Arcadius's Story

Arcadius was briskly woken up by a ice-cold splash of water over his head. His hands and feet were chained to the inner walls of a large slave ship. There were numerous other slaves chained alongside with him. They groaned and sighed and could find no rest. The young Greek boy shivered in cold and his teeth clattered. Cold sea water seeped inside from air ventilation slits on the sides of the ship that kept him awake. Arcadius's mind was numb and his entire body ached from head to toe. He couldn't remember how or why he had ended up as a slave and was headed to a Roman city named Ostia Antica, but he felt a white-hot anger towards the Romans who had dragged him into this mess...

Arcadius was hauled off the ship with several other slaves on the harbors of Ostia Antica. A couple of the slaves had died during the arduous trip. Arcadius felt exhausted, powerless, and, a murderous hatred towards the Romans. He and the other slaves were dragged to the slave market in chains. Arcadius noticed a blonde-haired boy about his age among the other slaves who were already there.
"Hey you." Arcadius said to him. "This is my first time being dragged, beaten, and spat on by the Romans. Whats the worst thing that can happen to us from here?"

Nikolas blinked lightly as he was spoken to, and looked toward the young man whom adressed him. Seeing his handlers busy with a potential buyer, he made the move to answer.

"Well," His started, his voice almost as androgynous as his features, "If you behave, nothing will happen. But, if you decide to continue to be as rude as a mule well..." He took this moment to look over the male. "You could become a field slave, or a gladiator, maybe. It all depends on whom you appeal to." He gave a light shrug, only to have his attention turned adrubtly by the hands of a rather large male. Standing perfectly still, he allowed himself to be patted down. The male turned out not to be as interested as he thought he was and he left, leaving behind two very disgruntled handlers.

Slowly, Nikolas let the breath back out.

"See? Appeal."

Aurelia avoided the study, but she walked though the corridors. Truthfully, she was dreadfully bored. She could go to the baths or even just to the market, but (even though she loved slaves as people and not just things) that was a job for slaves, or if the need arose, the master of the house. That was when he needed more slaves, and also the time she would beg to go. She would love to take the inheritance (which was a heavy sum, even if she was only allotted a small part to use, in all) and buy lavish things to give as gifts or keep for herself. So she decided to play a game. The only problem was that she ha no one to play with. Until she remembered of the countless slaves in the house, and the fact that some of them would have to play with her. She walked into a small corridor, and spotted a slave there, one she liked and knew the name of "Viverra!" She called, at first thinking that she could possibly not be too busy for a game- though that only lasted until she saw that the slave was cleaning.

"Oh, I shall leave you to that, then...." Aurelia sighed. Maybe the market wasn't just a place for slaves to go for food or the master for slaves. If no one could play with her here, she distinguished that maybe there might be fun to be found there. She slipped back into her room for only a moment to grab a small handful of coins and put them into a small fold of her clothing. She walked into the street quickly, enjoying the feel of the sun on her pale skin as she walked toward the market. She carefully avoided the crowd, going around and near the stalls to avoid it. She slipped over to a small jewlery stand, and began to look over the wares, picking up the bands of different gems and putting them on her arms with a smile before she sat them back down. The only problem was the fact that it was right next to the slave-selling area of the market, and it was fairly busy. She sat down a silver hairpiece she was holding and turned to look at the platform. Might as well tell Publius of the stronger-looking slaves, as he already was in dire need of new gladiators, after the last death, or the one before, or before. The gladiators kept dieing. She moved her way closer to the platforms and looked for the ones that may not be on display until the next day- weather not appealing enough or strong. She spotted a few, more sasificly a blonde haired skinny, fiminine boy, and a stronger looking male he was talking to. She wondered what they could have been talking about, though she felt it rude to step up and ask, though she could make it seem like she was interested in them. the few coins I brought could probably buy the skrawny one she thought, and giggled to herself as she started toward the two.

"Tastes like horse manure any which way you chew it?" Arcadius grumbled. He noticed a wealthy-looking Roman girl approach but only looked at her with contempt as if saying "piss off". He didn't like the feeling of being on display as if he was a zoo animal.

