Atrice

She seemed satisfied with his explanation of where they were going - to a place where they could be alone. Even if it was down here, which indeed must seem like Hades to her. Dark and dirty, the roar of the crowd from above and the growls of the beasts from down here. Alexius had been here before though. Many times. He knew his way around. And it wasn't the first time he was looking for a quiet place to share with a lady down here either. But all those others, they didn't matter. He pulled her closer and she nestled against him. He slid an arm around her to hold her closer. "And I missed you." Alexius said and kissed her hair, then led go to take her deeper inside. He grabbed a torch on the way, as he led her into a room that had stone benches and water basins. It was dark though and there was no water. It was an old area for washing after a fight. It didn't look like anyone had used it in a while. He placed the torch in one of the basins to lean against its side and light up the simple room. Then he turned to her, "Here we are. I wish it was nicer, but... you're here." He smiled when he looked at her, finally dared to really look at her. And how gorgeous she looked in the light of the torch, that made her skin shimmer. @Chevi

Pinaria was at least not as young as Ovinia and it had not been quite as tough for her, as it had for the younger woman. Her family had not been pleased with her attack either, and they wanted to keep it quiet, but her brother also understood that a killer and attacker had to be caught and sentenced properly... and he agreed that Pinaria could testify. As long as no one would know what happened except for Tiberius. She'd been picked up by Lucius and they had gone to the villa in the Gardens of Sullust, where Tiberius now lived. She'd never actually met the man, but from what both Ovinia and Lucius said, he was both kind and perfectly honorable. Now she was waiting in some quiet hallway of the villa, while Ovinia was being led away by one of the slaves she'd seen the night at Alexius' place. She gave Ovinia a smile and a gaze to let her know it would be alright, and then the other woman was gone. She was left with Lucius and silence fell between them. Pinaria looked around and spied a chair and went to take a seat. There was no knowing how long it would take with Ovinia. Lucius broke the silence first. "It's for the greater good, right? Then it's worth it." Pinaria said and looked to where Ovinia had disappeared, "I hope she'll be alright... eventually." @Sarah @Sara @Sharpie @Chevi

She was so sweet and understanding, Calpurnia was. How could he not adore her? And want to be alone with her. She said it was strange that he still liked the games, even though he'd been down there, but it made sense. It did. But it was still strange. He felt he should not enjoy it, but he did. But there were so many things he should not enjoy, but did. Like Calpurnia. He shouldn't enjoy her. And yet there he was, wrapping his hand around hers and taking her with him down into the faint light underneath the arena. Lit by torches and oil lamps mostly, but he knew the way. He barely paid attention to the sounds from the arena. "Somewhere... where we can be alone." They already could, few could make out who each other were here. From somewhere nearby he could hear beasts growling, that was probably the big cats from earlier. "I know it's not the best place. I just..." Alexius trailed off and stopped for a moment, pulled her closer against his body in the dimly lit corridor, "I hate that I can't touch you." @Chevi

Ovinia's mind seemed to be elsewhere, when Pinaria reached her, but she felt the younger woman needed comfort and who else here could offer that to her? It didn't appear that her father would do that. None of the men here could. But Pinaria could. Ovinia gave her a small smile and shifted so that Pinaria could sit down. She did so and Ovinia looked to where Pinaria had been seated before, "I'm more needed here I think." She replied softly and squeezed Ovinia's hand. If she had not reached for Pinaria's hand, she would have reached for Ovinia's. "I'm alright. I'm... glad he's going to die. It sounds so horrid... to be glad that someone's about to die. But... with good reason, right?" Ovinia of anyone here should understand that. Her eyes returned to the sands as their attacker yelled something... something about them all dying, but Pinaria lifted her chin and shook her head. He was not going to make an impression on her, that's for sure. And then it went down. The crowd went wild. Pinaria just watched. She halfway wanted to look away, halfway wanted to see it all. Take it in. See that he died. So she did just that. It wasn't normally like her to enjoy such things, but today she would. She didn't even feel sick or anything. What happened down there was gruesome, but it wasn't wrong. Not in this case. Yet her grip on Ovinia's hand tightened as the beasts parted ways and she saw the corpse, the bloody pile of what used to be a horrible man and her eyes stayed on it a few moments, before she looked to Ovinia again, "It's done. Good." @Sarah @Sara @Chevi @Sharpie @Sains

