![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
breakinglight11Okay, did a little better after not having much of any ideas for yesterday. Still another scene from Adonis, but the next part of the story, once the rebellion is underway and they’re trying to find allies. This scene would come before a scene from many years ago, 31P31D 2015’s #21 - Britannica Gloriana. I had this idea for a character who was the child of the conqueror of Britain who lived in a position of power and honor because of it, but had never accomplished anything herself and was bored and a little self-loathing. She’s meant to go on a journey in contrast to our other privileged heiress character, Pavilla, who is monstrously entitled, and decide to forge her own path. This scene shows Aidan approaching her, establishing her character, but also giving a chance to explore another concept that is consequential of the cultural gender flip— that Aidan’s personal charisma is a tool he’s obligated to use if he’s going to push the cause of the rebellion… but he doesn’t like it and finds it painful to do so.
It also has some lines I love and have wanted to incorporate for years.
Day #18 - Blond Salvation
From Adonis
By Phoebe Roberts
AIDAN, once a Celtic slave, now a rebel leader
Britannica GLORIANA, daughter of the conqueror of Britain
~~~
GLORIANA lounges in her garden as her servants conduct in AIDAN. She smiles insolently as she regards him, throwing her arms wide in ironic wonder.
GLORIANA: I have seen salvation, and he is blond.
He ignores her mocking, and inclines his head.
AIDAN: Britannica Gloriana.
She stands and approaches. He allows her to pace around him.
GLORIANA: When they told me you were a young god, I thought it was plebeian fable. But I see why they fall to their knees before you.
Beat. She takes a few steps back. He pins her with his gaze.
GLORIANA: Well? Aren't you going to say your piece?
AIDAN: I could. If that's what you want.
GLORIANA: Isn't that why you're here?
AIDAN: I thought perhaps you just wanted a look at me.
She laughs at this, though she can no longer meet his eyes.
GLORIANA: Isn’t that what they all do? Look, and be dazzled from afar, while you hide behind that gods-given face?
She sits again, and gestures for him to do the same. After a moment, he does.
GLORIANA: No. Go on, then. Let’s hear what you have to say.
AIDAN: I’ve been sent with a message from the general Diana Aurelia. We come to beg an alliance.
GLORIANA: You do, do you? You look like you don't have a thought in your head. And yet you’ve been sent to argue her cause?
AIDAN: It’s my cause, domina. I’m ready to fight for it.
GLORIANA: And what makes you think I would throw in my lot with a rebel slave?
AIDAN: Many senators have already spoken in pledge to Saturnina. But not everyone— and not you, domina. Why is that?
GLORIANA: Perhaps Diana Aurelia has been too long afield and has had no news of the goings on in the city. The Britannicae are for the Senate now; they no longer go away to war.
AIDAN: I know your history. Your mother earned that title when she conquered Britain. With three legions, a march across the countryside from north to south, laying siege to each village in turn. Until the tribes bent the knee to Rome.
GLORIANA: My. You do know my history.
AIDAN: Because it’s mine too. That conquest was when I was taken, as a boy in the woods of Eboracum.
Gloriana tenses.
GLORIANA: Then you know my mother made you a slave. Our legacy is your subjugation.
AIDAN: I know.
GLORIANA: How could you come to me? When everything I am was built on your back?
AIDAN: As you said. The Britannicae have changed. Perhaps you want to make your own legacy different.
Gloriana stands, shaking off her distress and resuming her ironic bearing.
GLORIANA: Well. You’ve made a good show if it. Who’d have known you’d speak as pretty as you look? For now, you can go back to your mistress with that.
AIDAN: Does that mean you’ll consider our cause, domina?
She takes his chin in her hand and tips it up so he looks at her.
GLORIANA: You have hopes of me yet, do you?
She kisses him, hard and sudden, and he submits to it on instinct, the way he used to.
GLORIANA: Very well, then— if it is a reason to call you back.
It also has some lines I love and have wanted to incorporate for years.
Day #18 - Blond Salvation
From Adonis
By Phoebe Roberts
AIDAN, once a Celtic slave, now a rebel leader
Britannica GLORIANA, daughter of the conqueror of Britain
~~~
GLORIANA lounges in her garden as her servants conduct in AIDAN. She smiles insolently as she regards him, throwing her arms wide in ironic wonder.
GLORIANA: I have seen salvation, and he is blond.
He ignores her mocking, and inclines his head.
AIDAN: Britannica Gloriana.
She stands and approaches. He allows her to pace around him.
GLORIANA: When they told me you were a young god, I thought it was plebeian fable. But I see why they fall to their knees before you.
Beat. She takes a few steps back. He pins her with his gaze.
GLORIANA: Well? Aren't you going to say your piece?
AIDAN: I could. If that's what you want.
GLORIANA: Isn't that why you're here?
AIDAN: I thought perhaps you just wanted a look at me.
She laughs at this, though she can no longer meet his eyes.
GLORIANA: Isn’t that what they all do? Look, and be dazzled from afar, while you hide behind that gods-given face?
She sits again, and gestures for him to do the same. After a moment, he does.
GLORIANA: No. Go on, then. Let’s hear what you have to say.
AIDAN: I’ve been sent with a message from the general Diana Aurelia. We come to beg an alliance.
GLORIANA: You do, do you? You look like you don't have a thought in your head. And yet you’ve been sent to argue her cause?
AIDAN: It’s my cause, domina. I’m ready to fight for it.
GLORIANA: And what makes you think I would throw in my lot with a rebel slave?
AIDAN: Many senators have already spoken in pledge to Saturnina. But not everyone— and not you, domina. Why is that?
GLORIANA: Perhaps Diana Aurelia has been too long afield and has had no news of the goings on in the city. The Britannicae are for the Senate now; they no longer go away to war.
AIDAN: I know your history. Your mother earned that title when she conquered Britain. With three legions, a march across the countryside from north to south, laying siege to each village in turn. Until the tribes bent the knee to Rome.
GLORIANA: My. You do know my history.
AIDAN: Because it’s mine too. That conquest was when I was taken, as a boy in the woods of Eboracum.
Gloriana tenses.
GLORIANA: Then you know my mother made you a slave. Our legacy is your subjugation.
AIDAN: I know.
GLORIANA: How could you come to me? When everything I am was built on your back?
AIDAN: As you said. The Britannicae have changed. Perhaps you want to make your own legacy different.
Gloriana stands, shaking off her distress and resuming her ironic bearing.
GLORIANA: Well. You’ve made a good show if it. Who’d have known you’d speak as pretty as you look? For now, you can go back to your mistress with that.
AIDAN: Does that mean you’ll consider our cause, domina?
She takes his chin in her hand and tips it up so he looks at her.
GLORIANA: You have hopes of me yet, do you?
She kisses him, hard and sudden, and he submits to it on instinct, the way he used to.
GLORIANA: Very well, then— if it is a reason to call you back.
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}