Chevi

Well, it was agreed then. The young chief was going to come along. Azarion wondered how this was all going to play out, the three of the, barbarians, and a Roman youth, getting into mischief. Not that they were doing anything they were not supposed to, during Saturnalia. But it still felt like mischief. Mostly because none of the four had ever really done this before. He had sampled the hemp when he bought it from that woman, but not in the proper way his people used to do. The small tent was set up in the back of the gardens. Azarion led the way, ducking inside. There were some blankets and pillows he'd rustled up, and a small brazier in the middle, with a few embers burning without smoke. He settled down, waiting for the others to join, and picked up the small box he'd purchased a few days before. Have you ever done this? he signed to Tiranes as they all filed into the tent. @Sharpie @Atrice @Sarah

"Azarion?" He nodded. At least the man had his name now. And he looked sober enough to maybe remember it. "I'll pay a visit to your stables tomorrow. Be up and ready to impress. And not just with grapes." He nodded again, with a polite smile. Well, that was a start. At the races, he could impress a potential sponsor. And he did not need to sleep with them. The woman looked satisfied too. She had her own fish to fry. "Satisfied I've respected your brave charioteer enough?" "I hope you don't spend a fortune on my account, but yes...I think a visit would be most appropriate for the hero of the horses, don't you?" "Mhm. And what about you? What tricks do you have up your sleeves?" "Oh, more than you'll ever get to see." She was good at this game. Much better than Azarion. He would be grateful to her for a long time, for helping him. Even if she was working the senators for her own gain at the same time. A girl had to eat. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Azarion felt himself blush. Damn this woman. "I may have to bid you a farewell, but I'll come to visit you at the stables, ensure our good Senator friend here is treating you well." Would she? Or was this all part of the show? He didn't even know her name... She lowered her voice for a last piece of advice. "Tell...mime to your master you might have one on the ropes. Don't let him wriggle out of it." He nodded, giving her a smile. It was genuine this time, which was a rare sight on his face. She pulled away to join the wealthy senator instead, and Azarion watched them saunter away before going to find some more wine. These parties were not the worst after all. @Sara

Lucius smiled at Alexius' approval of his choices. As much as patricians hated him for it, he still believed it was the right choice to make. It was good that at least someone on the other side saw it as bravery. He decided he liked Alexius. Who had his own story to tell. "So... you left too, and chose something else" he noted with a smile. And now he was a bodyguard, instead of training other slaves to fight and die in the arena. Lucius approved of that choice too. "Well, at least one of us knows how to fight. In case we need to take that monster down ourselves..." Maybe not, if the vigiles got their act together. But he doubted it. And he kind of wanted to do it himself. "I promised Ovinia he would suffer." @Atrice

It was strange, to share his entire story with someone he'd just met, but Lucius did not want to hide it. Alexius and him were in this whole thing together now, and that needed trust. And trust needed them knowing each other better. "That's good... that you like doing what you do. I'm amazed you went through with it. Most people from the higher classes wouldn't be so brave. No offense." "None taken. I agree. Although they'd say I'm an idiot, rather than brave." he chuckled. That's what Ovinia had said, anyway. "I like helping people too. As you can probably imagine, since it's how I met Ovinia. I like keeping people safe." Lucius nodded. That was good. They had that in common. "You... used to be a gladiator, right? You won your freedom?" @Atrice

Lucius smiled a little. He knew the question was coming, and now that they were in motion, working towards a clear goal, he had the capacity to answer it. "Well... I never had interest in politics, like my brother. Our father died... in the civil war, so I grew up at the villa while my brother was away in Britannia. According to the entire family, I probably spent too much time with the plebs to begin with. I liked it that way." he smiled a little, shrugging. "I have been putting off starting the cursus honorum because honestly I did not want to be a senator. Or a lawyer, which was the other option. I just... liked helping people, talking to them, being in the City." This early in the morning, on a Saturnalia, with most people passed out drunk, the city really was a nice, mostly quiet place. Especially in the winter sunshine. "One day I ran into the vigiles rescuing people from a burning insula. I... went in to help, which was incredibly dumb. But I've never... felt like that before. Like I was doing something that mattered. So I convinced my brother to find me an equites family. Because vigiles officers can't be patricians. So, I am one rank down now, and working my way up from being a recruit. and I like it." he smiled a little. "Although Ovinia almost took my head off for the decision." @Atrice

