Sharpie

"They are underpaid? Or underfunded?" The distinction was not merely a difference in words; if they were funded properly yet still underpaid, that likely meant that someone, somewhere, was siphoning funds into his own pocket. Perhaps more than one person. If they were underfunded, that would require a different approach, and very likely a Senatorial debate in order to provoke better funding better allocated to them. Gaius could see why Lucius had come to him. It would be a good thing all round if the vigiles were better paid, and if Gaius were the one to ensure that. "Do you have figures to hand - what are they being paid? What sort of pay would they need?" He gave Lucius a frank look; his brother was not one to quibble about his own funds or lack thereof - or at least, he hadn't been, and he should still be able to command some sort of peculium of his own, even if the source was not his adopted paterfamilias. The Mani-Victorii were not low-income plebeians, after all. To hold the rank of equite required an income of 400, 000 sestertii - just under half the amount required to be a senator, but not exactly the wages of a day-labourer, either. @Chevi

Her breathing was fast in his ear, as if she had been running... It was hard for him to catch his breath, too. It had been a while - long while, indeed, since he had done anything of this sort, and something about Ione was what he had needed. She was not the sort of person who would flourish in a place like this. She reminded him somewhat of a weed that would struggle to grow up between flagstones and yet would have the prettiest of flowers in the harshest of places - he did not think she would like the comparison if he told her, though. Her motions beneath him were matching his own and it was only a moment after she spoke that he did indeed spill, unable to keep from doing so even as she pulled him down, closer against her, keeping him inside even as his movements gentled. "Did you... Are you...?" he said, and brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, looking down into those wide guileless eyes. @Sara

All Tiberius had been told, as far as Jason knew, was that there were two high-class women here, to testify in private about what had happened to them. Ovinia's name had not once left his lips in his master's presence, nor would it in the future. He had promised her, and sworn it to himself. Her voice sounded somewhat dry - understandably! - as she requested water. There was a jug of wine nearby, and a plainer pitcher of water. Tiberius would not deny her, and Jason was already turning to pour her some water, pressing her hand to impart as much reassurance as he could as he gave her the cup. He wondered if Tiberius had any inkling at all just how much faith Jason was putting in him, and decided that he probably didn't. It hardly mattered, really - Ovinia needed to trust him, to be able to trust him, and he wasn't sure if she could. He returned to his place by the wall and noticed her glance, nodding. Tell me, if you can't tell him. They had stopped her from hurting him, killing him, back at the insula, but here, her words would ensure his death far more certainly than the knife in her hands would have back there - and far more publicly. He was putting a tremendous amount of faith in his master to do the right thing!! @Chevi @Sarah @Sara @Atrice

"I found my cousin - but I think I already told you that?" He readjusted his foot on the edge of the bench. "And we helped catch a murderer." He had more freedom than Cinnia did - as Tiberius' body slave there were times when he wasn't needed, places his master went (such as the Curia) where he wasn't allowed, which meant that there were times he could do his own thing - visit Azarion, if his cousin wasn't busy. Cinnia was unlikely to have that - she was her mistress' bodyguard, so where Claudia was, Cinnia was. He told her the story, from the first message he'd received from the faction leader of the Whites (well, no, that was wrong. The message had been sent to Tiberius, requesting the loan of his slave) to helping Ovinia - very carefully leaving her name out - to the final capture of the man. "He's a citizen, I don't know how the Romans execute citizens who are criminals," he said. He would have to ask Tiberius what, exactly, was going to happen to whatever-his-name-was (and who cared about the name? Once dead, he'd be nameless and forgotten, as far as Jason was concerned). "It's a shame what happened, but he's caught, at least. Though I'm not exactly sure I had much to do with it, not really." He looked at Cinnia; she hadn't had a run-in with him to his knowledge, but it was possible - or her friends might have. @Atrice

Something to discuss... Well, if Lucius had been discovered selling olives in the Forum Holitorium (again!), it would be up to his new paterfamilias to deal with it. Thank Jupiter for that. Sheepish smile... Ye gods, Lucius did look as if he was about to burst out and declare the whole thing had been a mistake, which was precisely why Gaius had told him to think it over very carefully before committing to this path. It would probably be precipitate to come right out with, I told you so before Lucius actually got it off his chest, though, so he reined himself in. "I have time. And I have been fine, thank you. Nobody has been disturbing my days by selling olives, or busking in the Forum, or getting in the way of the slaves when they're trying to prepare the evening meal. It's been rather refreshing." He allowed himself a smile. "Merely having to deal with Senatorial debates and the needs of my clients... it's felt like a holiday." He kept his eyes on his erstwhile brother and at the first change of expression, indicated that he could sit down. "So... what is it that you'd like to discuss?" @Chevi

