FicWad

"Cassiodor! Cassiodor!” The door flew open with a bang, and Aurelius gripped the doorframe, panting. His bangs were even messier than usual, sticking to his sweaty forehead, and his long braid had several white feathers sticking out of it.

”Aurelius, brother,” Cassiodor said with a concerned frown, “why the urgency? It’s Saturnalia. None of us are working today, by the mercy of the Glorious Sebastos.” Cassiodor caught a whiff of the alcohol on the other Harmost’s breath and smiled. “And I see you’re already participating in the festivities, ho!”

Aurelius shook his head wildly. “I—I am aware that we’re off-duty,” he panted. “It’s not about that. It’s my,”—a few more pants—“it’s my geese. I must’ve taken my eyes off them for too long, for I suddenly noticed that Dryastis had gone off and started eating the Rainbow Roses in the Hortus Euergetis!”

Cassiodor frowned again. “Dryastis? Isn’t that your lover’s name?”

Aurelius blushed. “Well, I, ah… I may have named my favorite goose after her.”

Cassiodor winced. “Ah, I see, then… Have you spoken with Euergetia?”

Aurelius’s eyes widened to the size of trumpet horns. “By the Sebastos, no! I do not have a death wish! And that’s not all, brother. After I rounded up all my other geese, I chased Dryastis out of the Hortus Euergetis, and she…” Aurelius shuddered, and Cassiodor braced himself.

“…She dove right into one of the pipes of the Sebastos’s organ!”

*

This is the first Saturnalia I’ve properly enjoyed in a while, silently mused a certain God King as he sipped Bituria’s finest wine from a beautiful copper rhyton. Remus of Remuria sat with his legs crossed on the glistening golden roof of the Domus Aurea, mesmerized by the way the afternoon sun glinted off of the various rooftops of the Capitolium. The Initium Iani had been opened for the holidays, and for one week, everyone was welcome in the Eternal City.

Remus’s gaze turned towards the crowded streets, filled with people in colorful togas and cloaks. His people, his subjects, his children, all of whom he loved dearly, all partaking in the festivities. The sight filled him with joy and wonder, and the whimsical expression on his face was quite unbefitting for someone of his status.

“Remus. That whimsical expression on your face is quite unbefitting for someone of your status,” scolded a voice on his left. He turned his head towards the intruder, his maskless face on display.

But that was alright. The “intruder” was someone he knew well—and anyway, it was Saturnalia. As per custom, neither he nor the Harmosts would wear their masks out in public.

“Scylla,” Remus said joyfully, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he smiled. “How pleasant it is to see you.”

The Bane White Dragon wrinkled his nose. “I fail to understand how you could possibly enjoy sitting on this roof. It is simply scorching with the heat of the sun! I can feel it through my sandals.” He tsked and lifted a hand, commanding the water vapor in the air to condense on his fingertips. Remus watched with mild interest as the water ran down Scylla’s hands and pooled beneath his feet, an audible hiss rising from the surface it struck upon.

The Philharmonic God smiled wryly. “I apologize, my dear friend. Having walked barefoot amidst the scorching sands, I suppose it is only natural for this to have no effect on me.”

As he spoke, Remus stood up and took Scylla’s right hand with his left. With his other arm, he made a sweeping gesture over the entire Capitolium. “My Scylla,” he said, “are you enjoying the festivities so far? If I recall correctly, this is your first Saturnalia where you’ve planned to stay for the entire holiday.” He smiled.

A scaly tail gently brushed the God King’s leg. “That is correct, yes. However, I found the crowd much too… overbearing.” Remus frowned worriedly at Scylla’s comment, reaching up his other hand to cup the dragon's cheek.

Leaning forward, Remus stared deeply into Scylla's pink eyes. "My dear Scylla, are you well? Is there something I can do to please you?"

Scylla touched his forehead to Remus's. "Perhaps... hmph. This is nice. Just stay with me like this, if you want to help."

Remus smiled slightly, letting his breath mingle with that of the beautiful dragon before him. "Of course, my lo―"

A loud honk! suddenly interrupted the duo's affair, and Remus whirled around just in time to see a very distressed goose strike the hot roof.

*

"Do you see anything, brother?"

"I don't. It's too dark in here. Pull me out, please, she's not in this one."

With a grunt, Cassiodor began pulling a figure out of one of the massive pipes in front of Domus Aurea until a dust-covered Aurelius popped out.

