Sharpie

"If there's one thing I want you to know - and I've probably said this before - I will do my best to keep any promise I make," Teutus said. Doubtless Jannus would eventually learn why that was, but right now was not the time to be spilling secrets, especially when they concerned his own father. "This is going to be yours, I want you to have one in a size you'll find comfortable to use," he said, and asked the shopkeeper to show a selection of two- and three-leaved tablets in different sizes. They were all plain wooden ones, but this was a high-quality shop and therefore the wooden surrounds of all those on display had a good finish, smooth to the touch and not warped in any way. Jannus was a quiet, serious sort of slave, careful not to give offence, or to do anything that might offend. Traits that Teutus had seen in others - and had probably shown himself - but that he wasn't used to seeing from the outside. That slight smile didn't go unnoticed, and hoped that as they grew more used to one another, that Jannus would smile more often, at least in private. @Insignia

"Did you want to invite him back here?"i "Yes, if he'll come. If he's still in Rome," he said. Tertius wouldn't see him, Teutus knew that much about his father from what little he'd seen of the two of them together that evening. Germania was many, many miles away, a long and dangerous journey, and Teutus couldn't imagine what it felt like to have made that journey and to practically have the door slammed in your face. And his father hadn't outright forbidden him from talking to his brother, although how Tertius would enforce it if he had was anyone's guess. "Father's a Senator, a Praetor even, he ought to have some idea about treating the people around him." He let out a long breath. "Maybe if Antonia Justa had lived longer, he'd be better." Although if his mistress had lived longer, she might have borne a son, an actual freeborn male heir, in which case neither Teutus nor his mother would be here, now. "If I've learned one thing over the years, it's that I don't ever want to promise anything to anyone if I can't be sure I can keep that promise," he said. Maybe that made him more honourable than his father, maybe it didn't. "And... His father died ten years ago and he still didn't do anything about my freedom. For eight whole years. Even if I couldn't be his heir, he could have done something instead of just saying he would." He pressed his lips together and let out another, shakier breath. He'd buried the hurt for a long time simply because he hadn't had anyone to tell - he could have said it to Charis but she hadn't even had the repeated reassurance of eventual freedom and he hadn't wanted to burden her. "merda," he muttered. "Stupid to get upset over things that can't be changed, and we're here, now." If there was one thing he could do, going forward, it would be to ensure that his own slaves never had to deal with all that uncertainty and pie-crust promises. He would make absolutely sure they could all be certain of their own futures. @Sarah

This could probably go under the character development area but I wanted a place where we could share the random habits our characters have that don't necessarily get mentioned in actual threads. I'll start: Jason will always sleep with his face towards far-off Sarmatia, no matter where he is or what's going on.

"Jason, it's the middle of the night." "I know, I know, but it's important. I wouldn't bother you if it wasn't, Domine, I swear." He stepped back as Tiberius rolled over and sat up, going from sleepy to alert in an instant. "There's no danger to anyone, Domine," Jason said, setting the lamp down and lacing Tiberius' sandals before finding a cloak; they absolutely did not have the time it would take to get Tiberius into a toga. "We - they - want your help to see justice done." At least Tiberius had roused quickly enough. Jason was well aware that he had probably used up whatever stock of goodwill Tiberius had for him since their ride and the slightly awkward conversation it had engendered. He hadn't felt quite as comfortable around his master after that as he had before, which wasn't anyone's fault, not really. "There are three people waiting to speak with you - I don't know if you know Alexius. I don't think I know his other names," he added, suddenly aware through the bone-deep tiredness that was setting in that Tiberius might not appreciate being faced with three men with no warning. Especially if he was awake just because he thought there was some sort of danger facing him. @Atrice @Sains @Sarah @Chevi

There was an unhelpful banging on the door outside, just in case the room's occupant hadn't heard the god-awful racket already. "Are you coming?" There was a much quieter murmur, seemingly an aside to someone else with the person outside. "It's Briefing Room Three, if you didn't get the memo," the external person said helpfully, apparently unaware of the chaos currently reigning within. @Sara @Chevi

So that answered another question - there was a brother, though Gaius would have to look into whether Pinaria's late husband had had any brothers or not. If not, did that mean that her son would be head of the household when he reached manhood? And she had very neatly introduced the possibility of her remarrying. Interesting. "And do you have any prospective husbands to consider, Pinaria Gaia?" he asked lightly, wanting to know more about her without prying too much. A first conversation was potentially tricky to navigate, after all - and a little caution did no harm. @Atrice