(OOC: Go ahead and buy Nikolas if you want Aurelia. lol.)
Vala had gone to see the slaves on display at the market accompanied by his personal body-guard. He hated the bustling markets where assassins could be anywhere with a hidden dagger. There were so many people that Vala was unaware that Aurelia was in the crowd after she had left the villa without telling him. Vala's eyes gazed on the lot of slaves, then rested on Arcadius.
"You boy!" Vala called out to him. "What are you good for?"
Arcadius looked at him. Then said, "I can fight. Well. I can win almost any man in hand-to-hand combat. Even men twice my size."
The crowd erupted into mocking laughter. Vala just shook his head in a disapprovingly way. "Pathetic Greeks." He said to himself.
By the end of the day, Vala had purchased a couple slaves, all men, who looked physically fit to fight in the arenas and returned to his villa.

Gods, he's just what I need! Coisis exclaimed internally, the basket of olives nearly slipping from his grasp. A glimmer in his eyes was all that resounded of his reaction as his registered Nikolas' figure in the distance. His locks shimmered with all of the gold his clients would be willing to give for him. Perhaps he might be interested? Coisis' mind came to rest on the notion. As a former slave who had gone through a similar course of events, he would never force any into prostitution. Nevertheless, it could be a surprisingly lucrative prospect, especially for those with the right qualities.

He had been looking at olives at the market to press for olive oil for the baths, before he had been distracted, at least. He rolled a plump olive in his hand and brought it to his nose to smell. He then set the basket down, nodding sternly to the seller. He would be back. Draping his cloth over him, he began to weave through boisterous waves of crowds, each of which gathered around a particular vendor. Upon reaching the slave platforms, he slipped like a knife through the crowds, sliding skillfully past colorful sleeves and glittering trinkets to the front.

He himself, a man not known to need any ostentation to ameliorate his value, wore a simple and subdued garb and a few jeweled pieces, albeit of good caliber. He quickly glanced Arcadius, who he had seen talking with the fair-haired boy prior and was now talking to a potential buyer, a patrician whom he was not familiar with. He seems feisty. Perhaps not very malleable... Coisis pondered, chuckling to himself. His eyes shot back to Nikolas, and a slight smirk couldn't help but form on his lips. He would simply watch, melding into the crowd, and see how much the crowd value Nikolas first. He caught another set of eyes gazing at Nikolas who seemed not only particularly wishful, but to his horror, also having the potential to buy. His heart leapt inside. Although still maintaining a pleasant smile, the edges on the coins in his hands bit into his palm as his grasped them white-knuckled. He carefully approached the interested lady.
"Well, would you have a look at that one!" He commented casually, pointing at Nikolas.

Nikolas stared at the two potential buyers in a calmed mixture of curiosity and respect. The woman, however, frightened him a bit. Even back in Greece, it was the women in his family that often scared him the most, and by Hades choice, the reason he was in this mess in the first place. Glancing over to the male, the fear seemed to subside.

Males were easy to deal with. As long as you did as they asked, they were kept pretty sated. He would pay no mind to conversation, or make any move to put in input.

“Well, would you have a look at that one!”

This immediately caught his handlers attention. Quickly, the shorter of the two came forward, calloused hands rubbing together in anticipation of a business deal.

“Hello there sir,” He addressed, taking no interest in the young lady at all. The brunette was not his, and had no promise of gaining the pair any money. “You wouldn't happen to be interested in my Little Flower, now would you?”

Aurelia looked over to the man who had spoken "Hm? Oh yes, nice" She smiled, before turning back to Nikolas, trying to ignore the other man- the market was a dangerous place, and she was frightful of everyone who approached her. It had been silly of her to come without alerting someone in the house and "And what might you be good for dear? I really can't spend money on a slave I can't use... after all, I am good with my money" She sighed lightly and ran a hand though her hair before she looked over Nikolas "Wonder how much you'll be worth." She giggled and looked over to the handler, raising her eyebrows in question.

