#cingerix

[cassiopeiacorvus]

Shades

Read on AO3

Summary: As Cingerix fights for survival after his family's triumph, he's haunted by echoes of the past.

Words: 1,342

Warnings: Brief/Implied mentions of torture, slavery, and blood.

It started with Talius.

When Cingerix and his sister would spy on the Roman soldiers, they’d catch glimpses of the other Gauls being carted away to slavery. Cingerix would watch his people be marched away and bite hard on his tongue to stop himself from racing out. His sister would be there with a gentle hand on his shoulder, begging him not to act. Most days, he'd be able to contain himself, blood pooled in his mouth. Cingerix would look away and see him among the trees on the other side of the pathway.

Talius. The same strong legs, the calloused hands, his toned arms, his taut chest. His jaw, his nose, his bright green eyes, bored into Cingerix. If he’d walked over, Cingerix would’ve been able to place his hand on his chest, feel his heartbeat, kiss his lips.

But Cingerix knew that wouldn’t be real. He’d seen those same legs grow fatigued from battle. He’d seen those same hands drop their weapons in anguish, those same arms grab him in desperation, that same chest struggle to keep breathing. That same jaw slackened in death. That same nose broken in two places and leaking blood. Those same eyes gazing up at him and seeing nothing. Cingerix blinks and Talius is gone. He’s died a second time. Cingerix followed his sister when she pulled him further into the forest. He didn’t tell her what he saw.

Cingerix stopped seeing Talius after the triumph. He liked to think that Talius saw no point in continuing to watch him. They’d soon be together again. Cingerix was sure he’d be sent away to a latifundia or perhaps the mines. He wouldn’t have to wait long to join Talius if he was sold to the mines. Instead, his family was snatched from him, and the Romans broke him piece by piece.

He was sold to the legions, enslaved to an officer. Cingerix did as he was ordered, told himself he was being treated fairly, and kept his head down. He was given the opportunity to enlist. He once told his sister that he’d rather die than be a slave and now he would fight to enslave others. He walked out of the tent a newly minted soldier, and his father stood before him.

Victus looked tired. Their two years in the woods had taken its toll. His back, once unbowed and unbent, had slackened with the weight of the slaughter of the Verbigeni. His dark angry eyes pierced into Cingerix. They felt like daggers stabbing into his chest.

Cingerix wanted to say he did what he needed to survive. He wanted to say that Victus had no idea what they had done to him. Victus was dead; his family was dead. How was he supposed to go on without them? His words died on his tongue.

Cingerix tried to move, to push his father out of the way, but Victus was gone. And Cingerix was alone again.

He saw his mother by the river. The legion had finished setting up camp for the night and he had snuck away to wash himself. He thought of the cleansing ritual Delphinia had taught him and wondered how tainted a person could be before the ritual stopped working.

As he bent down to scoop up the water, he saw her in the reflection. He knew that if he turned around, she wouldn’t be there. He looked anyway. Only the forest greeted him. He turned back to the water, and she was still there.

Delphinia looked worried. There was that crease between her brows that she had always gotten when Cingerix and his sister did something reckless. When they were fighting the Romans, it never seemed to leave her face. The kohl around her eyes made them stand out and it felt as if Isis herself was judging Cingerix through her. He slapped the water, and his mother was dead again.

He thought about performing the ritual but doesn’t attempt to. Cingerix knew he was tainted. He didn’t need a ritual to tell him. He settled for washing his hands and feet. Baths were a rare luxury on a march.

He spent most of his time with the rest of the Gallic auxiliary units, but occasionally he’d hear the Roman soldiers talk about how they missed the bath houses. It sounded appealing. He’d like to see Rome again one day. His family’s triumph had faded to a corner of his mind, an old shame he was glad none of his fellow soldiers knew about. Perhaps it was time to look to the future.

Cingerix did see Rome again. After Gaul submitted to Caesar’s will, many triumphs were held. Cingerix marched with his fellow soldiers as they displayed the spoils of Gaul. At the front of the procession was Caesar himself dressed in the toga picta and wearing a laurel crown. His soldiers lovingly mocked him with lewd songs as they wound through the streets towards the Temple of Jupiter.

