de minimis non curat praetor.

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

Kalends of Maius, nearly noon
The year of the consulship of Isauricus and Sabinus
The Forum marketplace

It is a clear morning, a good omen for the first day of the month. I came to the Forum this morning to hear a pontiff call out the fasti. I could have a slave do it, or I could wait to see the list written up in the Senate, but I like to hear it from the mouth of the priest - and I take some amusement in the scurrying of people as they hurry to arrange their month based on which days are forbidden to carry out business. I have my suspicions that the priests take bribes for the banning of certain days, but I think a man would have to be a fool to risk the wrath of the gods in such a way. In the same vein, I have gone to the temple of Venus, as today is the Vinalia, the celebration both of the wine harvest and of the goddess. I poured wine over her altar - and gave many amphorae to her priests so that they might pray for me. Privately I offered my own prayers to Venus Acidalia, since she is concerned with troubles. Not that I have much faith in her interest in my troubles, since I am sure that Venus is quite content for Tetricus to keep making a fool of himself over that boy. She seems to enjoy men playing idiots in the service of love.

Tonight in honour of the Vinalia I have been invited with my wife to the Palace, as her Royal Highness is giving a party - a small affair, the invitation said, of one or two hundred guests. That should mean much of the Senate will be there, and I have sent word to Ageria Altinia to find an appropriate gift. I know that my wife can be trusted with such delicate matters. It is a relief to me to have so sensible a spouse - we had met only twice before we wed, and I had thought she seemed a clear headed girl, but it could all have gone quite wrong. But she has managed my household well from the first, and blessedly produced our twins within a short space of time, which is a relief for many reasons.

I walk through the crowds, people stepping out of my way when they see my toga praetexta. Many are discussing their plans for celebrating the holiday this evening; I think the centre of Excolo will be rowdy tonight. And I do not doubt that the celebrations at the Palace will also be debauched, given the occasion and the host. Tanicia is always careful to behave perfectly herself, but to encourage bad behaviour in others, and I doubt tonight will be an exception. Luckily I can trust Ageria to behave in a way that is a credit to our family. I am sure that if Tetricus is there I will not be able to say he is doing the Ilicus name any credit, particularly if he brings the boy. Barely sixteen and a plebeian. At least when Tetricus acted as my patron we were closer in age, and I had enough wit that we had things in common besides my looks and his interest in them. Arruns Ramnes is a nothing, an exile scratching out a position based on the charity of his patron and now Tetricus, with only a perfectly unremarkable handsomeness to recommend him.

I am clenching my jaw, I realise, and so I stop at a stall to buy a morning cup of wine. My business for the day is discharged; soon it will be time for the baths and then preparations for the dinner and party tonight. I sip my wine and sit on a bench, watching the crowds of the Forum mill by.

Comments

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

Arnza is so pleased about his patron's invitation to the Vinalia at the palace, but I worry for him. He's still young, and I have heard stories about the debaucheries there. And I have heard rumours about some jealous affair between his patron and a praetor - such a man could do us much harm.

But still, I admit Arnza's arguments are compelling. A Senator wields much power, even in these degenerate Imperial times, and the liason will bring us closer to our goals.

My mood lightens as I see my patroness. Catalina has been very good to us. I think she initially took pity on us, but she has grown strong in running her house. I admire her a good deal, and am glad the closeness of our ages allows us a certain companionship.

"Good morning, domina" I greet her with a smile and a small dip of respect. "I should have thought you would be less likely to lie abed than I."

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

"Titia," I say, smiling. Titia's family have been clients of my father's family for years, and after their troubles they came to us - or rather to me, because by the time they got to Excolo my father was dead. I had to take them in, which was duty and charity at first, but now it's hard to imagine the house without them. I don't entirely approve of Arruns Ramnes' choice of new patron, but I know since my status was diminished by my marriage there's only so much I can help him, and Senator Tetricus is important. Titia, I hope, will make a good match, though I'm selfishly a little glad that so far she hasn't had any offers that it would be wise for her to accept. I like having a friend my own age nearby - the house takes so much time to run that I don't have as much time to socialise as before I was married.

"This is Germanus," I say, gesturing at the slave. "He belongs to my husband. Decimus Ravus is returning home today." I can feel my expression tighten a little. I think Titia guesses better than most how I feel about this.

[jaeresteade.livejournal.com]

She buys a dozen quail. A dozen, and then a box of pastries oozing with honey. I do not understand this woman. She is not happy about her husband’s return, I think, but she is doing her best to receive him well. To my mind, the best way to keep his stay short and his leave-taking soon would not be to greet him in a lavish manner. But perhaps she has some other reason for doing this. My master has been gone a long time, from what I’m heard. Maybe his wife has taken a lover in his absence, and wants to appease him should he discover it. Maybe she just feels guilty.

I stow the pastries in the basket as she asks me what I do for her husband. How to answer that? An answer that will serve. “I amuse him, my lady.” And let her make of that what she wants. “I also cook and care for the horses and am sent on errands.” And she can tell by the marks on my body that I’ve had to be compelled to return from a few of those errands.

