Sextus

'''I have neither given nor received help on this assignment. I have completed my work following all school rules and procedures related to integrity, behavior, and citing of sources.'''

-anonymous 9th grader

Sextus is the 12 years old son of a bitch and God's mistake on this cruel planet. His mother is dead, and his other mother should be dead and so he is temporarily being raised by Gaius Cornelius Calvus and Aurelia, making him the step brother of Marcus and Cornelia. He is "friends" with Marcus but is disliked by Cornelia and Davus (for good reason) because they consider him annoying and, in the latter's case, is an interference to his love life. Davus is always trying to find a date, but Sextus scares all the ladies off. He lived in Pompeii before the city, along with his mother, was destroyed by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, but it should have been Sextus

Sextus is the bane of our existence of the Ecce Romani community. He leads us into hell and betrays us when in trouble. Screw Sextus. He's annoying, no cap. Although Marcus could beg to differ.

Marcus POV:

I am in love with Sextus. I lie awake at night, every night, dreaming of him. Of his impish laugh, his quick smile, his eyes which I could get lost in forever. Oh, his eyes. The way they stare at me, so intensely yet so kindly, with love spilling out of them and drowning me.

We shared a meal together. On a summers eve, as the sun was setting, he led me to a quiet cafe in Paris. Cliche, I know, but still- how romantic. We drank wine and ate croissants; the clinking of our glasses as we took the first sip still rings in my ears. It was all so perfect. We watched passerby and made fantasies about their lives. That lady there, she was a nanny, buying food for the kids. That man over there, he is a husband about to learn that his wife is pregnant. Movie stars, doctors, historians; we saw all of these that night.

He walked me home. Hand in hand, we walked over the cobblestone street, full and happy from our meal. And on the steps of my apartment complex, he told me he loved me, and then left. I never saw him again.

But oh, how I yearn for the embrace of my lover. He is gone, but in my arms I feel him still.

I feel him in my heart as well. Or is it an absence of feeling? The absence of joy, of happiness, of the want to live, is this what I feel in my heart? When Sextus left, he took a piece of my heart with him.

Sextus est ✨ b a e u s✨ {-marcus}

Sextus est scribet:

Just as I had left, I came to him. In a small bakery I found him again. The numbness of depression was absent for the first time in years. Yes, it had been three years since the night we shared, three years since I last saw my lost lover. We walked along those same cobblestone streets once more, eating bread and cheese and poking fun at each other. We both knew we were in love, and this time I was sure he'd stay.

That night I walked him to the train station. On the way he bought me a bouquet of flowers. Roses, my favorite. I felt like I had a fever, everything was so warm and I started shaking. He made eye contact with me, and his smile softened. He explained how he could not stay, how he had to return to his father. The sky grew cloudy and it began to rain, he held his hand out and we dance. I was soaked, but I was happy. We were happy.

But the lingering thought of his departure itched in my brain, interrupting my happiness and torturing me until I could stand it not longer. I finally asked him why he couldn't just stay, why we couldn't just run away together, away from his father and the fear of being found out. We could go to Greece. There, men do it all the time.

His beautiful eyes glittered with the promise of a new tomorrow, and I thought I had won him over. I thought I persuaded him. But his overjoyed expression faded away as he explained he couldn't leave his father like that. His father is getting on in years and even though his spirit is strong, old age has caused his body to become battered and weak, always in need of assistance. If Marcus left, that might be the last blow, destroying his father's spirit and Pluto would finally come for him. It's selfish of me, but I don't understand. His father was never there for him emotionally, why must Marcus be there for him? But, alas, Cornelius is Marcus' father. Marcus is doing the right thing. He's so kind, so sweet. When I was living with the Cornelius family, he was always a bundle of joy and happiness, shedding light upon our darkest days.