He adored the way she smirked and the way she didn't pull back, when he slid his arms around her and leaned closer, tempting her. Of course she could read his body language, it wasn't exactly like he was trying to hide anything. It was very obvious what he wanted. He leaned against her touch, until she gripped his hair and he let out a breath. Gods, what a woman he'd been presented with tonight! Although he felt a pang of guilt when she kissed him so hungrily, but he told himself that he might as well give in, he initiated this and it wouldn't be right to let her go. Besides, what about the woman he wanted the most? Would he ever have her again? So he did return her kiss eagerly, pulling her closer against her body. It was easy to get caught up in the moment. Too easy... but she was too good, too interesting to just have in a back alley somewhere. Besides, he promised her pleasure. Alexius would not back down on his promise. "Come with me... as I said, it's not far..." Alexius said heatedly, almost out of breath when their lips parted ways again and he let go of her to take her hand and take her with him. @Sara

He didn't touch her yet. Just motioned for her to follow him, and she did and with a smile too. Alexius smiled back, looking over his shoulder at her, while they moved away from the gallery and down the steps, down and down until they reached the ground level. Here he would follow another path, not leading out from the arena, but rather along with it. Meanwhile Calpurnia wondered what it was like to see the games like this. "It does. Mostly because most people around me don't know what it's like, down there, on the sands." Alexius said and shrugged, "And yet I go to see games. I like it. Isn't that strange?" He added with a roll of his eyes and stopped by a staircase leading down into darkness it would seem. He looked around them to make sure no one were following them or watching them, but the area appeared empty. Alexius reached for her hand to pull her with him down the stairs, down under the arena. @Chevi

Gods! She hated feeling weak. Especially here in Rome. Cynane never appeared weak to anyone here. And yet now she was, because of all this talk about Charis. And how it all made Cynane feel. It wasn't loud, the way she cried, but more the silent kind. She tried to stop herself, tried to force them away, the tears, while Jason said something about not having many friends in Rome either. And then she felt his arms around her. As if that helped, as if that made the tears stop. She buried her face in his neck, in a way she might not have done with anyone in a long time. Years maybe. Her head throbbed and her heart felt like it was aching. Gods, Tirañes... But it also felt nice, to be held like this. Comfortable. They were quiet for a while, until he said that she should let Charis know she was there for her. And that no matter what happened, true friends were there for good. And that she and Charis would always be friends. "I hope so. For now, I think I need time. We both do." She said with a sigh and pulled away, tried to dry the last tears away, "Apologies, I didn't mean to... act like this." And they were even here in the palace, it was a good thing no one saw. She could just imagine how the praetorians would laugh if they'd seen her cry... "It's all so solid and hard here, isn't it? I mean... Rome is. It's all marble and stone and brick and metal, there's no space for anything not hard." Maybe it was her way of saying there was no space for weakness here in Rome. And she certainly could not be seen as weak. She hoped Tirañes wouldn't think less of her because he'd now seen her like this. @Sharpie

Wulfric worried a little over Hilda approaching Charis the way she suggested. He vividly recalled the last time Charis came to him, to tell him to please leave Rome. She had ended up crying, hadn't she? It had been quite a fight. And it wasn't a pleasant memory. Why did Rome leave him with so many of those? The time he was beaten, the time Charis told him to leave, the way his father denied him... and yet of course, Iophon had shown him kindness and Teutus didn't seem to hate him either. At least there was that. They discussed what going back to Germania might be like, and how their mother would guess it didn't go too well in Rome, even if they claimed it did. But then of course, what right had she to say anything? Wulfric was maybe even a bit upset with her. She made him travel all the way to Rome, where he was just met with rejection. Hilda agreed with him, wondering what their mother saw in Wulfric's father. He looked at her when she suggested his father forced her. "No, I don't... I don't think so? She said she'd been with him several times. That she came back to him. Surely she wouldn't have, if he'd treated her poorly." Wulfric replied, "At least I don't hope so! But we won't ever know, will we? Did he... try anything with you?" Gods he hoped not, because that would be weird. His father attempting to seduce his half-sister. But then of course, Hilda said she tried to blackmail him, so maybe not. Still, the thought was unpleasant. He wrinkled his nose at it. @Sara