The stunt worked. The woman clapped, some guests made impressed sounds, and he definitely had the attention of the senators now. Azarion popped a grape into his mouth and walked back to the lady. He would have welcomed a contest, but he also understood why she was not a willing target. "You see, gentlemen? A true hero and a good shot at that. So you see, gentlemen, I can't be pried away from my handsome charioteer..." He wrapped an arm around her waist again. He was getting the hang of this. Also, he liked to make the senators choke. "He... He has good taste I'll give him that." I can't believe this is working. "And...it was the Whites you said?" Azarion nodded. For once, the slave tablet would have been useful. In another moment of inspiration, he dipped a finger into the wine cup the lady was holding, tracing crimson letters on the white skin of her forearm. A-Z-A-R-I-O-N. At least he could spell his name easy. @Sara

"The poor man lost his tongue," The poor man was lost in a whole different dimension somewhere between her shoulder and her breasts. "A horrible accident on the road to Rome - he was saving some sweet Patrician girl's life, her horse bolted and he stood in the way, his jaw was... But now he's doing things for the good of the city, racing for the... The whites. He's just so brave..." ... wait what now? Azarion stared at the woman, half stunned by the ridiculous lie she had just made up. Would anyone ever believe he'd... any of that? She stroked her fingers along his (very much not maimed) jaw. It felt good. "Come on love. The kid obviously just had it cut out and was a cheap buy for the Whites. Come here..." Asshole. "I'm quite happy here with Azarion, and slander isn't popular gentlemen...how I wish the men of Rome were all as brave as him..." Well, this was not going as well as she'd thought. None of these men were going to flatter him, fake hero or otherwise. The woman winked at him, and Azarion's pride rose from the ashes. All these idiots wanted her. And she was putting on a show... but she was trying to help him. And he was not a cheap buy. Azarion winked back. He reached up, hooking a finger into the front of her dress, and adjusted it slightly, pulling on it, before he got up from the couch. He could hear the men snickering, concluding he gave up his place, as expected. He walked away from them, but glanced back az the woman, giving her a slight nod. Stay. The table on the other side of the room was laden with food and drinks; large, heavy clusters of sweet grapes among them. Reaching it, Azarion picked a grape, then turned, looking at the woman across the room, and whistled. As they turned to look, the took aim. Bow and arrows were out if his reach, probably for the rest of his life, but he was still good at aiming. The grape landed right where it was supposed to: in the blonde woman's cleavage. Azarion spread his arms in an inviting motion and a polite smile. Do it after me, dickheads. @Sara

"You can pretend to enjoy it, if you like." He didn't need to pretend that much. The woman smiled and flipped her hair, and Azarion had a great view right down the front of her dress. And he might have been sarcastic and jaded, but he was still a young man who had never, ever been this close to an attractive woman before. "Stop it you're so..." So deep in your cleavage it's not even funny His other hand finally settled on her knee, although he was still not sure what he was supposed to be pretending he was doing. But at least someone came over. That was the plan, right? Now, who was this pudgy old moron again?... "My lady, you are so ravishing I couldn't help but come over and seek you out and rescue you..." "Rescue me? From the white's newest, bravest charioteer? Oh you're so kind Senator but I'm quite alright and quite enjoying my company." The woman clung to him. Azarion felt the glare of the man on his skin. It had to piss him off, a woman like her clinging to someone... like him. Her fingers were in his hair, though, which was also... a lot. He felt her nudge him with her leg. What was he supposed to do?... @Sara

The woman giggled as she pulled him up. Azarion was now seated next to her on the couch, and she was... putting on a show. He was just not sure what kind. But it was still better it involved her than any of the patrons. "We get people's attention... What do men hate?" Not knowing what's happening? She wrapped an arm around his shoulder. Well, this was a first. "When other men have what they want...and what do they do about it?" Come over and throw me out? The leg was distracting. Azarion kept his eyes on the woman, and his eyes were slightly wide now, since he had never been... in any scenario like this before. "They try and one-up each other... Oh you're so brave! Oh my Gods...you are..." Incredibly distracted, yup "You see?" No? "They're going to come over here and try and steal my company but I'll stay here with you. What will they do to get me to leave...? Flatter the company I'm so clearly enjoying." Azarion was not sure what to do. What was she pretending to enjoy, exactly? He was clearly not a conversation partner. And now his hands were occupied too, one around her waist, and the other one... um. He was trying to find a place for that. And not look towards the men who were supposed to come over and... flatter him? @Sara

