veni. vidi. vici.

Reblogged prxestess

#the king of rome au #shit is going to go down.

Though she had behaved impeccably throughout her ten ( nearly eleven hours at this point ) hours in the Senate, seeing the Senator for the Parioli step to the mic nearly broke that track record. It took all her resolve not to roll her eyes and mutter dark things under her breath; she could hardly believe he hadn’t recused himself based on the fact he got to office through Julius in actions now under investigation .

Her gaze flicked up to the public area as his questions focused on Cleopatra. She could almost feel his smugness radiating down to her but if he thought he’d laid a trap for her, he was sorely mistaken.

“Senator, she’s the mother of my best friend and my mother’s best friend. That is all there is to it. Nothing more, nothing less.” His second question took a moment to deliberate but she came up with an answer that satisfied her whilst giving nothing away. “I believe that there should be a discussion, yes. But I also believe that the people have had quite enough of the dramatics of the last few months and are ready for peace. The conversation could easily be had in private. But, yes, I think it should be had. It’s only respectful.”

As she sat there, Tria could see it play out before her eyes. She’d never lower herself to ask her, she’d use Caesarion as an intermediary.

It happened in such a blur that Julius hardly knew what was happening. Her answers had proven so satisfactory that was it. No further inquiry needed. No other testimony. The Senate were seemingly satisfied and it would stand untouched unless more came to light that required a review.

Not for the first time, that girl had played him. He was used to playing others but he’d been well and truly check mate’d and the look up at him before hand told him she knew exactly what she’d done before she’d even done it.

In a fit of anger, he got up out of the public arena before anyone else had the chance and raced down the stairs. Upon her leaving, he reached out and grabbed her, pulling her into a secluded space. “You swore an oath to tell the truth!”

Reblogged prxestess

#the king of rome au #everyone needs a tria in their corner

For Demetria it had been perhaps the longest day of her entire seventeen - nearly eighteen - years on the planet. Usually never one to bite her tongue, she had been forced to do so on this occasion despite swearing an oath to truth and transparency. Her truth, her candid truth, would tear the palace down so she formed her answers with care and precision. Never lying, but never conceding to the well of anger that resided within her either.

As session was recalled, she left the office that had been provided for her comfort and privacy and made her way back into the chamber. The clicking of her heels on the marble floor was an oddly comforting sound, she found - at least on this occasion. She took her seat with a respectful nod to the Chair and awaited for the questions to begin again.

She certainly didn’t have long to wait. She reached for her iced water and took a sip as she listened to the questions put to her. Tria could feel eyes ( not just that of Julius but perhaps the whole nation ) bore into her but she tried to focus on the questions at hand and her answers.

“Thank you Senator.” She began, smiling warmly towards the older man at the bench. “I believe that every King has had the choice for who he wishes to represent his reign to his female subjects and while that is usually a wife or even a mistress at times, the choice has been his. Our current King has neither so had to make an alternative choice and I believe, though controversial a choice, the power is still his to bestow it on who he chooses.“

Wrapping her painted fingers around her cup, she digested the other questions and then one by one answered. “It was not discussed with me though I knew through experience what would happen. I will not play an active role in the current reign. It is not my desire to. I also think it would be quite pointless to go through all of this just for myself to take on the role anyway. He made his choice and as I said before, he has that right regardless what we may feel.”

An intake of breath and then the last answer. “Every King needs an heir, Senator.”

Her answers did nothing to dissuade his anxiety. He could tell the congregated were impressed with the grace which she carried herself with. Her answers were careful and gave nothing away but were pleasing, he knew, He couldn’t help but wonder at her loyalty.

His anxiety was briefly eased by the next Senator up to the questioning bat. He was a loyalist to him and Julius was sure he’d provide a ‘gotcha question. He was not disappointed.

“Miss Onassis, what is your relationship like with the King’s mother? Do you agree that should the King enter into a relationship he deems serious, the discussion about the rooms bequeathed to her should be reignited?”

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prxsidcnte:

Julius smiled at her. He knew she’d see it his way. He leaned forwards, arms resting on his desk. “Good. I’m glad that is settled. Nasty business, really. I wouldn’t want things to escalate between us.” He cocked his head, taking her in. She wasn’t exactly what he’d expected and yet he instantly understood her appeal. “My son told me he saw you on the ship returning from Egypt. Quite the reunion by all accounts. Was it all you hoped it’d be?”

