What will be, will be

[Atrice]

Early June, 77 AD – set a few days after Learning The Hard Way

 

Silvanus had been working hard the last few days. Trying to patch up his master, Marcus Junius Silanus, which was not the easiest job in the world! He had still refused to see a medicus and let Silvanus take care of the whole thing. The slave had gone to see a medicus to get some advice, without his master’s knowledge, so that worked somewhat. Marcus had been washed a bit too, but only simply, what you could do in your own room while trying to avoid other people seeing your injuries, your bruises and the fresh scar by the eyebrow, still with stitches in it. And it hurt like Hades by the way. Marcus complained a lot and then drank some wine to try and dull the pain.

Finally the slave managed to convince him to visit the baths. It had been three days now and even Marcus felt he was getting smelly. So out they went, Marcus with a cloak on, even a hood, so he could try and hide how he was looking and feeling. And it was June, it was warm, but even in the daytime, he wore it. The trip to the baths was nice, but it didn’t take him long, because he didn’t want anyone asking questions. He felt embarrassed and ashamed. Probably what Varus wanted him to feel, but he probably didn't feel it for the right reasons. He felt embarrassed that someone had been beating him like that. For the way he looked. Why it had happened was almost forgotten again. It was just all so... stupid. How had he come to deserve feeling like this?

At last he at least had clean hair and a clean body, but now you could only see the bruises even clearer. Fuck it all. He put the tunic back on, the belt, his sandals and then the grey cloak and was soon his way back home to the villa. He walked by some of the temples on the way back, you could hardly not walk by a temple in Rome… and he recalled how he met Varinia at Saturnalia and how they visited a temple together. It hadn’t worked much though. Maybe a little, with Tiberius’ kindness, but now he’d even failed his friend by getting this beating. He sighed. Maybe he should try again. If they’d listen.

He wasn’t sure where to go though. For which god did he need for this odd purpose? Which god would even pay attention to a failure like Marcus? He’d barely noticed where he stood and as he looked up at the nearest temple, with elegance he saw a dark-haired young woman stride down. And it was only when she looked towards him, that he recognized her. Ovinia. Fuck. And she had seen him, hadn’t she? He couldn’t avoid her. Fuck! Marcus felt glued to the spot and tried to pull the cloak closer, so his face would be hidden better in the shade of it.

Edited January 9, 2023 by Atrice

[Sara]

Ovinia exited the small, slightly run-down temple to Pietas into the warm sun of June in the Eternal City. Dropping her palla from her hair she blinked into the brightness, taking a moment for her eyes to adjust. She never liked visiting Pietas' temple, but it was on her monthly rotation. Her friends had always been deeply amused about her orderly list of and appointments at various temples throughout the city; Juno's weekly, Venus' fortnightly and then Bona Dea, Fortuna and others' once every three weeks.

Pietas, the goddess of duty, filial piety, devotion and so on and so forth, wasn't high up on her list previously because she felt that she already exemplified those virtues. Up until a few months ago she had only ever been a good daughter, doing exactly as instructed, so she never liked to visit because it felt...well...counter-intuitive. Now, however, she loathed to visit and pay her respects and say her prayers for an altogether different reason. Letting Lucius Manius Victorius Roscianus into her bed, even if they hadn't gone all the way, wasn't particularly pious of her. She bit her lip at the thought but...smiled. She didn't regret it, even if she should and the fact that she was due to meet him that afternoon sent a frisson of something down her spine as she took a breath on the steps. 

Stop it, you idiot, you're probably blushing. 

And then the perfect distraction filtered into view and she frowned. Even with the cloak casting a shadow across his face, she recognised Marcus Junius Silanus and...her heart stilled. The bruises were ugly to say the least. As was the cut casting a deep red line across his brow. She strode down the steps, hitching her chiton up to her ankles so she didn't trip. Dressed finely as usual in a a deep emerald green with a lighter gauzy palla, she tilted her head as she came to a stop in front of him. Her lunula glinted in the sunlight, matching the gold of her earrings that drifted in the breeze. "Are you trying a new profession as an actor, Marcus Junius?" She arched a brow in amusement, "Trying to camouflage yourself in plain sight? I'm sorry to say it's not working." 