Late April 77 "Domine, your, uh, brother is here to see you." Gaius had been dealing with his clients, some of whom just wanted their dole and some of whom wanted to discuss actual business with him. Interesting for Lucius to turn up here during the morning salutatio, though really it was more 'at the end of the morning salutatio', as Gaius had dealt with most of those who actually needed to see him in person. "My former brother, Thalus. Show him in - and if anyone else wants to discuss anything, they'll have to come back tomorrow." "Yes, domine." The slave nodded and retreated to pass their patron's message to the waiting clients before showing Lucius in to Gaius' tablinum. Gaius folded his hands on his desk and looked up at his brother. There was something different about the way he carried himself, something in his overall air. Interesting. "Lucius Manius Victorius Roscianus." His erstwhile brother didn't look as if he wanted to say he'd made a mistake in choosing the path he'd taken, so that was something, at least. "What can I do for you?" @Chevi

(Psst, it's Sallusti but who's counting!) Could I have a domus made for Gaius Vipsanius Roscius in the Domi Quirinalis area, please? The home of Gaius Vipsanius Roscius and, until recently, his brother Lucius.

Ione was soft under him, pliant rather than rigid, which must mean something, even if it didn't mean much; Jason didn't think she was faking it (she hadn't struck him as being the sort who could fake it convincingly, which was what had caused the earlier interruption after all). Even so, he was nearly brought up short again as she pulled away from the kiss. He thought he had done something wrong, again. "Keep going... Please." He had almost reached the point where he wouldn't be able to do anything else, but that quiet plea and the smile she gave him meant that he didn't stop. It wasn't the fierce, urgent sort of coupling that he had thought it might be, this was something altogether calmer, more tender. And then he was at that point where he couldn't stop if he wanted to, and the pace increased, but not so much that he would hurt her. "Oh, Ione..." @Sara

"You'd go with a guy if he was the right one," Rufus said, hazarding a guess at what Azarion's signs might mean. "Same here. No hard feelings if I'm not the right one." Azarion patted his shoulder then, whether in confirmation or commiseration, he wasn't sure, before he turned back to scratch something on the wall. Rufus peered at it; the thin lines weren't the easiest to read, after all. When he deciphered the scratchy letters, he leaned back, smiling. "Always. It's good to have friends." Somehow, he didn't think that mute young man had very many friends - or, more realistically, that he wouldn't allow too many people to get close enough to him to consider them friends. @Chevi

"And you are very pretty," he told her. She was, too, the scar left behind by the barbarous barber's knife would surely eventually fade to nothing more than the faintest of lines - he had at least kept his knives sharp, which made for better healing. She took hold of him and guided him into her - yes, had just been too fast earlier. He began to rock, trying to make it, if not completely pleasurable, at the very least bearable. It was nothing more, really, than dealing with a physical need, but it was more rewarding than having to take care of himself. If he could make it even somewhat more pleasurable for Ione too, that would be good; Jason was not at all the sort of man who only cared for himself. He spent his life being at someone else's beck and call and responding to their every whim (although Tiberius was a considerate master, on the whole). He didn't want to leave Ione feeling as if she was nothing more than an object - doubtless plenty of her customers made her feel like that on a regular basis. He lowered his mouth to hers again in response to her wordless request for another kiss. @Sara

Gaius wouldn't necessarily have considered himself to be 'kind' - but both Ovinia and now Pinaria had chosen that word to describe him. Well, maybe he was. Or, more likely, maybe he was just a pushover where his brother was concerned. Though, really, Lucius was no longer his brother now that he'd been adopted into the Manius Victorius family. "Perhaps, though being soft isn't exactly something that's well thought of in Rome. People are apt to try to take advantage of people they see as being soft, after all." Within the family was one thing, outside of it would be quite another. "So what sort of things do you like to do when you're not walking in the public gardens?" he asked, privately adding and being set up with Senators by those Senators' irritating younger brothers. @Atrice

