Sara

She saw the slight tension but it dissipated quickly. She offered a small smile back in response to his own. "What useful things would they be, domine?" It wasn't as if she could teach Peregrinus to read, but she recalled before everything had changed that she had helped him in his study; learning the words associated with the kitchens and the other slaves. It had been slow going but useful. His gaze was soft, and he looked almost...vulnerable. It was a side to Tertius she so rarely saw that when she did it confounded her. How could a man as earnest as this be so cruel? So confusing? So cold? He seemed a man of so many personalities. What she had once thought was usual for the Romans, she now realised was just...Tertius and his complexities. No wonder he had climbed so high in politics, nobody else could get a read on him most probably. "I..." She swallowed, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. "I know I was not happy when I fell with child," She flicked her eyes up to his, unwilling to be shamed for the decision she had made - even if it hadn't worked, "But I do love Peregrinus with every single inch of me. I...can't imagine a life without him." She had changed overnight when he had been born. Her life didn't matter, not so much anyway, now she had him to worry about. "Although in some ways I feel like I've only just recovered," She chuckled, "He's only now beginning to sleep better I don't think I want any more for a while." She realised the mistake as soon as she said it and her face fell slightly. Like all things, that wasn't her choice or decision to make. But surely he didn't want another child with a slave? Surely...? TAG: @Atrice

She smiled, slightly bemused at his compliment. She had never considered herself particularly bright, but then again she had never really diverted her attentions to anything beyond the women's sphere; weaving and spinning, domestic tasks, running functions and helping manage the slaves. She wasn't overtly fond of reading although she could do it (out of wilfulness more than anything), and had - she supposed - never had a compliment like that, or at least not for a while. On her looks or the quality of the tunica's she stitched or her wit, yes, but not on her observational skills. "There were plenty made," She nodded, "I understand Acilia Duria and Messiena Gaiana's mother* have already had a lunch." She glanced sideways at him, realising that he wouldn't understand the gravity of what she meant, "Acilia's favourite brother is running for aedile in the Spring, Messiena was at your party and her father supported the last victor. I imagine Acilia asked Messiena to arrange a meeting with her mother where I'm sure they were discussing more than just the most fashionable colours for a chiton and plans for where to summer." It might, of course, seem trivial to him but she suspected it wouldn't. Many political campaigns started in the realms of women before they were inevitably excluded, not that many men realised it. His reference to marriage and then a neat segue into her own capabilities surprised her though. She cast him an assessing look. "I have four brothers and no sisters," She chuckled, "Politics is often the only conversation in my fathers triclinium, even if I didn't desire to listen." Which she did in the same way she enjoyed hearing stories of her brothers travels with the legions and gossip from her female friends. Surely he was far too young to be thinking of the requirements of a wife? Then again, she knew of a handful of patricians that had married young, some men as young as sixteen or seventeen, to secure alliances. The benefit of that, of course, was that both parties could divorce only a handful of years later with no loss if things didn't work out. "Do you mean beyond visiting the temples of our glorious Vesta and mother goddess?" Her smile was wry, her voice droll. "My interests are undoubtedly the interests of most of the women you know, I like socialising, and looking after my nephew..." She realised she had unintentionally slipped into the polished list of hobbies that she rattled off to potential suitors, and corrected course; "But I also enjoy music. A lot. And travelling, I'd enjoy seeing more of the Empire if I got the chance to." If I married a husband who could, "There's a storyteller I hired for my fathers most recent convivium. He was from Cappadocia, and some of his stories..." Her face took on a wistful look before she glanced to him. "And yourself? Beyond chaperoning young women to their devotionals, what is that interests you, Tiberius?" TAG: @Sarah *These two are just NPCs I've made up!

