Laria

The slave Felix had sent to go get water did so, and began dabbing Callista's face with a rag soaked with it. After a few moments she began to stir and sat her upper body up looking dazed and confused, it's a very disorientating thing to fall asleep in one place only to wake up in another. She found herself laying on a bench in the atrium with Felix hovering over her. She saw a flash of gold from the corner of her eye and moved her head to see what it was, what she saw was her domina standing in the tablinum looking just as confused as she was, the gold flash must have been the sunlight reflecting off her hair. 

She turned away and faced Felix again to ask, "Felix, wha-how did I get here?" She felt exhausted, all of her adrenaline had drained out of her and it was now making it harder to focus. She stifled a yawn, and swung her legs off the bench so that she was sitting on the bench rather than laying on it. She still felt woozy but she ignored the feeling, hoping that it would go away on it's own. 

@Chevi @Sharpie @Sara

Sorry that took so long!

"It certainly is" she replied, while continuing to fan herself. she sighed and said "I should probably be getting back now" she handed back the scrap of parchment and continued saying, "thank you again for this." She stood up, brushed herself off, and said "goodbye Aglaea, I hope we meet again soon" before walking back to her familia.

@Echo Don't worry about it

So they could agree on something, she also thought that the best course of action in any situation was to feign kindness and find someone trusted, but expendable, to dispose of any of those who would oppose you. "I think you're absolutely correct" she replied "it's always best to keep people in line, and it's easiest to do that by being well liked." This was incredible, being able to have an actual conversation where she felt listened to. She knew that of all the men who she had ever meet this one was the only one that she could even consider marrying. She knew that she couldn't afford to loose him, men like him didn't grow on trees. For the first time in her life, she was unsure of how to do that, usually she focused her efforts of chasing suitors away, never trying to charm one. 

"Close calls, you say? If you don't mind me asking, I am assuming you are in high demand. A woman cannot be both beautiful and intelligent and be unmarried long in this City."

She laughed and said "I'm afraid you're wrong about that, women don't tend to be desired for their intelligence, and to be perfectly honest I've been known to scare them off" she was unsure of why she reveled this to him, it certainly wouldn't help her when it came to winning hin over. "What about you?" she asked, "surely there must be a reason why such an accomplished and attractive man is not yet married." 

@Lauren

((Me too))

@Chevi

"Oh, nothing in the slightest, still, I could see how I might conceivably change that opinion if I had a wife I genuinely wished to please."

She laughed and said "how very sweet of you, most men would just send a slave out." She really did think it was admirable, doing something you hated just to do something nice for the one you loved. 

"Thank you for your luck but I believe a man makes his own."

She smiled at him and caught his starting into her eyes, she didn't look away. They held each other's gaze for what fealt like quite some time until Marcella finally looked away. 

I understand where you are coming from but I think you must give people some credit. Also, and for the record, I don't think I have ever before been referred to as an optimist!..."

She laughed with him, she could see why, it wasn't that he was overly negative, he just didn't fit the bill of a typical optimist. From what Marcella could tell he most certainly was though, he knew that he would become even greater than he already was, and not because the world was backing him, but because he had complete faith in himself. 

"Sometimes you don't need to convince people to follow you. You make them follow you. In my experience, it does not pay to give people a choice. Offered a choice, most people will not think properly and will choose the wrong thing. Quick gratification instead of thinking long term, thinking tactically. It is why the Republic didn't work. Too many good intentions. They gave people a choice. Expected them to choose wisely. When people got smart and realized that it didn't matter which way people voted if you had an army at your back and were happy to splash cash around, suddenly they realized that choice wasn't necessary after all. So, no, Marcella. I am not a great believer in the inherent good in people. If anything, I am a realist. People will do what they think will serve them best."

