Sara

"What's not to like? You're a decorated military veteran, filthy rich with a stock of British slaves in your back pocket from your campaign." But he knew women were fickle creatures and often utterly indecipherable. He'd never met Ovinia Camilla and couldn't speak to her motivations but she'd be a fool for not considering his once-Tribune. He squinted, trying to count. "Three terms as legate, a fourth as tribune before that. Judea would be nice, but it would mean another term as legate. I suspect Aulus'll be called up once his term is up as Consul so I might have an in there, if I wanted it." But he was debating whether he'd want to or not, or whether stagnating as a general would be embarrassing or rewarding. Besides, he might - Fortuna be blessed - have a wife by that point to factor into all of it. "So as I said - step one, find him a family and get rid of the responsibility and ride the wave of the blowback, step two get married" He chuckled, "Step three - get her with child, step four...figure the rest out later." tag: @Sharpie

Ovinia listened, relieved to start walking again as the wind whipped up around them. It sounded like the Lucius she had briefly known - and she couldn't deny she was...impressed by the courage it must have shown to run into a burning building. But then she glanced across at Gaius and supposed that during his time in Britannia he must have faced his own fair share of harrowing sights and situations, all of which were appropriate for his rank and station. "Even if it means you sacrifice for it?" She glanced at him with a hard stare, "What of your career? I'm not educated in politics, I'm just a woman, but I can't imagine this will stand your prospects in great stead, no? Not to mention what my father will think." She shook her head, a frown sitting on her forehead. Her father was a severe man, a stickler for propriety and rules and what he'd think of a prospective match for his only daughter casting her lot in with a man like Gaius, she knew full well. It wouldn't be good. "I've been raised to think the authority of the paterfamilias is the law, Gaius. You could have said no." TAG: @Sharpie

"Get him to speak to her? Or speak to her yourself?" He arched a brow, suggesting it seriously. "Girls can convince their fathers of anything - if she's keen on the match, and she can be convinced by Lucius - or preferably you - I wouldn't count her out of your hand yet." He chuckled, shaking his head. "Titus' time in Dacia sounded like some big holiday - same with Aulus' in Raetia." He was teasing of course, "I want real action - Judea, Parthia, Britannia, back in Gallia if it flares up again. That doesn't appeal to you? My leadership put you off the legions for life?" TAG: @Sharpie

She managed to keep her expression neutral - through great, sustained effort - as he gave his summation of the situation. For some, inexplicable reason, she hoped it had been a misunderstanding. Evidently it wasn't, and evidently the man stood next to her had endorsed it. He stopped walking and she carried on a few paces before she stopped herself, taking a steadying breath. She spun around on her heel and kept him in a steady gaze. "My father doesn't know. I've kept it to myself." But for how long it would remain a secret whilst Lucius was out and about in the streets was anybody's guess. "And yes." Her tone was clipped, "A shock is right. I suppose what's more of a shock is that you've endorsed it." She shook her head, a look of desperate confusion in her eyes. "He's throwing his life away, his family away, and you are fine with this?" Was that the sort of man she wanted to marry? She rationalised it to herself that this was sensible, that it was normal to be this irritated - she might be married into this mess. That didn't quite explain why she was so annoyed and upset by it though. TAG: @Sharpie

"Have you met Aulus?" Longinus frowned, "He's surprisingly...normal, and nice for a man as advanced as he is. You'd get along, I think." Longinus cultivated friends like weeds, but very few he would consider close friends - Gaius, Aulus, Titus, Publius, they were certainly amongst the number though. "And I was thinking Praetor," He nodded, "But I can't get the itch of going back abroad out of my system." And praetor would mean at least another few years in Rome. Then again - as he advised Gaius himself, he really should be settling down and staying put to foster a family and build his political connections. But that just seemed so...boring and dull. Not very Longinus-like at all. Maybe he'd have to go to Greece again on another holiday with Attis. "Get him to clear them up then," He offered with no pretence, "What's the worst that can happen from this? Senators cut you off? Some choice graffiti?" TAG: @Sharpie