"It isn't fair that this happens to anyone. Not to Ovinia and not to anyone else. It wasn't fair to the prostitute who had to endure his treatment more than once either. No one deserves that. Except maybe the animal himself." "Yeah. I know." Lucius frowned. It was not fair to anyone, but he did not know the other victims. Yet. He made another note about the prostitute. They would have to go talk to them too. If the man went back more than once, they were bound to know something. "Alright. Oh, mind waiting a moment or two? I think I need a clean tunic... and maybe a weapon." Before Lucius could agree, Alexius was already out of his tunic, getting changed. The man had the body of a gladiator, for sure. Also, no qualms about undressing in front of Lucius. Granted, Lucius was much occupied with... basically everything else that was happening. The mention of a weapon surprised him, though, even though it was just a knife. "Shall we go to the Palatine then?" "Let's start there." Lucius nodded, leading the way out of the apartment, back to the street, and towards the Palatine. They had no time to waste. @Atrice

"Well-behaved slaves get privileges, one of which might have been the use of a bow as a spectacle." Azarion rolled his eyes. He was better behaved now than he'd ever been before - mostly because his master was not a complete moron. But no one in their right mind was ever going to give a slave in Rome an actual weapon they could kill with. Especially if they found out he was good with it... The woman nodded towards one of the many wealthy men standing around. "One of those is Lunaris. One of the wealthiest men in the senate and not a clue how to spend it." Azarion quirked an eyebrow. And? "Come here. Put on a show for him, you'll be walking out of here with a sponsor or two. Trust me." Trust her? To do what? What kind of a show...? Whatever. He drained his cup, then took her hand offered to get off the floor, and take the seat next to her on the couch. He looked at her curiously. Now what? @Sara

"It'd be a shame to come all this way and not see them, don't you think?" "True..." Azarion was curious. The Romans were weird, so different from the tribes on this side of the river, and on the far side of the plains. They believed in different gods, and built different things. And seemed intent on conquering everything in sight. "They're probably not up to anything, either," "Well, let's see." Azarion patted Borena's neck again. She would stay, she was well trained. He headed for the low hills, walking up among the flowers and low bushes. On the last few steps as he crested the hill, he crouched lower in the tall grass, peering over at the river. @Sharpie

"You have nobody? That's because you need to put on a bit of a show. You're not going to win them over with your looks," He rolled his eyes at her, playing at being offended. That was clearly a show. Obviously. "No offence of course. You're handsome enough but look at the gladiators and men built like insulae here." He blinked. Did she just call him... handsome? Against his better judgment, Azarion looked away, a slight blush on his cheeks. He had never considered that. She was probably joking. It was not a good joke. "So win them over with your humour. Or your skills. Did you bring your bow?" He actually let out a short laugh at that. Sure. They would let the barbarian slave bring a weapon along to a party. That was genuinely amusing. He made a gesture, reminding her of the slave tablet he was not wearing right now. @Sara

"It's more than some plebs make in a month, for an evening of my time." Oh. Alright, then. She had a crap job, but at least she was making decent money from it. She did not look super wealthy, though, and the fact that she had to keep doing that job spoke volumes. The money, obviously, wasn't everything. His face must have said as much. "I don't know what you're trying to say but you really should smile more. It'll make them more likely to sponsor you- No other services necessary. That's why you're here right? To get sponsors?" Right, because people were going to pay him for his smile. Azarion smirked at the idea. "Who do you have so far?" The smirk turned into a frown, and Azarion shrugged, showing his empty palms. Literally no one was sponsoring him yet. Probably not because of his smile. He gestured some. They should come to the tracks, and watch the actual races... Otherwise, why sponsor a charioteer? @Sara

