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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Nov 27, 2016 12:06:17 GMT -5
Felix knelt on the back of a cart, which was parked in a square outside of the Coliseum in Rome among more than a dozen others.
His real name was Aedan, for he was from Britain, the land of the Celts. His tribe had been the last to fall to Rome, perhaps thanks to his efforts in the final battle. The battle in which he was taken. But he heard, months after he had been taken, simply from gossip on the streets, that his tribe too had fallen. The Romans now wanted to sweep north into Caledonia (Scotland), but he figured it would fall as well.
He longed for his home, for the sweet smell that permeated the landscape, for the cool air, whipped by the seas. For the mountains, rolling and green. The Romans always complained that it was grey and wet and miserable, but to Felix, it was his home. It pained him to hear Romans complain about a place that he would give anything to return to.
When he had been taken from battle, he had been renamed, and they now called him Felix. Which the 23-year-old gladiator found cruel in its irony, considering it meant 'Luck'. His life, he couldn't help but thinking, was anything but lucky. He was a slave, in a place where they called his people savages and barbarians, in a place where he was pitted against others in battle for nothing but entertainment. In a place where his life was not his own
His blond head was bent as he knelt, his hands behind his back. His skin was very pale, so pale one could almost miss the silvery scars along his back from years of whipping. His blue eyes were shut, his face hidden behind his pale hair. The only things showing of his face were his ears, one of which wasclipped, marking him out as a slave.
Free Roman citizens circled the carts, examining the gladiators, deciding which ones to place bets on in the upcoming fights. Felix was popular, because he was Celtic, which made him quite exotic to the Romans. He had also been a gladiator for 5 years, long enough to develop the kind of sinewy muscle that drew potential betters' attention.
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Nov 27, 2016 12:25:07 GMT -5
Felix didn't move when he sensed someone standing in front of him. Behind his blond hair, he opened his eyes. He could see a pair of women's shoes. Expensive shoes. Now he wouldn't dare move an inch.
If it was someone rich, it was someone important, and if it was someone important, Felix didn't want to do anything. He wasn't allowed to speak unless spoken to, and he did not want to risk looking up. Looking into the eyes of someone important was the kind of thing that could get you killed.
He heard two voices not far away from him. A little girl, one voice, a man - presumably her father - the other.
"Pater," the girl began "Why don't you bet on that one? He looks strong"
"No, dear," the father responded "See the blond hair and the pale skin? He is a Celt - it would be a bad bet to place our money on him"
"Why should we not bet on Celts?"
"They are barbarians- they fight ferociously but they lack tactics" the man responded "And his fight is probably rigged; shameful to let a Celtic gladiator beat a Roman one"
Felix held his breath, not daring let himself react. How could they talk about the likelihood of his losing and probably subsequent death within earshot of him? Did they think slaves could not hear?
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Nov 27, 2016 12:42:10 GMT -5
Livia's words instantly intrigued him. She was calming him? And asking his name?
How had she known he was angry? Had he gone red? That was a weakness for him, being a slave. His pale skin gave away his every emotion, often getting him into a lot of trouble. It didn't matter how calm one was trying to act if they were flushed with anger.
He felt his skin cooling, telling him that he had gone red, and when it was safely pale again, he looked up to meet the eyes of Livia. He recognised her instantly, and dipped his head as a sign of respect.
"Felix, my lady," he said evenly, now thinking it safe for his blue eyes to meet hers "A pleasure to meet you, my lady"
Being as polite as possible was the best thing to do, and it was especially important to be pleasant and polite to the Imperial Family. He thought this answer best - pleasant, but not cloyingly polite or in a way that sounded like it was an attempt to curry favour.
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Nov 27, 2016 12:59:34 GMT -5
Felix had given a small smile in return when she smiled at him, and when she left he looked at the flower on the edge of his cart for a little while, letting it capture his attention instead of the people bartering and betting and calling him a savage and a barbarian. Funnily enough, the flower got him a few extra bets, though some figured that his fight would be rigged, like the girl's father from before, and decided it was safer not to bet on him.
After a while, Felix felt a strong arm on his, pulling him down from the cart. A guard. Silently leading him into the Arena, ready for the fights that would be starting soon.
Luckily Felix had been able to grab the flower as he was led down from the cart, and he kept it in his hands, hidden from view but a token. At least until he had to exchange this gift in his hands for a sword.
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Nov 27, 2016 13:18:26 GMT -5
A couple of hours of fights passed, while Felix waited a little anxiously for his fight. He couldn't get his mind in the right place for fighting - he just kept thinking about Livia, and how respectfully she had treated him. He hoped he would get to see her in the Imperial Box, where the Emperor's family sat. It would be disappointing for him if he didn't.
His armour was fitted, his weapons fetched for him, and he heard his fight being announced. He entered into the Arena to wild cheers from the crowd, though he suspected that they were not mainly for him. They were probably mostly for whoever he was fighting. They would probably want him to win if he was Roman.
Sure enough, he spotted his opponent entering through a different entrance. He looked Roman. This was bad - it virtually guaranteed a rigged fight. Even if it wasn't, he was unlikely to win.