"I did see your brother, good guess." She shot him a look that spoke volumes. At least he seemed to be on the precipice of admitting it, although not quick enough for her tastes. It was major news although mercifully she had kept it from her fathers desk for now. "My litter was stopped on the way home by a vigiles unit. Lucius was there, proudly telling me how he was to be adopted and that he was joining the vigiles and that he was - it seemed - getting some work experience." She kept walking and flicked her gaze back to the front, staring down the horizon with a sharp inhale of annoyance, "He was quite complimentary about you actually - explained how hard you were working to find him an adoptive family...of course, that was before he said that he didn't care if you disowned him publicly, that this was more important." She shook her head, revelling again in her disbelief. "Is that about it, for your news?" TAG: @Sharpie

"I don't know, Vitus?" The man came into view - with the most inscrutable expression on his face, "Can you read?" The man merely gave a tight smile which made Longinus snort in amusement. Aching a brow, he merely gave Gaius a smug grin. "For four glorious years from eighteen to twenty-two, I'll have you know. Under Decimus Junius Silanus, Gods keep him, he taught me everything I know - including how to play to my strengths." Which was his rapport with his men and the chaotic but unambiguously brilliant bouts of creativity in strategies or discipline that kept his legions going battle after battle, raid after raid. He once recalled a conversation with Titus where they'd lamented their weaknesses and celebrated their strengths; Titus had been the man that would religiously follow the strategies and battle plans written about in the annals of history - meticulously executing it with ruthless efficiency. Longinus was the man that was mad enough to try them for the first time, and ergo get them in the history books. "Drudgery and politics are not my strengths. It's why I often pine for a posting and then shake myself and realise I should probably aim a little higher. What about you?" He took a sip, "What's on the cards for your career?" TAG: @Sharpie

Ovinia shot him a curious look, brow arched, gaze assessing. "I'll be fine, thank you." That was a lie - her fingers were already tingling in the cold and she cursed herself for listening to her mother and was already dreaming of a long, languid soak in a warm bath. But there were more pressing things to deal with now, including the fact he utterly avoided her question. "So no news..." She summarised as they began their walk around the gardens. She kept a brisk pace rather than the gentle roaming they had on their previous excursions. "I have news..." she started and kept her dark gaze ahead as the wind whipped up the edge of her palla around her ankles, making the small gold disks on one edge flutter musically in the breeze. "I went to a party, Pontia Vesipillia's engagement party actually. It was dull, as expected." She didn't like Pontia and it only aggrieved her more that she'd had to celebrate her frankly outrageously good match, "But on the way back would you believe what I saw?" she gave him an opening, to see if he'd bite. TAG: @Sharpie

Ovinia was still not convinced but she - to her shame - supposed she hadn't really considered that slaves couldn't really say...no. She took her freedom for granted, she knew that, but...what else was she supposed to do? With a light exhale, she nodded and glanced towards the door where a slave was lingering with a curious look. Clearly the one that had fled from her hadn't returned home to tell them what had happened. Coward. Well...he'd get his comeuppance. "Yes, yes come in...Daxus, fetch my father." She dipped her head at the slave who scurried inside and Ovinia followed in with a relaxed smile over her shoulder to Alexius. She felt a wave of relief wash over her as she entered the warmth of the richly, elaborately, expensively decorated atrium. She had a moment to gather her breath and glance at Alexius in embarrassment about just how...much she had, when she heard the heavy footsteps of her father who appeared, breathless around the corner. "Ovinia Camilla..." He was furious, she could tell. "What is the meaning of this? Who is this man?" he rounded on Alexius, "Who are you?" TAG: @Atrice

Longinus let out a garrulous laugh at his description of his brother and raised his cup in his own toast. For one of the few times in his life, he was glad he was an only child. Arching a brow, he snorted. "Don't think I didn't know you were manipulating me in much the same way as my Tribune." There always had been a nice neat stack of orders for him to sign, which had made life easier and allowed him to get on with the creative side of the job which was both much more enjoyable, and much more within his skillset. "And I know, I know." He waved a hand, "But if I did that then the next time I met my clients they'd ask me if I read their latest letter and I'd have to bullshit my way through because all I did was sign it. I tried it," He chuckled, "It didn't end very well. It was easier in the legions - if I didn't want to do something you could do it for me, but now?" He sighed and shrugged, "Much like you, I don't have a brother to palm things off onto." TAG: @Sharpie

