Beauty

He liked knowing things about other people, their secrets, and he liked having the power to use that to manipulate things in order to gain. But with this man, it was curiosity. It was good to be curious. The more information one had, the better. There was certainly a dark side to this man, something that could be of use to him in the future perhaps. But it was like staring at a ghost. By the time the man would find Titus, he was in a room tossing grapes into his mouth like he hadn’t just watched a man bring pain to a young woman, new to the world of slavery and prostitution. He turned to face the other man, displaying a smile on his face as if unaware of what went on. “How was she?” he said. He’d seen enough to know how it went but it was still difficult to get inside this man’s head. An interesting challenge. “Some women cry too much, others fight back too much.” He placed another grape in his mouth, chewed and swallowed. “Do have some grapes, they’re quite fresh.” Again, as if he’d not just seen a man give a woman no modicum of pleasure. There was no real emotion to his voice despite his words. “Anyways, I find the reactions interesting the first time. It’s all real, especially when there’s pain and blood.” Titus wasn’t completely a sadist, nor did he exactly believe what he said, but wanted to test if the man was anything like how his brother had been. Violent, horrific and unable to be restrained. @Atrice

Her fellow slaves noticed a change in the girl, her spirits were up and no longer was she crying deep into the night. The main reason was Helios, giving her colour in her otherwise dull and grey life, but there was also news of her sister’s survival. She was a slave just like her, so Rufus had said. It was new that she could not wait to tell Helios. When a week flew by and its end was approaching, Nymphias spent her day alert, looking impatiently out the windows to see if she could catch Helios’ figure. When forced elsewhere to work within the home, deep within it and where she couldn’t overlook the streets, she hurried along so that she could quickly return to look out the window. When finally she had time to spare by noon, she changed into her best and placed a sea blue ornament, which she’d bought when she met Clio, onto her hair and dressed well especially for Helios. Slipping out into the world, she carefully looked around her, making sure no one, particularly her masters, didn’t see where she was going. Nervous but excited, she wandered until she caught sight of Helios. He looked very handsome, just as she remembered. The hair pulled back did accentuate his nicely forged jaw. She hurried over to where he was up against a wall. She couldn’t stop smiling like a fool, fidgeting and heart beating louder than it had the entire week. “Helios,” she said happily, her musings were becoming a reality. “You look like most handsome man in Rome.” Surely Erea, now Charis apparently, couldn’t disagree. “I also have good news but I tell you when we get to… place. Better to hear when sitting.” @Atrice

Titus gave the man a nod, a smile still on his face, never leaving. After all, he was a businessman, smiles meant friendliness. No one would buy from a man who frowned. Everything he did was in the name of money. With that he turned on his heels, eyeing the young slave girl who gave him a look of pleading, before he closed the door. Titus hadn’t seen most of the earlier exchange as he wandered through his brothel, its walls and floors familiar like the back of his hand. It did tickle his mind to find his sister but he was curious about the man he’d just met. Something about him separated him from some of his other customers. Sometimes hiding and watching gave him a good indicator into what men liked, it allowed him to cater to their needs and milk more money out of them. There were times he didn’t bother, some men were far too easy to read. Needless to say, Titus couldn’t wait to see what the man had up his sleeve. And so, he travelled to a room which lay next to the one he’d left the whore and man in. It was a quiet, private room, similar to others spread out throughout the brothel, and this one had a means for him to look into the actions of some of his customers. It was then he could see the others plainly as if in broad daylight. The candles in the room were dim but was enough for him to see. By this point in time, her tunica was on the floor and the young girl was on the bed, naked, and staring at the ceiling above her unhappily, fighting the tears in her eyes. She wasn’t daring to look at the man. She had learned to be obedient, that was good, thought Titus. She lay there, fearful, despondent, and waiting. A normal person would have felt something, pity for the girl, disgust perhaps, but not Titus, he would use the weak and voiceless if it meant he would get money out of it. @Atrice

