All serves will be as elaborate as you can make them.  The more descriptive the better.  Describe the way your body moves, the way it would look, where you are at, what you are doing.  Each post will  not be at least 5 lines long.  But do not make it into a book.  Try to keep it to where it will be read.  Usually no more than 10 lines per post.  Most of the time, any more than that and it doesn't get read entirely.  Don't waste your work.  Keeping it fairly short will ensure that it will be read and you will be noticed more.  The majority of serves for food and drink shall be from 5-7 posts long.

As per the new slave rules page slaves do not offer a serve to a Dominus or Domina except under certain conditions, but rather allows them to take charge of the situation as it should be instead of the slave potentially either being perceived as a pest or seeming to impose their will on the Dominae.  Since this is a drastic change from the way it has been here in the past and how it is in other realms with regards to serves the new rule is being repeated here for a reminder.

5)  When it comes to serves in Rome we do things differently from other realms than what you may be used to.  Romans are dominant people; they know what they want and when they want it.  If they want you to do something they will tell you to do it.  So, usually if you are offering to serve something to a Roman it means you have been ordered already to prepare a tray of drinks or food or something by some Dominii Civis (Free Roman Citizen) or a Trainer and told to distribute them to those who want them. Because of this the Dominii (FREE) is in the 'driver's seat' as it were as to when and by whom they are served instead of being 'told' by a slave in so many words 'ok bud, this is your chance to get something if you want it and get it while the getting is good'.  It is also FAR more realistic as to how it used to be in real Rome than the jumping to offer serves every five mins.  However, No slave will tell a Dominii (Free) that they cannot serve, unless it is something forbidden by your Owner.

This also effectively eliminates the undercutting sometimes seen by one slave on another one.  Say, for instance, we have all seen the slave who enters after a drink or food serve has begun, the Dominii (Free) is already shall we say.... stimulated and offering to serve as well.  On the surface this seems all very well and good... but what is it that the Dominii (Free) is most likely to want by this point?  Another plate of fruit?  Another goblet of wine?  Obviously not.  What ends up happening, and some slaves have been known to make an artform of this sort of 'getting the goodies without earning them' undermining of another slave, is that the first slave who has been posting their hearts out and becoming as stimulated as the Dominii (Free) continues on with their serve after this point while they watch the second slave taking advantage of their hard work even as it continues!  It is one thing for the Dominii (Free) to see the second slave and call them over and proceed to do what they will with that slave, it is far another for the second slave theirself to try and pull a one-upsmanship on their fellow slaves.
 

Once you have completed your serve, you ask if you can be of further use.  If told no then you tell them yes, Dominus/Domina or (if your own personal Owner) yes, Master/Mistress and thank them for being allowed to serve, then move on.  Don't linger waiting to be released since if they want you to be with them they are sure to know if that is the case and bid you to stay.  Again, this puts the power in the hands of the Dominii (Free) and not the slave as to when, where or how a slave serves them.

When you are serving an Dominii (Free), the only thing that should take your attention away from that person is a r/t issue in ANY kind of serve.  If someone enters then it is up to the Dominii (Free) to greet them as YOU are the one serving, not the Dominii (Free Person), and they have the perogative to speak to anyone they like, while you do NOT, as you are serving THEM.  The visitor will either wait till you finish or they will come back.  The Dominii (Free) knows that a visitor/obs if ignored most likely won't come back at all and will act appropriately whether you are in pm or not, therefore it is not your job to take over on the Dominii (Free) and imply that they are not going to do their part in Rome with regards to our guests.

In serving drinks and foods we do allow for "sweetening" and what are known as "body serves".  As a matter of fact the Imperator wants his goblets and drinking vessels sweetened at all times.  Unless your Master or Mistress forbids this, then feel free to add it to each serve to him.  Anyone else you should wait till they ask for it, or if it's someone you know would like the sweetening or body serve to offer it.  If you are unsure of what sweetening or a body serve is then come and ask either the servus prima or serva prima... thor or alli and they will teach you how to do it.  It can be quite the erotic experience and can be as good as serving someone sexually if done right.

Now, down to basics.  What exactly are the steps of a serve in Rome?
 

First of all even tho a slave does not offer a serve, unless they are in the midst of another serve or some form of r/p where they couldn't possibly be able to perform such a serve, then they are to immediately greet any Dominii (Free Person) entering the room and indicate their availablity to perform such a serve if wished.

