Sara

She trembled under his touch, making a sound of abject fear. He didn't sound like the man, he sounded wary and conceded but not like him, but she couldn't see him and as his hands found her wrists she panicked and tried to get out of his grip, but she couldn't move led as she was. In any case he had unbound her hands before she could try and move much further away and she gasped in relief and pain. Even in the dim light of the room, as she brought them up to her face, she could see they were red raw and bleeding. She nodded minutely and pushed herself up, backing herself into a corner of the room, trying desperately to cover herself in the ripped chiton that was ruined beyond repair, stained with her still flowing blood and torn over her hip and leg and back. "A man, h-he attacked me, he cut me." She choked out, starting to cry. She wound her arms around her legs, bringing them to her chest. She realised she'd lost one of her sandals in the struggle. "Please," She breathed almost a whisper, "Help me..." TAG: @Sharpie

The pressure was suddenly released from her body and her vision went completely dark, the pain of the cuts easing away, the breathlessness settling into nothing. But there was a chill that roused her, creeping over her bare skin where her chiton had been wripped at her leg, at her hip, at her back. She made a groaning sound. She couldn't open her eyes just yet and she couldn't move her hands, still bound behind her back, wrapped in the thin braided belt she had been wearing. She felt the chill run over her again and shuddered. She tried to focus on the sounds around her, it was silent. Was he still here? She kept her eyes shut, trying to draw steadying breaths into her lungs. "Is everything all right?" Ovinia choked, eyes flying open. It wasn't his voice, but from her position on the floor she couldn't see who it was. She tried to move and groaned in pain. "H-help," She choked, trying to free her wrists, "M-my hands..." TAG: @Sharpie

She screamed through her teeth, not loud, but a hissing, groaning noise as he sliced at her skin. She could feel the point of the knife dragged down her shoulder blade. It felt like he was dragging it forever, but it couldn't have been more than a few inches. She felt the warm trails of blood snake down her skin almost immediately. This one was longer and felt deeper than the wound at her hip, but she couldn't be sure. It had happened with no warning and she felt herself tremble more. She felt him against her and choked into the wall, trying to draw in enough breath but it felt like a losing battle. She started to squirm, wringing her wrists to try and get out of the belt. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't breathe with him pressed so firmly against her, her face pressed into the wall, the blood running down over her skin; she had to get out of here, she had to get out, she couldn't breathe. She moved harder, trying to free her hands, trying to get some space, trying to stop the burning of her shoulder of her hip, of her wrists; "I...I can't breathe, I can't breathe!." she choked as loudly as she could, trembling. She felt her vision dim and her legs lose their strength. She sagged against him. How much blood had she lost? TAG: @Atrice

She frowned as he looked her over and glanced down at herself. Nope - not a hair out of place. She glanced back at him, not understanding his meaning at all. She presumed, from her own insult, that he was trying to return the favour with some barb of his own but she didn't understand and it didn't matter. She gave him an imperious little smile. "So...what, you're here to get patronage?" Presumably so, unless he also doubled as a sex worker when he wasn't about to get killed in the races, "Want me to point out the wealthiest here for you...?" She sidled up next to him and tilted her head, "Or the ones who are willing to take on risks, perhaps?" TAG: @Chevi

Well...at least she had the sense to apologise. He offered her a tight smile and inclined his head in response to her apology and he gestured with a sweeping arm for her to follow him. "I've set up a small lunch in the triclinium, I thought we could converse a little, get to know one another." As these conversations always seemed to go; where are you from, what is your family, how do you like Rome et cetera et cetera. It was almost painfully similar each time, but he suffer through it if it meant he could root out another Gessia Ursina before he married her. "I understand you've not been in Rome long?" He asked, trying to sound affable and warm as he took a seat on one of the couches. "How do you find the city so far?" TAG: @Atrice

She chuckled in amusement and folded one arm across her chest, the other hand still holding her almost empty cup of wine. For some reasons, her charms weren't working on this one - not that she had any business charming him, given he wasn't a prospect, but still...sometimes the thrill was in the game for her. Then he mimed and she laughed out loud. How sweet! She gave him an appraising glance from his feet to his head and cocked her head to the side. "I take it you're a new charioteer?" TAG: @Chevi

