What's a girl got to do?

[Chevi]

"You know full well I can't if anybody sa-"

Oops, there it was. Lucius found that he took no pleasure in proving his point. Ovinia looked a little out of sorts, and if she backed out now, he would have let her.

"The lady protests! But how we all wish to hear what voice the Gods have blessed her with! I presume you know Sappho? We Composed a little tune to some of her works..."

Sappho. It was a popular choice for singers. This rendition was not too bad either, although the tune was nothing particularly elaborate either. A few people applauded the choice as the singer began the first couple of lines. Lucius kept his eyes curiously on Ovinina. Would she...?

She did. Some more people applauded. She really did have a pleasant voice. And Lucius was genuinely surprised she decided to sing. Maybe she had more of a spark than she let on. At the next lines, he joined in too. It was only fair.

and my tongue stiffens into silence, thin
flames underneath my skin prickle and spark,
a rush of blood booms in my ears, and then
my eyes go dark...

Good poem. Hostus was about to die of a heart attack.

@Sara

[Sara]

Ovinia felt like she was going to be sick, but ever the dutiful participant, continued nonetheless. She tried to ignore the looks she was receiving and concentrated on the lines, buoyed by Lucius joining in on the next stanza, and as quickly as it started, it was over with; 

"and sweat pours coldly over me, and all
my body shakes, suddenly sallower
than summer grass, and death, I fear and feel,
is very near." 

She heard applause and opened her eyes from where she had screwed them shut; both to concentrate on the notes of her singing, and so she didn't have to endure the gawps. She couldn't read the mood of the small gathered crowd and mercifully the singer turned her attention to two young children, her fun with Lucius and Ovinia spent. She placed a hand over her waist protectively and peered up at her company. "Was I...bad?" She blinked. It sounded so self-absorbed but she honestly couldn't gauge it from the now disinterested crowd. "I-I've only ever sung for my father, for my family and a few close..." She bit her lip and spun on her heel, stalking back the way they had come. "You shouldn't have made me do that!" She called over her shoulder. 

 

TAG: @Chevi

[Chevi]

They all sang the last verse together. It came out nice, with the three voices harmonizing, and earned cheerful applause from the listeners. A few of them walked up to give the singer coins; one of them started in the direction of the two of them too, but Lucius quickly waved him away. The game had gone too far already.

"Was I...bad? I-I've only ever sung for my father, for my family and a few close..."

"No. You weren't" he answered the question truthfully, but he could see she had already regretted the whole thing. She turned to walk away.

"You shouldn't have made me do that!"

"Well, we could argue about who started what here" Lucius pointed out, following her back to the shade of the columns, under Hostus' very disapproving gaze. "I may have been trying to prove a point. It went too far." he added, admitting his mistake, even though it was not probably all his. "It was nice, though. The singing."

@Sara

[Sara]

Ovinia snapped; "I didn't ask that you follow me, and I think it was quite clear that I was uncomfortable." She had been uncomfortable, but it was hardly as if she was forced at knifepoint. Besides, not that she'd admit it to anybody but it had been sort of...exhilarating, in an odd sort of way. Maybe it was because she lived most of her life in the shadows nowadays; present at a dinner, but seated between her family - well protected, sheltered. She rarely met new people; her friends she had known most of her life, and she was usually not trusted to make new acquaintances, certainly not alone. Standing in front of perfect strangers, singing with passion was...unlike anything she'd really done before, or at least since her girlhood. 

"And what point was that?" She asked when she finally stopped, arms folded across her chest in a defensive stance, back arrow straight. Her gaze softened a modicum though at his compliment, and she muttered a quiet; "Thank you." Her parents hadn't raised her to be rude, and despite her annoyance (at herself more than him), she couldn't help herself. 

 

TAG: @Chevi

[Chevi]

"I didn't ask that you follow me, and I think it was quite clear that I was uncomfortable." 

Lucius immediately knew he was treading on dangerous ground. He stopped. It had been fun before, maybe a tiny bit flirtatious, but now it was a matter of serious possible consequences, if she decided to accuse him of things. Hostus would back her up in the best case, and beat him up in the worst. Lucius had to let her walk away and hope for the best. 

But she didn't.

"And what point was that?"

