Butterfly Effect

They thought I was a goddess.

Me.

Terra.

It actually made me laugh. I had said the name Terra sounded like a vengeful goddess. Now, I actually was one.

They thought I was Terra. She’s basically the All-Mother. She gave birth to the Cyclops, the Titans, Saturn, and so many others. According to mythology, she killed her consort to keep him from hurting her children. She’s the one who gave the prophecy that Saturn would be killed by Jupiter.

I was Goddess of the Earth. Basically, I rule.

At first, they were all too eager to take me to Rome. How often did a Goddess come into their home?

I came up with a quick lie. I couldn’t leave. The gods had sent me here, as a way of punishment. I couldn’t leave Pompeii until a god came to release me.

It was so weird, being close to Caecilius. He looked just like Twelve. You know, except younger. Without any time with another Doctor in between, it was hard to split them apart. I had almost called him Doctor five times, today! It just felt like another adventure.

No. I could find a way back. I had to wait for the Doctor.

They know I’m waiting for someone. They say it’s Caelus, a sky god. My son and consort. I laughed. It wasn’t completely wrong. I cared over him like he was my own, but I don’t think of him as my son. He’s my husband. My lonely god, who falls from the sky. He brings thunder, like an Oncoming Storm.

He used to hate those kids of ours. Max and Jenny. He wouldn’t hurt them, ever. He loved them now.

He would bring down the heavens for me.

I will admit, I loved that now I could brag that my useless knowledge over Roman Mythology became useful.

(More)

I would wait for Volcano Day. August 24th.

“No.”

“Oh, Mother Terra, but please!”

“I said no.”

The woman deflated. “Forgive me, Mother Terra, but why not?”

“Because I will not.”

Metella sighed. She had been trying to get me to gain some favor for Evelina in the Sisterhood.

(More)

“Quintus.” I greeted the boy.

“Mother Terra.” He said curtly.

The two of us had reached a mutual understanding. We both knew what Metella was doing was wrong, yet we could not do anything. Metella cared too much about her rising status than her dying daughter.

It made me feel sick.

Quintus was in just as much disgust as I. That was his little sister. He didn’t want to see her get sicker, and sicker.

(More)

(More)

==BE==

(More)

“Hello Evelina.” I said, greeting the teenager.

The girl looked up at me, tiredly. “Hello Mother Terra.”

“Please, call me Terra.” I reminded the young girl.

Evelina just smiled kindly. “Hello...Terra.”

I smiled. “How are things? Your mother isn’t pushing you too hard again?”

Evelina shook her head, slowly. “No, Terra, she isn’t pushing me.”

“Evelina, do not dare try to justify what she is doing.” I instructed, going up to her side. I held her hand, the one covered with cloth. “Visions such as your’s should be coming naturally, not forced. You can’t rely on them. They’re just your psyche coming up with anything to stop your pain.”

The brunette roman just smiled kindly. “Thank you for your guidance, Terra, but I am promised to the Sisterhood now. I must prepare myself for that life.”

I gulped. “Just, don’t hurt yourself. I don’t want to lose my friend.”

(More)

==BE==

(More)

ROMBUS: “Announcing Lucius Petrus Dextrus, Chief Augur of the City Government.”

(A middle aged man wearing a cloak over the right half of his body enters.)

Caecilius: “Lucius. My pleasure, as always.”

Metella: “Quintus, stand up.”

Caecilius: “A rare and great honor, sir, for you to come to my house.”

(Caecilius holds out his hand, but Lucius does not take it.)

LUCIUS: “The birds are flying north, and the wind is in the west.”

Caecilius: “Quite. Absolutely. That’s good, is it?”

LUCIUS: “Only the grain of wheat knows where it will grow.”

Caecilius: “There now, Metella. Have you ever heard such wisdom?”

Metella: “Never. It’s an honor.”

Caecilius: “Pardon me, sir. I have guests. This is Spartacus and, er, Spartacus.”

LUCIUS: “A name is but a cloud upon a summer wind.”

The Doctor: “But the wind is felt most keenly in the dark.”

LUCIUS: “Ah. But what is the dark, other than an omen of the sun?”

The Doctor: “I concede that every sun must set.”

LUCIUS: “Ha.”

The Doctor: “And yet the son of the father must also rise.”

LUCIUS: “Damn. Very clever, sir. Evidently, a man of learning.”

