Chevi

Ovinia was still upset. He could tell. She tended to move around like she wanted to break something, every time they had guests over and Lucius had to say something hurtful about her. Partly it was her own fault for showing up at all... But he still felt really bad about it. He could hear her flopping into bed. That surprised him. They had gotten so used to their routine over the past month... he suddenly realized he missed it. He sat in the bed, feeling dumb. "Ovinia...?" he ventured. "You... know I didn't mean those things, about you, right?" @Sara

Ovinia eventually found a way to excuse herself, even though it was not exactly graceful, since she had spoken out of turn. But at least she was out of the room now, and no one complained that she did not come back. After a while, Lucius wished he could slip out too. The girl was nice and naive and a bit star-struck, but her father was more direct and persistent. He wanted this to be a match for marriage. Lucius tactfully avoided making any commitments, but he did not get much of a wiggle room. In the end, Quintus and his daughter left with no promises, many polite excuses, and probably a sour taste in their mouth. Ovinia was absent for the rest of the day. Probably sulking somewhere. She was always in a foul mood after visits like this. Lucius left her to cool off, and instead decided to go to bed early. The day had been trying enough. He was already getting ready to put the lamp out when she finally appeared in the doorway of his room. Lucius moved over instinctively, making a space for her in the bed as he usually did, without mentioning it at all. "I feel like I spent the whole day stacking rocks." he sighed with a roll of his eyes. Having guests was a pain in the ass. "How do patricians do this all the time?..."

Ovinia refilled the cup, and refrained from breaking the pitcher over the girl's head. Small victories. Lucius, on the other hand, was headed fast in a direction he really had no interest in going. "She is... lovely" Auria, as much as she was unwanted in this situation, did not deserve to have her feelings hurt. "Please, Auria, tell me more about yourself." Maybe if she talked more, her father would shut up a little. @Sara

Lucius listened to the praises. They had no idea. But at least this part he was used to. One of the reasons why he usually avoided the parties. "I don't think there's much point in beating around the bush is there?" Well, he certainly was not. Lucius smiled. They needed to get this over with. "I do value honesty and clarity, for sure." But Quintus was looking over his head now. He could guess why. "Something worth looking at, girl?" "No, domine." "Oh, I think she is just jealous." Lucius rolled his eyes, sipping some wine nonchalantly. "Realizing she couldn't hold a candle to your daughter, even when she was still someone." Please let her bask in her stupid pride, Ovinia. Please.

"Oh no...don't make her go. It's not her fault. I'm sure the pitcher is very heavy?" Oh no. He had clearly underestimated the girl's thirst for humiliating Ovinia. There was not much he could do about it, if he wanted to keep up appearances. He just hoped Ovinia was trying hard to do the same. "Anyway, enough of slave girls. What of you Lucius? You live here alone? No family here with you?" "Just me." he said lightly, picking up a strawberry "I admit, I have been a bit of a recluse since... the troubles. I needed some time to heal." he added, glancing down at his right arm. It was not in a sling anymore, and had some range of movement, but still hand bandages, mostly to hide the scars. "You were in those terrible fights" Auria breathed, eyelashes fluttering. "We can never thank you and your men enough for keeping us all safe from the rebels..." Lucius forced himself not to glance at Ovinia. "I was just doing my duty to the Emperor."

Ovinia was probably on the verge of doing something foolish. She liked calling him out on doing impulsive things, but she was just as bad when her pride was hurt. Lucius knew that this was going to horribly wrong sooner or later. "That's quite enough, Ovinia. Go to the kitchen, I am sure they need help scrubbing something." The words were cruel, and he said them with conviction. That was what most of his guests expected from him - punishment and humiliation. But it also got Ovinia out of the room, and fast. That was the plan. "Running a household is a whole job, isn't it" he smiled at his guests lightly. "Easier when it has a woman's touch" Quintus replied, picking up the cue. Auria blushed again.

