[IC] Rome

[RomanAria]

It was a rather chilly day in Rome, the 28th of October in the year 69. It seemed it would be a hard winter, given the layers of clothing that people were already wearing, and the tension in the air. Instead of the loud conversation that so often occurred in the marketplaces, there was hushed murmuring among small groups of people. Even the children, instead of running through the streets as they usually did, stayed close to their parents. Trouble was brewing, trouble probably to do with the emperor. The people had expected it for a while; this was the third emperor in ten months. But even so, it felt like a civil war was brewing, and there was nothing that the people could do to stop it.

Aemiliana Secunda crouched in a corner of the library next to her schoolroom, shivering and crying. Shivering because her older sister had pushed her into the fountain, in the freezing cold, windy forum. Crying because she was supposed to be at home serving her father and her adoptive grandfather, and couldn't go home to change clothes without getting beaten. She positively loathed being cold. The slightest chill was enough to make her sick, let alone being sopping wet in the middle of winter. She was trying to read a book for her medicine classes, the works of Hippocrates, but she couldn't even focus on the pages, much less actually remember what she was reading. All in all, she was not a very happy person.

On the contrary, her older sister was having a grand time. Aemilia walked through the marketplace arm-in-arm with her friend Nona, deliberately ignoring the tension in the air. Both girls had a fair idea of what the tension was about, and they both knew that they'd always escape the worst of it, being practically royalty themselves. ((OOC: I'm not exactly sure what these two girls are hoping to accomplish, but it's something to start with. I'll write for Vitellius and Gaius Aemilius after someone else posts.))

[DELETED324324]

The Acadmey, Pentalius

Pentalius was having a lovely day, he had just gotten out of Arithmetic and his father had sent him a letter and a new cloak for him to wear as it was getting colder out, the letter said he was feeling better and he would be out to Rome soon to check on his son and how he was doing, this letter only improved his mood. He was walking through the library looking through books when Pentalius saw a girl she was dripping wet, crying, and cold so he did what anyone would do and took off his cloak and handed it to the girl "Are you alright?" He asked, his voice having a touch of concern in it.

The Palace, Gaius Ignis

The seasoned warrior had walked through these halls a million times a day, and he never got sick of them they were beautiful, there were paintings of leaders and gods, he looked at the painting of Romes currently leader Gaius, they shared a name which wasn't all that rare but it did feel kind of ironic that he was supposed to guard someone with the same name as himself. Walking away from the painting he continued on until he was in the throne room and he took up his position next to the throne, he stood quietly and unmoving like a statue only addressing people when the addressed him. He was one of The Emperors chosen few, men he specifically picked out for their traits and service, And Gaius felt lucky.

[RomanAria]

Aemiliana
Aemiliana froze like a startled rabbit when she heard the boy. For a moment she had assumed it was her father, but then she realized that her father would never hand her a cloak to wrap up in. Dumbly she took the cloak and folded it around her shoulders. "I-I-I-I'm f-f-fine." She mumbled, hardly a convincing lie with her teeth chattering so hard. "I-I-I'm not s-s-s-up-p-posed-d to b-b-be here. T-t-t-that's all." She took a second look at the boy. He was tall and had the most stunning gray eyes she'd ever seen... And then she realized she was staring, her violet eyes wide, and quickly ducked her head. "f-f-f-forgiv-v-ve me, I've l-lost all m-my manners..." She rose clumsily to her feet and reached her tiny hand out to clasp forearms with the boy. Given their situation, as fellow students, it was acceptable (though not on the streets! Heaven forbid a woman should touch a man not her husband!) "M-my name i-is Aemiliana Secunda..." That would tell him a) she wasn't married and b) she was of a highborn house. Not that she wanted to rub her rank in anyone's face, but her name sort of forced her to. She smiled up at him slightly. [i]Gods, I wish I wasn't so short. People have to bend in two just to look at me.[/i}

[Whirlwind]

