now, that entailed picking some of the early apples. It was late in the afternoon when he carried a basket over to Ovinia. He also had some color from the sun in his cheeks, and leafs in his hair, but he liked both of those things. The apples were ripe and crisp, and he was biting into one as he approached Ovinia. He was just supposed to hand the basket over, but the moment just felt... peaceful. He smiled a little. "You look like you are enjoying the fresh air." @Sara

"If you think for one moment that I'm one of those... men who'd go swanning off and leave you holding the baby, I'm not. For one thing, I'd really rather not have fugitivus added to this. And for another, I've never heard of a woman getting pregnant all by herself. Whatever else I might be, I'm not a complete bastard." "You wouldn't get far anyway." she rolled her eyes. They would catch a fugitive slave, for sure, but she would probably beat them to the punch. Still, deep down, she knew Attis was not that kind of a man. And it wasn't like he could avoid her much either, since they lived in the same household... "I said, we should tell him, didn't I? You're stuck with me unless you decide otherwise - like I've been trying to persuade you for gods know how long." She quirked an eyebrow at him. "Is that your poetic was of asking me to marry you again? Because I don't plan on adding marriage to this disaster..." @Sharpie

"Well, if you think any of the house slaves would be suitable, you may have them, or I will come with you to the market. Not because you need my advice or anything, but just because I'm your brother and would like to accompany you." "I will consider it" Calpurnia nodded with an amused smile. She was used to being treated differently because she was one of the Vestals, but it still amused her that her own brother would pay such keen attention to her standing as an emancipated woman. And she did nope they would spend time together, although shopping for slaves was probably not her first choice. "You and Horatia will certainly be the first women to make use of the baths. There is also going to be a library attached - Horatia's idea." "I knew I like her for a reason" Calpurnia laughed. "I do enjoy a good library." She also enjoyed the wine and the food, taking a moment to stay in comfortable silence with her brother. There were many things to talk about, some subjects more important than others. "I do have to warn you... I plan on staying for quite a while. It is the emperor's task to offer me a suitable husband, but I doubt he will get around to it soon. And I won't guarantee I'll accept them." @Sharpie

Calpurnia knew the girl did not talk, although she had never really asked her brother why. Aulus was not the kind of man who would cut out a slave's tongue, so she had either come to the domus like that, or she had some other reason for living up to her name. She was polite and obedient, but Calpurnia was more curious about her than that. "Tacita, I am in need of a body slave. Have you ever done that kind of work before?" @Jenn

Early 76 AD Calpurnia was settling into her new life at her brother's domus. It was a little strange, living without the strict structure of the Vestal House, but she enjoyed the company, and the leisure time. And the colors. Oh, how she had missed wearing colors. She might have spent some of her money on new stolas and pallas, and she did not regret any of it. She did, however, still need a body slave. Her brother offered that she could choose one from the household, or go out and buy one. Calprunia had only ever purchased one slave before - a headstrong Briton chief, whom she had immediately freed, to controversial reactions. She did not feel like shopping for a person, so she decided to take her brother's advice first. There were a couple of women in the domus, and one in particular had caught her attention. "Tacita, right?" she called out to the young woman. She had been sitting in the triclinium, having an early lunch alone, and saw her passing by. "Can you come in for a moment?" @Jenn

"What does anyone do with a baby? Fuss over it, fall in love with it, clean up after it." Metella rolled her eyes. Attis made it sound so easy. Out of the two of them, she was the one with experience in caring for a child. And yet, having her own baby, on top of her household duties, was going to be a whole different thing. "Cassia will be delighted." "Maybe I will get lucky and dominus' new wife gets pregnant quick. They can keep me as a wet nurse." she frowned. "He can learn to ride Ragum when he's big enough," She leveled a glare at Attis. That damn dog. "We need to tell the master, there's no point putting it off and imagining what he'll say when we can just find out, after all." He was not wrong, it was just... wrong. Metella frowned again. "Sure, let's go. You can tell him you knocked me up, I'm sure he'd rather hear it from you." @Sharpie

Lucius was watching Pinaria closely, and he could tell his words had hit home. His information had been right, then. She was one of the victims. "I know my brother sent word to find the man who attacked me, months ago. He also sent some guards to track him down. But they found nothing. I had... almost forgotten." "There is no excuse for it taking this long." he sighed. It had been a mistake on the vigiles' part. "We are hoping to rectify that. I am sorry it happened to you." "I don't know if it's the same man, but... if I can aid in finding him. Tell me what you need to know." Such a brave, poised woman. She really was remarkable. Glancing over, Lucius could tell Alexius was thinking the same. "Well... we'd need to now what happened, and where." he ventured "And if you remember anything about him. What he looked like, what he wore... anything that can help us recognize him." @Atrice