I do not know how much she is listening to me, since she seems to have spotted a friend in the streets, a smaller, darker woman. The two greet each other with smiles. My mistress mentions her husband’s return, and then introduces me to her friend. I don’t know what to do but nod and bow. Try to remember if I’ve ever been introduced to someone. Not like that, anyway. “Shall I take these things back to the house now, mistress?” I say quietly, thinking that the two women may want to keep each other company in the market for a while. If she lets me go, it’ll give me a chance to explore the city a bit more, plan what I’m going to do here. And if some of those pastries should go missing, well, I can always say the baker slighted her.

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

If there has been any good of our exile, and the destruction of our family, it has been Catalina's friendship. She gives me reason to smile, and that has been rare these past years.

"This is Germanus," she says, gesturing to a haggard-looking slave. "He belongs to my husband. Decimus Ravus is returning home today."

I smile with my mouth, but I know she does not truly rejoice at his return. I wonder if he will even recognize his wife? Catalina has grown used to running things in her own way - and I will admit, I worry over his response to us. I will makes sure Arruns understands that he must make a good impression.

"Shall we walk together?" I ask, offering my arm in friendship. I think she would like some company, before she meets her husband after so long.

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

“Shall I take these things back to the house now, mistress?”

I consider for a moment. I don't know if Germanus is a trustworthy slave. Then again, if he runs off my husband can attend to it.

"Yes," I say. I give him a stern look. "I know exactly what is in that basket." Then I give him a kinder look. "When you get back, ask the steward for a new tunic, and also for a loaf of emmer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmer); you must be hungry."

"Shall we walk together?"

"Yes," I say, when Germanus has left. I tuck my arm into hers. "I admit, Titia," I say, sighing, "I'm anxious about my husband's homecoming. It's been two years since I've seen him, and apart from the short letters he's sent me I have no idea what sort of man he is."

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

The slave leaves, and Catalina takes my arm. "I admit, Titia," she says with an worried sigh, "I'm anxious about my husband's homecoming. It's been two years since I've seen him, and apart from the short letters he's sent me I have no idea what sort of man he is."

I nod, and put my hand on hers for a moment. "I thought as much. Are you worried that he'll want to run the household in his own way? I can't imagine him finding any fault - he might bring some of his own slaves, but most men seem more interested in politics or wars than interfering with their wives' domestic affairs."

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

"I thought as much. Are you worried that he'll want to run the household in his own way? I can't imagine him finding any fault - he might bring some of his own slaves, but most men seem more interested in politics or wars than interfering with their wives' domestic affairs."

"You're probably right," I say. "I'm just so used to managing things my own way; it will be strange to have to consult him. And..." There aren't many people I would admit this to, but I trust Titia, "I am - anxious about what else he might expect of me. We did not live together as husband and wife for very long." I hope she takes my meaning. I suppose sex is not so very bad - I found it uncomfortable and messy, but bearable - but I suppose he will want to do it often, or perhaps have new ideas. I've heard rumours of the sort of things men may do, and it frankly all sounds rather alarming. "And I don't even know if we'll like each other," I say. "I was too nervous of him when we were first married to have any idea of whether we can get along, and his letters have never tried to win my friendship." Though I suppose neither have mine to him.

[tess-thiess.livejournal.com]

"You're probably right," she agrees. "I'm just so used to managing things my own way; it will be strange to have to consult him. And..." I feel her tense next to me. "I am - anxious about what else he might expect of me. We did not live together as husband and wife for very long."

I'm not surprised, though I can't quite know how she must feel. "I understand," I tell her. "I haven't - that is, it's one of those things to bear, I suppose." I'm well read enough to know what it involves, and I must admit to being curious. I won't know until I wed though, and that does not seem likely to be soon.

"If it becomes a problem," I say very quietly, "I might be able to make it so that he weren't so eager." I don't know how Catalina feels about my craft - I've avoided speaking of it, but for some light-hearted fortune telling - but there are ways to lessen a man's desire.

"You'll just have to meet him," I say when she finishes. "It might be that you will be get along well enough, and things will carry on." I shrug. "And if not, you'll figure out something." And if he's become a brute in the meantime, I will deal with matters myself. Poison is risky, but there are many ways for men to die.

[kateohara.livejournal.com]

"I haven't - that is, it's one of those things to bear, I suppose."

"It's not so bad," I say reassuringly, because I don't want to scare her. "I hear it - can improve after time, although I must say when Dorus left I had no particular wish to try further.

"I might be able to make it so that he weren't so eager."

"Is that so?" I say, stopping and looking at her. I'm not sure whether I should be disapproving, but the idea is a relief. "That's - thank you," I say. "I should probably - ensure I do my wifely duty first," I say. Bear a child. I will need to do that before I can take any action, or I would just feel too guilty. "But... It is kind of you." I can't imagine anyone else making such an offer to me, even if they knew how to do such a thing.

"It might be that you will be get along well enough, and things will carry on." I shrug. "And if not, you'll figure out something."

"You always talk sense, dear," I say, squeezing her arm, and we keep walking. "I'm sure I can cope. Perhaps we should turn to the house (http://community.livejournal.com/excolocrack/15200.html?thread=2580064#t2580064). I have much to prepare."