The Doctor: “Oh, yes. But don’t mind me. Don’t want to disturb the status quo.”

Caecilius: “He’s Celtic.”

The Doctor: “We’ll be off in a minute.”

Donna: “I’m not going.”

Caecilius: “It’s ready, sir.”

The Doctor: “You’ve got to.”

Donna: “Well, I’m not.”

Caecilius: “The moment of revelation. And here it is.”

(As the Doctor takes Donna to the TARDIS, he looks back to see a stone tile carved as a circuit board has just been unveiled.)

Caecilius: “Exactly as you specified. It pleases you, sir?”

LUCIUS: “As the rain pleases the soil.”

The Doctor: “Oh, now that’s different. Who designed that, then?”

Caecilius: “My Lord Lucius was very specific.”

The Doctor: “Where’d you get the pattern?”

LUCIUS: “On the rain and mist and wind.”

Donna: “But that looks like a circuit.”

The Doctor: “Made of stone.”

Donna: “Do you mean you just dreamt that thing up?”

LUCIUS: “That is my job, as City Augur.”

Donna: “What’s that, then, like the mayor?”

The Doctor: “Oh, ha. You must excuse my friend, she’s from Barcelona.”

“Bring out the Goddess.” A voice demanded. “The one you have hidden from the world.”

I held my head up high. I walked into the parlor, seeing the oracle.

Lucius gave me a once over. “You are the one who claims to be Terra, Goddess of the Earth, and Mother to the Gods?”

“I do not claim.” I said, keeping my tone level. “I am Terra.”

The man scoffed. “To pose as a goddess is sacrilege.”

The earth shook. “To accuse a goddess of trickery is vile. My grandchildren are not very happy with you.” I kept my head up. “Who are you, to dare try and discredit me of myself?”

“Terra!” A voice cheered.

My eyes widened. I looked over, seeing Donna Noble standing just two feet away. The Doctor beside her.

“32.” I told him. His eyes shrunk. “This is your first real adventure, right Spartacus?” I asked Donna. She nodded, unaware of my rage towards the Doctor in this moment. I turned to the Romans. “She always wanted to join Spartacus on these journeys.”

The Doctor just looked at me in silence. Donna only innocently smiled, oblivious to the now occurring feud.

“They’re laughing at us. Those two, they use words like tricksters. They’re mocking us.” I heard from behind me.

I spun around, seeing my friend swaying behind me. “Evelina!” I cried out, rushing to catch her. I glared at Metella.

The Doctor: “No, no, I’m not. I meant no offence.

Metella: “I’m sorry. My daughter’s been consuming the vapors.

Quintus: “Oh for gods, Mother. What have you been doing to her?

Caecilius: “Not now, Quintus.

“I told you this stuff was making her sick!”

LUCIUS: “I gather I have a rival in this household. Another with the gift.

Metella: “Oh, she’s been promised to the Sibylline Sisterhood. They say she has remarkable visions.

LUCIUS: “The prophecies of women are limited and dull. Only the menfolk have the capacity for true perception.

Donna: “I’ll tell you where the wind’s blowing right now, mate.

LUCIUS: “The Mountain God marks your words. I’d be careful, if I were you.

The Doctor: “Consuming the vapours, you say?

Evelina: “They give me strength.

The Doctor: “It doesn’t look like it to me.

Evelina: “Is that your opinion as a doctor?

The Doctor: “I beg your pardon?

Evelina: “Doctor. That’s your name.

The Doctor: “How did you know that?

Evelina: “And you. You call yourself Noble.

Metella: “Now then, Evelina. Don’t be rude.

The Doctor: “No, no, no, no. Let her talk.

Evelina: “You both come from so far away.

LUCIUS: “The female soothsayer is inclined to invent all sorts of vagaries.

The Doctor: “Oh, not this time, Lucius. No, I reckon you’ve been out-soothsayed.

LUCIUS: “Is that so, man from Gallifrey?

The Doctor: “What?

LUCIUS: “The strangest of images. Your home is lost in fire, is it not?

Donna: “Doctor, what are they doing?

LUCIUS: “And you, daughter of London.

Donna: “How does he know that?

LUCIUS: “This is the gift of Pompeii. Every single oracle tells the truth.

Donna: “That’s impossible.

LUCIUS: “Doctor, she is returning.

The Doctor: “Who is? Who’s she?