One way of making it known that you are free to serve is to perhaps linger a bit in the same area which the Dominii (Free) is posting being around and doing small things to keep busy but which could obviously be dropped at any time.  It is also a good practise if at all possible to post once in a while directly to the Dominii (Free persons) present personally and if they wish for you to do so, to engage in conversation or r/p with them.

You serve in more than the limited stylized ways of other realms here and sometimes helping to further a storyline means more to the Dominii (Free) than a goblet of wine being brought to them.  In any case, it is totally up to the Dominii (Free persons) in the room to decide IF, WHAT, WHEN and BY WHO they are served if at all.

Since this list is the steps of a serve we shall assume at this point that a Dominii (Free Person) has indicated a desire for something from you.  If food or drink, be sure to find out the particulars of what is wanted as to temperature and vessel used and repeat the entire "order" back to them to make it clear that you understand and are going to get them EXACTLY what they want AS they want it.

The next steps all refer to food and drink serves, but in almost any sort of serve the next thing would be to gather the required materials if any are needed in as pleasing a manner as possible ensuring that they are as they should be and of the finest quality.

Next you go to the kitchen and find a suitable vessel if any are required, describe both your move to the kitchen and finding the vessel as well as the vessel itself in pleasing details.  As with everything you post really, paint a picture for their mind's eye with your words.

At this point you ensure not only the beauty of the vessel and its quality but the fitness for the Dominii's (Free person's) use by testing the edges on some part of your body.  The rim of a goblet or bowl, the edge of a platter or plate, etc.  The more sensual you are, the better while staying within any restrictions placed on you by your Owner of course.  Unclasping the brooch holding the top of your tunica together at the top of one shoulder and baring one side of your chest to use your nipple as a testing ground is a definite erotically pleasing way of testing for either male or females to use.  If more restricted then the top of your chest above where the still secured tunica comes to would be a safe alternative.

***NEVER in any case do you spin a potentially cutting surface on any part of your body where you could sever major blood vessels as you do NOT have the right to endanger your Owner's property's safety or well-being on your own steam.***

Once you have made gotten the vessel and made sure that it is ready to serve the Dominii (Free) with, it is time to seek out the best of what they wish to imbibe, whether it's a bottle of wine or a sandwich or a cup of coffee, etc.  Make sure your care in insuring that they have only the best of what Rome has to offer shines thru in your post as does the attractiveness of the person (you) doing the serve while you gather up what they wish.

If it is something which could be brought out in a bottle or other independantly carried container from the kitchen then you simply bring it and the vessel you are to serve it in out to the Doimini's feet where you kneel and pour the beverage into the vessel.  Depending on whether this is a body serve or not and your restrictions, your movements can become quite erotic at this point and should reflect your utter desire to please the Dominii (Free) in giving them what they want.

And use your common sense.  You will have to fill the coffee cup in the kitchen due to the nature of the beverage just as you would if it were mulled wine, calda (see drinks page) or another hot drink, but in the case of coffee at the least you can bring out the filled cup on a tray along with the honey pot and a small pitcher of cream if either or both are wished for and stir those in (with the spoon you have of course brought with you on the tray as well or if a body serve with some other more sensual item) at the Dominii' (Free's) feet.  This gives you the chance to perform at the least a partial body serve even with this beverage if it is wished for.

The final step in a serve is to offer it.  Remember in Rome a slave doesn't lower their eyes to a Dominii (Free Person) unless their personal Owner requires them to do so, with the exception of the Imperator or Augusta who have a standing rule for slaves to never do this with them.  Hold the platter, tray or other vessel over your head up to them as you speak of your hope that the Dominii (Free) will find the thing you brought to be pleasing and that they were pleased by your performance in the serve and wait til they post taking it from your hands to ask if they wish anything else of you.
 

So, there you have it.  The guidelines for performing a serve in Rome by slaves.  Remember to always be as descriptive as possible, learn what Rome has in the way of food and drink and where it may be kept plus how and in what it may be served and abide by the rules and this guideline and you can't go wrong.  Also remember the Dominii (Frees) of Rome are supposed to read and learn this information as well so, if any have a problem with you adhering to the way that these pages instruct you on serving, simply refer them to these pages and if needed to either thor or alli or in a last resort to the Emperor or Augusta.  If you have any questions about serves or indeed anything you see on the slave pages or website in general please come to either thor or alli and speak to them and they shall be more than happy to help you.