Despite herself, Tria found herself laughing. “Is it any wonder you were assassinated, hm? Is that it? You thought I was going to blow a hole in your wife’s head like I did my biological father’s five seconds ago but.. I give my word and suddenly we’re on pleasantries?” She tutted.

Uncrossing her legs, she stood and stretched her limbs out before shooting him a dark look at mention of his son. Now there was a sore spot if ever there was one. “Tread carefully, Caesar. I don’t mind playing your silly little games where we pretend your wife has any relevancy in my life enough to even be on my radar… but don’t you dare think that in any way entitles you to any access to my life.”

#v; la cosa nostra #he's totally provoking her

"I sense some hostility." Caesar watched as she stood. Purposefully, he ignored her barbed remarks aimed at his intellect and focused on the rippling anger in the words she spoke about his wife. Perhaps Charmian had been right after all. "I don’t think my son would approve.”

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@prxsidcnte:

“I know you killed Marcus. Just as I know you strangled the life out of my once adopted son. Your mother fears your anger will be soon unleashed upon my wife - but it won’t be, will it?”

It took every ounce of strength she had within her not to laugh in his face. But she managed not to. She sat dutifully across the large oak desk from him, legs crossed, fingers knotted in her lap and the appropriate look of contrition upon her countenance that would be expected of someone called on in to his office.

Men who walked in often didn’t walk out again, after all.

“No.” Her answer was as clear as the heavy weight of a threat he’d used in his question. “Your family is entirely irrelevant to my future plans.”

#v; la cosa nostra #prxestess #julius she's not heeding your warning #she's trying not to laugh

Julius smiled at her. He knew she'd see it his way. He leaned forwards, arms resting on his desk. "Good. I'm glad that is settled. Nasty business, really. I wouldn't want things to escalate between us." He cocked his head, taking her in. She wasn't exactly what he'd expected and yet he instantly understood her appeal. "My son told me he saw you on the ship returning from Egypt. Quite the reunion by all accounts. Was it all you hoped it’d be?"

Reblogged prxestess

#punch him tria #the king of rome au

“What a pair you make.” Tria shot back; gesturing for him to step out. “You try to force me on the throne and your wife will step on anyone in her path to keep it. And my mother wonders why I’ve had a rather republican attitude of late.”

She nodded at a passing maid, noting her curious expression. Looking back into the room, she tutted impatiently. “Come on.. it’s not like it’s normal to see you in her rooms. Word’ll get around in minutes and I don’t fancy dealing with her or your son right now.”

He did come out. Swinging the keys on the ring around. Her barbed remark was not missed but chosen not to be addressed. "Not dealing with my son?" His ears pricked up. "Curious. You two are always so close. Cleopatra finally getting him all to himself, hm?"

Reblogged prxestess

#the king of rome au #s h a d e #poor tria #i feel so bad for her #he's totally manipulating the situation but poor tria

Ah. There it was. Tria inhaled as he explained the reason for the requested visit. She stayed rooted to the spot, facing her future head on. In that one sentence, Julius had encapsulated what the next few weeks would be; the expectation of some romantic rise, a King who couldn’t do without her, a Hallmark-esque romantic fantasy popped by the reality that the only thing changing was the King and the amount of power his mother exercised.

It confirmed to her that the only thing Tria really wanted was to get as far from mother and son as she could. She didn’t want power, never had; but neither did she want the pitying looks and sympathetic pats of condolence.

“I can’t go in there without the Queen’s permission.” She stated, keeping her chin up and refusing to concede to the whirlwind of emotions swirling within. She even managed a smile though it was faintly wobbly. “I think we both know that this room isn’t packed up because she’s not leaving and we both know too that those items are to go back in her possession..”

"Oh." Julius managed after a beat in response to her answer. "Oh.. yes, well.." It hadn't occurred to him that Caesarion would not pick his best friend but when she made her case it seemed fairly obvious. He picked up the planner and ring key, smiling fairly apologetically. "I hadn't considered that. Of course, Cleopatra would not give her role up for anything, I should've known that. Even to save humiliating a teenage girl."

Reblogged prxestess

#the king of rome au #poor tria #he's such a dope

The end of an era was always difficult and although she’d had many problems with him of late, the loss of his reign entirely had been a hard blow for Demetria. She hadn’t, in all candidness, ever given much thought to what came after Julius on the throne and now she was faced with it.. she wanted to go back.

An invitation to the private residences had not come entirely unexpected; he, as well as many of his court left behind, had developed some romantic fairytale in their head of what was to come but they were sure to be disappointed.