LUCIUS: “And you, daughter of London. There is something on your back.

Donna: “What’s that mean?

Evelina: “Even the word Doctor is false. Your real name is hidden. It burns in the stars, in the Cascade of Medusa herself. You are a Lord, sir. A Lord of Time.

(More)

==BE==

(More)

Metella: “She didn’t mean to be rude. She’s ever such a good girl. But when the gods speak through her.

Donna: “What’s wrong with her arm?

Metella: “An irritation of the skin. She never complains, bless her. We bathe it in olive oil every night.

Donna: “What is it?

Metella: “Evelina said you’d come from far away. Please, have you ever seen anything like it?

(Donna strokes the dark rash on Evelina’s forearm.)

Donna: “It’s stone

(More)

==BE==

(More)

(Evelina has recovered, and is laughing as Donna puts on a purple robe and shawl.)

Donna: “You’re not supposed to laugh. Thanks for that. What do you think? The Goddess Venus.

Evelina: “Oh, that’s sacrilege.

Donna: “Nice to see you laugh, though. What do you do in old Pompeii, then, girls your age? You got mates? Do you go hanging about round the shops? TK Maximus?

Evelina: “I am promised to the Sisterhood for the rest of my life.

Donna: “Do you get any choice in that?

Evelina: “It’s not my decision. The Sisters chose for me. I have the gift of sight.

Donna: “Then what can you see happening tomorrow?

Evelina: “Is tomorrow special?

Donna: “You tell me. What do you see?

Evelina: “The sun will rise, the sun will set. Nothing special at all.

Donna: “Look, don’t tell the Doctor I said anything because he’ll kill me, but I’ve got a prophecy too.

(Evelina covers her eyes.)

Donna: “Evelina, I’m sorry, but you’ve got to hear me out. Evelina, can you hear me? Listen.

Evelina: “There is only one prophecy.

Donna: “But everything I’m about to say to you is true, I swear. Just listen to me. Tomorrow, that mountain is going to explode. Evelina, please listen. The air is going to fill with ash and rocks, tons and tons of it, and this whole town is going to get buried.

Evelina: “That’s not true.

Donna: “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, but everyone’s going to die.

Donna: “Even if you don’t believe me, just tell your family to get out of town. Just for one day. Just for tomorrow. But you’ve got to get out. You’ve got to leave Pompeii.

Evelina: “This is false prophecy.

(More)

==BE==

(More)

Caecilius: “Doesn’t sound like Vesuvius.

The Doctor: “Caecilius? All of you, get out.

Donna: “Doctor, what is it?

The Doctor: “I think we’re being followed.

(The hypocaust grill flies off.)

The Doctor: “Just get out!

(Instead, they stand and stare as the floor around the hypocaust cracks, and the stone and fire creature appears. As it stands, it nearly touches the ceiling.)

Evelina: “The gods are with us.

The Doctor: “Water. We need water. Quintus. All of you, get water. Donna!

ROMBUS: “Blessed are we to see the gods.

(His god breathes on him, burning him to ash instantly.)

The Doctor: “Talk to me. That’s all I want. Talk to me. Just tell me you are. Don’t hurt these people.

(Donna is returning with a bucket of water when the Sisterhood grab her. Evelina sees them.)

(More)

==BE==

(More)

Donna: “You have got to be kidding me.

(Donna is tied to the altar, and Spurrina is standing over her with a knife.)

Spurrina: “The false prophet will surrender both her blood and her breath.

Donna: I’ll surrender you in a minute. Don’t you dare.

Spurrina: You will be silent.

Donna: “Listen, sister, you might have eyes on the back of your hands, but you’ll have eyes in the back of your head by the time I’ve finished with you. Let me go!”

Spurrina: “This prattling voice will cease forever.

(Promises, promises. Spurrina raises the blade.)

The Doctor: “Oh, that’ll be the day.

Spurrina: “No man is allowed to enter the Temple of Sibyl.

The Doctor: “Well, that’s all right. Just us girls. Do you know, I met the Sibyl once. Yeah, hell of a woman. Blimey, she could dance the Tarantella. Nice teeth. Truth be told, I think she had a bit of a thing for me. I said it would never last. She said, I know. Well, she would. You all right there?

Donna: “Oh, never better.

The Doctor: “I like the toga.

Donna: “Thank you. And the ropes?

The Doctor: “Yeah, not so much.

