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September, 75AD So much had happened since the spring, when Clio for the first time told her sister about the boy she met in the gardens. With whom she swapped clothes and wore boy’s clothes for a little while. And he wore hers! It was scandalous, really, but she had kept her promise and not told a single soul about it. They were twins, they’d always been together and Septima believed she would always love her sister and be loyal to her. They were very different apart from the fact that they looked almost exactly alike. But they were still sisters. Clio could trust her. They’d talked about Clio going to see the boy again and Septima would come along, so it at least wouldn’t be the two of them meeting alone. And maybe she was also a little bit curious about this boy, Lexus. But time moved on and they had not gotten a chance during the first month after and then it was suddenly May and their birthday. And then summer came and parties and events and then an earthquake shattered Rome! While the damages in their home had been repaired, the twins had been sent to spend time with relatives outside of Rome. And now it was suddenly fall and thoughts of the boy gardener Lexus were far away. The twins had other things to think about. After the earthquake, some people became homeless and some of them had settled in small camps the gardens in Rome - and it was decided in the family that the twins should go and hand out a little bit of food and clothes they had outgrown, to the homeless. Septima held a large sack with bread and fruit and her sister had the other sack with the clothes. Together they ventured to the Gardens of Sullust to hand out their items. As they came nearer the gardens, she looked at Clio. They spent much time together, but not all time, of course, so she was curious about how it looked like behind the walls to the gardens. She wasn't even sure she'd ever been here at all, “Have you been here since the earthquake?” @Chevi

Lexus had gone to the bathhouse, as instructed by his mother. He knew he ought to be a proper Roman citizen and go more often, but sometimes it bored him and looking at older, naked and not always trimmed men did not really spark his fancy. More the opposite. But he’d gone and now he was clean and smelled nice. His brown hair was still slightly tousled, although he did comb it with his fingers, but he felt he was almost shining… although he probably wasn’t. Now he had the rest of the day to just… do something. Maybe he should visit one of the temples that Phaedo showed him? No, it would be weird going alone. Lexus was not a very religious young man – it was interesting and all that, but he didn’t buy all of it. Some of the stories and some of the things you did for the gods seemed weird and so far-fetched, that he’d think… why should it matter to them, if they control our lives anyway? Will they even care? So no, maybe he should not go to a temple today. But then what? Somehow he’d found himself wandering into the vast area of the Forum Romanum. There were several fora here, built by different emperors who wanted to leave something to be remembered by. It was very shining and clean here, a beautiful area of Rome. There was the Basilica Julia, where the praetors sat and where tons of other things were decided and judged and handled. And over there was the Curia Julia, where the senate would sit and discuss important business of Rome. Lexus took a few moments to just look at all the famous buildings and all the people here; the men in the white togas, their slaves, other people coming here to admire the sights. He tilted his head, trying to get a proper view at a certain temple here and took a few steps backwards to see it properly. What he didn’t notice was the lectica carried by four slaves behind him. By accident, he tripped one of them as he walked backwards, not looking where he was going. The slave fell over and the whole party fell down… including the lectica, which probably carried some wealthy noble. Fuck! Lexus felt almost paralyzed, watching the scene and knowing he caused it and he did not dare to run away. What did you say when such a thing happened?

Early October, 74 AD takes place after Out of the Blue A slave turned up at the party Lexus was serving at, and asked to see him. Lexus had not been at home all day – earlier in the day, he had gone to see Oriana Laecania about that job in her garden and apparently also met his father. That was… strange, which was an understatement. So unexpected and yet it seemed as if Oriana knew. Had she guessed it already the night they met? He didn’t know and he had not yet had enough time to think about what it meant. For after the day, he had this job in the evening and he had to go and do his job, as he had promised. And now a slave came to him, so he had to go and see what it was about. Lexus had to leave the tray he was carrying to another servant and came to the door. The slave outside seemed to be catching his breath, as if he’d been running fast. He recognized the slave as one belonging to his mother’s friend, Auletia. What was wrong? “It’s your mother… she’s… not well. You have to come.” The slave said and Lexus forgot about the coin he’d earn for once and hurried to put on his cloak and follow the slave to their home. They came into the simple insula they lived in, where his mother was placed on the bed. Lights had been lit and her friend sat on the bed beside her. His mother, Ginevera, didn’t look so well, to be honest. She was pale and there were bruises on her cheek and her throat. And more was hiding underneath the blanket she had been covered with. “What happened?” Lexus said, shocked and very worried to see his mother in what seemed to be a rather weak state. “She was on her way home just before the sun set. She’d been washing clothes by the Tiber. She was attacked, Lexus. Someone tried to rob her and she said she fought back, which explains the bruises and what happened after. They didn’t like that. She had passed out when someone found her and brought her home…” Auletia said and Lexus sat down beside his mother and took her hand. His mother’s friend continued, “It happened only a few hours ago. Your mother said where you were working tonight, so we sent my slave to find you.” Lexus squeezed his mother’s hand. She wasn’t even that old, “Mother… I’m here now. I’m not leaving your side again.” He said. His mother coughed, held her stomach and her body tensed for a moment. Then she squeezed his hand back. He wanted to tell her he found his father, but how could he, right now? It wasn’t the right time for that. “I know. You’re a good boy, Lexus. I am not well. I don’t know if I’ll live.” His mother said. She didn’t lie to him, at least. Lexus felt the tears pressing against his eyes, but forced himself to be strong, for her. “I’m sure you’ll be fine. But now you need to rest. Some say a good nights sleep cure most things.” Lexus just said and when her eyes closed as she fell asleep, he went outside to catch his breath. Of course she’d survive, wouldn’t she? It wasn’t that bad, was it? He couldn’t imagine a life without his mother. While there was more to his life now, she had so far been the only constant in his life. Sure he had met his father now, but only today and he didn’t yet know what to think or feel about that. Or if his father really wanted Lexus in his life, now. He could not lose his mother now. He loved her. The medicus came outside, while he stood there and he wiped the tears from his cheeks. His mother’s friend stayed too, along with her slave, to tend to Lexus and to his mother. He kept his word; he didn’t leave her again.