As much as he tried not to, Cingerix’s focus was riveted to the centerpiece of the triumph, the Gallic chief Vercingetorix. The man who banded the remaining tribes together to defeat Caesar. Cingerix remembered the Battle of Alesia. There the chieftain was tall and shining. He galvanized his forces. Even in defeat, he laid down his arms and surrendered with the utmost calm and deliberation.

This was not the man who stood before Cingerix now. Six years in the Tullianum does much to a person. Vercingetorix was hunched over, barely able to keep himself upright. His bones jutted out at odd angles. His once lustrous hair hung limp and matted. Cingerix couldn’t bear to look him in the eye. He turned to the crowds.

All of Rome had come to see them. The teeming masses of the city surrounded their procession route, eager to take part in the games and parties that came along with triumphs. Ten years ago, he wanted to rip out the throats of the Romans who were celebrating the slaughter of his people. Now he was celebrating along with them.

Then he saw her. His sister Andarta. She was standing in the middle of a group of women. Cingerix stumbled for a moment. A fellow soldier steadied him and kept up his bawdy ballad, unaware of the change in his comrade.

Time slowed. Cingerix should surely have passed her by now, but the moment stretched on into eternity. Andarta wasn’t even looking at him. Her eyes were fixed to Caesar at the head of the procession. Cingerix could feel the heat of her gaze, as if the war goddess she was named for had descended from the sky. It brought him back to the forest, to dodging Roman legionnaires, to his own past rage. He had to do something. She couldn’t be that bold in public. If Caesar saw—

Cingerix cleared his head. Caesar wouldn’t see. His mind was playing tricks on him again. Andarta wasn’t here. She was dead. She wouldn’t have survived. His sister was many things, but she was not subtle. She was not quiet. Cingerix would be shocked if she had lived even a few days after they were all separated. She wouldn’t compromise herself. Not like he did.

This was the gods mocking him. Perhaps it really was the goddess Andraste in the crowd. He had turned from the gods even before the triumph and this was how they punished him. These visions, these shades were a reminder of his failures.

But he hadn’t failed. He had survived and no one would take that away from him. The procession finally moved passed the sick simulacrum of his sister. Cingerix closed his eyes and imagined his family as they had been before all this began. Victus walking with the men of their village discussing the day’s affairs. Delphinia teaching the women her ways of healing and worship. Andarta teasing him as they helped with the day’s chores. He left them in their home and walked forward, his eyes on Caesar, never to waver.

[somerandomjewelleryonthefloor]

I love the gays so much.

I like how they made us like Euthymios, even though he's a side character I always smiled when he was on screen because he was just a vibe and I loved him.

They did a good job at making us like him, and like our brother, and seeing them together (while it kinda seems sudden) doesn't break my world- so they did a good job!

[canonqueercharacters]

The canon queer character of the day is:

Cingerix from A Courtesan of Rome, who is gay.

[choicesoutofcontext]

a courtesan of rome | ch 6

[griffinsabina]

[choicesficwriterscreations]

CFWC F/AtoW: Dec 8 - 14, 2024

✒️ = Fanfic | 📱 = Text Fics/Edits | 🎨 = Fanart Ⓜ️ = Mature Content 18+ | 🔥 = Explicit/NSFW 18+ 🏳️‍🌈 = LGBTQIA+

A COURTESAN OF ROME

Shades ✒️ | Cingerix - @cassiopeiacorvus

CRIMES OF PASSION

Red Strings of Fate (That Bind Us Together) (Series) ✒️Ⓜ️ | Multiple Pairings - @rosesnink Chapter 2: All Too Well

HIGH SCHOOL STORY

Piano Training ✒️🔥 | Aiden Zhou x F!MC - @cadybear420

IMMORTAL DESIRES

For the Love of Mary - Gabe Edition 🎨✒️ | Gabe Adalhard x F!MC - @mercedesdecorazon