He and his opponent stopped in the centre of the arena, and turned together towards the Imperial Box.
They raised their weapons in the salute of the Romans - something that still felt unnatural to Felix - and called to the Emperor "We who are about to die salute you!"
They waited silently for the signal to begin the fight.
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Nov 27, 2016 13:39:19 GMT -5
Felix had caught Livia's eye while they waited for the signal, and he was grateful that she had been there. He gave a flash of a smile that he hoped only she would notice.
But the signal was given and the fight began, the two men circling slowly and deliberately round each other, eyeing eachother in a calculating way.
The two men were very different - Felix, tall and leanly muscular, light on the balls of his feet, and his opponent, short and stocky, firmly planted. He knew he couldn't do anything to get the other man to lose his balance- he was too solid.
They moved in closer and began sparring with their swords, making decisive jabs and stabs. Over a few minutes of sparring both accumulated some injuries; Felix a slash on his arm and above his eyebrow, his opponent a few slashes on the leg.
Then Felix's opponent began advancing on him, and the pair backed up until Felix's back was almost to the edge of the Arena, right below Livia. But he knew he couldn't afford to get trapped against the wall, so he tried to move out of the way of the other gladiator. But as he was trying to move out of his opponent's path, Felix's opponent gave a strong jab and stabbed Felix in the stomach, just as he was trying to get out of his way.
Felix clutched his wound with one hand and tried to continue to fight, but without realising he had soon sunk to his knees. The world was going in and out of focus, unconsciousness closing in. He felt the blade against his throat, the cool metal that may in a few moments end his life.
He raised his left hand, reluctantly, in a bid for mercy. The crowd would then decide his fate. The crowd was split roughly 50/50 - half had their thumbs down for his death, half with their thumbs up for him to be allowed to live. The Emperor and his family would be the deciding factor.
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Rainbow
ʟız
✿ spring has sprung ✿
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Post by ʟız on Nov 27, 2016 13:56:59 GMT -5
Livia smiled at his gesture and looked at his fighting technique. She smiled, for sure he would win. Livia saw him try to escape and get hit, she gasped. The crowd was half and half for his life. Livia looked at her father and he had a thumbs down, to kill him. Even though Livia was the main decider, she glared at her father and walked to the edge, holding the sign for the Celt to live. Half of the crowd cheered and the others booed, Livia shooting them a glare, daring them to go against her wish.
Livia's father pulled her back and hit her in the head, scolding her for being so stupid. "But father, he could be a slave at the palace. He is strong enough and can live longer than the other slaves in there." Her father hit her again and put a thumbs up, for the Celt to live.
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Nov 27, 2016 14:01:40 GMT -5
Felix faded out of consciousness with the sight of the Emperor hitting his daughter and putting his thumb up for Felix to live. He felt himself being dragged out of the Arena.
There were weeks of doctors and strange medicines that made Felix swim in and out of consciousness, and stitches, and pains. There was a month more of bed rest and healing.
But the moment he was well he was told that he would be a slave at the palace of the Emperor and that the would be taken to his new home the next day.
[We can do this however you want, but generally a slave would come to collect a new slave and bring them to their new home. But if you want to have a little convo time between the charries we can have Livia come get him]
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Nov 27, 2016 14:19:13 GMT -5
[That's cool with me x]
Felix had no possessions to pack apart from a few tunics, and so had only to make himself look presentable for his collection by Livia. He had washed, rebandaged his wound, and dressed in a tunic, quite different from the armour he was accustomed to wearing, but still so far to the clothes of his home. Around his neck he had slipped a leather thong, on which he had a circle of metal, which had the patten of a celtic knot. It was all he had to remind him of home, his only possession, and he had been forced to keep it hidden for years so that he would not get punished for it.
Now he had only to wait
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Nov 27, 2016 14:30:30 GMT -5
A servant at the coliseum - probably one of the ones paid to brush new sand over bloodied - came to collect Felix.
"Her Ladyship is here to collect you" the servant said, and it was all Felix needed to here.
He followed the other man out, and when left alone with Livia he dipped his head in respectful greeting.
"It seems I have much to thank you for, My Lady," Felix smiled "my gratitude to you"
He did not have to list the things he was thanking her for. She had treated him with respect, given him mercy, taken a beating from her father in public for him, and now she was taking him into her home.
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Post by 𝒞'𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝐿𝒶 𝒱𝒾𝑒 on Nov 27, 2016 14:32:29 GMT -5
𝒞'𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝐿𝒶 𝒱𝒾𝑒 - Olivia smiled. "Kind of. The kids make it worse, but it's good when you're the only ones here." She looked at him. "What is your real name?" Xoe nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure." She smiled, putting in the jacket and helmet. She mounted the bike and held on. "Is this okay?" She asked, only seeing it in movies. ------------------ ɪɴᴛʀᴀɴꜱɪɢᴇɴᴛ - (Maybe Camella's parents get her a maid or something and she is suspicious of everything so they have to use the tree?) Mason watched Camella from upstairs, happy that she enjoyed it. He began cleaning the railings he just touched and once he saw himself in the reflection, he started cleaning the rest of it. "Oh I know. The kids are so bratty. And then the parents are horrible too. " he said with a faint shake of his head. "Alex. I don't really like customers knowing my name and using it like were friends or something. It's weird. Plus I always lose my tag. I'm guessing yours is actually olivia though?" isaac adjusted her hands just a little bit. "Yeah, you're good. If I keep you out too long let me know and I'll take you home," he told her, before turning the engine over and hitting the gas.
