Leapfrog Era
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Zul'Zae'ju'Jin
the Hugger Troll
Rome.
It was the centre of civilisation having expanded her territories from the breadth of the Mediterranean, to the bread basket that was Egypt to the cold bitterness of Britannia. There didn't seem to be anywhere that the hand of Rome and her Emperor couldn't touch. The man snorted to himself at that thought. Anywhere but Parthia and the Eastern states. Most had to be turned into provinces or client kingdoms. It was turning that way for parts of Britannia as well if he was to beleive the rumours that were feeding back to the heart of the Empire from those fighting on the front-lines there. He yawned as he made his way through the streets trying to ignore the stink of the river Tiber nearby.
The river was a good feed for cargo but it was also a choice spot for suicides, murder victims and the odd accidental death. It was also where the human waste of the city was disposed of and it usually took a little while before it was washed downriver. He glanced around him in the dark, his hand dropping to the familiar bulge that was his sword. The streets were never safe, even in the daytime but in the shadows of the dark, anything could and would happen. He doubted he would be accosted, his build and posture screamed military and if that was not enough, the sword and the skill in which it was used would soon close the issue.
He hadn't always been in the Praetorian Guard having served in Syria and on the Rhine for many years before he had been transferred to the Guard on merit. He was now to the rank of Optio, quite a good position and if he was lucky he would be on track to be Centurion one day. He smiled at the thought. That'd be nice. It would mean better pay, on top of the handsome pay and perks that any member of the Praetorian Guard could enjoy. His smile faltered briefly; it had meant being at the Emperor's beck and call all the time however and at one point, they had to go to the front-lines when the Emperor had decided he needed to be at the battle for the effect of a Triumph. He shook his head in thought as he trudged the streets on his route back to the barracks. That had been a royal fucked up affair and had it not been for the Second Legion's valiant save, he could very well have died there. It was fortunate that the Prefect was not fool enough to think himself or his men invincible. They had clearly not been ready for the task they had been set nor had they gone at the right stage.
He sighed softly and shook his head as he took a turn and glanced around himself. The alley in which he had turned was something of a shortcut but it held its dangers. Anything could happen to him here or he could happen someone in the midst of their dirty work. His nailed boots made a noise as he walked down the path feeling some of the drink he had consumed whilst at the small nondescript party which held the reason for his leaving the safety of the Praetorian barracks.
It was the centre of civilisation having expanded her territories from the breadth of the Mediterranean, to the bread basket that was Egypt to the cold bitterness of Britannia. There didn't seem to be anywhere that the hand of Rome and her Emperor couldn't touch. The man snorted to himself at that thought. Anywhere but Parthia and the Eastern states. Most had to be turned into provinces or client kingdoms. It was turning that way for parts of Britannia as well if he was to beleive the rumours that were feeding back to the heart of the Empire from those fighting on the front-lines there. He yawned as he made his way through the streets trying to ignore the stink of the river Tiber nearby.
The river was a good feed for cargo but it was also a choice spot for suicides, murder victims and the odd accidental death. It was also where the human waste of the city was disposed of and it usually took a little while before it was washed downriver. He glanced around him in the dark, his hand dropping to the familiar bulge that was his sword. The streets were never safe, even in the daytime but in the shadows of the dark, anything could and would happen. He doubted he would be accosted, his build and posture screamed military and if that was not enough, the sword and the skill in which it was used would soon close the issue.
He hadn't always been in the Praetorian Guard having served in Syria and on the Rhine for many years before he had been transferred to the Guard on merit. He was now to the rank of Optio, quite a good position and if he was lucky he would be on track to be Centurion one day. He smiled at the thought. That'd be nice. It would mean better pay, on top of the handsome pay and perks that any member of the Praetorian Guard could enjoy. His smile faltered briefly; it had meant being at the Emperor's beck and call all the time however and at one point, they had to go to the front-lines when the Emperor had decided he needed to be at the battle for the effect of a Triumph. He shook his head in thought as he trudged the streets on his route back to the barracks. That had been a royal fucked up affair and had it not been for the Second Legion's valiant save, he could very well have died there. It was fortunate that the Prefect was not fool enough to think himself or his men invincible. They had clearly not been ready for the task they had been set nor had they gone at the right stage.
He sighed softly and shook his head as he took a turn and glanced around himself. The alley in which he had turned was something of a shortcut but it held its dangers. Anything could happen to him here or he could happen someone in the midst of their dirty work. His nailed boots made a noise as he walked down the path feeling some of the drink he had consumed whilst at the small nondescript party which held the reason for his leaving the safety of the Praetorian barracks.
Appletree
Resident Fruit Tree
Kai fought not to throw up, eyes clenched shut just as tightly as her – no, his! He reminded himself – mouth to stop the contents of his stomach making a reappearance. They had warned him that time leaps, especially ones as large as the one they were attempting now, would be uncomfortable. That had been quite the understatement.
Even when the initial feeling faded it left the thin frame curled into a shivering ball under the overlarge tunic he was wearing. It took quite some time until he was even aware of his surroundings, but once he was, he quickly noticed that something was wrong. It was too warm and the breeze that fluttered through his hair and clothes smelt of oil and something like incense under the stench of tepid and soiled water. Opening dark grey eyes to find his vision still blurred almost to blindness, he dragged his aching frame in the direction of water he could hear nearby, hoping he wasn’t going to run right into a tree in the process.
He almost fell into the river, which was thankfully shallow enough that the hand he accidentally plunged in hit the ground before even his elbow was fully submerged. The water was cool and when splashed on his face and neck helped clear his head despite the smell. Vision finally returning, he squinted at his reflection. Despite the poor lighting from only the moon above, he was able to make out something that made him utter a few choice words that probably didn’t exist in this time.
“Stupid faulty mods!” He muttered under his breath as he ran his finger repeatedly through bright blue hair, wincing as he tugged at knots and tangles. Under his ministrations the blue slowly faded to a sun bleached brown. Quickly checking the rest of his body all over, he was relieved to find that everything else looked normal. Hair colour was an easy fix, but bigger changes might have been rather problematic.
First problems solved, Kai turned his attention to the second, far greater problem. Where the hell was he? The plan had been to send him to the London office or perhaps the Edinburgh one. The only other places Kai knew one could jump to in Britain were all on the coast somewhere. This was neither of the cities or anywhere near the coast as far as he could tell. The buildings he could make out on the other side of the river didn’t match any descriptions given to him in case he got lost.
Cursing everyone involved for getting him into this mess in the first place, he scrambled somewhat unsteadily to his feet. Guess he had to do things the good old fashioned way. Checking his reflection in the slowly moving water one last time to make sure all traces of blue were gone, he turned back the way he had come and fought his way back through the small stand of trees he had apparently landed in in the first place. Reaching a road, he looked up and down it several times. The walls of several estates lined it, the torches at their gates illuminating the cobblestones. Well, at least he seemed to have a little bit of luck. Had he landed a few meters to either side, he might have appeared in someone’s garden or, even worse, a sitting room or something, with no hope of explaining how he got there or any way of getting back out.
Both directions looked pretty similar, so Kai picked one at random and set off, hoping he would find something or someone who could help him identify where he was.
Even when the initial feeling faded it left the thin frame curled into a shivering ball under the overlarge tunic he was wearing. It took quite some time until he was even aware of his surroundings, but once he was, he quickly noticed that something was wrong. It was too warm and the breeze that fluttered through his hair and clothes smelt of oil and something like incense under the stench of tepid and soiled water. Opening dark grey eyes to find his vision still blurred almost to blindness, he dragged his aching frame in the direction of water he could hear nearby, hoping he wasn’t going to run right into a tree in the process.
He almost fell into the river, which was thankfully shallow enough that the hand he accidentally plunged in hit the ground before even his elbow was fully submerged. The water was cool and when splashed on his face and neck helped clear his head despite the smell. Vision finally returning, he squinted at his reflection. Despite the poor lighting from only the moon above, he was able to make out something that made him utter a few choice words that probably didn’t exist in this time.
“Stupid faulty mods!” He muttered under his breath as he ran his finger repeatedly through bright blue hair, wincing as he tugged at knots and tangles. Under his ministrations the blue slowly faded to a sun bleached brown. Quickly checking the rest of his body all over, he was relieved to find that everything else looked normal. Hair colour was an easy fix, but bigger changes might have been rather problematic.