 

TAG: @Atrice

[Atrice]

He was hoping she had not seen him, but Marcus wasn't in a particularly lucky line of events at the moment and this seemed to be part of that... unluckyness. For of course she'd seen him, yet only after she dropped her palla and for some reason smiled to herself and then spied him, although he tried to hide. He heard Silvanus approaching from behind, but held up a hand to stop his slave from its tracks and the slave stayed put. Meanwhile Ovinia continued down the steps, hitching up her dress, but for once Marcus didn't care one bit about her show of ankles or anything else for that matter. He'd just rather leave. 

And there she was, seeming amused by his current state and Marcus gave her an unimpressed look.

"I'm sorry it's not." He said, probably a bit harshly, but it wasn't like his mood was the best either. His luck wasn't the best, his body was still hurting along with his pride. And so his mood was in the same way... he was far from feeling like his usual, charming self, "You think this is amusing? Does it look like fun to you?" He said, blowing a bit of hair out of his eyes, but not lowering the hood of his cloak. 

@Sara

[Sara]

He snapped at her and she blinked. Nobody snapped at her, besides her father and her brothers. Nobody would dare. She was the daughter of a Praetor and more besides that, she could hold her own. She quirked a brow and planted a hand at her waist, cinched in from the ornate gold belt she wore. Oh no, he was not doing this. She hadn't seen him properly since Cerealia but even that had been a passing conversation. She narrowed her dark eyes, scanning his face under the hood. It was still wreathed in shadows. "The hood looks ridiculous." She commented with a small shrug. 

But he did look in pain, and much like herself, maybe he was one of those men that projected their hurt and wounded pride onto others. Ovinia could be lethal when she was upset or embarrassed, lashing out and being cruel for no good reason rather than to try and get rid of the emotions she felt. At least she had the sense to do it to family and slaves though, very rarely did she let it show in public. Then again, she'd never been beaten. Not like this. With a sigh and a dramatic roll of her eyes she took a half step closer to him, her voice calmer and more gentle. "It looks sore. Have you seen a medicus?" Better to start again, softly. 

 

TAG: @Atrice

[Atrice]

Marcus would much rather go home than try to explain himself to Ovinia. And no doubt she'd have questions. And she might tell someone. Tiberius? No, she couldn't! He'd tried and succeeded so far to not see his friend after the incident and he'd rather keep like that, at least until he was fully healed. Gods, what if she told? If she spread stories about him and how he looked and what she thought might have happened. Because there was no way he'd tell anyone what actually did happen... damn, this was so not what he needed! 

Ovinia seemed surprised by his reaction to her, which he supposed he understood, but she was the one making fun of his looks. And it wasn't like he thought it was much fun. She commented on the hood, but he ignored it. So what if she thought it looked ridiculous. So did his face. Silvanus had shown him in a polished mirror. He knew how bad it was. Marcus inhaled a breath, trying to figure out an excuse to just leave. But then she came closer and spoke softly to him.

"It is sore. And no. I don't need no medicus to see this. Silvanus takes good care of me." He actually thought the slave did pretty well on stitching up the brow, better than expected anyway, although it had hurt like nothing else ever had. Well besides the actual beating. Gods, really? And here stood Ovinia, ever so curious. Ovinia, who could be nice and polite to him in public, but he always got the idea she wasn't that fond of him, "Why do you care? You usually... don't." 

@Sara

[Sara]

Ovinia grimaced as he snapped and she looked at the wounds across his face. It looked more than sore. Her eyes flicked behind Silanus to his slave, who had his eyes respectfully dropped but she gauged from the slump of his shoulders that caring for Marcus in such a state was...probably tiring to say the least. She was pulled back to the conversation by his words and a frown fell on her face, creasing her brow. 

"I've always been pleasant to you." She retorted, party when he'd invited a prostitute, aside. She rolled her eyes and drummed her fingers against her hip, studying him intently. "You are my friend." She said firmly. A sort of...arms-length friend, but one all the same. They moved in the same circles and likely would continue to as they aged and Marcus raced up the cursus and she...started having babies. She watched him closely and sighed again, shaking her head. "And I would rather speak to the Silanus who flirts unashamedly with me, than the one who is rude. So, I'll take you to a medicus I know. Come." she jerked her head before explaining, figuring he'd need a reason to trust her. "My brothers were...boisterous when they were younger. On several occasions they were supposed to be taking care of me and ended up in all sorts of brawls and scapes." Even strict, rigid Gaius Minor. "They had a medicus they used to visit who was very discrete. I think I remember the way." 