Ovinia flushed and made a non-committal 'mhmm' sound. He was right though, they were nice to look at. In a sweaty, athletic, manly sort of way. She cleared her throat. He was better than her at summoning the attention of the vendor, whom she dutifully paid. She took a sip as he spoke and immediately wrinkled her nose, pulling a face. It tasted sour. And warm. And unpleasant. She cast a quick glance round; everybody else seemed to be enjoying it and she felt awash with embarrassment. Maybe it would be better if she sipped it quickly? She braved another. Nope. No better. "Gambling is illegal outside of the festivals, isn't it?" She tilted her head at him, an innocent expression on her face. She didn't like bending the rules; they were there for a reason and a very good reason at that. Still..."What would you bet? Money is a little...gauche." Because she had far more of it - she presumed - than Alexius, even if she was a woman. "And...ah!" She winced and shielded her eyes as the Murmillo slides clean through the skin of the other mans leg, leaving a gaping wound behind. It was distressing, and not in the entertaining way those around them seemed to be enjoying. "Were...were you ever hurt like that?" she indicated down at the sands. TAG: @Atrice

You are very brave, domina. Her dark eyes flicked up, seeking his face. The moment went unchallenged by the centurion or her slave but she exhaled in relief at the look she found in his own eyes. She didn't feel brave, but it gave her courage. She nodded minutely in understanding. She wanted to be held too. "Thank you." "Yes, yes." The centurion blustered, his face flushed, his manner awkward. If crying women bothered him then hearing how one had been held at knifepoint and stabbed was bound to rattle his (limited) senses. He cleared his throat and glanced to Lucius almost expectantly, deferentially. The moment passed before he regained his wits and realised he was the one in charge and he cleared his throat again, puffing out his chest and nodding vigorously. "We will catch him, domina." He nodded again, "We will. We'll...um..." One more cough for good luck, "We'll leave you to rest. Lucius," He jerked his head, already edging to the door and half-way out of it. Ovinia's eyes followed him and then landed on Lucius. There was no humour on her face or smile, just blankness. Her words were said almost in a whisper. "Catch him." TAG: @Chevi

Horatia tapped the stylus against the wax, lost in her train of thought. The work of a matron was never ending, and she chose this blustery November day to account for the winter stores the kitchen slaves had produced, running through lists of items that were running out, working out costs and expenditures and arranging them around upcoming events; the dinners and the functions that they had been expected to hold at the domus since Aulus took the Consulship. She enjoyed the work, particuarly with her mother-in-law absent at the villa which left her in command of the domestic sphere, but it was difficult to concentrate with her stomach being battered most moments. She glanced down, as if expecting to see the skin move from the flips and turns the child was doing within her womb. She splayed her fingers over the neat bump, a slight, wary smile on her lips. Now six or so months along, she had almost settled into the pregnancy. Almost. The nerves and the fear hadn't left her, but feeling the child strong and healthy gave her courage. Trying to return to her work (to see just how much the lictors were eating them out of house and home), her thoughts were interrupted yet again but this time by the polite cough of Aulus' secretary. "Domina, a visitor is here for dominus. Tiberius Claudius Sabucius." That warranted a quirked eyebrow, "Shall I let him know dominus is absent?" She shook her head, pushing herself to stand, "No, no. I'll greet him. Have wine brought into the gardens." Xanthos nodded and hurriedly departed her small study, set upstairs and away from all the other rooms - it was her sanctuary. The shelves were, however, already overflowing with codices and scrolls. She really ought to ask Aulus to extend it through into the next, vacant room. Smoothing down the fabric of her ornate stola, belted above her bump, she glided to descend the stairs, her face neutral but her voice warm as she entered the atrium, seeing the young man. Aulus had a lot of faith in him, although her own judgement was more reserved. Perhaps this was an ideal time to get his measure. "Tiberius Claudius Sabucius, an honour." She inclined her head before clasping her hands in front of her waist. "I'm afraid my husband is attending business that couldn't wait. He should be back later this afternoon, or you're welcome to wait." Her blue eyes were assessing, but not un-warm, "It's a pleasure to meet you, you're spoken about highly and -" She gestured with one of her hands having unclasped them, "We have a brazier in the garden." TAG: @Sarah

She moved her leg into his touch, an amused smile toying on her lips. The main room was filling up now and one of the girls had started up on a little wooden flute. She'd heard the tune a thousand times now and it was quite possibly the most irritating sound in the universe. Nonetheless, she kept her composure. "What do I do? Well..." Her smile became more flirtatious, her eyes hotter, "My room is just down there," She indicated with a nod to the curtained corridor a few paces away. "I could tell you here but..." She cast a purposeful glance round and then leaned in closer to his ear, her breath warm against his neck and the scent of her expensive perfume drifting up, "It's not a conversation for polite company." Unlike the Elysium or the other, unsavoury institutions of the city, Vibia wasn't confined to some dank cell to carry out her business. Her room was large enough and richly appointed with furs and silks and a couch and a luxurious bed. It was a fitting place for the best and greatest of Rome, after all. TAG: @Sharpie