First problems solved, Kai turned his attention to the second, far greater problem. Where the hell was he? The plan had been to send him to the London office or perhaps the Edinburgh one. The only other places Kai knew one could jump to in Britain were all on the coast somewhere. This was neither of the cities or anywhere near the coast as far as he could tell. The buildings he could make out on the other side of the river didn’t match any descriptions given to him in case he got lost.
Cursing everyone involved for getting him into this mess in the first place, he scrambled somewhat unsteadily to his feet. Guess he had to do things the good old fashioned way. Checking his reflection in the slowly moving water one last time to make sure all traces of blue were gone, he turned back the way he had come and fought his way back through the small stand of trees he had apparently landed in in the first place. Reaching a road, he looked up and down it several times. The walls of several estates lined it, the torches at their gates illuminating the cobblestones. Well, at least he seemed to have a little bit of luck. Had he landed a few meters to either side, he might have appeared in someone’s garden or, even worse, a sitting room or something, with no hope of explaining how he got there or any way of getting back out.
Both directions looked pretty similar, so Kai picked one at random and set off, hoping he would find something or someone who could help him identify where he was.
Zul'Zae'ju'Jin
the Hugger Troll
The Optio kept walking at a fairly average pace. There was no hiding the sound of his nailed boots, the metal studs that were on the bottom of the soles were too conspicuous for him to even attempt to be stealthy at all. He knew he could have worn some simple shoes or the calfskin's an old friend had given to him for his birthday but he had packed them to the bottom of his chest and he couldn't be bothered to waste the time in getting them out. Besides, the military boots was just another indication to somebody else that he was not to be messed with. Least one could hope for that. There was always a chance some one felt lucky or could actually bring the muscle to back their words.. The alley he was walking down split to another one to a fork and he made his way down. The walls surrounding him were tall and made everything around him dark. Shadows were twisted into grotesque forms where he had to remind himself that they were just shadows and nothing beyond a wild imagination.
He yawned, his eyes briefly being forced closed as his jaw opened wide and he rolled his shoulders as he progressed through the unlit road that was barely more than five feet apart. It wasn't long before he started getting the feeling that someone was following him. He kept his stride as it had been before but he certainly paid attention to any sound other than the ones he was making himself. It was a slight tread, he had almost missed it and every so often it would disappear before he picked it up again. He played along, quite happy to let the one following him think he had his prey covered as they progressed down the path. The other's tread grew more cautious after a while and the Optio frowned slightly as he lost track on the footfalls. This was someone who clearly knew the business of following folk. Not well enough to have escaped notice but enough to make him lose his position on his follower it seemed.
The Guardsman paused briefly his hand resting upon the pommel of his sword as he strained to hear more tell tale noises of his follower. He chanced a look behind him but saw only an empty street before it was swallowed up by darkness. He frowned, perhaps he was just simply letting his imagination grow wild. He snorted and shook his head before he moved on again. Had he continued to look harder he might have caught the signs of his pursuer emerging from a small nondescript alcove. It was the sort of alcove you had to know was there to know its place. Clearly the Optio hadn't known about it even if he had used this road several times before. The moonlight dimmed as the celestial body was shrouded by clouds and he grew nervous. The area darkened considerably but he strode with a forced confidence. Anything that might deter an assailant was useful. He still heard nothing but the occasional night bird that gave off a horrific screech. It was another normality of Rome for him and paid the bird no mind as he hurried on.
It happened swiftly and without warning as someone grabbed him from behind and slammed him against the wall in the darkness. He blinked as his head struck the stone and his vision went a little hazy. His instinct was to reach for his sword that hung from his waist but a sharp edge caught at his throat followed by a deep chuckle. "I wouldn't do that friend. Not if you wish to live," the voice spoke with a gravelled texture, as if rasped over a cat's tongue. He kept his face covered and Titus could only see the pale glints of his assailant's eyes. The knife pressed with meaning and Titus raised his hands whilst trying to commit every little detail of the man to memory. The man was well built and tall, certainly of a strength to handle others alone. From what he could make out in the dark, the man's clothes were darkly coloured and there was an odour that rose up that was unmistakably urine. He wrinkled his nose and surmised this man might be in the fuller's trade. He could make out nothing of the face so he focused on remembering the voice.
"All right, all right... See? You realise what you're doing though, right?" he questioned, it was an offence to attack any member of the army but officers in particular. It didn't aid the man's favour that he had assaulted an Optio of the Praetorian Guard. It would mean more if he had been in his full kit but he hoped the man didn't realise that. Or at least not completely.
"Yeah, what you going to do about it?" the other rasped as he searched his prey's pockets finding very little on him. Titus wasn't in the habit of carrying much knowing just how dangerous Roman streets were, especially at night. "I'll be taking this, I think," and Titus felt fingers try to undo the belt to his sword. Titus might have tried to overpower the other but the edge of the blade reaffirmed its presence and one wrong move could easily cut his throat apart. Titus didn't particularly want to die to a thief in the middle of the city and thus had to bide his time. "These will fetch a pretty denarii... Not that you're going to be alive to know about it," the voice gave a haughty little laugh. It was a laugh he would easily remember if he heard it again. Titus frowned as he stared back at the other. He could hear something in the darkness, something his attacker was too otherwise focused to notice.
"Who wants me dead?" he asked and the man tutted shaking his head.
"Be more than my life's worth revealing that to you, friend,"
"If you're going to kill me, what difference will it make? No one is here to hear you," Titus winced as the blade pressed more tightly against his throat, his gullet shifting uncomfortably and the male pressed his weight harder against him before he spoke.
"There's always some chance of someone hearing. Any last words before I send you to the shades?"
"Yeah, let me go and you might be lucky to walk out alive," he growled, realising he had little chance of getting out of this. The man chuckled and patted Titus on the cheek, his body ensuring his prey couldn't wriggle away nor give space for Titus to react. "I'm thinking I will... But you'll tell me all you know of the Empress first,"
"What?"
"Don't play games with my, Optio. They know you've seen them. They require confirmation," the raspy voice continued and Titus frowned, turning confused at what he was hearing.
"I don't know what the fuck you're babbling about," he struggled again and hoped that the sound of footfalls heralded a friend rather than another foe or at least would provide distraction enough for Titus to gain leverage over his situation. He grimaced and could feel blood trickle down his skin as the knife cut in.
He yawned, his eyes briefly being forced closed as his jaw opened wide and he rolled his shoulders as he progressed through the unlit road that was barely more than five feet apart. It wasn't long before he started getting the feeling that someone was following him. He kept his stride as it had been before but he certainly paid attention to any sound other than the ones he was making himself. It was a slight tread, he had almost missed it and every so often it would disappear before he picked it up again. He played along, quite happy to let the one following him think he had his prey covered as they progressed down the path. The other's tread grew more cautious after a while and the Optio frowned slightly as he lost track on the footfalls. This was someone who clearly knew the business of following folk. Not well enough to have escaped notice but enough to make him lose his position on his follower it seemed.
The Guardsman paused briefly his hand resting upon the pommel of his sword as he strained to hear more tell tale noises of his follower. He chanced a look behind him but saw only an empty street before it was swallowed up by darkness. He frowned, perhaps he was just simply letting his imagination grow wild. He snorted and shook his head before he moved on again. Had he continued to look harder he might have caught the signs of his pursuer emerging from a small nondescript alcove. It was the sort of alcove you had to know was there to know its place. Clearly the Optio hadn't known about it even if he had used this road several times before. The moonlight dimmed as the celestial body was shrouded by clouds and he grew nervous. The area darkened considerably but he strode with a forced confidence. Anything that might deter an assailant was useful. He still heard nothing but the occasional night bird that gave off a horrific screech. It was another normality of Rome for him and paid the bird no mind as he hurried on.
It happened swiftly and without warning as someone grabbed him from behind and slammed him against the wall in the darkness. He blinked as his head struck the stone and his vision went a little hazy. His instinct was to reach for his sword that hung from his waist but a sharp edge caught at his throat followed by a deep chuckle. "I wouldn't do that friend. Not if you wish to live," the voice spoke with a gravelled texture, as if rasped over a cat's tongue. He kept his face covered and Titus could only see the pale glints of his assailant's eyes. The knife pressed with meaning and Titus raised his hands whilst trying to commit every little detail of the man to memory. The man was well built and tall, certainly of a strength to handle others alone. From what he could make out in the dark, the man's clothes were darkly coloured and there was an odour that rose up that was unmistakably urine. He wrinkled his nose and surmised this man might be in the fuller's trade. He could make out nothing of the face so he focused on remembering the voice.