The handler smiled to the young lady, before looking up to Nikolas.

“Go on boy, tell the nice people what you can do.” He quipped, giving the poor boy a stern look. Slowly Nikolas began to shrink back before straightening himself.

“I um,” He gently licked his pinked lips, trying to find his voice again. “I-I'm no good at fighting ma'am, but I do know my way around a home...” His mixed eyes glanced to the male, giving him a slightly hopeful look before returning to their place on his handler.

The Taller came forward, shoving his companion out of the way at the mention of the price. Looking between the two, his eyes took in everything. Clothes, hair, and the way they carried themselves. Smirking lightly, the Handler held out his hands.

“He's a decent little house-worker, but his skills...” He shrugged, looking to the male in particular. “He's rather beautiful for a boy his age, isn't he?”

Just work that price right up there.

"Beauty means nothing if the amount of beauty amounts to equal strength. But, a house worker would be nice, though I already have a few-stronger-ones" She smiled and stepped forward, toward the handler. "As I said before, how much?" She looked at him dead in the eyes, even if that showed a little disrespect. She didn't mean disrespect.
Aurelia smirked lightly "I assure you, I am slightly interested in another slave. Though I would rather you not beat around the bush, so to speak. Price, however, is an issue I would like to get out of the way, first." She said "And there are plenty of other things I could be spending my late fathers money on, some precious jewels, perhaps." She said, glaring at the handler. "Then again, you do have other people interested, so maybe my money doesn't matter." She reached into a pouch in her clothing and pulled out one aureus. She twisted it in her palm and though her fingers quickly.

Nikolas made no move to struggle or squirm against the female as he was looked over. His teeth were in fine shape, his body unscathed. His handlers had done well to keep him in peek condition, beautiful as the flower he was named for, or so they would say.

When he was let go, the fear that had been kept at a reasonable shade in his eyes seemed to spark. Now there were two of them interested in him. Two women making such a fuss! Looking to Arcadius, he gave him a look that pleaded for help.

The Tall one grinned, the gold seeming to glint in his eyes as the young lady brought out four of the golden coins, blatantly ignoring the first girls babblings.

“And you, kind sir?” He asked, turning to Lucious, waiting to see just how high he could turn this profit. It was amazing how much attention their blonde was getting; if they had seen this, they wouldn't have put the other two up for sale later instead of now. But, with Nikolas being so popular, it kept the shorter one busy with trying to sell the others.

The taller handler grinned in anticipation. Looking between the offered gold coins, he looked to Nikolas. The boy had been one of his better behaved males, and deserved a choice. Or so he thought. Pulling his comrade to the side, the two chattered for a while.

“She says he can choose.”

“Well, didn't he have issues or someving?”

“You're right...”

“We can't give an issued slave to young lady, that would be bad for reputation.”

“Good point, my friend.”

“I can show them the others?”

“Do what you will.” The taller one shooed off the smaller male and returned with a soft grin. “Nikolas,” he smiled, looking over to the blonde. “Whom would you like to go with?”

Nikolas stumbled, caught quite off guard by the offered choice.

“W-Well,” He started, searching his mind for the right words to say. “I-I think I would be more comfortable going with S-Sir.” He said, his voice trembling for the fear of a strike from either of the girls. “I-I don't do well with girls... “

The handler nodded as if giving the final decision and grabbed the male by the binds before leading him to Coisis and holding out his hand, waiting for the payment.

Vita watched the exchange without stepping between the bidding. She toyed with the coins in her hand, eyeing the boy with her glimmering blue eyes, her expression thoughtful. When he spoke of going with the man, she seemed surprised, but then she shook her head a little and smiled. She stepped forward and took the slave's hand in hers, seeming to ignore all proper ways to address and treat a slave, and instead opened his hand and pressed the four golden coins into his palm. She offered him an understand smile and went on her toes, her lips near his ear.