Titus nodded as the man spoke and the whore girl picked up her pace, following the two men who she was at the mercy to. She was unhappy, this Titus could tell, but there was nothing Titus could do about it. Slavery had existed before her and well after her, it would continue whether he partook in its formation or not. But he certainly benefitted from it and so he took all opportunities he could make off of slaves grasping tightly with both hands. “After should be fine,” said Titus with a nod, ignoring how the slave’s eyes watered or how she looked despondent. “You have your enjoyments first and then we’ll talk price.” They’d mentioned a discount, Titus hadn’t forgotten about it. They were nearing a free room and Titus could feel the tension building within the whore girl as he soon stopped before a door. Titus would have taken the time to take a whore of his own, free of charge, but he didn’t usually like the idea of whoring while working. He preferred to keep his person separate from his workplace where he needed a completely different persona. There was watching his patron and whore from behind the wall but that depended on his own curiosity, there was many to spy on from the shadows. He opened the door and gestured for the two to enter, whore and man. “I should be simple to find should any issues arise,” said Titus, a smile still painted on his lips. “I trust you will handle the delicate flower well.” The man by now likely knew he was free to do as he pleased. Titus only cared about what coin landed in his coffers. @Atrice

Like a curious cat, Titus’ eyes followed the other man as he got to his feet and walked to them. It was Titus’ belief that one could tell a lot about someone based on how they behaved and so it was in Titus’ interest that to watch. He simply sat back in his chair, allowing for the interaction between the man and his new whore to take place. The young woman did not shed her clothes as he had asked her to and who knew what her reasons were but she was likely uncomfortable. Whatever Titus felt about the girl or the situation, he didn’t express it on his face but allowed the man to do as he pleased. After all, he was right. Titus had asked her to strip and as it stood, the man could do whatever he wanted because he was going to pay. The girl’s fiddling stopped and her chiton fell to the floor. Titus swirled his cup and drank the rest of his wine. “Very good,” he said, smiling widely, setting down the cup and heading towards the door for the man and the whore to follow. “Do you have any preferences for the room? Or would any room do?” He was already heading in the direction of one of the more cleaner, lavishly decorated rooms but some men were pickier than others so he asked just to make sure. @Atrice

Nymphias followed his sweeping motion. Admittedly, it took a while for her to understand his answer, if she understood it at all in the end. He was gesturing towards the East, that much she knew. He was from somewhere East of Rome. Where exactly, Nymphias didn’t know. She’d grown up only knowing Britannia, a small, dreary place and hadn’t realised how big the world was, how much was actually out there apart from her little settlement, until she was taken from her home. She tried to focus on his next motion so that she could understand him. “So you killed deer,” she said, repeating what he said back to him to confirm it and show she was listening. She wondered how many might have bothered with communicating with him, listening even, merely because he was a mute. It was a challenge to understand him but she knew her Latin wasn’t all that great and people probably struggled to piece together what she meant. But she felt pity, perhaps because of what she assumed had been done to him and seeing the scars had surely inspired it. “I never hunted,” she explained. “I did sewing dresses.” Probably not interesting for a boy to hear though, she thought. “Is that why Romans choose for you to help with White Horse and not helping a family? Because you know animals a lot?” She supposed he might, he’d hunted before and so she assumed he knew how to deal with a wide array of beasts. @Chevi

Aventine, in the subura, Titus made kept that in mind and “completely untouched by slaves” got his attention peaked, nodding his head to show his interest. There were only a few things slaves were good for just like women, he thought. Submission, sex and beating when they didn’t want either. Most of all, they were good for acting like his eyes and ears around Rome. The new set of slaves arrived, the door opening caught his attention. Titus was wondering how long they would take to come but it seemed that they had come promptly and without question. Those entering looked fearful, some shaking, others quiet and blank. Titus rarely ever slept with his workers, his sister often told him it wasn’t good to “shit where you eat”, or something to that effect, but there was sometimes no helping, especially the darker haired girls who arrived. For boys, dark wigs and gowns would do, emasculating them. Whatever the man didn’t take, perhaps Titus would. Just this one time. “I won’t say a thing, I’ll let their bodies do the talking,” said Titus before turning to snap his fingers harshly at his workers from where he sat, one leg folded over the other and his other hand holding his cup. “Strip,” he barked at them. Immediately they all began to shed their clothes. “Do you see any to your liking?” He turned his attention to the man, curious. @Atrice