He smiled when she planted her hands on her hips in that most feminine position of them all. Gods how he loved it when they did that... "Then I better live up to any expectations you might have." Alexius said with a grin and followed her out of the taverna. He probably shouldn't. But was he supposed to live in celibacy and wait forever for a woman he might never have again? So he did follow her. And only out there did Hilda turn to him again, promising him he'd regret it if he tried anything she didn't want to. Alexius held up a hand in defense again, one in front of him and he let the other hand rest over his heart. "I have no intentions of anything but pleasure, dear Hilda. If it seems like I do... please tell me right away. I'm much better at body language than mindreading." He said and came closer to her, slid his hands through the hole her arms made, as she stood there with her hands on her hips. Alexius briefly wondered if he was too bold, as he leaned closer to let his lips hover over hers. But really, if you never took any chances, you'd never know, right? "How are your skills at reading body language?" @Sara

She smiled when he promised to deal with anyone threatening her, and then said she believed him. Reached out to touch him, but she pulled back. They were still in public. Someone might see. Fucking Rome and the rules. She went on about how Rome was safer now and how the people Alexius knew, needed him. He nodded. "I know. And I'm there for them, if they need me." He said, but something in him argued, said he'd rather be here than there. Here with her. Which was messed up, because he should be there, for them. Yet he couldn't stay away. They would need to move though. They couldn't stay here and talk. "Right now though, I think they all have people there, for them... and you have me." Alexius added with a smile, "Come." He motioned for her to follow him. He knew just where to go. Not a place for a lady like her. But the only place right here, that he could think of. And as long as he was with her, and they were alone... it would be enough, right? @Chevi

Now that she got a closer look at him, maybe he didn't look as confused as he looked... like he was looking for something. Not quite lost, but not quite found either. He had a friendliness about him though and he had a basket on his arm. She wondered where he was headed, but was glad he chose to come into her thermopolia, because it meant a bit more coin and they sure could use that. But then he wasn't looking for food, but for advice. She blinked, that was unexpected. "Well there's no one else here, so I suppose I do have time. What kind of advice are you looking for?" She asked with interest, because honestly she never had quite such a request before. It had been different with her recent friend Titus. But there, she was the one who offered help and advice. This man came asking for it. @Chevi

It was easy, he thought, to describe why he should want a woman like her. She had it all. All the right parts in all the right places and she was easy on the eyes, fierce, independent, interesting. How could he not want her? How could anyone look at a woman like her and not want her? Well apparently many could and just because she wasn't a Roman woman dressed in proper Roman clothes. But he just thought it added to her charm. Hilda smirked while he spoke and then he leaned closer to whisper to her. His action causing her to shudder and he couldn't help but smile. Hilda nudged him a bit away and met his eyes, thought it was just boasting from him. And yet she asked where he lived. "It's not far." Alexius said and downed the rest of his latest cup of wine, that he almost just began. It seemed right, to finish it now. Then he looked at her again with a grin, "I thought I just made it clear what I want? You." He said, "And maybe then I want to show you that it's not just boasting." @Sara

Why was it so wrong that he wanted nothing more but to take her in his arms and hold her close against his body? With anyone else, he would have done it. But because he cared for her and knew within, that it wasn't right, he didn't do it. Yet she smiled at him and had indeed hoped he'd come too. Gods he felt like a fool when she spoke like that to him. Because such words from her made his heart flutter. He drew closer to her, how could he not? Meanwhile she commented on what they just witnessed in the arena. "He deserved far more than that." Alexius said, though it might sound dark to her, but if he couldn't be honest with the woman he loved... "It wasn't something Rome hasn't seen before. But... it's done. He's gone. He won't ever hurt anyone again." He said and looked at her, "I swear if any man ever threatens you like that, I will personally deal with them." @Chevi

