A relaxing evening

[Sharpie]

November 74AD

 

The house had been readied for the evening, all breakable items moved out of the way to less public areas of the house than the atrium, triclinium and garden, soft drapes hung, and musicians ensconced in a corner where their playing could be heard. Scantily-clad slaves (both male and female) were stationed in various places throughout the public parts of the house to direct guests or serve them in whatever way they wished - offering further food or drink or more personal attention. They were the prettiest Aulus could find, and their clothing, such as it was, left little to the imagination.

Aulus himself was stationed in the atrium to greet his guests. He was wearing a synthesis, a light garment more suitable for an evening occasion like this than the heavy toga or even the less formal pallium. He had stationed a slave nearby with a tray of wine-cups to offer the guests as they arrived.

 

 

(Please note: Any other people who know/could know Aulus are invited, and any characters who could be hired/lent for such an event are also welcome to join in - just reply to this thread and I'll add your character to the tags list! Once the party is under way, feel free to make your own threads in this board.)

Edited December 16, 2019 by Sharpie

[Sara]

Longinus was excited. Well...excited but also nervous, a feeling he'd not had for years. He felt like a boy standing on the edge of a game, willing himself to take the plunge and join in. It was an unusual feeling for a man so usually at ease at being in the thick of it. But then social situations were never his forte, and it had been years since he'd seen some of the men he knew Aulus had invited. The promise of excellent, free flowing wine and some pleasant company to gaze upon diluted the nerves a bit though, he had to admit. 

In preparation, and at his friends and family's urging he'd had his hair cut to a much more appropriate (albeit, still slightly too long) length, and had shaved a few days prior but hadn't been fussed about repeating it so suffered with stubble and a 5'oclock shadow. Still, it was better and he'd garbed himself appropriately in dark blue - an extravagance he permitted just this once. 

He was the first to arrive, which was not entirely surprising given how close his own domus was to Aulus' in the Avenenti Minoris. As he stepped through, his nerves dissipated and he grinned at his friend. "Aulus!" He beamed and embraced the man before pulling back and arching a brow at the domus, set out in its finery (including the slaves). He laughed, "Gods you've spared no expense." He jerked his head to a pair of barely clad young women with a taller man a little way off. "Where'd you find them? Raid the Venus especially for tonight? I'm flattered you went to such trouble."

 

TAG: @Sharpie

 

Edited December 19, 2019 by Sara

[Sara]

Vibia arched a brow over the slaves congregated for this evening, rolling her eyes as they adjusted what clothes they did have on. She'd been hired out for the evening, both for her musical and other abilities and was suitably dressed in one of her more revealing outfits courtesy of the Venus' generous coin. They couldn't have their reputation sullied by sending whores dressed in any old garb could they? 

She wasn't entirely sure what to expect, besides that she had been told to be at the beck and call of the gentlemen attending, and to attend to their every whim (what else was new?). She did note, however, that this Aulus' wife and children (evidence of which could be found around the domus) were absent which suggested that this would be one of the less...tame parties she'd been employed at. Recently she'd been sent to play her cithara at all manner of dull, dreary gatherings. At least this would make a refreshing change. 

Despite her status as a freedwoman, she was stationed with the slaves for tonight and quietly plucked at her instrument. Every now and again she'd raise her bright blue eyes to gaze over the arrivals, trying to figure out if any of them had been past clients of hers at the Venus. Suggestion and flirtation lingered hotly in her eyes and on her face, and she wore a light smirk as she appraised the offering of menfolk for tonight.

 

TAG: @Sharpie

[Liv]

Not wanting to experience the shame of being last to the party, Titus hurried to the Aventini Minoris. Upon arrival at Aulus' domus, he was relieved to find that his worries were unfounded. Only the host and good old Longinus seemed to be present yet, and Titus greeted both men with an embrace and a broad grin before taking the wine cup a slave offered him.

"Lucius Cassius Longinus, I approve of your haircut. You no longer look like a Judean beggar," he joked as he clapped Longinus on the shoulder, humour belying the satisfaction he felt at seeing his friend ready to move on.

Aulus had gone all out in matters of decoration and procuring attendants, Titus noted as he looked around, taking in the sights. All, male and female, were pleasing to the eye, and tonight the domus could give any brothel a run for its money. "You spoil us, Aulus," he commented in an admiring tone.

His glance lingered a heartbeat too long on a pretty musician with piercing blue eyes. Whether she was a whore or simply an entertainer by trade, the evening would probably see her assume both roles.