Her eyes followed to where he was pointing, the flags hanging in the race course. Nymphias was proud that she had been able to read, though she knew her knowledge on such matters was very limited and was likely bound to make a mistake at some point. But he then indicated for her to follow and she did. But it wasn’t long until she noticed the FVG brand and the scars. The tattoo was one thing but the scars and the brand was another, telling a completely other story that only caused Nymphias to part her lips in shock and to unceremoniously stare. Noticing that she was, she tried to hide it and quickly averted her gaze. She’d seen horrible things but horrible things never stopped surprising her and in that moment, she knew he was stronger than her. Noticing him move from the corner of her eyes, she looked again and tried to make out what he was saying, still flustered from what she’d seen and also realising that Azarion was a mute perhaps because of the Romans. She forced a smile. “No, I am not warrior, I am slave,” she said but the ship made her realise that he was maybe asking her where she was from. “Britannia. What about you?” She was curious about him, especially because he was around her own age. “And what is this for?” She pointed to her ankle, indicating his tattoo. @Chevi

Nymphias smiled widely, she was glad that her sister wasn’t harmed by her master and that he’d even said that she looked like Erea. After all, Erea, just like their mother, was an idol of hers, someone she looked up to and still did, even if they were apart. Nymphias’ own master was kind, as was his wife and children, though still very strange. But Romans were strange in general to the girl. Nymphias’ eyes widened in awe of her sister. Erea had the mind for it and it sounded very much like something Erea would do. Nymphias, on the other hand, was not being nearly as clever, instead moping like the wreck she was and worse. “That I am well and that not worry about me,” said Nymphias, playing with her hands because it was a habit of hers. But she doubted Erea would not worry, she was an older sister and worrying was rooted in their bones. The news of her sister lightened her mood considerably. “Thank you for helping us, Rufus. You are very kind man and I will repay you with very much kindness.” And then almost as if she remembered, she add: “And do I have niece or nephew now?” @Sharpie

Tertius Quintilicius Varus, Nymphias tried to repeat in her mind over and over again. But the name “Charis” did ring a bell, Nymphias’ mind tried to search as to what conversation she’d heard it from. And then it dawned on her. Helios had mentioned such a name, only he had said the person who belonged to that name was anything but sweet. But there were probably a good few slaves with that name too. “Are you sure her name now Charis?” said Nymphias, brows furrowing. And yet Rufus had said her sister’s name and her tribe name. But she was disappointed when he had said she was the first he’d come across. But she’d take any good news at the moment, especially with how terrible her days had been without family. “Is Tartarus Quintilicius Varus good man like my domine? Is Erea well? She not have her tongue cut out or hurt? How you know I was my sister’s sister? Do we look the same? How can I repay you for kindness?” So many questions but she had a lot and being curious, worried and many other things, she just blurted everything that came to mind, even if she had more questions. And for a lot of them, most not asked, time could only give the best answers. @Sharpie