As we dance, I gaze upon his gorgeous face in melancholy sadness. I took for granted the free and easy time we spent together as children, I cannot take this for granted too. I will miss this moment, I must memorize it. I must memorize his shy smile, his dreamy eyes, the droplets of water sliding down his smooth skin, and his damp, messy hair. I must memorize the spark of his touch, the feeling of his hand on mine. I must memorize the way he makes me feel, the way my heart beats when I'm around him, the way the butterflies flutter in my stomach and the carefree manner I only show when I'm with him. But I know in my heart I will never forget him, the striking image of his lovely face permanently imprinted in my memory.

We spin, and as I twirl into him I bury my face into his shoulder and wrap my arms around him. I start crying uncontrollably, no, no we can't possibly be apart again. I can't feel that depression again. The hole in my heart, the loneliness, the sorrow. If I feel that again, I swear to the gods I will perish. When I left before, I though I could find another. I tried. But now I know there will be no one but Marcus. As my tears mix with the raindrops on my face, he cries too. The soul crushing sound saddens me further. This is love. This is true love I know. It is love when you know you can never live with another. We live for each other and each other only. We complete each other. So why must the world be so cruel? Why must we separate? Why must a whole become two halves? We shall break like our hearts when we leave each other.

I hear the train approach as we embrace and the sound makes me hollow inside. I cry out and grip him harder. He peels out of my arms and looks into my eyes. He swears he will come back for me if I just wait. He says we will meet again, if not in life but in death.

And then as he walks away and onto the train, memories flash in my mind of when I walked away three years earlier. My sobs grow louder and I sink to my knees, shaking from the cold and heartbreak as the train pulls away, taking my true love with it. As the rain falls around me and patters on my back, my clothes feel heavy and so does my heart. He left. He left me like I left him. It's only fair. I stand up and walk away from the train station, heartbroken and miserable, wishing with all my heart that things could have been different.

** cue demolition lovers by my chemical romance**

The Chronicles of Sextus~ "For thy lovers meet"
The screams of a young boy echoed through the air. I looked up from my studies to find someone my age skipping through the garden, joy and carelessness painted across his face. He came to the fish pond and stared at the water. I observed, wondering what he was thinking of. The boy looked around quickly, then cannonballed into the pool.

How stupid! How reckless! The boy seemed ruled by impulsivity. Yet-

Perhaps it was his eyes. The way they shined, the way they creased with happiness. Or his carefree stance, with arms swinging wildly about him. I'm not sure what drew me to him, but I was enraptured.

The boy's head broke the surface of the water. He stood up and shook it off him. I laughed, and he heard me. The boy turned toward me and waved.

I got up and took a step toward him. "Nice dive," I smirked.

The boy laughed. "I'm a fish!"

"Well hello Fish," I joked. "I'm Marcus."

"Ha, ha, ha," the boy said sarcastically. "I'm Sextus."

Sextus. Sounds fitting, equally attractive

We talked some more. His dad was off in Asia Minor, and he had been sent to live with my family and I. I told him that the fields are great places to frolic, and I could show it to him if he wanted. We wandered into the fields, discussing our shared, completely normal, favorite pastimes (climbing trees, among us, fortnite, screaming rock music in dark rooms while performing demonic rituals, etc.). Eventually, we tired and sat under a tree (ok but seriously, do these people do nothing but SIT UNDER TREES, or is this just a Latin I thing)

"Marcus, what happens after death?"

I stare him for a moment, wondering how such an innocent or carefree time had took such a dark turn so quickly.

"I don't...um...well most people say that the dead travel to the underworld where they are judged and put into one of three places. Tarturus, Asphodel, and the Elysian Fields, based on how much good they did to the world in the eyes of Pluto."

We stay silent after I say that. For a long time. I worry I said something wrong until he says, "She went to the best place, right?"

My mind scrambles to figure who he means. A sister? An aunt? Wait. Does he have a girlfriend?

"My mother. Did she go to the best place?"

A pit forms in my stomach and I feel embarrassed for my thoughts. Of course, his mother. She died in the tragedy of Vesuvius, resulting in Sextus landing in the custody of my father.