The click of her heels died as she stepped out onto the carpeted hall; she stopped some distance apart, interlocking her fingers and resting them against her abdomen.

“Your Majesty.” she greeted simply; “Things?” She inquired; tilting her head curiously.

He opened the double doors to the Queen's apartment before beckoning her to follow. He wasn't entirely surprised that it wasn't packed up but he'd send some valets to get on it promptly. "This is the Queens apartments. Held by Queens, mistresses and Princesses over the years. There must always be a female figurehead and I assume that'll be you now." He smiled over his shoulder at her, trying to reassure her. On the table was a diary and an old set of keys on a dinner plate sized ring. "Come, come. I've got more explaining to do."

Reblogged prxestess

#pettiness #shows you're losing #the king of rome au

The grasp on her shoulders were undoubtedly painful but Tria resisted the urge to show such and give him that sort of satisfaction. Her head lolled back and forth as she was shaken, dangerously close to hitting the wall not once but twice but the Gods or whoever were with her and with the narrowest margins, she missed out on a bumped head at the hands of the King.

Alarmingly, she wasn’t even shocked he’d devolved so far since the attempt that he thought nothing of such violence. His attention craving ego was being well and truly starved with Caesarion in charge and it was almost pathetic to watch him grasp on to the tatters of his reign and desperately scheming his revenge.

“What about MY loyalty?” She roared back, violently shrugging his hands away from her once he’d stopped shaking her; taking careful steps out of his reach to protect herself; she felt a little dizzy too and grasped on the wall to steady herself. “I can’t be bought like them in there! I’ve told you once, I’ll tell you a thousand times - I DO NOT WANT TO BE QUEEN. I will NOT take his throne from him no matter what backhanded deals you make.”

Tipping her chin, defiance in her gaze, Tria added tartly. “I know you’re Caesar and so the idea of loyalty to a person is completely alien as your marriage shows, but I am not of your ilk; I won’t betray Caesarion for you or anyone. I think I’ve made that quite clear and I’m getting tired of repeating myself.”

There was a flicker of something deep inside, something arguably close to regret and sorrow, when she retreated from him but neither that nor the sincere possibility that the entire cabinet were at the door listening could stop the next roar leaving his lips. "Such loyalty to someone who shows you none! How is his latest girlfriend? Hardly worth turning down my offer! He wouldn’t show you the same loyalty. He never has. Throwing your life away for him indeed."

Reblogged prxestess

#an echo of him shaking cleopatra in the dungeons here #he doesn't like little greek women foiling his plans #the king of rome au

Tria could only shake her head at him as he spoke once outside with her. Did he ever listen? ( Did anyone ever actually listen to her? ) Now fully aware that words were not enough, she crossed the landing to the staff intercom. Pressing 1 for the downstairs office, she waited to be answered. Once she was, she spoke, looking directly at Julius. “It’s Demetria, can you inform Caesarion the cabinet are convened in the cabinet room and are waiting for him? Thank you.”

Pre-shooting, Julius would've made it over to her in time but while still recovering, he made it just after the operator downstairs cut off with a promise to do just as she asked. Infuriated, he grasped her shoulders in his much larger hands and gave her a shake as if to shake sense into her. "What are you doing?!" He roared. "This meeting was for you. They've all sworn to be loyal to you! Why would you throw that away?!"

Reblogged prxestess

#the king of rome au #prxestess #julis is waving the banner of queen demetria #but without realizing she will be just not in that way

Tria had resisted the invitation for a meeting for weeks but the battle was lost when his chief of staff all but marched her upstairs to the cabinet room. From the moment she stepped in, panic rose up from her core; far from having listened to her many protests, he was steam rolling ahead with his unconstitutional and utterly illegal plans.

She jumped as the door was closed behind her, sealing her inside with the beaming faces and the calculating monarch she’d done her best to avoid.

Plastering on as sincere a smile as she could manage, Tria backed up to the door, hand encircling the handle so tight her knuckles blanched pure white. “Can I speak to you outside, please?” She pulled on the handle, relieved it hadn’t been locked with the key and stepped out into the hall with a smile over her shoulder to the cabinet. “Do excuse us - one moment.”

With the confusion of a man who could not comprehend the idea of someone shying away from power, Julius followed, not sharing said confusion on his face which remained unreadable.