"I didn't realise it was so...complicated. I thought it was just men...hitting each other with pointy things until they died." If there was an innuendo there, she didn't realise it and instead cast a glance up at him as he suggested sustenance. Hawkers moved between the seats. It did not smell appetising to her, but she had undoubtedly offended him enough already and so plastered on a smile, much as she didn't feel like doing so. "My wine is so watered at home, I doubt it'll taste that different." She'd tried the lora once, when she was a girl and curious and it was vile. She hoped it was better than that. She kept her eyes on the men and women moving up and down the stairs, trays overflowing until she caught sight of one with wooden cups of what she presumed was wine. Hopefully. "E...Excuse me?" She called out, quietly and unsure - so he obviously didn't hear her. She huffed in annoyance and then moved the folds of her palla out of the way to find her coin purse. "I'll pay for these...if you manage to summon his attention." It didn't occur to her that there was more gold at her hip than many people here saw in a month. "But don't think you'll get me drunk," She shot Alexius an amused look, "You might be teaching me the ways of the plebs and the freedmen but I am still a noble lady." The last of her words were drowned out by an enormous roar as men strode into the sands down below them. Ovinia nudged Alexius and leant forward in her seat. "Who's that?" She squinted to see. TAG: @Atrice

Lucius intervened and for a brief second she was glad of it. But then she wasn't. He didn't know, he didn't know anything. All he knew was that she had not been raped and that she bore cuts on her back and her hip. That was it. She swallowed the lump in her throat and desperately wished for more wine. "No," She shook her head, contradicting him, "You haven't gotten that part." She saw her slave girls eyes follow her nervously as she pushed herself straighter against the cushions. It took a moment for her to gather her strength as the centurion's eyes warily looked to her, expectant. She didn't look at Lucius. She recounted the story; from the time she had been following Lucia to the cloth over her face, the shack, trying to escape and the first wound, her wrists and the binding, the way he pushed the knife back in but didn't look at her face, turning her around, ripping her chiton, the deeper, longer cut, the feeling of him...excited, struggling to breathe and then...darkness. Pain. By the time she was finished she thought she might faint; her chest was rising and falling so rapidly and her fingers were blanching white against the sheets from where she gripped them. "As for what he looked like," she swallowed, her voice shaky and uneven, "Tall. Light eyes and dark hair and..." She let out a nervous bubble of laughter, because she didn't know what else to do. "He smelt nice. Clean. Like lemons." Like her father after a shave, but she didn't say as much. TAG: @Chevi

Work for. So either he was a freedman or slave with a very generous patron or a master, or he did more than he said he did. Either was fine with her, but she'd prefer the latter. Monied people were - with a few exceptions - better clients. They were more direct in what they wanted, and better conversationalists too - although this one seemed a little almost...awkward. She wondered, briefly, if he'd ever been to a brothel before. Surely he had? "Of course, I prefer the races to the Games." she grinned and stretched out a little on the couch, blue eyes narrowed on his face and a coy smile on her lips. She was not going to pry and ask what faction, given he clearly didn't wish to say. "Although I'm not about to say which faction I support, lest you decide to turn me down Marcus." She sipped her wine, "I've even met a few charioteers, a handful at a party not so long ago. I don't just spend my days lazing around in my bed." She planted the seed of bed, but her tone was warm and humorous. "You've not graced our halls before, have you Marcus? I'm sure I would have remembered you." She cupped her jaw in her palm and studied his face with a lascivious look. TAG: @Sharpie