"Father...Ovinia's very sweet, and it's good she's in a kind home." Lucius did not believe a word Auria was saying. He was learning that women of her standing rarely said anything good about each other (including Ovinia, really, even now), unless they had something to gain. Or something to show off. In this case, the equite girl now outranked Ovinia. "You don't understand girl, but it's for the best. We could trade, Lucius." "Oh, it wouldn't be a fair trade." It slipped out fast, and Lucius quickly offered a smile before they could think too much about it. "Your daughter, of course, is more precious than fifty slave girls of her kind." He hated doing this, whenever guests were over and Ovinia made an appearance. She knew now that he was lying, but it hurt her anyway. @Sara

"My lovely daughter was looking forward to this meeting, Tribune. Chattering about it all the way here." "Father!" His lovely daughter didn't even know who Lucius was, he wagered. He certainly didn't. Not that she didn't look pretty and... bouncy? He did not dare hazard a look at Ovinia. He just silently prayed she was not pulling faces, now that she clearly knew what this lunch was about. "I have been looking forward to meeting her too." And praying he would remember her name. "Ovinia. I'm sorry to see you here." Well, shit. Did all the noble women know each other in this goddamn village of an empire?! The father looked up too, noticing Ovinia for the first time. "Oh, that's her, isn't she... I've heard about her." No doubt. Rumors of that ill-fated party were probably making the rounds. The man looked Ovinia over, as if trying to assess how much of those were true. "Of course, once you bring a wife to the domus, she would have to go." the man added, reaching for some olives. It was not a question or a demand, just a statement believed to be obvious. Lucius kept his face carefully neutral.

She was led right through the atrium and into the gardens. She was family, after all. She had visited the house, of course - less frequently as of late, while she was wrapping up her last years of teaching as a Vestal - but this time, it was different. His brother waited for her in the gardens, smiling, and her own face lit up in an equally bright smile too. "Calpurnia! It is good to see you," "You too, brother" she laughed, kissing his cheeks, and then moving on to give him a tight hug. They had spent most of their childhood and young adult years apart, but she was very fond of her brother. "I hope you are prepared to have me around from now on. Because it's too late now to go back." @Sharpie

Ovinia acted like she owned the place, which was all fine with him, as long as they were alone. Lucius glanced nervously towards the door. "You're awfully dressed up just for a lunch. Who's it with?" "It's this man called Quintus..." he sighed "You should go." They could be here any moment, just to find a slave lounging and eating their food. "And I'm going, I'm going... I'm busy anyway. I'm thinking of making some new curtains for the tablinum. Do you prefer pink or green?" "I don't..." "Domine! Your guests have arrived." That was Marius' voice. Lucius jumped up from the couch, waving at Ovinia to do the same. Preferably before Marius, or especially the guests, saw her sitting down. It was too late now for her to sneak out the door disappear. Lucius shot her a look. She would just have to try and behave herself. "Quintus Aurius Nenus" Marius announced, stepping aside "And his daughter Auria Nenia." Lucius put on a bright smile walking to the door to greet his guests. The man was tall and formidable, with the weathered features of a veteran. The girl was... a girl, really, probably the same age as Ovinia, but shorter and thinner, with pale hair and freckles. She was wearing an elegant dress, and sparkling jewelry. "Please, do come in, make yourselves at home" Lucius told them with a smile, inviting them to take the couches around the table.

"Oh I didn't mean we should stop drinking. Here." Alexius refilled the cup and Lucius accepted it, but he held off from drinking for a little while. With all the pain that he was feeling, they still had a murderer to catch. And he could not just come around to Alexius' place to mope. "You get around too, don't you? How was she... I mean... is she alright? This other noble woman?" "I don't know yet" Lucius sighed. He was a little amused at Alexius' comment. "A friend set me up... with her, back when I was still a patrician. He was trying to find me a wife. It wasn't a good match, but she's a clever, kind woman... a widow. I'll have to go see her. There was no official information on her attack, probably for the same reason we are keeping Ovinia a secret. But someone from that regio told me in confidence." @Atrice