Ateret

Ateret was in the farmer’s market square, looking at all the booths of food and getting shouted at by greedy vendors looking to pawn off their goods. She just liked to come here to get away from high society and get lost in the crowds. She was dressed and made up with makeup and her wavy blonde hair piled on her head fashionably, but it was against her will that it was done. That morning she had been wakened by Hadassah who said her father had ordered again that she be primped and preened before leaving the house. She grumbled and complained but Hadassah simply smacked her hands lightly, making Ateret smirk, before their slave girls went to work scrubbing dirt out from under her fingernails and pouring oil into her hair. It was so humiliating. For all of them. Couldn’t her father see that? What was the big deal in leaving in common clothes with her hair down and bare faced?

Ateret glanced to her left and saw one of the empire’s guards, one of several dotted around the area to prevent or stop fighting in the market, looking her up and down crudely. Ah yes, that was right. Time to pawn off his little girl. She growled under her breath and pulled her shawl a little closer to her as she walked over to buy some fruit for her breakfast.

After her transaction she turned around and saw Crispus, flirting rather brazenly with a dark haired girl with flowers in her hair, who was giggling and looking at him shyly. Ateret felt just the slightest twist in her stomach, remembering how he’d ask her to meet him after nightfall, where he would whisper to her how he would marry her. Nothing had ever happened between them, not even a kiss, but still his sweet words had affected her.

She didn’t have much time to think of it before she saw of all people, her sister Nona and Aemilia walking across the other side of the market. It wasn’t hard to spot them. They oozed prestige and nobility. Everyone around them stopped and looked with either jealousy or want. But all Ateret saw was the opportunity for Nona to be hurt if she saw Crispus around the corner flirting. Thinking about what to do, she ran over to Crispus, getting between him and the dark haired girl, before smearing her fruit all over his front. He looked positively livid and was inches from cursing her out and causing a scene before Ateret, grabbed his ear harshly and pulled him down in a fashion she’d done so often with her male friends.

Crispus looked shocked but listened as she whispered into his ear about Nona being in the market square, and unless he wanted more scandal in his marriage than he already had, he’d better leave and go change. She let him go, both frowning at each other before he turned and left, not before glancing every woman he could up and down though.

Ateret turned around and apologized with a smile to the girl, saying how slippery that fruit was and how Crispus had to go home and change. Such a shame. The girl huffed and walked off, leaving Ateret to blow a large exhale out through her mouth, grateful she’d avoided her family causing a ruckus in the middle of the market at the very least.

[Whirlwind]

Nona
Nona walked arm in arm with Aemilia, enjoying the looks they achieved. After all, they did look the part of Roman nobility to a T. She had that air about her that said she was not afraid to kiss a man and then have him killed if he displeased her. She had spent early this morning making a sacrifice to Venus, asking that her husband fall more in love with her. Then a sacrifice to Angitia for healing for herself. She had been feeling rather ill lately, in fact not too long after marrying Crispus, and it was only getting worse. She still had an air about her that dissuaded talk, and made others not even realize her condition, but it didn’t mean at night she didn’t rant and rave and make the servants wait on her hand and foot to bring down her fevers and give her excessive amounts of baths in healing oils.

On this morning, she had hoped simply to make her presence known again with Aemilia. After all, if you didn’t let people see you, they forgot how important you were. ”Isn’t there a game tonight?
she asked her friend, speaking of course of the coliseum. Anybody who was anybody never missed an event there, and she was eager to attend and throw a token to the best gladiator in the ring.

Marcus
That morning, Marcus Azarius woke up early with the dawn. He had given specific instructions to all the house staff (wait on his wife hand and foot, make sure Ateret didn’t leave the house unless cleaned and dressed like a proper upper class girl) and eaten briefly before heading to the docks. Unlike some merchants that sat back and let dough roll in, he was too invested in his business to simply trust such a thing to happen. Not to mention all those years as a slave had driven work into his fingers and prevented him from simply resting.

