I have to say I'm super happy with how it turned out! The colors, the clothes, the tiny subtle details that nobody will ever notice 😂 I also tried to make a little bit of Art Nouveau with this frame and it was really fun to do!
Quick Historical fact: From what I understand, ancient authors referred to the "turned thumb" during the games, but without ever specifying in which direction (since, back then, it was obvious to everyone). Because of that, it's a bit tricky to figure out exactly which gesture meant what.
Some say the thumbs down ordered a specific kind of execution, while others think it was a sign to lower weapons, with the thumb representing the sword (but there's also this thing about tucking the thumb inside the hand to say "Alright, let's stop that shit", so basically, it's a total mess). Anyway, voilà ✨
✨ Some close ups (and spoilers...?) ✨
I really wanted Geta to have his thumb turned down, since he's the one deciding who dies and who lives. I also wanted to establish a kind of connection with the blood pouring out of his glass to Caracalla's dagger. A subtle reminder of the moment Geta throws his glass content to his brother's face.
The blood on Geta's neck and the dropping blood from Caracalla's hidden ear is a reference to their fates in the movie.
Summary: He bled in your arms once, and now you’re the only one who makes him feel alive.
The first time you saw the emperor bleed, you were elbow-deep in bandages and herbs, the metallic scent of blood clinging to your lungs. You were a healer’s apprentice, no one of note. And he was Geta, ruler of Rome, monarch cloaked in silk and smoke.
And yet, he had looked at you as if you were the sun.
He’d been carried into the physician’s chambers half-dead, poisoned by a treacherous senator whose name you’d never be told.
But his grip on your wrist, weak, had grounded you at that moment. “Don’t let them take me,” he’d whispered to you.
Not to the gods. Not to the wolves of the senate.
You didn’t.
The palace smelled like rose oil and cold stone.
You were hidden there now, a secret tucked away in marble corridors.
The Emperor’s personal ‘shadow physician’ they called you.
But the title meant nothing. You were there because Geta had asked you to be.
You should have been frightened.
But the emperor was different in private. Quieter. Younger than you'd imagined.
He read philosophy by firelight. He asked questions no one else dared ask. He looked at you like he was searching for answers in the curve of your mouth.
One evening, while tending to his healing wound, your fingers brushed his bare skin.
He didn’t pull away.
“I can’t sleep,” he murmured.
“I can brew something-”
“No. That’s not what I mean.”
His voice dropped to a whisper, a confession almost. “I can’t sleep because when I close my eyes, I see you.”
Your heart thundered in your chest. “You shouldn’t say things like that.”
He reached out, gently cupping your wrist like he had that first night. “And if I mean them?”
You looked away.
You were no empress. You were dirt beneath marble floors. But you felt it, the raw, burning truth in his gaze.
The second attempt came in spring.
A blade, a shadow, a coward in the dark.
You found Geta bleeding again, not in the physician’s chamber, but your own. He had come looking for you.
He collapsed at your feet.
“No,” you breathed, catching him before he hit the floor. “Not again. Don’t you dare.”
His blood soaked your hands as you worked. Stitching flesh. Sealing muscle.
Whispering prayers you didn’t believe in anymore.
When he woke, you were sitting beside his bed, tear tracks drying on your cheeks.
“You came back,” he rasped.
“I never left.”
He reached for your hand.
“I have tried to be strong,” he said. “To protect you from what loving me would mean. But I can’t pretend anymore. I am most myself when I am with you.”
You swallowed past the ache in your throat. “They’ll never allow this.”
“Then let them try to stop me.”
You stared at him. The boy beneath the crown. The man who bled like any other. The one who reached for you in the dark.
“You shouldn’t love me,” you said softly.
“But I do.”
And when he leaned forward, lips trembling with hesitation, you met him halfway.
The kiss was soft, reverent, a promise sealed not in blood but breath.
Geta rose before the senate days later with a new decree.
He no longer hid you in shadows.
He no longer called you healer, or physician, or anything but the word that echoed in every heartbeat he had left.
Beloved.
~Masterlist~
ˇAO3ˇ
Wattpad
/DO NOT TRANSLATE, STEAL OR REPOST ANY OF MY WORKS TO THIS OR OTHER PLATFORMS/
Right before Macrinus grabs that blade and ruins my entire life, you can see Geta rubbing his thumb on Caracalla’s cheek and my little heart can’t take much more of this.