Shutting the door with a click, he looked down on the petite figure of Demetria. “Yes?” He asked. “What is it? We shouldn’t keep them waiting. It’s not very Queenly.”

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#( ;little dove )#( ;the littlest caesar )#his daughter in law is SO precious people #and that's HIS grandson ....antony

#v; la cosa nostra #and hit the nail on the head

Reblogged prxestess

prxestess‌:

“Still? How could I still blame her if I never did in the first place?” Demetria was there under sufferance and she wasn’t about to let him forget that. Her arms were tightly folded acrossed the width of her torso, her countenance settled into a look of pure annoyance at his questioning. “My mother is free to see Cleopatra if she wishes, I have never tried to stop her. She is merely a worrier, concerned for my feelings, like any parent. But she has my blessings and I send Cleopatra the same.”

Admittedly Julius had hoped for the ice maiden act to crack but no. "I'll tell her. She'll be thrilled. I believe she has missed her greatly." Moving forward, he rested his arms on the desk, pinning her with his gaze. "So what is it that angers you so? I can see it all over you. Is it.. Antony? Caesarion? He told me he didn't say goodbye to you.. is that it? I know Ptolemy women can hold a grudge for a long time but two thousand years has to be a record."

#v; in his son reigns #caesar.....

Reblogged prxestess

prxestess‌:

Although she felt perfectly justified in her desire to cry, Demetria found she didn’t have the strength to do so after the last few hours. She didn’t know how she’d explain the mess to Caesarion or her aunt - it looked as if 10 legions had marched through the place leaving only destruction in their wake!

After drying and changing, she attempted to help right Caesarion’s desk but her mother wouldn’t hear of it in her condition and instead did it herself. Taking great care not to read their contents ( anything he wished to share with her, she knew he would ) Tria helped pick up the scattered scrolls instead, making two piles on the desk - ones that had escaped harm and those that were torn or stained either from mud, wine or blood from the fight. With her room as back to normal as she could get it, Tria made for the door but heard Olympos’ comment. Smiling wryly, she shook her head at him as he entered. He always knew how to amuse her. “Now, now. Play nicely Olympos.”

Ignoring both of said Romans as she left her room, she crossed the villa to the room her aunt occupied. This, would take much more work. First, the air burned her nose and throat with the contents of the smashed perfume bottles littering the floor, giving the room an aroma she suspected wouldn’t be lost in a brothel. Then there was the destruction of the bed, the pillows, the clothes.. if her aunt hadn’t been through enough with the will ordeal, she might’ve left it in the mess it was so she could see what they had done but she didn’t deserve that.

“Where do we begin?” She asked of her mother, helplessly.

Caesar followed after Charmian and her daughter, following them like a new shadow. From the door way he watched the young girl who had played in his garden and now blossomed into this young woman who had stolen the heart of his son. She was unquestionably beautiful with an alluring grace; he had seen that earlier but hadn't felt the full force of it like he did now.

Olympos had warned him of the loss of his second child with Cleopatra, a bitter blow like the loss of his Julia and grandchild shortly after. But here was the wife of his son, swollen with child; the Gods had taken lives only to bless them with anew.

“You should do none of it.” His authoritative voice rang out through the villa as he lifted from the doorway and entered the Queen’s rooms. “Your mother and Iras can handle it from here. Before Cleopatra and my son return, I would speak with you.” He held out his large calloused hand to her. “Please.”

#v; in his son reigns #HEHEHE had to get olympos in there

Reblogged prxestess

prxestess‌:

The question posed to her Tria did not consider worth dignifying with a response. To be brought back as he had been, he had to have been blessed by powerful Gods she did not wish to disrespect by releasing all the anger that boiled within her at his actions and that of Antony, over in the corner, shouting obscenities as he was patched up by Emrys.

One look around the villa at all the destruction was enough to make her feel so very tired. Nothing that had been of any value ( sentimental or otherwise ) had survived the tussle between the two men. Fruitlessly, she had sat on the floor attempting to put her sistrum together again, after collecting up most of the pottery, but with no luck. Finding herself on the verge of either tears of screams, she pushed the pieces mournfully away and stood.

“I’m going to change.” She announced, glancing down at her wet dress with a tired gaze. Her mother and aunt looked at her, wondering perhaps what she’d do or say; wondering perhaps what they would do or say when their mistress returned and found the mess her two lovers had caused.

It was meeting her mother’s gaze that pushed the balance towards tears. After being slapped, threatened and nearly murdered by Calpurnia this was her final straw. On the verge of tears, her gaze obscured by the moisture and her voice touched by them too, she added quietly. “And then I’m going home.”