"Once again I think you're over simplifying things, you cannot force people to follow you anymore than, well," she looked around for an example and laughed when another curl of her's fell in front of her face. Brushing it out of the way she continued by saying, "than my hair can be styled, it just dosent last. Eventually the ones you have forced to join you will revolt, even if what you have done is in their best interest. People are sadly just stupid that way, they're set in their ways and forcing enough of them to join you with bribery or black mail or other means will only end in disaster."  She honestly believed this, most people were sheep yes, but all it took was one brave enough to lead them and suddently theres a whole army to deal with. Still, she couldn't help but agree that with the average intelligence of Romes common citizens, it made the most sense to not let them have any say. One of her hands twitched, she had almost moved to take one of his but though better of it, hence the twitch. It had felt nice when he was holding her hands. 

"I don't see you as a woman who would be well suited to a life of weaving and managing household accounts. I am going to stick my neck out and say that I don't think you are the good sort of woman who stands behind a man and backs him up, like a proper Roman wife. No. I think you are the sort who stands right next to him, aren't you? A partner, not a pawn?"

"You would be absolutly correct, but goodness knows I've had enough practice managing accounts and weaving to be a proper wife if I wanted to. The problem is that I don't think I could live that way, I know that I would snap if I spent my days spinning for hours on end and looking forward to gossiping a dinner parties every night. I need to feel like my opinion is valid and listened to, I can't support one person on everything. I know that whomever I marry, he and I will have things that we disagree on because no two people are alike, and I know that I  wouldn't stand having my opinion discredited just because I'm the wife." At the end of her spiel she noticednotic color had risen to her cheeks just talking about it. The fact that she had gotten herself all worked up embarrassed her some, only causing her cheeks to redden further. "Sorry for that" she explained, "I've just had a couple close calls."

@Lauren

How could this had happened? What had she and Felix done to deserve this? These thoughts ran through Callistas mind as she was lead back to the domus. None of this made sense, for some unexplainable reason her domina had been targeted by a member of the praetorian guard and Felix and she were now stuck in the thick of it. 

"I know... I am sorry you had to go through all that... I was scared to. Scared he'd hurt you... We will go home and talk to dominus, and we will figure this out. And we might need your help. You said that man... thinks you work for him now? Did you get his name?"

She blushed when he looked over and said that he was afraid that he, (whomever he was) had hurt her. She shook her head at herself, she was already to emotional as it was, she couldn't be focusing on her crush too. 

"I didn't, no" she answered "but from the way all the other solid gets were following orders from him we can assume that he is pretty high ranked, that narrows it down some." She knew that they would be needing her help, after all, she had made a promise to betray her familia to a man who's name she didn't even know, the least she could do was act as a spy. 

When they finally reached the domus her breath hitched and she stopped walking. It felt as if oxygen had stopped working for her and she couldn't breath. How could she enter her home now after all she had done? She tried to steady her breathing but it only got quicker and shallower. "I can't" she managed to squeak in between wheezes. It felt as if she were drowning, she started to see black spots dance in front of her vision before she collapsed, unconscious 

@Chevi

Well, we will agree to disagree there, Marcella. I see no reason why a slave could not become Emperor. Unlikely, yes, but impossible, no. If he had the right support and the right talents then surely getting the necessary public image would just be one of the many things he could pick up along the way. Public image changes. Isn't it something we can make and break ourselves?"

"Well that is a very optimistic way to view the world" she answered, "I agree that we will have to agree to disagree, because that sad truth is that I don't have as much faith in people as you seem to do. I can't imagine them caring enough about any cause to enact real change. Unless the current emperor that this slave is trying to overthrow has personally offended every single citizen than I don't believe that anyone would rally behind him. People just don't pay attention to politics unless it directly affects them." 

She was thoroughly enjoying this, she was actually philosophizing with someone who would actually listen to her, he may not agree with her but he was listening. It was an intoxicating feeling, and one that she didn't like that she felt, usually she was so cold and callous but just a few friendly verbal spars and her normally icy demeanor was melting like butter.  