Titus nodded his head as the man spoke. There were some people who delved deeply into preferences, sometimes boring Titus and other times entertaining him the way one of Landicus’ poems might, but rarely ever shocking him, and then there were those who simply stared and said nothing. But the man’s words were in a healthy medium, neither too curt nor too detailed. Titus’ attention was peaked when the man mentioned “price” and “payment”. It was noticeable in the way he stirred, turning his body ever so slightly to face the other and there was, of course, a smile on his face. To appear all the more friendly now that money was being discussed. He was asking for a discount. Normally only reserved such a favour when he saw fit and this was one of them. He’d be receiving less money but the more loyal a man, the more it would add in time. “I do need to shave quite often and the price does accumulate,” he said. His slaves could do the job but Titus did prefer the work of professionals, it looked better and in that vein, a discount sounded perfect. “And I can appreciate another man of business. Very well, you have my interest. In return, I will keep some of Elysium’s newest whores reserved for you and you can do with them as you like for as long as you like.” Anything to keep a man coming to Elysium and no other brothel. @Atrice

Some people seemed to speak well with horses, this boy was one of them. Nymphias’ hand still hovered over the horse nervously, cautious not to frighten the animal before her hand began to caress gently. Nymphias beamed brightly. With her attention returned to the boy, she watched as he tapped the tablet around his neck. He pointed at it and she watched him carefully, trying to pay attention. She knew very little of Latin letters and numbers, a lot of it was so confusing but she was aware of enough to make out some simple words, nothing beyond that, and all remembered by noticing similarities. It took her a while to figure out what was said. “Az..azarion,” she said, repeating what she’d picked up but somehow she felt like she’d read it all wrong. “W…white horse?” She was still stroking the horse, she could feel her body heat radiating off against her and feel the softness of the fur on her fingertips. A pleasant change to scrubbing the floors of the kitchen. “Nymphias. I do work for Titus Scul-sculpius Rufus and family. They are good people.” She couldn’t say anything bad about the people she served. While she hated that she didn’t hate them the way she thought she should, saying anything bad was potentially costly. “You don’t help family, only horses?” She was still learning how slavery worked to begin with and she wanted to learn quickly, knowing she was the type to drown very quickly. “And they like bad beasts, your domine or good like mine?” @Chevi

She’d have asked him about Campania but now wasn’t the time. He’d mentioned her sister’s name. It was too specific and there was really one woman she knew who had that name that was family. Nymphias was in shock, blinking, trying to hold back a wide array of feelings. She hadn’t caught the senator’s name, only the “Varus” because it was short, nice and simple to remember. She didn’t know if she wanted to sit down, hug him in thanks or to just continue staring blankly as she was. “What?” she said, trying to fight back tears. She wasn’t sad, she was both happy and relieved that Erea wasn’t dead as she had feared. But how simple now would it be to find Erea in a place as big as Rome, now that she knew she was here too? “And what about my brother? Mother? Immin?” She was so hopeful that they were in Rome too, perhaps the family could be together again. Nymphias would be resting easier in the coming days with the news of her sister’s survival. Now that she could see he was a friend of Erea’s, she saw him as a friend of hers. @Sharpie

She turned her head to stare at him, brows creasing and lips forming a frown. She wondered if she’d ever seen him before in Rome or back home. The answer was no, they’d only just met. She’d have remembered a young man with hair like his. Nymphias stopped in her tracks and she was stunned, her expression probably showed it. “How do you know?” she said, surprised and holding onto her things. There were a million thoughts running in her head of how he might have come to know that about her. Maybe it was obvious but it seemed very specific. “You… been following me?” She was far too trusting but in the same breath, since her entry into slavery and the disappearance of her family, she could be paranoid. Her emotions and thoughts were usually turbulent. It could have been the crowds or noise of the market but it seemed to agitate her mind. @Sharpie