(He uses the sonic screwdriver to cut them and free Donna.)

Spurrina: “What magic is this?

The Doctor: “Let me tell you about the Sibyl, the founder of this religion. She would be ashamed of you. All her wisdom and insight turned sour. Is that how you spread the word, hey? On the blade of a knife?

Spurrina: “Yes, a knife that now welcomes you.

High Priestess: “Show me this man.

Spurrina: “High Priestess, the stranger would defile us.

High Priestess: “Let me see. This one is different. He carries starlight in his wake.

The Doctor: “Oh, very perceptive. Where do these words of wisdom come from?

High Priestess: “The gods whisper to me.

The Doctor: “They’ve done far more than that. Might I beg audience? Look upon the High Priestess?

(Two Sisters draw the veil aside to reveal that the High Priestess is living stone.)

Donna: “Oh, my God. What’s happened to you?

High Priestess: “The heavens have blessed me.

The Doctor: “If I might?

(She holds out her hand for him to touch.)

The Doctor: “Does it hurt?

High Priestess: “It is necessary.

The Doctor: “Who told you that?

High Priestess: “The voices.

Donna: “Is that what’s going to happen to Evelina? Is this what’s going to happen to all of you?

(Spurrina shows Donna her stone forearm.)

Spurrina: “The blessings are manifold.

Donna: “They’re stone.

The Doctor: “Exactly. The people of Pompeii are turning to stone before the volcano erupts. But why?

High Priestess: “This word, this image in your mind. This volcano. What is that?

The Doctor: “More to the point, why don’t you know about it? Who are you?

High Priestess: “High Priestess of the Sibylline.

The Doctor: “No, no, no, no. I’m talking to the creature inside you. The thing that’s seeding itself into a human body, in the dust, in the lungs, taking over the flesh and turning it into, what?

High Priestess: “Your knowledge is impossible.

The Doctor: “Oh, but you can read my mind. You know it’s not. I demand you tell me who you are.

(The High Priestess speaks with two voices, her own and one deeper, which takes over.)

High Priestess: “We are awakening.

Spurrina: “The voice of the gods.

SISTERS: “Words of wisdom, words of power. Words of wisdom, words of power. Words of wisdom

The Doctor: “Name yourself. Planet of origin. Galactic coordinates. Species designation according to the universal ratification of the Shadow Proclamation.

High Priestess: “We are rising.

The Doctor: “Tell me your name!

High Priestess: “Pyrovile.

SISTERS: “Pyrovile. Pyrovile. Pyrovile.

Donna: “What’s a Pyrovile?

The Doctor: “Well, that’s a Pyrovile, growing inside her. She’s a halfway stage.

Donna: “What, and that turns into?

The Doctor: “That thing in the villa. That was an adult Pyrovile.

High Priestess: “And the breath of a Pyrovile will incinerate you, Doctor.

(The Doctor produces a yellow plastic water pistol.)

The Doctor: “I warn you, I’m armed. Donna, get that grill open.

Donna: “What for?

The Doctor: “Just. What are the Pyrovile doing here?

High Priestess: “We fell from the heavens. We fell so far and so fast, we were rendered into dust.

The Doctor: “Right, creatures of stone shattered on impact. When was that, seventeen years ago?

High Priestess: “We have slept beneath for thousands of years.

The Doctor: “Okay, so seventeen years ago woke you up, and now you’re using human bodies to reconstitute yourselves. But why the psychic powers?

High Priestess: “We opened their minds and found such gifts.

The Doctor: “Okay, that’s fine. So you force yourself inside a human brain, use the latent psychic talent to bond. I get that, I get that, yeah. But seeing the future? That is way beyond psychic. You can see through time. Where does the gift of prophecy come from?

Donna: “Got it.

The Doctor: “Now get down.

Donna: “What, down there?

The Doctor: “Yes, down there. Why can’t this lot predict a volcano? Why is it being hidden?

Spurrina: “Sisters, I see into his mind. The weapon is harmless.

The Doctor: “Yeah, but it’s got to sting.

(He squirts the water at the High Priestess. Yes, it does hurt her.)

The Doctor: “Get down there!

(More)

Donna: “You fought her off with a water pistol. I bloody love you.

The Doctor: “This way.

Donna: “Where are we going now?

The Doctor: “Into the volcano.

Donna: “No way.

The Doctor: “Yes, way. Appian way.