Today his work was mainly meetings though. Meetings others had set up with him in order to gain the loyalty of his business to their cause or hopeful rise in the ranks of the Roman empire. Meetings with those who wanted to join with his business into a partnership. Meetings with those wanting money for ventures and hoping he’d be affected by it. Then meetings he’d set up himself to discuss marriage between Ateret and others. He used to only set up such meetings with nobles. Then with the upper class. At this point, he was just looking for someone with a decent reputation despite social ranking.

Rubbing his eyes and face, he went to his office and pulled out the bookkeeping records from last month, comparing their trade numbers with what they were on track to do this month.

[Lord Pie]

Tainus Fulvius

Tainus stared at the four coins on the table before him, each baring the face of a different emperor. There was Nero, the allegedly mad emperor who had started the great fire of Rome. Galba, who had declared himself emperor before being killed by Marcus Salvius Otho, the foolish and weak emperor who had killed himself in a poor attempt to prevent a civil war, and now there was Vitellius, the man who in his own eyes was responsible for the death of much of his family.

Tainus frowned as his temper rose at the simple thought of his family being murdered like plebeian dogs, at the thought of their assets being seized by the Empire instead of passed down to their rightful owners, and now Tainus had received another demand from him, to return to Rome and swear fealty to this new emperor or be branded a traitor to the empire, stripped of his position and sentenced to death for his alleged crimes. In one swift and aggressive movement Tainus drew a short blade from his belt and slammed its point through the golden image of Vitellius’s face, nailing the coin to the table before he turned away and placed his helm onto his head before walking out of his command tent, a determined glint in his eye.

Stood arrayed before him in their formations was his Legion, all having mobilised at his command, ready to march, ready to follow their commander into the very gates of the underworld if necessary.

“Brothers!” he shouted at the top of his voice as he made his way down the front line towards his stallion “today we march towards Rome, towards the very heart of our glorious empire!” He paused for a moment, surveying the grim faces that watched him as his officers repeated his words so all could hear “Cowards and women wait there for us, they demand we kneel and swear our fealty to them, but I say that none there deserve our fealty or obedience. They have betrayed Rome, they have betrayed us, and now we shall show them what happens to those who dare threaten our empire!” as he finished he mounted his horse and thrust his gladius sword into the air, the roar of his men being almost deafening as they began to bang their swords against their shields creating an aweful din, some even going so-far as to hail him the true heir to the Empire with their cheers. It was music to his ears.

Turning to his head military tribune, the man directly below him in rank, a rather brilliant brute name Gregus, he said “See to it that the men know we are not going to Rome to pillage her or her people. Let them know that any man who raises a hand against a citizen will be punished accordingly. Only the men who foolishly follow our enemy will be harmed. I will ride ahead as best I can, once you arrive station the men to the north of the city and fortify your position. I will meet you there with further instructions. To any who ask we are going to swear our allegiance to the true emperor”.

The man nodded before saluting “Understood, we will be there. You have our full support Tainus” he said in a gruff voice. The men clapped arms together and shared a brief moment as Gregus added “and good luck my friend, in Rome you will need it”.

With that Tainus nodded once before turning and urging his horse forwards with as much speed as it could muster, a large cloud of dust being left in his wake as he rode for Rome.

Tressa Corcoran

Tressa wept silently, tears running down her pale face which was marred by a huge bruise, her lip swollen and cut from the blow she had received. This day had been truly terrible, it began with a demand from her owner, Argentus, to join him in his chambers. Whilst there he had torn her dress and forced her onto her knees, making her service him until he was satisfied before he took what else he wanted from her. She had thought of killing him the entire time, but as always she could never bring herself to disobey, to disappoint or to step even slightly out of line. He had then sent her away to resume her daily tasks, which is when his wife had seen her emerge from his chambers with her dress torn and the all too familiar look of shame upon her face.

