#verse. gladiators.

[seafavoured]

𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐘 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐄𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐆𝐎𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐏. heard the whispers from loose tongue to open ears 'til they reached his own. feigned nonchalance when they did, polite as he listened, idly waving off such talk as little more than hearsay and dramatics. only once all others were gone from their sight did they rise from the bathing pool with purpose. brow furrowed with mounting dread.

their body dried and clothed in fine, sheer fabrics, cinched about the waist and loose at the chest. generous slits rose to upper thighs, the vast expanse of tanned skin yet displayed soon adorned in a multitude of delicate golden chains and glittering jewels. the process took longer than they'd have liked, but it was expected of him ; to appear a certain way, hold himself a certain way. at least when marching to the dominus' chambers with single minded focus.

they lingered in the doorway with pause, draped up against its frame for a moment's composure ere he stepped inside. ❛ my love, ❜ spoken soft as he closed the distance and bent to press a kiss at ned's cheek in greeting. ❛ i heard the most careless rumours this morning, ❜ there was a casual airiness to their tone that they did not feel. acting as if this news came to him hours past and he'd only just come 'round to discuss it, as opposed to the immediacy which drove them here. hair still tied back from the bath, flesh still damp with oils in some places.

❛ far be it for me to question your aims, but ... is it true? that you look to see jack replaced? ❜ an effort was made to keep the rise of pitch from his voice, and the panic that would size him. neither would service them well, if the rumours held any weight. he perched instead atop the table's edge, legs crossed, in front of where his lord was seated. ❛ is it wise to depose of your greatest champion while he still has use to you? ❜ leaned back upon their palms, feet dangling and head canted. an air of idle curiosity hoped for.

@pyratezlife / ned.

[seafavoured]

𝐄𝐃𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐔𝐏𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇 𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐍 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐑'𝐒 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐖, fanned and fed grapes by fellow servants not afforded the same courtesies as himself. it was indeed advantageous to have the praetor's favour. it saw him tended to, fitted in fine fabrics and delicate jewelry befitting their form, allowed for food and drink at their own pleasure. a certain freedom of its own accord, but with its limits.

the one of most vexation to him in this moment was lack of invite to the war counsel ned held with the visiting praetor. what was his name? flint?

of course, they expected no such invite. but to be forced at lingering outside the room was enough to spark fury in the depths of their stomach. fury and ... something else. he couldn't place a finger upon it, but it coiled and twisted in their gut 'til it made its presence known all the same. gaze remained fixed through the open doorway and the two men huddled 'round the table within. they bickered constantly, but some measure of heat yet seemed shared between them still. small, errant touches here and there which appeared to strike passion as well as irritation.

edward frowned to see each, brows furrowed ere he realized his expression and settled it to something more neutral. a huff of annoyance, ready to rise despite their orders to await the men's return, when the two finally emerged. their eyes fixed upon ned's hand at this flint's shoulder. thankfully, the other man was quick to stalk off down the hall in a huff.

❛ who was that? ❜ it came out more abruptly than he'd intended, and indeed more than it ought to, considering his own station. still, they glared after flint a moment ere their gaze returned to ned. that damned frown had returned, but lips soon parted for a grape with which to hide it. ❛ i wasn't aware you had such close friends within the senate. lazy, blustering fools, i seem to recall you saying. ❜ there was something petty and needling to his tone. something that ed realized with some manner of shocked distaste, was jealousy.

@pyratezlife / ned.

[seafavoured]

❝ I have been sent to please you. ❞ (silverflint - likely as a ned mind game // with silver as an unhappy camper because he would’ve happily fucked flint of his own free will, but likely knows flint well enough to know it won’t happen now lol). @pyratezlife / silver.

𝐀 𝐋𝐎𝐖 𝐍𝐎𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐄𝐃 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐀𝐓, 𝐂𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐖𝐈𝐗𝐓 𝐀 𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐅𝐅 & 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐑. a storming gaze rolled to the heavens and fell back to level down upon silver, narrowed in displeasure. ❛ is that so? ❜ his voice alone was scathing, no small measure of derision dripping from a rumbling tone. ❛ sent to antagonize me, i'd wager. not a peace offering, but a goading gesture. ❜ flint knew each of his peers well, as such was wise in their game of politics. a game he wished not to play, with a head more keen for strategy than scheming, though adept at both.

but ned he knew best. their sordid history, both in and outside of the bedroom, left little unspoken between them. even when gestures made clear what words would not be appropriate to. for ned was both a clever an observant rival, and had surely took note of his fondness for this one.

