#Terentia (City of the Night)

[nightmaremp]

The City of the Night: You're Not a Monster, Love. Ch 4: Snacks After Work

 The day soon turned into night. It was time to head home. Roy and Max left the theater and decided to head to a local gas station for snacks. The two stop at a gas station called “Jupiter’s Gas and Snacks.” It was one of the best gas stations in the city. 

Roy stops at one of the gas pumps. He needed to get gas anyway. The emerald green haired male hopped out of the car. He grabbed the pump and placed it into the pipe that led to the fuel tank. Roy had to stand there a bit to keep an eye on the pump. 

Max waited on the inside of the truck since he and his twin always get snacks together. It was like a small tradition. The emerald green haired male saw a carriage go by. The carriage was being pulled by two Scutosaurus. The Scutosaurus were these huge reptiles with a heavy spiked head and bony armor. The reptiles were a dust green shade. 

They were herbivores. The Scutosaurus are often used to pull carriages in cities. The bony armor reptiles aren’t scared of cars or any machine like any other herbivores. The carriage moves by as Max watches. The emerald green haired male let out a soft sigh as he looked over to the other side of the truck. 

Roy had finished filling up the gas tank of the truck. The engine of the vehicle was actually made from water and a type of flower. All vehicles and machines run on this liquid. The flower used for the gas is called Sun Down Daisy. The plant is found in the mountains of the Sunshine Mountains. Some farms had been built on the mountains to grow the flowers and ship them to plants to be turned into gas. The gas is safe for the air of the world and also helps with the growth of some plants. 

The twin brother opened the door of the truck and poke his head in. “Ready to head inside?” asked Roy. 

“Yep” replied Max before he got out of the truck. The brothers head inside to the gas station. When the two got inside, Max headed to the candy rack that was kept in the front. 

Roy on the other hand, went to the coolers to grab a drink. The emerald green haired male picks out a sweet drink. The drink was a strawberry blossom. It was a sweet drink that wasn’t strong. The packing of the sweet drink was a medium size glass bottle. The paper label was covered in a protective layer of plastic wrap around the bottle. The label was a strawberry pink color with a picture of a white bunny in a strawberry dress. 

Meanwhile with his twin brother, Max was trying to choose some candy to buy. He can’t lie that he has a huge sweet tooth. The emerald green haired male was holding three small bags of candy. One bag was gummy worms. The second was some jaw breakers and the third was cherry flavor bubble gum. 

Max spotted an old candy that he remembered Roy used to eat when they were kids. It was honeycomb gummies. He always dislikes the honey taste of the gummies but Roy loves them to death. The packeting of the sweets was a pastel yellow with a cute short faced bear mascot on it. Max picks up a bag of the honeycomb gummies for his twin. 

After the twins pick up snacks and drinks, they both pay for the stuff before heading back to the truck. The two got into the truck and headed home. On the ride home, Max was eating some gummy worms. Roy kept on driving to their home. The city lights made the black sky look dark purple. Stars in the sky shine brighter than any diamond. 

When the twins got home, Max headed inside to his room with his snacks in his hands. Roy let out a chuckle before heading into his bedroom. He had put his snack and drink up for tomorrow. The emerald green haired male closes the door behind him. 

His bedroom was neat and clean unlike his brother’s bedroom. Roy sat down on the edge of the bed for a moment. He let out a soft sigh. The twin looked out of the window of his room. It was a half moon tonight. The emerald green haired male heard some calls of the wolves of the area. Their howls are like music to Roy’s ears. He let out a soft hum. The emerald green haired male has heard some tales surrounding wolves. 

Wolves were a symbol of leaders who protect their packs. The species is often used as a symbol of the Goddess of Protectiveness, Terentia. The goddess is known for her strength and loyalty to her people. Roy remembers his mother always telling a story of Terentia before bed when he and Max were little.  

[aristocraticvision]

Chapter 16: A Decision Is Made

Later the same day, Cicero ordered dining couches to be carried up to the roof, where he declared the family and guests would dine under the stars that evening. Quickly, he sent invitations to Quintus, Atticus and Servius Sulpicious – his inner circle and closest advisors. Even I was invited, although I’m sure it didn’t sit well with Terenthia.

Yet Cicero had thought through that conundrum, as well, purchasing some lovely flowers from the vendors on the Forum Boarium and apologizing for his behavior the night before.

That evening, we all sat chatting after a hearty dinner, myself on a chair nearby. Above us, it was cloudy, but a cool breeze made the night pleasant, banishing the smoke and odors that so often rose from the crowded city below.

“My friends, I’m glad you are all here,” Cicero said. “Now that we’ve dined, I suppose I should make my little announcement.”

Everyone turned toward their host, curious.

“I have decided to stand for election as aedile,” Cicero said, firmly.

Quintus laughed, thinking him joking, but soon stopped.

“But you cannot win, Marcus!” he said. “You heard what Pompey said. He doesn’t want you to stand.”

Cicero shook his head.

“It is not for Pompey to decide,” he said. “I choose to run. That is all that is needed.”

“But what is the point?” Atticus asked. “You’re not likely to win if he chooses to block you, and then you’ll have earned his enmity.”

“Well, after yesterday, one might better ask the point of earning Pompey’s friendship?” Terentia said, bitterly.

“Well said, my dear,” Cicero said. “I could wait a year or two, fawning over Pompey like any of a hundred other lackeys, currying for his favor. But who’s to say I wouldn’t find myself forgotten or ignored? No, I think it’s better to seize the opportunity that lies before me now.”

“But how?” Quintus’ wife, Pomponia, asked. “How in the world can you get the votes?”

“By moving forward with my prosecution of Gaius Verres,” Cicero said. “By the time I’m done, my name will be on the lips of every man in Rome! Then no one can stop me – not even Pompey!”

Servius Sulpicious began to laugh, and everyone turned to him.

“Cicero, my friend,” he said. “You are either the most brilliant politician I have ever met, or the biggest fool. I suppose it remains to be seen which is true – but you can count on my support in finding out!”

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