"Marcus." She repeated with an arched brow and a hint of a smile teasing at the corners of her lips. Some men that came here used fake names, but it wasn't really necessary both because the Venus was the premier brothel of the city and ergo not an embarrassing place to be seen, and more than that; there were so many Gaius', Lucius' and Marcus' in the city, you really didn't need to use a false name. You just didn't need to give your other names. Stretching out on the couch, she let her thigh lightly rest on his knee and she took a sip of her wine. It was good, expensive - just like everything else in the place. A few of her colleagues were milling around but they were keeping up appearances; entertaining their own guests before taking them back to their private rooms, or otherwise conversing between themselves - flicking alluring glances at the clients in the room. "I trust you're having a good Saturnalia Marcus?" She studied his face, trying to take a guess at a profession. He didn't look much like a politician. "What is it that you do?" She took another sip and let the strap of her chiton fall down a little further. TAG: @Sharpie

If Vibia had been able to read minds it would have been 'yes, all of the above' but instead she followed his hands, looking at the tattoo and then trying to work out what the hell he was miming. Had anybody been looking over, they undoubtedly would have been confused. But that was her plan - she wasn't talking to him (or...at him) out of the grace of her heart; she was counting on some rich Senator barging in to steal her attention. It had never failed to work before. She got the gist, after a while. "Archery? And horses? I'm presuming before you were made a slave...which must have been recent enough, if you're proficient at both?" She wondered what it was like to lose freedom. She'd only ever gained it, having been born into slavery herself. Some of the men and women who were fresh arrivals to the Venus were painfully pathetic with their tears. It really was irritating. His next question was much easier to understand and she smirked impishly. "A lack of fortune and a desire to get one. You realise how much I'm paid, right?" That was nowhere near the truth, but she was hardly going to explain the intricacies of debts and bondage and gangs to a perfect stranger. "And I enjoy it." rarely, "And it's not forever. I'm a musician too...and a good one. Not just a pretty face." TAG: @Chevi

Vibia eyed the man that came in, the faintest hint of a smile playing on her lips. She didn't know him, or hadn't seen him before and the look of intrigue on the faces of her fellow workers suggested they didn't know of him either. Interesting. "May I introduce Vibia?" One of the more seasoned workers, usually the one who kept to the front desk spoke gently to the man and held her arm aloft, indicating for Vibia to step forward. She didn't rise immediately, finishing the chords she was plucking on her cithara before she set it down and nimbly glided up from the couch, walking towards the man with no particular purpose. A new client was often much more challenging than an old one. For one thing, Vibia had no idea what sort of woman he wanted. Usually those who wanted some spirit were drawn to her (if you wanted a feeble young thing there were younger, newer girls fresh off the boats for that), but she could never be completely sure. Moving to stand in front of the man, she gave him a feline grin and inclined her head, her blonde waves falling over her shoulder as she did so. She wasn't dressed in anything garish - not like at the Elysium where the girls and men paraded around naked more often than clothed, but her outfit was carefully chosen. It was an Assyrian silk that was almost transparent when unfolded, but folded as it was, belied only a hint of what was underneath. It was cut lower than the chitons worn by respectable women and one of the neatly braided straps was slipping off her shoulder. All of it was entirely purposeful though. "Dominus." She said as she flicked her blue eyes up, straightening back up. "Welcome to the Venus." Another unknown quantity with a new client was how much they wanted to get down to business straight away, or whether they wanted to be romanced. Vibia bet on the latter and gestured to the couch, "Will you take a cup of wine with me?" Of course there were already two fine silver cups laid out. TAG: @Sharpie

Vibia glanced down at the brand and winced. She'd seen plenty get similar treatment, including a girl at the Venus who had been branded and promptly sold on - undoubtedly to one of the less reputable brothels who didn't care if their girls had scars. Men weren't paying for their faces, after all. As they weaved through the crowds to the garden she saw his questioning look but it took her a moment to work out what he was asking. She frowned and then it clicked. She followed his gaze to the men, pawing over her colleagues and flashed Azarion a feline grin, shrugging. "There's plenty of hours in the evening still to work. If you must know," She drew to a stop at a couch that had been dragged out and set down in the gardens, reposing herself on it, "Experience tells me not to find a fish this early on in the evening. They're either the men who will burst at the seams with excitement and tip poorly, or they're already too drunk. Another hour or so and the shy men will come calling, the ones who are better lovers and feel guilty enough that they've used you and so pay double in penance, they're the prize tonight." Her lips quirked in amusement. It was really more technical a profession than people gave the whores credit for. "But colour me intrigued," She took a sip of her own wine and arranged the folds of her clothes so the chiton slipped off her shoulder, her hair falling likewise. She saw a man glance up from his companion but she kept her eyes on Azarion, "How did somebody like you end up as a charioteer?" TAG: @Chevi