Once they'd left the killer in the non-too-gentle hands of the guards at the Tullianum, Jason had unceremoniously helped himself to one of the two pine torches set into brackets outside some bigwig senator's house; the streets of Rome were non too friendly at night, nor were they lit. He just hoped that Ovinia and the other patrician woman would get a decent escort home, though with four men heading to speak to an Imperial prince, that left the medicus and Azarion to do the escorting bit, and Azarion needed to return to the White stables before people grew suspicious and marked him down as a runaway. He couldn't worry about that right now, though, he had other things to think about. Like trying to work out which door would be open so they could get into the damn villa... In the end, he opted for the main door. The ostiarius glared at him, rubbing his eyes, obviously having just been asleep and having difficulty working out why Jason was on that side of the door not his side of the door. Having the torchlight reflect off the Praetorian's armour helped. Probably. The door swung open and Jason led them indoors and switched the torch for an actual lamp which would be much safer in the passageways of the house. He left them in an anteroom by the garden not far from his master's room while he went to wake his master. "Domine, I'm sorry to wake you, but there are some men who need to speak with you, urgently. Lucius Manius Victorius Roscianus and Decimus Rutilius Attelus." He wasn't sure whether or not his master knew Alexius, adding a third name would be pointless seeing as all three of them were waiting together anyway. @Sarah @Sains @Atrice @Chevi

"Deep blue," Teutus said, opening the tablet again to make an additional note. "I will send a sample for you to approve before sending you the whole bolt dyed, if that suits you?" It would be easier to correct a colour from a small sample rather than having to re-dye a whole long length, after all, especially if the dyers mistimed it and it came out too deep. "I think it will be about a week or so before you can expect delivery of the full amount," he added, and leaned back. "I suppose you must have rather a large jewellery collection," he said wryly. "Something less out of the ordinary for you..." She was an unmarried woman (they had first met when he was supposed to court her, or something, and he had not heard that she had married anyone yet) so she was not running her own home just yet, and whatever he suggested would have to be suitable for an unmarried woman. "I have some Egyptian cotton - extremely finely woven - although I am not sure how uncommon you would consider that to be," he said. "I have some silk from the lands far to the East that you might be interested in, for a palla or a tunica, perhaps?" He had not yet established any trade to the north; he wasn't sure exactly how amenable Wulfric would be to trading with him, and had no other contacts with anyone from that region, so he couldn't offer her any of the expensive golden amber from the distant north, not yet. One day, perhaps. "Perhaps there is something you have been thinking of looking for, though, that I might be able to help with?" @Sara

"Don't! We all want him dead," Jason exclaimed, speaking in Sarmatian in the confusion of events. The red-tunic vigile had seized Ovinia, getting himself a nice slice along the arm in the process and Azarion had stooped like lightning for the knife. All Jason saw was the fact he was going for the murdering bastard, and went for him in turn, though not quick enough to prevent the already bloodied knife nicking the bastard under the chin. "He's going to die," he said firmly, in Latin this time, taking a much firmer grip on his cousin, who had murder in his eyes and was squirming like an eel in Jason's grasp. "We are going to make damn sure of that, I swear on my father's hearthside!" It was the most sacred oath he could make, Azarion would know it even if nobody else would. Tabiti forgive him but he had no other way to make Azarion listen. @Sara @Atrice @Sains @Chevi Tabiti; the bit about oaths is at the beginning of the third paragraph. Also I have completely lost the posting order. Yay for IC confusion... :D

The problem with kissing was that most people used their tongues at some point in the process and Rufus was keenly aware that Azarion didn't talk - from everything he'd gleaned since their first meeting, he guessed the younger man didn't even have a tongue. Or not a full one, or something. Romans could be utter barbarians when they wanted. It was mostly what kissing led to that made it a fun activity for people, though. Rufus didn't think Azarion would appreciate doing that out in a back alley, and it wasn't as though either of them could invite the other back home to do it in more comfortable surroundings; Rufus slept on a mat in his master's room and Azarion probably slept somewhere surrounded by other slaves working at the stables. He carefully slid a hand into Azarion's hair, wanting to deepen the kiss without using his tongue (he'd probably only get it bitten if he tried to do this the usual way, after all). @Chevi