"Well... you said before we both had the freedom to do whatever we want." he pointed out. "And we just did. But we both know this could have turned out a lot different. So... how you define freedom, it's relative. Is all I am saying." Maybe it was not the best way to go about proving it, though. "I apologize that I made you uncomfortable. I'll add that to the list."

@Sara

[Sara]

Ovinia frowned. Was he...lecturing her on philosophy? It sounded like it and she opened her mouth to retort something along the lines of 'I didn't care for my tutors when I was a girl, and I don't care for them now' but stopped herself. She was annoyed at herself, not him - well...mostly herself. She was a bit annoyed at him. Tossing her hair over her shoulder impetuously, she kept her arms folded and made a study of him. 

"Yes, you will add that to the list." She tutted and raised her gaze skywards. Gods give me strength. Finally, she relented and dropped bother eyes and her arms, fiddling with the bangles jangling melodically on her wrist. "But you can also add 'getting Ovinia Camillus to sing in public' to your list of accomplishments. That was no mean feat." She gave him a sly smile, although danger lurked just beneath the surface; her mood was still on a knife edge. "And do not..." She gave him a warning look, "Do not expect a repeat performance. That was a once in a lifetime opportunity for you my friend." Hostus looked despairingly between his domina and the young man, aghast she had returned to humouring him. 

"I hope it was worth it?"

 

TAG: @Chevi

[Chevi]

"Yes, you will add that to the list."

Oh, he did. Most of the time when he did something out of turn Gaius grew some grey hairs and he got a dressing down, but it never felt quite this big a mistake before. Lucius looked at the girl sheepishly until her expression and stance softened a bit.

"But you can also add 'getting Ovinia Camillus to sing in public' to your list of accomplishments. That was no mean feat. And do not... Do not expect a repeat performance. That was a once in a lifetime opportunity for you my friend. I hope it was worth it?"

Lucius smiled a bit too, still looking sheepish but also relieved.

"I shall cherish the memory" he responded, sure that Hostus was about to smash him into a fresco "You have nothing to be ashamed of. But I think I have now outstayed my welcome. It's alright Hostus, you have a job to do. I'm going."

@Sara

[Sara]

Ovinia rolled her eyes. Hardly a glowing compliment and she - yet again - couldn't tell whether it was sarcastic or not. Probably. Maybe not? Argh. Hostus offered the man a tight smile which made Ovinia grin, despite herself. 

"Well..." She brushed down the front of her tunica, trying to affect the air of her stately mother in her prime, trying to be the refined woman she very much wasn't a few moments ago. "Well Lucius Vispanius Roscius, should you ever wish to actually socialise with those of your class and rank," She gave him a wry smile "You know my name. I shall expect an invitation to your next party," She rose a hand as if calming an infant, "Your next appropriate party. If it's one that involves all guests stomping in vats of grapes, I shall politely decline." She chuckled and Hostus cleared his throat and gave his Domina a knowing look, "And of course you must invite my brother - one of my three brothers," She emphasised the latter for a point; dishonour me if you dare, "It wouldn't be appropriate to attend alone, especially with your...irreverent personality, would it?" 

 

TAG: @Chevi

[Chevi]

Lucius could tell Ovinia was trying to salvage her reputation by acting like the proper Roman maiden she was. It looked good on her, elegant, but not quite natural. Lucius made an effort to not point that out.

"Well Lucius Vispanius Roscius, should you ever wish to actually socialise with those of your class and rank... You know my name. I shall expect an invitation to your next party... Your next appropriate party. If it's one that involves all guests stomping in vats of grapes, I shall politely decline." 

"That wasn't a party. That was work" Lucius protested, but her stern matronly look actually worked this time. "Alright, alright. Message received, domina."

"And of course you must invite my brother - one of my three brothers. It wouldn't be appropriate to attend alone, especially with your...irreverent personality, would it?" 

Three brothers.

Fuck.

"I will... keep that in mind" Lucius nodded, clearing his throat. "It has been a pleasure to meet you, Ovinia Camilla. I hope you have a pleasant day."

Ovinia, and her brothers, were definitely not getting any invitations to any parties if Lucius could help it. With a little bit of luck, Gaius would never find out about any of this, and Lucius would never meet her again. It was the best possible outcome for everyone involved. Not the one he would have liked, but definitely the safest.

As Lucius glanced back, Ovinia and her slave had already disappeared around the corner. She was going to be a distant memory. No harm done.

@Sara