The boy pointed at the backside of the horse or rather, near to it. Smiling, Nymphias bent downwards but when she did, her smile disappeared. It felt strange to be looking at a horse there and had to apologise in her head. Worst of all, the boy probably thought she was an idiot. She straightened her back and her attention then returned to the boy, who was moving his hands about. Her brows furrowed, mostly because she didn’t know what he was doing at first before it slowly sank in. The race course was unusual looking and the sun was bright, she hadn’t seen anything like it back in Britannia. She was accustomed only to her family’s small settlement and the vividly green nature that surrounded it. But she was more distracted by the horse. She preferred, smaller, gentler animals but horses had a majestic way about them and being both young and captivated, she wanted to be closer. Nymphias raised a hand above the horse’s neck, indicating that she wanted to pet the horse. “She is very pretty,” she said, embarrassed about her earlier comment still. “Can I touch?” She did not yet touch the horse, waiting for the boy’s approval, if one came. “I have not seen race yet, I hear it is unsafe. But horses maybe are worth seeing.” @Chevi

Titus gave Heliodoros a stern look and the slave backed off. What the beautiful youth had done wasn’t enough to incite a beating, let alone a scolding, but it was enough for him to wave a hand and dismiss him immediately. He turned to the man, listening carefully, trying to gauge how to exactly traverse this man. Some men were simpler to read than others. “No need to apologise,” said Titus, waving a hand as if it was nothing. But deep down Titus did worry about losing a potential customer, particularly one that, for once, unlike some weren’t riddled in dung and whatever other filth the lower classes had on them when coming into his establishment. Cheap prices brought all kinds of men in, that much was for certain. Happy customers became loyal customers and loyal customers kept the coin mounds growing. “I will have Eutropia go and quickly bring in our latest additions,” he said, turning to one of the slaves, a woman, and nodded his head. One by one the slaves left, pouring out of the room, perhaps sighing in relief. “All new, not yet worked, trained or, as you say, broken in. And you can most certainly lend a hand in that, in any way that you wish. Tell me, what do your desires look like? You may speak openly if you want to, the gods know I won’t judge.” He certainly didn’t. It took a sick man to let others like him or worse to do as they pleased with his prostitutes. @Atrice

She opened the palm of her hand, showcasing a number of coins and the way a dog waits for treats, she waited for him to indicate what coin or coins she had to use. She handed the shopkeeper the coins and happily took the loaves of bread before following Rufus away from the stall, the glorious Roman sun bearing down on them. As wet, windy and unpredictable as Britannia’s weather was, she much preferred it, simply because it was a part of home. She turned her head left and right before pressing a forefinger to her lips. “Shhh,” she said dramatically. She had heard slaves got their tongues ripped out for even uttering their names. But one of the slaves at her master’s home had told her that merely breathing was an insult to Rome and therefore, a slave shouldn’t be caught dead breathing. Nymphias knew that wasn’t true but had been too anxious to even laugh. “Can I say my name?” Her voice was lowered, practically asking permission. Her eyes surveyed the area before leaning forwards to whisper in his ear. “My name is… was Ardra.” @Sharpie

She had been to this area of Rome before, seeking safety within the Temple of Cymbele when trying to escape a “monster” of a man who’d been following her, the way a bear might when tracking its prey. That was when she met Clio, who’d brought her to a nearby shop with pretty hair ornaments. This time, however, she was a lot more cautious, not just making sure that she wouldn’t be stalked, apparently because she had “I’m an easy target” air about her, but from not becoming lost. Running errands led her in the area again. She’d seen the Circus Maximus before but this time, as she had time to spare, her curiosity got the better of her. Nymphias had been in the spectator stands but wandered down to a door at the walls, leading into the race course, to simply linger and observe. It proved to be a daring, almost stupid idea once a horse came in her direction. Behind the animal was a boy about her age, an inch shorter. How adorable, she could just pinch his cheeks! Nymphias panicked, retreating into the doorway until the horse slowed down and it was only then that she rushed to try and catch the reigns to help the boy. “Here,” she said shyly to the boy, handing him the reigns. Her attention returned to the horse and wanted to stroke it but wasn’t sure if she was allowed. “He is very beautiful. You are lucky, you work here with animals. Not people.” She didn’t hate people, they just scared her. She pointed at the horse. “What is his name?” @Chevi