She did not want to go out. Of course. She still worried about her attackers, who had eluded the vigiles so far, although Lucius had heard rumors that they had left the city. They cleaned up in awkward silence. He wished he knew what to say to her, but in the end, she spoke first. "I'm sorry. For what I said, for how I acted this morning. But I think it's shown me...shown us, that...this...doesn't work. I...I'll care for you, and I am grateful, so grateful for what you've done," Lucius' heart sank as he looked at her. She was serious. Don't do this. "But...I can't...I can't keep living a life on the line between slave and free; happy and sad, hopeful and...not. I...I think we should...I think I should just be a slave. And you should just be my master. And that should be it." He wanted to beg her. Lucius was not a man to beg for anything in his life, but Ovinia's words had cut him deep. He watched her, quietly, for a long time. She had the right to do this. She was probably right in doing this. Their standing in life was never going to change, and she had everything to lose. It was one choice that she was still allowed to make. And while he had the right to refuse her, he was not going to. Even though it hurt more than he'd have imagined. "Very well." he said finally, though the look in his eyes spoke volumes. "If you think that's best... I accept it." This Saturnalia was not going to be a joyful one. @Sara

Lucius was not sure what to say to Ovinia. He felt like apologizing, but wasn't sure for what; he also felt like she should apologize, but wasn't sure it was fair, either. So, he remained quiet, picking up after the dinner. He was surprised that she stayed too. "I can do it. You cooked, you should rest your arm." "You shouldn't no house work today." he muttered, balancing a stack of plates in one hand. "you are free to go out with the others." @Sara

Lucius had been distracted enough that the food was... definitely not one of his best work. The fact that no one seemed to complain or make jokes about it at all made it worse, because he could feel the pity almost tangible in the air. Especially since doing all that work with one arm still weak and limited was still very exhausting. He manages to balance the trays so that he was mostly holding them on one side, and made it to the tables just fine. Everyone made compliments about the food, but there was an awkwardness in the air that had not been there on earlier Saturnalias. He noticed Ovinia slipping in and taking a seat, but she did not look his way at all, and Lucius did his best not to look at her too. He did, however, catch Marius glaring at her. Something must have happened. It was all fine and dandy until the dinner ended. There were meats, and pastries, and soups, and delicacies. Lucius used to love this part of Saturnalia, and he still smiled occasionally as the wine was drunk and the mood lifted a little. He refilled the cups often, until the freedmen all decided to go to bed, or go out to celebrate around the city. Lucius handed them their gifts, and smiled as he watched them go. Cleaning up, just like the cooking, was his task for this one night of the yeat. @Sara

"I'm not doing anything. I-I only asked for some hairpins. And he said I could have cheap ones." Marius opened his mouth to point out the obvious, but Ovinia barreled on. Apparently, it was obvious to her too, she just... did not care? "He doesn't trust me to know when I should and shouldn't wear them, that I don't know how to keep myself safe - as if I want to get dragged off to Gods knows where." "But I'll stick to his rules and his game, and I won't ever get nice things again and I'll live with it, but I'm not feeling particularly like celebrating Saturnalia and pretending to have everything I've lost so. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go back to cleaning and then I'm going to go to sleep and wake up and do it all over again, every day, for the rest of my life because I can't be trusted to know my new position in society." She had lost a lot. She had lost everything, truly - family, nobility, wealth, everything. Marius knew what some of that felt like, he knew it would take time. But her pain was blinding her to other things, and if it came down to taking sides, Marius knew whose side he was on. "I'm not the one playing games here Marius." "Apparently not. You are just being plain dumb." Marous snapped. "You can miss your, your hair things, and your jewelry, and your scents and silks all day all you want. None of that is coming back, and guess what, none of that is our fault. Not mine, and definitely not the dominus'." he huffed. He marched back to the door, but could not leave just yet. "The gods help us all, that man is just as stupid as you are, because he loves you. And you are too busy mourning your hairpins to see how goddamn big a deal that is. But really, go ahead, mope for the rest of your life. Punishing him will make you feel a lot better." With that, Marius marched out.

"That is not my problem." Marius swore under his breath in a language only he understood. "You can tell him I won't be at dinner. Make up whatever excuse you see fitting." Marius' eyes flashed, but he took a deep breath, stepping around the cat to look Ovinia in the eyes. "You are going to listen, because I am only going to say this once." he said firmly, folding his arms "Dominus is not angry at you, you stupid girl, he is sad. Which is way worse." Marius, for all his flaws, cared for Lucius, and it showed. He was also exasperated with Ovinia, and that also showed. "So far, I have given you the benefit of the doubt, because I have never seen him this happy before. But. He has a good heart, and he gives way more than he should. To all of us. So. If you are playing this cruel little game with him to get privileges in this house, if you decide to make him sad, because it benefits you, then I will personally make sure you are thrown back to wherever they dragged you here from." @Sara

Now he had her attention. Good. Marius was still not sure how to behave around someone who was raised as nobility was supposed to be treated as a slave. And however he decided to behave, it was never what she expected anyway. This was an unusual household by any standard, but she was not making things any easier. "Well, while you have been sulking all over the place, the dominus is supposed to be making the dinner. Saturnalia tradition. But I would be astonished if any of it came out halfway edible. Whatever has happened, it has him completely turned around." @Sara

