A promised visit

[Gothic]

October 74CE. 

The travel to Greece had been an interesting journey, and one she was happy to take without her mother's presence. Corinthia had informed her mother that she was traveling to Greece to ensure her future. While a place of culture, she had never felt any personal attachment to the place and instead preferred to spend time in the company of her social equals. One thing she noticed was that she thought that her mother was a little too relieved to see her travel to the provinces. While Corinthia did not wish to admit it. It hurt. The voyage had gone relatively smoothly, and soon she settled in. Sent messages to all the important people and was determined to network with people. Aeneas, her gladiator came with her. 

The young man she had met at the Imperial Banquet would also be there. Lucius Junius Silanus. She was not going to be like her mother and slowly she was understanding how important marriage would be. The connections were necessary, and no doubt Caesar would wish to control the families. She would leave the asking to her mother. The dimwitted fool had her uses and being harmless was one of them. This was all if everything went according to plan. Otherwise? She would need to seek out another who would be worthwhile. A messenger informed him that he would be arriving. 

Corinthia reclined on a sofa and twisted grapes before placing them into her mouth while being fanned by servants. Her thoughts continued to race and slow. There were many possibilities for the future. 

[Chris]

The past two years had been full of twists and turns for Lucius Junius Silanus. After Caesar's banquet where it was announced that Lucius would tag along with part of the official Roman delegation sent to speak to the kings and satraps of the east, Lucius was sure his star was on the rise. He had the advantage of his name, which thanks to his late-uncle, Decimus Silanus, had been restored to some sort of prestige (despite the man's defeat and death at the hands of the Britons). He spent three months in the east, though for most of that time he was in Armenia, listening to the endless ambitions of that nation's king - Tiridates - and why Rome should support him in an invasion of Parthia and the rebelling Greek satrapies. Rome's official stance, as it was handed down from Caesar, was to remain neutral but ready; Caesar wanted to see how things developed before committing Roman troops. While some within the delegation were eager to jump to war, Lucius and others were more mindful of Caesar's directives.

After the east, Lucius returned to near disaster in Rome. Vitellia Calvina, daughter of his aunt Junia Calvina and Lucius' paternal cousin, had laid legal claim to the domus he built with the very inheritance he had received from Decimus' will. The original domus, where Calvina took up residence after her return from exile, was burned in the riots of Clemens' coup, and Lucius spent most of his personal fortune in rebuilding it as close to the original as he could. Vitellia's argument was that Calvina was the rightful heir to the land, per an old will she had uncovered from somewhere, and therefore the land and everything on it belonged to her. Lucius spent almost all the wealth he had left - and borrowed some - to fight his cousin in the courts, only to lose in the end. In an act of rage he spent his last denarii on hiring laborers to destroy the home so that Vitellia could have the land, but not the home.

He was arrested shortly afterward and again went to trial where he faced charges of arson - pressed by his cousin - whose legal representative (her husband) pushed for Lucius to pay Vitellia the stated value of the home (as listed in tax records), or, should he not be able to, for him to enter into servitude to her until the debt was paid. By the graces of Flavia Juliana, Lucius had his own representation who made it clear that the home in question had been built by and was the property of Lucius Silanus, and therefore it was within his legal right to do with it as he pleased. He was acquitted, and though his lawyer advised Lucius to press charges against Vitellia for defamation, he waved off the suggestion, claiming he had had enough of Rome. It was then that he received an offer from a legate of the 7th Fulminata in Syria to serve as Tribune of a new Romano-Briton auxiliary wing that had recently lost its praefect. He accepted and decided to leave Rome early enough to pay a visit to Claudia Corinthia in Greece.

He traveled from Ostia down the coast of Italy, passing between Regium and Messana in the Straight of Sicily before cutting across the sea and into the Isthmus of Corinth where he made landfall. It was Lucius' first time setting foot in Greece, and soon after landing he was enamored with the history. A carriage took him from the port to his destination where he was met by servants who ushered him to a section of the villa reserved for guests, where his belongings were placed. He was told there was a private bath adjacent to his room if he wanted to bathe, and that the domina would call upon him within the next hour.

Lucius took the opportunity to refresh himself with a bath, all the while contemplating whether or not to be upfront with his drastic change in circumstance. He was interrupted from his thoughts by another servant bringing him towels. He quickly prepared himself and asked the servant to lead him to see Corinthia.

@Gothic

[Gothic]

Corinthia had been loosely kept aware by news of what was happening in Rome. She was not happy about Lucius' change in fortunes, and nor did she wish to be just anybody's wife. However his financial losses, he had that important name and his standing was gradually increasing. Two things she needed in a husband. As for him? Corinthia admired his boldness, and willingness to destroy something he built in order to maintain control over it. She felt .... a considerable amount of attraction towards him. A rare occurrence for her to feel anything other than irritation by anyone. Her fingertips tapped in agitation at being made to wait for the visitor... not that she would ever admit that to anybody. 

"Where is he?!" She snapped harshly at one of the servants. 

