Chevi

His centurion was not generally a capable man, but right now, his awkwardness around crying women won out over his sense of superiority. He waved the slave girl aside, and left Lucius alone in the room, although the door was only half closed. He glanced back, making sure he was out of their line of sight, before hurrying to the bed. Ovinia was choking back tears. "I'm fine... I'm fine... I...don't know what to say." "It's aright." Lucius wrapped his arms around her, trying to be gentle enough around her bandages. "It's alright. I'm here. I've got you." He couldn't hold her as long as he wanted to, but hey had a stolen minute.

"That's what happens with champions, or slave champions at least. Men...and women, I hear, want to ride the best of Rome." Azarion wrinkled his nose. Suddenly he did not want to be a champion all that much. Sure, there were some attractive matrons probably who could be fun... but he would never have the choice. And he did not like the odds. Romans were fucked up. "Beats me why they want too though when there's perfectly talented guys and girls in the Venus for them to use at their leisure. I'm assuming your dominus didn't tell you about that part of the job, huh?" Azarion frowned, and shook his head. He gestured at himself and waved a hand. Who would want to... ride this, with all the gladiators and the other charioteers around? Maybe he could get away with... well. Being good with horses. Why did the Romans need to make anything so damn complicated? He had been lucky enough so far that the one thing his masters did not do to him was force themselves on him. He was not about to give that up now.

Gaius Ovinius Camillus was not impressed with the vigiles. He towered over everyone else by sheer willpower, and he looked enraged. Lucius pressed his lips together and squared his shoulders, waiting for the entire house to come down around him in fury. His centurion did the same, for lack of a better option. "The only people who know what I am about to tell you are my family, a handful of my slaves and a slave from the Palatine. If one single word of this reaches anybody else, I will know it came from one of you and I promise you, I will ensure that your lives will be more painful than any slave in a salt mine. Am I understood?" ... this was not about him. Lucius blinked, then nodded slowly. They were here as vigiles, not as someone to be accused... But why? His centurin nodded too, although he did not look any wiser. "My daughter was assaulted last night." The floor fell out from under Lucius' feet. "She is recovering, and thank the Gods will be well in time but it appears it could have easily been a very different outcome. She tells me this man has tried before, and done this to others." No. No, no no... "You. Will find the man that did this and you will do so as your top priority. The daughter of a Praetor, my only daughter, cannot go molested in a city. Do you understand me?" I will murder that man. Lucius saw red, and couldn't really find his voice. Luckily, he was not expected to, since his centurion nodded again. "Of course, praetor. We will not let you down." "Lucia will take you to see her. She is tired and not herself but assures me she will tell you everything you need to know." They followed the slave girl to Ovinia's room. Lucius did not know what to expect once the door opened, but seeing her pale, injured, and broken, made his stomach sink. Someone had hurt her. Really, really hurt her. He twitched, before he checked himself. The urge to go to her was stronger than imaginable. "Domina, the vigiles are here." Lucius turned his head to whisper to the centurion. "I know her. Our families are... acquainted. I can get her to tell us what we need to know. Just... give me a few minutes to put her at ease?..."

"I had heard. You've not cause me any difficulty. But what I do reflects on Titus Augustus, so I must exercise a certain care." Lucius nodded. Of course. It was strange, having slid down the political ladder, and yet taking a casual meeting with an imperial. In a way, Tiberius seemed like the odd one out of his family, just in more subtle ways than him. "Your brother will survive. But he has lost a potential political ally." "To be fair... I don't think I would have been very good at it." he admitted sheepishly. Or at least it would have been like pulling teeth, trying to play political games he had had no interest in whatsoever. "It's interesting, isn't it? The things we take for granted in society, until someone questions them? The striving of the Senatorial class, for further influence and political gain. And then you go and say 'I don't need that'. You scandelise because you make people question their own assumptions. Sometimes assumptions should be questioned." "I am glad to hear you say that. For a long time, I thought I was trapped between the cursus honorum and... being a lawyer." Those were the two choices his brother had offered him, after all. "This third option might be... unconventional. But at least I am doing something that actually helps... No offense to senators, of course. I just like to... be among people to help them. more directly." @Sarah