“I suppose the question now isn’t what will please you but who will please you,” he said, sitting down on a chair, he then gestured for the man to sit down as well. After all, this was no more a show than what one might find with actors and actresses. Titus took a hold of one of the cups swirled it as he listened to the man speak. “Ah, perhaps you might find Amita to be the woman of your longings.” He gestured with his hand for dark-skinned woman to come forward and she did. She was young and hardly clothes, she moved seductively before the two men before stopping right before Marcus. With a spin of his finger, Amita spun around for the man. She was smiling, perhaps because she knew what would happen if she didn’t. “One of our newest additions, bred and born in India. Amita is a docile creature,” he said as the woman posed in various positions. “Pleasant, submissive yet eager to be taken by someone, perhaps forcefully. She is just a girl but she will need someone to make her into a woman.” His eyes looked to the other man, studying him. “Or would you prefer a man. How about Heliodorus? A towering, handsome Greek.” A handsome men paced forwards, golden hair, and strong features. He moved behind Marcus and began to massage him. “Heliodorus is one of Elysium’s most experienced, he can perform both penetrative and receptive sex,” he continued casually as if he were merely speaking about the weather. “Worried about someone who talks too much? Look no further, the man lacks a tongue, ripped out in the heat of battle, so they say. Neither tickle your fancy? Well, I have plenty more in stock and questions are welcome…” @Atrice

Her head snapped from Rufus to the shopkeeper before returning to Rufus. She held up a finger, just the way he did. “Two,” she said, showing two fingers. Things were much easier when she could see them, she wasn’t quite good with numbers but there was also the element of panic, which only aided in clouding her judgement. Imagine if she hadn’t met Rufus, she thought. She would have been doomed, left navigating the confusing waters of Rome all alone. She turned to him cheerfully, a stark difference to how she’d been to when she’d first met him, a wreck on the verge of tears. “I never good with money,” she admitted. She helped out at home with anything she could, mostly cooking and cleaning, things she knew she was skilled at, but her gods knew she had tried learning how to handle money. “My sister good at book-keep—book-keeping,” she said, her expression turning pensive and a little sad. “She was very smart. Is very smart, I mean.” Erea couldn’t be dead. Nymphias refused to believe it. “Were you book-keeping where you from?” @Sharpie

He listened intently to the man, trying to garner what type of man he was dealing with. He doubted the man was indecisive, rather he didn’t know perhaps how to translate his desires into the real world. Titus was much the same, he believed. He liked all women, all men. Tall, fat, short, old, young. He was always wanting but nothing seemed to compare to the one depraved fantasy he had. It was about making the illusion into a reality. A side smile made itself onto Titus’ face, catching that the man was someone dangerous. Someone who would harm another should they become cross. “I would prefer them to work, yes, but I am sure arrangements could be made,” he said before extending his arm for the man to follow him and Titus began to walk. “But what I recommend might not be what you need or want.” As he walked, he took to elaborating, waving his hands to emphasise his words. “I want to make sure you get what you want and need so that your experience here is paramount. As such, I have prepared a showing. I’ll have my best brought specifically to you for display. There are some that specialise in the darker and more violent side of sex, and others who will engage in pretend and play.” He wanted the man to know that whatever fantasy, desire he had, the Elysium would bend backwards to make it a reality. He came to a door and pushed it open, allowing the man to enter first. Inside were whores lined up, all naked and silent, all of many different ages, heights, sizes and the likes. There was wine and fruits laid out for the customer. “After you,” he said, waiting at the door. @Atrice