"Well, it just goes to show that the Romans aren't as good as they like to think they are," Jason replied with a grin. "Dragging chariots around - stupid game, if you ask me. Though at least it means you get to be with horses." Jason had so nearly messed up his own chance the first time Tiberius had offered it to him. Too eager, after too long without being anywhere near them... "I wish I'd been able to see that race," he said. It would have meant a lot to have been able to see his cousin riding again, properly, the way they had both done since their youngest days. "And I bet he's not so good with horses as you are, you'll beat him in the future. Especially if you figure out his weaknesses as a horseman." @Chevi

"Maybe, or maybe rebuilding the temple with an additional room for the purpose. I will have to consult with Horatia to see what she would consider the best course of action," he said. Rebuilding the temple would doubtless make the old biddies think. It need not detract too much from the peaceful grove around them, either. He had an idea that women came here to think and pray without needing to ask for blessings for a safe childbirth; it was a quiet, green spot in Rome in a place for women. There were several of them around, Aulus and Felix were the only men he could see. "What do you think would be the best option?" he asked. It would be interesting to hear if Felix had any ideas to offer that he hadn't though of. @Chevi

Jason was torn. On the one hand, he wanted to find a knife and do to the bastard exactly what he'd done to so many people. On the other hand... Probably Tiberius' careful and deliberate thoughtful way of thinking about things was rubbing off on him. He raised a hand, slowly. "There are three of us in here - maybe four," he added, looking across at the man dressed in the uniform of the Praetorian Guard who was standing next to the red-headed girl, "who can talk with Tiberius Claudius Sabucius, who has the ear of the Emperor. If any one of us - well, any of you citizens especially - were to present this case to him, things would happen." He looked across at Ovinia. "And the people here are only a very few of the people who've been affected by this. There was the plebeian girl Alexius and I spoke to the other evening. Shouldn't she get a say, too? And who knows how many others there are - they should all get the chance to see him die, to know they're safe from him, instead of still being afraid to go out in case they heard wrong and he might still be out there. Doing him in here, now, might make you all feel better, but it'll just put us on his level, operating in secret, in the dark. Can't we be better than that?" They were under no obligation at all to listen to him, not really, but if Lucius and the medicus were of the same opinion as he was, they both had access to Tiberius - Jason had been present at the games where Tiberius had spoken with Theo and had presented him with his own ring. Even if Tiberius didn't listen to Jason, the other two were citizens. Even if Tiberius did listen to Jason, he was still a Roman and would give citizens more attention than a slave. Especially after that incident between Jason and his master a few months previously. He fell silent, a little uncomfortable to have everyone looking at him. Apparently being a slave for eight years meant that you were uncomfortable being the centre of attention even if you'd been used to people listening to you and actually giving your words due consideration in your previous life as a chief's son. This was a strange group of people, though, they might choose not to ignore him. Maybe. @Atrice @Sara @Chevi @Sains (did I get the order right this time?! :D )

Not specifically about AeRo but too good a quote to be lost... @Sarah during a discussion on language, grammar, vocabulary etc, in the Discord: We all know that English is really three languages on top of each other in a trench coat.

Azarion was determined to get at the bastard, Jason was equally determined that murdering him here and now would be too good and too quick a death. "Yes, he does, but where everyone can see it, where people know he's dead," he said, in Latin for the benefit of everyone. Something with a lot of blood and a lot of pain, hopefully - and where it would take time. "Do they crucify criminals like that?" he asked the room in general, somewhat hopefully. He'd seen crucifixion before and the people he'd seen killed that way hadn't deserved such a death. This animal did; he'd seen what he'd done to Ovinia (he recognised her among the two women with their heads covered), and he'd had Azarion's account of meeting him, and what he'd done to his friend. A quick easy death wouldn't suffice. @Chevi @Sara @Atrice @Sains (I think that's the order we're going in!!)

