Fic: Highly Valued
Title: Highly Valued
Author: kenshincha
Rating: PG
Characters: Esca/Marcus
Word Count: 600
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Rosemary Sutcliff, except for Calvus.
Summary: Artist!AU (Plus a sequel: Posing)
Notes: Inspired by the picture of the portrait. This is based more on 17th century Italian art practices, than early Roman when it is set. Probably not historically accurate to either time periods.
Marcus rarely accepted such commissions. He preferred mosaics, combining those little colored tiles into recognizable shapes. The strange creatures were always his favorite. On a wall or on the floor, it was sure to be seen.
Marcus had not painted pottery since his apprentice days when his uncle believed his skills should be well-rounded. It was his uncle, who was also his main sponsor, who gave him this job. A close friend wanted a painting, a profile of his favorite slave to be painted on a small pendant made of pottery and lined with gold. Marcus had never painted anything so small, nor had he done many portraits, but his uncle had been insistent.
Gaius Modius Calvus was a lower magistrate for the republic. He was at least five decades, of an average height with a large balding head. He was a pleasant man in the way all politicians were pleasant, though it seemed more sincere. He seemed to treat the slave more like a pet than a slave, but he could do with his property as he wished.
After a quick tour of Marcus' studio, which was mostly piles of colored tiles and a few mosaics he was designing, the slave and the pendant was left with Marcus while his uncle took the magistrate to sample some of his prized wine.
"What is your name, slave?" Marcus asked as he began to prepare the pigment he would be using. He had to buy another thin horsehair paintbrush as he had no idea where his old brushes were.
"Esca," he answered. His accent was strange, and Marcus did not recognize it, though he rarely heard slaves speak enough to be able to recognize the regions. Marcus would guess that he was from the end of the empire.
Marcus gestured to the stool. "Face the window."
When Esca was seated, Marcus actually took the time to study the slave that he had ignored out of habit through most of Calvus' visit. He was an attractive face, exotic and yet similar. He was draped in fine robe and there was gold jewelry in his hair. He looked elegant though also decidedly uncomfortable.
"Stop staring at at me," Esca suddenly instructed. His tone was hostile and clearly not that of a slave's, but Marcus supposed he must be quite spoiled if his master valued him enough to pay for a portrait.
"How am I to paint you of I cannot study you?" Marcus asked, amused despite the slave speaking to him so forward.
Esca glanced over, his eyes seeming to snag on Marcus' features, be for looking forward again.
Marcus fought back a smile at the blush starting to stain the man's cheeks. "Should I paint in your blushing?" Marcus teased. The portrait was going to be simple, black with gold detailing, but the slave need not know that.
"No."
Marcus settled on his chair with a smile. "You are mouthy for a slave."
Esca sent him a glare.
"No, no. Must look out the window."
Esca subjected the window to his glare, his head held high. It was clearly more him being defiant than posing for the portrait, but Marcus decided it would probably capture his attitude perfectly.
It was not until he was finished that Marcus wondered if it had been wise. Arrogant was not usually the trait of a perfect slave, and Esca may not be so disrespectful to his master. It was done, however, and Marcus had to admit he was rather proud of it.
Calvus was delighted, either approving of or not noticing Esca's attitude. He did not show Esca the pendant, though he seemed to be attempting to sneak looks at it without being noticed. When he realized Marcus saw him, he quickly looked away in apathy.
When Calvus said that they would surely be back, Marcus hoped so.
Sequel: Posing
Author: kenshincha
Rating: PG
Characters: Esca/Marcus
Word Count: 600
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Rosemary Sutcliff, except for Calvus.
Summary: Artist!AU (Plus a sequel: Posing)
Notes: Inspired by the picture of the portrait. This is based more on 17th century Italian art practices, than early Roman when it is set. Probably not historically accurate to either time periods.
Marcus rarely accepted such commissions. He preferred mosaics, combining those little colored tiles into recognizable shapes. The strange creatures were always his favorite. On a wall or on the floor, it was sure to be seen.
Marcus had not painted pottery since his apprentice days when his uncle believed his skills should be well-rounded. It was his uncle, who was also his main sponsor, who gave him this job. A close friend wanted a painting, a profile of his favorite slave to be painted on a small pendant made of pottery and lined with gold. Marcus had never painted anything so small, nor had he done many portraits, but his uncle had been insistent.
Gaius Modius Calvus was a lower magistrate for the republic. He was at least five decades, of an average height with a large balding head. He was a pleasant man in the way all politicians were pleasant, though it seemed more sincere. He seemed to treat the slave more like a pet than a slave, but he could do with his property as he wished.
After a quick tour of Marcus' studio, which was mostly piles of colored tiles and a few mosaics he was designing, the slave and the pendant was left with Marcus while his uncle took the magistrate to sample some of his prized wine.
"What is your name, slave?" Marcus asked as he began to prepare the pigment he would be using. He had to buy another thin horsehair paintbrush as he had no idea where his old brushes were.
"Esca," he answered. His accent was strange, and Marcus did not recognize it, though he rarely heard slaves speak enough to be able to recognize the regions. Marcus would guess that he was from the end of the empire.
Marcus gestured to the stool. "Face the window."
When Esca was seated, Marcus actually took the time to study the slave that he had ignored out of habit through most of Calvus' visit. He was an attractive face, exotic and yet similar. He was draped in fine robe and there was gold jewelry in his hair. He looked elegant though also decidedly uncomfortable.
"Stop staring at at me," Esca suddenly instructed. His tone was hostile and clearly not that of a slave's, but Marcus supposed he must be quite spoiled if his master valued him enough to pay for a portrait.
"How am I to paint you of I cannot study you?" Marcus asked, amused despite the slave speaking to him so forward.
Esca glanced over, his eyes seeming to snag on Marcus' features, be for looking forward again.
Marcus fought back a smile at the blush starting to stain the man's cheeks. "Should I paint in your blushing?" Marcus teased. The portrait was going to be simple, black with gold detailing, but the slave need not know that.
"No."
Marcus settled on his chair with a smile. "You are mouthy for a slave."
Esca sent him a glare.
"No, no. Must look out the window."
Esca subjected the window to his glare, his head held high. It was clearly more him being defiant than posing for the portrait, but Marcus decided it would probably capture his attitude perfectly.
It was not until he was finished that Marcus wondered if it had been wise. Arrogant was not usually the trait of a perfect slave, and Esca may not be so disrespectful to his master. It was done, however, and Marcus had to admit he was rather proud of it.
Calvus was delighted, either approving of or not noticing Esca's attitude. He did not show Esca the pendant, though he seemed to be attempting to sneak looks at it without being noticed. When he realized Marcus saw him, he quickly looked away in apathy.
When Calvus said that they would surely be back, Marcus hoped so.
Sequel: Posing