Lucius had tried his level best to get out of this lunch. No such luck. It had been arranged over his head. Apparently the Emperor was not done rewarding him just yet, mostly with things he'd never asked for. Such as, lunch with a prominent equestrian man and his lovely daughter. They were on their way up, and so was Lucius, whose loyalty was compounded by his heroic acts and almost-death a month before. So now came the imperial reward, and Lucius had no illusions: this was a matchmaking situation. Not that he had not considered taking a wife before. He was just in no hurry, and had little social obligation as someone who had gone from patrician to vigile. Right now, recently recovered from his accident, he wasn't even sure how he felt about taking a wife. And he tried really hard during the day not to think of Ovinia, warm and trusting, curled up at his side every night. He had a good tunica on, and the triclinium was ready for guests. He looked up when he heard footsteps, and saw Ovinia, who had been absent for most of the morning. "All for me? You shouldn't have. Raspberries? My favourite." This is what she must have been like, in her life before. It felt natural to see her like this. But also, she was doing to be a pain. Lucius rolled his eyes, but let her take the strawberry. "Expecting company?" "Yes." he nodded "Just... lunch. You can go do something else while they are here." That was the arrangement: whenever he could, he'd make sure Ovinia was out of sight of guests, to avoid repeating the awful events of that party months before.

She stayed, and he held her. She fit so well by his side, warm and comfortable; he didn't even feel the bruises. He listened to her breathing, and the occasional noise she made when she tried to blow her hair out of the way. Sometimes, Ovinia was sweet without realizing it. Not that he would even point that out. The warmth, the steady breathing, and the knowledge that they were safe, slowly lulled him to sleep. When she finally asked her question, she was a bit too late: he was already there. He only hummed at her question, his arm tightening slightly around her, breathing softly against her hair.

He was surprised that she came. If he had invited her into his bed like this a few months ago... or even a week ago, there would have been hell to pay. But she seemed upset and lost, and he was out of ideas of how to comfort her. Words failed, and he was just left with instinct. She curled up net to him, and he wrapped his arm around her, holding her close. She seemed to relax into his touch, after a moment, and he felt that it had the same effect on him. He sighed, feeling the warmth of her being close. "I'm sorry I'm such a bitch. I...am glad that you are alright. You know that?" "I know." he smiled, looking down at her. "Otherwise you would have stabbed me just now."

And now she was offended again. The woman had more moods than all the winds combined. "I've been your nurse for what are we...coming up to five months now?" "That..." Lucius groaned in protest. He had done some nursing of his own, but Ovinia did not wait for him to point that out. "And I've sat here for four days. Is there something wrong with me wanting to help?" "You've..." he blinked, looking at her. He remembered sitting by her bed, after she had been attacked. He sighed, closing his eyes. Something was off, but honestly, everything was off right now, including his sense of time and balance. He looked up again, lifting his arm to make some space at his side. "Ovinia, come here."

She was not done calling him out on his recklessness just yet. Lucius blinked sheepishly as she listed all the people that... cared about him, all the people who would have felt his loss. And his men, whom he needed to trust more. Her words were justified, but there was still pain in them. She must have been really scared about being sold to someone else. "Oh sh...sorry, sorry... Here. What was it you said to me? Small sips." She held the cup to his mouth and he drank. Small sips. Hus mouth was so dry after the first ones he almost sputtered, but then he drank deeply, glping down most of the water. It felt like life, like... well, like water after days of thirst. Ovinia held the cup until it was empty. Lucius took a deep breath and relaxed against the pillows. "You don't... have to play nurse." he muttered. "The others can do it."

"I know." He should not have gone in. His men told him so, and there was no one to order him in if he decided not to. But that was not the kind of man Lucius was. In the moment, trying to help, he had forgotten that other people depended on him too. He smiled a little as she talked about assaulting a vigile. "You know me. I was... trying to help." he muttered, squeezing her hand. He would keep trying, since the gods deemed him worthy of a second chance. "You are not going anywhere, I promise." he added, coughing a little. "... water?"