Was this a trick? Charis couldn't be sure but she nonetheless smiled brightly, a small laugh leaving her lips. "I would enjoy that and no," She shook her head, "I have so much to learn, I know. I saw my name...or at least, I think it was my name on one of the walls by the popina at the end of the street...but I couldn't figure out the other words." She was sure she also saw 'Varus' and 'Alexius' across several of the walls of the city. Taking another delicate sip of the wine she fiddled with the base of the cup, her fingers skirting over the ornate pattern. She didn't quite know what else to say. She had been suspecting a conversation of this sort would be coming, but now it was here it had caught her off guard. She certainly never imagined that he'd ask for her opinion on the matter. But he was right, things had shifted between them since she'd given him his son and his heir. He could no longer think of her as just a slave, surely, when his fortune would be inherited by the baby she had carried for nine months, laboured to deliver, raised in his household. Glancing up at him cautiously, she met his gaze with an even look of her own. "I would never have imagined things would turn out like this," She said in a fit of honesty because...what else was there to say? "The day you saw me in that cage, in the marketplace. I...never could have pictured this. Could you, domine?" TAG: @Atrice

Vibia had exactly the same thought. "Why would they want you?" She asked, as if repeating his unspoken question. "Same reason a man wants any man or woman - old and sagged and wrinkled they might be," She took a sip of her wine with a despondent little sigh, "Power." She'd seen plenty of it at the Venus, although she wasn't the retiring wallflower type and so generally men came to her looking for the banter or the wit. If they didn't well...Falco was often on hand to see them out of the door if their displeasure got too much. "Come on," She jerked her head towards the gardens. "I'll keep you away from lecherous matrons." TAG: @Chevi

Saturnalia, 76AD Vibia stifled a yawn behind her fingers and tried to blink the sleep out of her eyes. Saturnalia might be fun for the slaves and the plebs but it was the Venus' busiest time of year, and perhaps its most unpleasant. The most generous of (rich) masters often doled out gifts to their most valuable, trusted slaves which sometimes involved a night with a beauty from the Venus. They had poorer manners than her usual class of clientele and seemed to want to savour every minute that they paid for. It was exhausting, and so it took her almost the full day to be ready (and willing) to work after sleeping, visiting the baths and tidying her rooms from the detritus her clients left. Now though, the sun had dipped well past the horizon and evening was drawing in. She could hear the tell-tale sounds of Rome's best and brightest being...entertained in the rooms down the corridor but Vibia herself was led resplendent on one of the couches in the main room, fingers softly trilling her cithara. A few of her colleagues; men and women alike milled around, entertaining the guests of the clients being seen too and likewise trying to prop themselves awake. A woman's work was never done, and particularly not a whore's on Saturnalia. The familiar jangle of the bells that overhung the front door sounded and Vibia lazily dragged her eyes up to see a new client walk in. Interesting. TAG: Open!

Ovinia groaned through her teeth as she was set down. It appeared she had forgotten how to use her legs and was grateful for his arm around her waist, keeping her upright. She weaved on the spot, blinking dark spots from her eyes and trying not to cry out. It seemed like forever before the door clunked open and a harried looking slave, one of her fathers litter bearers, peered out confused. "We don't take charity." The man said, peering at her. Ovinia met his gaze as best she could and opened her mouth to speak but the realisation finally dawned on the man so it was unnecessary. "Do...Domina? Domina!" He hurried forward to grip her and she moaned in pain. "Xanthos! Fetch the dominus and the medicus!" The man gave a confused and concerned look to Jason but Ovinia, with all her strength, gripped his arm. She managed to breathe "Thank you." to hip before she was swept up in the new slave's arms, crying as his arms jostled the wound on her back. TAG: @Sharpie

