Chevi
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Azarion frowned, swearing internally as he shook his hand, with new red scrapes on his knuckles. He didn't care, at least pain was distracting him from the anger and helplessness he was feeling. Also, hurt more than he was hurt by actions of the killer? Not likely. They will not do anything, he frowned, folding his arms, even though he winced as he touched the bandages. They wont find him without me. @Sharpie
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Azarion looked disappointed. That was it. Of course it was not much to go on. He wondered if Marcus was going to do anything about the information at all; if he would tell the vigiles, or anyone else who might be able to help. Probably not. The man was probably going to get away with everything, as long as he only killed poor people like Safinia. They both left the room, and Azarion waited until they turned the corner to the stables before he punched the wall with his uninjured hand. It hurt, but it let some of the frustration out. @Sharpie
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Jason translated the color of the cloak, but not Azarion's theory of the killer. The charioteer frowned at his cousin. He knew that as a slave it was not his place to make any plans and decisions... but Marcus cared, at least some. Even if he did not grieve for Safinia, at the very least he would want to prevent more of his valuable people getting killed in the future. "Was there anything remarkable about his face - a scar or a beard or anything unusual?" Azarion closed his eyes, trying to remember. Damn the darkness. The face was etched into his memory, with no way to describe it. Short beard, he signed finally. It was not much. But then he thought again... A key. Around his neck. @Sharpie
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"It's a pity, I find that you appear very friendly and open-minded. Not to mention young and good looking. Really what any woman should want in a husband." Lucius smiled a the compliments. Even though this match was never going to come to fruition, at least Pinaria did not hate him for it. And it felt good to be appreciated just for who he was. "Thank you. And you are a woman any man can thank the gods to have as a wife." he said with a smile. But women like her did not get to choose their husbands, did they... "But I'm afraid that according to my brother, that would not be enough. Men... no offense... most men anyway, seem so very occupied with high ambitions and wealth. You're different. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it's just very different. To some, maybe too different." "I am aware." Lucius chuckled. He knew that his path in life, whatever it ma be, was going to cause a whole lot of trouble when it came to marriage. Women seemed to like him just fine (except... some), but the men who made the matches happed did not look kindly at someone like him. "I promise I do not blame you for this at all. And I do not think I would mind a conversation with you another time, should you need it." "That would be lovely." he agreed, standing up from where they sat. "It has been a pleasure, Pinaria Gaia. I hope you find a match who appreciates you. You deserve that." Silanus was not going to be happy about not winning their bet. Oh well. @Atrice
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"I grew up in Paestum in Campania - Hellas Megara* it was, once, I understand," Theo smiled. It was good to talk to someone in Greek, every once in a while. The Romans tended to forget that in many parts of the empire, the Greeks had been there first. "Thank you, for your kindness. I have to get back before my master starts looking for me." "Be careful" Theo nodded, offering a hand to help Rufus stand "Take your time, and try to rest your leg as much as you can. And come see me again" he added with a smile. "Whether you are injured or not." It was nice to make new friends, every once in a while. @Sharpie
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Jason switched back to their own language again. Which was probably not something Marcus enjoyed - Romans always got antsy when their slaves spoke amongst themselves - but it definitely made the quetioning faster. Jason knew how to ask so that he could answer. "Your master said it was dark - did you see the colour of the cloak? Earth, grass, sky?" Azarion hesitated, shrugging again. Grass? Darker. It was not much to go on. If they wanted to catch the man, without wandering aimlessly and staring at people, they needed more. He came back, to where he killed. Azarion signed. He hurt others too. Maybe he goes back there too. @Sharpie
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"He doesn't know, Domine. The man just wanted to get away without being seen. He'd been looking around the place where his friend died." Azarion frowned. He had not told Tiranes about Safinia yet, it would not have made good conversation for their reunion. But now he wished he had, so this whole conversation would have been less out of the blue for him. "What was he wearing?" Azarion sighed. Long cloak. Down to his knees. Hood. He half signed, half mimed. Hidden knife. He added, showing the motion as he pulled the knife under the cloak. He waited for his cousin to translate. Not a warrior. Soldier, the Romans would say. The man could fight, likely even kill, but he did not seem like a trained soldier. Or one of those gladiators. Hunter, maybe. @Sharpie