His tiny gentle acts of love, even though his brother has just charged at him with a blade. I’m crying.
❦ Warnings: Geta yelling at his wife, reader doesn’t get along with Caracalla.
❦ note: i’m so in love with Geta and yes i have other fics with the same name
❦ summary: Emperor Geta wanted to kill Acacius.
.
.
.
Geta’s eyes focused on the arena. The sight before him made him feel conflicted. Acacius on his knees with his hand raised as a sign of admitting defeat. Hanno looking up at him and waiting for his answer. The crowd themselves had made up their mind. They were switching between calling Hanno the winner and calling out mercy for general Acacius. Geta pressed his lips in a thin line, he gave Lucilla a side eye. She was crying out for the general. Doesn’t she get that it won’t help now? She wanted to kill the emperors of Rome! And now you expect mercy?! How delusional can you be? It’s almost shocking….yes…he would be shocked of he wasn’t so enraged. The crowd’s yelling began to become louder. Geta felt his anger building up? Mercy? Mercy?! Even after the general showed to be a traitor they want mercy?! Geta the rose from his seat. Caracalla told his brother to not show any mercy to the general. Geta gave him a glance and turned to the people. He looked up to the sky and muttered some words to the gods, communicating with them with what he should do. Slowly, Geta extended his hand forward. The crowd went silent, there was a thick atmosphere, the praetorians had lowered their bows. What was happening? Geta turned to his brother who seemed equally confused. The sudden sound of Lucilla gasping brought him back to earth, he felt a hand on his own, turning his thumb to point to the sky.
‘Mercy! Emperor Geta has shown general Acacius mercy!’
The announcement of the master of ceremonies made the crowd wild, people began to chant praises to him, something he longed for yet he feels only rage in a moment he had always dreamed off. He slowly turns his head to see you, his wife who shouldn’t have been here but in northern Africa. His eyes looked at you with rage. His pupils almost shaking with anger, his pale make up almost giving away the redness underneath it. He was livid. You could see the veins in his neck throbbing, Caracalla laughed at his brother’s anger. He found it rather amusing. Lucilla, who was reliefed with neither her son nor husband dying in the games thanked you with tears streaming down his face. Geta pulled his arm away from you and grabbed you by the arm instead.
‘What in tartarus name are you doing?!’
His voice is loud which caused Caracalla to laugh even harder, his brother’s anger is always something he enjoys. No matter who the cause is and what he might to do them. His eyes gleaming with enjoyment as he watched Geta go off in his fit of rage…only for him to stop when you put your hand on his brother’s mouth and leading him out of the colosseum. He quickly marched behind the two of you while Lucilla’s chains were undone by one of the praetorians. Caracalla couldn’t help but snicker, you’re either very brave..or very foolish…or perhaps both.
Back at the palace Geta finally let go of your arm and instead grabbed you by the cleavage of your chiton, his knuckled turning white, his face taking on an even deeper color of red. The make up didn’t help and only made him look more ridiculous. He was yelling so hard that there was spit flying out his mouth (sounds familiar) His eyes almost bulging out his sockets.
‘EMPRESS DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. HE WAS A TRAITOR. TRAITOR OF ME, OF ROME, OF YOU. OF US. HE NEEDED TO DIE.’
‘He was no such thing.’
‘HOW MORE IGNORANT CAN YOU BE! YOU LET THE MAN WHO WANTED TO KILL ME LIVE! DON’T YOU HAVE ANY DECENY? EVEN MACRINUS ADVISED ME TO KILL HIM!’
Your sigh made Geta stop and take a few breaths. He ran a hand trough his hair and then stopped it in front of his eyes. He feels exhausted. Caracalla in the mean time arrived at the palace and laughed once again at Geta’s outburst.
‘That’s quite the scene you made brother.’
Geta ignored his sentence and once again turned to you only to be met by you splashing water in his face and a cloth being thrown into his face.
‘Clean up. And shut your mouth. I just saved you from getting killed by the romans.’
Caracalla cackled at you while Geta grabbed the cloth of his face. He was still seething with rage and spat some insults at you.
‘That’s no way to speak to your wife.’
‘Wife? WIFE?! YOU EMBARRASSED ME!’
Embarrassed? Yes he gets embarrassed easily when he’s in front of his people but is he seriously this stupid? You saved him. The people were cheering for Acacius. After all he was way more loved that the emperor, with valid reasons too. Killing him would cause even more problems, and not to mention that it would show Geta’s insecurity.
