Post by duff on Mar 22, 2011 23:37:25 GMT -5
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Verus Rex
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Verus jingles coins behind the gate to bribe Thalia for a jug of wine.
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Thalia
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Eyes the Gladiator, then the purse of coins. Makes sure no one is looking before sneaking him a jug.
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Verus Rex
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He passes his coins to the Thalia and hauls the jug over the gate to enjoy in his cell. “A blessing slave! When I earn my Rudis, I shall buy you freedom with me!”
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Thalia
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"Buy my freedom...?" I grip the bars of the gate slightly, watching him. "Do not even jest... that is cruel."
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Verus Rex
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As he drinks of the wine, he looks up at the slave. "Someday, someday I will own a place just as this, and shall employee all the slaves of this house; not as slave, but with freedom and fare wage." Sincere he was in his promise, but a man possessed in wonders of wine and women has not the foresight to realize actions that would need be to achieve such a goal.*
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Thalia
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I lift a brow at the Gladiator before chuckling softly. "I think that perhaps you are deep in the wine with such dreams of freedom and fair wage. For you to even gain your own freedom you have to live first through the sand and blood. That is a big if..."
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Verus Rex
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"The gods did not spare me in the destruction of Herculaneum only to see me ended in Rome. No, I believe their means was a cruel, but honored way of bringing me here, that I might honor them in a true arena! The gods, they adore me, they wish I would live through all obstacle. No, it is the house I truly fear..." With a nervousness never seen of the gladiator upon the sand, he silences himself, halting swiftly least he speak ill of the Dominus and his family.
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Thalia
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"Well at least you do not lack confidence..." I slide the coins he gave me into a satchel tied to my belt. When he mentions fear of the house, I raise my head and glance towards him again. "Be careful Gladiator. The house has ears... and eyes... everywhere." I have another quick look around to make sure we're alone but that means nothing around here.
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Verus Rex
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Taking a deep breath in, Verus nods, his own eyes scanning as well. This was a house of many split loyalties. In one uniting factor, no one held loyalties to a gladiator. He was fresh to the house, and while his beloved former Dominus still remained until the roof Vitella, he was a broken man. Verus had prayed that with the loss, he would be freed, but instead he and his remaining two brothers became bargaining chips; a gift to a cruel master so that the kind master could seek solace.
"I know too well, slave. Please, grant me forgiveness for not withholding such comments and even the thoughts themselves, further deep apologies for stating that in your presence. I mean you not the harm hearing words as such come bring. I have come from far lands and strive for great adjustment. Dominus Jorubii knew far different rules than I know with our Dominus now. Please, slave, have you seen my former master? I know he grieves within the house for loss of his wife and children, and grieves that his fortune is lost to not hold distraction from misery. How well does he fare?"
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Thalia
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"There is no need for forgiveness. Not from me anyways. I am but a slave. I hear many things... as I tend to my tasks. I have become used to it." Lifting my small shoulders, I shrug just slightly as I peer at him through the gate. I've never actually been up close to a Gladiator before. If I'm caught I'll be whipped for not tending to my duties. Even he had more ground to stand on than I. Slaves in some houses were even below the dogs.
"I am from far away too..." Taken from Greece during one of many raids. I have not been back since and fear I will never see my homeland again. "Adjustment... takes time." I'm not sure I will ever get used to Rome. It was so vast and big. And so ripe with corruption, murder and schemes. It could be a terrifying place.
At mention of his former master, a frown touches my lips. "He is not well. He... he seems a broken man. Lost in mourning. He... he does not receive visitors really and barely has the servants leave him anything to eat or drink."
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Verus Rex
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"We are all but slaves, even those that are not. I have seen the guards beaten before they turn to return lashes upon us. In the end though, the gods take nobles just as they take slaves. My Dominus' island, all those not on travel were buried to fire. Slaves. Soldiers. Nobles. The magistrate himself. All consumed by...who was it they speak of in this land? Hades? All that I know, if that to a Celt, all men die the same, it is matter of how."
Verus turns his cheek slightly, listening to Thalia's words of home.
"I have seen Greece, once. Not as a free man, but when I was taken for contest by Dominus Jorubii. A beautiful country, and one greatly admired by the Dominus of this house. It is no wonder he sought to acquire you to serve, I have seen much of the Greek armor within his displays."
A clear sadness crosses his face at the mention of his Dominus of old, lines near his eyes becoming more defined as he hears her speak. He bows his head for a moment, then removes his necklace. Upon the necklace is a shell, finely polished and with a hole drilled through to be hung upon the string. Verus reaches through the bars and takes Thalia's hand, gently opening her fingers and setting the shell within, pulling loose the necklace itself. Verus then closes her fingers, his own hands clasped around them.
"Please...have this find home to him. I was a reluctant gladiator, but he was kind. The shell was from his wife. This was granted to me upon my first victory but it will mean more to him."
With that, Verus retreats from the bars, heavy steps treading through the hallways of the Ludus.
“My apologizes, I had not yet to even learn your name. I must withdraw swiftly, and you the same. Doctore has risen from slumber to perform his evening rounds. Quickly girl, up the stairs with you! Please do not confuse my haste for barbarism, I rush only for the safety of both our sake. My debt is yours for this favor.”
Verus clasps a hand over a fit and gives a slight bow for the favor before turning to the shadows, rushing back towards his own sleeping quarters before the slave he must recognize as a master in own right makes discovery.