Rome recs
I had a sudden urge to watch Rome and reread all my favourite Rome stories the other day. Vorenus/Pullo is one of my Top 5 favourite slash pairings and has been for some time, so I was a bit surprised to read a comment I'd left on one of mcicioni's stories in 2007 in which I said I couldn't see them as a viable pairing. Upon further reflection, I guess that's still true for season 1, but by the end of the series there's no impediment at all, if you assume Vorenus doesn't die after the finale!
Some recs, most of which are post-series:
Miles Fortunae by prodigy. Some of the expression in this story strikes me as slightly odd, but I like the believable conflict, and Pullo at a healing Vorenus's bedside at the end is probably my most-reread scene in the fandom.
The Arch by mcicioni. Part 2 Part 3 A life-on-the-farm futurefic, including a small-scale battle and a nice flashback to their first time.
Hic Manebimus Optime also by mcicioni. A different scenario and with a newer sexual relationship between them.
The Aeneid by Derek Des Anges. Vorenus is hiding in plain sight until that doesn't work any more. I like Vorenus's issues with sex with Pullo: It had not yet ceased to be strange ... It was hard to know who should concede ground, who should press and who should accept.
Personal History by Gigi Sinclair. The second-to-last paragraph about when Vorenus thinks this kind of relationship might be appropriate really shows the depth of their relationship.
Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods by yunitsa. Warning for major character death before the story starts.
One story set early in season 2:
Vorenus Amat Dis by aberforthsgoat. Vorenus can't ask for comfort.
A couple of interesting posts from five years ago on m/m sex in ancient Rome:
vaznetti Grown-up Roman men exist to penetrate others and whether they do this with a sword or with their cocks doesn't really matter in the larger scheme of things; being penetrated means that you're not quite a man. ... Romans can opt out of this definition of masculinity, but it involves opting out of political power, as well. (One of the reasons I like The Aeneid is that the sex scene perhaps fits within the historical parameters described in this post.)
kindkit Now, I'm a firm believer in taking history in account, and not giving characters in a historical setting inappropriately modern ideas. When we write, it's important to know that Greek man/boy relationships were typically expected to end when the boy reached adulthood, and that the Romans considered being penetrated to be unmanly and degrading, and that a man in 1950s Britain could be sentenced to chemical castration for having consensual, private sex with another man. ... But it's also important to remember that people defy their societies' sexual ideologies all the time. (The post lets me enjoy all the other slash stories out there.)
Some recs, most of which are post-series:
Miles Fortunae by prodigy. Some of the expression in this story strikes me as slightly odd, but I like the believable conflict, and Pullo at a healing Vorenus's bedside at the end is probably my most-reread scene in the fandom.
The Arch by mcicioni. Part 2 Part 3 A life-on-the-farm futurefic, including a small-scale battle and a nice flashback to their first time.
Hic Manebimus Optime also by mcicioni. A different scenario and with a newer sexual relationship between them.
The Aeneid by Derek Des Anges. Vorenus is hiding in plain sight until that doesn't work any more. I like Vorenus's issues with sex with Pullo: It had not yet ceased to be strange ... It was hard to know who should concede ground, who should press and who should accept.
Personal History by Gigi Sinclair. The second-to-last paragraph about when Vorenus thinks this kind of relationship might be appropriate really shows the depth of their relationship.
Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods by yunitsa. Warning for major character death before the story starts.
One story set early in season 2:
Vorenus Amat Dis by aberforthsgoat. Vorenus can't ask for comfort.
A couple of interesting posts from five years ago on m/m sex in ancient Rome:
vaznetti Grown-up Roman men exist to penetrate others and whether they do this with a sword or with their cocks doesn't really matter in the larger scheme of things; being penetrated means that you're not quite a man. ... Romans can opt out of this definition of masculinity, but it involves opting out of political power, as well. (One of the reasons I like The Aeneid is that the sex scene perhaps fits within the historical parameters described in this post.)
kindkit Now, I'm a firm believer in taking history in account, and not giving characters in a historical setting inappropriately modern ideas. When we write, it's important to know that Greek man/boy relationships were typically expected to end when the boy reached adulthood, and that the Romans considered being penetrated to be unmanly and degrading, and that a man in 1950s Britain could be sentenced to chemical castration for having consensual, private sex with another man. ... But it's also important to remember that people defy their societies' sexual ideologies all the time. (The post lets me enjoy all the other slash stories out there.)