Ovinia managed a quiet chuckle. Content with her life indeed; heckling passers by about her melons and peaches, if it was the same woman she was thinking of in the marketplace - middle aged and dowdy with a rag-tag band of children at her feet. No. That was not going to be her life; she was going to marry well, and have a brood of children and mind her home and stand on the arm of her husband as he was elected to...something important. That's what she'd do...wasn't it? She glanced sideways at him only for the quickest of seconds and nodded, her face dropping the tightly wound facade. "...Thank you. I appreciate it." Because the support she had right now was lacking. But the conversation swept on and she was glad for it. There was only so much she could tolerate feeling like a fool and a prisoner. She watched as the brunette woman lapped up the attention in the arena but her eyes flitted to the wounded woman dragging herself off to the side. She wrinkled her nose. How uncouth. "Murmillo..." She repeated, the word sounding vaguely familiar. "You didn't have a spear?" She asked, "I've seen some fights with spears and then somebody had a net, I swear, the last time I was dragged here." she chuckled. "And then I saw some man against some wild beasts - he was destroyed in seconds. It was really rather grim." She nodded at his question but glanced sideways to the stairs. "It's a long walk back down to the street sellers, I can wait. I'm fine. Unless you are?" TAG: @Atrice

"I want him to suffer." She added to his assurance, her fingers squeezing tighter around his as her tears dried and a more steely resolve settled over her...for now at least. She had never considered herself a vengeful sort of person; competitive and petty, yes, but never vengeful. That had clearly changed. She wanted the man who had almost ended her life, and certainly irreparably changed it, to pay for what he had done. No punishment from a magistrate would be enough, of that she was certain. She met Lucius' eyes with a firm look of her own to infer she wasn't joking. "I don't." She said with the faintest hint of a half-smile before it fell again and a look of concern flitted onto her face, "I don't know where to find you, I don't know your new family." And his old family, poor Gaius, could never find out about this nor why she was suddenly so invested in Lucius as a companion. She squeezed his hand tighter, starting to speak; "I..." when an indiscrete cough sounded and she saw a warning look from the slave girl. She'd always liked her. Ovinia quickly retraced her hand from Lucius and set it over her waist, sinking back into the pillows and cushions behind her as the Centurion stepped through. He looked awkward immediately, glancing between Lucius and Ovinia - flicking his eyes over her form before a flush came to his cheeks and he looked back at Lucius, clearing his throat. "Well...I...understand that our recruit knows your family Ovinia," She quirked an eyebrow and the slave girl interjected; "My domina is Ovinia Camilla to you." The centurion's flush deepened and he pulled at the cloth around his neck. It would be comical if this whole scene wasn't so sad. The man straightened his back and plastered on a fake smile. He was clearly unused to Patricians. "Of course, my apologies Ovinia Camilla. I'm not sure how much Lucius here has managed to..." He hesitated, wincing, "Has managed to glean about what happened last night but I would like you to recount everything that happened. We will catch whoever did this, of course, but we need to know what he did." This man's brusque manner, the way he asked his questions as if she was some common tart on a street corner that had been assaulted set her nerves on edge. She flashed Lucius a questioning glance for support. TAG: @Chevi

Longinus was startled to an almost stop, but had the sense to keep walking after a brief hesitation as she spoke. He did not mind forthright women, in fact he rather liked them; Antonia had thrown plenty of pots and plates and cups at his head throughout their years married and Sestia had been well...Sestia. But he was supposed to be avoiding that now; he was supposed to be aiming for a nice, sweet, pliable young woman who could give him a son and not give him any bother. A small voice piped up in his head though; where is the fun in that? He tried to shut it down as best he could but as he gave her a sidelong glance and met her smile, his grin widened. "You place too much importance on what I think Sergia." He offered with his grin still stretching across his face and an amused twinkle in his eyes. "You are twenty two," He offered, "But that's not the end of the world, and your uncle, Praetor Varus, has influence. I'm just a man." He chuckled again, "With a poor track record when it comes to wives and weddings and an even poorer track record of staying in Italia." If she was being honest then he'd do likewise. "My successful career means I'm in my late thirties without an heir or a prospect of one, and no mother for my daughter. It also means I've spent so long in the wilds of Britannia that I don't really know what I'm doing now I'm back in Rome." That wasn't completely fair - he knew what to do, he just didn't enjoy the politicking. If she were a man and not a proper unmarried woman he would have nudged her to impress that he really wasn't that important and his rejection shouldn't matter. He was blind to the woes of her life thus far. "But I'm not in a mind for rejections, and this is only the first time we've actually spoken without one of your uncles breathing down my neck, so..." He cast her a conspiratorial look, "What do you really enjoy doing? And if you say weaving your wool I'm sorry but I just won't believe you because how any woman can actually enjoy that is beyond me..." TAG: @locutus-sum