"All right, all right... See? You realise what you're doing though, right?" he questioned, it was an offence to attack any member of the army but officers in particular. It didn't aid the man's favour that he had assaulted an Optio of the Praetorian Guard. It would mean more if he had been in his full kit but he hoped the man didn't realise that. Or at least not completely.
"Yeah, what you going to do about it?" the other rasped as he searched his prey's pockets finding very little on him. Titus wasn't in the habit of carrying much knowing just how dangerous Roman streets were, especially at night. "I'll be taking this, I think," and Titus felt fingers try to undo the belt to his sword. Titus might have tried to overpower the other but the edge of the blade reaffirmed its presence and one wrong move could easily cut his throat apart. Titus didn't particularly want to die to a thief in the middle of the city and thus had to bide his time. "These will fetch a pretty denarii... Not that you're going to be alive to know about it," the voice gave a haughty little laugh. It was a laugh he would easily remember if he heard it again. Titus frowned as he stared back at the other. He could hear something in the darkness, something his attacker was too otherwise focused to notice.
"Who wants me dead?" he asked and the man tutted shaking his head.
"Be more than my life's worth revealing that to you, friend,"
"If you're going to kill me, what difference will it make? No one is here to hear you," Titus winced as the blade pressed more tightly against his throat, his gullet shifting uncomfortably and the male pressed his weight harder against him before he spoke.
"There's always some chance of someone hearing. Any last words before I send you to the shades?"
"Yeah, let me go and you might be lucky to walk out alive," he growled, realising he had little chance of getting out of this. The man chuckled and patted Titus on the cheek, his body ensuring his prey couldn't wriggle away nor give space for Titus to react. "I'm thinking I will... But you'll tell me all you know of the Empress first,"
"What?"
"Don't play games with my, Optio. They know you've seen them. They require confirmation," the raspy voice continued and Titus frowned, turning confused at what he was hearing.
"I don't know what the fuck you're babbling about," he struggled again and hoped that the sound of footfalls heralded a friend rather than another foe or at least would provide distraction enough for Titus to gain leverage over his situation. He grimaced and could feel blood trickle down his skin as the knife cut in.
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Appletree
Resident Fruit Tree
Kai hurried along the street, turning random corners. Gradually the broad, decently lit streets he had started on became smaller, the torch adorned gateways further apart. Kai considered turning back but quickly realised that most of these streets looked pretty much the same. In short, he was hopelessly lost. Forcefully quelling down the sense of panic that had been building inside him, he blinked away the hot tears gathering in his eyes and picked up his pace. It was no good crying like a scared girl he told himself. His bare feet, previously silent, now made loud slapping noises against the cobbles in the otherwise silent night as he ran almost blindly through ever darker alleys.
Hurtling around another corner he skidded to a stop when he heard voices up ahead. Elated, for surely these people could help him, he took a moment to catch his breath before moving forwards again at a more sedate pace. When they came into sight, Kai ducked back into the shadows. At first glance it looked more like a lovers embrace than anything else and Kai didn't want to intrude.
Before he could beat a hasty retreat and leave them to their own devices however, he caught a rough male voice. 'last words'? 'shades'? That didn't sound very amorous. Had his translation mods because faulty through the leap as well? The answering voice made him pretty sure he had understood right. This was no friendly encounter! This was some kind of assault! He pressed himself further into the wall, mind racing, trying to decide what to do.
The first rule of time travel floated to the forefront of his brain, the line impressed upon him more than any other. Change only that which is absolutely necessary.
But could he just sit by and witness what looked to be amazing to murder? On the other hand, what was he supposed to do to help? He had no weapon and certainly not the strengh or skill to do anything with his bare hands. Something the first voice had said sparked an idea.
Ducking back around the corner as silently as possible, Kai scrabbled along the ground until he found a loose cobblestone. Prying it from the ground, he pitched his voice higher than usual into a credible immitation of a woman and cried out,
"Hurry gentlemen! They're over here!" Prying fervently that his translation mods would render the words accordingly in Latin. He then started to make his way back towards the corner, stamping his feet and clattering the stone against the wall and generally making as much noise as possible, hoping his bluff would be enough to distract the attacker. He was well aware that his plan might drive the assailant to simply kill his victim outright and make a run for it, but it was the best he could donate short notice. A torch or two might have given his ruse a little more credibility but it was too late to go get one now.
Hurtling around another corner he skidded to a stop when he heard voices up ahead. Elated, for surely these people could help him, he took a moment to catch his breath before moving forwards again at a more sedate pace. When they came into sight, Kai ducked back into the shadows. At first glance it looked more like a lovers embrace than anything else and Kai didn't want to intrude.
Before he could beat a hasty retreat and leave them to their own devices however, he caught a rough male voice. 'last words'? 'shades'? That didn't sound very amorous. Had his translation mods because faulty through the leap as well? The answering voice made him pretty sure he had understood right. This was no friendly encounter! This was some kind of assault! He pressed himself further into the wall, mind racing, trying to decide what to do.
The first rule of time travel floated to the forefront of his brain, the line impressed upon him more than any other. Change only that which is absolutely necessary.
But could he just sit by and witness what looked to be amazing to murder? On the other hand, what was he supposed to do to help? He had no weapon and certainly not the strengh or skill to do anything with his bare hands. Something the first voice had said sparked an idea.
Ducking back around the corner as silently as possible, Kai scrabbled along the ground until he found a loose cobblestone. Prying it from the ground, he pitched his voice higher than usual into a credible immitation of a woman and cried out,
"Hurry gentlemen! They're over here!" Prying fervently that his translation mods would render the words accordingly in Latin. He then started to make his way back towards the corner, stamping his feet and clattering the stone against the wall and generally making as much noise as possible, hoping his bluff would be enough to distract the attacker. He was well aware that his plan might drive the assailant to simply kill his victim outright and make a run for it, but it was the best he could donate short notice. A torch or two might have given his ruse a little more credibility but it was too late to go get one now.
Zul'Zae'ju'Jin
the Hugger Troll
The proximity of the man was getting very repulsive. Not only did the man stink of urine, his breath also left something to the imagination. He was more perplexed at why this was evening happening. He must have seen or heard something and not grasped how dangerous it had been to have learned it. That was highly frustrating and he knew there was a strong potential right now to die for something he didn't know that he knew. His mind was struggling to comprehend it all even as the man had nicked his throat. He swallowed unable to help himself. This was crazy! He didn't know anything as far as he was aware. Clearly he was thought to have done. Why else would this man dare assault a Praetorian?
"Don't play cute, Optio."
"I swear by Jupiter, best and greatest, I don't know!" he exclaimed in earnest honesty.
The man gave that creepy chuckle once more and shook his head, "I don't believe you." Titus closed his eyes with despair. He was surely going to die for this. No empress certain of someone seeing something that could damage their reputation or their life would let such men live. Not even if he swore an oath to never reveal such a happenstance. He had seen too much at the palace to fool himself to thinking that would be a possible outcome of this for him. He was expendable, easily replaced and very few would question his disappearance. Not if they were smart in any case.
All of a sudden he heard shouting from a high pitched voice and he opened his eyes wide. He looked at the other who also had heard the voice. "Shit!" the man swore beneath his mask, the sound low and muffled. Titus knew the man was caught in indecision.. He could guess the orders given to him meant there was to be no discovery or traces back to him.
"That'll be the Urban Cohorts.... they'll kill you for this..." he gasped and blinked fervently as the blade reminded him of his predicament only too plainly. The main stared at him before giving a growl of frustration. Titus cried out in sudden pain as the man punch him hard in the gut, doubling over at the impact, and felt skin tear as the knife sliced a little more at his neck before the pressure was released completely. Fast footfalls told him that his assailant was running for his life but there was a lack of the same sounds his own boots would make if he had been one of the urban cohorts chasing the man. Something felt a little off but it was a vague enough thought for him as he crumpled to the floor, gasping for breath.
Feeling a fresh rivulet of blood snake down his neck he raised his hand and gingerly felt his wound having little to no awareness of anyone else close by. The wound was deep but not deep enough to be life threatening. The man had failed to find his jugular or his gullet and in that Titus thanked the gods. He held his hand against the wound to his neck, his chest heaving with a need to draw in fresh air. His abdomen stung with the ache from being punched hard. It was only when he felt a shadow creep towards him that he looked up.