Charis tried to pull her arm back as Wulfric reached for it. So like his father that it almost made her flinch. She followed him though, as any good slave would until they were round the corner and she snatched her arm back, holding it around her waist - out of his reach. "How do you not see it?" She choked in response, shaking her head with a deep frown and an anguished expression that was utterly genuine. "Of course you've disrupted things! That is not a criticism, Wulfric, it is clear! Domine likes control, he likes to know what everybody is doing and what everybody is thinking and you've come here and...and he doesn't know what you want, he doesn't know how to react to you and...and...maybe you can't trust me! Maybe you shouldn't!" She choked back, "But I am trying to help you and help domine...but...forget it!" She threw up her hands in frustration, "What do I know, right? I'm just a slave." She was frustrated and she was indignant and she was walking a fine line between being honest and being well...foolish. TAG: @Atrice

"Here, here!" He grinned and held his cup aloft after downing his refilled beverage for Attis to slosh more wine into. "I'm always available for your drinking needs, anything to get me out of the correspondence." He smirked, "When my father died I wish he bloody told me how much mindless administration there was being paterfamilias." Stretching out his aching legs on a small table just in front of the couch (rather than using the sofa as intended) he eyed Gaius. "Well...if you need anything, beyond my wine cellar, you know where to find me. I meant what I said about finding him a family." His clients were good and most importantly patient with their well meaning but paperwork-phobic patron. TAG: @Sharpie

Longinus arched a brow and gave Gaius a deadpan look. "You were always the most honourable Tribune I had, I'm sure you will be utterly impeccable and I've not heard anything untoward mentioned about your lovely sister." It was just Lucius then, the black sheep as it were. Sinking down lower on the couch and holding his cup out to be refilled, he let out a huff of thought. "Send him away to a province? Heard Hispania's nice this time of year..." He grinned, "You could let him do whatever he wanted there - out of the way, in the quiet anonymity. Claim he's infirm or something?" TAG: @Sharpie

Ovinia listened with genuine interest, finding the conversation the perfect antidote to what had happened - the perfect distraction. She didn't know where she'd heard the rumours that they were all staged, but it had stuck. Nodding, she glanced towards him; "And yet you speak about it with such reverence and...enjoyment," She managed a small laugh, feeling a little more like herself, "I...confess I don't understand. If I was...hurt," She glanced across at him with an anxious expression, harking back to what had happened only a little while ago, "I wouldn't particularly like to repeat it and I don't think I'd find it...fun." She chose to take his first statement as a compliment and concentrated on his second. His request startled her though and she blinked across at him. "I...would have to ask my father," Who would say no unless he had a convincing reason to the contrary, "But I'd enjoy that. I know nothing and whenever I go with my brothers they just presume I know." She chuckled. "We're nearly here," she said with a relieved smile but paused and hesitated. "I owe you my thanks I...wish I could offer you something." TAG: @Atrice

"We have time." She repeated but offered a light, small laugh. "But I remember saying that when we got married...I said to myself that we had time to conceive and then I felt pregnant a month after we wed," She shook her head amused, "And then I remember saying we had time before the civil war would erupt and well...before we knew it you and Felix were off in the night." She sighed, "Life moves too fast. In my head I'm still that eighteen year old you married...and I'm thirty-three and about to be a mother for the third time." Where had the years gone? TAG: @Sharpie

"I'm not..." She tried to protest, but judging by the firm tone and glance he spared her, he didn't particularly believe her. Charis shook her head in deep confusion, a frown creasing her brow. "But he won't let you see Antonia or my son...Peregrinus, if he doesn't trust you, Wulfric. Teutus..." She sighed, "He has a complex relationship with domine, I...he's a good man but he won't convince domine that you are here for a good reason...or if he does, I'm not sure domine will believe him." She swallowed, huffing out a breath in irritation. "I...I don't understand what I've done Wulfric." She looked upset, frowning up at him. She'd obviously not been convincing but in her estimation, she hadn't been particularly untruthful just...probing. Frustrated, she sighed deeply; "I just...I just don't know. You have come here and you disrupt things and I'm trying to be kind and...what? You don't trust me?" TAG: @Atrice