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Jason was annoyed enough that he switched back to his native language. Azarion was aware that he could not go around staring at random people all day. He rolled his eyes at his cousin. This was why he was here. To translate, and thus, help. Marcus looked like he was getting a headache. "The man could have killed him, he had a knife. But he decided not to." "Why?" Azarion shurgged, then shook his head. Don't know. He wanted to run away. Not be seen. He was looking around, in the place where... my friend died. There was no hand sign for Safinia's name. @Sharpie
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"You never know what's going on inside their heads, do you? It's like they're nuts you have to crack. And some of them will never crack. Like her." "I don't know, she looked ready to crack just now" Lucius sighed. Ovinia really was off balance with the whole Vibia thing. She had walked away, and more likely than not she was not going to talk to him again for the rest of the party. Maybe ever. And this time, it wasn't even his fault! "Really, your brother? I hope he's in for the ride!... How's that going for you by the way? Do you remember our bet?" "Of course" Lucius smiled "But next time you set me up, please let me know in advance. Saves a whole lot of awkwardness." @Atrice
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Poor Jason. He understood more than he was allowed to translate. Being in trouble was not news to Azarion, but Jason had much fewer scars, which meant he knew how to behave himself. Azarion shook his head. He had gotten a good look, but how to describe any of that in signs? If I saw him, I would recognize him. Now, he just needed to go around and look at every man in Rome. Great. He could have killed me. He added, taking a deep breath, knowing it would open up a whole lot of new questions. He had a knife, he was bigger. He could have killed me. And he chose not to. @Sharpie
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"I think your master might know that," He is shit at asking questions. Azarion noted. It was better to have Jason here, although he did not look too excited about the task. He probably did not like to speak Latin, or being summoned as someone else's slave on loan. "I want as much of a description as possible. Height, age, anything at all." Tall, Azarion signed. Taller than him. He added, pointing at Marcus. Azarion had grown some in the past years, but he was still shorter than his cousin or his master, who stood at about the same height. Lean. Strong. Dark hair?... he was unsure there. It was hard to see a person's coloring in the dark, let alone the color of their eyes. Younger than him. He pointed at Marcus again. He had a knife. @Sharpie
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Marcus agreed to send for Jason. Azarion relaxed a little bit. It felt like a long time to wait till morning, but he knew he had already pushed Marcus' patience far enough. Jason would come in the morning. And they would make sure to catch the bastard that had killed Safinia. Azarion slept like the dead, and woke up hungry early in the morning. He ate breakfast, had his bandages changed with the help of the medicus, and then loitered around outside Marcus' office till he was summoned. Jason was already there, looking confused and a little wary. The question was written all over his face as he looked at the bandages. Azarion probably looked like hell too, still pale from the blood loss. I need your help talking to him. He signed, echoing Marcus' words. Signing was not very comfortable with an injured arm, but he tried. I was attacked last night. @Sharpie
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"You want me to send to the Emperor's palace for a Jason to help? A slave, I imagine... a Sarmatian?" Marcus looked exasperated, more so than usual. Azarion felt the same. But he needed to talk, and if he had to teach his master how to ask simple yes and no questions, the murderer was going to die of old age before anyone got him. So, he nodded. Jason. He raised his hands, although the injured arm hurt like shit, and talked with the trading signs. He can speak with me. Help catch the murderer. He serves the chief there. He knew Marcus was not going to get any of that. But he would see there was a method to the signs. Something another Sarmatian would understand. @Sharpie
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"Ah Lucius, so sweet you still think people like us will find love. Mavericks don't get love, mavericks get glory and infamy and such but...not love." Glory and infamy. Lucius already had one of those, and the other, hopefully, he would have in a decade or two, if he could prove that he had made the right choice. Or he would be stuck with just the one. But he did not completely agree with Vibia. What was all that freedom worth in the end, if one could not even choose whom to love?... "And me? Jealous? Oh sweetheart. Of course I'm jealous you'll get to go and find some new...cheap woman and leave me to my old Senators and such. Or you know you could bring your pissy patrician girl here. She could pay and I could show her what desire really is... Then maybe she'll figure out what she wants." Lucius blinked again, looking down at Vibia, looking all seductive and clever and shameless. "Ovinia is not my girl." Well, that sounded wrong. "And I know what I want." he added, for good measure, leaning down to kiss her shoulder again. Distraction.