Titus blinked and rested his bruised head against the wall vaguely aware he was sat in piss and shit. Time would only tell if this shadow's owner was friend or foe.
"Don't play cute, Optio."
"I swear by Jupiter, best and greatest, I don't know!" he exclaimed in earnest honesty.
The man gave that creepy chuckle once more and shook his head, "I don't believe you." Titus closed his eyes with despair. He was surely going to die for this. No empress certain of someone seeing something that could damage their reputation or their life would let such men live. Not even if he swore an oath to never reveal such a happenstance. He had seen too much at the palace to fool himself to thinking that would be a possible outcome of this for him. He was expendable, easily replaced and very few would question his disappearance. Not if they were smart in any case.
All of a sudden he heard shouting from a high pitched voice and he opened his eyes wide. He looked at the other who also had heard the voice. "Shit!" the man swore beneath his mask, the sound low and muffled. Titus knew the man was caught in indecision.. He could guess the orders given to him meant there was to be no discovery or traces back to him.
"That'll be the Urban Cohorts.... they'll kill you for this..." he gasped and blinked fervently as the blade reminded him of his predicament only too plainly. The main stared at him before giving a growl of frustration. Titus cried out in sudden pain as the man punch him hard in the gut, doubling over at the impact, and felt skin tear as the knife sliced a little more at his neck before the pressure was released completely. Fast footfalls told him that his assailant was running for his life but there was a lack of the same sounds his own boots would make if he had been one of the urban cohorts chasing the man. Something felt a little off but it was a vague enough thought for him as he crumpled to the floor, gasping for breath.
Feeling a fresh rivulet of blood snake down his neck he raised his hand and gingerly felt his wound having little to no awareness of anyone else close by. The wound was deep but not deep enough to be life threatening. The man had failed to find his jugular or his gullet and in that Titus thanked the gods. He held his hand against the wound to his neck, his chest heaving with a need to draw in fresh air. His abdomen stung with the ache from being punched hard. It was only when he felt a shadow creep towards him that he looked up.
Titus blinked and rested his bruised head against the wall vaguely aware he was sat in piss and shit. Time would only tell if this shadow's owner was friend or foe.
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Appletree
Resident Fruit Tree
When a cry of pain echoed down the alley, Kai dropped his stone and froze, hands flying to cover his mouth in dismay. Had he misjudged? Was someone dead because of him? Hearing the sound of retreating footsteps, he took a deep breath and inched forwards, peering into the darkness fearfully. Was the attacker waiting in a shadowy corner to ambush him too?This was not at all how he had expected time travel to be like! It was supposed to be an easy in-out affair and now he might die in a dark ally who knew where and when! Everyone back home wouldn't even know what had happened to him!
Kai almost fell over the figure sitting against the wall, despite the mans ragged breathing giving away his position. With a startled squeak, he tripped over an outstretched leg and only narrowly avoided faceplanting into solid stone. "Sorry!" He gasped, scrambling to right himself and squinting though the gloom at the figure on the floor. He hoped this was the victim and not the attacker with some fancy ploy to lure him in. It it was, it was working fantastically.
At that moment the moon drifted out from behind its cloud cover and Kai gasped in horror as he spotted the dark stain running down from the mans throat. For the first moment Kai thought he was dead, but then he heard and saw the man breathing. He was alive and Kai prayed to the gods of this time that he would remain so.
"First aid, first aid..." he muttered, mind rapidly reviewing half remembered procedures and techniques. Why didn't they teach people what to do if someones throat was cut? Granted, in his own time it was a highly unlikely fate, but who knew what might happen. It had clearly happened here. Finally something about basic emergency procedure with cuts surfaced in his frantic brain.
"Hey, um.. Hi. Talk to me please. Are you hurt anywhere else?" Kai cast around for something to help staunch the bleeding. He was wearing nothing but a tunic-toga thing and didn't fancy sacrificing it. His cover would be blown for one thing and wandering around either naked or bloodstained sounded like an even worse prospect that what he had been dealing with before.
Ignoring the rather unpleasant smell lingering around the man (weren't the romans supposed to be notorious bath freaks?) he leaned in closer to inspect the cut. While it looked bad, in Kais decidedly unprofessional opinion, he was still pretty sure it wasn't too serious. Nothing life-threatening seemed damaged, the man would surely not be sitting quietly if it were, so he sat back on his heels and said, "Try not to move too much and keep some pressure on that if possible. It should heal just fine I think." He was rather proud of his calm and buisnesslike tone but then his curiosity went and ruined the effect.
"Say, why did the guy attack you?"
Kai almost fell over the figure sitting against the wall, despite the mans ragged breathing giving away his position. With a startled squeak, he tripped over an outstretched leg and only narrowly avoided faceplanting into solid stone. "Sorry!" He gasped, scrambling to right himself and squinting though the gloom at the figure on the floor. He hoped this was the victim and not the attacker with some fancy ploy to lure him in. It it was, it was working fantastically.
At that moment the moon drifted out from behind its cloud cover and Kai gasped in horror as he spotted the dark stain running down from the mans throat. For the first moment Kai thought he was dead, but then he heard and saw the man breathing. He was alive and Kai prayed to the gods of this time that he would remain so.
"First aid, first aid..." he muttered, mind rapidly reviewing half remembered procedures and techniques. Why didn't they teach people what to do if someones throat was cut? Granted, in his own time it was a highly unlikely fate, but who knew what might happen. It had clearly happened here. Finally something about basic emergency procedure with cuts surfaced in his frantic brain.
"Hey, um.. Hi. Talk to me please. Are you hurt anywhere else?" Kai cast around for something to help staunch the bleeding. He was wearing nothing but a tunic-toga thing and didn't fancy sacrificing it. His cover would be blown for one thing and wandering around either naked or bloodstained sounded like an even worse prospect that what he had been dealing with before.
Ignoring the rather unpleasant smell lingering around the man (weren't the romans supposed to be notorious bath freaks?) he leaned in closer to inspect the cut. While it looked bad, in Kais decidedly unprofessional opinion, he was still pretty sure it wasn't too serious. Nothing life-threatening seemed damaged, the man would surely not be sitting quietly if it were, so he sat back on his heels and said, "Try not to move too much and keep some pressure on that if possible. It should heal just fine I think." He was rather proud of his calm and buisnesslike tone but then his curiosity went and ruined the effect.
"Say, why did the guy attack you?"
Zul'Zae'ju'Jin
the Hugger Troll
Titus tilted his head as he felt something shift against his calf and produce as weird sort of squeak. He frowned as he caught sight of the figure in what little light the moon gave off. He couldn't tell much other than maybe it was a man. It would be his luck to be saved from one attacker to be killed now. He coughed and wheezed for a moment before blinking his vision back to normality. That punch to his gut had really taken it out of him and knew he had little energy to fall back on to save himself. It was rather ignoble.
It was only when the figure gave a sudden apology that he began to relax slightly. The tone had not sounded at all malicious and seemed genuine enough. HE kept his hand to his throat as the figure seemed to gather himself and stare at the Optio on the floor. There was a muttering Titus didn't quite catch and he raised his brow for a moment. He tried to shift himself a little but his body rebelled. He sighed slightly and knew he had to give himself a little more time before he could try again.
Titus peered back and shook his head slightly, "No... Nothing I can't recover from, at any rate." His voice sounded a little strange to his ears but he paid it little mind for now.
"I take it I have you to thank for just now?" He could see no one else on the street to hold responsibility and the fact he could hear no further evidence of the urban Cohorts had only confirmed the truth of the ruse.
He raised a brow before he obliged and lowered his hand so the other could inspect it before he returning his hand to his neck. He'd have to go and get the surgeon to stitch it back together later on. "Thanks for the assessment," he intoned before he frowned and the peered back at the other. He wondered what had brought the man out on the street at this time of night where not many other people chose to walk down.
"Wish I fucking knew," he replied with a heavy sigh, he didn't know why he had almost been murdered in an alley. Only that it had something do with the Empress and something he had apparently seen and didn't know what it had meant. He would have to rack his brains for the answer to that or see if someone else knew why the Empress wanted him dead.
