When In Rome (Marcus)

[Talon]

The air was crisp and the color of a bluebell as I walked through the growing city. Rome. The black of my clothes reflected my mood. I did not want to be here. After the Romans destroyed my life, my love, and my family, I had little love for them. The dogs deserved death. And death was something I happened to deal in. It was odd how things worked out like that. A thin smile tipped up the corner of my mouth, my dark eyes glimmering with anticipation. I had heard that someone here was in need of my services. A job was the only thing that would bring me back to Rome, to the sign of my current state. Under the cloudless sky I walked, my feet silent even on the rock. Stealth was an essential principle on my part. It was how I operated. It was the rule by which I lived and others died. A shadow fell across me for a second, a quick jab of dark under the pale sunlight. So as not to draw attention to the source, I did not look up. Only a bird, after all. Nothing unusual.

My black eyes perused the selection of small buildings along the side of the so called road. People walked around me, not a huge crowd, but big enough to get lost in. I tried to stay with the group, knowing that a figure in black walking alone would only cause questions. I did not want to cause a stir among those I did not care about. The romans had a way of attacking first and asking questions later. If they attacked me there would not be a later. I rarely went after people for my own agenda, but I had no qualms with fighting back when attacked. Never did it benefit the other party. I finally found the place I was looking for. Large, buzzing with centurions and other casual people, the establishment was the perfect place to meet without drawing suspicion. Small dark shops were already rumored to hold questionable characters and I had no reason to pin myself as one of them. Finding a table nearer to the back, yet not in a secluded corner, I sat, refusing offer of various suspicious beverages. I would sit. I would wait. He would come.

[Marcus Flavius Aquila]

NPC: Fabio -link-

"I believe you are him...The man to do the job?" Asked behind him a strong and hateful voice of a strong and determined Roman Centurion. His name was Fabio and long had he waited for this moment, the moment to reach higher favours from the Senate and remove those that could stand on his way to everlasting Glory. But he did not show it, his stern look never betrayed any emotions whatsoever.

But not only for personal reasons did he want Marcus out of the picture, but for Rome herself. He knew well that the young Centurion would reach much more favours than him, but he was young and his heart could betray Rome as well as himself. Marcus according to rumours was an adventurous man, like Lucius, but he was younger and still had not met one woman or anyone that could make him desire, this was something everyone believed, but Fabio...he knew well Marcus had certain affinities with the Carthaginian Princess and he could not let this happen for war could come to Rome and destroy everything at hand, as well as his ambitions of grandeur.

[Talon]

I did not turn at the voice; did not flinch; did not start. Surprise was a sign of weakness. Weakness brought death in time. I merely motioned with my left hand for him to join, refusing to crane my neck around to look at him. Centurion or no, I was at least an equal with this man. In the games of life and death rank did not matter. If anything it lessened my respect of him, for I despised the Romans and all they stood for. If it was not for the money offered, there would be no reason for me to leave this man alive. As it was I restrained myself, placing my elbows on the table, the tips of my index fingers together. I rested my cleanshaven chin on my hands, waiting for him to sit. "I am he," I finally stated, my voice low and accentless. To not have a distinguished accent, therefore not having a specific affiliation with a country, was a great asset to me, and one I enjoyed the priveledge of. I disliked the Centurion from the start, for he sounded rather proud and power-hungry. There was a nuance in the voice, I had found, a hunger for greater power, a greed if you will. This man had it in copious amounts.

[Marcus Flavius Aquila]

Fabio smiled as he placed his hand on his pocked where the money sounded as the ringing of bells when he sat down in front of the man, he was hateful but the best man for the job with no inclinations to a single living being. He then said, "He lives in Villa Cispius, right on top of that hill. I have some of the money here, the rest will be delivered to you at the Villa for I dare not rise any suspicions on myself." He then gave the assassin the money and then nodded as he then said, "
I trust there will be no remains of your deed and that there will be no possibility of anyone to investigate on the murder...Therefore I will rise the amount of money I'll pay."

He then stood up slowly and then added, "Is there anything else you would need to know concerning anything at all?" He then looked from left to right, this tavern was extremely good for dark plans and labours since no one dared to look at anyone's business but their own since anyone could be killed taken for a spy.

[Talon]

Taking the proferred coins, I put them into one of my inside pockets. I had many, and this money would go towards my many funds. There were weapons I bought, food, and various other implements. It was fortunate for this man that the man he wanted dead was in the country. One of my job stipulations was that I never paid for passage to other countries. It was something that I left in the hands of my employers. My services were not cheap, but I made sure it was worth every gold coin the bloodthirsty ones spent. My hands returned to their previous state, my black eyes resting on the man, blinking only once every minute. "Your trust is well placed," I said, my voice low, "it will be as if he never were. My presence will not be detected. Tell me this; what has he done to deserve death, and what family and staff live with him?" The man may protest that the business between them was private. It may have been before he came to me, but now that he brought me into the mix I had to know. The smallest detail could be important. I needed to know the relation between the two. This man before me was a Centurion; more than likely it was a political matter of rank and competition. I knew from experience that there was a lot of competition to rise from the endless ranks of soldiers. A death of a higher officer was usually at the hands of one of their compatriots.

[Marcus Flavius Aquila]

Fabio nodded when the man took the money but for a reason seemed impatient when he asked him why this had to be done. He was about to simply deny the information stating that it was none of his business, since this was something Fabio had discovered himself but he simply looked around to make sure they were alone and then said, "I base myself on my own intuition and empiric conclusions after experiments. I know this will sound superficial or vane but this man is on the way of Rome herself, he has done something that will cause us to lose our homeland if it is not stopped on time before other countries get to know what he had done."

He hoped the man would not ask in detail what had happened but he simply stated just in case, "it concerns the Carthaginian Princess." He then took out a handkerchief and cleaned his forehead and cheeks from a bit of sweat since taverns were like that most of the time in Rome, where the hot weather was sometimes unbearable but at the same time as precious as life itself.

He looked at the man in order to think of his last question and then said, "He lives alone, his father disappeared a long time ago and he has some servants he himself made 'libertos' that is, they serve him without being slaves since he released them." He then added as he remembered the reason for killing him, "he also has the Carthaginian Princess and her escort as guests in his house at the moment though I was told she was reclaimed back in Carthage."

[Talon]

I could not help but observe that the man was sweating as he spoke of that which was obviously a deep secret. It seemed as if he was one of the few, perhaps the only one, who knew of it. A princess, a soldier, a compatriot wishing death upon said soldier; it all had the superb makings of a memorable strike. Was this man nervous of coming to see me? Or was it merely the pressing heat that surrounded us. Having traveled to Egypt and around the world, I was accustomed to such heat, even in my black clothing. My short hair also helped keep me cool. The libertos could serve as a problem. Considering that he freed them and yet they still stayed with him, I could assume that they were completely loyal to him. Some kills I had made were simple matters of bribing the servants for information. This would not be the case. The princess was with him as well, adding another complication. Or, perhaps, an asset. It was too early to tell. Digesting all this information, I blinked once and stood, my face impassive. "I will find you when I am done to collect the rest of my payment," I said. That was my closing remark, and I turned and left, out of sight before I could be summoned back. Now I had to find this Marcus and decipher his life. Then I would get to work.

[Marcus Flavius Aquila]

((OOC: Do you want me to post as Marcus here? Or would you like to post in 'visit from Carthage'?))

[Talon]

((No, just post here; it's easier to keep track of))