Longinus snorted in amusement, shaking his head. "It won't be as bad as that, you'll find yourself a nice divorcee with terrible lineage and barren who'll snap you up." He was joking, of course, but realised he may have gone too far and his usual brand of humour might not be so suited to this particular moment in Gaius' life. "There's been worse things that have happened to sitting Senators. You remember old Gavius Paratus? Didn't his daughter run off with some freedman? And oh-" He chuckled, "And then you have my intend's family...two sons by two different mothers for Praetor Varus and they're both slaves, yet he's recognised the latest as his heir." He shook his head, "Your brother joining a decent, old equite family to do a job for the city well...it won't matter to anybody who you really care about." At least in his professional opinion. TAG: @Sharpie

"It's been fine." She replied, striving not to sound terse although she wasn't sure she was overwhelmingly successful. She plastered on a thin smile and inclined her head; "And yours?" Her slave cleared his throat behind her and Ovinia wrapped the tighter palla about herself, feeling an awkwardness settle between the group in a way it hadn't before. Deciding to try and break it up, she gestured to the winding path that led further into the gardens; "A walk?" It would get her out of earshot of her slave who - whilst good at his job as an escort - wasn't a particularly fast walker. "I've been here so many times but never really in the winter. I remember why now." She was trying to make a joke, cheer herself up but it was falling flat. She couldn't get over the irritation that rolled in waves when she glanced his way and strove to keep her gaze forward. "It's been a few weeks...how have you been? Any exciting news?" TAG: @Sharpie

November, 76AD - a few days after Curbside Patrol In the five months that she'd been seeing Gaius Vipsanius Roscius, they must have visited every major tourist attraction in Rome. Barring the dinner at his domus in June, they'd gone to the Mausoleum of Augustus in August, a couple of temples in September, the Gardens of Maecenas in October and now here they were - or here she was waiting for him - on a blustery day in November, in the Gardens of Sallust. She wrapped her palla around herself to try and preserve some warmth and really wish she'd traded the idea of the gardens for one of the temples. At least they had fire. She supposed it was her own fault for dressing for fashion rather than practicality, but such was the lot of women on the marriage market and her mother had politely informed her that no man wanted to be seen with a woman dressed in a cloak that looked like a slave. Not that she particularly wanted to come today. Duty told her she had to although the prospect of making idle conversation with a man who had sanctioned his own brother into the most foolhardy endeavour, was less than thrilling. She was so cross and she didn't know why. She didn't know why it bothered her that Lucius had decided to forgo his family - beyond that he was abjectly rude to her that evening, or why she was so irritated that Gaius should let him. It wasn't her family - yet - and still it bothered her deeply in a way she couldn't shake off. She even looked aggrieved, jaw grinding together, mouth pressed into a thin line and eyes narrowed as she kept a lookout for him in one of the many shaded porticos that littered the garden. When she did spot him, she only made a vague gesture of greeting - inclining her head - and offered a tight smile, "Senator Roscius." TAG: @Sharpie

Longinus shrugged, "I love my daughter dearly," although she felt like a stranger half the time and seemed to far prefer Metella's company to his own, "But she's not a son and neither of us are getting any younger." He could have had another son. He almost had, before the dream drifted through his fingers like sand on a beach and Sestia flew back to Africa. "I'm making entreaties of the Vari, Sergia Auletia - Praetor Varus' neice." He grinned, "Have yet to meet the lady one on one though, mind, don't get any ideas and pursue her yourself." He chuckled. Scratching his jaw and the stubble that littered it, he winced, "I don't...really have any other opinions though, or help on this. I got Sergia's name from a list that Titus..." He corrected himself, he didn't know if Gaius and Titus were acquainted and thought he should remedy that, "Senator Sulpicius Rufus gave me. Lots of eligible women on the list...none particularly interesting, save Sergia." Stifling a yawn on the back of his hand, he shrugged; "So when do you set out to find your equites for your brother? Do let me know if I can be there for the show when the other Senators hear about it." TAG: @Sharpie