It was only when the figure gave a sudden apology that he began to relax slightly. The tone had not sounded at all malicious and seemed genuine enough. HE kept his hand to his throat as the figure seemed to gather himself and stare at the Optio on the floor. There was a muttering Titus didn't quite catch and he raised his brow for a moment. He tried to shift himself a little but his body rebelled. He sighed slightly and knew he had to give himself a little more time before he could try again.
Titus peered back and shook his head slightly, "No... Nothing I can't recover from, at any rate." His voice sounded a little strange to his ears but he paid it little mind for now.
"I take it I have you to thank for just now?" He could see no one else on the street to hold responsibility and the fact he could hear no further evidence of the urban Cohorts had only confirmed the truth of the ruse.
He raised a brow before he obliged and lowered his hand so the other could inspect it before he returning his hand to his neck. He'd have to go and get the surgeon to stitch it back together later on. "Thanks for the assessment," he intoned before he frowned and the peered back at the other. He wondered what had brought the man out on the street at this time of night where not many other people chose to walk down.
"Wish I fucking knew," he replied with a heavy sigh, he didn't know why he had almost been murdered in an alley. Only that it had something do with the Empress and something he had apparently seen and didn't know what it had meant. He would have to rack his brains for the answer to that or see if someone else knew why the Empress wanted him dead.
Appletree
Resident Fruit Tree
„Oh yeah that was me,“ Kai said sheepishly, sitting back on his heels and rubbing the back of his head in a nervous gesture. It still felt weird to have only short stands tickling at his fingers when he ran his fingers through his hair.
“Only thing I could think of at short notice. I’m not much help in any other way. It didn’t quite work as I hoped though…” He waved a hand to indicate the general situation with the wounded man on the ground and the otherwise deserted alley.
“I guess it could have turned out worse though.” He smiled rather uncertainly, hooping the other man felt the same way about his predicament. Realising he was rambling a bit, he shut his mouth firmly to avoid letting anymore unnecessary chatter escape.
He wasn’t sure if the other mans remarks were meant sarcastically or not, so he decided to ignore them for the time being and focus on the more pressing matters.
“Do you think you can get up?” His earlier attempt to move hadn’t escaped Kais notice.
“I can help you get somewhere if you need it.” He doubted somewhat that he would be of much help, especially if the much bigger man needed someone to lean on, but hoped he would take the offer. It was perhaps a little selfish of him, but he really did need help getting out of this labyrinth of dark alleys.
“Only thing I could think of at short notice. I’m not much help in any other way. It didn’t quite work as I hoped though…” He waved a hand to indicate the general situation with the wounded man on the ground and the otherwise deserted alley.
“I guess it could have turned out worse though.” He smiled rather uncertainly, hooping the other man felt the same way about his predicament. Realising he was rambling a bit, he shut his mouth firmly to avoid letting anymore unnecessary chatter escape.
He wasn’t sure if the other mans remarks were meant sarcastically or not, so he decided to ignore them for the time being and focus on the more pressing matters.
“Do you think you can get up?” His earlier attempt to move hadn’t escaped Kais notice.
“I can help you get somewhere if you need it.” He doubted somewhat that he would be of much help, especially if the much bigger man needed someone to lean on, but hoped he would take the offer. It was perhaps a little selfish of him, but he really did need help getting out of this labyrinth of dark alleys.
Zul'Zae'ju'Jin
the Hugger Troll
He raised his brow when the other spoke of ways not working out as planned and he gave a snort followed by a shrug, "Mate, first casualty is always the plan." He spoke with a little difficulty. Talking whilst trying to keep your life force inside you was not easy. He frowned as his hand reached up for his neck cloth only for him to remember that he was in civilian clothing and had no neck cloth. He smiled and nodded. Titus was not blind and he was not sure entirely what to do. His life had been made an attempt on and if the wife of the emperor was trying to have him killed, going back to barracks would be difficult. Course, if he didn't turn up for duty, he would be pegged in for desertion. He had a choice to make.
Titus realised he had closed his eyes after a while and he frowned as he stared at the other. The other seemed of much lighter build compared to himself but in this moment of time he was the only one to have cared enough for a stranger to get involved. He nodded, "Give me a minute."
"What's your name?" he asked, as he attempted to get to his feet again. The going was easier now that he had a chance to recover from being winded.He used the wall for support, he was a little unsteady but he could stand which he took for a plus at any rate.
"Well, you can help me back to barracks, for starters," he nodded lightly, "It's not far... What are you doing out so late anyway?"
The man's answer could be as innocent as his own.
Titus realised he had closed his eyes after a while and he frowned as he stared at the other. The other seemed of much lighter build compared to himself but in this moment of time he was the only one to have cared enough for a stranger to get involved. He nodded, "Give me a minute."
"What's your name?" he asked, as he attempted to get to his feet again. The going was easier now that he had a chance to recover from being winded.He used the wall for support, he was a little unsteady but he could stand which he took for a plus at any rate.
"Well, you can help me back to barracks, for starters," he nodded lightly, "It's not far... What are you doing out so late anyway?"
The man's answer could be as innocent as his own.
Appletree
Resident Fruit Tree
Kai had to chuckle at the comment about plans being the first thing to go. Boy could he sing a song about that. His whole current situation was due to just such an occurrence. He was glad the other man didn’t seem to blame him for his injury. He was doing that enough on his own. A part of his brain was still berating him for stepping in at all. What if he had irrevocably changed something? He tried to push all thoughts of eventual consequences from his mind. It was too late to change things now; at least too late for him.
The mans new attempt to get up was a welcome distraction. It was obvious that it cost him quite a lot of effort to get to his feet even with the wall to lean against. Kai hovered next to him uncertainly. Standing up he was even larger than he had seemed on the ground. Still bent over slightly in apparent pain, he still topped Kais height by several inches. Standing fully upright he would probably be around a head taller than Kai. Setting his shoulders defiantly, the smaller man ducked under the arm further from the wall to help steady him.
Once he had the weight settled somewhat evenly, he said “I’m Kai – I mean Caius.” stuttering a bit on the name. The Romanisation, for lack of a better word, was strange on his tongue. Would he even remember to listen when someone called him that? Deciding that not reacting to the name he had given would be more suspicious than the alternative, he added quickly, “But just Kai is fine.”
He gave the man a moment to catch his breath before asking in return. “Whats your name?”
When the man indicated down the alley and mentioned barracks, Kai looked up at him. From this angle it was hard to see his face in the shadows. “Barracks? You’re a soldier?” His first guess would have been freed gladiator, but soldier was close enough. It would certainly help explain his size and the weight now slung over his shoulders. It also posed new questions. Who would attack a soldier? As far as he knew, the roman legions were well liked and respected, especially in the cities. Who would induce the anger of the Emperor (whoever that currently happened to be) and the general populace?
Realising that he had been asked a question, he cast around for an answer that would sound plausible. Nothing good came to mind. Almost everything he claimed would be checkable, if someone really wanted to know. Finally he settled for at least part of the truth and hoped there wouldn’t be too many follow up questions before he could come up with some kind of story.
“To be honest, I’m lost…”
The mans new attempt to get up was a welcome distraction. It was obvious that it cost him quite a lot of effort to get to his feet even with the wall to lean against. Kai hovered next to him uncertainly. Standing up he was even larger than he had seemed on the ground. Still bent over slightly in apparent pain, he still topped Kais height by several inches. Standing fully upright he would probably be around a head taller than Kai. Setting his shoulders defiantly, the smaller man ducked under the arm further from the wall to help steady him.
Once he had the weight settled somewhat evenly, he said “I’m Kai – I mean Caius.” stuttering a bit on the name. The Romanisation, for lack of a better word, was strange on his tongue. Would he even remember to listen when someone called him that? Deciding that not reacting to the name he had given would be more suspicious than the alternative, he added quickly, “But just Kai is fine.”
He gave the man a moment to catch his breath before asking in return. “Whats your name?”
When the man indicated down the alley and mentioned barracks, Kai looked up at him. From this angle it was hard to see his face in the shadows. “Barracks? You’re a soldier?” His first guess would have been freed gladiator, but soldier was close enough. It would certainly help explain his size and the weight now slung over his shoulders. It also posed new questions. Who would attack a soldier? As far as he knew, the roman legions were well liked and respected, especially in the cities. Who would induce the anger of the Emperor (whoever that currently happened to be) and the general populace?
Realising that he had been asked a question, he cast around for an answer that would sound plausible. Nothing good came to mind. Almost everything he claimed would be checkable, if someone really wanted to know. Finally he settled for at least part of the truth and hoped there wouldn’t be too many follow up questions before he could come up with some kind of story.