 

TAG: @Atrice

[Atrice]

She grimaced and he didn't like those expressions on her pretty face. Because she was a pretty face, but she'd turned him down numerous times and he never got the impression that she actually cared about him. And now she suddenly said she'd always been pleasant. Well she had, but nothing more than that. Which was why he was so surprised when she suddenly deemed him her friend. Really? She thought of him as her friend? Since when? Oh he probably should be nicer to her then. But she started almost laughing at his bruises, so actually she was the one to be rude at first here. But now she was being nice. Before he could answer though, surprised as he was, she said she'd take him to a medicus and said he should come with her. But no. Just... no, he would not.

"I said I don't need that." He said, "It just needs time. It's already been days. I doubt a medicus will make any difference now anyway. I'll be fine." He said, not moving out of the spot. He'd be fine once it was all healed and he could return to his usual life... if he could. If people wouldn't talk anyway. If Ovinia didn't talk... "Just please... don't tell anyone about this? If we really are... friends... please don't tell?" 

@Sara

[Sara]

She didn't move as he stayed stock still himself, and instead she sighed, looking him over. She wished he'd take down the damn cloak so she could see him better, see the injuries better. From the corner of her eye Silvanus glanced at her, evidently in warning, before dropping his gaze again. "He might have salves to take down the bruising?" She countered but saw it was likely a losing battle. If he had been mortally injured surely he would have dropped dead by now? It didn't make the uncomfortable feeling in her chest dissipate, nor did his next words. She blinked at him. 

"I won't." She affirmed quickly. "I don't gossip." Well, that wasn't true, but she didn't gossip about things that mattered. She had her own secrets she needed to stay long buried after all - one of which was likely waiting for her at an abandoned domus, and another scared her hip and her scapula. She tightened the palla around herself. "What happened, Marcus?" Her voice was soft but insistent.

 

TAG: @Atrice

[Atrice]

She sighed when he still refused to see a medicus and he hoped she wouldn't keep going on about it. But then she did, kind, suggesting there could be salves to help with the bruises, "I don't need the medicus for that. Silvanus already fetched something." Marcus informed her, it wasn't like he was some child, who couldn't take care of himself. He was 19 years old now and not living with anyone who could be a parent. Not that he had any anyway. No real parents. Of course he had Flavia Juliana, but she had a new husband now and even new children. And Marcus had his own life to live. 

What he was most afraid of though, was that people would find out what happened and he'd be cast out for it. He already felt plenty ashamed over the incident. He didn't need to feel more embarrassed. Ovinia blinked when he asked her to not tell anyone that he'd been injured so, and she promised and said she didn't gossip. Marcus gave her a look, quite sure she did gossip, but he hoped he could trust her in this at least. But of course that didn't make her any less curious.

"Not something anyone needs to know." Marcus just said, trying to not snap it out. But he didn't want anyone knowing and Varus told him to not tell. What if he did and Varus found out and... no. Just no. But she wasn't leaving, was she? "Maybe... we could go somewhere less... public? I was thinking to maybe visit some temple, but I'm not sure which. It's not so often I do it."

[Sara]

Ovinia eyed him, concern flaring in her eyes. Whatever had happened he was adamant nobody could know, and that he could deal with it himself. Judging by what little she could see under the cloak, he'd been patched up well enough but even the smallest cuts could go inflamed. She cast a warning glance over his shoulder  to Silvanus. "Well see to it that Silvanus keeps up his work, it would be a shame for you to be scarred or worse." Marcus was a handsome man, even if she was currently starry-eyed over Lucius, she wasn't blind. Then again, she supposed some women liked scars. Shaking her head to clear her mind of random thoughts she glanced over her shoulder at the temple she'd just exited. 

"It's crowded in there." Everybody clearly wanted to demonstrate their devotion to...devotion. But with a sigh and tossing her long dark hair over her shoulder, long enough now that it curled at her waist, she quirked a brow and gestured with a hand up the street. "But there's a small temple to Vejovis, not far. You might want to offer him something to aid your healing, and it's a good place to talk." She studied him for a moment, worry and interest lighting her dark eyes. "Or I suppose you can go back to your shadows, Marcus." 