He gave an affable enough smile and inclined his head. Walking and visiting temples were perfectly acceptable, virtuous activities for a young woman, and it was certainly a better answer than somebody droning on and on about this party and that social function as the girl from last week had. He had limited patience for high society in Rome, although he supposed that was because they had limited patience for him. "You don't want to experience everything Rome has to offer," He said with a half smile, "Much of it isn't suitable for people like us." Well-bred patricians, he meant. He took a sip of wine, considering her question thoughtfully for a moment. "The senate keeps me busy." He smiled tightly, "And my clients. I have more than enough to handle. I have my children as well." He added as an afterthought, "Gaius is twelve, Sempronia is nine and Gessilla is," He frowned trying to drag up his youngest's age, "Six or so. They live here, with me, although I didn't wish to burden you with them today." He took a thoughtful sip of his wine and studied her, gently probing; "Do you have much experience with children?" TAG: @Atrice

Charis listened as any dutiful slave should to her master, but she kept her eyes carefully on his face, given that he'd given her permission to look at him - a rarity in itself. Spend more time with you. She wondered - bitterly - in her head whether he really had a care to spend more time with her clothed and talking, or whether he only wished for a bedmate. She suspected it was the latter, firmly, but she didn't know which was better, but judging by the tone of his voice and the way he paused as if trying to gauge her reaction, this wasn't the same as the last time...the last two times she had been taken to his bed. Then it had been about power, that much was obvious. This time...she didn't know. Nonetheless she kept her face neutral besides the small, coy smile on her lips that she knew he liked. She really had no recourse to say no. He might have thought he was giving her a choice, but he was in reality stating a demand that she couldn't refuse. If he wanted to spend more time with her then he would. The few occasions when she had crossed him or declined him his advances had ended with her either forced into his bed or locked in her rooms. He was framing it as an offering, but it wasn't and she was careful enough to know that now. She couldn't help the pit of her stomach drop at the thought of taking back up the position of his bed slave. She thought he had lost interest after her pregnancy, but clearly not. She was still young and pretty and youthful and had given him his heir; she supposed that was a powerful thing. All of these thoughts careened through her head in only a brief moment of silence before she smiled slightly, eyes flicking down to his desk as she nodded. What choice did she have? Not only due to his position but for herself. Peregrinus was free but she was not. As far as she could tell the only slave he had freed, or the only one she knew about, was Teutus. She needed to be close to him to earn that privilege; there was no other way. What better way to be close to him than in his bed? If she and her son were both free she'd have legal recourse to remove him from this house. Or she could at least try too. "I would like that domine." She sipped her wine slowly. "Peregrinus is growing up and whilst I'm busy with him in the days, I am...more free during the afternoons and the nights. I..." she had to be cautious and so she was, choosing her words carefully but seeming effortless; "I miss you teaching me to read and...our conversations, and..." She trailed of, leaving the end of a thread for him to pull although her inference was quite clear. She blushed and sipped her wine. Charis really had become an accomplished actress since she'd been in Rome. TAG: @Atrice