Caesar watched her go, unmistakably feeling the judgmental gaze of Iras upon him.

"Come now, Iras. Speak freely." He stood to full height. "You have something on your mind."

She cleared her throat and Caesar knew this did not look too promising for him.

"That is not Antyllus's wife, Caesar."

Caesar did not speak, allowing her to continue.

"That is Demetria."

The name registered with him and he tried to think of where from. It occurred to him, after a prolonged silence, that the name was familiar because it was the name of the young child his son had played with in Rome all those many years ago.

"Then she is-"

Iras nodded.

"And the child i-"

Another nod.

The weight of realization fell heavily on his shoulders and were certainly not helped by Olympos's wry comment as he followed the Empress.

"I don’t think a father has ever been killed by a son in this family.... I'm looking forward to it!"

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#julius has the world's cutest daughter in law ever OKAY?#she's the most precious of precious beans!!!#aww he's melted in the after life #( ;; saved )

A moment in Tria’s life: Caesar included.

Tagged by - @prxsidcnte

For various reasons, March, as well as August, had never been a particularly good month for Demetria. The second it rolled around, everyone seemed to feel it was okay to ask her about something she hardly had memory of and was certainly grateful for that fact. ( It was worse, she knew, for Caesarion who had to cope with that AND Antony being a whiny cry baby about the attention afforded to the memory of Caesar. )

This year, though, was different; Caesarion was Presidente after a landslide victory and they had their son, Dion. Demetria was determined that instead of focusing on the assassination itself, the day focus on the life and triumphs of her son’s grandfather so that he would grow up with positive associations to the fallen Presidente and not just grief for his absence.

Up with dawn’s break with her son, Tria took him into the portrait room where upon the main wall, overshadowing all others, was the portrait of Caesar painted shortly before his time in office ended in tragedy. In the early morning light, it looked almost as if he had a golden glow about his frame.

“Do you know who that is, little one?” Her voice was soft and his answering squeal brought a smile to her lips. She arranged his wriggling frame so he could be properly supported against her chest and see what she was showing him. She pecked the side of his head with a soft kiss before continuing. “That’s your daddy’s dad. You’ve got his name, Caesar. Just like daddy.. and because he’s your daddy’s dad he’s your grandfather. Just like grandpa Dion and Emrys, Caesar is your grandfather too and although you can’t meet him, your grandmother will tell you lots of stories about him and she’ll tell you how much he’d love you, just like he loved your daddy and your grandmother.”

Demetria wasn’t sure if her little man was transfixed by the way the light danced on the frame or the man himself; possibly both. But he stopped giggling and wriggling and seemed to be looking at him with an awe that many people still thought of the man with. She smiled to herself and gave the side of his head another kiss before turning to leave. “They say your daddy looks just like him, little man, but between you and me, I hope he got his hair from your grandmother and you got yours from me.”

Amused with herself, she glanced over her shoulder at the portrait, making a mental note to bring it out of the portrait room and into the living quarters before she finally left the hallowed room.

“Lets get you dressed before your grandmother is at the door for snuggles.”

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@prxsidcnte: “You’re rather good with children.” The dictator for life tightened his grip on the sheet covering his scarred frame. Ignoring the sweeping bows of the servants, he breathed in the sea air before addressing Tria again. “Was the commotion the children? We heard shouting.”

With Alexandria no longer visible, Demetria had to resign herself to the fact that they were once again off to Italy. This time she’d nearly gotten out of it, with Dion promising to take excellent care of her and see she continued her education in her mother’s absence but last minute Charmian had been unable to part with her and thus she found herself on the royal barge once more headed for Rome.

Up with the birds, and her mother and aunt, she’d found herself watching the dawn break out over the sea and wrangling her young cousins. She had her arms full with two young Princes when Caesar came out onto the deck. “Now you two, go find your m-” She caught the look on Iras’ face and changed her mind, “- go wake up your brother. The first one to drag him out onto deck gets to be Pharaoh when I push him into the sea!”

Watching them depart with squeals of delight, Tria then looked to Caesar - only to wish she hadn’t and shuddered in disgust. ( She did NOT want to know why he was only in a bed sheet. No thank you very much! ) “Thank you.. but the noise was only your sons harassing the birds. It’s a tradition. Ask Caesarion.” She remarked, though not unkindly. “Nothing else has happened, all is fine.”