She nodded with gulping breaths, convinced for a moment that he might actually listen to her, that he might actually stop. But he didn't. He smiled instead. She felt herself grow cold and the tears started spilling again down her cheeks. Her hip throbbed, burning and she felt the blood drip down her thigh. She wanted to scream but that look on his face told her not too and before she could even think, she was spun around again like a doll, face and chest pushed into the wall. She made a sound of protest, but the noise was smothered by the wall and she felt herself grow breathless, struggling to draw in enough air. His hand was on her head and she squirmed under his touch but had stopped trying to free her hands; he'd feel it if she did - pressed against his stomach as it was. She whimpered as her chiton was tugged down, not understanding. Was he trying to violate her? Was he trying to kill her, and just couldn't look her in the eyes as he did it? She mewled again in pain and anxiety, struggling to breathe against the wall. She felt the knife against her back and choked. If he pushed the whole length in, would it hit her heart? Was this how it ended? TAG: @Atrice

Well, he was shit out of luck there then, she thought as he mimed his tongue being cut off. She'd not been subject to anything particularly cruel during her years as a slave but had seen plenty of brandings and whippings and such. It was a fact of life when one was shackled, and maybe this one had deserved it. Probably - judging by the sassy way he glanced at her. "Go figure." she chuckled as he mimed - what she presumed was - a slave tablet. But she shook her head, gesturing up and down her thinly concealed figure with a sweeping arm, "Do I look like I'm a slave? Tsk." Then again, the Venus had plenty of slaves and they were almost all as well dressed as her. People paid for the best, after all. "No. I'm not." She gave a satisfied little smile, "I escaped that fate a few years ago. Something for you to aim for too, perhaps." She gave him another look. "Okay mute, what are you doing here then?" TAG: @Chevi

She stared at him, properly stared at him for a few moments of contemplative silence. He filled the gap that Lucius and Marcus Junius had left unsaid, and he said it much more plainly than either of them. She shifted in her seat, uncomfortable and cleared her throat, flicking her eyes back down to the sands. "That's very sweet," She offered trying to keep her voice light and airy, "Sweet you're so worried about me, I mean." She smoothed her fingers over the fine fabric of her chiton and rested them on her knees, trying to effect the image of the stately, composed Roman matron that she'd seen her mother and her sister-in-law play a hundred times. "But it's my duty and my life Alexius. It's not as if I have much of a choice, just as you didn't have a choice but to fight." She shrugged her shoulders lightly and then took a deep breath, shaking her head, "And I'm looking forward to it; marriage and children and running my home. I..." She was, wasn't she? Looking forward to it? She swallowed. "Although I'm interested to hear what you think I should do instead...?" TAG: @Atrice

He gestured to his throat and Vibia arched an eyebrow. Ah. A mute. How sad, and dull. Morbid fascination caught her though and she narrowed her eyes. "You lose your tongue or were you born like it?" Maybe that was too personal a question to ask, but he was hardly a wealthy senator - she figured she could get away with it. She followed his eyes and found the man throwing up. Wrinkling her nose, she shrugged. "Letia has him," She returned her gaze to the mute with an impish smile, "He owns half the insulae in the city, apparently. She's as keen to fill her purse as he is to fill his wine cup so..." She shrugged, "I'm on the hunt for something different." She took a sip of wine and swallowed it, eyes narrowed on his face. "I'm presuming I'm out of your league though?" Obviously. TAG: @Chevi