NIGHTBOUND

Bound by Fate (Series) ✒️ | Nik Ryder x F!MC - @ladylamrian Chapter 9: Mirror & Smoke Chapter 10: Lady Shadow

OPEN HEART

Complete Open Heart F/AtoW List: Dec 8 - 14, 2024

THE ROYAL ROMANCE

Bedtime Baklava ✒️ | Liam Rys & Queen Regina - @lizzybeth1986

Estranged (Series) ✒️ | Liam Rys x Savannah Walker - @twinkleallnight Part 5

Princesa Real 3 (Series) ✒️ | Liam Rys x F!MC - @belencha77 Special Chapter: Navidad

Turning the Page (Series) | Liam Rys x F!MC - @tessa-liam Chapter 16: Before I Called You Mine

CROSSOVERS

Immortal Desires / It Lives In The Woods

Until I'm By Your Side, Forget Me Not! ✒️🏳️‍🌈 | M!OC x NB!OC - @aallotarenunelma

[endlessly-cursed]

MA- Naila of Alderly

"𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙪𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩."

Name: Naila Mabel Rosalee of Alderly

Nicknames: TBD

Birthdate: 28th of November, 2000

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Personality Type (MBTI): TBD

Blood Status: Half-blood

Nationality: British

Physical Appearance

Hair: Blonde

Eyes: Blue

Height: 1.68m

Weight: 65kg

Body Type: Tall, slender

Skin Tone: Fair

Distinguishing Marks (scars, birthmarks, etc.): She'll acquire many

Background

Hometown

Naila grew up in a country estate, neighbouring her cousins Quincey and Olympia, whom she vacationed on occasion, though she wasn't around much on their lives due to keep the magic hush-hush, since her father asked her to, given the prejudice against magic users. Nevertheless, she got a top-notch education and was among the elites, her father being among the wealthiest men in the wizarding and muggle world.

She also liked from time to time to spend time with her other cousins from the Dubois family, especially Yvonne, whom she favoured over her entitled and cruel cousin Lucille. The three women spent a lot of time together, although, being young and unaware, they kind of left Lucille out of it...

Family

Mother: Ophelie Brunhilda of Alderly, neé Dubois

A sweet, youthful spirit, she was Naila's role model and caretaker, and often told stories of the Dubois and the lineage full of strong women who made it through incredibly tough situations. One day, when Naila turned sixteen, she found her mother's body, having been brutally murdered, alongside her room and office destroyed. This'd draw her to her next adventure... a dangerous one.

Father: George Elyan Victor of Alderly

Having grown up with a troubled father and a reserved mother, he toughened up from a young age and only Ophelie broke through his walls, and with her, he built a small but stable empire that hurt nobody. Until, one day, his wife was brutally murdered. He closed himself off and swore that he'd take an eye for an eye, for only Ophelie could've stopped him. But she was no longer there, and thus he only knew rage and vengeance, which led him to neglect emotionally his only child.

Hogwarts

House: Hufflepuff

Best Class: Class, Astronomy and DADA

Worst Class: History of Magic

Boggart: Rowan's body, being killed the exact same as her mother

Riddikulus: Rowan gets up and starts complaning

Patronus: TBD

Patronus Memory: Going to Disneyland Paris as a girls' trip with her mother when she was 10, after having been accepted at the same school as her mother

Mirror of Erised: Her mother being proud of her, being close to her father again and living her life with Rowan

Amortentia (what she smells like): Coco Chanel nº4 perfume, red velvet cake, cherry-flavoured lipstick and freshly made pasta

Amortentia (what she smells): Something related to Rowan

Career

11-18: Hogwarts student

16-18: Disbander of the cult 'Saviours of Cingerix'

19-34: CEO of Ophelie's Cosmetics

35-78: Head of model agency 'Le Costume du Alderly'

Personality & Attitude

Priorities: Finding her mother's killers, Rowan's safety, get justice done and wear the perfect outfit

Strengths: Strong-willed, passionate, even-keeled, good humoured and insightful

Weaknesses: Proud, stubborn, petty and rich kid privilege

Stressed: Around the cultists

Calm/Comforted: Around cats, on Rowan's arms

Favorites

Colors: Pink, black, yellow and white pink

Weather: Partially cloudy

Hobbies: Reading, horse-riding (specifically polo), tennis and cosmetics

Fashion: Naila dresses in a 90% pink variant palette, sometimes adding a bit of black and white, and always looks fashionable

Relationships

Significant Other/Love Interest: Rowan Luther-Snyde ( @hphmmatthewluther )

They were both from the same side, until her mother's death brought them together as crime-solving partners. They worked surprisignly well, and both soon became very close, close enough to slowly develop feelings.

