fellowshippers

Chapter Title: Chapter 1: Arena
Author:

muck_a_luck, posting in

brainofck
Pairing: SB/VM (other pairings in later chapters)
Rating: PG-13 (to NC-17 in later chapters)
Summary: Viggo is somewhere else, where everyone and no one is the same
Content/warnings: AU. Violence.
Spoilers: None.
Disclaimer: Slash is fiction. So while we may all be demented, slash is basically the author's own ~~porno~~ script, populated by the individuals she feels would be ideal to fill the various roles ~~if she ruled the universe~~ if she were ever fortunate enough have the opportunity to bring her vision to the screen. *snortle*
Archive rights: www.rugbytackling.com, Green Opals, if they're interestd, and my journals

muck_a_luck and

brainofck
Further Disclaimer: Any resemblance to Ancient Rome mostly incidental. I have never seen any gladiator flick. Ever. Honest. Not even stinky Gladiator that stole FOTR's Oscar. *glares*
Blame:

uisgich, for encouraging me

Apologies to Rugbytacklers for the cross-post. Later chapters will have non-

rugbytackle pairings. :)

The first four chapters are open:

Arena
Water and Oil
Flesh and Iron
Night Terrors

However, I wanted to make a few comments for all you students of ancient history out there. This story is actually the backstory for something else, and when I started writing I never intended for it to be historical fiction. However, as I moved forward, I realized it was going to resonate as gladiators in Rome, so I made a minor effort to get a few facts right.

The historical truths in my story:

1. Gladiators were valuable slaves. They got the best food and the best medical care. They were an important investment for their owners.

2. Gladiators were celebrities, like rock stars. People actually became gladiators willingly for the honor and fame of the profession. Gladiators had groupies. Women, including women of highly respectable families, came to their barracks for sex.

3. The gladiator fights were considered to be the most wholesome and important entertainment for citizens, because of the values the fights illustrated - honor, courage, strength, skill in battle.

4. Gladiators got a portion of the prizes they earned in the arena.

5. And, from a show about pheromones I once saw on the science channel, after they cleaned themselves (as described in Water and Oil), the oil from their bodies was sold to women as a cosmetic. The oils actually contained hormones from the fighters' sweat that had health benefits for a user's skin and body.

And the rest is the product of my own brain. Thank you. *bows*

Also, regarding the names. I suck at making up names. So for consistency, I used a Roman name generator. :)