When In Rome #ONC 2020 [COMPLETED]

8. Semper Idem - Always the same

Rising to her toes, she gave a demure smile, hoping it might take away that frown that seemed to be edged permanently on Zach's face lately. Wishing him a good day, Liv turned back to the empty atrium. Even the colorful frescos seemed gloomy once she was alone. Making her way past the ceramic death masks, Liv tried to recall how long she had been here. 10, 15 days?

Too long was her conclusion as she swept the kitchen floor. At least Zach got to go out each day. Meanwhile, she was stuck here at home. Not that he seemed very happy about it, but it must be better than the things that she got to do. Cooking, cleaning, praying, every day was the same, and it was all starting to blur together. Even her strolls through the Porticus of Livia were becoming mundane. 

Through the open door, Liv could see the drop spindle and weaving loom, burning into her vision. The perpetrated thread on the weaving loom was smooth and even, where hers lay coarse on the spindle. She had tried spinning it again and again, but somehow the weights and her lack of balance resulted in a yarn that unraveled itself as soon as it fell off the spindle.

The only thing that could pass the time was cooking, which up until now had only resulted in one fire. And Liv had to admit; she was starting to enjoy it more by the day. There was something so satisfying in grinding your oats on the mill like it was grinding all your frustrations to dust. 

Scanning the rations, for tonight's meal, noted that their meat portions were dwindling fast. Zach would not be paid for another week, so they would have to hunt for it. Her ears picked up the clucking of the chickens roaming around the garden. She could help Zach by going hunting for him. That wouldn't be so hard, right? 

Spreading some crums before her, she waited with bated breath until one of the chickens came within range. If her ancestors could kill a chicken, she could do it too. Just look away. Liv pulled the chicken closer raising the shaking knife above her head. 

 With a mechanic beep, the speaker turned on. "No, no, no. A roman woman can't kill animals. It's not proper."

Jerking in shock, Liv loosened her grip, letting the chicken run away from her lap in a flutter towards freedom. Throwing her hands up in frustration, she cried, "oh, great and mighty Jupiter. Give me something to do?"

 "Don't you have enough to do? Have you already tried the weaving-"

"Yes," Liv interrupted, "and I hate it."

The statue stayed silent for a moment, "and what is it that you wish to do?"

Pacing back and forth, Liv tried to think about all the amazing things she had read about ancient Rome. "I want to read the scriptures in the forum, see gladiators fight. Hell, let me fight in the gladiatorial ring. Just anything other than this housework."

"Olivia!" Jupiter scolded, like a father scolding his child. "Have you forgotten the virtues of a Roman woman?"

"Pietas, pudicita, an Concordia." Liv mumbled in sync with the booming speaker. "Piety, modesty, and harmony between husband and wife. Yes, I know. But let's face it, those are more guidelines."

"Guidelines?" The speaker rebuked in shock. "No! Did Lucretia, the picture of ideal womanhood, didn't take her own life after her virtuosity was tainted because of mere guidelines? These stories teach young girls that they are expected to acknowledge when they are un-virtuous women, they are burdens to their families as long as they live."

"But I am a person. I have my own-"

"Family comes before the individual!" 

Liv wanted to scream back, her face was flushed with anger, and she could feel her hands itching to break that annoying speaker right out of the statue and -

"Am I interrupting something?" Rachel poked her hand through the front door before entering. Liv couldn't help but hug her friend tightly, nearly knocking the blonde over. Rachel's eyes flickered worriedly over Liv's face, "are you okay?"

"Let's go for a stroll," Liv replied, wanting to get away from this house as fast as she could.  

What would once have been a magnificent garden, filled with sculptures, fountains, and rows upon rows of marble columns was now merely a grassy field with some ruins and a few trees. The first time she visited it, Liv's imagination had transported her back to the glory days of this place, but right now, her fury could only show her what the Porticus of Livia had become. 

"Livy, what's bothering you?" Rachel asked again. Liv released all the frustration she had been holding in one breath. "I just feel so useless. Useless and bored."

"Is Zach still not talking about his job?"

Liv shook her head. Ever since he came home raddled after his first day, Zach refused even to mention the university. Liv had tried to breach the topic so many times, but he never uttered a word. "What could be so bad that he doesn't tell me?"

"I don't know," Rachel admitted. "But I could ask if Amar wants to talk to him. Maybe he just needs a man-to-man talk?"

"And I'm only a woman," Liv muttered. Seeing Rachel cock her eyebrows in shock prompted her to elaborate. "I don't get to do anything. I can't exit the house without covering my hair and having a chaperone by my side. I can only do housework, and I'm not even allowed to kill a chicken!"

"Why the hell would you want to kill a chicken?"

"Because I have to eat, Rachel. But I can't do anything that is not 'pudicita.' I feel like I'm pretending to be something I'm not."

"Well, you are recreating the life of 2000 years ago. So, it's understandable that they had different morals and values."

Liv revised Rachel's words in her head. "Family comes for the individual," she mumbled. Rachel stopped dead in her streaks, jerking Liv to a halt. "What did you say?"

"That's what Jupiter, I mean, Mr. Moretti said." Live replied, "I believe I read about it somewhere. In Roman times, everything was in service of the empire."

Releasing a sigh, Rachel remarked. "Okay, for a second I thought you were going to give me very different news." 

 Liv's smile grew wider, but before she could utter a word, a white poppy appeared before her eyes. "Scusi signora, I have seen many people roam the Porticus of Livia, but none are as beautiful as you."

A man with hazel eyes, golden skin, and raven locks bowed before her. He seemed to have walked straight off the cover of a romance novel, with a dashing smile that could light up the city.

Liv stumbled over her words as she twirled the flower between her fingers. "Thank you - sir."

"Please, call me Lorenzo." His husky voice replied as he stepped closer, placing a kiss upon her palm while his free hand snaked around her waist, molding perfectly against her body as if it belonged there. Before Liv could even register the sensation, it was gone, and with a wink, Lorenzo walked away.

"What the hell just happened?" Rachel wondered, snapping Liv out of her trance.

"I don't know, but that was hot."

"And just a few seconds ago, you were going on about being virtuous."

"Well, a lot of Roman women had lovers on the side," Liv argued, sneaking a glance at the vision that walked away.

"Surely, there are other ways to entertain yourself."

Turning back to Rachel, Liv could see the disapproval written on her face. Usually, their roles would have been reversed. "Banquets were often held as entertainment -"

"Perfect! We can hold one tonight. I'll invite Amar, and help you cook." Rachel chimed, before adding, "as long as I don't have to kill a chicken."

"Not if you buy the supplies." Liv smiled.

Total word count: 11.572