He was mostly talking to himself, not paying attention to what he said out loud. Alexius did not seem to like the sentiment, but at least he was not rude about it. "Hey... Lucius. It's not everything that's worse. Don't blame an entire festival for what one madman did." Lucius sighed. He was not blaming the attack on Saturnalia. The festival had started out... in a much better way. But it was going to make the investigation a lot more difficult. No one was where they were supposed to be, everyone was drunk, and everything was on fire, which meant he could only get away to investigate with his centurion's permission for a few hours at a time. "I'm sure that now it's not just me, but there's more of us looking. We'll find him. And end him." Lucius nodded, drinking some more wine. At least they were on the same page about that. "It's just not fair, that something like this happened to her..." he said. On Saturnalia. Not that it would have been better any other day of the year, but Ovinia being attacked so soon after... what happened between the two of them, it hurt. Because he wanted to console her, and he was not allowed to. He took a deep breath. "Let's go. I only have a few hours before I have to report back to the barracks." @Atrice

And then Tiranes had to go and invite the imperial along. Azarion shrugged; he did not know the chief at all, and it was Saturnalia, if he wanted to come smoke, he could come. Cynane, however, looked like she was going to take a bite out of Tiranes later. It did not escape the chief's attention. "You don't want me with you. Though it's very kind of you to offer. There's surely some irony that anyone can walk the streets of Rome, save those who lead her." Azarion scoffed, glancing at his cousin. Other people get killed here too, does he not know that? Boo-hoo, I am a chief and I can't run around alone. "Where are you going?" Azarion nodded towards the building. He had set up a small, improvised smoking tent in the back of the gardens attached to the stables; anywhere else it would have been too flammable, or too cramped. Or too obvious. @Sharpie @Atrice@Sarah

"You sure do get around, don't you? Among high and low!" Lucius quirked an eyebrow at Alexius. That sounded... well, it didn't sound like an accusation, anyway. And his story was a bit complicated. But it was the last thing he wanted to start explaining right now. Also, Alexius did not look entirely convinced about what he'd said about Ovinia. Dammit, the bodyguard was perceptive. "But I suppose we can't tell him... Tiberius, I mean... about what happened to Ovinia? You think she'd want that? It's Jason we need, not Tiberius." "No, we can't." He was determined about keeping his promise to Ovinia. More than anything, because she had the most to lose. "But there have been other victims. If there is a madman on the lose, whoever the victims are, he will help, if we ask. But let's talk to Jason first." He finished his wine, and glanced out the window. "Let's just hope we find him at home... Damn Saturnalia, making everything worse." he muttered. @Atrice

"All those I know about are women... defenseless women. Maybe he doesn't like it when they fight back? Bastard as he is!" "He likes the fear." Lucius frowned. He did not aim to kill Ovinia, he had told her that much. He got off the blood, the fear... the power. He was the worst kind of human being. "Do you think we'll find anyone able to talk now? It's still fairly early. I just came home, after all." Saturnalia. Right. He had almost forgotten all that. To think that a few days ago this Saturnalia had seemed to be going in a so much better direction... "Or do you know anyone at the Palatine, who could direct us to this Tiberius?" Lucius blinked. Right. "Oh, I know Tiberius. I've met him at a party, he..." listens to my counsel "I know him. He's the emperor's brother. If we tell him this is serious, he will listen. If he's home." @Atrice

"No. You haven't gotten that part." Lucius looked at her, confused and hesitant. He had been trying to spare her the need to repeat the things she had thrown at him earlier. They were already etched into his memory anyway. But she refused to take the easy way out. She pulled herself up, and then gave the whole story, in detail calmer this time. Lucius carefully kept his eyes away from the centurion. His nails were digging into his palm and he his his hands behind his back because his knuckles turned white just like Ovinia's. She was struggling, but she followed it all the way through. "As for what he looked like. Tall. Light eyes and dark hair and... He smelt nice. Clean. Like lemons." It was not fair he could not hold her. Just not fair. Someone needed to hold her. That dark haired, light eyes, lemon-scented rat bastard needed to die screaming. "You are very brave, domina." he said quietly. The rest she needed to read from his eyes. @Sara