"If you ever need anything, find some way to either reached Praetor Imbrex's home, or find a slave that can fetch me. My name is Vita," she whispered, too low for anyone but them to hear. She went back down and stepped back, motioning with her hand for the man to pay for the boy, then turned away, her cape floating in the breeze.

"Come Valerius, let us see what other slaves there are," she said, nodding at him. They traveled along the line of slaves, then back up, repeating this several times, before she finally stopped before a young man with dark hair and a well-built body, who stood directly beside the blond man from before. She repeated the same motions as she had with the blond man to look over this one, then stepped back and studied him.

"What is your name, where did you come from, what rank were you as a gladiator before, how old are you, and what can you do?" she asked, her eyes looking him up and down at this point. She once more reached into her pouch and removed three aureus, fingering them just as she had done before.

Arcadius looked at her for a moment, then spoke, "I am Arcadius of the Achaean Greeks. Since my birth I have been raised to wield the spear, to live honorably, and to die with even greater honor. I have been brought here as a prisoner of war. I was no gladiator, nor do I have a desire to become one. Nor do I have the desire to kneel before the Romans to scrape and mop their floors. I refuse to lower myself before another man. So then, I might as well just die here." He replied bitterly.

Aurelia said her goodbyes to the man and his new slave, before she began walking though the stalls again. She noted the woman from earlier and aproache to make conversaition, as she ha nothing better to do. She heard the last of his conversation '...mop their floors. I refuse to lower myself before another man. So then, I might as well just die here' she smiled and turned to the lady "Well, he sure is feisty" she commented lightly before turning to the man "I would keep your trap shut. This lady here, myself, and a few others might be nice to you, but there are others who will buy you simply because of that, and use you for many horrible things." She shuttered in mock-horror. "Your friend chose his fate, I offered the choice, but his handlers had to ultimately let him make the choice. Yours," she pointed to the handlers- the same as the other mans "might not allow that choice if you are not nice. I respect that you wish to be freed, and I wish that fate for you as well. But I cannot do anything about it now." She looked over the man quickly, appraising him "another bidding war, miss? My-" she stopped and considered the word "father in the law's eyes, for now, could use someone like him... Until he bought his way free, that is" she tacked on to the end, as she knew the man was listening.

“I-I think I would be more comfortable going with S-Sir.” He said, his voice trembling for the fear of a strike from either of the girls. “I-I don't do well with girls... “

His heart leapt a little. What? Yes, yes... come... you will make me a rich man. Coisis thought, keeping his pleasantries from turning sour even in victory, bowing to the ladies in competition, flourishing a draping of his cloth. Delicately interwoven with thin golden thread to make a subtle brocade, it showed the kind of distinction he had become somewhat known for. "Thank you, and best of luck to you both," he added sweetly. He watched the brunette take her leave, trying his best not to look a little smug. His eyes caressed every nook and cranny of Nikolas' form. The fair-haired maiden came up to the man, gently taking his hand. He could not hear what she had to say. He was rather surprised at her change in demeanor compared to her previous inspection. Coisis deftly perceived the glint of coinage exchanged between the Nikolas and one of the girl's retainers. All four coins...?

She went back down and stepped back, motioning with her hand for the man to pay for the boy, then turned away, her cape floating in the breeze.

His thoughtful gaze, as he found the whole scene quite moving to him, was broken only when the Handler came up to him with Nikolas. "Ah, yes," Coisis' eyes came sharply into focus once more as he pressed the coins, now heated warm by his palms, into that of the Handler's. He then took the rope and gave it a strong tug, pulling Nikolas up against him, so much so that the subtle incense fragrance that had once suffused his clothing could easily be wafted. "Good choice, love, my rules are actually quite simple:" Coisis took Nikolas' chin his his hand, his smoldering eyes staring into Nikolas', as if searching for his soul. "Do as I say and everything will be alright," the gravity of his voice was shattered by a boyish chortle, amused by his own words. His northern accent rolled off of his tongue more naturally when speaking to Nikolas, as if indicating that he was indeed a foreigner, separating himself from those who had originally captured them.