However, disbanding a cult from the inside was not the best place to develop a love story, and both went through many tribulations which constantly put Naila and Rowan in danger, some of them near-death experiences.

It also caught up with their last years of Hogwarts, and studying while all else wasn't easy at all. In fact, Naila's grades were affected for most part. But all's well that ends well.

After disbanding the cult, Naila and Rowan got together officially and dated shortly before graduation. For many years, they stayed together without ever marrying one another, both not seeing it necessary.

When they were both in their late thirties, they welcomed their first child, Sophie, who was their entire world.

Friends: Quincey, Olympia and Evander Alderly ( @gaygryffindorgal and @potionboy3 )

They're cousins. More TBA

Naila looks up to her and sees them as a role model. More TBA

They're cousins as well. She doesn't approve of what he did when they were younger, but after he becomes duke, she starts having a good relationship with him. More TBA

Rivals: Maverick Harlow (great-great-grandfather)

Maverick is an immortal wizard who followed the cult of his deceased wife, Tallulah La Rossa, after she was defeated by Belladonna Gaunt in the French Revolution. He killed his own great-granddaughter-in-law for a ritual, thus setting apart Naila's family. This murder is Naila's catalyst to avenge her mother and review her lifestyle and what she took for granted.

Trivia

She soon became Hogwarts' it girl on year four when she became famous for her pinkstatic outfits

She had a privileged education, being trained in dressage, courtly dances, six languages (Spanish, German, French, Swedish and ofc English) history, fencing, badminton, muay thai, playing the harp and piano, fancy cruisine, hot couture and royal etiquette

The hobby she loved most and started to develop soon was sculpture, and made some impressive sculptures

She also has a powerful singing voice, although rarely sings unless it's very helpful or benefitial

Her idols are Elizabeth Taylor, Britney Spears and Sofía Vergara

She absolutely loves old Hollywood and some of her favourite films are from the era. The non-English actress that she liked most was María Félix in 'Doña Diabla' 1949

She hates being told what to do or be given orders, which has led to many arguments with teachers and all kinds of adults

She likes Latine music better than most of English music personally

Her references are Elle Woods, Kat Stratford and Blair Waldorf

Her favourite singers are Becky G and Lana del Rey

[sciralta]

Which male Choices character has the best:

Tiddies

Ass

Thighs

Oh that’s easy it’s Cingerix and Kraglin for all three

[griffinsboyfriend]

Im a whore and want more male li with the Raf/Cingerix body type.

[clansayeed]

🌹

If heroes are supposed to always be totally stoked to go out and save someone new every single day… well it’s a good thing nobody’s ever made the mistake of calling him a hero.

― (an untitled part of the Oblivionverse)

send a 🌹 for a random sentence from my WIP

[kcnnarys]

ethan ramsey 😈

i called him ugly in my previous ask but let's keep going with whiny manchild with backbone of a chocolate eclair

send me a choices character and ill insult them

[gwygle]

Day 5 MC and family

[imogenwescott]

adrian ❤

billionaire AND veteran who can't stop talking about his dead wife in front of his new gf -_-

Send me a character and I’ll insult them

[griffinsabina]

[sciralta]

who are the top 5 Choices bottoms the people want to know

Mal Volari

Gabe Ricci

Beckett Harrington

Cingerix

Untameable MC

[sciralta]

False it’s Cingerix

Who's got the biggest booty in choices?

MC always! 🤪

Probably LoA MC since he’s just that gay bitch that everyone wants. I always pictured my CoP male MC having a really nice ass too.