"The lifestyle was not for me. I don't know I suppose I just...just always felt a little different. Like there was something more for me to do."

She nodded thoughtfully at this, she could sympathize with him, the only reason she wasn't married yet was that she always thought that she could do better. She turned away every man that her brothers presented her with, and all the ones that her father had promised her to, well, there always seemed to be some sort of accident that would happen.

Where in the end, I don't know. All I know is that I am not satisfied with just being what I am and I will keep going until I have decided that I am the best I can be. Where-ever or how-ever that may be."

She knew what he wasn't saying, one didn't just get his position by applying for the job and having a good interview. She had no doubt that more body's would pave the way for his success and somehow, it didn't bother her. "I wish you luck then" she said, not out of politeness but actual hope that he would one day feel accomplished. 

He crossed over to her bench, sat beside her, and took her hands. She had half a mind to pull them away from him and say some backhanded comment but her curiosity got the best of her.

"Hmmmm, yes, quite right, they are lovely and soft and very, very clean. No ink. No blood. Literally or metaphorically... But there is always time to remedy that, though, isn't there? You can't learn all about life from scrolls, no matter how illuminating they may be."

She laughed at this for all sorts of different reasons, he was oh so wrong about the lack of blood on her hands, his wink was, well it made her smile, and he seem to think that not having blood on your hands was something that had to be remedied.  "Remedied, you say?" she asked with a raised eybrow as he let go of her hands.

"Only three? I admire your good sense. Presumably you are just waiting for a rich husband to shower you with them as presents if you hate shopping so much? A wise woman would find a doting husband who would save her the agony of it and do it all himself?"

"Thank you" she said, "any more would be unnecessary. I suppose a wize woman who was intressed in shoes would just get a rich husband to buy them for her, but I have no intrest in shoes." She took another lock of hair that had fallen out of place and tucked it behind her ear before asking, "is there anything that you think is worth going shopping for?"

@Lauren

It was nice to have an actual conversation with a man who was not intimidated by her intelligence. It was truly pathetic how many men could come back from the battlefield only to become flustered the minute she started talking. Without even realizing it her walls started give way as she grew more and more comfortable around this Titus Sabinus.  

Of course it requires work, few things in life do not. Most people, though, aren't motivated to put in that hard work. That's why they don't get anywhere. It is not because some God or other has taken against them. Or, if so, I don't think that matters much. No - if someone is willing to work hard and do things which they might not want to do then I can't see why it should be impossible for anyone, no matter their station, or race, or gender, or whatever to be able to crawl over the heap and up to the top."

She cocked her head to the side, surely he didn't think that it was that simple. Then again, he was born a rich male, in the equite class yes, but still privileged. "I have to disagree with you there." she said "gods aside, some things cannot be accomplish because of just hard work and determination. Do you think that a slave could one day become emperor? Public image is everything, without the support of the common people no one can rise above their station, and what you are born greatly affects how they will view you." 

She understood why he might have such a warped vision of how success of any kind worked, but it still irked her that he had no idea how easy is was for him. He may have had to jump over countless hurdles to get where he is today, but what he couldn't seem to realize was that being able to jump over said hurdles was a privilege, one that few were afforded. 

"That, at least is how I have lived my life. And now here I am, a Tribune in the Praetorians and that is just a stepping stone to more. I could have just taken my father's legacy and grown old and fat surrounded by luxury. That would have been very easy but it wasn't - it isn't - for me."

She couldn't help but feel a fluttering in the pit of her stomach when he revealed that he was still climbing the ladder that was his career. So even this wasn't enough for him, she wondered when he would finally be satisfied. "Not many would do that" she said, "turn down a premade legacy that is. So what is your goal Titus? It must be very ambitious for you say that being a Tribune in the Preatorian guard is just a stepping stone." By now she had her elbows resting on her knees so that her forearms were straight up and her head was resting on her hands, she was feeling very comfortable with this conversation and intrigued by the person she was having it with. 