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Nov 27, 2016 14:39:47 GMT -5
Livia giggled a bit. "Please, call me Livia. I hate hearing all these proper names. Even my father calls me something, usually something not nice." She shook her head. "How are your injuries, Felix?" She asked, turning a corner. "Very well, Livia it is." Felix responded "If it helps, though, I know how it feels to be called always by another name. I have been called a great many things." None of them my own name, Felix thought. When she asked how his injuries were, he shrugged "All but healed, the doctor wagers. I have had worse injures before" he responded. Of course, he had not gotten these injuries while he was a gladiator, but while he was a free man. Not many injured gladiators fought again. Most were sold on if they did not die of their injuries.
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Rainbow
ʟız
✿ spring has sprung ✿
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Post by ʟız on Nov 27, 2016 14:42:50 GMT -5
𝒞'𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝐿𝒶 𝒱𝒾𝑒 - Olivia smiled. "Yes, my name is actually Olivia. Nice to formally meet you, Alex." She sighed and closed her eyes. "Ahhhhhh brain freeze!"
Xoe nodded and replied with an small "Ok." One day couldn't hurt, could it? No, not possibly that much.
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Rainbow
ʟız
✿ spring has sprung ✿
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Post by ʟız on Nov 27, 2016 14:49:08 GMT -5
ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ - Livia smiled. "That's good, I hope they get better." She sighed. "Even on the streets like this, I hear names being thrown at me. I just ignore them because it's nothing new."
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Nov 27, 2016 14:52:24 GMT -5
ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ - Livia smiled. "That's good, I hope they get better." She sighed. "Even on the streets like this, I hear names being thrown at me. I just ignore them because it's nothing new." Felix replied "I haven't heard my real name once in five years" Then he paused, and a wry smile came onto his face "This is an awfully depressing thing for us to have in common, isn't it?" He felt that maybe thinks would be okay now. Yes, he would still be a slave, but he would no longer be looked at like a piece of meat. Maybe this was a new beginning of sorts?
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Post by Misty on Nov 27, 2016 16:20:41 GMT -5
(So sorry I haven't been on for a few days. I was busy over Thanksgiving break.)
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Post by ɪɴᴛʀᴀɴꜱɪɢᴇɴᴛ on Nov 27, 2016 16:26:21 GMT -5
[ sure! do you wanna do her, or me? also maybe the maid could like Mason too? for drama yanno? ]
Camilla finished, sighing contentedly and swinging her legs back and forth as she tried to decide what she was going to do today. She bent down, sighing and laying her head against the counter top. She wished Mason would come here so at least she could talk about last night (hopefully).
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Rainbow
ʟız
✿ spring has sprung ✿
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Post by ʟız on Nov 27, 2016 18:18:34 GMT -5
[ AHHHHHHHH I POOFED ]
ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ - Livia put a sad smile on. "Yeah, it kind of is." She looked at him in disbelief. "Five whole years? What happened?" She didn't bother to say "if it doesn't bother you" because she was used to people just telling her things.
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Misty - It's fine! I didn't delete you because I knew you were gonna come back x3 Can you find the last post?
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ɪɴᴛʀᴀɴꜱɪɢᴇɴᴛ - [Can you play the maid? And I like that idea >:3] Mason finished his chores around 1, sighing and running around the house to find Camella. He found her and calmed down, taking a deep breath an walking toward her. "Guess what, Camella?" He asked.
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Post by Misty on Nov 27, 2016 18:19:46 GMT -5
(Yeah, I know where it is ^^)
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Nov 27, 2016 18:25:10 GMT -5
Aedan shrugged "When I was captured in battle had been injured and unconscious. The soldiers didn't know my name but thought I was lucky to e alive. So they named me Felix. From then on that was what everyone has called me."
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Post by Misty on Nov 27, 2016 18:35:30 GMT -5
Lucas had enjoyed the remainder of his day off after Althea left him alone. That included hooking up with some girl he had met in a club a few hours prior. The male had a habit of leaving the female's place of living in the early morning hours, and he usually walked home. The male let out a sigh as he pushed his hand through his hair before pulling his jacket closer to his body. While it appeared that no one was outside, he had a hard time letting go of his "human habits." He stopped and stood still when he heard crying a ways off. At around the same time, Althea's scent hit him. He quickly put two and two together and let out a conflicted sigh. The right thing to do would be to see if she was okay, but he didn't always do the right thing. He mumbled a swear under his breath as he began heading in direction. He had to go that way anyway, so he figured he might as well see what was happening. Lucas soon arrived at the alley and walked toward her wordlessly.
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