Ardra was dissatisfied with her brother’s response and expected a love story of the ages, instead she was met with him changing the subject. But within moments, her attention was on the child’s names again and she nodded to the suggestion of “Moira”, which sounded quite beautiful, and Turi’s compliment did indeed distract her further. Not before rolling her eyes at the fact that Immin thought the child was a boy, Ardra was sure it was a girl and wanted it to be. But if the child was a boy, she’d love him all the same and was content with “Calum” or “Cal”. As her siblings spoke some more, she began to eat away at her meal, enjoying every bit of it because Immin wouldn’t be. Ardra had been quite young when Erea met her husband and the marriage had been something that tickled the girl’s imagination, hoping for the exact same thing one day. “You heard Turi, he doesn’t need a wife because I apparently feed him so well,” said Ardra. She herself hoped to be married, she liked a good number of people, every boy and man was a potential husband, but with her family’s predicament, she wanted to help as much as she could before being whisked away. She didn’t mind waiting. “As for myself, I want to wait a year or two before getting married. I think seventeen would be the right age for a marriage. Not too old and not too young.” It was probably for the best too but as she continued to speak, she began to turn bright red and smile a little too much. “But there is one boy…” More like several. “And I think he is handsome and smart. Maybe you both could put a good word about me. I’m too shy to talk to him.” @Polarity@Sara

Blood mixed with water as Titus carefully rinsed his hands clean. Stepping away from the basin, he flicked his hands, spraying pellets, before a slave came running to him with a cloth to dry his hands. “Stop your moaning,” said Titus as if someone else’s pain bore him, dabbing his hands gently with the cloth. “If he says he wants to fuck you with a club, you let him. So long as he pays me, you will spread your legs and let him do as he pleases.” His fist spoke a thousand words, the woman wouldn’t displease another customer again. Titus was the heart of the place, his workers much like his veins and arteries, keeping the establishment’s blood pumping. Any faulty on his workers’ part was a faulty on his. Without another word, he left the room into the greater brothel. The Elysium was alive, candle lights were flickering in its dark, winding corridors and the familiar sounds of desire sang through the air like travelling music. Soon, his eyes fell on a man. Titus’ hand fell and slapped the butt-cheek of a wandering prostitute, ordering her to gather a number men and women for display in one of the rooms. Pacing towards the man with confidence, his lips upturned into a welcoming smile, the sides of his eyes crinkled in a joyful manner but his eyes were as empty as death itself. “Good evening,” he said, slapping two hands together. “What are you hoping for today? We have a number of girls and boys, young and fresh from past the Erytraen Sea, should that interest you. But, of course, you are welcome to choose your pick. I’ll have you know that we offer all kinds of services here at the Elysium, it’s the only place in Rome that allows your greatest, most wicked desires to come true.” And with that, he offered the man a wink. “And all for a decent price.” @Atrice

Edited to add Titty Titus Aspanius Lupus! Come and play with him... forever...and ever...

She hoped she aged gracefully, she’d seen some people become withered prunes from the amount of distress that beat at them, chiselling away at their skin like a mason. She wanted to marry and become a mother. Just like her own and her elder sister. However, that dream seemed to have died a little since her entrance into Rome but oddly, it still remained all the same. There was a battle between despair and hope. She simply smiled, watching him try to do what she did, and she once again reached for another honey-cake, which she was becoming addicted to because of its sweet taste. “It’s good for a beginner,” she admitted, placing her own crown on her head. “They tell me Rome was not built in day so it’s the same. You get better with practice just like you speaking my language.” And her speaking his. She turned from the senator and to the handsome view, her eyes twinkling with nostalgia and sadness. “Maybe if I have time, I come here to think just like you but I am slave so… I come in moderation.” She shifted in her position, perhaps to make herself more comfortable. “What do you think about up here when you come? You remind me of my brother, he’s so quiet like he thinking all the time. I sometimes wonder what he is thinking about and why. Maybe if I think more like him, I will survive Rome better.” She had two brothers but only one was living. At least, that is what she prayed for, when she prayed at all. For all she knew, Turi might have been dead just like her oldest brother Calpornus, just like her father. With all the losses, her siblings took up the mantle, becoming more sensible while Nymphias helped out, though delving deeper into daydreaming to escape the horrors of life. With life seeming worse now, daydreaming felt useless, even if old habits died hard. @The Young Pope