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Post by sforza on Oct 8, 2021 3:19:56 GMT -5
"Salve Drusus"
The newly elected tribune greeted the military tribune who had served in Gaul with Lepidus.
"I thank you, good Drusus, I hope all went well on your campaign in Gaul?"
Decianus politely inquired before he would move on to politics.
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Post by rhapture on Oct 8, 2021 18:08:50 GMT -5
"I fear not, there were more than one defeats, and a massive waste of good Roman lives." Drusus then went into more detail about his experience in Gaul.
"It really puts it into perspective when some senator gets reknown and glory for losing so many Roman lives." He finishes, almost ashamed to have been a legate in the force.
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Post by rhapture on Oct 8, 2021 18:10:59 GMT -5
Following his return from Gaul, Publius Sulla seeks out his old comrade Drusus on the Palatine. Finding a rather bare house, Publius Sulla is led into Drusus tidy office.
Rising to greet the man, "Salve Publlius, it is good to see you again." Marcus says. "How are you holding up? And Please enjoy some wine."
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 8, 2021 18:24:53 GMT -5
Publius was sporting his new eyepatch, courtesy of the souvenir he’d picked up from Lepidus’ Gallic Wars. Though the long hair had been significantly trimmed, the missing eye and mean scar lent him a wild and barbarian look. At least now in proper civilian clothes he looked to be at least half a Roman.
”You too, Marcus. You look well. It seems we both had something left on us by the Gauls, eh?”
He took some wine with a chuckle.
”Though in my case, more like left something behind.”
The One-Eyed officer scratched at his chin.
”How have you fared since your return to Rome? I heard you were elected to office, or something of the sort.” Sulla raised his cup in salute. ”You have my congratulations.”
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Post by rhapture on Oct 8, 2021 18:34:30 GMT -5
"Yes, Plebian Aedile, I believe it will give me a chance to get to know the rest of Rome besides the Palatine Hill. While hopefully, get some good works done for the whole city." He answered truthfully. He drank, but it was mostly water.
"Then hold some good , but not extravagant games at the end of the year. Perhaps in honor of our good Consul Lepidus, as it appears his plate is full right now." He adds , knowing of all the squabbles and issues of the Senate.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 8, 2021 18:40:31 GMT -5
”I recall that you did not part on the best of terms.”
Replied Publius, after an uncertain pause and another draught of whatever fine vintage the Aedile kept stocked in his palatial home.
”It is not my business to inquire, but I wondered privately if it was more than a mere disagreement.”
Sulla, despite the innocuous tone, eyed the Aedile carefully in apprehension of his response.
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Post by rhapture on Oct 8, 2021 19:21:03 GMT -5
"We did not agree on the final assault on the stronghold." Drusus bluntly replies. "Marcus Aemilius took it far more personal , than I thought he would."
Drusus looked out his office window to his quiet atrium.
"My thoughts were for the waste of good Roman blood and life. His thoughts were on temples and glory." He turned back to his guest. "Even you were not unscathed by his decisions. Another few inches and it would have been worse." He waved off the scared eye.
"And now more of our men go off to die fighting who knows who in some Pontic back water village , over mountains that will never help out Rome. It is more foolish than Gaul." He shook his head in sadness.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 8, 2021 19:34:52 GMT -5
Publius simply considered it to be the way things were and had to be. The Republic had interests in the provinces, the wealth trickled back into Rome, everyone was happy. But in his heart, he knew that perhaps Drusus was right. For all their provinces, wars of conquest and aggrandisement, there were still tens of thousands starving to death in the city streets. He knew that better than most. Perhaps it had made him cynical.
”I did not take you for an idealist, Marcus.”
Sulla gave a thin smile to indicate the levity of the comment.
”I was lucky to live. Others were not so much.”
Publius took another heavy swig, eyes glazing over into the distance for a moment.
”It is the way it has always been. Fighting out there is better for them than dying here penniless on the streets.” For but a fleeting second, his voice grew solemn. ”Down in the slums, fighting out in the provinces is the way out.”
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Post by rhapture on Oct 8, 2021 20:54:08 GMT -5
"Yes because their fathers fields go fallow while the sons go off to war, only for the lands to be bought by equites and patricians. " Marcus replies. "And how do I know this without having been to poor sections of Rome, you might ask?" He continues.
"Because I have been one of those buying up bankrupt holdings throughout Italy!" He proclaims, "It has been one of the few things Ive accomplished since my father's death."
He shake his head after more watered wine. " But I did not the full extent of my actions until this past year, Publius. We can't let it continue. "
"Of course there will be always be wars, it is a sad affair, but we need a tighter reign over these greedy proconsuls." He surmises.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 9, 2021 7:19:05 GMT -5
Publius remained silent for a long while. Drusus' own crisis of faith reflected his own Saturnine sympathies, but he had no deep grasp of politics as the Aedile did. He was merely a young man on the outside, of noble birth but of no great consequence or lineage. His father was barely a senator, let alone a Consul or Censor, and that was merely by the accident of relation to greater men.
"There is little I can do. My uncle is not a man of your ideals." He said, with a resigned shrug. Sulla Felix was Publius' only connection in power. Besides Lepidus, of course. "You are a senator, a magistrate, with a respected name known to all in the city. Surely, you can bring about some change. The Senate might listen to one of their own."
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Post by rhapture on Oct 9, 2021 8:59:47 GMT -5
"A poor aedile? No I am of no importance yet." Drusus admits. "While my father was consul and censor in his time, his early death has left my family out of the center of Roman political life for over a decade now." He shrugs. "And even I have not followed it closely enough, busy with business and family affairs." He looks out the window across the atrium where his sister had her rooms. " And then there is my sister, perhaps a marriage would strengthen my ties to someone, but I would have to think on who the right man would be."
"First I must get through this year as I said. I think after Saturnalias , we are in no mood for sudden changes." He continued. "I must start small and slowly and get the word out, although I have a premonition that most of Rome knows we are throwing away to many lives." He probably should be more guarded with his words, he did not know who Publius circle was .
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 9, 2021 9:38:01 GMT -5
"Perhaps marriage to one of the great families would give you the support you need." Suggested Publius, who himself also needed to find a bride. With his newfound wealth, he might be fortunate enough to marry into a wealthy Plebeian or equestrian family and secure an eventual seat in the Senate. He doubted he would be able to run in his year, but it was an achievable goal in the distant future.
"Nonetheless, I wish you luck in your endeavours. I return to Illyria soon with Consul Lepidus, having been elected once more to be a military tribune."
He admitted this somewhat sheepishly. It was time to start taking his future seriously, or else end up a glorified beggar like his father.
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Post by sforza on Oct 9, 2021 12:00:40 GMT -5
"I fear not, there were more than one defeats, and a massive waste of good Roman lives." Drusus then went into more detail about his experience in Gaul. "It really puts it into perspective when some senator gets reknown and glory for losing so many Roman lives." He finishes, almost ashamed to have been a legate in the force.
While Decianus had no personal qualms with Lepidus he had heard the rumors of Lepidus' vulgarity and brutality. "It seems that the situation outside Rome was not much better than inside Rome then"
Decianus started to hate certain persons in the senate.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 10, 2021 8:55:13 GMT -5
The Plebeian Aedile Marcus Drusus is invited to the house of the Pontifex Maximus to discuss the organisation of the Ludi Floralia, the games that mark the festival celebrating the goddess of fertility.
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Post by sforza on Oct 20, 2021 0:03:29 GMT -5
The newly elected Plebeian Aedile, Decianus, comes to visit his fellow Co-aedile.
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