"I presume that must be what you are doing then, Marcella? Do you just sit back and philosophize or do you actually get your hands dirty? Or do you want to? Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think you are the type of woman to spend all her day getting dizzy over trying on shoes?"

She thought for a moment before saying "if the occasion called for it I would, as you said, 'get my hands dirty,' but I'm afraid that there's never been a cause for me to do so. " That was a bold faced lie, and one that he hopefully wouldn't see through, after all, they had only just meet and Marcella was a good actress. The truth was, there was an occasion where she had gotten her hands very dirty, and a couple more after that had sullied them even further. "You're absolutly correct about shoes, I only have three pairs" she only needed three, light brown, dark brown, and formal, at least one of the three would match each chiton she owned. "Just so long as they fit and keep my feet from getting blisters I'm happy with them. I find shopping to be a hassle, I take it that you are the same way?" 

@Lauren

She couldn't believe it, Felix was offering to buy her a book. She had no idea how to react to this.

Honestly... I have not really found a vice yet to spend my money on... And books seem better than others. Go ahead, choose."

"Thank you" she said sounding almost in awe. "Do you have an preferences on genre or author?" she knew that the answer was probably no but she thought it was worth asking anyway. 

As she waited for his answer she began to browse the shelves, looking for anything that caught her eye. 

@Chevi

It looked as if Felix was confused, and rightfully so, this whole situation was absurd. 

The domina? He's after her?"

She nodded and said "It seemed like it, but it might have just been because most of my time is spent with her... What did he ask you about?" She was considerably calmer now that she was out of the Castra and that Felix was here. 

"That man is unhinged."

She was about to agree with him but the words caught in her throat when she felt his arm wrap around her shoulders. 

"We need to go home. We are not safe out here. Come."

"Okay" she said, to stunned to say anything else. She let herself be lead through the maze that was Rome's streets, trusting Felix to not get them lost. 

"We have to tell them. We don't have a choice."

She sighed and said "I know we have to but... I'm just scared... he threatened you and even the children." She felt a lump form in her throat but willed herself to not start crying again, telling herself that she had done enough of that today. "I'm terrified Felix" she admitted, "I don't think I've even been so scared in my life."

@Chevi

She watched as he sat at the bench across from her, she couldn't be sure but she thought she noticed him assessing her. She didn't mind this, she wasn't shy about her body and if he wanted to look her over than he could. She crossed her legs and leaned forward, feeling completely at ease.

 "Would it offend you if I told you that I don't think the Gods take any part in it at all?"

She raised an eyebrow at his grin and answered saying "No, I wouldn't be offended but I'm am curious about your reasoning."

"If you ask me, the root cause of anyone's rise and fall lies on their own shoulders. A man, or a woman for that matter, can reach up and pluck down the stars if they try hard enough. The only reason most people don't do so is because they're too busy rooting around in the dirt to bother raising their eyes to the possibilities of something greater. The Gods like those who push the limits. Why do you think they were so keen to fornicate with the mortals who pushed the boundaries?"

She noticed how he said both men and women could in his words "pluck down the stars", she didn't know if that was how he really felt or if he had just said it for her sake, either way she was suprized, but in a good way. "You raise an interesting point" she mused "but you make it sound as if achieving greatness is as easy as snuffing out a candle. It's not as easy as deciding that you want something, it takes work too"

"The authors, of course, simulate all this. How many of them actually put any of it into practice, I don't know!"

She laughed at this, genuinely amused by his comment,"I suppose you're right, not much can happen when you're sitting in a room writing all day."

@Lauren

"You were brave enough, Callista. And you are smarter than I."

She certinly didn't feel smarter, she had agreed out of sheer terror, deceiving him had never even crossed her mind. If she had been smart then she would have agreed right away when he offered her freedom, it would have made it seem as if she had no loyalties to the familia and she would have gotten out of there quicker. 