Once she had cleansed herself and redressed she had been approached by one of her owner’s guards, a man she knew as a cruel brute who only needed a coin slipped into his pocket to break her master’s rule of not damaging her face. As soon as she had seen him she knew what was coming and so had done little to resist other than whimper, knowing there was nothing else she could do as the man simply walked over and back-handed her with all of his strength. With nothing more than a chuckle the man turned and left her where she had fallen, which is where she now found herself unable to do anything other than weep.

As she glanced up she could see across the courtyard to where she was watching her, a smirk on her face as the pair briefly made eye contact before she turned and stalked away, once more leaving Tressa to her misery.

Gritting her teeth Tressa stood before murmuring under her breath, surprising even herself with her anger as she spoke in her natural tongue “One day I shall kill you all, this I swear”. Shocked she covered her mouth with a hand before glancing around nervously for fear anyone had heard her. Fortunately they had not.

Taking a few deep breaths to stabilise herself she smoothed down the plain white dress she was wearing, of course it was in the fashion of her owners, as all clothing seemed to be. She wiped the blood from her chin and prepared herself as best she could to continue with her daily duties. Today she was to go to the market, a slave whore with a bruised face and split lip, oh how they would giggle a point at her as they usually did – with all she could do was to ignore them and act as if they did not exist.

Sometime later she was making her way through the narrow streets of Rome, a single guard at her back following her every turn. This one was new, but he seemed disinterested enough that she may actually be able to do what she needed without any harassment from the man who was ‘guarding’ her. Tressa shivered at the cold autumn wind slightly, wishing she had thicker clothes as she passed through an archway into the market place. She began to browse the wares as quickly as possible, the merchants sparing her their sales pitches as they all knew her to be a slave not worthy of their attention. A pair of noble women passed her, Tressa taking a step backwards and bowing her head in submission slightly as they did, half to show the required respect, half to hide her face. They were speaking about the gladiatorial games, causing a painful twinge of memory as she thought of her brother, likely killed in the arena they so casually talked about attending. Stupid Roman bitches… she thought aggressively to herself, again almost shocking herself at her own thoughts. What was happening with her thoughts today, she wondered.

As Tressa picked up several apples to place in her basket a Roman man who seemed most flustered, covered in fruit smeared down himself stormed past her and knocked them from her hands, causing them to roll in several directions. Flushing bright red Tressa scrambled to pick them up, terrified of drawing further attention to herself as the man stormed off with little more than a glance at her body.

“Prick” she mumbled in Iceni, feeling strangely liberated that she had spoken her mind in public for the first time.

[RomanAria]

Aemilia
Aemilia smirked at her friend. "Of course there is! And apparently there's even a new combatant, fresh from the school. He's Celtic, and apparently the best of his class. Absolutely EVERYONE is going to be there to watch him fight." She tossed her head, the golden beads in her hair tinkling delicately. She didn't bother with a stola, everyone knew that she was hardly a faithful matron, and she found the things too confining anyway. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the red-haired slave girl... Oh what was her name... Tressa, who her husband had an affair with once, chasing after an apple. Aemilia abruptly turned away from the apple spectacle and said haughtily, "I think we should go look at some perfumes; I'm almost out and I'm hardly about to go to the coliseum without a divine scent!" She laughed, a warm rich sound. "Speaking of which, my father wishes that I could teach Secunda a lesson. She always reeks of ink and parchment, and goes about in horrific undyed tunics with her hair in a plait! Can you imagine? And she doesn't even serve Father like a proper maiden should. She was loafing on the edge of the fountain today, when she should have been politely waiting on Father and Grandfather, and so I pushed her in, oh the indignity. To actually have to exert myself to teach that stuck-up sister of mine."

