Roman Pink

Two days had passed since Pinkamenus had his rank diminished, and this third day was going to be one of the worst. Before him stood Gummotae, and Scootose. Both, his servants. Gummotae, a young boy he had rescued from a camp of savages. He seemed to be a chinese. He was mute, the abuse the savages had put him through rendered him unable to speak. Despite this, Pinkamenus still had developed a great emotional attachment to him. The other, Scootose, the daughter of a whore. She had since been put to death for having relations with a man other than her owner. She was a fisty, and occassionally disrespectful girl, and often got smacked around for it by other soldiers. Pinkamenus enjoyed her company though, and cared deeply for the girl. One of them had to go, he couldn't support both of them. Scootose, if he gave her away, not many of the other men were as lenient with their servants as Pinkamenus. She would likely suffer a great deal of abuse, unless Pinkamenus chose carefully. Gummotae, servants like him were often put to death, not only because of their association with the Chinese, but because he was weaker than the others, his muteness and his weak arms. Gummotae would not be safe with any other master, this Pinkamenus was on grounds with. But Scootose, a girl like her, with her kind of personality, would get nowhere good.

Pinkamenus angrily pounded his table with his fists. This is too hard... Why would the Caesar make me choose between them? Gummotae was the first to approach his master. He placed two of his fingers at the edge of his desk, a sign that Pinkamenus had come to recognize as concern. Scootose followed after Gummotae.

"Master, what is wrong? Food has been short lately, and you constantly pace outside. I have even heard you cry one night!" Pinkamenus just looked at Scootose, a mix of worry and solemn acceptance of the situation filling his mind.

"Scootose, there is something you must know." How do I go about this? I... I feel so lost... Pinkamenus looked to Gummotae, and tilted his head to the door, a sign that he wanted privacy. Gummotae obeyed without hesitation. When they were alone, Pinkamenus let a deep sigh role out. Scootose sat on her knees.

"Scootose, the Caesar is angry with me." Pinkamenus was silent, unsure where to go from here. The young girl's nature took over, and she made an outburst.

"And?" She quickly cusped her mouth with her hands, and looked up to see the annoyed face on Pinkamenus. It vanished quickly.

"And... I cannot support both you and Gummotae anymore. I must find a home for one of you."

"So... your giving Gummotae to the Chinese, right?" Pinkamenus had learned to ignore words like this from Scootose, she just didn't know any better.

"No Scootose. If he is sent to the Chinese, or even to another master here, he will be killed for his weakness. There is no safe place for him but with me. So you see now?" There was a dragged out silence between them, tears filling both of their eyes.

"But... Where will I go?" Scootose finally forced down her tears. She had a stronger heart than Pinkamenus, who had his face buried in his arms. He looked up to her, gasping for air, tears flowing like a river, his lips quivering.

"I don't know... I... There must be... somewhere for you." Pinkamenus rummaged through papers in his drawer, lists of names on all of them. Most he just moved to the side, he was looking for a specific set. After rummaging for five minutes, he found it. Long ago, Pinkamenus had been in a situation where it was possible he would part with Scootose, before he had taken Gummotae in. This was a list of potential homes for her. It was a short list, only four names. One, he crossed off with a quill, as the name bearer had died.

"Here, read this... It's... a list of men you may be able to live with." Pinkamenus pushed the paper across to the other side of his table and then returned to sobbing in his hands. Scootose looked over the names, and scratched one out in anger Pinkamenus didn't notice this.

A few minutes had passed when Scootose nudged the arm of Pinkamenus. He raised his head and looked up at her, who was actually holding her composure very well now. He then lowered his eyes to the list, and saw a name circled.

Rainbowmere.

Rainbowmere was trained along side Pinkamenus at birth, until he was placed into a different century. They recently had been reintroduced, Rainbowmere being a higher rank than Pinkamenus, having a massive tent and three servants, though easily being able to house seven. Back in Rome, they had larger, marble structures, but here they were on a mission deemed important enough that even the Caesar, Celesticle... lets just say that name again... Celesticle... okay now then,  a mission deemed important enough that even Celesticle himself was traveling along side them. He lived a long ways through their war camp, so they had to set off for a long walk.