It had been a long enough day already for Jason by the time the message reached him, and he had to ask for his master's permission to go out, and then cross half the city to the Whites' stables to find his cousin, passing the Esquiline on the way, and then retrace his steps to the Esquiline, and try to find the one insula among dozens that all looked alike, and then find the one room in the one insula... He hoped his master would be understanding if he did not arrive home before dawn and needed sleep before he could function again. He hoped Azarion's master would let him out for the evening too, otherwise this would be a wasted trip across Rome. They were in luck. Or extremely blessed, praise Tabiti! "They've caught the bastard," he told his cousin as they set out on their return journey back to the Esquiline. "They've only, finally, caught the bloody murdering bastard!" @Chevi @Atrice @Sara @Sains

He flipped open the wax tablet to make notes on the order before closing it again; it wouldn't take long to fulfil the order, but he might as well send everything together. "One measure of spun yarn, undyed. One bolt of cloth dyed... Would you prefer blue, or green? Or some of each?" he asked, looking up, already calculating the difference in price between the two colours, especially the deeper, stronger, more saturated hues. "A sample of braid, and a recommendation should that be preferred." He set the stylus down and picked up his own glass of wine. "For yourself?" She was younger than his mother, with a similar elegance, though more likely to have expensive tastes. He provided simple elegant, well-made things for his mother which were somewhat pricey because he could afford it and wanted to give her the very best of everything. Ovinia was not so mature as Varinia, of course, which would factor into whatever he suggested. "I have jewellery - a set with lapis lazuli which I think would look very good on you." Earrings, a necklace, bangles... She was wearing blue - she had worn blue the first time they had met - and the dark blue of the precious stones would suit her. @Sara

"Of course I do," Aulus said. "You don't think I'd start on my own project if I didn't, do you? The architect lost the bid for Octavius Flavius' new amphitheatre so was available for me to hire. I could get you the name of Octavius' architect if you wanted, too - always a good idea to have a couple of quotes, after all. And you might be able to get away with branching off from the Aqua Appia, although I'm no expert at all on the subject - I can certainly let my hydrologist know he could have another project to move to, and I'm sure he's got the time to at least give you a preliminary idea of what's needed." He nodded, setting his winecup down after taking a sip. "Horatia did tell me she would write. I understand she sent a gift or two as well." By all accounts, the baby would be as well attended as they had planned for Horatia to be - quite a feat, for a slave. Or a total role reversal between the girl and the consul's wife, whichever way you looked at it. "They are old enough not to be jealous over the attention, I think. And yes, Titus is fifteen now. He'll be moving out to stretch his wings before we know it, as any young man should do, and Calpurnia... Well, she has time, before we need to find her a husband." He was hopeful that his daughter and Tiberius Claudius Sabucius would get along - the prince was a serious, studious type and Aulus thought he would be good for his sensitive, creative daughter. If they didn't, well, it would be no great loss. There were plenty of other young men in Rome, after all. @Sara

"Which one?" Aulus leaned over to see the description. "Oh, that one. It's a good spot, except for the water supply, or lack of one. And as water is rather important for a bath complex, I would have had to build a whole new aqueduct; the Aqua Appia doesn't have enough flow at that point and is in the wrong place. But if you don't need a water supply, or don't mind scouting for a good source and building a new aqueduct, it's a perfect place for a leisure facility." He took a sprig of grapes himself and leaned back. "That might be a future project, actually; Rome could use another water supply or two, after all." That eyebrow went back up as Longinus set the tablet down. "I don't gloat, do I? But I never thought I'd become a father again - and, well, he's a healthy boy. We are very much indebted to your girl for her service." He glanced up at the slave standing behind Longinus,. He was obviously not the girl in question, but another slave in the same house; they undoubtedly knew each other - especially as Longinus didn't have the legion of slaves that some patricians did. "I am sure you'll be married with a son of your own before you know it, Longinus," he added, bringing his gaze back down to his friend's face. @Sara

"I wouldn't turn it down if one fell in my lap, so to speak," he said. He might be more likely to sell it via auction than directly, but he wouldn't refuse to deal in such items. That would be silly, and there might be a market for him to tap into, though he wasn't sure there would be much call for such things, whereas everyone could see the value in a well-executed marble statue, or Egyptian glassware, or ivory. "It's called merinus or merino - the sheep are bred in Hispania and nowhere else," he said, the surprise on her face everything he could have asked for. "I have dyers that I use for such things, if you would like me to arrange for it to be dyed for you. Would you also like me to arrange to have it spun and woven - I can offer the raw wool for you to process at home, or have it spun for you to weave, or provide you with the finished cloth." He grew thoughtful; textile working was not really his purview, but his mother was not here to confer with. "It could probably be edged with braid or a similar trim, for a throw," he said. "I don't think I have anything suitable in stock at the moment, but I do have a shipment due tomorrow, or I can direct you to an excellent braid weaver if you would prefer to go that route." @Sara