"Is there not a more efficient way to be going about this, my brothers?" Said a voice on the side. Cassiodor and Aurelius jumped, startled, their gazes landing on their sister.

"Euer-Euergetia," Aurelius said, paling. "I didn't know you were... watching us..."

"I wasn't," she assured. "I only just got here. Aurelius, am I correct in the assumption that one of your birds was behind the utter devastation in the Hortus Euergetis? Tsk. You would do well to watch over them better. That being said..."

Cassiodor and Aurelius watched anxiously as the Harmost in green turned away to pick up a nearby item. Upon closer inspection, it was actually a fishing rod, complete with a flax line and a bronze hook. A Bulla Fruit was carefully speared on the hook.

"Let me help you," she said as she turned around, rod in hand.

*

Remus was being insufferable about that thing.

Scylla’s tail struck the roof impatiently as he listened to Remus coo at the goose and straighten its feathers for the umpteenth time. He had not been in the Capitolium for months, and now his lover was paying more attention to his dinner than him.

The Vishap cleared his throat. "Remus. You seem to be awfully enamored with that... pest."

Remus smiled wryly. "I'll give you some attention later this evening, Scylla. Do not fret." He paused, and Scylla braced himself, sensing what he was about to say.

"You need not worry about any... fowl play. Heheh."

Scylla cringed. "You are better suited to composing music."

Remus smiled sadly, and returned his attention to Dryastis. Or, at least, he tried to―but as he turned, the sight of three figures leaning over the entrance of one of the pipes outside Domus Aurea caught his gaze. He squinted, which did him absolutely no favors.

"Is that...?"

Sure enough, Cassiodor was holding onto Aurelius, who was holding onto Euergetia, who was leaning over the pipe with a fishing rod clutched in her hands. If he concentrated, he could hear their voices drifting up from below.

"C'mon, you idiotic bird!" Said Euergetia.

Aurelius shook his head quickly. "Sister, don't say that! She won't come if you verbally abuse her!"

"Fine. Come forth, you... lovely, beautiful goose. Better?"

"Aurelius, Euergetia, I hate to cut your discussion short, but I believe Dryastis is not in this pipe," interjected Cassiodor.

Aurelius paled. "What if... what if the Prince mistook Dryastis for a common goose and caught her to eat for today's feast?!" Before either of his siblings could remind him to think in a somewhat rational manner, he let go of his sister and started bawling. Euergetia pitched forwards, and Cassiodor barely caught her cloak in his fist.

From their spots on the roof, both Remus and Scylla could tell that the three of them had indulged in quite a bit of Biturian wine.

Remus sighed. "I shall go tell them tha―" Scylla cut him off immediately.

"No, don't. This is quite amusing. How often do your eyes get to feast upon some of the most influential figures in all of Remuria acting like common drunks?" He thumped his tail on the ground once, as if to articulate his point.

Remus shook his head again. "I will return shortly."

*

"Io Saturnalia, my children!" Remus beamed. The three Harmosts startled when they heard his voice, and he only smiled. "Might I inquire as to what you three are doing? Also, where's Boethius?"

"Boethius is reading in his room, despite the holiday," Cassiodor said, some mordancy evident in his tone. Euergetia visibly frowned at his statement, once again theorizing that something was up between them. Perhaps Boethius has denied Cassiodor one of his wishes? No matter.

"N-nothing, my lord! We are doing nothing of note!" Aurelius squeaked pitifully.

Remus raised an eyebrow. "Then I suppose this is of no matter to you?" As he spoke, a certain goose flew over and perched nicely on his shoulder.

Aurelius immediately began sobbing again, and Dryastis glided over and settled in his hands. She bit his fingers gently as he brushed his hands over her feathers.

Remus reached over and smoothed his hands over Aurelius's head. "Remember to keep a better watch over your treasures, child."

*

Boethius looked up from his desk as he heard two people walk into his quarters, and rolled his eyes as they sat down on his bed.

"You ought to knock, Euergetia."

"And you ought to not act smart with your superiors. I'd also appreciate it if you told me what your plans entail. I said I wanted to do something about Aurelius's geese eating my garden. Not that I wanted to give him a panic attack over it!"

"Actually, sister, that was his idea." He nodded his head towards the other person in the room.

The "other person" in question nervously thumped his tail on the floor.

Euergetia glanced between them for a few moments, before finally letting out a long, tired, sigh.

"One of these days my patience will snap. And then, both of you will be banned from drinking during Saturnalia."