"Behold, Caligula dulcis,", Lepidus bowed down in exaggeration. He stands infront of Caligula when they get to the basilica Julia and playfully assume a role of a guide.
"For today, I, your slave, Lepidus, will tour you to this stunning beauty, this temple of justice, where the venerable Centumviri holds court..." Lepidus, his eyes is twinkling, not caring that the people around them were looking at them with curiosity and amusement.
"Stop that", Caligula is looking at Lepidus with disapproval. Trying to rebuke Lepidus's attitude. He doesn't want people who know him, to notice him with a pleabian. He raised his cape's hood hiding a bit of his face.
Lepidus, who is grinning mischievously, decided to end early his flamboyance attitude, sensing that Caligula is really uncomfortable with it. But still continue on with his charade.
"Forgive me, Caligulchen," he says, moving a bit closer but not touching Caligula, lowering his voice, whispering to his ears. "I forgot myself in the presence of your magnificence." then Lepidus pulled himself back, stands infront of him, trying to look pitiful in Caligula's eyes, Lepidus drop his eyes, and stared at Caligula's feet and tried to make himself small, he did not succeed tho.
Caligula, looks around, when he sees that the people are losing their interest, he sighs. He looked at Lepidus again, he feels a bit guilty for spoiling Lepidus's fun. So he decided to play along. He knows what Lepidus really wanted since earlier, its for him to say his name. And he did, just to stop his crazy antics. "Just do it in moderation, Lepidus"., he warned him and indicate that he wont tolerate any noticeable actions.
Once Caligula said his name, Lepidus's shocked face is what Caligula sees. 'It's music to my ears!' Lepidus thought. It does something to his already going wild heart.
Caligula stared at Lepidus, waiting for the continuation of his charade. "Well, will you just stand there looking dazed? How about that tour?"
The sun light, filtering through the clerestory windows, casts an ethereal glow upon the polished marble floors where Caligula is standing, making him looks more otherworldly and mysterious with his cape's hood up. Lepidus's heart goes *thump* *thump* *thuthumpthump* *thump*. He can hear his heart beating thru his ears.
He gulped, his throat feeling dry. The air feels alive with the whispers of petitioners, the rustle of scrolls, and the measured tone of the judge. But some how, some way, he feels like Caligula and him are the only people in the basilica.
Lepidus released his breath, not realizing that he is holding it. "Ahm ahem, so.. let's continue with the tour, i... " seeming lost for words and his bewildered red face, Caligula can't help but laugh. 'This guy really, can't hide what he is thinking', 'He liked it that much?' Caligula ask himself. 'But why?'. It leaves Caligula wondering.
"Come on! Let's explore.", Caligula turned his back leaving Lepidus in his stupefied state from seeing Caligula laugh at him.
Seeing Caligula turned around, Lepidus who has somehow gained his courage again, he walked a bit quickly, matching Caligula's step. He leaned over while walking, and decided to whisper in Caligula's ears, his voice husky. "This lowly slave Lepidus is sorry about his blunder..to continue on where we left of... ",
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The charade has ended moments ago. As they walk side by side, Caligula's eyes lingers on the columns of the basilica, tracing the carvings and gentle curves, the column looks like a sentinels of justice that stands watchful and proud. Their Corinthian capitals a testament to the ingenuity and craftmanship of their great empire.
The soft echo of their footsteps resonates through the nave, like the gentle lapping of waves upon the shore of Tiber. Filling the silence.
Lepidus glances at Caligula, observing the thoughful expression on his face. He notes the way Caligula's eyes seems to absorb every detail of the columns, as if searching for something beyond the physical beauty of the structure. The silence between them grows, but Lepidus feels comfortable. To simply walk with his god, sharing moments like this. He bowed that this memory will stay forever in his heart.
Caligula, turned his head to Lepidus. Lepidus who is caught glancing at Caligula, turned red from embarrassment of getting caught. "Where to now?" asked Caligula.
"Who's wish is this anyway?", Lepidus decided to change the topic to hide his embarrassment of getting caught.