"My sister?" Aulus settled back in his seat and shifted his focus to his brother-in-law. "Calpurnia is settling in very well, and has taken to civilian life with great aplomb. She is delighting herself in everything, and has arrayed herself in half the colours of the rainbow, trying to make up for lost time." He didn't begrudge her that - how could he? They had spent the majority of their lives apart, after all, and if Calpurnia wanted to buy out all the drapers in Rome, who was he to stop her? Drapers and book-sellers, although Horatia would certainly help her with that second one. He sent a quiet, private, glance towards his wife, although she was looking down at the race-track and didn't notice it. And thinking of his wife made him look back at Publius, who had lost his own wife not so long ago. Aulus couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose Horatia, and had the greatest sympathy for him, though it seemed that Publius was as pragmatic as any Roman of their status, judging by the turn of his questioning. Ovinia Camilla was probably a bit young for him - she would be young for Aulus, being only a handful of years or so older than Titus. He was making the attempt, at least. Aulus determined to do what he could for his brother-in-law, whether that meant getting him riotously drunk so he could mourn the loss of his wife properly, or helping him find someone to take on the running of his house. Calpurnia might make a good wife for him - they were similar in age, they could converse about a great many things, and at a level deeper than many women could. The only issue would be, probably, that Publius should have a second son, and Calpurnia's age was against her there, especially for a first pregnancy, though she would make a wonderful mother - he had seen her with his own Quintus, after all. For a former Vestal, her maternal feelings were undeniable. "Have you met Calpurnia?" he asked. It would hardly be surprising if they hadn't. @Sarah @Sara @Atrice @Chevi @Jenn @Insignia

Teutus Quinctilius Varus Teutus felt a marked sense of relief, which he tried not to show, at the realisation that Charis had not brought her son with her. He knew that it was hardly fair to Peregrinus that he felt the way he did, but he was not going to deny his own thoughts and feelings on the matter. They were hardly going to affect the child, or his father, so what did it matter really? The child's absence might or might not make things easier between them all this evening; Teutus was aware that at least some of the responsibility for how well the evening would go lay on his shoulders. He was suddenly conscious that his friendship with Charis had always been somewhat of a private thing, they had really only spoken together when there was nobody else around. This evening could hardly be worse than that particular dinner when Teutus had discovered he was one of three sons, rather than two, that Tertius had fathered over the years. However the dinner went, he was not going to make it awkward if he could help. Hopefully the three of them would find their way, as the two of them had. "I didn't realise you'd met," he said to the women, guiding them to the corner of the room where the meal was to be laid out, and taking his seat. "And you look lovely, Charis - blue suits you." Looking at the two women together, he could very much see the resemblance between them, at least visually, although Varinia was the taller of the two, and Charis had a softness about her that Varinia didn't have - though that could easily be his imagination. @Sara @Sarah

Everything was always so complicated here in Rome that of course his master couldn't just take time for the horses. Back home, it was nothing for people to ask to see the chief - his father! - and be told he was working with a foal, or a newly-bought horse, or something of that sort. But here? Here, that would be unheard of. "I have, Domine," he said, judging his master's mood and indulgence. He seemed calm and relaxed, and so did Ignis, so Jason risked leaving them for a moment, returning with a saddle that had been adapted to take a pair of stirrups in the Sarmatian style. The Romans had a design of saddle that Jason had never seen before, built on a frame which would keep the rider's weight from resting directly on the horse's spine, and he had filed away as much information about how it was built as he could, in case one day he could return to his people and take that knowledge with him. Ignis was occupied with eating out of Tiberius' hands and Jason could saddle him up with no problems at all, adjusting the stirrups by eye to where he though Tiberius could get his foot in and mount without undue difficulty. "Would you like to bring him out to the yard, Domine?" he asked, once all the straps were tightened, moving up to where his master was standing. @Sarah

His mention of speaking Egyptian apparently caught the taller man's attention. His accent was very bad, but it was Davus' own mother tongue and he couldn't help lighting up a bit at hearing it, even with a very strong Latin accent. "I was born in Alexandria, sir," he said in the same language, keeping the explanation short both because of his position subject to the other and because he didn't want the other to not understand him. Three plates with five figs each was the same as counting the fingers of one hand three times... "Fifteen, sir." This was curious; the man wasn't just moving on, but had stopped to actually examine him, which was different from the last time he'd been in the hands of a slave dealer. He couldn't let himself hope, but there was a spark that he might go to a good place - his last master had been a senator and something in the military that Davus couldn't remember, and while he hadn't been all that high in the hierarchy of household slaves, it was something to be able to say your master was a senator. He was aware of being watched, and with more intention than most people looked at slaves - though he guessed that a slave dealer would want his customers to be happy with their purchases, the same way any trader did. It was just there here, he was the commodity being sold. He had nothing else to offer in this conversation - it wasn't his place to, anyway - and fell silent again, waiting to be addressed again or for any other decision the taller man might make. @Sarah