[DELETED324324]

Pentalius

Pentalius looked down at Aemiliana, she had lovely violet eyes he could almost get lost in them, when she said her name and greeted him, he knew off the bat who she was, he was in the presence of a child of the emperor, and all he could think about was how lovely she was, "M'lady" He said, giving her a deep bow "I apologize for my transgression." He continued, then he ran a nervous hand through his hair, he had to be smooth calm himself down, "Tell her who you are." a voice in his head seemed to say. Taking awhile to compose himself he stood straighter "I am Pentalius Noctura. And if your not supposed to be here I suppose, I can tell your father that we lost track of time as we studied and it was my fault. If it's alright with you." He said trying to steady himself.

[Whirlwind]

Nona smirked as Aemilia rambled on, talking about a Celt and making an interested face. Surely he was a handsome fellow. And best in his class. Ah, she would have to make sure he noticed her. Nona was busy thinking to herself so she didn’t notice Aemilia’s look to the red haired slave girl until she felt herself turned quickly. Glancing back at what they were walking away from, Nona sneered and then looked back to her friend with an arrogant smile to remind everyone around them once more how much better they were. ”Yes, a new fragrance always puts me in the mood for a fight! Not from Octavius though, last bottle I bought from him was so faint I practically had to use the whole bottle in one go. I should have had his head on a platter,” she said with a mild frown, as if she were truly thinking about doing such a thing. She listened as Aemilia spoke of her little sister, making Nona roll her eyes for her in mutual irritation, laughing with a poisonous tone as her friend described Secunda. ”Both of our sisters are a thorn in our sides. I wish I could push Ateret into a fountain. And hold her head under,” she said, a laugh escaping her painted lips as they walked up to a booth with perfumes.

[RomanAria]

Aemiliana
Aemiliana smiled slightly. "No, please don't bow. I don't like reminding people of my station if I don't have to. I'm treated as a slave within my household anyway--" she fake-coughed, trying to change the subject. "And please, don't mention that to my father. I'm not supposed to study at all. He thinks his daughters are just for marrying off. He signed my older sister's wedding contract when she was thirteen and married her off when she was my age. He's trying to present me to all manner of suitors, and he thinks that a well educated wife would be a threat. He wants me to be pretty and empty-headed and I don't want to be empty-headed. Or take four hours to get made up in the mornings. I want to be a medic in the army, or at least a physician here in the city." Being that she had ceased shivering, she took the slightly damp cloak away from her shoulders and hung it from a hook on the wall over a brazier, designed specifically to dry clothes. As she did her rather loose tunic slipped off her shoulder, revealing the scars of a flogging. She gasped and flipped it over her shoulder again, trying to act nonchalant while really she was in turmoil inside. I could tell him. He might put a stop to this torture that I face every day. But if I tell him, and he gets killed for trying to help me, I'll feel guilty forever. He owes me nothing; there's no reason for him to help me. And yet it seems that he wants to help... If I present him to Father as a suitor, I might be allowed to keep my skin, but what sort of life would I be condemning him to?

Aemilia
Aemilia laughed. "Yes, holding them under would be very much a good thing. But, Secunda will take ill from this dip in the cold, knowing how frail she is. She might even go and die. And when father gets his hands on her, as disheveled as she was this morning, goodness. She'll wind up a bloody pulp." She gave an evil half-smirk, until she realized they were at the perfume seller. And then she turned on the charm, smiling warmly, if slightly contemptuously, at the seller as he recited his sales pitch. "Yes, I think I should like to try this lily scent. Don't you think, Nona? Or perhaps the sweet jasmine? It's apparently from Asia, and nothing is more exotic than a perfume from Asia." She giggled sweetly.

[DELETED324324]

Pentalius

Pentalius nodded when the empress told him not to bow she started mentioning what she wanted to do and what her father wanted to do she was very forthcoming, which he thought was kinda cute, "Well I like intelligence, I have no idea what it's like to be a child of the emperor, but my father says that one should be free to follow their hearts desire, be they man or woman, slave or free." He chuckled "I suppose thats why he wasn't considered a good senator, his ideas are out there." He told Ameiliana.