December, 76AD Lucius tapped his fingers against the arm of the chair he was waiting in, in the atrium, his frustration evident by the huff of annoyance he let out every few moments. He was taking this meeting as a favour - he had told himself at least - the very least the girl and her chaperone could do would be to be on time. He had never met Horatia Sosia but his cousins spoke well of her, and her family. He was vaguely aware there was already a connection - he was a first cousin to her cousins, but through his maternal line whereas she was on the paternal side. Did that make them related? Probably not, but it did mean a connection, and he sorely needed those. It was supposed to be a light, introductory meeting but he'd rather do it in his domus than some public place. He'd been on enough of these meet and greets since his divorce to know that meeting silly young women in public was draining and expensive. Instead, he'd summoned her and her male relative or slave of choice to his domus where there was a light meal and wine and ample time to converse. Besides, if it all went wrong and she was wholly unsuitable, he'd just claim there was urgent business and dismiss her. That was if she ever showed up, of course. Letting out another groan of annoyance, he pushed himself up and was about to bark at a slave to send a messenger when the door to the atrium creaked open and she arrived. Well. At least she was something to look at, he'd give her that. "Salve, Horatia Sosia. Welcome to my home." TAG: @Atrice

The man (boy?) looked confused and she tilted her head to the slide. Judging by his appearance he wasn't a gladiator. Maybe a charioteer - but not a famous one, clearly, else he'd be swamped by the leeches that were attending the party. He shook his head and she frowned a little, a wry smile on her lips. "What?" She glanced over her shoulder, her waist length blonde hair falling in a wave as she did. Her eyes comically scanned the room in a slow circle before returning back to him. "Are you waiting for a better conversational partner? Or maybe you just don't want to speak to me?" TAG: @Chevi

She inhaled a breath as he snapped back at her and flattened herself against the wall as much as she could, but it meant she couldn't continue to try and unbind her hands. Not that she was making much progress anyway, and the tone of his voice suggested she shouldn't even bother. If he realised what she was doing, she'd be dead. Dead and alone, or dying and bleeding out in an abandoned workers shack, tied up like some slave, maybe never to be found. She whimpered as he grabbed her chiton and hiked it up, turning her face to the side, looking anywhere but him or his face or his knife. Maybe it would be better not to see it, maybe it would make it hurt less. But her not looking at him made her jump in surprise as his fingers touched her leg. Nobody had ever touched her like this. She could feel the stickiness of the blood. She felt bile rise in her throat. "It burns." She choked out, "And stings. I...It hurts." it felt like nothing she'd experienced before and she didn't know how to describe it, but if he wanted to hurt her he'd succeeded. "Y-ou've hurt me," She choked out, "You've got what you wanted. Please..." That's enough. Please. Gently, trying not to make it obvious, she resumed trying to undo the binds around her wrists. Careful, Ovinia. TAG: @Atrice

December 19th - Saturnalia - 76AD Vibia loved Saturnalia, if only because it meant her coin purse was fatter than any other time in the year and the men she serviced were more pliable. So she suffered through the parties and the late nights, stifling yawns behind her hand and blinking sleep from her eyes because it'd be worth it in the end. It's how she found herself in a domus on the Quirinal surrounded by rich men; their wives shunted off for the evening. There were others here too, not just prostitutes for the inevitable orgy but Gladiators - dressed up in their regalia, and Charioteers too - undoubtedly plying for patronage as much as the girls and boys she was with were. Most of the men were in the gardens, downing their cups of wine and grinning lovely, lascivious grins at their guests. Vibia sniffed and made a beeline for the triclinium, hoping to find something more interesting to do than a sweaty old man - no matter how rich he was. Picking a cup of watered wine from a slave she made her way to the corner of the room, surveying the scene. There was a big burly gladiator in the centre being pawed over by men - ostensibly to check his pedigree for patronage but only a fool wouldn't see that the men were taking their sweet time checking his muscle tone. There were a few people in idle conversation and in the opposite corner there was a little man who seemed to want to be anywhere else. Or at least it seemed that way to her. Curious. Taking a sip and weaving through the crowds, the flimsy cut of her dress leaving trails of fabric, she sidled up to him. "You don't belong here, do you?" TAG: @Chevi