"I'm not sure. No one can decide but Pluto, Sextus."

He looks at me with tear-filled eyes and I worry that I'm being terribly insensitive. Gods damn it, Marcus. Why must you be so dreadfully honest?

"She's gone forever, isn't she? Never, will I ever see her again."

His tears run down his face uncontrollably and he buries his face in his hands. As I wrap my arm around his shoulders and pull him towards me, his soul shattering sobs quiet slightly. I comfort him.

He must have had no one to come to after his mother died, so I suppose I, as the first individual to welcome him, was the person he decided to confide in. And I am honored to fill that role. In fact, the moment I realized how quickly he chose to trust me was the moment I fell in love with him. That childish yet pure and honest reliance was what drew me towards him. It was refreshing to be with someone not uptight and closed off for a change.

For I would stay with him that day. And the day after that, and after that, again and again. For I would soon tell him my affection.

Living in Pompeii
Prior to its destruction by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, Sextus lived in Pompeii with his mother and presumably his father. His mother died in the eruption, and his father was sent to serve as a soldier in Asia Minor some time later, and therefore placed Sextus in the care of his friend, Gaius Cornelius Calvus.

Playing in the garden
In 80 AD, Sextus was 12 years old , and Davus was working alone in the garden of the Cornelii estate, while Sextus, along with Marcus, was shouting and running in the garden, which angered him. Suddenly, a statue fell into the fishpond, which Marcus and Sextus laughed about. Davus shouted at them and angrily ran toward the fishpond while they ran out of the garden. Davus then groaned.

Annoying Cornelia
One day, Cornelia was sleeping under a tree and Sextus saw her and stealthily approached. He climbed up the tree she was sleeping under and shouted loudly, which Cornelia heard but she did not see Sextus, which scared her. Marcus then ran toward the tree and shouted for Sextus to climb down. Sextus replied by asking why Marcus wasn't climbing the tree, and saying that he, Sextus, was afraid of nothing. Marcus replied telling Sextus to be careful and that the branch he was sitting on was weak, and Sextus then fell out of the tree and Marcus and Cornelia laughed at him because he is an idiot.

Cornelia and Flavia are frightened by a wolf
One hot summer day, Cornelia and Flavia walked out of the garden into the forest and sat under a tree near a river because it was cold. After sitting down, Flavia asked why Marcus did not want to climb trees, suggesting the reason was cowardice. Cornelia responded that he was not cowardly and asked her why she did not like him. Flavia responded that he was always worried, while Sextus was never scared. he was bigggg a strong and he say "i big so sooo big and u sus so i will make you not live susy bacca."

Suddenly they saw a wolf going into the river, which terrified them. They immediately shouted for Marcus and Sextus to bring help. They heard them and immediately ran towards them. The wolf could now see them. Sextus, who was scared of the wolf, immediately climbed up a tree, while Marcus grabbed and a stick and drove the wolf off. Cornelia and Flavia ran out of the forest and arrived at the Cornelii estate. When Marcus arrived shortly after, they happily greeted him, but Sextus dared not climb down and stayed in the tree.

One day, while Gaius Cornelius Calvus was sitting alone in the Cornelii house because he wanted to write several letters, Sextus, along with Marcus and Cornelia, were wandering in the fields and watching numerous slaves working. Suddenly they spotted a messenger who was approaching them. He greeted Marcus and Sextus, the former of whom then asked him whom he was looking for. He answered that he was looking for Cornelius. Marcus explained that he was in the house and led him there.

After arriving at the house, Cornelius immediately greeted the messenger, who gave him a letter. Cornelius read the letter and, to his dismay, learned that the Emperor had recalled all of the Senators because he wanted to consult with them, and that he must leave for Rome. This excited Sextus because wanted to visit Rome, but disappointed Cornelia because Flavia, Cornelia's girlfriend, could not come with them.