LEXUS NAEVIUS GINEVERUS 15| September 59 AD | Plebian | Gardener for Oriana Laecania | Unsure | Original | Landon Liboiron Personality. Lexus Minor is young and so far somewhat inexperienced in all the pleasures life has to offer. He feels he has something to live up to though, because his mother has told him about his father and since their return to Rome, he has been asking around and found out the tales were probably true - his father was a player, loving both men and women and plenty of them in his bed. And he had a bad temper, which was why he was such a good fighter in the arena as a gladiator. Young Lexus isn’t sure he can live up to all this – he has never even kissed a woman and not a guy either and his mother won’t let him even try to fight; she fears he'll inherit his father’s love for fighting and she thinks it’ll lead to his fall from grace, and she wants her son to become a good man. Young Lexus does indeed sometimes have a bit of a temper and he's at the same time very curious, sometimes to the point of being nosy... which means he also has a knack for getting himself into trouble On top of that, he's also often quite clumsy, which doesn't help at all and more often than not lands him in trouble. He’d love to learn how to fight though, and how to argue properly. He is in general just very curious and wants to learn about life. Maybe he'll take an interest in politics with the right teacher? And what else does Lexus want? He just wants to find his place in Rome, a meaning with life, something to do with it and in the meantime, explore the city and the people with an open and curious mind. Sometimes too curious and openminded, probably… Appearance Short brown hair, often just tousled, a handsome jaw and cheekbones and clear blue-grey eyes is what Lexus appears to have inherited from both of his parents. There’s often a playful glimpse in those youthful eyes, although Lexus is far more inexperienced than he’ll often let you think. He’s still growing and has not reached his full height yet, but he’s told that he is tall for his age – probably also something he inherited from his father, for his mother is fairly short. He does not own a huge amount of clothes and most often he can be seen in a dark grey tunica and dark crimson breeches underneath. Of course he wears a belt too and usually simple sandals or slippers. For colder days and evenings he has a brown cloak to wear. Family Father: Lucius Antonius Alexius, 36 Mother: Naevia Ginevera, deceased October 74AD Siblings: N/A Spouse: N/A Children: N/A Extended family: -- Aunt, father's sister: Amalia (unknown whereabouts) Other: History CHILDHOOD [59-72]: Lexus' father was the infamous gladiator from Germania, Lexus, who lived as a gladiator in Rome in the 50's AD. Ginevera, his mother, was once given to Lexus after a fight in the area, as her mistress was Lexus’ patron and had been very fond of the gladiator. She became pregnant with his son and was later freed by her mistress, Naevia Geta, before she gave birth to the child. That meant Lexus the younger was born in freedom and not as a slave - and he has always been grateful for this. The first many years of his life was naturally spent near and with his mother and her new life as a freedwoman. At first they lived in Rome, but eventually they left and travelled and settled down where ever she could find work – often as either a seamstress or as a nanny. His mother never married. Lexus does not recall it as a troubled childhood though, although it was often hard having to move around and try and find new friends. Sometimes he also misses having an actual father, but he never mentioned this to his mother. He only knew what his mother had told him about his father - that he was from Germania, that he became a famous and surviving gladiator in Rome and that he had many other lovers than just Lexus' mother. Young Lexus never actually met his father. TEENAGE TO EARLY ADULT [72-73]: They returned to Rome when Lexus was 13 years old, only a year ago. It was only after their return to Rome, that Lexus learned that his father had been freed many years ago. Apparently his father even became a lanista and married another woman, before they both left to return to Germania where his father was originally born. Young Lexus has no desire towards that though; he is now 14 years old and has a desire to make his own life in Rome. He has considered signing up for the legions and go fighting - he always had a bit of a temper - but his mother will not let him fight. His father was a gladiator and could easily have died and she will not risk the same for her son. Instead young Lexus must find something else to spend his time on, while in Rome... but what? In October 74AD, Lexus was invited to work for Oriana Laecania and also encountered his father for the first time. Shortly after that meeting, his mother died after an attack in the streets. He now works in Oriana's garden and does not quite know what to feel about anything after his mother died. Atrice | GMT+1 | PM or Discord #7964