Longinus snorted and shrugged, "My late wife and I were married for nine years...although granted I was in Britannia for six of them." Which sounded worse out loud than it was in reality...at least to him. He suspected that had Antonia Nennia been here, she would have strongly disagreed. "And...Gods keep her but we couldn't stand each other for most of that time. My advice?" Which was terrible advice from a man with terrible taste in women if Antonia and Sestia were anything to go by, "Pick a beauty. That way - even if you can't stand each other - you'll get a son...although," He glanced self-consciously in the direction of his daughters bedroom, "That didn't work out so well for me." With a sigh, he considered Gaius. "What's wrong with this Ovinia that you don't see it going anywhere? With Antonia, her father was an oaf but I offered above and beyond with my spoils from Britannia. You must have a fair amount in the bank, so to speak." TAG: @Sharpie

Longinus choked down another mouthful of wine and then let out a howling laugh. The image was a picture he wanted to see firsthand. Always a fan of oddities and irreverence, he had to admire the balls on Lucius Vipsanius Roscius to do something like that...and be utterly shameless about it. Even if he did feel equally sorry for Gaius at having to deal with the fallout. "Were they decent olives at least?" He quipped with his laughter settling into a grin. He sighed and rolled his neck until it gave a satisfying click and then turned his attentions back to Gaius. "You want my advice? If you don't think he'll be dissuaded, let him do it. I have a couple of good, decent equite families that are clients that would do right by him. But tell him that being Tribune doesn't mean you have to be the poor bloke running into the fire," He chuckled, "You get to tell the others to do that." Sighing, he continued after a beat, "And you had better get yourself married and get a son. Not implying you're old..." He grinned, "But you get hit by a cart or fall in the Tiber tomorrow and what's left of the gens if you're gone?" TAG: @Sharpie

Amused and gratified by his pseudo-apology, she shrugged her shoulders. "No name springs to mind yet, but I've got the reading club next week and there's a few new young women who have joined, and other women with daughters the right sort of age. I'll put my mind to task on it." and she'd likely have a list by the next ides, fully organised and sorted according to rank and family and prospects and age etc. "Titus has shown no inclinations in that department as far as I'm aware," She shot her husband a 'I don't want to know if he has' look - that was what slavegirls and houses of ill-repute were for, "And I've not been suitably impressed by any of the younger women I've met." She smiled wryly. Titus was only fifteen, which would mean potential spouses would be younger and therefore it was difficult to judge the merits of a girl still playing with dolls. Given Aulus' success they, likewise, had no need to be desperate and jump at the first high-bred girl and her father that came their way. They could afford to wait and be picky. "Flatterer." she rolled her eyes again, "Has anybody approached you about Titus?" TAG: @Sharpie

Ideals were all well and good and he himself had a streak of it (perhaps why many of his battlefield orders and stratagems were met with bemused glances), but this was a step beyond even that. He'd confined his idealism and irreverence to a life worthy of a patrician, and hadn't - in his own estimation - taken the easy way out as Gaius' brother appeared to be. Although he quite quickly felt bad for that thought and the judgement. "You've got more courage than me," He chuckled with an anguished expression for his friend on his face, "I'd have told him no if you felt this strongly about it. He understands the implications it could have on your own reputation? And that you have no other heir...unless it's been so long since we've caught up that you're about to tell me you have a wife and four sons." He grinned and shook his head with a sigh, "I understand where his heart is coming from but...surely there's another way?" TAG: @Sharpie

Horatia rolled her eyes - something she rarely did - as Aulus launched into his little speech about the suitability of their daughter for Caesar. When he finally finished, she arched a brow which clearly implied 'are you done?' before she drew a breath and shook her head. "I was not implying Calpurnia, I know as well as you she'd struggle and resent it more than she'd enjoy the difference she could make." She bristled slightly at the words 'shyer person even than you' - thinking that she wasn't shy, merely calculating in what she chose to engage in, "It was a broader question than of our immediate family. A man needs a wife, and yes I know he's young but he came to the purple younger than his predecessor and such things as heirs and children are important to think about, wouldn't you agree? Sometimes a man needs a steadier hand at home than in his consilium." TAG: @Sharpie