As if contemplating his answer, a long silence ensue. As if Caligula is afraid to answer. But Lepidus, waited. He can wait for Caligula even if it's forever. He vowed.
After a moment of silent self debate, Caligula decided to be honest. "It's mine".
Lepidus who heard the answer gently pry. "What's going on?"
"You can tell me, whatever it is. You know people won't believe someone like me even if i decided tell on you."
Caligula, shakes his head, he didn't even know where to begin even if he tried to explain. "Where to now?", Caligula asked again. But this time, Lepidus decided to not really ask any questions. 'I'll wait until he opened his heart to me'.
"Are you hungry?" Lepidus asked. It is time for dinner. They lost their sense of time. As if to answer Lepidus question, Caligula's stomach grumbled. Caligula's face turned red. And Lepidus seeing Caligula's red face, stare at the beautiful Caligula, he stare at wonder.
Caligula, who then became shy, drops his head down to hide his face. Lepidus's hands suddenly raised to stop Caligula from hiding his face but stopped in mid air. 'He can't. He just cant touch him carelessly.' When he touched him at the munera, it is an accident. He shouldn't. Lepidus's dropped his hands on his side and said, "Let's go, i know somewhere with good food", he turned around before Caligula can see his dissapointed expressions, Lepidus walked on ahead, back to where they came from.
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As they enter the Taberna Tigellina, a sweet melodic sound could be heard. Seated in the corner of the tavern, sat an old man with his white beard and hair, alone. Playing a gentle melody on the lyre. The soft music is accompanied with quiet murmurs of conversations by a few diners. The clinking of the glasses, an aroma of food and liquor, small quiet laughters, creates a cozy and inviting ambiance. Lamps lined up on the wall, lighting the whole taberna.
The sight of waitresses and slave serving food, going around table from table can be seen.
As they sit down on the corner of the taberna, a waitress approach them. She checked them out, with Caligula's expensive looking cape to his tunic that can be seen, and Lepidus's dirty cape that hides his tunic, the waitress lift her eyebrows but decided to bring it back down once she get a good look to their faces.
A wide smile spread, "Good evening, how may i serve you tonight?"
Lepidus frowned not liking the way the waitress ogled at Caligula, and her flirtatious voice. But he cant do anything about it. Since Caligula's beauty is so eye catching that even a blind person would fall at Caligula's feet.
Before Lepidus could speak a word, Caligula ordered, "A coena and saltatio", as the waitress takes notes of their order, Caligula added, "..and passum, that's all, you may go". Caligula dismissed her immediately.
Surprised by the commanding tone, the waitress hurries away. Lepidus look at Caligula's face, Caligula raising an eyebrow as if to say, 'What?'.
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At the same time happening, at the forest...
The moonlight is shining.
Three torches are lit. A young female slave is can be seen kneeling on the ground. Her face full of fear. Her hands are tied at her back. She's crying. The slave next to her, her brother is a mirror of her. Also tied and kneeling on the dirty ground, his eyes full of terror. He even peed on his dirty clothes.
Her knees hurts. Small stones in the ground are digging at her flesh. The blood in her mouth and her temple has long been dried. She saw two burly man sitting on a fallen tree.
She looked up in time to see her master's cold eyes watching her, but not really seeing her. She knew, she didn't see them as a person. They're like a pig. A pig can't ask for mercy.
One man stood up. A blade was raised. It's glinting under the moonlight. She closed her eyes and whispered like a prayer, "See you in the afterlife.".
She felt the cold steel on her neck. And everything turns dark.
INDEX:
1. basilica Julia - Ancient Roman public building, serves as a court, marketplace and meeting place
2. Centumviri - Roman court with 100 judges
3. Corinthian - Architectural style with ornate columns
4. tiber - tiber river, a river in Rome
5. taberna tigellina - a tavern that serves food with soft ambiance
6. coena - meat with vegetables and grains
7. saltatio - also meat with vegetables and sauce
*is there anything i forgot? hmmmmm***