‘An emperor knows when to show mercy and when not. An emperor doesn’t rely on someone like Macrinus to help him assure his choices. You should be sure of what to do and how to do it, not seek comfort in Macrinus when the general betrayed you. You’re an idiot.’
‘Brother, are you really taking a lecture from your little wife?’
‘Shut up, you rule with your head up your ass. You can’t even grasp the situation. All you care about is bloodshed and sex.’
Caracalla’s face turned sour at your words. He never liked you. Yes he does always want what his brother had but you? You’re just some useless piece of nothingness. And you have the galls to insult him? Hah! The sudden feeling of a blade being pressed against your neck wasn’t unexpected, Geta on the other hand was shocked and tried to get Caracalla off you.
‘I’ll cut you! You useless bitch!-’
‘Brother get a hold of yourself!’
Geta’s eyes flickered between his brother trying to free himself from his arms, and you not moving with a slight cut on your neck. Why are you so normal about all of this? Why do your eyes not hold any emotions? No fear? No anger? Just nothingness? The sudden sound of two swords clashing against each other made Geta stop, he felt the blade just barely pass him and cluttering onto the floor. Caracalla’s hand was also bleeding which caused him to shriek. Geta’s voice sounded truly angry laced with some concern, yet it was not for you. But for Caracalla.
‘How dare you! Praetorians, take her away!’
You wiped your sword with the cloth you had thrown into Geta’s face earlier, the blood seeping into the cloth. It wasn’t a lot, but it sure was noticeable. You refused for the guards to take you away, their hands were always gentler to you than anyone else. Something Geta had ordered for them to do. You handed your sword to one of them, who already left the rest of the group to take it away. A foreign swords to the romans, it was hard to miss. After all, you were the only one in the empire to yield it. You turned your back and Geta and walked with the guards. Not glancing or even looking his way.
‘You’re a coward. Come and see me if you find the balls and face the reality of the situation.’
The praetorians shared some glances with each other. You had a sharp tongue in contrast to Geta who only opened his mouth to say what others wanted from him. Geta watched you walk out the room and turned to Caracalla.
Back in your room you had gowned yourself in one of the many Geta had work before. He always shared his gowns with you to cover you up. You didn’t feel any guilt, nor any sadness. You did what you had to do. It’s as simple as that. Yes Caracalla is a very touchy subject for Geta. That is true and you don’t get along with him which is also true. An empress stays by the emperor’s side no matter what, she ensures there is no harm coming his way. You saved him, both with the situation regarding general Acacius and the people turning against him. Even if he doesn’t understand it. Sometimes he has to put his pride away to fall into favor. Rome is a difficult empire after all. Its too big, too busy and the emperors don’t make it any better. There are many issues that are arising and many that still aren’t solved. General Acacius did aim for Geta’s head, but then again it is not that it’s not understandable. If you were in his position you probably would’ve done the same. It is a logical decision. But…you’re not in his position…you’re in the position of an empress. Therefore, even if Geta is like this. You still have to remain loyal. It’s simply your principle, your moral. And you’ll stick to it until the end. The sound of soft footsteps made you open your eyes. Your head still turned to look outside. Rome was supposed to be a paradise, yet it is far from what it’s supposed to be. You recognized the footwork, Geta. But you did not turn your head to him, he’s here if he wants to say something. And that’s what he should do. No more pampering from you.
‘Empress…’
‘Ready?’
‘What?’
‘Ready to face what you caused?’
Geta didn’t reply. He doesn’t know if he wants to hear it. He knows it himself, but hearing someone tell him that is another thing. He hates this.
‘I’m sorry’
‘What are you sorry for?’
Geta is silent once again. His mouth opened and closed. He wanted to say something. But what should he say? You ignored his gaping and pressed a fruit against his lips.
‘See, you don’t even know what you’re apologizing for. Just saying what you want me to hear from you, your sorry doesn’t mean anything.’
Geta listened to you quietly, he took the fruit from your hands, sitting on the bed and fixing his gown while you stood by the window. His eyes were focusing on you. His face a little somber.
‘You’re naive. You trust Macrinus too fast. Think about it. He was a man who was the slave of the former emperor, he has risen in the status to something more admirable. But, would the same man who was once a slave be loyal to someone of the status who once oppressed him?’