 

TAG: @Atrice

[Atrice]

She seemed so concerned that Marcus couldn't quite grasp it. It was still new to him that she considered him a friend. Marcus didn't have a great amount of close friends - he had many acquaintances, but few friends. There was Tiberius and Lucius of course and Caecina had been a very very close friend too, but she had to marry and he had to leave his mother's house. But apparently, he also had Ovinia. She said Silvanus should keep up his work with Marcus, so he wouldn't be too scarred.

"That would be a shame, wouldn't it?" Marcus agreed and gave his slave a look, but then turned his attention back to Ovinia. She was curious and he really felt he should get out of the sun and where more people might recognize him. They'd be better off talking in the shadows somewhere and he suggested a temple. Ovinia tossed her hair over her shoulder and mentioned the temple to Vejovis, not far away. Marcus nodded, that was some sort of healing god, wasn't it? 

"What's so wrong with shadows, when you look like this?" He asked, unamused, pointing at his face. At least she couldn't see the rest of his body, although it was mostly near the ribs he was bruised there. The ribs, his jaw and face and then that eyebrow. Well at least he could walk. He had no broken bones. He'd heal. Marcus gestured that she could lead the way to the temple and he kept up the pace to walk next to her. Their slaves followed at an adequate distance.

"I suppose I need something to offer at the temple though." Marcus mused as they were walking, "What would Vejovis want, besides goats? Wine, perhaps?"

[Sara]

She huffed a small laugh as they set off. "There's nothing wrong with how you look, you can just claim some heroics and say you rescued some sweet pleb children from a fire or something and that's how you ended up with the injuries, but the cloak only makes you more obvious. It's hot, no sane person would wear that today." She rolled her eyes. Clearly he hadn't got his injuries from some heroics because knowing Marcus - even as she did - she would bet good money that if that were the case he'd be shouting to the rooftops about it and loudly proclaiming it to the world. 

She glanced over her shoulder as Lucia and Silvanus, their respective body slaves, trailed behind. "I have wine you can offer him. Or you could buy some incense in the temple." She shrugged and determined to divert the conversation she arched a brow. "You don't visit the temples much?" It was a daily habit for her, not only as something to get her out of the house but it brought her comfort to believe there was something bigger than herself guiding her life. 

 

TAG: @Atrice

[Atrice]

There was nothing wrong with how he looked? He supposed he'd seen worse... from gladiators and lower class people, who got into fights and stuff like that. But that wasn't Marcus. And it wasn't because of some heroic deed that he got his injuries. Sure he could claim that was it, but he wasn't sure he could fake it. Not with how he was feeling, not with how ashamed he felt because of what had happened. So it was just better to not talk about it at all.

"I've got to do something. This is the first time I've been outside since... it happened. So it's either a cloak or not leaving the villa." And he really did prefer the latter, but Silvanus convinced him and rightfully so, the bath had done wonders, but he did look forwards to going back home to the safety of the villa and his own quarters. Where people wouldn't see him and want to ask questions.

They moved towards the temple she mentioned and he wondered what to offer at the temple. Ovinia thought wine or incense might do it and he nodded, "That's good enough, I guess. I hope." Hoping it would be good enough for the gods to shine some light upon him again. Ovinia next wondered if he didn't visit the temples much and he shook his head under the cloak, "It's not a habit of mine, no... I did go for Saturnalia. I guess you pay plenty of visits to temples." Pretty and virtuous as she was, of course she'd do that.

[Sara]

She quirked a brow at him as they drew close to the temple and paused outside. "Saturnalia? And here I thought you'd be out enjoying the revelries." Inhibitions were...lower at Saturnalia. Her kiss in an alley was proof of that, she suspected it was even more enjoyable for a man like Marcus though who seemed to be permanently sizing up the women in his life for how they'd fit in his bed. The thought made her smirk. 

Nodding at his question she gestured for him to follow her up the steps. "Most days. It brings me comfort." Particularly recently, with her thoughts as addled as they were after everything with the barber. She brought her palla back over her hair in respect as Lucia lingered outside and gestured for Silvanus to do the same, giving Marcus and Ovinia privacy. An old priest was taking a rest on a small wooden stool outside but besides him, the place was deserted. A musty, dank smell permeated through the gloom of the small lamps lighting an altar where a few scant offerings had been left. She held the small flash of wine out for Marcus. "Make your offering and then are you going to tell me what happened?" 