There were no other slaves present. Jason thought there had been the suggestion that there be a mute somewhere in attendance but he had been uncomfortable with that idea and didn't think the ladies would appreciate anyone else knowing of their presence here, even if the slave in question couldn't speak. He met them at the door and led them to Tiberius' private quarters, leaving Lucius and the older lady in a private anteroom. "You could have brought a maid, Domina," he told Ovinia quietly. "And - thank you. We tried to find any other way but this... You're here because Tiberius needs someone who can testify. You can trust him." He was putting a great deal of faith in his master and hoped that Tiberius knew it. He could still hear his master's own I trust you, although that was in a very different set of circumstances. "Just tell him everything that happened," he said, and showed her into the room where Tiberius was, following her in quietly and taking up station by the wall, hands folded, ready to serve in whatever capacity he might be called on. @Sarah @Sara @Chevi @Atrice

"There's no space for - anything," Jason said. "Too many buildings, too many people..." He had lived among Romans for nearly nine years and in Rome itself for five (well, nearly five) of them, and still felt stifled. "I miss having a horizon," he said. There was nowhere in Rome that anyone could go to catch a proper glimpse of any sort of horizon, never mind the endless horizon of the steppe. "Don't apologise - you don't need to apologise. You're not made of stone, after all. Not like that nymph there." He indicated a statue nearby that depicted one of the countless Roman deities. "It's all so... crowded in, and as you say, solid and hard. There's no space to just... breathe." He wondered if Tiberius and his sister would go out to the country this summer - they often did, but things had changed, with Titus now being the emperor and maybe they wouldn't. But it would be a change of scenery, at least, and a relief from the hardness and closed-in feeling of the city. "I don't know whether I've missed riding, archery or just seeing the horizon the most," he confessed. He was lucky, extremely lucky, to have a master who trusted him enough to allow him access to the stables and the horses there almost whenever he chose, and he knew he was. He was not ever going to take that for granted, nor was he going to rub anyone's face in it. @Atrice

Once the man was unquestionably dead, Jason's attention had returned to his master. Tiberius had only begun to turn his head but Jason was fully alert and responding to him by the time the younger man's blue eyes were on him. He managed a tight smile. "Thank you." It was quiet but heartfelt. Thank you for repaying my trust in you. Thank you for ensuring that nobody else will suffer at his hands. Thank you for not making his trial a public spectacle. It had been quick, maybe too quick, as the suffering he'd inflicted had not been. A quick death was all the mercy he could have expected, for what he'd done - no citizen would ever suffer the potentially days-long agony of crucifixion, as some of Jason's friends and compatriots had. His shade would wander the earth forever, according to the Roman beliefs, because his body would not receive a burial or funeral pyre but would be cast out onto the offal heap, as befit someone who had done what he had. Maybe things could return to normal now, and the women like Ovinia and the others could begin to heal mentally as well as physically. "Domine - thank you." @Sarah @Sains @Sara @Atrice @Chevi

All right, she seemed to want him on top, which was fine, he could cope with that. It seemed as if the only thing he'd really messed up earlier was going too fast, and he could correct that easily enough. He found her breast with one hand, gently cupping it - she had fairly small breasts. He supposed some men might like more of a handful, but it was enough, and they were in perfect proportion to the rest of her. His other hand slipped behind her head, stroking her hair. His arousal was back and no doubt she would feel his manhood poking her thigh, but he was in no real hurry to get it in and get it over with. @Sara

Teutus Quinctilius Varus "Be careful, Ovinia Camilla - one might get the impression you'd rather not marry anyone at all," Teutus said lightly. Though he himself had only been one suitor, and a totally unsuitable suitor at that. "Jewel tones suit you very well indeed." He could see her in red, or blue, or green - even purple, although he was not about to say that aloud and risk her father learning of it. The man might grow plans to marry Ovinia to Titus Caesar - certainly he didn't think that the Camillus paterfamilias was lacking in ambition in the least. "I couldn't sell you all of my stock, though," he said. "My challenge surely is to give every one individual attention and tailor things to each person so that you all turn out with the very best Rome can offer. You have the privilege of discovery, though - you may boast of being the first among your friends to buy anything from the esteemed Teutus Quinctilius Varus, and that is a boast you may make for all time. There can only be one first, after all." He smiled as she held the cloth up, the pleasure in her eyes was everything. "It suits you perfectly - I only wish I had been able to bring it earlier so that you could have it already made up for your suitor. A wordless demonstration that you have a certain level of expectation from your husband, perhaps?" Speaking of potential suitors and future husbands might be awkward, but their own initial awkwardness was long past by now. They could almost be friends, if her father would allow that. @Sara