As they passed through the camp, Pinkamenus walked silently, and without any skipping or smiling. This was a very... unnerving change for most of the people that lived where Pinkamenus frequented. It didn't take long for one of the men to approach him.

"Ho! Pinkamenus! What is it that chains thine heart under these summer skies. Your eyes seem heavy as stones, and they weigh even your head to the dusty earth. I pray the tell, what is it that murders the beauty and joy in your life?" Pinkamenus lifted his heavy eyes to meet Big Macros, a fashioner of weapons. He was almost twice the size of Pinkamenus, and his tent came with a wooden beam to keep his tent large enough to fit its owner.

Pinkamenus gasped for breath for a moment, fighting to hold back his tears so that he could speak. Scootose spoke for him.

"He cant afford to support me and Gummotae anymore... He has to give me up." She said, forcing the words out. Macros gave her an annoyed glare, it is considered inappropriate for women to speak without first being spoken to in the legion. Pinkamenus placed a hand Scootose's shoulder, and reinforced her confidence.

"Well that certainly is a shame. I know how close you are to your servants. If you ever need a shoulder, I'm here for you." Pinkamenus smiled quietly at Macros. "Now then, I had better get back to work. Were sending out a raiding party and one of those idiots broke their spear tip in half. How does one even do that? Have a good day, Pinkamenus." Macros walked back to his tent, the tools on his belt jingling and shining.

The pair continued walking to their destination, and finally came to the tall tent of Rainbowmere. Parting the flaps, Pinkamenus entered the tent and looked around. There were tables lining the sides of the tent. Set upon them were armors from different tribes, foreign weaponry, all showcasing Rainbowmeres victories over countless enemy soldiers. He loved to show off his prowess. Snoring, which was previously inaudible, assaulted them like a tidal wave. A servant walked up to the two.

"Yes sir. How can I serve?" Silently, Pinkamenus pointed to Rainbowmere, who was on his side in a bed, facing the tent's wall.

"But sir, he isn't supposed to be stirred until late in the afternoon. This is his second nap of the day." With an aggravated snort, Pinkamenus pushed past the young boy and nudged his sleeping friend. Rainbowmere rolled over after a few moments, at looked up wearily at Pinkamenus. They stared at eachother silently, and then Rainbowmere started talking absent mindedly.

"Have you ever dreamt you were flying? Because I was just-"

"We don't care." Scootose deadpanned, her personality overriding her self preservation instincts. This snapped Rainbowmere awake. He glared at her furiously, and was about to light her up when Pinkamenus shifted his Rainbow's attention back to himself.

"Rainbowmere... The Caesar is angered with me, and has cut my resources. I can no longer support my servants." He forced this out, with a choke. Rainbowmere was still dwelling on Scootose's disrespect, and was pushing himself into an upright position.

"You really must smack that girl straight, because you know the other men will give her worse than you ever would.

"Hopefully, you may do better than I have..." Pinkamenus trailed off.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Damnit! Were you not listening? I cannot afford to house this one anymore!"

"And what is it that thou expects me to do about it?"

"I've come here to request that you, by her decision, take her in. I know you can aford it, and have heard you were considering taking another in. If this is true, I request that you take in her. I wouldn't trust another." Rainbowmere squinted his eyes, and studied Scootose for a long moment. Then, he addressed her.

"You have been coddled your entire life by this one. You realize that, if I take you in, you will not be given the same freedom you've had with him. By the end of this month, you can expect to be bruised for your tresspasses. Do you understand this?"

"I do." She said, no hesitation in her voice.

"Then yes, I will take her in. Im glad you brought her to me, she might not survive with another man. Is that all you-" Pinkamenus had left silently, knowing exactly how things would play out. It was crushing his heart too much to stay, and a goodbye would have rendered him emotionally destroyed. Perhaps later, when he was more stable in mind, he could return and say a few final words to Scootose. But now, he simply couldn't take it. Yes, perhaps this was a selfish, and illogical decision. But selfishness is justifiable by the necessity of self preservation of the mind, and the illogicality is justified by this... by this being Pinkie Pie.