 

TAG: @Atrice

[Atrice]

He gave her a look when she commented on what he'd do for Saturnalia - she had not expected he'd visit a temple then, "That was the plan... I'd go with Tiberius, but he was gone, so I went out to look for him. And then I found something else." He explained, no need to say more. If he said he met an older woman and she spent time with him and went to a temple with him, Ovinia would surely find it amusing and mock him again. And he didn't want more of that. Why did she have to spot him today anyway? It was Silvanus' fault, he was the one suggesting Marcus went to the baths. 

Ovinia explained that she went to the temples most days and how it brought her comfort. Marcus wasn't sure he ever found that in a temple. Or anywhere really. Maybe in the drinks, because that's what he knew would make him think of other things and have fun. They went up to the temple and the slaves waited outside, while Ovinia and Marcus continued inside. She gave him a small flask of wine and then again asked what happened to him.

"Please stop asking, I'm not going to tell you. I can't tell you." He added, because he'd been instructed to not tell and he feared for what would happen to him, if he told and Varus found out that he did. The beating was plenty.

He moved forwards towards the altar and shrine of temple with the flask and inhaled a small breath to calm himself. He lowered the hood to present himself properly to the god of the temple and silently asked for fast healing of both body and mind. He almost wanted to ask for Vejovis to avenge him somehow, but didn't dare. What if the god would not listen to his first wish because the second was worse? So he didn't. Finally he placed the wine on the altar and stepped back towards where Ovinia stood, forgetting to put the hood of the cloak back on, "That's it, I think. Are you going to pray and sacrifice here too?" 

[Sara]

She quirked a brow, her face a picture of perfect dispassion as he told her he wasn't going to tell. Fine. Ovinia didn't believe him, but fine. A lifetime of being the only daughter of a house like her fathers had given her skills in getting what she wanted. Most of those skills relied on her feminine charms, but not all of them. Plenty of people saw her face and assumed there was nothing beneath the pretty surface, not realising that her mind was as sharp and keen and...strategic as her brothers. So she just gave Marcus a tight smile and gestured for him to do his offering as she moved to take a seat on one of the worn wooden benches at the side. 

She watched the scene curiously as he made his prayers at the altar, her mouth gaping a little as he dropped his hood and even in the gloom she got a better view of his injuries. Whomever had done this to him had clearly had a score to settle. Her mind immediately jumped to some scorned husband or father if Marcus had got a little too handsy with somebody he shouldn't of, but that didn't explain why he was so utterly reticent to talk about it. Surely a strapping young man like Marcus would love to boast of his...accomplisments with women, even if they'd ended in disaster. She frowned, trying to piece it together in her head as he drew back towards her. 

Shaking her head, she indicated at the bench next to her. It occurred, very briefly, that they were alone together in a way she probably shouldn't have been with a man whilst unmarried. her fingers came to her lunula, stroking the pendant softly. "I need nothing from Vejovis." She said with a small shrug and a softer smile. "I've already visited Pietas and Juno today." Glancing sideways at him, her voice dropped to a softer whisper; "What does Tiberius make of what's happened to you?" She hadn't thought about, or seen the man since Cerealia and even then she'd largely avoided him. After the revelations of her testimony, even the mention of him made a shudder work down her spine. 

 

TAG: @Atrice

[Atrice]

Marcus had not expected to see her today and he'd rather not see anyone he knew, until his face looked better than what it did now. He did receive quite a few blows to his face and jaw and it was still bruised and broken here and there. But he was not going to dare to tell her, because he didn't want to face any consequences, should he tell her and Varus found out. And as long as she understood that and didn't try to persuade him in other ways than asking, he'd be fine. He didn't want her to know, anyway. That he'd been lured into a highly esteemed man's house, only to be held by henchmen while one of them was beating him. He hadn't had a chance to fight back. It was stupid and embarrassing. He should never have been stupid enough to even answer the invitation he got. But he was. And here he was.

He went up to send his wishes to the god and make his offering of wine and Ovinia stayed behind. It didn't take so long and then he returned to her. Wondering if she had any business here, but she did not. Instead she invited him to sit with her and he did, glancing around, but it would seem they were alone in the temple for now. That was good at least. No one would see him here, then. He barely even considered it wasn't right to be this near Ovinia without her having a chaperone. Such things were far from his mind at the moment. Ovinia then asked into what Tiberius thought of what happened to Marcus.