Ovinia managed to prop him up with some pillows, so he was sitting up. His head still felt heavy, and moving took an effort, but he could see better, and breathed a little easier. She still looked... upset, and worn. She reached for his hand again. "You should be. I was so scared." "I'm sorry" he muttered. The past four days had to have been hard on her, waiting for her fate to be decided, without her having any say in it. "I know... I'm sorry. It must have been... awful, waiting... to be sent somewhere else." Returned to the emperor, or sold again. @Sara

He stared up at her for a moment. Since when did Ovinia care if Marius was asleep? It had not bothered her before. And she had never been very keen on touching him before, even whe helping with the exercises. But he was in no position to argue. He reached up, using his left arm to hold on to her shoulders. She helped lift him into a sitting position, and he did his best not to be dead weight. Her hair fell in his face, and this time she did not seem to make a fuss about it. She must have been really scared. "I'm sorry."

"Four days. But you're alright. You're alright." She looked... upset. Exhausted. Four days... it must have been a lifetime for the household, waiting on his fate. They all depended on him. Ovinia most of all. Lucius felt a pang of guilt. Maybe he deserved to be yelled at. "I tried to get you to drink but you weren't conscious so... You must be dying of thirst." "Yes." he said, realizing he was. He felt dryer than a piece of parchment, and he could feel his lips were cracked. "Can you sit up?" He inhaled, slowly moving his arms and legs. Everything moved. Good sign. He tried to lift his head, but it still felt heavy. He made a good effort before giving up. "I... need help. You can... call Marius?"

"Yes." Lucius groaned closing his eyes. Shit. "No, but you should have done for your idiocy." His eyes opened again, staring at her bewildered. She was angry again, rather than happy. Well, that did not take long... "That... was mean." At least his other arm was fine. Ovinia sat down, taking his hand in hers. Her hand felt warm and soft. He held on to it. "Your head. You were so close to... Marius even went to get your will and told your family," Well, she must have been telling the truth because his head still hurt. A lot. They thought... Shit. "How long...?"

A bright smile lit up Ovinia's face, and for a moment it made Lucius think his grasp on reality was slipping again. She moved over him and he groaned, but she stopped before she would have leaned on his body too much. "I have no idea but you're alive! And you're you!" "I'm... me?" he squinted. What was she talking about?... He was alive. That made sense, because everything fucking hurt. Being dead was not supposed to hurt. And also people were not supposed to swipe at you. "And you're a fool for going into that fucking building." "Wha..." Building. He remembered fire... things falling. It was a blank slate after that. And now he was here. A building had fallen on him. Again. Oh, shit. "Tell me... I didn't... break my other arm." Or lose it. He tried to look, but moving was still a very painful idea. @Sara

"Lucius?" Someone was there. Lucius blinked again. He wasn't alone. Someone was moving, and calling his name, and the voice was clearer than the muffled sounds before. "Can you hear me?" He turned his head, although it felt like it had been filled with lead. Walls... light. He was in his room. How did he get to his room?... Sense of time and space was still muddled, but he finally saw who was talking to him. And holding his hand. "Do you know who I am?" "Ovinia?" It was mostly a whisper; his mouth felt so dry he could barely form the sounds. She was here. He was here. He was alive. Somehow. There was fire... "How... am I alive?" @Sara

Lucius remembered fire and nothing else. He was aware that he was drifting in darkness, surrounded by muffled sounds, outside of time. He didn't know where he was, or where he was going, and his thoughts slipped through the cracks without taking shape. He was reaching for a surface but didn't find one for a long time. When finally things began to get louder, and painful, and more confusing, he had no idea where he was. Birds. Was he outside? Was he dead?... what kind of bird sang in a burning building? He smelled smoke, that was not right, the building was coming down... he twitched, taking a deep gasp for air, but his body didn't move the way he wanted to, to shield him from the roof falling in. Everything hurt, even breathing hurt, but he did it again, trying ro blink his eyes open. The light hurt too.

It was late in the morning by the time the medicus announced that there was nothing else to do. "If the gods are kind, he will wake up. If they are not..." he left the rest unsaid. Lucius had an array of injuries from the collapse, but the bad one was the blow to the head. The medicus had cleaned the would and made sure there were no shards of bone left in it, but the rest was up to the healing deities. "Keep him comfortable." He suggested on his way out. "I will come back in the evening."