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"Yes. Quite. She was quite plain, from what I remember." The words made Lucius' lips twist into a frown, but he shook it off. Ovinia was... not plain. She was a lot of things, grating among them, but she was beautiful in her own way, even if not as openly seductive as Vibia. Not that he wanted to argue that point. It didn't matter anyway. "But you only have me for another few hours. You'll have to find somebody else when you're gone, and if it's not going to be the Patrician Princess, you'll have to find yourself a nice pleb. But don't go to the Elysium. Unless you want your manhood and coin purse to fall off." "Well maybe I will find true love, and I won't go to any brothel at all." he grinned. He leaned down, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. No use letting those hours go to waste. "Good thing this is a business arrangement. Otherwise I might have accused you of being jealous."
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Marcus asked for a tablet and a stylus. At least that was going to make things a little easier. One of the stable hands helped Azarion sit up. His head was still spinning, so he took it slow, but once he was confidently vertical, he slipped off the table and took a sear in a nearby chair instead. Some food and a cup was placed in front of him. The food made his stomach lurch, but the wine was welcome. Azarion leaned against the table as the tablet was placed in front of him. He concentrated on shaping the letters. He did not have much practice at all, and he had to blink to keep them in focus, but he did his level best to convey what needed to be conveyed. JASON PLATINE SARMATIA He surveyed the words. They looked alright. Then it occurred to him that he had just been asked about the description of the assailent. So he also added HELP for good measure. @Sharpie
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"...That wasn't a no." "That's..." No. Just say no. "Nor is her ruining her perfectly polished patrician reputation to yell at you, evidence that she doesn't like you. She clearly thinks enough of you to point out that you're being a fool... At least to some people." The idea still sounded, and felt, utterly ludicrous. Lucius knew what it was like when a woman liked him, thank you very much, he had experience. And Ovinia was none of that. If anything, she was the direct opposite of all of that. "Not much you can do if she's marrying your brother, and you're intent on this plan. But I don't know... Maybe you shouldn't be quite so hard on her at family gatherings." "Well, I'm not going to be invited to those anyway." he shrugged. And Vibia was right. Whatever she thought Ovinia was thinking, she was going to marry Gaius. And that was one hard line Lucius would never, ever cross. "And maybe you should distract yourself with other women." "Well... you are other women" Lucius noted. Distraction. Was a good idea. He traced his fingers down from the hollow of her neck and between her breasts. "But nothing to distract from. Why would I want some pissy patrician girl when I can have someone like you?"
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"I don't know about that, when I was a slave many years ago my dominus had a niece like her. She used to badger me with questions on everything from 'what does it mean when a man smiles at you' to 'why does he ignore me and tease me?'" Lucius barely paid attention to the thoughts of young patrician girls Vibia seemed to intimately know after all; he got hung up on the fact that she had been a slave in a patrician household. That explained... so much, but left so much more unsaid. "Girls like that are easily confused. You've got me in your sway. Imagine what you do to a naive, innocent, silly young woman. She might have a husband lined up but... There's always a bit of a thrill in the forbidden, no?" Lucius' expression fell again. Oh, shit. Gaius. "So, it's my fault now?" "You're telling me you don't like her?" What the... Lucius took a deep breath. "The woman is infuriating. She is spoiled, snobbish, and vindictive. She got out of a litter to make a scene in the middle of a burn site when I was on patrol. She hates me for, and I quote, throwing my potential away, whatever that means." he huffed. "And she is marrying my brother."
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Lucius stared at Vibia, a little incredulous; he even propped himself up from lying on her lap. This conversation had taken a turn he had not expected at all. He tried to picture it. Ovinia, liking him?... Vibia said she might not even realize it. If there was anything to realize at all, other than abject disgust and anger. But Vibia made a point. "Obviously that was not the first time." he sighed "She's come to visit before, and I've run into her... on occasion. Every time it seems like I annoy her more and more. Besides, why on earth would she want me if she's going to have Gaius as a husband? He's clearly the better catch." he tilted his head at her. "Maybe you are not that good at thinking like a patrician maiden."