"Nothing. I haven't seen him since it happened. And he doesn't know and I don't want him to either." He said with a firm voice. He had avoided Tiberius with success so far and he intended to continue on doing that. He also hadn't shown up for his job at the prisons and had instead sent a note with Silvanus, that he was sick and would show up once he was well enough. He was doing his very best to avoid people. Today it didn't work out. Ovinia was right here... he looked at her, "Remember you promised to not tell." 

[Sara]

Her brows rose in surprise at his admission and she studied him intently. She managed a small joke though, trying to lift his spirits. "I knew the villa was large...I hadn't appreciated it was so large that one could lose an Imperial in it." Shaking her head she adjusted the palla over her silken dark hair and dropped her eyes. She heard the anxiety in his voice as he reminded her of his promise. She loosed a breath and nodded, contemplating how best to phrase it. "You needn't worry, Tiberius and I aren't close enough for me to dish out your secrets to him." Not any more, not after the humiliation of what she'd had to admit to him. The vulnerability of her testimony still made her ashamed, even if he'd given her no cause to be ashamed. But along with that, there was a feeling of fury - at his tone, at his questions. She tried to shake it off. 

Flicking her dark eyes back to Marcus, she let out a sigh and moved to grip his forearm in a gesture of comfort. Whatever Marcus was going through he felt enough shame about it to lie, to hide himself away. She knew exactly what that felt like. Granted, had she known he'd been beaten for insulting a Praetor's wife she might be rather less sympathetic and stop herself comparing his feelings to her own, after her assault. But she didn't know and the last few months had been excellent at teaching her compassion, if nothing else. "I'm sorry this happened to you Marcus. Whatever it was, I'm sure you did not deserve it." 

 

TAG: @Atrice

[Atrice]

Ovinia seemed surprised that he had not told Tiberius, but then tried to make a joke of it. He smiled, "If one wants to, it's not that hard." Marcus said, thinking he could probably teach her a thing or two about hiding your mischief and mistakes from people. But then why would she need to know about that? Ovinia was such a good and perfect girl, she'd never need to hide any sort of mischief. She even went to the temples often. Marcus sure didn't. 

She promised that Marcus wouldn't need to worry about her telling Tiberius, because they weren't that close. He nodded, "Good... I mean... thanks, I guess. That you won't tell him." Not that she knew much, but she knew enough already and more than Tiberius. She knew he'd had an experience, that he'd been beaten and felt horrible and didn't want to talk about it. And that was more than what Tiberius knew. Then he suddenly felt a hand on his arm and looked up at her. She was so pretty and how was she so kind to him, and said that they were friends, when he never really thought they were. Not that Marcus ever cared too much, he was more interested in other things, so he never realized... but now he did. And her words honestly stung a bit, rubbed him the wrong way because she didn't know why he'd been beaten.

"Maybe I did, I don't know. Sometimes I just... forget to think, before I talk. You know me." She knew him well enough to know that. He blew some hair out of his eyes, "And then... well... but you're nice for saying you're sorry about it." 

[Sara]

Narrowing her dark eyes on Marcus' face she considered his words. Truthfully, Marcus wasn't all that different from many of his peers to her - flirtatious, confident, handsome and with bright, dazzling futures ahead of them in the Senate or in the legions. She knew men like him got away with murder (metaphorically speaking of course), but she also knew that men like her father often didn't take kindly to the idle words of young men who had more money (or connections in Marcus' case) than sense. She thought him offending somebody senior to him a more likely cause of his injuries than a random attack like hers had been. Her face hardened slightly at the thought, her sympathy flickering out like a lit lamp. 

"I am sorry." She said evenly, eyes still on his bruised face. "I'm to assume then that this wasn't some random attack in an alley in the Subura?" She arched a well shaped brow. "People forget to think before they talk all the time," She shrugged - although she couldn't sympathise, mostly every word from her lips was crafted with care and precision, "But few end up with a face like yours." She gestured to his injuries. "It must have been a serious slight to warrant that. Or a very angry man." 

 

TAG: @Atrice

[Atrice]

He could feel her eyes on him after what he said last and thought he'd fucked up anyway. He'd said too much. He didn't want her to know! He didn't want anyone to know, it was too much already. But she kept looking at him and he tried to avoid her gaze, while she then began assuming what had happened. Not a random attack. Forgetting to think before talking and then getting beaten. Set into motion by a very angry man. Fuck.