"He has arrived, Domina!" The servant answered. Hurried and hoped the Domina would not strike out at him. 

Corinthia gave one of her rare and genuine smiles of happiness. She leapt up from the couch and gave the terrified slave a hug of happiness. It was not proper (in her eyes) to wait for a guest like she had done so. Therefore, she believed it to be wise. She released the trembling man, pushed him away and paced in a small area to think of what the next move should be.

What next... what next... what next...

Corinthia pondered to make a display of weaving to show her virtue. Yet doubted anyone would believe it. She grumbled to herself, louder and tapped a fingernail against one of her front teeth as she thought more on it. 

"Bring him here. Tell him I have been busy receiving letters and will speak to him soon," She demanded, raised her chin and hotly left the room. Not thinking that there was a chance that the pair of them could possibly meet in the corridors of the home. 

@Chris

[Chris]

Dressed in a dark blue tunic that was tied off with a maroon sash for contrast, Lucius followed behind the servant at a brisk pace. The villa was quite large and spacious. He admired its architecture - distinctly Hellenic - as they passed through the corridor. His eyes on the construction methods, Lucius didn't notice the servant's abrupt stop. Just as she uttered "Oh, Domi-" he ran straight into her, and the two of them stumbled awkwardly in opposite directions, though neither lost their footing completely. Lucius composed himself, flattening his clothing with his hands, and then looked up to see Corinthia in front of him. The servant began to apologize to Lucius, though it was entirely his fault, and he simply held up a lithe hand to wave off the need for an apology.

"Claudia," he said, using the polite form of her name. "It seems that I have a bad habit of managing to make myself look the fool whenever you're around."

@Gothic

[Gothic]

She stopped dead in her tracks. Her hands on her hips as she turned in irritation and opened her mouth to chide the servant loudly. Then she saw him. Her jaw dropped, mouth remained open for a moment and froze. This was not how she planned to have things go! Corinthia wished for it to be.. dignified, controlled, and here he was. Her heart fluttered at the sight of him. Her eyes softened, once she realised her reaction she turned and snapped at the servant. "Go now!" 

Claudia? It was rare for her to be called that. The polite version. 

"Fortunately, I am a woman of a forgiving nature," She answered him, a slow smile on her lips. Corinthia did not notice the slaves eyes widen in surprise at her having a 'forgiving nature'. Corinthia began to walk back towards the dining room, gave him a look back over shoulder in an invitation for him to follow and relaxed again on the roman chaise. The slaves naturally had to decide on what to do in the meantime, and began to organise food and drink for the Domina and her guest. 

"How was the journey?" 

@Chris

[Chris]

Lucius let his lips bend to match Corinthia's slow smile after she had confessed her true nature, and followed behind as she led him into the dining room without any further exchange of formality. It wasn't until he had lowered himself onto a chaise opposite his host that he spoke again, this time to answer the question of how his journey had been.

"Relatively uneventful," he said, which was fortunate, knowing how tumultuous the seas between Italia and Hellas could be. "I traveled with a military detail most of the way, so at least the pace was quick and to my liking." A slave arrived to give him a goblet of wine, which he took with a nod of acknowledgment. For all his distaste of things un-Roman, Lucius was a man who did not entirely agree with the institution of slavery.

"It is truly a beauty to behold..." he said after taking a quick sip. "This country. I've never been. It feels as if everything has a history or a story behind it."

@Gothic

[Gothic]

Corinthia reclined effortlessly on the chaise she spent too much time reclining on, as of late. She listened carefully, and rested her hands in her lap as her hands trembled with excitement over seeing him. It had been a longer wait than she thought it would be. She listened closely to his response, gathered information and it did not take long before a goblet of wine was placed in her hand as well. She.. noticed the nod he gave to the slave, and ignored it for the time being. 

Her own love of her mother's company was mixed. She enjoyed the allure it gave her -- yet despised the low ranked roots her mother's side of the family had. If only she had a mother who was highborn or... in her eyes, worthy. 

"Greece is quite a paradise." She answered, it had been where her mother and her retreated during the civil war that threatened to tear the empire apart. "Do you miss being away from Rome?" She asked. Every Senator would typically say how much they loved being in Rome herself. The eternal city. 

@Chris

[Chris]

Lucius kept his eyes trained on Corinthia even as the brim of his cup of wine covered most of his face as he drank. The question was an interesting one. He supposed the average politician might respond with an answer about how much they enjoyed their time in the city... even though most of them had villas outside of it where they enjoyed their privacy. Adding weight to his answer was the fact that Lucius no longer had a home to return to.

"In my life I've been away from Rome more than in it." He was born outside of Rome, and lived most of his youth following the uncles who raised him. "I almost might say the opposite. Too long in the city and I begin to yearn for new sights and new challenges." He hadn't really ever taken the time to consider his constant wanderlust before her question. "I suppose that's why the military life suits me."

He took another sip.

"And you? Do you prefer it here in Greece, or in Rome?"

@Gothic