❛ i'll not bed someone sent to do so of another's will, and not their own. ❜ his fellow praetor well knew this, and had surely chosen silver as a means to an end. the end, of course, being to stoke the fires of rage in flint's belly and make a fool of him ere the visit's end. instead, he seemed calm. something hot and dark remained broiling beneath his skin, but upon the surface his expression was neutral. save for the twitch of his jaw at its hinge as teeth ground briefly.

an idle wave of his hand indicated the door, but his eyes flit to the vacant chairs and cushions further in. ❛ take your leave, then. i grow weary of ned's insufferable preening. ❜ growled even as he stepped toward the table and reached for the wine. one goblet poured slow ... then, another. he held out the second to them in offering. ❛ or, you could stay for conversation, if it pleases you. you're the only person worth speaking to in this godsforsaken place. ❜ flint had shed his armour prior to their arrival, and stood now in plain clothes. fine, dark linens that softened somewhat the severity often struck by garbs of war.

[seafavoured]

you dream of my mouth. (silverflint, any, oop, don’t know how i missed this first time round, silver smugging it up). @pyratezlife / silver.

𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐖 ? 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐒, 𝐎𝐑 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒 ? off and on, for all the time they had known one another, during flint's visits to the manse. visits which had once been more frequent, when they were borne of pleasure and not simply business or politics. now, the only pleasure taken from finding himself here was silver's own company.

perhaps another night would have yielded different results, would have seen his willpower and reason yet reinforced. but this evening had been spent in deep conversation, punctuated by laughter and grazing, tentative touches. even now, as silver leaned in with teasing flirtation, his gaze dropped to those lips ; parted just slightly, pink and plush, moistened with wine from a sip taken moments past. he licked his own lips absent mindedly. his body angled toward them upon the chaise, as if drawn in by their very presence. an arm lay draped across the cushioned back, hand resting close to him but yet out of reach.

❛ i dream of many things. your mouth is but one of them. ❜ voice a low rumble, for they sat so close that words need only be soft spoken. eyes rose back to meet with those before him, so bright and clear as a summer's day. ❛ your curls are another, pretty as they are. i've wondered, on occasion, if they are indeed as soft as they appear. ❜ he reached out to catch a lock betwixt his fingers, humming appreciatively ere it was tucked carefully behind an ear. ❛ your thighs, and how it may feel to nestle between them. ❜

too bold, perhaps. jaw tensed, as if to bite back words which had already been spoken. his hand fell away from where it had lingered at silver's cheek. ❛ apologies, my tongue got carried away from me. you have my respect, not only my wandering eye, rest assured. ❜ flint leaned back from their mingled heat, however reluctant.

[seafavoured]

𝐈𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐀 𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐋𝐀𝐙𝐘 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐔𝐒 𝐅𝐀𝐑, 𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐄𝐓 𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐄. ned had been absent for much of the morning and well into the afternoon with some manner of business. thus, edward had greeted him eagerly upon his arrival that evening. had taken it upon themself to help him relax : sat him down in the large, cushioned armchair in his study, rubbed his shoulders with strong, deft hands 'til stiff muscle relaxed beneath their touch, then poured poured them wine.

that had been nigh on an hour ago, and he now sat within the praetor's lap, nestled into the cradle of his hips with long legs slung to one side. an arm draped 'round ned's shoulders, fingers buried in his hair, simply enjoying the presence of him. enjoying the knowledge that they were the only one who could ease the worries away from him, when he had first entered so very coiled and on edge. their wine glasses sat atop the desk, adjacent a tray of breads, cheeses, and grapes. he plucked one of the latter and popped it obligingly into ned's mouth, fingertips lingering at his lips a moment.

❛ do you wish to tell me of your taxing day, my love? or shall i help you forget it instead? ❜ free hand dropped to settle flat at the other's chest, as if the answer was well known already. head dipped to catch ned's mouth the very moment he swallowed the grape down. lips parted to languid kisses, licking their way into his mouth with a hot curl of tongue. slow but deep, breath quickened and bled soft to little moans of want. fingertips twisted into the fine fabric of ned's robes. ❛ would it help such endeavours, were you buried inside me? ❜ purred against his mouth.

no sooner had the words passed their lips did he take note of commotion in the hallway. barely enough time to register, ere the door was kicked open with enough force to smash the wall as it flung.

❛ where is he? ❜ it was flint. clad anew in the glinting armour of imperator. tall and broad, a vision in crimson and gold, whose eyes burnt hot with some raging fire. jaw tense as the corner of an eye twitched to follow the same of his mouth. fists shook, white knuckled, at his sides, but the man yet made no move in outward aggression. teeth grit, storming gaze wild, ❛ i do not come to play games, praetor, ❜ the title spat with inflection. a subtle reminder : we are no longer of similar station. his voice was a low rumble, snarling, rife with warning. repeated, ❛ where is he? ❜

@pyratezlife / ned.

[seafavoured]

❝ I’m here… ❞ (blackrose, ed waking up after an injury in the arena - ned very concerned even if he’s playing it off like he isn’t). @pyratezlife / ned.

𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃, as feverish nightmares fell away and reality filtered slowly back in. still, it was a moment before he yet understood where he now lay, as well as the cause of evident injury. it wreaked of blood and sweat all around, the very air thick with acrid stench of rot bred from death. his now brothers who were not so fortunate as he ; the ones who had been cut down in the arena earlier that afternoon.

the arena. jack. their fight against two formidable opponents.

ed remembered the exhaustion from the gauntlet they'd been put through all week. battle after battle without end. remembered the spear cocked back to lunge upon jack whilst the champion fought another, back turned. they had scrabbled back to their feet and rushed in without thought, shoving their love from harm's way with all their might ... he now registered the sharp and piercing sting that yet wracked his wound : skewered straight through with a spear that had so narrowly missed his heart. truly a miracle from the gods.

lashes fluttered open to reveal glassy and bloodshot eyes, blown wide with the high of medicine's relief. sweat slicked and covered in dirt, sand, blood. the latter covered their torso. so much, too much. surely there was not a drop yet left within them.

i'm here. he felt dizzy, lightheaded, as if still caught within the memories of a dream. blurred vision filtered in gradually, and came to focus upon ned hovering within view. crouched over their sick bed. ❛ jack ... ❜ it was all they spoke for a long moment, voice thick and rough with a ragged throat. ❛ where is he? is he alright? ❜ did he survive the fight, after ed's own fall? gods, if they stood responsible for his fall, if their own injury had stood distraction enough for jack to be slain ...

[seafavoured]

❝ and do you love him? of course you do. i can see it in the eye, tensing of the jaw. ❞ (oop, ned @ flint). @pyratezlife / ned.

𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐆𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐎 𝐍𝐄𝐃'𝐒 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐑, 𝐀𝐒 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐂𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘. yet the door itself remained closed, affording them this brief moment's solitude in an otherwise bustling household. thoughts of violence ran rampant, unchecked and rousing long broiled rage. it burnt hot within the depths of his gut, rising like bile to the base of his throat. blood ran hotter still at each fresh set of goading words meant to stoke his fire. why rise to them? why give into the very base instincts that ned so clearly wished to draw from him?

to what end, he could not fathom, save for the simple pleasure of lording over him. perhaps that was reason enough, but doubt of such would cloud his mind. the fellow praetor was a man of many flaws, but recklessness was not among them, nor stupidity. ned had an agenda all his own, ever separate albeit often parallel to the empire's own.

❛ you waste both our time then, asking questions to which you already know the answer. ❜ there would be no point in denial. not when the man was clearly privy to information that revealed flint's affections. fists sat, white knuckled, at his sides. blunt nails bit into the calloused flesh of his palms. indeed, ned was right ; teeth grit 'til his jaw tensed, the muscle at its hinge twitching traitorously. a matching fissure in his composure at the corner of an eye, the tight quirk of his mouth. all minute bids of expression the other was familiar with of him. their history played to his disadvantage once more.

a few slow steps forward closed the distance between them, his height and broad bulk enough to shadow ned, gaze struck downward to meet green upon grey. ❛ you ought to choose your words carefully, my dear. i do not take kindly to veiled threats. speak them plainly, so that i might have cause to shed your blood in response. ❜ voice a low rumble, muscles coiled and tense.

[seafavoured]

❝ you… you should not look at me like that. ❞ (early blackjack). @pyratezlife / jack.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐋𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍. 𝐄𝐃𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐋. and still, he could not steel his gaze to one more neutral. could not quell the fire within it which darkened brown eyes to nigh on black in the wake of such spectacle. they had rushed down to the arena's basement the very moment jack's fight had drawn to a close. ned would be another moment, caught up as he was by the fawning politicians above. he was meant to be fetching wine, but it was a most worthy detour. it afforded precious little time for private discussion, but it would be taken and cherished even so.

the slick and muscled forms of jack's peers mingled about, their eyes drawn to him. so out of place in their midst, adorned in sheer fabrics and delicate chains. adorned as a whore, even if the finest in caliber. for he was hardly one of common use, not available for their roving gazes and restless hands, even those most praised among them. only one pair of hands was meant to touch, all others forbid, unspoken but well understood. even so, they had always been one to toe the line of boundaries, to stir trouble where ire would most be felt.

❛ no? then how would you rather i look at you? with indifference, or perhaps even disgust? ❜ their tone was light and lilting, but some measure of challenge settled there as well. it resided too in the depths of his gaze, pupils blown wide with the adrenaline of bloodlust. ❛ you'll find neither in my eyes. ❜ a grin broke out 'cross their face, broad and bright as the midday sun above. ❛ you fought well today. i was impressed by your strength and strategy both, ❜ a hand held out in delicate offering. ❛ i'm ed. ❜