Geta always has a plan. In fact, he usually has two, three, four plans in the back of his mind. His brain is never not working; he’s always watching, always anticipating his and everyone else’s next move. He’s got it all down, he knows every exit in every room in the palace, he always has his back to the wall, he wears his sturdiest rings just in case he has to lash out. He’s thin, lanky even, but he figures he’s been on the receiving end of enough punches from his father to know how to land one himself.
Every blink, every flick of a finger, every word that comes out just a little bit off, he notices it. He sees how people watch him, but he watches them right back, and he sees it all. Things maybe they don’t even realize they’re doing. But Geta sees it, analyzes it, his mind spinning with reasons for why. Why do the senators fiddle with their robes when he is speaking? Why does Lucilla pause slightly before she answers his questions? Why does Tegula’s lip twitch whenever Geta adjusts his laurels? He’s got a million answers for each question, and not one of those answers makes him feel any better.
Geta doesn’t sleep well. He never has. He has trouble falling asleep and then staying asleep. As an adult, he grinds his teeth so badly he’s had one removed at the back of his mouth. As a child, he’d stare at Caracalla, passed out and snoring, completely oblivious to the world around him. Geta envied him for it. He still does.
Caracalla. It’s not entirely Caracalla’s fault he’s ill, Geta knows that. Geta isn’t even sure Caracalla knows he’s ill most of the time. Geta pities him as much as he loves him. If he thinks about it too much, he feels his throat seizes up and he has to close his eyes. He hasn’t cried in a long time.
Geta layers on the cuffs, stacks his rings, slathers his face with make up. Geta does not always like being himself. The thicker the eye shadow, the more elaborate his robes, the more 'Emperor' he looks, the less he sees himself and the less others can see him too, he thinks. He hopes. He doesn’t always feel that way, not when he is standing in the middle of a room, playing his part, and then something or someone goes off script and he’s left naked and exposed, a fool.
When that happens, Geta broods. He paces, he fiddles with those same rings he layered on for protection. He replays the moments over and over and over and over and over in his head, he can’t stop himself. His stomach burns and he’s found himself on the ground a few times, curled up and sweating, blinking back hot tears and swallowing bile. He’s pulled out hair before, he’s made himself bleed with his own fingernails, and so now he cuts them short.
Relationships: Marcus Acacius/Lucilla, Emperor Geta & Emperor Caracalla Rating: Mature Chapters: 1/? Words: 5 854/? Warnings: Violence, detailed depictions of physical and mental illness, referenced child abuse, trauma (varied + sexual) Tags: Canon divergence (Macrinus isn't there), "fix-it", found family, accidental adoption, politics and war, healing and learning to trust.
Summary: Taking over the Palatine Hill is not the end of an insurrection, but merely the beginning of a new Roman era. As dust settles, it leaves in its wake triumphant and devastated men on uncertain foundations: what will dawn bring with its first light? What is the will of the people, and how to best guide it when it is known to be so fickle, and so often at odds with its own best interests? How to convince an Empire that it needs no Emperor, when a thousand shadows are watching through the cracks, waiting for an opportunity to claim the throne for themselves?
And what to do with two orphan boys, abandoned by their gods and their people, in this lair of wolves?
( AO3 )
Ok but with the lucius thing, what if Lucilla, who has finally been allowed outside after agreeing to the emperors' terms, decides to go for a walk around Rome and sees the Numidians coming in, and just stares at the cart, recognising one of the Numidians and not knowing why. She also doesn't know why he is staring back.
Anyway, smash cut to that one fight before the coliseum, Lavina's there (bc of course she is... idk), and she just realises that its her son. Maybe Geta or Caracalla catch on too (or by the very least acacius)? I honestly don't know.
unhinged concept (I'm entering that stage): Lucilla actually does adopt Geta and Caracalla which ruins Acacius's life but also makes him their step-father and they finally get an actual father figure who teaches them how the fuck to hold swords and not be the worst people ever.
and we just cancel Macrinus entirely, which, I don't know what the hell happens to Lucius but that's someone else's unhinged concept to worry about.
And we put Caracalla on a leash because the boy cannot behave. That's no way to treat your mother
just watched all of us strangers, feeling emotions rn
happy Thursday the 20th
i ordered these off etsy yesterday. i desperately didn't need anymore oversized black tees but i mean. look at them.
(they have so many great designs for horror film tees i wish i had a bigger wardrobe 🥲🥲🥲).
Guys do you think Oliver quick can drive?
OMG