"Do you honestly not know about all this?" Do I look like I know all about this? "You can have a towel, if it'll make you feel a bit better." Yes. A towel was good. It did not cover up any of the scars, but at least Azarion felt a bit less like everyone was sizing him up. He had had enough of that at the weird patrician parties. He wrapped the towel around his hips as he followed his cousin. "The water comes at the end - trust me, all right? You'll like it, if you relax a bit." Azarion followed. He knew people were looking, but there was really no way out of this now. What do you like about it? @Sharpie

Such a strange man. Lucius looked up, a little surprised, when Alexius put a hand on his. He was not at all what he would have pictured as a bodyguard. And he clearly cared for Ovinia. How much...? “It won’t get out. If it does, it won’t be through me anyway. Ovinia is a lovely girl. I wish her only the best.” "Yeah. Me too." Lucius looked back at his notes, for lack of a better place to look. He was not good at avoiding giving things away while he himself was not sure yet what it really was that he was trying to not give away. “What should we do first?” "I... think we should go talk to this Jason. Find out about the other victim." Lucius suggested. "See if the places where he has attacked, or the times, or the victims... have something in common?" @Atrice

The entire house was getting ready for Saturnalia. Which meant no one wanted to work and everybody needed to work at the same time. Metella was all over the place; Cassia was out for the day with an appropriate entourage, which meant she stayed at the household and took her time bossing Attis and everyone else around. The doorkeeper slave disappeared to only the gods knew where. And obviously, someone chose just this time to come calling. Metella hurried to the door to greet the good-looking young woman, accompanied by a slave girl. "Salve. I am Sergia Auletia, niece of Secundus Quinctilius Varus. I was just passing and thought I would drop in to pay my compliments to the master. I hope he's not too busy?" Metella did not have the foggiest about who Secundus Quinctilius Varus was, but she sure as hell knew who Sergia was. Mostly from Attis. This was the woman the dominus had his eyes on, then. Metella flashed her a blinding smile. "Welcome. I am terribly sorry, but the dominus has just stepped out. Do come in, though, domina. May I pour you a drink?" @locutus-sum

Azarion avoided his cousin's eyes, but there was really not any other good place to look either. In the tepidarium, people sat, or stood, or walked around in the warmth, and Azarion felt exposed, being naked among naked people. Gods, Romans were so weird to do this indoors. In groups. Yikes. The stranger was looking at them funny. "Good. He seems... not happy. But, do not mind me." Azarion looked around, then up at Tiranes, with a questioning look. Where is the water?... @Atrice @Sharpie

"I think her friend said she both had her throat slit, and she'd been stabbed. Oh, and her backside was cut too, near the shoulders." Lucius made another note. Ovinia had been cut on the shoulder too. Did he not like his victims looking at him while they bled?... But now, the conversation had strayed to more personal matters. Alexius was curious. Which was understandable. Lucius did not fit neatly into a box, and he had Ovinia's confidence. And the man was supposed to be protecting her. "From before?" "Before... before her family called off the engagement. To my brother." he explained. Before he joined the vigiles. The engagement technically never happened in the first place, but it could have. He was glad it didn't. "You know, you can trust me. I don't think Ovinia would send you over to me if she didn't trust me." "I am glad she has someone she trusts." Lucius smiled a little. "Ovinia... Ovinia and I had our differences, but she is a... friend. And I don't like seeing her hurt. Also... no one can ever know this happened to her. Her father swore us to secrecy, and so did she. If this ever got out, and she has been attacked..." he frowned. @Atrice

The cut was cleaned, and yarrow was hopefully doing its work. Septima kept it in place, just in case. Once it was not actively bleeding, they could find something to bandage it. She hoped it didn't hurt. "Not so much now. In gardens like these, yarrow is usually a weed. But maybe I should save a corner for it. In case this happens again." "There are some herbs in the corner over there." Septima nodded "Grandfather started it, and I have been using it for study... I don't really know much yet, though." But at least the yarrow worked. "Your hand is so soft." Septima blushed a deeper shade. She was good at knowing things like yarrow... she was not good at what she was supposed to say when someone like Lexus was holding her hand. She looked down at their intertwined hands as if she was seeing them for the first time. "Thank you?" @Atrice