Teutus Quinctilius Varus "What's the occasion?" Teutus enquired, coming closer and giving the bow that no doubt the lady's father and slaves would expect of a freedman merchant coming to deliver his wares to the patrician daughter of a Praetor. "I seem to recollect you telling me once that yellow made you look ill, although that particular shade is very nice against your hair and eyes." It would make Charis look ill, but Ovinia had stronger, darker colouring and could carry it off. "I don't think that yellow looks fine as this green," he added, indicating that Jennus could put his burdens down, and extracting the deep green silk she had requested. He smiled. "Although I also don't think you can have the dress made up in time for this afternoon." @Sara

Jason's eye met his master's and he instinctively took a step forward to hear an order before realising that Tiberius didn't require his services immediately. There was a tightness around the lips and eyes that nobody except those closest to him would recognise, if they saw it at all - Jason had spent four years, nearly five, watching his master's face and hands for the smallest sign or gesture, and saw it. He felt a pang of guilt for his part in causing it; it had been his suggestion that had meant that the group had brought their problem and their prisoner to Tiberius. He trusted his master, though whether Tiberius knew or understood that was a question for another day. He looked back up, catching Ovinia's eye, and gave her a nod and a small smile. He nearly bent to say something to his master, to make some excuse, find some reason to cross to her, but he saw another woman - the other lady who'd been there that night the monster was caught - leave her own seat and cross to sit by Ovinia. They would be all right. Down on the sands, the man who had spent so long terrorising the women of Rome opened his mouth to say something - whatever it was was, thankfully, drowned out by the stamping and yells of the crowd. They should have taken his tongue before sending him to his death, but it was too late for that now. And then, out of the darkness, the lion leaped, taking him down. Jason saw the scream and couldn't help the look of immense satisfaction. It could only have been bettered if they'd played with him more, as a house cat did when it got a mouse. There was enough, though, claws and teeth and screams that he thought he could hear, even over the roar of the crowd. And then the big striped orange cat bit down on his throat - that would be the death blow; nothing could survive that. Quick, and painful. He hoped it had been immensely painful. @Sara @Chevi @Sains @Sarah @Atrice

"I don't have many friends here, either," Jason murmured, and let his friend, his sister, continue speaking. "I've got you, and Azarion, and - that's all." Cinnia's shoulders shook then and he adjusted his position to wrap his arms around her, not knowing quite what to say. He and Cinnia were from very different places and different tribes, yet they understood one another in a way few people did. They had entered their respective masters' service on the same day, he'd found - both being given as a gift for their owner's sixteenth birthday, and as Claudia Caesaris and Tiberius were twins, well. So they'd had a connection even before, not that they'd really known it. "You can let her know you're still there for her," he added, once the worst of the sobs were over. "True friends - it doesn't matter the distance, what happens. There's always something, between true friends." He had been too lost, too full of anger and hate, to make any friends when he'd first been enslaved, but he couldn't help remembering his childhood friend. He hoped Iazad had done everything they'd planned to, and was still living wild and free - someone needed to be. He'd probably forgotten Tiranês completely, or thought he was dead. He hoped that his old friend hadn't been witness to the humiliations the Romans had heaped on him. "I'm sure your friend will always be your friend, even if circumstances are hard right now," he said, bringing himself back to the here and now. @Atrice

"Pretty Ione," he said. Someone this innocent and guileless was as out of place here as Tiberius would be in a slaver's camp - though Tiberius was utterly utterly Roman and had the pride and arrogance of being a member of the Imperial family. He wouldn't be out of place for long, probably. Her smile was somewhat shy and he returned it with a slow smile of his own. He lifted a finger to her lips. She seemed to have that sort of nervousness that led to filling a space with chatter, that was uncomfortable with silence - not that there was much silence to be had here - someone in another room was exclaiming, quite loudly, "Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck..." He shifted to sit back up and leaned in to press his mouth gently to hers again. @Sara

Teutus Quinctilius Varus May 77 It had taken a couple of weeks but eventually Teutus had received back the dyed cloth Ovinia Camilla had ordered - one dress length of silk dyed a rich emerald green and one length of Hispanian merino wool dyed a deep blue, together with one full measure of spun wool, undyed, plus the glass vase packed carefully in its own crate and padded all around with straw. He had brought Jennus with him to carry the fabric and spun wool, but took charge of the crate himself. He presented himself at the door where the ostiarius peered out through the spyhole at him. He adjusted his pallium, letting the brooch catch the sunlight momentarily - reluctant son of a Praetor he might be, but he was, nevertheless, the son of a Praetor and knew how to present himself to good effect and not get sent around to the rear entrance like a slave. "Teutus Quinctilius Varus to see Ovinia Camilla," he said, though Jennus could no doubt make the introductions for him. The door creaked open, allowing admittance for them both. @Sara