(More)

==BE==

(More)

Donna: “But if it’s aliens setting off the volcano, doesn’t that make it all right for you to stop it?

The Doctor: “Still part of history.

Donna: “But I’m history to you. You saved me in 2008. You saved us all. Why is that different?

The Doctor: “Some things are fixed, some things are in flux. Pompeii is fixed.

Donna: “How do you know which is which?

The Doctor: “Because that’s how I see the universe. Every waking second, I can see what is, what was, what could be, what must not. That’s the burden of a Time Lord, Donna. And I’m the only one left.

Donna: “How many people died?

The Doctor: “Stop it.

Donna: “Doctor, how many people died?

The Doctor: “Twenty thousand.

Donna: “Is that what you can see, Doctor? All twenty thousand? And you think that’s all right, do you?

(Something roars.)

The Doctor: “They know we’re here. Come on.

(More)

The Doctor: “It’s the heart of Vesuvius. We’re right inside the mountain.”

Donna: “There’s tons of them.”

The Doctor: “What’s that thing?”

(He uses a monocular to look at some distant construct.)

Donna: “Oh, you better hurry up and think of something. Rocky fall’s on its way.”

The Doctor: “That’s how they arrived. Or what’s left of it. Escape pod? Prison ship? Gene bank?”

Donna: “But why do they need a volcano? Maybe it erupts, and they launch themselves back into space or something?”

The Doctor: “Oh, it’s worse than that.”

Donna: “How could it be worse? Doctor, it’s getting closer.”

(Lucius is on a ridge at the other side of the cavern.)

LUCIUS: “Heathens defile us. They would desecrate your temple, my lord gods.

The Doctor: “Come on.

Donna: “We can’t go in.

The Doctor: “Well, we can’t go back.

LUCIUS: “Crush them. Burn them.

(A Pyrovile rears up in front of them, so the Doctor extinguishes it with his water pistol. They run to the escape pod.)

LUCIUS: “There is nowhere to run, Doctor, and daughter of London.

The Doctor: “Now then, Lucius. My lords Pyrovillian, don’t get yourselves in a lather. In a lava? No? No. But if I might beg the wisdom of the gods before we perish. Once this new race of creatures is complete, then what?

LUCIUS: “My masters will follow the example of Rome itself. An almighty empire, bestriding the whole of civilisation.

Donna: “But if you’ve crashed, and you’ve got all this technology, why don’t you just go home?

LUCIUS: “The Heaven of Pyrovillia is gone.

The Doctor: “What do you mean, gone? Where’s it gone?

LUCIUS: “It was taken. Pyrovillia is lost. But there is heat enough in this world for a new species to rise.

The Doctor: “Yeah, I should warn you, it’s seventy percent water out there.

LUCIUS: “Water can boil. And everything will burn, Doctor.

The Doctor: “Then the whole planet is at stake. Thank you. That’s all I needed to know. Donna.

(The Doctor go into the escape pod, which contains the circuit boards. The Doctor closes the doors with his screwdriver.)

(More)

==BE==

(More)

It was time. Do I doom Pompeii?

(More)

Donna: “Could we be any more trapped?”

(The Pyroviles breathe fire at the escape pod.)

Donna: “Little bit hot.”

The Doctor: “See? The energy converter takes the lava, uses the power to create a fusion matrix, which welds Pyrovile to human. Now it’s complete, they can convert millions.”

Donna: “But can’t you change it with these controls?”

The Doctor: “Of course I can, but don’t you see? That’s why the soothsayers can’t see the volcano. There is no volcano. Vesuvius is never going to erupt. The Pyrovile are stealing all its power. They’re going to use it to take over the world.”

Donna: “But you can change it back?”

The Doctor: “I can invert the system, set off the volcano, and blow them up, yes. But, that’s the choice, Donna. It’s Pompeii or the world.”

Donna: “Oh, my God.”

The Doctor: “If Pompeii is destroyed then it’s not just history, it’s me. I make it happen.”

Donna: “Doctor, the Pyrovile are made of rocks. Maybe they can’t be blown up.”

The Doctor: “Vesuvius explodes with the force of twenty four nuclear bombs. Nothing can survive it. Certainly not us.”

Donna: “Never mind us.”

The Doctor: “Push this lever and it’s over. Twenty thousand people.”

Yes. I will.

Because as horrible as it is, I am at least doing this with friends.