With her mentioning her ideals and Pentalius mentioning his own he felt more comfortable around her and it showed. "My offer still stands on taking you home though." He told her a smile forming on his face, but on the inside he felt like he was making a total fool of himself."Why do i feel like i can tell her everything?" He thought.

[RomanAria]

Aemiliana
Aemiliana smiled, inclining her head slightly. "I would much appreciate it if you would escort me home. I'll be going to the Coliseum after I finish my chores for the day... Apparently there is a tournament on. I don't much appreciate the bloodshed, but... maybe they'll let me help patch everyone up after the fact. I was top of the class in Rudimentary Healing Arts, and I'm the only one who hasn't yet dropped out of Advanced Wound Care and Maintenance. They'll have to let me help." She looked so hopeful at the thought, it was rather ridiculous. This genteel little girl, the child of the emperor, wanting to actually work at something as disgusting as saving dying gladiators? Getting blood all over her hands and dirt under her nails? "Will you be attending also? I've been invited to sit with Aurelia and Octavius but I'd rather not... They're too bloodthirsty and far too overbearing." She sighed, picked up her book from where it had fallen on the floor, and placed in in the basket she carried just for that purpose. She squeezed as much water out of her tunic as she could without taking it off, wincing as rivulets poured down her back from her still-sopping hair. Then she realized. "Oh, goodness. I can't let you take me home... You'll be late for your next class then. And I really can't delay getting back... The longer I wait the angrier my father will be." She also was determined to enact her plan of revenge on her father, and she didn't want Pentalius there in case it went sour.

[DELETED324324]

Pentalius

Pentalius was trapped in thought when the empress asked if he was going to the games and mentioned him missing classes "I'm not to worried about classes, I'm sure i can miss a class and be fine, as for the games, it's not for me, i'm more interested in art than bloodsport." He said, and started walking away but he stopped about part way "If you ever need me my estate is not far from here, and if i'm not here i'm there so it's not far, and you can keep the cloak." With that said he turned and walked out of the room.

[Whirlwind]

Ateret watched as her sister and Aemilia sauntered off, none the wiser about the disaster of egos just averted. She blew a heavy exhale through her lips, letting them flap in a tired fashion before turning away from the square and heading down familiar alleyways she had traversed as a younger girl. She caught the eye of one of her old friends who teased her about looking like a girl, to which she replied she could still whoop him if she weren’t in a dress. The boy, well, man now she supposed just chuckled and brushed her off in a friendly fashion before she’d smiled goodbye and continued on. She was almost to the docks where she planned on meeting with her father and discussing the travesty of a get up he was making the servants put her in each day, when she saw two men in the shadows discussing. And anything discussed in alleyways away from prying eyes and ears was usually something worth knowing. And sometimes worth killing over. Ateret laid her back against the wall and concentrated, furrowing her brow as she heard the two men speaking.

“The Emperor must be warned,” the taller one hissed.

“He’s been turning a blind eye for far too long. He’s foolish enough to fight it if he knows,” replied one with a slightly higher voice and smaller stature.

“A true Roman would not let him be cornered in such a fashion. Or embarrassed as he will be.”

“He should already be embarrassed for the mess he’s made of Rome’s reputation and his own.”

“You will see my friend. Allegiances with those in power will come in handy.”

“Ah, not when those in power crumble. Sooner than you think, Livius.”

With that, the two men parted ways, a seemingly friendly yet unfriendly tone left hanging in the air. Luckily, neither passed Ateret’s hiding place and she slipped back onto her chosen path towards the docks undetected. Her mind was now occupied with grander things than her morning routine though. What was happening so soon to the empire? Was the emperor in danger? Did she have any sort of obligation to warn anyone? She continued on her way but the concern and confusion on her face was clear.