"You shouldn't assume anything, Ovinia. You don't know. And it'll heal." Marcus said in a final manner, standing, he didn't want to sit here and talk about what happened. He didn't want to talk about it. 

Marcus pulled the hood back on again and glanced at her, "Are you going to visit other temples?" He tried desperately to change the subject again. 

[Sara]

He snapped at her. He snapped at her. She ground her teeth hard enough that she thought they might splinter and crack and the glare she shot at him was utterly withering. Red mist descended in her gaze and she fought as bravely as any soldier on the battlefield to keep it in check. She tolerated being disrespected by her father and her brothers but that was it. Nobody else, particularly not a jumped up little shit like Marcus Junius Silanus. 

She pushed herself to stand and glanced down at him. "And you should not speak to me like that, Marcus." She placed her hands on her hips and quirked a brow. "I have offered you friendship, and kindness and Gods even wine for you to offer to heal your injuries." She scoffed, "I won't pry, but I will not be spoken down to." With a shake of her head she glanced towards the exit. She really shouldn't have been in here alone with him. "Let's hope you don't forget to think before you speak to the next man with fists that can do that to a face, hm?" She shook her head and made to leave.

 

TAG: @Atrice

[Atrice]

He tried to change the subject, but now Ovinia was upset with him. Well so much for calling him her friend, he supposed. She now stood and took a very feminine position with her hands on her hips and didn't want to be spoken to like that. Well look at Marcus, amazing at talking to ladies around these times. Not. He just upset them. Kind of the opposite of what he wanted, he liked to charm them, but he didn't do that. Nowhere near that. And now she was upset and looking to the exit and reminded him to think before he spoke.

Marcus stepped closer, put a hand on her arm, not grasping her, just touching her, hoping to make her not run away, "I'm... I just... I told you I don't want to talk about it. That I can't tell you what happened." He sighed and pulled his hand back, "But I guess you're right, I shouldn't speak to you like that. You can just... go, if you want. I get it." Truth be told, he did get it, she wouldn't want to talk to him, why would she? Marcus, beaten up for almost the exact reasons she guessed. Why should she want to talk to him? And he didn't want to tell her anyway, he couldn't. So it really was best that she left. It was best for both of them. And he could go back to his quarters and drink wine until he passed out and forget about the pain and the embarrassment and how stupid it all was. 

[Sara]

He looked suitably mollified and as he stood, Ovinia didn't back down. The hadn't on her forearm made her blink though, glancing down between them. It stilled her for a moment and she turned back fully to look at him at his words. He seemed...scared. Genuinely scared that she would say something or pry too deep and he would be in further trouble. She regarded him with a firm look, from the toes of his sandalled feet to the top of his hood - taking her time. She knew it unnerved men when she did this, but this time she was trying to get the measure of it. 

It was...not quite an apology, although it was something. She quirked a brow; "Is that your apology?" she demanded with a little huff of unamused laughter. She kept her eyes on his hooded face now though, considering and careful. "I know what it is to be afraid of something or somebody..." she would elaborate no further, "...and when I am afraid I can get...prickly." She curved her lips in a small smirk and her features softened a touch. "So I am still your friend, even if you are a prick sometimes, Marcus." 

 

TAG: @Atrice

[Atrice]

Marcus did indeed not want to get into further trouble. This was plenty. He'd never been beaten like that before, never been in a fight that ended with him looking like this. And the way they held him while the punches hit him, the way Varus just ordered it done, planned it even... he was afraid of what else he might do, and he didn't want to find out. So Ovinia had to not tell people he'd been beaten and tried to hide it, and she couldn't be upset with him. Girls that were upset were dangerous. The last one was. She told her husband and look at Marcus after she did that. 

She seemed surprised that he touched her and then she wondered if he was apologizing. Was he? Marcus gave her a sheepish look and shrugged, maybe? Then she went on about how she knew what it was like to be afraid and that it meant you got prickly. And then she spoke of friendship again.

"I don't know if that's meant to be a compliment." Not the last part anyway, "But thanks, I guess. For you... being my friend. I..." He didn't know what to do with that, did he? They usually weren't friends. They were girls he could charm and flirt with and take to bed, they weren't friends. Maybe he should repay her somehow. For her being nice. Maybe that would also help her with keeping his secret? Nothing was free in Rome. They said friendship was, but was it, really? "If you ever need my help with anything, Ovinia... you know where to find me." Why she'd need his help he didn't know, but you never knew, did you?