(More)

==BE==

(More)

The Doctor: “It was an escape pod.

(More)

Donna: “Don’t. Don’t go to the beach. Don’t go to the beach, go to the hills. Listen to me. Don’t go to the beach, it’s not safe. Listen to me.

(A little boy is crying.)

Donna: “Come here.

WOMAN: “Give him to me.

(The woman picks up the boy and runs off.)

The Doctor: “Come on.

(More)

==BE==

(More)

Caecilius: “Gods save us, Doctor.

(The Doctor goes to the TARDIS.)

Donna: “No! Doctor, you can’t. Doctor!

(More)

Donna: “You can’t just leave them!”

The Doctor: “Don’t you think I’ve done enough? History’s back in place and everyone dies.”

Donna: “You’ve got to go back. Doctor, I am telling you, take this thing back. It’s not fair.”

The Doctor: “No, it’s not.”

Donna: “But your own planet. It burned.”

The Doctor: “That’s just it. Don’t you see, Donna? Can’t you understand? If I could go back and save them, then I would. But I can’t. I can never go back. I can’t. I just can’t, I can’t.”

Donna: “Just someone. Please. Not the whole town. Just save someone.”

(More)

The Doctor: “Come with me.”

With that deed done, I Jumped away.

==BE==

Doctor

(More)

The Doctor: “It’s never forgotten, Caecilius. Oh, time will pass, men’ll move on, and stories will fade. But one day, Pompeii will be found again. In thousands of years. And everyone will remember you.

Donna: “What about you, Evelina? Can you see anything?

Evelina: “The visions have gone.

The Doctor: “The explosion was so powerful it cracked open a rift in time, just for a second. That’s what gave you the gift of prophecy. It echoed back into the Pyrovillian alternative. But not any more. You’re free.

Metella: “But tell me. Who are you, Doctor? With your words, and your temple containing such size within?

The Doctor: “Oh, I was never here. Don’t tell anyone.

Caecilius: “The great god Vulcan must be enraged. It’s so volcanic. It’s like some sort of volcano. All those people.”

(More)

“And what of Terra?” Evelina asked. “Where is she?”

The Doctor frowned. “She left. She gets called away, by people who need her.”

Evelina just smiled. “She truly is an All-Mother.” The girl decided. “Caring for all of her children. She tried to warn me as well, saying my visions were false due to the smoke.”

“She told me that you get better.” Quintus said.

“She told me that my children would become heroes.” Metella added.

“And that I would bring a man eternal hope.” Caecilius said.

That was so Terra. Stranded in Pompeii, and she gave a family hope. She told them all she could, to try and save their souls.

“She said all of that?” Donna asked.

Evelina nodded. “She said she cares for all of us.” She looked right at me. “You are lucky to have her, Doctor.”

The Doctor was slightly caught off guard by that. “What? No. I don’t-”

“I saw the looks you gave to her.” Evelina went on. “It didn’t take my gift to show me the truth and do not think your looks were unreturned. You are the Caelus to her Terra.”

The Doctor shook my head, turning back to the chaos. “I’m no god.”

“Actually.” Caecilius began. “She said you were the kindest man she has ever known.”

(More)

==BE==

Terra

(More)

Caecilius: “Metella, my love, have you seen that clasp? The beetle one. The Egyptians do love a scarab.

Metella: “Here we are. I was giving it a polish. Now calm down.

Caecilius: “If I get that contract for the marble granaries of Alexandria, we’ll be rich. You’ll see. Hold on there, Evelina. You are not going out wearing that.

(Her gown barely reached down to her knees.)

Evelina: “Don’t start, Dad. It’s what all the girls in Rome are wearing. See you later.

Caecilius: “Are you seeing that boy again?

Metella: “Oh, look at Quintus. My son, the doctor.

Quintus: “Mum, I’ve told you. I’m not a doctor. Not yet. I’m just a student of the physical sciences.

Metella: “Well, that’s a doctor to me. Give thanks to the household gods before you go, there’s a good boy. Come here, let me fix it. You’ve got that folded all wrong.

(Quintus kneels before the shrine.)

Quintus: “Thank you, household gods. Thank you for everything.”

“You’re quite welcome, Quintus.” I said.

The boy turned to me, momentarily shocked. He sighed, angrily, shaking his head. “Terra. Don’t do that.”

I laughed in response.

(MORE)