We are all in danger... But you should not be the one protecting me. You and I... we need to protect the familia. We need to find out what that man's plans are, and what we can do to stop him. It was clever of you to agree to help him... maybe we can use that. Dominus will know how."

her face paled again and she said "if you tell Dominus he will kill you, we need to figure this out on our own." She thought for a moment and then said "When I talked to him he seemed to have some sort of vendetta against Domina specifically. He said that he suspected that her whole family were traitors. I don't know why but he acted as is he were obsessed with her"

@Chevi

"You were right to do it... He would have hurt you if you didn't. I... refused to help him, and I... was scared he'd take it out on you. I'm so sorry, Callista."

She shook her head at him as he tilted her chin up and apologized. "It wasn't your fault" she assured him, "you were much braver than I was." It was true, had done what she couldn't; said no. 

She sighed and said "you're in danger now, Felix, even more than I am and it's because of me. He's using you as leverage to keep me in line." Though she usually wasn't so forward she took his hand and said "you need to be careful." 

@Chevi

"Look at me"

She did, and he took her head in his hands. She blinked up at him, her tears already starting to subside.

"I'm not going to let him do anything to you. Do you hear? I won't."

She felt his arms wrap around her and she gladly hugged him back. She felt her breathing steady and her heart beat a little slower. She was safe now, she would be okay. 

She pulled back from the hug and started talking, this time less frantically. "Felix, I agreed to help him" as she said this shame filled her face, "he said if I didn't he would kill you and Titus and Calpurnia in addition." He also threatened he own life but that didn't feel as important at the moment. "I'm so sorry" she said, she was looking down now, to ashamed of what she had done to look up at him. 

@Chevi

Felix looked angry as he continued to look her over for injuries. It was a quiet sort of anger, that they both knew he couldn't act on but was still there. When the nail fell it was Felix, not Callista who moved to pick it up. 

"Callista, what is this?"

"A memento" she answered. Looking at the nail she thought of all it's possibilities, it wasn't as sharp as she would have liked but it was sharp enough. She thought how with just one good shove into her stomach this could all be over, but what would that solve? 

She finally started crying, she had tried to hold back her tears but now she couldn't stop them. Through her sobs she tried to explain the nail, though her works were interrupted by her own ragged breathing. "He threatened me with it, and then he slammed it into his own desk. It sat there, upright, for our meeting, until he finally let me go. He gave it to me as a reminder of what he could do" 

@Chevi

Callista nearly fell when she was finally released, she hadn't realized how lazy her legs had gotten when she was practically being heald off the ground. After steading herself she began rubbing feeling back into her arms, encouraging her blood to begin coursing through her veins once again. 

"Well, Callista, you are free to go. That is until I need you next. I will make it clear to you when that is."

She nodded again, already dreading whatever sign he would give her saying that he wanted to meet again. 

The two guards who until moments ago had been holding her now started to usher her twoards the door, she gladly obliged, eager to leave this office. Just as she thought it was finally over she heard him speak again 

"Wait" 

She slowly turned, knowing that whatever he had to say she would not enjoy. 

"You've forgotten something, keep it, as a momento of our talk this morning."

He tossed her the crucifixion nail and she caught it with ease. She looked down at it and paled even more as she gazed upon it. She wrapped her fingers around it and looked up just in time to see his sickly grin. It looked just like any other smile, that was the proble with it, he could smile so naturally after causing so much pain. 

"Until we meet again, Callista, farewell"

With that he went back to his desk to continue work as if this were a normal day for him. She was then lead to the exit of the horrid building, the nail still clutched tightly in her right hand, constant warning that she could not afford to make any mistakes.

@Lauren

She allowed herself to be pulled deeper into the alley, glad to be moving father away from the Castra. Once they were out of sight of any guards Felix began to look her over, inspecting for any injuries, and she did the same to him. 

"I'm not. Are you? Did they hurt you?"

