(no subject)
I'm a newbie, and I wanted to say that I think the concept of this community is fantastic. Which is why I'm blushing in shame at my first post.
Basically, I'm stuck in a huge trough of writer's block, and I wrote this tiny, tiny little Germanicus and Piso thing in an attempt to get over it. I'm sorry about this.
One of the things, people said, that was increasing the dreadful force of Germanicus' illness was the rumour that poison had been given by Piso's hand. The news that someone Germanicus had nominally trusted was suspected to have plotted to kill him must be affecting the young General. After all, for a period of time Germanicus had appeared to be getting better.
In a way, they were right, Germanicus thought. But not in everything. He had known that Piso feared the revelation of his sodomy, but not to this extent, surely. The dying man attempted to reach the water beside his bed, but fell back with a muffled whimper. Generals did not whimper. Agrippina rushed to his side. "Don't move, mellus, let me get it."
When Germanicus had drunk he let himself slump back against the pillows, sweat beading his forehead. The room returned to silence. Germanicus returned to memories of Syria, of hot days and broiling nights, of days spent locked in silent combat with Piso, one man determined to deal with the province one way, the other one determined to go the other way. Until they snapped.
The shadow of a smile ghosted across Germanicus' face. The sex had been as spectacular as the poisonous glares. But when it turned sour, when Piso remembered that the new Roman morality forebade these things, the fights had become verbal, screaming, squawking, and Agrippina and Plancina both pretending they hadn't noticed.
And now Piso had poisoned him. With dark magic, they said, attempting to damn him not only in life but in death, dedicating his spirit to the Underworld. And Germanicus remembered the last day and cursed himself a thousand times. He had been a coward. He, the great General, had been a coward. He had walked away, he had given Piso no assurance that his secret was safe. And now he was paying for it with his life.
It was a pity, Germanicus decided, that Augustus had retained so many of the less enjoyable Roman customs.
I've stuck some background on my LJ. I think it's reasonably correct, but... not a Roman expert here.
I really am sorry about this. I'm in a sort of apathetic writer's block stage, where I know it doesn't work, but can't see how to fix it. :( Hopefully I'll eventually write something decent for this community.
Basically, I'm stuck in a huge trough of writer's block, and I wrote this tiny, tiny little Germanicus and Piso thing in an attempt to get over it. I'm sorry about this.
One of the things, people said, that was increasing the dreadful force of Germanicus' illness was the rumour that poison had been given by Piso's hand. The news that someone Germanicus had nominally trusted was suspected to have plotted to kill him must be affecting the young General. After all, for a period of time Germanicus had appeared to be getting better.
In a way, they were right, Germanicus thought. But not in everything. He had known that Piso feared the revelation of his sodomy, but not to this extent, surely. The dying man attempted to reach the water beside his bed, but fell back with a muffled whimper. Generals did not whimper. Agrippina rushed to his side. "Don't move, mellus, let me get it."
When Germanicus had drunk he let himself slump back against the pillows, sweat beading his forehead. The room returned to silence. Germanicus returned to memories of Syria, of hot days and broiling nights, of days spent locked in silent combat with Piso, one man determined to deal with the province one way, the other one determined to go the other way. Until they snapped.
The shadow of a smile ghosted across Germanicus' face. The sex had been as spectacular as the poisonous glares. But when it turned sour, when Piso remembered that the new Roman morality forebade these things, the fights had become verbal, screaming, squawking, and Agrippina and Plancina both pretending they hadn't noticed.
And now Piso had poisoned him. With dark magic, they said, attempting to damn him not only in life but in death, dedicating his spirit to the Underworld. And Germanicus remembered the last day and cursed himself a thousand times. He had been a coward. He, the great General, had been a coward. He had walked away, he had given Piso no assurance that his secret was safe. And now he was paying for it with his life.
It was a pity, Germanicus decided, that Augustus had retained so many of the less enjoyable Roman customs.
I've stuck some background on my LJ. I think it's reasonably correct, but... not a Roman expert here.
I really am sorry about this. I'm in a sort of apathetic writer's block stage, where I know it doesn't work, but can't see how to fix it. :( Hopefully I'll eventually write something decent for this community.