Suddenly, his attention was brought over to the other lad, Arcadius, as the women had eventually moved on to place their bids on him.

"... I refuse to lower myself before another man. So then, I might as well just die here." He replied bitterly.

Coisis, greedily grasping the twine that bounded his new prize, nearly burst into laughter at Arcadius' words. Quickly regaining his composure, he nodded. "What courage. He would make a good gladiator, he isn't dissuaded by as unlikely odds as these!" He gave an encouraging smile to the bartering competition between the fair-haired maiden and the brunette whose previous prizes he had basically confiscated.

The handler took no more notice of the blonde beauty. He was gone and no longer the problem of either of the two.

Nikolas gasped softly as he was pulled toward his new owner, blushing lightly his hetero-chromatic eyes locked with Coisis's.

"Good choice, love, my rules are actually quite simple:" Coisis took Nikolas' chin his his hand, his smoldering eyes staring into Nikolas', as if searching for his soul. "Do as I say and everything will be alright,"

Called it, Nikolas thought a little bitterly, but gave the male a shy smile.

"Yes sir," He replied, gently hanging his head in a soft bow before his masters attention was turned to the girls. Looking up to Arcadius, he gave him an apologetic look, but smiled.

"Good luck," He mouthed quickly before turning his attention to the gold coins in his hand, running over what the blonde has whispered to him. Shaking his head, he quickly dismissed them. Those can be run over later, right now his attention need to be on his master.

As he spoke, Vita raised a brow, her amusement evident. She feigned insult, putting her hand over her heart and making a fake, hurt expression. She sniffled a little. "That hurts, that hurts right here," she sniffed out, sticking out her lower lip. She held the look for a moment then allowed her lips to pull back in a smile. She lost a bit of her smile as the girl from before approached, crossing her arms and looking at her with a slightly annoyed look. With a sigh, she uncrossed her arms and forced her irritated look to disappear, replacing it with a slightly-tight smile.

When the man from before approached, she forced herself to keep her composure in check so as not to let her annoyance and anger get the best of her. She gave them both a small smile, her eyebrow twitching a little, Valerius making his way up behind her once more, forever her shadow. “I do not really wish to barter against anyone else, but I do want to buy a slave today, and seeing as you already bought the blond one, the only other worthwhile choice would be this young man,” she said dryly. Without hesitating, she flipped out four more coins to add to her former three, making it a solid seven aureus. “Seven for the young man here,” she told his handler, who immediately rushed up at the prospect of a sale.

“M’lady, perhaps it isn’t the brightest idea to spend your money on a slave. Yes, we do need more guards, but why spend seven aureus on one man when there are others that are more easily attainable?” Valerius asked, his expression baffled.

“Because, my dear Valerius, I want this one. It is that simple,” she said with a smile at him. She patted his armored chest lightly, then turned back to the handler. “Seven aureus for Arcadius,” she said, holding them up. A light dawned in her eyes and she cast a look at the young girl, then at Arcadius, before lowering her coins. “Unless, of course, he wants to make a choice, just as his friend did; I will not hold a grudge against him if he chooses so and decides on another. I will merely say the same thing to him as I did to the blond man here,” she said, looking over at Nikolas, then back at Arcadius. She stepped back a little. “Alright, I suppose that I shall let Arcadius make his own choice. That is, if it is alright with you two,” she raised a brow in their directions.

Arcadius's eyes lit up when he heard from Aurelia that he could win his own freedom. He looked at the two ladies who were bidding for him with a softer gaze. "Please forgive me for my insolence. My Greek blood makes me temperamental and stubborn sometimes. I cannot help it. If, I can attain freedom someday, I will gladly provide whatever services you ask of me. Preferably that of a warrior. Though I may be young, I can wield a blade quite well as a fisherman can with his fishing rod. You mentioned that I have a slight choice in my fate? I would very much prefer a domina who can train and encourage me to fight. And fight well I will."

(OOC: Sorry Vita, but I need Arcadius to be in Publius's house according to the story I was planning.)