"No" she answered, but she was sure that she had been close at several points in that discussion. He took her hands and the long crucifixion nail that she had grasped, white knuckled, slipped from her fingers and fell in between them. It rolled in the dirt, and she watched it, a reminder of what would happen to both of them should she fail.

@Chevi

Callista was still shaking as she was escorted out of the Castra. The moment the guards left her she felt a wave of exhaustion hit her, all the adrenaline that had been keeping her going had worn away now that the threat of  immediate danger was gone. She hardly even saw the crowd street she was walking on, she just had one goal; to think up an excuse for taking so long and to go home. She she was wracking her brain for reasons that she might be so late after running a few quick errands, she was grabbed by the wrist and pulled into an alleyway. For a short moment all the adrenaline she had left kicked in, her heart pounded faster and she prepaired to scream or run, possibly both, until she saw who had grabbed her.

She looked up at Felix and felt a wave of emotion pass over her, she didn't even think and just started talking. "Inch’ e patahel? lav yes? "* she stopped speanking mid-sentence, realizing that in all of the confusion and terror her brain had reverted back to Armenian, she didn't even know that she still remembered how to speak it. She shook her head and started again, this time in Latin "I was so worried, what happened? Are you hurt?"

@Chevi

*that is the phonetic form, the actual spelling is "ինչ է պատահել լավ ես" essentialy it means "what happened, are you okay"

He seemed suprized that his joke didn't seem to work, she also saw him shifting his weight around, as if she were making him nervous. This was not a surprising reaction to her, most were suprized and often disapproving of how commanding her presence was. She decided to at least tell him where he went wrong in executing his plan to startle her, "next time you try and sneak up on someone, check to make sure the sun is not on your back," she gestured downward, indicating his shadow that been his downfall. She then properly introduced herself saying, "I'm Marcella Laelia, I believe our mothers were once friends." 

Once introductions were over the conversation turned back to her book.

"You will have to lend it to me. I try and make it a rule never to cross a woman generally but it would be sensible to see my thoughts validated in writing."

She cocked her head at him, suprized by his answer. Most would argue with that Jason was free of blame and that it was Medea who had brought all her turmoil onto herself. This man however, even without reading the play, had agreed with her that nothing good came from angering a woman. "A sensible rule to have" she said, half impressed and half suspicious.

"You think Euripides was wrong then? That Fate and the Gods are not the cause of people rising and falling?"

"I believe that they influence the rise and fall of people, but ultimately it is the people who decide weather they shall rise or fall. It's not the situation that matters, but what you do with it. Gods can only control the situation." 

This was new for her, it had been quite some time since she had a meaningful two way conversation with a possible suitor. In fact, to her knowledge this was the first time her opinion had been asked on literature. She was impressed with this man. "Tell me," she asked, "what do you believe is the cause of peoples' rising and falling?"

@Lauren

Callista was glad that Felix had come with her, having someone to talk to made the rather dull task of running errands much more interesting. 

"I... can't say I know them... Say, how about this: I have some money to spend. You choose a book you'd like, and I'll buy it. If you'll let me borrow it later."

She was stunned, she had never expected for him to offer to buy her a book, and any one of her choosing for that matter. "You really don't have to do that," she answered,"I'm sure you'd rather spend your money on something else" 

@Chevi

What had she done? She had just committed to the betrayal of her familia and there was no turning back now. She wondered when he would order the soldiers on either side of her to release her, her arms were beginning to feel numb and she was sure that she would have bruises left where they had heald her. 

The law is the law. Unless there is compelling reason otherwise, the children of traitors are to be eliminated... Of course, 'compelling reasons' can be found if you are willing to be of service in the investigation. Perhaps something could be done for them."

She couldn't believe it, he was going to use the childrens live's to keep her in line, it was despicable. She wished for him to rot in Tartarus much sooner than he planned. 