It had been a long time... maybe a lifetime, since Azarion had met the tall woman, but she was not the kind of person one would easily forget. He blinked in surprise as she showed up alongside Tiranes. For a large city, Rome really was a small world sometimes. "This is Cinnia. She is the shield-maiden to my master's sister... and my blood-sister." Azarion arched an eyebrow. He remembered her being a bodyguard. An imperial bodyguard?... That explained how she knew Tiranes, who also worked on the Palatine. And she was... his blood sister? He gave his cousin a questioning look. "Greetings, I'm happy to meet you. You look familiar to me." Azarion nodded. He doubted she would remember him. He nodded, and made some signs for haggling for money. The rest of them, Tiranes could read. Different name. Met her at the market. Two years? Seemed like a lifetime ago. Another person walked past, in a red cloak and a cap shadowing his face. Azarion tensed, watching him. He did not have a good experience with cloaked figures walking this alley... @Sharpie @Atrice @Sarah

"So...what, you're here to get patronage?" Of course his inner comments were lost on her. Such a pity. He shrugged, then nodded a bit. Technically, he was; as a prospective champion of the Whites, he was toted as the next big thing, for potential patrons. All of whom were way more occupied with pawing the gladiators or fucking the prostitutes. "Want me to point out the wealthiest here for you...? Or the ones who are willing to take on risks, perhaps?" She moved to his side. Was she this bored, or making fun of him? He rolled his eyes at her. Risks indeed. He made some more easily interpreted gestures. I am not fucking any of them. The thought made him very uncomfortable. @Sara

21st of December, 76AD When Lucius was told by his centurion that they were summoned to Ovinia's house, he was halfway sure that he was about to lose his job. Or possibly his life, if Ovinia's family had any say in it. What were the odds that he would be summoned by her father, along with the centurion, three days after making out with Ovinia in an alley? He tried to make some inquiries, but all he could get from the centurion was Shut up and move your ass, gods know why but you used to be a patrician and I need you to figure out what those people want from me. So, he didn't know either. That was a bit reassuring, anyway. He had had no word from Ovinia since that day, but she had been on his mind all the time. In fact, he was more than a bit distracted, which gave Titus endless opportunities to make fun of him, or criticize his work. It was hard to not daydream about her. Or think about what he could possibly do. The slave that had been sent for them led them in a roundabout way to the kitchen entrance of the house. Lucius was surprised. Summoning the vigiles, through a back door? This had to be serious. They wanted to avoid the semblance of anything being out of the ordinary. Not that anyone cared much, four days into Saturnalia. His heart beat faster as they walked in, and he glanced around, wondering if Ovinia was home. @Sara

Azarion recognized it when someone's sarcasm matched his own, spoken or unspoken. Times like this he always keenly felt the loss of speech. So much wasted talent. She looked him over; she was probably used to people falling all over themselves for her, because, well, she looked extremely attractive. "I take it you're a new charioteer?" Ouch. He mirrored the look she gave her, looking her over as well. I take it you are an experienced hooker? None of that translated into gestures.

"Do I look like I'm a slave? Tsk." Azarion arched an eyebrow at her again, gesturing at the rest of the party. It was Saturnalia. No one looked like anything. And slaves didn't normally look like slaves either... well, he did, but that was the fault of the FVG brand. Her kind, however, was as likely to be enslaved as not. "No. I'm not. I escaped that fate a few years ago. Something for you to aim for too, perhaps." Azarion tilted his head as the sarcastic smirk persisted, and poked his thumb towards the guy who was still throwing up, with a considerate prostitute patting his back. Like, try him, for example? "Okay mute, what are you doing here then?" The look he gave her spoke for itself. It took a moment before he finally mimed for her. He was getting good at miming the motions of driving a chariot. Well, hooker, I am a charioteer.