Charis winced as he made a groaning sound, looking about as frustrated as it was possible for a man to look. She almost...pitied him. Much of the mess he found in life was of his own creation, but this couldn't really be pinned on his shoulders. He didn't even know Wulfric existed until that day and now the man threatened the solidity of his plans. She couldn't blame him for feeling frustrated. "What would I do?" She repeated, surprise in her voice. He so very rarely asked her opinion on matters that it always shocked her when he did. Usually they were questions on Peregrinus as well, nothing like this. She made a 'hmm' noise, thinking it through. She felt her brain slowly start to clunk into gear - it had been a while since she had...plotted anything. Long ago, back in Britannia she had thought of herself as smart but years in Rome of 'yes, domine' and 'no, domine' had weathered her down. Now she was being asked for her opinion, it took a while to gather her thoughts. "I suppose I would speak to Teutus to see if he knows anything. And if he does, I would ask him to stop seeing him." She felt a tinge of guilt for her once-friend, now...guardian? Dominus? Who knew. "If he really doesn't have anybody, and thinks everybody is against him then he'll surely leave. If...that doesn't work then...gold, given to him on the proviso he stays away might work." TAG: @Atrice

Titus gave Lucius a bemused smile, and made no move to go into the house, crossing his arms instead over his chest and tilting his head to the side. "The boys will, will they?" You arrogant prick, he added in his head. He liked Lucius - he did - he was a hard worker and had clearly taken a blow to do this, but his view that his word was gospel was...irritating to say the least. Titus and the others didn't work for him, not yet anyway. The young woman glanced awkwardly between himself and Lucius and cleared her throat, clearly trying to snatch back some authority. "I'll leave you to sort this out." She flashed Lucius a look that...Titus couldn't place, but made him uneasy. She only shot him a glare which he returned with a smirk. She held out her arms for the pastries from Lucius and then, without another word, moved passed him and slipped into the house. So much for 'thank you for saving my kitchen'. "You don't get to wander off for an hour with a pretty young woman all by yourself whilst the rest of the men are here to clean up her mess." He began in a lecturing tone and a shake of his head, "You also don't get to decide we have to schlep all the way to Gods know where to get her dinner for her. If you want to impress her, keep us out of it next time." He rolled his eyes and then jerked his head for Lucius to follow him into the domus. "You get to tell the boys and our Centurion of our new task. Lucky you." TAG: @Chevi

Titus would wring Lucius' neck the next time the man deigned to wander in, he was sure of it. His first few weeks in the team and he'd already shirked his responsibility to chase off after a girl that looked about ready to murder him, leaving Titus with the amusing job of keeping the domus' drunken occupants out of the kitchen and giving the men something to do whilst he waited for him to return. That task was clearing all of the singed detritus from the kitchen out into the street; really not in their job description, but he needed something to do. He suffered the mutters and glares that really should have been directed at his new colleague. Every few minutes he'd stick his head out of the side door to see if their wayward vigile had found his way home with the pompous domina in tow. When, finally, he saw the mop of dark hair and the girl he let out an audible groan of relief and then whistled sharply with his fingers to catch their attention. "Domina, your father is looking for you." He wasn't but...oh...shit, his thought came to an abrupt stop. Wasn't he supposed to not speak Latin? Ah well. Damage was done now. "And you, I'm looking for you." He jabbed a finger in Lucius' direction. TAG: @Chevi

Ovinia winced. She knew exactly what he meant. She wanted it to change things but it didn't. Maybe she realised that more than him? Maybe his new life had given him a glimmer of hope that somehow things would all work out, as they had for his adoption. She was a little more jaded than that. It didn't stop her wanting things to be different though. "Me too." She gave an unusually shy smile, nothing like the flashing grins she usually threw out. Smoothing her hands in front of her plain tunica, she blinked as her unburned fingers caught on the scratchy material of his cloak. She fumbled with the pin for a comical length of time before she managed to shrug it off one-handed. "Here." She bundled it into a ball and threw it at him, but in a playful rather than an aggressive way. "How does this rank for you? Of all your Saturnalia's?" Before she had time to finish her thought and say that despite the fire and her red raw fingers, this was easily in the top three (top one...) for her, a whistle sounded and she whipped her head round to the slave door of her domus.