"I am pleased to hear that you have seen sense. I think, Callista, that we can work together and can do so well. We here have the power to take life but we can also give it too. Those who help are rewarded. Those who do not are punished. It is the way of the World."

She almost sneared at him, he had such a twisted view of life. In his mind if someone refused to help him achieve his goals than they deserved punishment, Callista couldn't imagine what could have made him like this. She swallowed her judgements and nodded in agreement as answered her question about Felix.

Yes, Felix is involved. He has spoken as to certain irregular proclivities of your dominus with a man under suspicion. The problem with Felix is that he has not seen sense. He has been helpful but refuses to help further. There is therefore the chance that he has already dug his own grave. I fear that you engaging him any more in this would only serve to hasten his end. He has the chance of survival, of course, if he is wise enough to at least keep out of our way. I do so hope that he is not too pig-headed to see that his behavior could get him, and others, like the children, killed."

She was seething inside, he had threatened Titus and Calpurnia yet again, and this time it wasn't even for her actions. The message was clear, she was to keep Felix from telling anyone what had happened to them or the children would suffer for it. She was proud that he had managed to hold out long than she had, but was also extremely worried for him. Surely he knew that he was going to get himself killed if he didn't join them. It was to late for their dominus and domina, the praetorian prefet had made it his mission to take them down, but they could still save themselves. "He won't" she assured him. She would make sure of it.

@Lauren

Marcella waited patiently for the owner of the footstep she had heard to make themselves known.  She looked over at where she had heard them and saw a slave with a broom with a puzzled look upon his face. She narrowed her eyes at him as he began tentatively sweeping, odd, she thought, before taking her scrool back out of her purse and continued to read it.

As she read, she saw from the corner of her eye a long shadow join her on the bench. Now the confused slave made sense, he was sent out as a red herring so that the man she was meeting could have a little fun and try to give her a fright. She decided to go along with his little game and pretended not to notice his presence. She keeped her scroll out but was no longer reading it, instead she was studying the shadow. She could see a side profile of him, and from what she could tell he had closely cropped hair, a large-ish nose, and a defined jawline. This pleased her, but not as much as his chest did, even based off of a measly shadow she could see that he was very well toned. Junius had chosen well, perhaps she would forgive him after all.

Eventually she grew bored with studying a mere shadow, how long would he stand staring at her? Just as she was about to turn around he finally spoke.

"What are you reading? You clutch it as if it is something you wouldn't be parted from."

Without even batting an eye she rolled up the scroll and placed it back in her purse, all the while answering, "the Seneca version of Medea, I've read the original by Euripides but I have to say I prefer this version. I believe that Seneca gives Medra more decisiveness than Euripides who writes her as a broken woman who blames all her mistakes on the will of the gods and fate." She stood up and turned around to face him and said, "but either version is still a wonderful cautionary tale that warns of the dangers of crossing a woman, wouldn't you say so?" 

She knew if her brothers could see her now they would not be to pleased, saying things like that was the exact reason she seemed to chase off men. Not that she minded, if they didn't like her defending Medea than it just told her that they were planning to be unfateful, and she refused to put up with infidelity. As she waited for his response she looked him over, his shadow did not do him justice. As long as conversation was at the very least bland, Junius was already forgiven. 

@Lauren

"No, but you do" 

Callista blushed, she didn't know what to say, but before she had too Felix continued. 

 "A lot of slaves do, or would like to, I think. And we don't usually have money to spend on books. Not much anyway..."

"Yes" she agreed nodding, even though he had continued to talk about a broader spectrum of slaves who liked to read she couldn't help but feel flattered that he had still thought of her. 

"So... if you selected books for that library, what would you pick?"

"Maybe The Silvae by Statius, or Elégies by Tibullus" already her mind was whirring as she thought of more titles she would potentially add. 

@Chevi

Marcella sat on a bench in the garden of the domus reading idly a small travel sized scroll she had taken with her. Shr breathed in the aroma of the plants surrounding her and waited for Titus Cornasidius Sabinus to appear. 

