Fortunes shift for the boys when Marcus encounters a group of well-built Britons in the courtyard, and Stylax discovers a handbill advertising a celebration. With his entire grocery allowance now devoted to entrance fees, Grumio must econom…

A universal warmth descends, captivating all save Marcus, who harbors a quiet hope for the swift dissolution of their newfound camaraderie. In the meantime, Stylax’s jest with Aurelius spirals into unforeseen consequences.

For Grumio’s birthday, Stylax presents him with a sensual vase, its depiction of a figure remarkably like someone present. Under the influence of the women, Marcus proposes a playful exchange of roles for the day. Separately, Stylax spends …

Hoping to gain Cynthia’s favor, Marcus takes a liking to a scruffy cat he rescues from the courtyard. The creature, named Stylax, is plagued by an insistent itch and seeks relief at a clinic specializing in sexual health, where he finds him…

The influx of immigrants from Thrace brought the young men into proximity with Irina, a captivating Thracian lodger, and the vibrant allure of the banana, a dazzlingly yellow exotic fruit. Separately, Marcus experienced an unwelcome meeting…

Marcus envisioned the Roman festival of Saturnalia as an ideal setting to win Cynthia's affections, while Grumio dedicated himself to recovering as much of the sacrificial meat as he could from the city's festivities.