[Whirlwind]

Nona grinned at Aemilia’s summation of her sister, their combined smirks looking like two rather mischievous children who would never get caught. She glanced at the perfumes her friend was looking at and shook her head. ”Oh Jasmine is your scent Aemilia. Few others would wear it as it’s so bold, but you would carry it perfectly. And stand out. I, however… think I will try for the rose scent. It is strongest so it should win me a little prize for later,” she said, ignoring the perfume dealer’s raised eyebrow and paying him with a haughty look, pocketing the bottle. Although Nona had not cheated on Crispus in any way since their union, the thought got more tempting every day. After all, he had his fun, why couldn’t she just to spite him? And whatever love she’d thought they had was dismal at best. She would show him, and get what she wanted in the process.

[RomanAria]

Aemiliana
Aemiliana watched the boy leave hurriedly. Did I say something wrong? She shook off her thoughts and fastened the cloak around her shoulders. It really was a handsome thing, fine dark gray wool fastened with a silver owl brooch. She smiled as she smelled the fabric. It smells like textbooks and herbs! Aemilia always tells me I reek of old paper and dusty herbs. I should love to marry a man who appreciates learning. But to do that I will have to get away from my father. With that thought she fished around in her basket until she produced the tiny dagger she had purchased some days earlier. It had a flat hilt about an inch and a half long, and a blade about the same length. She tucked it between her first and second fingers and clenched her fist, so that the blade was the only thing protruding, sticking out between her fingers. It would hardly be noticeable until she was actually stabbing her father. She trembled at the thought, both from terror and excitement. Today. Before I lose my nerve, I am going to hurt him. Today I take control of my own life.
With a half-crazed laugh she hurried out the door, half-running back to the palace. She slowed to a walk and ducked her head in shame as she approached the gates. One of the guards called for her to halt, and she did. "Excogitas quid?" he asked. What is your purpose? (literally, "what are you planning?")
Aemiliana timidly ducked her head. "Videre poenae mei venio, quod mei pater ignorabam." I come to see my punishment, because I ignored my father.
The guard nodded, and then gave her a tiny smile. "Good luck, Aemiliana. You'll need it." He opened the gates and escorted her through, into the “throne room” where her grandfather and father met with important people. The guard touched her shoulder lightly and left. Aemiliana’s knees trembled, but she forced herself to walk forward, past the point where she would have ordinarily knelt, until she stood six feet away from her father. She forced her eyes up, the bright purple sparking from anger. She was all too aware of the guards stationed along the walls beside the throne, ready to subdue her as soon as she made a move. Gaius raised his hand to slap her. She didn’t flinch, and she knew it. He knew it though, and a spark of fear showed in his own eyes. She forced herself to open her mouth and say, quietly, “Non timo, Pater.” I am not afraid of you, father. “Morior libera, non vivo captiva volo.” I wish to die free, not live a captive. “Mihi non impera tu.” You do not command me. She took three more steps, brought up the fist that held the knife, and plunged it as far into his flesh as it would go. She yanked it across his torso and pulled the blade free from the painful, but not life-threatening, wound. Aemiliana wasn’t sure who was more surprised: herself, her father, or the guards. She flung the knife at her grandfather, still seated regally in his throne, again wondering who was more surprised when the blade stabbed him through the arm. She knew she only had a few more seconds before the shock wore off and she was restrained, so she turned to her father (who was gasping and clutching at his chest) “You coward. You’re a coward. You made me fearful of living so that I didn’t dare to challenge you. But now it’s my turn.” She saw the fear in his eyes for a split-second, before she was thrown to the ground by the guards. “I’m not afraid of dying. Every time you had them beat me, another part of me died. This will just be more permanent.” The guard twisted her arms up behind her back and kicked her savagely in the ribs. She screamed as she felt something give way, and in a flash she was back. Aemiliana was no longer fearless… Now she was terrified. This was worse than anything she’d done before. In an instant had gone from the goddess, in control, to the scared little girl that her father could push around. But not quite. Even as the guards yanked her to her feet, keeping her subdued, she was glaring at her father. Again she saw the flash of fear in his eyes before he regained control.
“In the Forum.” He growled, his eyes gone murderous. “Read off her charges as threats to authority figures, attempted patricide, attempted assassination of the emperor, and intent to murder. Have her disowned from my family. And then…” he paused, seeming to think. “Some sort of nice, very painful, very public, punishment. Make absolutely certain that her classmates are there. And feel free to kill her. I have no use for the bitch who nearly killed me, her and her scumbag mother!”
Aemiliana raised her voice, though it felt like razors were eating her sides as she tried to shout. “Do not speak ill of Mother! She’s a goddess. A goddess fell in love with a “scumbag” like you.” A cuff to the head that made her eyes all fuzzy. She was vaguely aware of a rope being tied around her wrists. She tried to say something, anything, to the guard tying her arms, but the instant she opened her mouth she was struck again and the world faded to black.