Once again one of her brothers had arranged for her to meet with a possible suitor. This time the offender had been Junius, she had expected more from her youngest brother, usually it was Albus or Sabinus who forced her into these meetings, but this time it was Junius. He explained to her about how he had ran into a woman who had been friends with their mother back when she was still alive and how she practically begged him to have Marcella meet her son. Of course he obliged, he had always had a soft spot for all things involving their mother and he, like everyone else in her family, was worried about her finding a husband on her own. As irritated as she was that he had forced her to do this, she had to admit, he had chosen well. Judging from the domus the man she was about to meet had money, and a lot of it, that implied power, which check a box on her list of requirements for a possible husband. 

She shifted on her bench and adjusted her dark green chiton and tucked a stray curl behind her ear. She hate having to get all dolled up for these things, having her hair piled up on her head in some intricate hairstyle was heavy and her curls always fell out after only a couple of hours. She mentally prepared herself for another long evening of being stared at but not listened to by this suitor while his mother droned on and on about how much she wished that Marcells mother could see them now and of how much she looked like her. She wondered if it was to rude to fake an illness and head home before he had even arrived. Just as she was thinking this she heard footsteps, she sighed and tucked her scroll into a small purse she carried with her, waiting for this inevitably horrid evening to begin.

@Lauren

It appeared that the bulk of his anger had left him after that outburst. She stayed quite as he removed the nail from the desk and sat back down. She couldn't help but wonder what she had done to deserve this, no matter what she chose she would either loose her life or be unable ed to live with herself, there was no winning. 

"That's better. Honestly, I doubt you will believe it right now but we can actually work together very well. Have you ever wanted to be free, Callista? I mean, truly free. Not still tied to your old masters, bowing and scraping before them as a patron like you used to do in the days they were your masters. I can offer you that if you agree to work with me."

Now that was inticing, the opportunity to leave Rome as a free woman was all that she had ever wanted; but the price was to great, she would prefer a life of servitude than one where she was free but a traitor. But what choice did she have? If she refused she would be crucified, and so might Felix.

She held still as he laughed, even though her body wanted to cringe. It was unlike his smile earlier in that this laugh was completely genuine. It made her sick. 

"Of course, though, the flip side is also true. If you fuck with me, you will die. Felix will die. Anyone fucking else who I think it necessary to will also die. So, there you are. Some would call it carrot and stick. You might call it coin or cross."

She decided that the best course of action here would be to be completely honest with him, cautious, but honest. She sighed and said "I can't say that I haven't dreamed of renewed freedom" she closed her eyes and thought for a moment before continuing, "I will help you but I beg of you, please don't hurt the children, Titus and Calpurnia." She knew that there was no hope in saving Aulus or Horaria, but hopefully she could try and save their offspring. "I know there is no reason for you to spare them" except human decency "but I would give up the freedom you have offered her in exchange for their lives." 

All I need from you, at present, Callista, is to be ready for when I visit you next. Because there will be a next time. And on that occasion there will be work to be done, do you understand?"

She nodded and said "yes domimus" she was already worried thinking of what work he was talking about. 

"And, before I forget, do be careful about talking won't you? I would say, don't tell anyone, and of course that is true. However, if you are silly enough to think about telling anyone about this - your dominus or domina - please bear in mind that if I have even the most remote, tiny suspicion that you have told them then I will be visiting you again and it will not end well."

She nodded again, of course he wouldn't want her talking to anyone. This did worry he though, her domina has a knack for noticing when something was wrong and she would have to come up with an excuse to explain why she had taken so long running errands. Already she was at risk of being found out. Perhads despite her better judgement she asked "what about Felix? Is he part of this too?" She hoped he said no, he was even more loyal than she was given his ans Aulus's history together, it would break her heart if she knew that he had also been brought into all of this mess.

@Lauren