"Nothing. Why?" "Clearly it wasn't nothing." Marius pointed out with a frown, deepened by Ovinia's nonchalant attitude. Any other time he would have been grateful that she was doing housework. Even though she was doing it badly. "Why are you here anyway? No other freedman to celebrate Saturnalia with?" "You are new here so you don't know. And I don't think you care. But the first evening of Saturnalia, we have dinner together. Except, I think you might have ruined it." @Sara

It was getting close to dinnertime by the time Marius found Ovinia dusting around in one of the rooms. He usually did not make it his business to seek her out, especially since she had been sharing the master's bed; their relationship had mellowed over time, with Marius lowering his expectations, and also having quiet empathy for the girl and her story. Especially after seeing her truly upset at Lucius' bed, after his accident. But now, he meant business. "Ovinia?" he called to her from the door, keeping a careful distance from the cat. "What the hell have you said to the dominus?" @Sara

"I'm acting like..." Lucius gaped. Once again, Ovinia's mind had gone to place that was nowhere near what he was thinking, and in true Ovinia fashion, she was already pissy about it. It was stunning, how she could do that so far. "I would give you the damn hair pins!" he growled, folding his arms to glare at her across the room. "I'd give you whatever you ask for, and somehow you still think that about me? Gods, Ovinia! I'm not going to apologize for being scared that they'll take you away for some damn jewelry!" He huffed, turning back to the door again. @Sara

Frustration did play a part in Lucius getting out of bed, but not for the reason Ovinia was thinking. Still, her voice and her tone stopped him at the door. He knew that tone too well. "Do not do that." he looked back at her. He hated it when she called him domine and reminded him how helpless he was in changing their whole situation. He did not want to rule her. "I am trying to do everything you are asking. What else am I supposed to do?" @Sara

Lucius sighed. The cat was already becoming a nuisance, sprawled between the two of them, but if it made her happy, Lucius was happy too. She did not get much in terms of nice things, which pained her, and pained him. He wished he could buy her jewelry and presents. But if they slipped up once, she could be taken away from him for good. She usually ignored that point. "I'll see what I can do." He got out of the bed. "I'll leave you to your pampering day, and go find a musician." @Sara

"You don't have to pander to me. I'm a grown up, I can hear that they're mediocre without crying." Lucius sighed. "They are good. Would I lie to you?" Maybe he would have, if the cakes had been awful and he wanted to make her happy. But they were indeed, truly good. She did give him a kiss in the end, and he smiled, lying down next to her and propping himself up on his elbow. "I...have something else I'd like. Not that Typhon isn't enough." "What is it?" "I can make do with your soap and things. But I'd like some hair pins. I'm sick of this." Hair pins. Lucius blinked. It was... simple. He had not expected that. "Sure. I think we can do that. As long as it's nothing too flashy." he smiled, reaching out to run his hand along a strand of her hair. "Anything else?" @Sara

Lucius glanced at Alexius, who seemed impressed with Pinaria, but did not say much so far. He looked like he was waiting for Lucius to talk. Lucius took a deep breath, waiting for the slaves to back away before he answered Pinaria's question. "Well, we... have recently found out that there is a dangerous man in the city. And we are trying to find him." that was... not much to go on. He needed to elaborate. "He... attacks women. Cuts them... for no apparent reason other than cruelty." He frowned "It had all seemed like they were individual attacks, but then we started connecting people who have met him... and it turns out, he has done a lot of damage. And killed at least one person." He kept an eye on Pinaria's reactions to this. If she had really been attacked, maybe it would show. "I am a vigile now, so I went looking for... more cases. To see if I can find out more. And... I came across your name." @Atrice

"You don't care about my wishes." "Not this week" Lucius pointed out with a mischievous smile. She knew that she would eventually get pretty much anything she wanted from him, but if she wanted to pout about it, so be it. "You opened it anyway and yes they're honey cakes and yes I made them." Lucius was truly impressed. Ovinia, baking? For him? On her own volition? He picked up a honey cake and bit into it. It was delicious. And not just because she had made it, either. "They were the best I could do. The burnt and...inedible ones are still in the kitchens if you would like to sample them." "These are wonderful" Lucius muttered, finishing the cake in three bites. He licked his fingers, smiling at Ovinia. "I am truly impressed. This was very sweet of you. No pun intended." He leaned over to kiss her. She really deserved the praise. @Sara

"Shit - no. No, I don't think that, at all. He's not that sort of master, really." Attis reached out to hold her hands. Metella was still very angry at him, or at the world in general which was wholly unfair to women, and especially enslaved women, but she did not pull back from his touch. She felt alone, but if anyone was going to convince her otherwise, it was probably Attis. Who looked shocked that she would ask that question. "He's not a monster!" "Maybe." Masters sometimes were good until they weren't. Metella was a lot less trusting than Attis. She sighed. "... what in Tartarus am I supposed to do with a baby?..."