"I am damaged!" She protested, speaking over him, her voice rising enough that she saw the nervous glance of her slave girl looking into the room before she waved a hand to keep her away. They only had a few more moments. Ovinia ploughed on, choking her words out with incredulity as he left a gap for her to speak, intentionally or not; "He might not have raped me," she managed to say it, "But I am damaged, Lucius! I'll have a scar on my back as long as my hand forever, I'll have one as long as my thumb on my hip from where he pushed the knife back in after I'd begged him to stop, I'll have the memories of him pressed up against me, what he felt like, what I thought he was going to do before I couldn't breathe anymore and my vision went dark and I thought I was dying." Her chest was rising and falling now, heart hammering against her ribs and she'd moved forward - pushing herself up from the pillows to try and give herself a semblance of authority. She hadn't meant to yell at him. She had no reason to be angry at him, beyond her irrotational devastation that he hadn't been there to save her, but even in that moment she knew that was an unfair charge. But she was angry nonetheless, although it was dissipating quickly to be replaced by a shuddering, rasping sob as pain and upset once again filled angers place. He was trying to help. Tell me what I can do. He was trying to be there for her but she didn't know how he could be. The carefully constructed facade of Rome that she had made for herself had crumbled; she didn't feel safe and she wasn't the girl she was yesterday morning. How had her Saturnalia started with a kiss in an alley, a breathless grin and a feeling fluttering her chest and ended here? "I'm...I'm sorry." Her voice was quieter, resigned almost. She unfurled her hand from where it had bunched into the sheets and tentatively, slowly made to reach for his own, gripping his index finger with hers. "You should find Alexius." She swallowed, breathing through her nose to try and settle her thoughts. She desperately wanted more wine. "You should tell him what happened, he will keep it to himself. I trust him. And the slave...Jason, he works for Tiberius at the palace but he is sworn to secrecy on his honour." She gave Lucius a lingering look of sincerity. "Beyond that I..." There was nothing to do. "Just don't..." She struggled to find the words; don't pull away from me. But maybe it would be better if he did. Maybe it would be neater. "There isn't anything. Just find him." TAG: @Chevi

Her shoulders were jerking with the effort it took to suppress a sob. She had never been much of a crier, at least not when she was upset (tears of frustration were another matter), but now it seemed as if she'd never be able to dry her eyes or cheeks. She tried her best to restrain her breathing. In...one, two, three...out, one, two, three...but it only did so much. The way she flinched as he pressed a kiss to her knuckles, likewise, could't be helped. She saw him - from the corner of her eyes where her gaze was trained on the wine pooling through the rows of grouting in the mosaic - she saw him looking at her. She felt the squeeze of his hands again and finally dragged her gaze to his own. The look on his face was utterly inscrutable, at least to her, but as his question awkwardly tumbled forth she saw what she wanted to see in his expression - even if it wasn't there at all; disgust. Damaged goods. She pulled her hand out from his own and settled it across her waist, bunching her fingers into to the sheets. "No." She forced out through gritted teeth in a choke. She inhaled deeply; "But it doesn't matter that he didn't..." she didn't need to finish that thought, "Because if anybody finds out what actually happened they w-won't believe me when I say he didn't and everybody will look at me the way you just were; damaged goods, right?" she swallowed and wished she still had wine to drink. "It's why my father doesn't want anybody to know, why I don't want anybody to know." The embarrassment and degradation and humiliation were enough to make her want to throw herself off the Tarp as it was. If anybody thought...she blinked it away. It didn't happen. She was fine. It would be fine. "My father mentioned Crete," She said, finally diverting her attention from him back to her lap where her fingers were scrunched into the sheets. "Thought I could go away for a few months, a little longer maybe to our villa there. It would get me out of the city, get me out of the rumours and..." He can find me a husband in the interim, so I can come back and a married woman. She kept that part to herself. "I don't feel safe here anymore." She added as a whisper. TAG: @Chevi

She took a deep sip of the wine as he let go. It had barely been watered and she was unused to it but largely she was grateful. She knew from last night after a cup or so she'd begin to feel lightheaded and sleep, no matter how interrupted, would only be a few minutes away. She glanced across at his face and saw such earnestness there a pain gripped her chest. She didn't believe him; didn't believe that the tormentor would ever be apprehended. He had so much power, how could he? Relieved she had a question to focus on, she sank back against the cushions, swallowing another mouthful. "He tried before, in the summer." Her voice was flat and emotionless and she didn't look at Lucius' face. "It's how I met Alexius - he interrupted him and Alexius said something happened to a friend of his, a woman, had been held with a knife and..." She swallowed, her mouth feeling dry, "Cut. And then the slave - the slave who took me home, his cousin was assaulted he said by a man with a knife." She exhaled a sharp breath through her nose, her fingers trembling more now, the wine sloshing over the edge of her cup onto the richly coloured sheets she was swathed in. "I can't believe I was so stupid." she choked out, surprised at her own honesty. She shook her head and moved to set the wine cup down but her fingers were shaking so much she misjudged it and it clattered to the floor between them, bright red liquid seeping onto the mosaic on the floor. She felt like she might faint. TAG: @Chevi