She bit her lip, surveying the women that paraded around the arena as he spoke. Would they die in shackles? It was the order of things; Rome conquered and slaves flowed forth. Her own domus, or her fathers, was staffed with slaves from as far afield as Britannia, Mauretania and even Thracia. They had been people once - she knew that - people with families and lives but now they lived and served. If Rome - Gods forbid - were ever conquered, she would be in their place. But it was the order of things, and even as uncomfortable as it was, she wasn't going to go and try and change it. She was kind...enough to those she owned, or so she thought. That was enough, wasn't it? She felt him looking at her and she glanced left to meet his gaze as he spoke. A curious expression settled on her face. He had to live to be here, to survive. Her every whim was catered for, her every need accommodated. She had no idea what he meant and her frown spoke volumes. "I..." She opened her mouth to speak, but struggled to find the words, "I have choices, Alexius." She laid a hand on his shoulder to emphasis her point. "You were brave, and the crowds adored you or so my research tells me." She gave him a sly smile, "It's why you lived. I am living now. I don't need to fight for that, it's not the same. My choices are who I marry and where my summer villa will be and what dress I wear and which charity to give to." She chuckled, bemused that he should be comparing her at all. "Your concern is sweet, but you don't need to hope I'll have chances." She grinned broader, flipping her palla up around herself dramatically, "You're talking to the daughter of a Praetor, from a family with as many Consuls in our ranks as fingers I have. I have all the prospects and chances in the world." She chuckled, shaking her head in amused confusion, "Why do you look so worried?" TAG: @Atrice

She was shaking as the knife was dragged over her skin. She didn't understand. He seemed to almost be taking his time, as if deciding which portion of meat to take for himself at cena. She made a mumbled sound of protest and fear and then pressed her lips tightly together. She didn't want to die. He said he wouldn't kill her. Was that stupid to believe him? Yes. It was stupid. That was answered almost immediately as she felt the tip of the knife sink into her skin. Her body jerked in reaction to the stab and it tore up a little higher. She didn't think she'd ever felt pain like it. She let out a choked sound of protest and tried to flatten her back against the wall, to get the knife out of her. She glanced down. He'd ripped a hole in her chiton over her hipbone and stomach and she saw the blood drip, drip, drip down her skin and to the floor. He doesn't want my money. He doesn't want to rape me. He wants me to suffer. Oh my gods I'm going to die. She was feeling breathless, her chest rising and falling as she strained minutely, covertly against the belt around her wrists - back still pressed firmly to the wall - trying to get away from the knife still in her hip. "S-stop." She choked, "I don't want to die, I don't want to die..." Her wrists were burning as she tried to wriggle them out, to no avail. It was natural to panic, and panic she did. TAG: @Atrice

She kept her eyes on his face - watery though her vision was - as he pulled her around to face him. She tried her best to memorise every inch of it, should there be a scenario where she walked out of this place alive. It seemed though that, that scenario was dimming like the sun. She kept her eyes on his face even as his own gaze travelled the length of her figure and she squirmed involuntarily. It felt violating, even if that was not his aim. She sucked in a breath as he raised the knife to the small cut at the curve where her waist met her hips, and pulled apart the seam of her chiton where there was already the smallest of holes. She shuddered under the touch of his fingers and arched her back, as if trying to get away from it, from him. Tears still spilled over her cheeks but she tried her best to look resolute as he looked up at her. "I-I shouldn't r-un, scream or f-fight." She repeated in a hoarse voice. Her eyes flicked down to the knife he was holding in his hand. What was he waiting for? Her to beg? She'd already done that... "Or you'll kill me." She added the last bit in a whisper, eyes still on the knife. TAG: @Atrice

She rolled her eyes and made a 'tsk' sound with her lips, snatching away her basket but not before he'd managed to pilfer one. It was frankly a little miraculous how quickly she could shift again to seeing him as nothing more than irritant, like a fly to be swotted. Real life came flooding back in, however, with his question. She blinked. Had he still been a patrician, had she still been intending on marrying his brother (Oh Gods...) then it would have been an easy yes. They would have seen one another at parties or dinners or social occasions. They could have even spent time together just one on one, undoubtedly. His family had been one to trust. Now though? With his social standing depleted but - more importantly - his reputation turned to the ash he collected in his job, she didn't see how it was possible. She could hardly just ask for a meeting. She bit at her lip and hesitated, not giving him an answer. "I..." What? You want to see him again, one part of her yelled out but another part of her was clear; when have you ever done anything as idiotic as this? Stupid girl... "I like to take walks." She gulped out, "On the kalends, nones and ides, in the Portico, where we met at midday. I go most months." It was an offer, but it was an offer of a public meeting; she wasn't some girl to be pushed up against the wall and...well...that was exactly what she was about half an hour ago but still..."But...I don't know," She gave him an awkward little smile, "This doesn't change anything, does it?" She still had to find a man, and he'd still made his choice. TAG: @Chevi