"A palaestra?" In some respects, a serious project was out of character for Longinus... but on the other hand, it was completely within character for him, especially something like that - and Aulus knew his irreverent friend was not always thus; he had seen him be utterly, deadly serious, in fact. "I scouted several sites, any one of which might be suitable, depending on what you want to include and what sort of people you want it to be for." Although, if he knew his friend, this was a very recent plan and he may not really have a concrete idea of what he wanted. Something just for men could be smaller than something that included a women's section too, after all, and wouldn't need to include a separate access for each gender. Though Aulus was aware of smaller leisure facilities that had multiple entrances, and some of the potential sites he had looked at allowed for a similar arrangement. "Xanthos! Do we still have that list of sites I looked at for my thermae project?" "Yes, Domine." It was a few moments later that Aulus' Greek secretary emerged from the tablinum bearing a wax tablet which he presented to his master, who passed it over to his guest. @Sara

"I wouldn't expect you to be anything else," Teutus replied, with a smile of his own. "Shopping, temples, friends, baths... you've been busy, then." Not busy in the way the men kept themselves busy, of course, but dong things eminently suitable for young unmarried women of her age. Frivolous things, perhaps, but weren't unmarried girls expected to be frivolous creatures? He had very little experience of women, married or otherwise, to say one way or the other. "The hydraulis? No, I don't often get musical instruments, they aren't easy to transport safely, on the whole." And the ones that were more easily transported were available in larger numbers and lower prices than Teutus dealt with. He dealt in exclusivity and rarity, more expensive things that rich people loved to have in their homes to show their wealth. Chrestus returned at that moment bearing some samples of the merino wool Teutus had requested and offered it to the lady, both unspun and already woven into a fine soft woollen cloth. "I mostly receive it undyed, as you can see, but it takes dyes very well, and this way you can get a true appreciation for the quality of the wool. If you require it dyed, I can arrange that for you - or you can take it in the natural colour and have it dyed yourself if you prefer. Of course, you know your mother's tastes in colour far better." @Sara

"When isn't it an odd request, with you? It shouldn't be too long before they're finished, although these projects never go according to plan - there's always something to delay it, and costs that weren't factored in originally," Aulus said, arching an eyebrow. There was a pause as a slave came out bearing a tray with a jug of wine, two cups and some nibbles. He poured for both the citizens before retreating, and Aulus reached for a grape. "So, what sort of project did you have in mind, then? And what advice do you need? Though I warn you, if it's about marrying, I'm not entirely sure I have any advice to give when it comes to things before the wedding." He stretched his legs out comfortably in front of him. @Sara

"Do I have time for you, Longinus?" Aulus asked. "Always - come into the garden and let's have a proper chat." Longinus was one of a handful of people outside the family who merited an invitation into the private part of the house, and there were few spaces as private as the gardens which were kept neat and tidy and provided a quiet green oasis in the middle of a bustling household in a busy city. He spared a mere glance at his friend's body-slave, whose scarred face showed a brief expression of surprise at being offered recognition for something. Aulus led the way into the part of the garden nearest the tablinum, which was recognised as being 'his' area (Horatia had her favourite spot, too, of course, but that was across from them so they need not infringe on one another if they each needed their own space and wanted to enjoy the sun at the same time). "So, what can I do for you?" he asked, once they were seated, with Longinus' slave taking up position behind his master's shoulder. @Sara

"Quite," Attis replied with a heartfelt roll of the eyes. And blinked. "I'm not... unhappy with how things are," he confessed. "If she won't, she won't. Her choice - I'd be a bastard if I tried to make her, and I'm not that." She was happy enough to sleep with him, and usually he'd be happy with that arrangement. Perhaps he kept asking her because she kept saying no... but just because that was the pattern they'd found themselves in didn't mean he didn't respect her 'no'. He mostly asked her these days in good humour, reminding her of the advantages they'd have with even the informal arrangement of a slave marriage. Contubernales was all they could be, really; slaves couldn't enter into any more formal arrangements between themselves. He fell silent as his master's friend made himself known, approaching in the informality of only a finely-woven tunic, all more formal garments set aside. "Longinus! You've come to see the newest addition to the house, have you?" @Sara