**At the villa of Consul Tacitus Disius**

Tacitus sat in his villa office, hand on his head. The latest reports from the East did not look well. It seems that Vibius had finally cracked; the loss of his cousin was too much to handle. Vibius blamed Emperor Pertinax for everything that had gone wrong, including the slipping of Gardiani power in the area around Rome. It would seem that the Gardiani cause was alive and well in the East and Vibius would rather turn on Rome than admit defeat. What an egotistical fool. Tacitus stood from his seat. He needed to clear his head.

He walked over to the table near the window and poured a glass of wine. Tacitus thought of his daughter, Cassandra. It had been seven years since he had seen her last. She had boarded a trireme with Tomidius and had left for Hispania. From her letters, Hispania had been good for her. She had spent so many years taking care of her mother that Tacitus had insisted she accompany her brother to the rugged wilds of the Iberian Peninsula.

A small knock at the door broke Tacitus’s attention. “Enter.” One of his servants opened the door and brought a new stack of reports. Rome was calming down after the charade that he and Brutus Terpus had put on. Tacitus still remembered all too vividly the extent to which Terpus had played his part. His ranting against the Consul had cost the Roman economy dearly. With the declaration of war and now the prospect of civil war in the East had the economy slid even more, the market holding at a mere 2 million sesterce surplus rather than the 18 million sesterce surplus held before the whole ordeal played out. Tacitus sat back down at his desk and began to rifle through the papers. After a moment, he stood and walked to the door. “Send someone to invite Quinus Vitellius and his wife to dinner, I would enjoy their company.”

**Later in the Evening**
Tacitus Disius entered the room where the Senator and his wife had been escorted. “Welcome, Quinus. Daeia, you are looking as lovely as ever.”

Quinus Vitellius and his wife Daeia smiled at the consul, shedding their robes and handing them to a servant. “Ave, Tacitus,” said the statesman.

Tacitus embraced his friend. "Ave, Quinus. It has been too long since we could get together under such normal circumstances." He released Quinus and embraced Daeia who laughed and nodded in agreement.

Quinus laughed, “Normal, yes... what is that again? There is way too much going on right now.”

“Indeed, but let us not talk of politics, I would not like your wife to die of boredom.” Tacitus took Daeia by the arm to escort her into the dining room. “How are the children, Daeia?”

“They are fine. Right now they are with their Aunt Dacillia and Augustina Terpus. They are practically adults...”

Quinus interrupted as his wife shot him a playful scowl. “How are yours, Tacitus? How did the trip to Hispania work out for them?”

Tacitus’s face turned serious for a moment. “Ah, so long ago.” He shook off the memories and answered an unasked question. “Yes. You remember that Cassandra married Servius, Amada's son?”

“Yes, yes...lovely old woman. Servius was a bright one, if I remember correctly. Did Cassandra stay in Hispania?” Quinus continued as if he hadn’t even asked a question. “I miss Hispania. So much as progressed since my one term there…” The politicians wife rolled her eyes. “What?” laughed Quinus, “It is a beautiful land.”

The Consul smiled at the two as they bantered. “Yes, she and Servius are there. My grandson is six years old and his little sister must be near two. I regret never having been able to go. I have wanted to bring them to Rome, but things here have been so...interesting. “

Daeia responded, “Yes! You know I have had our two youngest smothered with guards since the whole Praetorian Prefect debacle... and now with that egomaniacal...” Quinus raised a hand to cut her off as Tacitus laughed.

Quinus tried to salvage the conversation. “Yes, yes... Rome is still grand, but it is in need of some happiness.”

Tacitus looked up. “Speaking of, young Patrinus Veno is fashioning a play for me. It is a parody of the politicians of Rome. I haven't seen it yet, but it should be worth some laughs.” Tacitus stood and motioned to the table. “Shall we eat?”

It did not take a second invite to get Quinus on his way to the banquet table. “Absolutely...” His wife was equally as eager to eat. “Yes, I am eating for tw...”

Once again, the politician had interrupted his own wife. “What is on the menu Tacitus?”

Tacitus responded, “I am not sure exactly.” He turned to Daeia. “Congratulations. Quinus, you scoundrel,” Tacitus said as Quinus burst out laughing.

“A happy marriage, that’s all I have to say.”

The Consul smiled. "And what have you to say to that Daeia?”

It seemed that the question from Tacitus caught her a little off guard. “Well, whatever is for supper, smells divine...oh the child, it is welcome. Though I hope it is the last!” She laughed as only a happy Roman could and slapped her husband across his shoulder.

“It is nice to have company. This villa gets so lonely. Daeia, I regret that there is no female companionship in the house. Perhaps one of these days Cassandra may return home.”

The young woman smiled, “I did enjoy her company.”

As if he hadn’t heard a single word of their conversation, Quinus continued talking. “The place is huge, Tacitus... I mean, listen…” he whistled and laughed as the echo returned.

Tacitus joined the laugh. “Tomidius used to beg me to sell the thing.”

Daeia spoke up, aware that she was the only female in the room. “Well there is nothing wrong with having a large home. It’s nearly equal in size to your importance, Tacitus. You should move what family you can in, create a compound...like the Nervaes.”