“To be honest, I’m lost…”
Zul'Zae'ju'Jin
the Hugger Troll
Getting to his feet cost him a little more than he had anticipated and he chanced peering at the fingers of his hand to hold his wound. It was slick with wetness and he pressed his hand back where it was before. He was still bleeding but it was slow. He would hopefully have time to get to the surgeon and have it cleaned and closed up again. His mind was still reeling with what had happened and why it had happened that he almost reacted badly when he felt someone move alongside him. He caught himself in time, blinking somewhat with a grunt at the other to have helped him. He did nothing to stop the lad after he realised what he was trying to do. He smiled to himself, it showed he had a presence of mind about him and his surroundings.
"Caius," he echoed, nodding to show he had understood and reaffirmed his own footing as his arm still used the wall. The other felt tiny next to him and Titus wondered how the man could hope to support the Praetorian. Tonight had been full of surprises however and he would willingly accept this one without further complaint.
"Titus Marcus Bestia," he replied, "Titus will do."
The man seemed curious and inquiring as Titus blinked and peered up the alleyway. "Aye... I'm a Praetorian... An Optio," he affirmed before he shifted his hold from the wall to the other's shoulders, fingers curling around the joint. They stood like that for a moment longer before Caius' words caught him a little off guard.
"Lost? New to Rome, huh?" he looked at Caius' face briefly before he grunted. "Well, for this... think the Guard can let you stay the night. It's up that way, I'll direct you... just... don't let me fall arse over tit, hm?" he smiled, as he gestured with a tap to the man's shoulder. The going was slow but manageable and he knew they had a few streets to cross before they reached the gates of the compound where he and the other Praetorians slept, ate and trained in their service to the Emperor.
"Caius," he echoed, nodding to show he had understood and reaffirmed his own footing as his arm still used the wall. The other felt tiny next to him and Titus wondered how the man could hope to support the Praetorian. Tonight had been full of surprises however and he would willingly accept this one without further complaint.
"Titus Marcus Bestia," he replied, "Titus will do."
The man seemed curious and inquiring as Titus blinked and peered up the alleyway. "Aye... I'm a Praetorian... An Optio," he affirmed before he shifted his hold from the wall to the other's shoulders, fingers curling around the joint. They stood like that for a moment longer before Caius' words caught him a little off guard.
"Lost? New to Rome, huh?" he looked at Caius' face briefly before he grunted. "Well, for this... think the Guard can let you stay the night. It's up that way, I'll direct you... just... don't let me fall arse over tit, hm?" he smiled, as he gestured with a tap to the man's shoulder. The going was slow but manageable and he knew they had a few streets to cross before they reached the gates of the compound where he and the other Praetorians slept, ate and trained in their service to the Emperor.
Appletree
Resident Fruit Tree
Kai felt the man twitch at his sudden move to assist him, but stayed steady. Pulling back unexpectedly would only startle him more; perhaps even enough to send him face first into the cobbles if he wasn’t careful.
He tried to commit the names he gave to memory, but knew at least one would escape him, so was rather glad when Titus added that only his first name was enough. The titles the soldier mentioned with a hint of pride in his voice sent Kais mind into overdrive as he tried to make sense of them. So much information had been piled onto him before coming here, he was having trouble remembering and sorting through it all. Finally his brain was able to scrounge up something.
Preatorian: elite unite, often served as personal guards to the emperor or other high ranking officials.
Optio: second in command of a centurion, consisting of 50-100 men.
Blinking several times to rid himself of the information virtually hovering before his eyes and sighed at Titus’ next words. “Yeah, you could say that…” he muttered under his breath before raising his voice back to speaking volume. “That would be very kind of you.”
He only had a few small coins sewn into the hem of his tunic and the thought of spending them all right from the get go hadn’t appealed to him much. Gaining access to the guard might come with further perks as well; first and foremost finding out when exactly he was. Apparently he had at least managed to land in Rome as he was supposed to, which was a great relief.
They started to shuffle along as Titus directed. It was slow going and they had to stop several times for the soldier to catch his breath. Kai was glad for the breaks too. He was still carrying a great deal of the man’s weight, but it was easier when he was braced and could balance a stationary weight rather than a moving one. The blood that continued to well between Titus’ fingers was soaking into the shoulder of Kais tunic, a constant reminder that they couldn’t dawdle for too long.
The further they walked the broader and better lit the streets became, letting Kai relax just a little bit. The chance of a repeat attack seemed smaller here. Finally they reached a high walled compound with a large gate; the emperor’s eagle prominently carved in the arch over it.
He tried to commit the names he gave to memory, but knew at least one would escape him, so was rather glad when Titus added that only his first name was enough. The titles the soldier mentioned with a hint of pride in his voice sent Kais mind into overdrive as he tried to make sense of them. So much information had been piled onto him before coming here, he was having trouble remembering and sorting through it all. Finally his brain was able to scrounge up something.
Preatorian: elite unite, often served as personal guards to the emperor or other high ranking officials.
Optio: second in command of a centurion, consisting of 50-100 men.
Blinking several times to rid himself of the information virtually hovering before his eyes and sighed at Titus’ next words. “Yeah, you could say that…” he muttered under his breath before raising his voice back to speaking volume. “That would be very kind of you.”
He only had a few small coins sewn into the hem of his tunic and the thought of spending them all right from the get go hadn’t appealed to him much. Gaining access to the guard might come with further perks as well; first and foremost finding out when exactly he was. Apparently he had at least managed to land in Rome as he was supposed to, which was a great relief.
They started to shuffle along as Titus directed. It was slow going and they had to stop several times for the soldier to catch his breath. Kai was glad for the breaks too. He was still carrying a great deal of the man’s weight, but it was easier when he was braced and could balance a stationary weight rather than a moving one. The blood that continued to well between Titus’ fingers was soaking into the shoulder of Kais tunic, a constant reminder that they couldn’t dawdle for too long.
The further they walked the broader and better lit the streets became, letting Kai relax just a little bit. The chance of a repeat attack seemed smaller here. Finally they reached a high walled compound with a large gate; the emperor’s eagle prominently carved in the arch over it.
Zul'Zae'ju'Jin
the Hugger Troll
His tunic began to feel warm and sticky as the fingers that he could not stop leaving his neck trickled down and became absorbed. He took but a moment to centre himself, a product of battle and something had always helped him tune his mind to the task at hand. He winced and reaffirmed his hold on his neck as his other hand gripped the lad's shoulder.
Titus nodded before he rasped, "Least I can do... Beyond that... we'll see," he could hold the boy up forever but Rome was never lost for a need of those to pay rent for a room. Had to be someone fairly cheap one of the boys could recommend. For now, getting to the barracks and getting himself to the surgeon was higher on his list of priorities and he was sure his Centurion wasn't about to argue against a small repayment of such a debt.
The going was difficult. Titus was not at all used to requiring the help of another nor had he ever had a neck wound before now. Perhaps a stroke of pure luck or by some will of the gods. The longer it took to get there meant that he lost more blood along the way and thus became weaker with every few strides. He stumbled more than once and he was feeling more and more nauseousness. This he shook off with pure determination. He was not going to die to some bastard in an alley.
Titus glanced up as the street suddenly widened to an expanse of cobbled road set in neat rows. Beyond was the gate to the barracks and there he would have to get passed the sentry and then the surgeon from there. He just hoped the sentries weren't in league with the woman who apparently wanted him dead for a reason he was not aware of.
"Here..." he gestured as best as his hand could towards the gate before he had to grip Caius' shoulder again. Once they got closer, they came upon the pair of sentries. One turned to face them as they approached and the other remained quite still.
"Begone with you! This ain't no spa for the injured!" he announced after peering at them and Titus frowned. Clearly he must look pretty to be forgotten that easily.
"Titus Marcus Bestia, Optio!" he snapped, the original effect of such a voice was lost no thanks to his wound and the pair blinked before one stooped to look at them more closely.
"Fuck me. Sorry, sir! Didn't recognise you... Who's this?"
"Who the fuck... " he bit off what he was going to say before carrying out, "He's with me... an eyewitness... Get the surgeon, and hop to it!"
The sentry blinked before he nodded to the other. The second man saluted before he ran off to find the surgeon. The first sentry helped Caius get Titus inside the gate before moving to lock it once more. He then moved and took them to a temporary seating area where they could sit and catch their breath.