"You lose your tongue or were you born like it?" Azarion arched an eyebrow at her. Why did that matter?... It was not exactly well lit in the domus this late at night, so maybe she did not notice the scars and brands at him. He waved a hand again, making a cutting motion at his mouth. There. Romans. "Letia has him. He owns half the insulae in the city, apparently. She's as keen to fill her purse as he is to fill his wine cup so... I'm on the hunt for something different." She was a prostitute. Well, that made sense. "I'm presuming I'm out of your league though?" Azarion smirked at her. If she had not stated that out loud, he would have agreed. Maybe I am out of yours. ... Yikes. Good thing he couldn't have said that out loud. He made a gesture at his chest, outlining the missing slave tablet. He obviously had no money to throw around. He pointed at her, miming the same thing, but as a question. Was she a slave too?

'I'd really love that.' Rewards were an important part of teaching, Tranquillus had always know that as a tutor. However, in the past, they had not usually involved nudity... Samorix was definitely incentivized now. He tried to spell Tranquillus' name and got all flustered, so he tried again. Tranquillus held his palm patiently, doing his level best not getting distracted during the exercise. T-R-A-M-Q-U-I-L-L-U-S. 'Do I get one for effort?' Tranquillus chuckled, smiling at the gardener. "Oh, what the hell. Close enough." He said, before kissing him again "... once we are done with this, remind me to get back to M and N..." he muttered against his lips. Teachings plans were important. @Ejder

Everything about this woman was a show. Her blond hair, her low cut dress, the cup she held, the way she looked around like was making a performance. She was definitely here for entertainment. And somehow, inexplicably, barking up the wrong tree. In the wrong forest. He clearly did not give off the impression of a wealthy patron. Azarion wondered if Menelaus or someone had put her up to this. "What? Are you waiting for a better conversational partner? Or maybe you just don't want to speak to me?" Azarion rolled his eyes, and waved a hand at his throat, signaling that no, lady, he could not talk. Then he made a show of looking around too, like she had. She could definitely find a better conversation partner... maybe the guy with the golden bangles who was throwing up in the atrium?

Saturnalia was one of the better things the Romans had invented. It was several days of a whole lot of festivities, and a break in the hard work of slaves and freedmen. There was drinking, gambling, gift-giving, and other fun activities. Azarion had not really participated in it much in the past, but now, as a charioteer instead of a stable boy, he had a bit more freedom. He also had drugs. Courtesy of some lady who was probably unhinged, but she had the good stuff. Technically, Azarion had not been old enough, back in Sarmatia, to take part on the smoking of the herbs with the grown men, but he knew the basic principle. And with so many of the stable crew and charioteers and and about in the city, he knew it was a good time to invite Tiranes over for some nostalgic celebration. He waited for him at the back entrance of the stables complex like he had before. He was a bit surprised, however, to see him showing up alongside a woman who looked... familiar. @Atrice @Sharpie

"Nobody's going to drown here," How do you know? "We're going in," "Good, so am I. I hope this is good thermae? You know?" Azarion looked at the stranger again. At first he had just assumed they were in his way going in, but now it seemed like he wanted to... have a conversation? He had an accent, and did not look exactly... Roman. Azarion shrugged, glancing at his cousin, and they all walked in together. The place was... stunning. Not the best thermae in the city by far, not even in the regio, but it did not compare to anything Azarion had ever seen before. All tiles, and marble, and water, and steam, and... very naked people. He frowned, folding his arms again, before realizing he needed them to talk. What do we do? @Sharpie @Atrice