Melissa was as perky and vivacious as she remembered, which was needed given they were asking for a miracle on Saturnalia. How on earth they were going to get it all back, she had no idea but that was a problem for later - much later - it would be a good while before the feast was ready and able to be carted back. She stood alone as Lucius haggled with Melissa. She didn't fail to see the way the older woman smiled and something flared in her gut. When he came back, arms laden with baskets she gave him a bemused smile but wordlessly took one from him to carry. She passed the walk back in relative silence. What on earth did they have to talk about? She opened her mouth to speak several times before slamming it shut again. Her cheeks were burning and longing was rapidly being replaced with embarrassment and shame. She was an idiot. It was a quicker walk this time though with the crowds having now moved on further down the hill, and without the running off and the kissing. She swallowed, her throat dry. They came to the domus opposite, its crates still sat there with the little pot of honey still on top. She scooped it up and drew to a stop - a few paces away from the side door to her own domus. She could hear the music and the laughter from here and judging by the pile of burned rubbish from the kitchen in a pile in the street, the Vigiles were nearly done. She swallowed again. "So..." Her voice was hoarse from lack of use. She gave him an awkward smile. "Pastries?" She held out her arm for the baskets, deciding being demanding was the best course of action. Better not to think about other things...because what if he regrets it. TAG: @Chevi

No. No bright ideas because there was nothing to be done and now she was stood in the arms of a man she had been happy to punch only a few minutes ago, perfectly, utterly content. And it was all wrong, because there was no way this would end happily. She swallowed and made a 'mhmm' sound between contentment and despair as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "So sensible. What's happened to you?" She tried to joke, but it fell a little flat. He was right though. She barely remembered storming out of her domus, so caught up in the moment and the intensity of the fire and seeing him and her stupid, irritating family. But they'd been gone a little while already and the longer she was absent, the more likely it was that they'd come looking...or realise she was missing in the first place. Gingerly, she moved from the wall, peeling his hand off of her hip. She attempted to right herself, raking her fingers through her hair and shifting the strap of her chiton back up from where it had slipped under the cloak. Reality began to seep in as she did so. She cast him a cautious glance and then back to her feet. And then again. And then back to her feet, trying to figure out something to say. You idiot. Why did you have to go and make everything so complicated. She cleared her throat and jerked her head as she stepped out of the little alley back into the crowds. "This way." Better not to talk about, she figured, let's just...brush over the fact that all you can think about is his hands on your waist. TAG: @Chevi

Ovinia watched the women - muscled and powerful. It was quite a sight, even from the seats they were in. She saw the men around her practically salivating and she wrinkled her nose. They were...not especially feminine but she supposed she could see the appeal. They were beautiful in their own way. She listened to Alexius with a frown on her face, not following for the first few seconds but then in dawned on her and she sighed. She knew that was the lot of slaves; one of her house slaves when she was younger had fallen with child after months of being summoned into her fathers bedroom. It hadn't taken a genius to work out. She also saw the way her brothers, even Lucius, glanced at new purchases as they came into the house. She'd never really paid it much heed. She supposed that was cruel of her now sitting with a man who presumably endured such treatment. She bit at her lip. "But they get the chance to earn their freedom, like you." She nudged him, trying to lighten the mood. "Right? It's not all bad, is it? Better than being a slave in the mines or the legions." Was that a naive way to look at it? Her slaves seemed happy enough, or at the very least they never complained. She didn't realise that of course they wouldn't complain. TAG: @Atrice