"I'm sure they won't be long, sir"
Titus nodded before he rasped, "Least I can do... Beyond that... we'll see," he could hold the boy up forever but Rome was never lost for a need of those to pay rent for a room. Had to be someone fairly cheap one of the boys could recommend. For now, getting to the barracks and getting himself to the surgeon was higher on his list of priorities and he was sure his Centurion wasn't about to argue against a small repayment of such a debt.
The going was difficult. Titus was not at all used to requiring the help of another nor had he ever had a neck wound before now. Perhaps a stroke of pure luck or by some will of the gods. The longer it took to get there meant that he lost more blood along the way and thus became weaker with every few strides. He stumbled more than once and he was feeling more and more nauseousness. This he shook off with pure determination. He was not going to die to some bastard in an alley.
Titus glanced up as the street suddenly widened to an expanse of cobbled road set in neat rows. Beyond was the gate to the barracks and there he would have to get passed the sentry and then the surgeon from there. He just hoped the sentries weren't in league with the woman who apparently wanted him dead for a reason he was not aware of.
"Here..." he gestured as best as his hand could towards the gate before he had to grip Caius' shoulder again. Once they got closer, they came upon the pair of sentries. One turned to face them as they approached and the other remained quite still.
"Begone with you! This ain't no spa for the injured!" he announced after peering at them and Titus frowned. Clearly he must look pretty to be forgotten that easily.
"Titus Marcus Bestia, Optio!" he snapped, the original effect of such a voice was lost no thanks to his wound and the pair blinked before one stooped to look at them more closely.
"Fuck me. Sorry, sir! Didn't recognise you... Who's this?"
"Who the fuck... " he bit off what he was going to say before carrying out, "He's with me... an eyewitness... Get the surgeon, and hop to it!"
The sentry blinked before he nodded to the other. The second man saluted before he ran off to find the surgeon. The first sentry helped Caius get Titus inside the gate before moving to lock it once more. He then moved and took them to a temporary seating area where they could sit and catch their breath.
"I'm sure they won't be long, sir"
Appletree
Resident Fruit Tree
They all but fell at the feet of the two bored looking sentries guarding the gate. At the initial rebuke, Kai took a deep breath, steeling himself for some discussion. He didn’t really blame the guard for wanting them gone. They probably looked like two thieves or similarly shady characters, covered in blood and exhausted as they were.
Before he could even formulate what he wanted to say, Titus had gasped out his name and title and the sentry, finally recognising him, sprang to attention. The second guard scuttled off to hopefully get some help while the first gestured them inside before closing the small door he had opened behind them.
Kai would have preferred for the man to keep helping him carry Titus almost dead weight, but he made it to the indicated bench with the sentry hovering over them.
Flopping down beside the optio, he rotated his aching shoulder and told the anxious looking man,
“He was attacked in an alley, I don’t know why. He got rid of him, but not before he took a knife to the throat and it won’t stop bleeding.”
He conveniently left out his own part in the action -he was already far too involved without these people knowing he may or may not have saved their commander- and plucked at the sticky fabric of his tunic, grimacing at the feeling of the half dried wool peeling off his skin.
The first of his worries now in hopefully competent hands, he looked around curiously, mentally labelling the buildings he could see in the torchlight. It really was amazing how accurate the romans were. Everything fit the descriptions that had survived thousands of years to a point that it was almost creepy. He could see the brightly illuminated headquarters at the end of the open area he thought must be the parade grounds, opposite them would be the stables, which would mean the hospital should be behind them.
He looked around at the sound of approaching footsteps, hoping dearly that this was the surgeon Titus had ordered the other sentry to get.
Before he could even formulate what he wanted to say, Titus had gasped out his name and title and the sentry, finally recognising him, sprang to attention. The second guard scuttled off to hopefully get some help while the first gestured them inside before closing the small door he had opened behind them.
Kai would have preferred for the man to keep helping him carry Titus almost dead weight, but he made it to the indicated bench with the sentry hovering over them.
Flopping down beside the optio, he rotated his aching shoulder and told the anxious looking man,
“He was attacked in an alley, I don’t know why. He got rid of him, but not before he took a knife to the throat and it won’t stop bleeding.”
He conveniently left out his own part in the action -he was already far too involved without these people knowing he may or may not have saved their commander- and plucked at the sticky fabric of his tunic, grimacing at the feeling of the half dried wool peeling off his skin.
The first of his worries now in hopefully competent hands, he looked around curiously, mentally labelling the buildings he could see in the torchlight. It really was amazing how accurate the romans were. Everything fit the descriptions that had survived thousands of years to a point that it was almost creepy. He could see the brightly illuminated headquarters at the end of the open area he thought must be the parade grounds, opposite them would be the stables, which would mean the hospital should be behind them.
He looked around at the sound of approaching footsteps, hoping dearly that this was the surgeon Titus had ordered the other sentry to get.
Zul'Zae'ju'Jin
the Hugger Troll
Titus pressed his hand harder now disliking how warm and wet his blood felt against his fingers. It felt good to sit down again and not burden his saviour with his own sizeable weight. He was a big man even by Roman standards, much to the extent his compatriots often joked he had Celtic or barbarian blood in him. Titus had always laughed it off having known who his father was to know how strong his own bloodline was. He had survived the streets of Rome and and as soon as he was able, he had enlisted.
He listened as Caius explained what had happened to the sentry and scoffed, "Don't be sod damned modest... I'd be good as dead if not for you raising the alarm." He left out what his attacker had told him and though he had not heard the footfalls of any incoming urban cohorts, it had worked to the same effect and it was no less true of the situation.
The Optio closed his eyes for a moment before he was forced to open them again and stared at a sentry with a worried face. Serves him right too to look so, Titus mused to himself mentally. A man dying on a sentry's watch was not a good thing to have on record.
Footfalls marked the return of the other sentry and that of the surgeon. The man was short with curling hair that was held away from his roundish face with a leather thong. The surgeon nodded before he waved to a number of orderlies he had also brought with him. It seemed the sentry had given a basic relay on what it was he had been sent to the surgeon for. Titus approved, it wasted less time in that way and frowned only a little as the surgeon took a long thick cloth and in one practised movement he had removed Titus' own hand and wrapped the cloth around his neck, keeping it in a tight place with a strap.
"They will carry you. Less work for your heart that way. You keep calm and let us do the work, understood?"
Titus could only manage a nod, the cloth was so tight that it hurt to even attempt speech. The man seemed to have settled for it as he snapped his fingers and helped the orderlies lift Titus to the stretcher that they brought with them.
The surgeon then paused whilst his underlings took the Optio to the infirmary and peered at the second man noticing the amount of blood. "Are you hurt as well, or is that all transfer?" he frowned and gave the other little time to answer.
"No matter, you can come with me."
"Doctor... he's not a Praetorian..."
"No? Seems to me he's very much an important individual in this case right now. I'm sure the Optio would not be amused if he was sent away without so much as reward. In either case, I need to know exactly what happened. Come on then, don't sit there gaping."
The man waved for Caius to follow him before he turned and headed for the infirmary clearly expecting the stranger to obey the command.
He listened as Caius explained what had happened to the sentry and scoffed, "Don't be sod damned modest... I'd be good as dead if not for you raising the alarm." He left out what his attacker had told him and though he had not heard the footfalls of any incoming urban cohorts, it had worked to the same effect and it was no less true of the situation.
The Optio closed his eyes for a moment before he was forced to open them again and stared at a sentry with a worried face. Serves him right too to look so, Titus mused to himself mentally. A man dying on a sentry's watch was not a good thing to have on record.
Footfalls marked the return of the other sentry and that of the surgeon. The man was short with curling hair that was held away from his roundish face with a leather thong. The surgeon nodded before he waved to a number of orderlies he had also brought with him. It seemed the sentry had given a basic relay on what it was he had been sent to the surgeon for. Titus approved, it wasted less time in that way and frowned only a little as the surgeon took a long thick cloth and in one practised movement he had removed Titus' own hand and wrapped the cloth around his neck, keeping it in a tight place with a strap.
"They will carry you. Less work for your heart that way. You keep calm and let us do the work, understood?"
Titus could only manage a nod, the cloth was so tight that it hurt to even attempt speech. The man seemed to have settled for it as he snapped his fingers and helped the orderlies lift Titus to the stretcher that they brought with them.