With a bit of food still in his mouth Quinus said, “Speaking of Nervaes. I heard that Alyias is miserable. Do you know her, Tacitus? She is married to that Fortunus, the Proconsular Legate.

Tacitus shot Quinus a strange look. “Quinus, when did you become such a gossip?” Tacitus laughed before he continued, “but yes, I have heard that she may not have fully understood the duties of a military wife.” Tacitus gave Daeia a quick witty look. And she and Quinus began to laugh.

Quinus tried to answer the question and maintain some dignity. “Oh you know, when you work the city with the Urban Cohort guardsmen, you hear things...” He continued to laugh.

Fortunately his wife started another thread of discussion. “You know, I think we should talk about holding a celebration for Pertinax, he is under so much pressure right now...”

This time it was Tacitus that interrupted. “Ah, a feminine influence in the political sphere. I never knew you had such ambitions, Daeia.”

“I would never want to work in politics, oh no...but the women of the men in charge are indeed influential, at least,” she responded.

The Consul was impressed by her last comment. “Influence is relative, my dear.”

“Daeia, honey...” said Quinus with playful annoyance “eat something before you carry us away with your words.” He gave his smile a small wink and a smile.

Tacitus continued talking to the woman as though Quinus hadn’t said a word. “Even the lowest pleb has influence if he doesn't let anyone tell him otherwise.”

Quinus responded before his wife could. “Indeed it is Tacitus! It is. A man who stands his ground, hold onto his beliefs...has a fair amount of influence over his closest comrades. However, the same thing could be said about town fools. They hold onto their crazy ideals, and yet they have no influence.” Daeia could not contain her amusement and burst out laughing, wiping some wine from her grinning lips.

“Oh, but, Quinus, they do have influence over those who listen with open ears...look at us, again. My apologies, my lady. You know, Daeia, I have been thinking about what you said. I think that I shall write to Cassandra and have her come home. She has been gone from Rome too long.”

“You know I think she would really like Agustina Terpus, the wife of Legate Bonetius Terpus. We could start a new circle of friends! Oh yes, I would greatly enjoy her company again.” Daeia could hardly contain her joy. As Quinus sat and stared at his gleeful wife. He was so much in love with her. All he could do at that momen was slowly chew his food and focus on her. Words would not interrupt this picture he had of his wife in complete happiness.

“I am sure she would. I have met the young Terpus, a fine young man.”

Quinus startled from his own daydream. “Yes he is! I have yet to meet him in person, but we correspond very frequently. He will be coming to Rome soon I believe, for a wedding banquet. Though, he has been married for some time now.”

Tacitus replied, “I believe he is expecting a child.”

“Yes, yes he is. He has asked me to be the co-parent, or as we in Rome call it, the godfather.” Daeia laughed at her husband. His sense of humor, no matter how dry managed to get a laugh from her.

Tacitus smiled, “Good for you Quinus. Not like you have enough of your own children running around the Empire.” Tacitus winked at Daeia.

Quinus laughed, “I couldn’t see the child of someone that I call a friend go without a significant male influence.”

Tacitus laughed, "It is a good thing he didn't ask me then isn't it.”

Daeia with the wit only a woman possesses state, “It is his job, says Bonetius, to make sure his child knows all about its father.” Tacitus and Quinus laughed at the feminine take on the issue.

Tacitus could not resist the door opened by the lady, “Well, Daeia, you and I know how much Quinus likes to talk.”

It was becoming obvious that Quinus had a little too much wine. Whenever he began drinking heavily, he began to toast the world. “You, Tacitus, are a wonderful person to know. To you!” He raised his glass and was joined by his wife.

Tacitus continued to play with Quinus with wit and humor. “Perhaps you could send him to the Varro Academy. I hear they have a few openings.” The elder statesman winked ever so slightly at his friend.

Quinus speech was beginning to slur. “I think the Varro Academy should be shut down. It was really only a vibiafication school, and now that he has gone mad, I don’t think we need to have the future leaders of Rome schooled in his rebellious ways.”

Daeia looked at her husband and then politely stated to Tacitus in a calm tone, “There are other fine academies.”

Tacitus could not contain his laughter. “Vibiafication! Perhaps we should just take it over, devibiafy it.”

Quinus laughed in response and once again raised his glass. “To our fine educational system!”

“Quinus, you must take it easy on the wine. I would hate for your lictors to have to drag you home. And if they did, I would have to insist that Daeia stay here with me tonight.” Tacitus winked playfully at Daeia.

“It’s just that it is so good. I am proud to drink it!” exclaimed Quinus looking at the bottom of his empty glass. After a moment’s reflection he looked up, “I don’t want to give my lictors that much to laugh about.”

Tacitus picked up the wine and poured himself another glass. “It is a new brand from Hispania. Cassandra had a whole cellar's worth sent to me. It is much better than the old brand...” Quinus agreed as Tacitus continued, “…it had become so bitter lately.”

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By: A. Tacitus Disius and T. Quinus Vitellius

60 AD