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The Palace, Gaius Ignis

Gaius watched in horror as the emperor's own daughter drew a dagger and before he could even shout "Stop her" had plunged it into the emperor she was going for the kill and screaming about the abuse she had received, abuse that Gaius watch and didn't do a thing and now this was the end result, this girl seemed to have given up on living she had to have known what would happen, his brothers in arms had her now and were tying her down the emperor was listing things off to do to her, Gaius watched as she tried to say something to the other guards but they knocked her unconscious and she went limp. "M'lord, let me take her away myself." He said hoping the emperor would grant his request.

[RomanAria]

Aulus and Gaius Vitellius, at the Palace
The emperor considered it. He conferred momentarily with Gaius; the girl's father should have the right to decide her fate. They both knew that Ignis was a hard-hearted soldier, and wouldn't give in to the pleas of a little girl. Hopefully, anyway. It was Gaius who spoke, though technically Aulus was the ranking person in the room. "Very well then. Harden your heart, and do not let the devil girl go. She's a menace to society." He flicked his hand contemptuously, dismissing the guards that still held his daughter. Then he let his physician, who had been summoned by the maids in the confusion, clean the gouge on his chest. "It's not by any means fatal. If I had to hazard a guess I would say that she cut through as much muscle as she could, just trying to hurt you. She's not a murderous girl." The same was said by his assistant who was attempting to remove the dagger from the emperor's arm.

Aemilia, at the Marketplace
Aemilia caught Nona's meaning immediately, and gave her a twisted grin, paying the seller for her own bottle of perfume and putting it into her basket. As she turned away she casually mentioned her own thought. "I'm wondering if I shouldn't find my own prize too... Evandrus is certainly a catch, although he's too much of an academic. But it would hurt Secunda... For the last three years she's followed him around like a puppy. A very unkempt, irresponsible, disobedient puppy. Or I could always take her place at the game tonight, sitting with Octavius. Not the perfume seller Octavius, the Praetorian Guard Octavius. He's tall and handsome, and so very strong too." She giggled, her golden eyes sparking mischievously.

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Gaius Ignis, The Palace

Gaius hefted the blacked out girl and exited from the throne room, he thought about sending her off to the dungeons but she had suffered enough from her father in a way this palace was worse to her than any prison could ever be, she deserved to be free, deserved to live a better life, so instead of heading off to lock her away Gaius looked all around and made absolutely sure no one was following him, when he was sure no one was there, he cut through the courtyard and into a store room shutting the door and locking it behind him he cut the girls bonds and waited for her to awaken.

[RomanAria]

Aemiliana, at the Palace
Aemiliana was always quick to regain consciousness, the numerous times she had been knocked out. This was no exception, and in a few moments she was awake and looking around in terror. "Where... Oh." She clapped her hands over her mouth when she saw Gaius. "He really is going to have me executed, isn't he?" She was oddly calm about it, except for the odd light in her eyes and the paleness of her skin. "Why did you bring me here, and not to the forum, like my father said?"