Your words made him contemplate a lot of things…was Macrinus not the man he thought he was?…yes..there is some truth to your words. No man would be willing to serve someone of the same status who hurtl them beyond their core. Beyond their existence. A man who was hurt and got everything stripped away from him would never be loyal to someone who did that to him…Geta’s eyes flickered for a little. He saw him as a friend. Yes, that’s what he said and believed. But it’s one sided. It’s a lie. A lie made up in his own mind that he believed in. Geta cleared his throat…such information is hard to process. But thay didn’t explain why you did what you did regardless the general.
Sensing Geta’s questioning eyes upon you, you turned to him, your gaze meeting his which caused him to look away for a moment.
‘The general was more loved. Killing him would result in greater dispair and rage. The distance between you and the people of Rome would grow even greater. An emperor is close with his people…and more importantly, an emperor can forgive.’
‘You want me to forgive general Acacius?’
‘Yes, not from the emperor to the general. But from a man to another. Who is willing to listen and see reason.’
‘You think he would actually be sorry.’
‘He might not be, but he did it for the people of Rome. You too should do it for Rome. Ofcourse i will prevent anyone for ever wanting to have your pretty little head.’
Geta thought for a moment. Yes..it sounds right. But there are still yet many problems to come. The general might try again, or perhaps there are more who are willing to kill him. Macrinus is still in grey area, he hasn’t tried anything but your reasoning has made him wary. It’s very tiring, to be an emperor. But one must be fit for it. Well…he may not be the right choice, but you make up for it. Moments like these reminds him once again why you’re the empress. Where he lacks you make up for. He may not be capable enough but you sure are. Geta’s eyes once again looked back at yours, standing up from the bed and holding your hand. His thumb rubbed over your knuckles before he placed a soft kiss on them. Everyone usually kissed the hand of an emperor. Yet here he was, the emperor of Rome kissing his empress’ hand. Geta pulled back, still holding onto your hand. He felt a rather warm feeling in his chest, quite different from the concupiscent feeling he usually had around his concubines. This one came out of a place of love and admiration.
‘Do you wish to lay with the emperor tonight, empress?’
Tags: nsfw, smut, throne sex, mouth fingering, cockwarming, teasing, clit stimulation, name-calling, objectification, cockwarming, power imbalance, creampie, being watched
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A/N: Uh... well... you see... there's a good explanation for this. I just haven't thought of it yet.
Your dynamic was simple: when your Emperor wants you. you show up. It doesn't matter if it's morning, night or right now, in the middle of a feast. At least you weren't the only one being fucked in public, but you were the only one being fucked on the throne, definitely catching more attention than the rest.
"But you like it." Geta mocked you as his fingers found and pinched your sensitive clit, causing a ripple of pain and pleasure. "Your cunt is so tight around me. A whore like yourself, greedy, hungry for her Emperor's cock. Where do you get such audacity?" He licked the side of your neck, tasting the salty sweat on your skin.
"I... I'm sorry, when you summoned me I just... ah! Oh! Oh Gods!" You gasped and writhed as you felt his hips rutting against the swell of your ass, his cock pushing even further inside of you, scraping and claiming your inner walls. "Got excited." The confession trembled on your lips.
Emperor Geta cackled loudly, prompting others to do the same, even those who weren't close enough to hear you. His wet fingers trailed up your body, stopping briefly to pinch your nipples before prying your mouth open more, dragging against your tongue and then being shoved roughly down your throat.
His other hand then lowered back between your legs, not leaving your aching clit neglected for longer than a few second. He wouldn't let you rest so easily.
As your hips moved against his hand and your pussy made sloppy, dirty sounds every time his cock moved in and out you felt his lips brush against your ear. "Excited. You should be honored that your Emperor's seed will grace your womb. A common slut like you, that's only good for being fucked and used like a set of holes you are. Be thankful."
"T-Thank you, Emperor Geta!" He flicked your clit in warning, not yet fully satisfied with your words. "Thank you for using me to bring you pleasure! Thank you for letting me serve you! Thank you for giving me your seed, in front of everyone!" Your words triggered a chain reaction, first his cock, pulsing as it shot ropes of cum into you, claiming your cunt and your womb. And second your soft, gummy walls clenching around your Emperor's hard cock, your body going slack against his, your head turned and mouth claimed by his as well.
"My sweet little thing. You pleased me today." He whispered and wrapped his arms possessively around you. "Stay right here. Let's sit back and enjoy the show."