The Romans just kept inventing new forms of torture. Azarion had been at this... party for less than half an hour, and he was already considering bolting through a window. He liked Saturnalia as a concept, but this was the first time he was deemed important enough to attend a patrician's feast - as a Whites charioteer. He was a... what did Marcus say? Prospective champion?... Which was a fanci way of saying curiosity. Freak, even. Whoever the hell would want a mute slave with scars and brands and tattoos at the festivities? He hoped they were not planning on touching him all over like they were doing to the gladiator. Yikes. Azarion tried to make himself small. He was wearing a nice clean, dark blue tunic, and his hair was washed and combed. It was too long now to look decent, but too short to be braided, so he had some of it tied back out of his face. He was not required to wear his slave tablet for the night, but there was a man somewhere nearby keeping an eye on all the Whites. The others seemed to be doing well. Azarion was doing his best to become part of the wall painting. "You don't belong here, do you?" Azarion blinked, looked at the scantily clad and very attractive young woman. Was she talking to him?... Clearly, because she was stating the obvious. On the other hand, she looked exactly like she belonged here. He shook his head. No, he did not belong to this fucking party.

"You don't get to wander off for an hour with a pretty young woman all by yourself whilst the rest of the men are here to clean up her mess." "She was a victim of the fire and she ran away in shock" Lucius noted, waving a hand in the general direction of the street "It's a madhouse out there. I was just doing my duty making sure she was safe." And well kissed "You also don't get to decide we have to schlep all the way to Gods know where to get her dinner for her. If you want to impress her, keep us out of it next time. You get to tell the boys and our Centurion of our new task. Lucky you." "Fine" Lucius sighed. Even this could not really mess up his current mood. "Food and drinks on me, obviously." He patted Titus on the shoulder. "Thank you for having my back. I'm an idiot. Io Saturnalia."

"Me too." Lucius' smile was full of relief. Maybe, just maybe, they would have more time to figure things out. He was an eternal optimist, even in the face of impossible odds. It had worked out for him before. He caught the cloak. "How does this rank for you? Of all your Saturnalia's?" "Best one ever" he grinned. He considered the idea of stealing a kiss, but that doomed idea quickly perished as Titus poked his head out the door and whistled at them. Lucius jumped, and managed to look sheepish. "Domina, your father is looking for you. And you, I'm looking for you." "That is great, because I am looking for you too" Lucius said lightly, trying to salvage the situation. "We have pastries. And more food to be had. The boys can help carry it back here, and I'll treat them to the menu. You're hungry, right? I know I am. Shall we?"

Lucius knew it was not fair to ask. He was most definitely not welcome at the house, and she was going to be meeting other possible suitors. Possible suitors. The thought was killing him, now that he realized they had passed each other in the worst possible way somehow. "I... I like to take walks. On the kalends, nones and ides, in the Portico, where we met at midday. I go most months." Lucius nodded, keeping his eyes on her. They could meet again. In public, in a polite setting, which might be unbearable, but he would take it, in a heartbeat. "But...I don't know. This doesn't change anything, does it?" "I... don't know." he sighed. "I... I want it to? I've got nothing. I just know I want to see you again." @Sara

"If you tell anyone you let me win, I'll piss on your blankets" Azarion declared with a grin. They both slowed down and pulled up short, side by side, before they would have crested the hills by the river. The Romans were on the other side. There was no agreement or law forbidding them from going straight down to the water if they wanted to, but relations were tense, and no one wanted some Sarmatian youth to be mistaken for a sentry. Azarion slid off the saddle, patting Borena's neck. "You want to go see what they are up to?..." @Sharpie

Lucius was not sure what he was supposed to say. He was keenly aware that he had messed up this whole thing before it even started. Was Ovinia thinking the same? Blaming him for doing all this too late? Or... at all? They didn't talk much as they made their way back to her domus. The procession had moved on, but there were still many revelers around. Ovinia finally stopped across the street from the house. So did he. "So... Pastries?" "Yes please" he grinned, taking one out of her basket. He knew that was not what she meant, but the mood needed some lightening. "The boys and I will bring the rest of the food over in a bit. I'll make sure they don't sample it too much." He paused, still holding the baskets, and looked at her. What was he supposed to say?... "Can I... see you again?"

