For you, and my stupid shipping self, a
very out of character what-if built on conversations that
most certainly didn't happen.
The Definition of Love
"Father, what is love?" The question comes from your son, Quintus Cingulatus Atellus, and it catches you wholly off guard.
"And what has prompted this question?" Your response is guarded, wary. There are a number of reasons your son would ask you this, and few of them are good. Perhaps a trap laid by your wife. Perhaps he questions his own loyalty to the family. Perhaps in your attempts to teach him self-sufficiency, you have instead taught him of cruelty.
"Well, Cingulla says that you don't love her because-"
You cut him off quickly in relief. "Your sister speaks rashly. I love all my children, and when she is older, she will see that
that too, comes from a place of love."
"But what
is love?" The root of his query is addressed, but your son's question itself remains unanswered. That persistence will serve him well in the future. But in order for it to do so, you must reward it in the present.
"Do you believe me when I say I love you?" You smile at the confusion in his eyes, clearly not anticipating that you would interrogate him.
"Of course. You're my father." he says, as if that explains all. He will not be so naïve forever, so you enjoy it while you can.
"That is love. Love is trust, that when someone tells you something, they are telling you truth. Trust that, regardless of what they do in the moment, in the end they will do what is right. It is why I love you, and your sister, and Rome itself. Because I trust them, and they in turn trust me."
"Is that why you married mother? Because you trusted her?" Ah, so he noticed the exemption you made.
"In large part, but there is more to romantic love than the love between a father and his child, or a man and his country. Trust is a vital component, but physical attraction is important as well. The other person being unmarried is usually a sign to curb your emotions, though the heart wants what the heart wants. But most importantly…" you pause for dramatic effect.
"What's most important?!" Your son seems almost desperate for the answer, demanding it with the impatience of youth. You oblige his curiosity.
"The most important aspect of romantic love… is passion, in all things. When the lovemaking is fierce," your son's face twists in disgust, but you forge ahead anyways, "you have found a good woman. When the arguments are fierce, you have found a good
wife."
XXX
"The Grey Lady is a vengeful god, Roman, as vengeful as the Samnites ourselves. Should her place of worship be fouled, her revenge will be thousandfold. The land will rot, the skies will bleed poison, and there will be no good thing to eat or drink. Death shall come to Samnium." Visellia pauses her tirade a moment to look directly at you. "You can trust me when I say that."
That give you, Quintus Cingulatus Atellus, pause. Horrified, confused pause as you desperately try to remember why that sounds familiar. Tercerus snorts to fill the silence. "Pleasant god you've got there."
You look down at her and much to your shock cannot deny a physical attraction. She is no Helen of Troy, but she is young, and more fetching than most women you've seen in Rome. Her white garb lends her a sense of purity. It makes the grime and muck hanging off her from the battle seems superficial and temporary.
"This cannot be what father meant." you whisper under your breath. You raise your voice to address the priestess and test your theory. "You are right. Death will come to Samnium, for Rome has tasked me to bring it. If rebellions worship gods that give them hope against the inevitability of the Republic, then it is surely my duty to cast those gods down."
She wastes no time in firing back. "Is Mephitis not also a god in Rome? You would spit the face of your own gods?"
"A
minor god in Rome, though even if it were a temple to Jupiter himself, he would not frown upon it's defilement. Aequum Tuticum rejected Roman citizenship, so any god they worship in is by definition not Roman."
"I should not expect a Roman dog to know theology. Is the worship of a god bound by the borders of nations and rule of kings? Of course not. The gods are worshipped in different ways by all, but they are the same gods. And they are vengeful gods. Especially Mephitis." She spits her goddesses' name with as much venom as she can muster.
"A goddess of vengeance should appreciate what we do tonight then. Or does she view the murder of messengers of peace too grave an affront?" She at least has the decency to look ashamed of her chief's actions. Unlike him, she apparently is no fool, and knew exactly what such an action would invite from the Roman legions.
Still, when she brings her eyes back up to meet yours, there is fire in them. "Then exact vengeance upon the people who have wronged you, as is her way. I can bear no objection to that. But a holy place is a holy place, regardless of who worships there or what they do. Leave the temple be, and leave me to tend to it."
A request such as that ought to be delivered on bent knee in a voice full of desperation. Instead she stands tall and proud, not once breaking eye contact with the man who holds her life in his hands. Much to your chagrin, you are the first to look away. "Damn it." You mutter. "This
cannot have been what he meant."
Your mind races, full of stories and myths of mortals ignoring signs that seems so obvious, and suffering the repercussions for them. Of gods demanding sacrifice, being rejected, and visiting vengeance upon them. Every trait your father had described is present. Every one. Yet you know that this is inviting disaster.
With a heavy sigh, you accept that this is what you're doing, regardless of how awful an idea it seems. "Roma can show mercy." You watch as her eyes light up with hope and relief. Yours narrow you as you continue. "Rome can show mercy, to Roman citizens. Do you consider yourself Roman?"
Visellia obviously understands her choices, but you can see that understanding does not make the crossroads easier. If she holds to her identity as a Samnite, then you will not hesitate to kill her and loot the temple before burning it to the ground. If she renounces her nationality and embraces Rome, she lives and the temple she maintains will stand. Honestly, it should be an easy choice, any assurances she gives you have no true weight, and you don't think for a second she truly sees herself as Roman. But words have power, even if they're lies.
"I…" she hesitates to swallow her pride. "I am a loyal citizen of Rome." You're pretty sure that you were a more convincing liar when you were a toddler, but at this point with Samnites, you'll take what you can get.
"You heard her Tercerus. No fair woman of Rome deserves to be treated this way. Call the men out of the temple, and return any obviously religious paraphernalia. The gods deserve respect. The people however… they'll pay for their rebellion with their valuables. Leave them their lives."
Both Tercerus and Visellia are stunned for a moment. The former as he processes your orders, deciphering your flowery language to something he can convey to the troops with ease. The latter however, seems more confused by your compliment than your mercy.
"Understood." replies Tercerus after a moment before taking off to inform the troops and oversee a structured looting, leaving you alone with the raven-haired priestess.
"I suppose even a Roman can make the right decision every once in a while." Ah, there's that venom you've grown so accustomed to. Humility brought about by death threats is only temporary it seems.
"Truly, I am as stunned by your gratitude as I am by your beauty." you snark back. Again, she seems caught off guard by your casual compliments.
"What is it you hope to gain with such comments?" The suspicion is clear in her voice, as is her confusion. She knows you are after something here, but she has no clue what, or even why.
"Is it so wrong to state the truth?" you ask with a smirk.
He eyes narrow. "I
will have my revenge on Rome. Regardless of what you think."
"We shall see, won't we? But I think there is a different fate in store, and I look forward to seeing which of us is right."
AN: So, her name in the original update is Visellia Mertia, but it's Visellia Tertia in all future updates. Which is right, or is it another weird Roman naming thing? Or did we manage to offend a
different priestess of Mephitis at some point?