The surgeon then paused whilst his underlings took the Optio to the infirmary and peered at the second man noticing the amount of blood. "Are you hurt as well, or is that all transfer?" he frowned and gave the other little time to answer.
"No matter, you can come with me."
"Doctor... he's not a Praetorian..."
"No? Seems to me he's very much an important individual in this case right now. I'm sure the Optio would not be amused if he was sent away without so much as reward. In either case, I need to know exactly what happened. Come on then, don't sit there gaping."
The man waved for Caius to follow him before he turned and headed for the infirmary clearly expecting the stranger to obey the command.
Appletree
Resident Fruit Tree
„All I did was make some noise.” Kai protested. “Any child could have done it; it doesn’t make me anything special.” He disregarded the fact that next to the optio he almost did look like a child.
Much like the sentry, Kai looked on worriedly as Titus sagged in on himself even more and closed his eyes. Unlike the sentry however, his eyes were fixed not on the man’s face but the pulse that beat in the hollow of his throat, just visible under his blood soaked hand.
He was very glad when the surgeon finally appeared and got to work. His attentions were brusque but it was obvious that he knew what he was doing. Titus seemed to be in good hands now.
While they had been waiting a little voice had started up in Kais head again, listing up all the things that had already gone wrong and what their consequences might be. The warning had been clear; don’t get involved with people more than you have to. He had already broken that rule, at the very least Titus would remember the kid who had probably saved his life, in a bad case the soldiers clustered around them would too.
The slightly snappish words of the surgeon pulled him out of the downwards spiral his thoughts were taking. He looked up to see the helpers carrying off a slightly disgruntled looking Titus on a stretcher. The sight brought a slight smile to his face. The surgeon talked right over him and the sentry when both attempted to protest, Kai not even managing to get any words out before the doctor was walking away with a proprietary air.
“I’m sorry.” Kai muttered to the sentry, “I’ll be out from under your feet soon.”
He gave an awkward half bow, momentarily forgetting if romans bowed to one another or not but not wanting to risk it.
Much like the sentry, Kai looked on worriedly as Titus sagged in on himself even more and closed his eyes. Unlike the sentry however, his eyes were fixed not on the man’s face but the pulse that beat in the hollow of his throat, just visible under his blood soaked hand.
He was very glad when the surgeon finally appeared and got to work. His attentions were brusque but it was obvious that he knew what he was doing. Titus seemed to be in good hands now.
While they had been waiting a little voice had started up in Kais head again, listing up all the things that had already gone wrong and what their consequences might be. The warning had been clear; don’t get involved with people more than you have to. He had already broken that rule, at the very least Titus would remember the kid who had probably saved his life, in a bad case the soldiers clustered around them would too.
The slightly snappish words of the surgeon pulled him out of the downwards spiral his thoughts were taking. He looked up to see the helpers carrying off a slightly disgruntled looking Titus on a stretcher. The sight brought a slight smile to his face. The surgeon talked right over him and the sentry when both attempted to protest, Kai not even managing to get any words out before the doctor was walking away with a proprietary air.
“I’m sorry.” Kai muttered to the sentry, “I’ll be out from under your feet soon.”
He gave an awkward half bow, momentarily forgetting if romans bowed to one another or not but not wanting to risk it.
Zul'Zae'ju'Jin
the Hugger Troll
Titus looked at the guy and rolled his eyes, "You chose to act, kid."
Titus behaved himself knowing his rank went out the window with the Surgeon doing his job. He was tasked with making sure men didn't die and it was bad for his record too if a soldier died and could have been saved. The wrap was tight and uncomfortable and he hated being manhandled as he was slowly helped to his feel by the surgeon's orderlies and then helped to lie down on the stretcher. This was dangerous. He didn't know where the Empress' assassins were or who they were. He was sure she had her spies just as much as the Emperor did. Not that Claudius realised who those spies were.
Being lifted was not dignifying either and he knew those carrying him were grateful that he was not in full armour. He wanted to sleep but any time he closed his eyes for too long, the surgeon's hand would reach out and slap his cheek, rousing him back to the waking world.
"Do try to stay awake, Optio."
Titus scowled but he tried though he still failed at pointed as they walked towards the Infirmary. The Surgeon glanced at the stranger and eyed him over. The boy looked as unremarkable as any other youth of the streets. Most would have left eh praetorian to bleed out but not this one it seemed.
The Sentry stared at Kai and watch him go nonplussed before shaking his head, muttering how youngsters were getting weirder by the day.
It wasn't long before they reached the Infirmary block and found a round for Titus. The Surgeon pointed to the length of wood that served as a operating table, "On there. quick as ytou can. Gently! Gently, I said!" he snapped and made to wash his hands before looking at Kai. He pointed to one side of the room, "Stand there if you don't mind. Thank you,"
The man then moved to a tray of tools before moving them closer to where he needed them. He also took a jug from one side and carefully placed it on the tray. "The Optio is not to speak. Doing so will hamper my work and will likely finish what whoever did this started. Thus, I need you to tell me what happened to have caused this. In as much detail as you can recall."
The surgeon looked at Kai meaningfully before looking at Titus, "Optio, do not move or speak. Understood? Good... I'm going to remove the strap now and sew you back together." The surgeon got to work, an orderly staying to help him with the task at hand. Titus did as he was told and breathed evenly as he felt air on his neck and then something wet being poured on to his wound. The pain from the needle came afterwards before his neck was bandaged up again to help ensure it would heal correctly. The surgeon glanced at Titus' face and sighed. The Optio had blacked out.
"Get him to a bed and make sure he has something to drink when he comes to."
The orderly nodded before setting about the order he was given. The Surgeon turned back to Kai, "He was lucky. If you had not acted or taken longer to get him to a physician... he would have died. I daresay he'll want to speak with you when he wakes. It's not strictly policy here to let civilians stay here but he's a good man that one. I would be sorry if he had been lost. You're welcome to stay the night here."
Titus behaved himself knowing his rank went out the window with the Surgeon doing his job. He was tasked with making sure men didn't die and it was bad for his record too if a soldier died and could have been saved. The wrap was tight and uncomfortable and he hated being manhandled as he was slowly helped to his feel by the surgeon's orderlies and then helped to lie down on the stretcher. This was dangerous. He didn't know where the Empress' assassins were or who they were. He was sure she had her spies just as much as the Emperor did. Not that Claudius realised who those spies were.
Being lifted was not dignifying either and he knew those carrying him were grateful that he was not in full armour. He wanted to sleep but any time he closed his eyes for too long, the surgeon's hand would reach out and slap his cheek, rousing him back to the waking world.
"Do try to stay awake, Optio."
Titus scowled but he tried though he still failed at pointed as they walked towards the Infirmary. The Surgeon glanced at the stranger and eyed him over. The boy looked as unremarkable as any other youth of the streets. Most would have left eh praetorian to bleed out but not this one it seemed.
The Sentry stared at Kai and watch him go nonplussed before shaking his head, muttering how youngsters were getting weirder by the day.
It wasn't long before they reached the Infirmary block and found a round for Titus. The Surgeon pointed to the length of wood that served as a operating table, "On there. quick as ytou can. Gently! Gently, I said!" he snapped and made to wash his hands before looking at Kai. He pointed to one side of the room, "Stand there if you don't mind. Thank you,"
The man then moved to a tray of tools before moving them closer to where he needed them. He also took a jug from one side and carefully placed it on the tray. "The Optio is not to speak. Doing so will hamper my work and will likely finish what whoever did this started. Thus, I need you to tell me what happened to have caused this. In as much detail as you can recall."
The surgeon looked at Kai meaningfully before looking at Titus, "Optio, do not move or speak. Understood? Good... I'm going to remove the strap now and sew you back together." The surgeon got to work, an orderly staying to help him with the task at hand. Titus did as he was told and breathed evenly as he felt air on his neck and then something wet being poured on to his wound. The pain from the needle came afterwards before his neck was bandaged up again to help ensure it would heal correctly. The surgeon glanced at Titus' face and sighed. The Optio had blacked out.
"Get him to a bed and make sure he has something to drink when he comes to."
The orderly nodded before setting about the order he was given. The Surgeon turned back to Kai, "He was lucky. If you had not acted or taken longer to get him to a physician... he would have died. I daresay he'll want to speak with you when he wakes. It's not strictly policy here to let civilians stay here but he's a good man that one. I would be sorry if he had been lost. You're welcome to stay the night here."