Tranquillus could feel Samorix shiver as he traced the letters on his back. It was still baffling that he could have that effect on anyone, let alone someone like the young gardener. Tranquillus felt a strange sense of pride and accomplishment, as if he had written a particularly good speech. Samorix sat up to face him, drawing a letter in the palm of his hand. Tranquillus smiled. "One letter at a time." He leaned over to press a kiss to the gardener's lips. He tasted like strawberries. "Maybe we could find things to reward you when you make progress..." @Ejder

Septima felt a little awkward, applying medicine without having any qualifications to do so. She was not a medicus, or even a real scholar, or a midwife who knew such things. But this time, she was confident it would work, because she had used the cure on herself before. "What did you pick?" She spat out the chewed leafs, and reached for Lexus' hand. "Yarrow. It stops bleeding." she said, covering the would with the leaves and wrapping her hand around his. "I... read it in a book. And tried it once when I cut my hand. Does it hurt much?"

The kissing had been wild and passionate, but if it had been just that, Lucius might have felt better. Passion was something people did for fun. Kissing her on the forehead though, holding her just a moment longer before they finally parted, made it clear that he did not want Ovinia... like that. He felt protective of her, as much as she hated the idea, which meant that he was now treading very dangerous territory. "So sensible. What's happened to you?" "You happened." Lucius sighed as he stepped back, running a hand through his hair again (not that anyone around cared at all about how disheveled someone was. Hell, several people were just running around naked.) She led the way again and he followed, making sure he did not lose her in the crowd this time. They found the food place, and managed to put in an order for enough food to make up for the loss of the kitchen. They would have to come back to carry most of it when it was all cooked, but for now, Lucius managed to talk Melissa into handing over a few baskets of fresh pastries. Pastries were the best part of the festival anyway, weren't they? Lucius managed to focus on acquiring and carrying the baskets for long enough. This was the easy part...

The way she reacted to his touch was addictive. Lucius knew they had to talk, using words, about what had just happened, because neither of them were going to write this off as a Saturnalia fling. But in the meantime, she was still warm against him, with a look in her eyes that was everything but hate. "And that's why I hate you. I have no idea what I'm going to do now and it's all your fault." Lucius sighed. It was not all his fault, but to be fair, he had no idea what he was going to do now either. "I...have to go and meet Sempronius Atratinus next week. I have to go and get food for my family and organise the restoration of the k-kitchen and all I...all I want to do is for you to kiss me again." He caught his breath and somehow managed to not do just that. It took a lot of self control. He did not like the idea of her meeting a suitor. He had no clue who Sempronius Whatshisface was, but he already hated the guy. "Big problem. Any bright ideas?" None. He could not court her, because he was not a patrician, and even if he was, his family was not an option for hers anymore. And as much as he wanted to, he could not just grab her and run away. To... say their options were limited was an understatement. Lucius sighed, leaning over to press a kiss to her forehead. "One step at a time? Let's go get the food before they come looking for us." @Sara

He was lost in her scent and her taste, and the sounds she was making made all of it so much worse. Or better. Definitely better. She had her hand in his hair, and it did not feel like she wanted him to stop. "Lucius... Lucius we can't..." Oh, he knew. As much as he would have lost himself in her forever, they were in public. This was not that kind of place, and Ovinia was definitely not that kid of girl. He moaned, hoping to continue his explorations a few precius moments longer. "Lucius..." She tugged on his hair and he finally looked up. He was trying to catch his breath like he had run a mile, and she was not exactly poised either. "I hate you." "See, I don't think you do." he smiled a little, looking at her up close. "And I don't think I hate you either." Hate played a funny part in this story, but they couldn't exactly pretend anymore. As much as he wished she could be anyone else, so he could take her to the nearest bed available without guilt, Ovinia was Ovinia, and he had to go and somehow... not hate her. One hand was still on her hip, and the other in her hair. "This is a problem, isn't it."