@Sharpie

[Sharpie]

"Welcome to my humble home - well, my father's humble home, but Pater has decided that the Empire will run well enough without him and has returned to the countryside." Aulus greeted first one friend and then the next, who arrived hot on the heels of the first as though the two couldn't bear to be separated for more than a moment. He couldn't help wondering if they were in fact brothers who'd been separated at birth.

The cithara player he'd hired from the Venus was promising to be good and Aulus snapped his fingers at the slave with the drinks, indicating that the scantily clad youth should offer a cup to Aulus' friends, and then to the cithara player - while she was likewise here to entertain Aulus' guests, she was a freedwoman and not a slave and would maybe need a drink or two if she sang as well as merely played.

"I hope everything is to your taste," he said to his friends.

 

@Sara @Liv (and still open for anyone and everyone else who wants to join in!)

[Sara]

Longinus grinned and took the offered cup, taking a few paces away from Aulus and Titus - as if without a care in the world - to wander the atrium. "My tastes are fairly humble," He grinned, good-naturedly but made a point of glancing at the assembled young men and women on offer. He'd certainly spared no expense, "But you've exceeded my expectations." 

Most parties Longinus had been to recently had been decidedly dull and drab affairs, lacking any of the fun this night promised to hold. 

At Titus' comment he bowed mockingly and ran a hand over the very faint stubble at his jaw. He sipped his wine (which was excellent) occasionally, "Well thank you for the compliment, I'm practicing for all the lovely ladies in my future." He cast a knowing glance at Titus. Perhaps this would be a prime opportunity to test the waters with Aulus over his sister, but then again, perhaps not. Given this night was undoubtedly going to descend and he couldn't imagine the sight of him with a woman or young man would really render him as 'brother in law' material...

 

TAG: @Sharpie @Liv

I'm not going to do a separate Vibia post, but she's probably enjoying her wine (thanks Aulus!), playing her cithara and looking around being all sultry and flirtatious...

[The Young Pope]

Lucius took a deep breath as he was about enter once again, a godless place full of so much debauchery that it would qualify itself for receiving divine 'fire and fury' like the story with Sodom and Gomorra; hopefully he was able to get out of it later in time in case God decided to cast a spell of doom. 'Wild' Lucius back in the day would've been feeling so excited and jttery, to be able to drink as much wine as he wanted until he became wasted, eat so much til' his stomach bursted, and pleasure himself with so many strangers both men and women that the entirety of Rome could hear the satisfaction being emitted from sexual acitivies. 

The new Lucius however adhered to another set of creed which denounced this type of excessive lifestyle that was both damaging for body and soul, and it can't be stated enough that refraining from such luxuries in life had proven to be a challenge, so why would a supposedly pious Christian enter this den of temptation? Just like how he justified attending gladiatorial games, it was quite important for a senator and even a praetor such as himself to keep up with the appearances and prestige. Opportunities could also present themselves when interacting with the multitude of Rome's most powerful and influential statesmen attending these events, and Lucius knew that he wouldn't exactly excuse himself from attending. 

The young senator would just need to keep the drinking to a minimum whilst trying to stare too long on the scantily clad slaves who were surely numerous in number this evening, as everything would turn out to be fine right? 

"Quite an impressive ensemble of women...and men, Aulus, you certainly have a good taste. Though the Venus is certainly the best source to find them! Ah, it's great to see you here as well my good colleagues!" Lucius exclaimed, keeping the facade up with a smile which covered the feeling of disgust and wondered how long he needed to surround himself with these alluring servants; even the prostitutized musician stared at him with a lustful gaze. 

@Sharpie@Liv@Sara + anyone else!

[Sharpie]

"Lucius, it is good to see you." Aulus was circulating among his guests, who were still arriving. "Help yourself to some wine - the food will be served shortly. And of course there is more than that on offer tonight, should you choose."

Aulus did not expect that his guests would be reticent about enjoying themselves this evening. He noticed one girl attempting to rearrange her drapery to cover herself more modestly and crossed to her, pulling the flimsy fabric down to bare her breasts. "You are here to please my guests, let them look at those pretty tits - you should hope that is all they will want to do."

If she had left her garment as it was, Aulus wouldn't have cared. He moved back to attend to his guests, leaving the slave girl blushing and squirming and trying not to attract attention.

 

@Liv @Sara @The Young Pope and anyone else!