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"Girls like that don't know anything do they? Bless them - they're innocent little flowers who get married quickly and live a life of terrible, boring sex and even more boring husbands." "Unlike clever women like you, who get to fuck all the boring husbands for money" Lucius noted, smiling as she ran her fingers through his hair. That was one of the reasons he liked Vibia: she lived outside the confines of polite society, and he was headed that way too. But what did any of this have to do with Ovinia's anger? "Maybe she was embarrassed? Maybe she expected you to be kinder given well.... She'll get married to your brother because she has to but...all women, innocent or not have desires. That's why you're an idiot." Lucius wrinkled his eyebrows as he looked up at her. She was having way too much fun with this. She claimed Ovinia was too innocent, and... Lucius blinked. "You... you think she... what, wants me?" it sounded so ridiculous spoken that it came out with a laugh.
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"Curious in a...curious way." Vibia was clever, and she liked that she was clever. She liked playing games at Lucius' expense, which he usually did not mind at all. "I don't think that's why she was bent out of shape." "Oh? Do illuminate me" Lucius smirked. He and Marcus had never quite figured why she was so upset about Vibia's presence. Maybe Vibia had an explanation. He wanted to her her thoughts, anyway. Women were a mystery. "To look at you I'd have thought you'd have plenty of experience with women. Enough to...you know...understand them. And not be an idiot." "Wouldn't I be an idiot if I claimed that I understand women?" he shot back, shifting so that he could rest his head on her thigh. @Sara
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He could tell that Vibia remembered, and finally put the name to the face. Ovinia had not been her best self at that party. "Your brother's marrying her?" "Ovinia Camilla. The very same." he nodded. "Curious... Curious, curious, curious. It was unpleasant of you to tease her though mind. I'd understand if she did hate your guts." "Curious how?" he arched an eyebrow. "And I did not mean to tease her. Marcus invited you, remember? It's not my fault she is so bent out of shape about singing in public. She really has a good voice."
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She gave him the sad eyes and the pout she had given him before when he arrived, telling her this was their last time together. She played her role well, but she would find other clients, no doubt. As much as they enjoyed each other's company, Lucius did not think he was the best client she'd ever had. "Maybe she's worried about her reputation. Because of your delicious scandal. But I'm glad your brother is taking it well. You deserve to be happy." "I am happier than I've ever been before the scandal" Lucius grinned, tilting his head into her touch. "And yes, she is a stickler for reputation. Remember how angry she was at Tiberius' party when she found out you were not just a musician..."
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"Mhmm. Being notorious is more fun than you think though. And you can do what you want, what you really want for the first time in your life. That's exciting...but you don't seem very excited." "You make it sound like I'm going to be working at the Venus" Lucius smirked. But he would have been lying if he said he was not worried about his future. Gaius had given his permission, which was the important part, but Lucius knew he had not yet begun to see the extent of the consequences. Losing Vibia was just one of the more practical ones. "Worried you'll be lonely? I'll still be here if you can scrape your coins together." "I'll see you when I make praefect, then" he chuckled. "Shouldn't be more than a decade or two." If he played the game right, which was a big if, since he was not big on rules to begin with. He sighed, putting the jokes aside. "It's not the loneliness. My brother is taking this fairly well, even though his bride is incredibly angry with me, the gods know why. But I'm sure Gaius will come around. And I'll have a whole new circle of friends. Eventually."
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"The very best entertainment, I'll have you know." "The best I have ever had" Lucius agreed dutifully. There was really no contest, when she was good at her profession. And even if she wasn't, he was not about to start a contest. "You could be more enthusiastic. That reads like a review of a popina. Is excellent in bed all you got?" "I am not a poet." Lucius pointed out with a chuckle. "Want me to sound like Horatius? Go to the Forum and tell the merchants they can keep all the peaches in Latium: Vibia's cunt is sweeter than any nectar the orchards have to offer." He grinned at her, rolling onto his back. "When does it all take effect then? Your adoption?" Well, they were back to the first topic, after their foray into poetry. "Soon, I think. Once we figure out the paperwork. At least it gives Gaius a few days to get used to the idea. Gods know, he's never gonna hear the end of it. Neither will I, but that's only fair." @Sara