Departing for Rome
Afterward, although it was yet light, Aurelia was working in the Cornelii house. She was angry because she was saw slaves sitting, and asked them why they were not working, and explained that they all had to work because they were leaving for Rome that day. Aurelia then tried to wake up Marcus and Sextus, and, after failing to wake up Marcus, walked into Sextus's bedroom and ordered him to get up. He immediately did and quickly put on his clothes and ran out of his bedroom.

Later, while slaves were loading the Cornelii's luggage onto their carriage, Sextus, along with Marcus, were wearing tunics and toga praetextas because in the city children were accustomed to wearing such attire. Geta then grabbed Sextus's chest and threw it into the carriage, worrying Sextus and prompting him to shout at him to be careful and to not throw his chest.

After all of their luggage had been loading into the carriage, Sextus, along with Marcus, Eucleides, Aurelia, and, while helping to spur on the horses, Syrus climbed into it with Gaius's help. Suddenly Aurelia asked where Cornelia was, who ran into the road at that exact moment. Gaius demanded she enter the carriage immediately, and she complied. Syrus spurred on the horses immediately afterward, and they all departed.

The Cornelii's carriage wrecks
Afterward, the Cornelii's carriage was traveling along the Appian Way toward Rome. Because Cornelius wanted to reach Rome in three days, Syrus was continuously spurring on the horses by beating them with a stick. While the carriage was going along the road, Aurelia and Cornelia were watching peasants working in the fields, and Marcus and Sextus were watching all of the carriages traveling along the road.

Later, when it was the seventh day, which was warm, peasants were no longer working in the fields but were resting under the trees, and Aurelia and Cornelius were sleeping in the carriage. Sextus was sitting with Syrus while Marcus was annoying Cornelia with his foot while she was trying to sleep. Suddenly, Sextus yelled to Marcus that there was a charioteer. Marcus loudly responded that Sextus was an idiot, that it was not a charioteer but a courier who was delivering distinguished citizens' letters to the city, and that couriers always travel quickly because they have to deliver letters all over Italy.

Sextus then shouted a remark about how quickly they were traveling and that the horses were being ferociously being spurred on. He then shouted to Syrus to be careful of a courier, to hold the horses, and then shouted multiple times for him to beware the ditch. Syrus held the horses and avoided the courier, but the carriage fell into the ditch with a loud crash.

Traits
Annoying (perceived by Cornelia, and Davus)

Scared of death. He's so aware of his own mortality, how fragile a life he lives. The gods, they are strong, they do not die. But Sextus is just a boy. Boy's die. We all die. The gods die. They've been dead. There is only us, so small, so alone. Our bones break, and we wrap them in bandages and pray they do not heal wrong. Our skin bleeds, so much blood, we drown in it. We drown. Yet we test our luck with water, we dance in it, we bathe in it, we fill ourselves with it. And as the sands of time ripple through the hourglass of our brittle world, lines fill our faces, and dots spot our skin until we result to the dust we started as. The gods die. We are not gods. But if I die, I shall do it dancing in all that can hurt me, for I am not a god, I am a human with broken bones and bleeding skin and and quickly-filling lungs. I shall welcome my mortality with open, broken arms. The gods are long dead, and I am no god. But Sextus certainly is. He's still afraid of everything though.

He also loves saying uwu.

Cornelia
Cornelia is Sextus's step sis, who dislikes him because she finds him annoying and because he plays jokes on her.

Davus
Davus is Gaius Cornelius's slave, and he dislikes Sextus because he constantly interferes with his work, such as when he and Marcus were running and shouting in the garden of the Cornelii estate while he was trying to work in it.

Marcus
Marcus and Sextus are not friends, but deep lovers. They often can be found in the villam playing Among Us together in Marcus' room.

Sextus's mother
Sextus's mother is the deceased mother of Sextus. She got absolutely laid out by a volcano and died. Major L imo. She got Clapped.