Alexius certainly saw her leave and it didn't take many moments for him to decide, that he had to see her. He didn't know if she noticed him, but his seat had not been too far from where she sat. It just made it all clear to him once more, really. There Calpurnia was, sat in one of the best seats in the arena and there he was, higher up on the steps, sat in the seats reserved for the lower classes. And while Alexius was no slave, he was still just one step above that - a freedman. Now however, he had left his seat to find her. The corridors of the arena were mostly quiet and he moved around, wondering if he was too late, if he wouldn't find her, if he wouldn't see her. But he had to. And then suddenly, he saw her. There was no way it could be anybody else, what with her height and her figure. Alexius slowed down and ran a hand through his hair, inhaling a breath to try and calm himself, but it didn't feel like it worked. But he approached her, glancing around as he did. She appeared to be alone. He couldn't help but smile when he was close enough, "You were waiting... for me, I hope?" @Chevi

Alexius just smiled when Didia joked that she might vomit, he’d heard her tale about the night that monster attacked her, so he knew. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but that man dying in the arena tonight. Lucius on his other side was quiet so far and might continue to be so. Alexius did notice his glances towards Ovinia again, only to now notice another woman down there among the higher ranked people. Calpurnia. It was like his breath caught for just a moment and he had to force himself to watch the arena again. He had not seen her since that day at the library. And things had happened since then. Hilda happened. But she was not Calpurnia. No one were. Didia brought him back to the present moment, as she mused whether the animals were enough and wondered why Alexius wasn’t down there killing him. “It was out of my hands. Not my choice.” Alexius told her, “I’d have preferred to see him dead the night we caught him. But as you know… not everyone agreed.” He sent a glance towards Lucius, “It doesn’t matter now.” He then added, because it didn’t. It was happening now, in the arena. Something was happening. The beasts drew closer and then suddenly, the human beast yelled something about everyone dying. Oh really? Big surprise! Alexius let out a huff and then it went down, down there. The wail almost felt physical, like it carved through the air, while the cats tore at the man down there. Alexius couldn’t take his eyes off it. He wasn’t disgusted. It looked gruesome, as it should. The barber didn’t deserve a peaceful and relaxed death. He deserved this, and more. Much more. It wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough. But it was what it was. And then… it was over. The display on the sands didn’t do anything to Alexius, he’d been down there too, he knew what it was like and he knew the smells and the looks of it from down there. But it was over now. The cats were ushered away, now a little less hungry than before. It was over. He looked towards Calpurnia again. She was standing now, and looked as if she was leaving. Alexius didn’t like letting her leave without at least having talked to her… and he didn’t need to see more of the games in the arena. Hopefully Didia would be alright, he thought she would. Theo was there, after all. And he suspected Lucius would seek out Ovinia, if he could. He gave Didia a pat on the shoulder and stood to leave. @Sarah @Sara @Chevi @Sharpie @Sains

He didn’t want to give Rome the satisfaction of seeing him afraid of the beasts. Instead, he stood there, calmly, not shivering, in the middle of the arena. He looked up to the seats to see if he could spy any familiar faces – most likely among the higher ranked people, because that’s where the Imperial, who came to see him in his cell, would most likely sit. Perhaps also that girl who came at him with a knife but ended up cutting someone else. He smiled at the memory. Even she was not as pure and sweet as everyone thought. No one were. There was a growl behind him, and his focus shifted from the seats and to the big cats. From afar they’d look impressive. From here… they were just big and frightening. Very big. And their teeth the same. He inhaled a breath, standing still, but as they moved closer, he felt something within. He knew he would die in the arena today; he’d known that since… well, a while ago. Since they just decided on his fate, without giving him the trial. It was too late for that now. Too late for anything. He wasn’t really afraid of death. Because once you were dead, you’d not feel a thing. He’d killed enough people to know that once you were dead, you were just gone. But he’d also hurt people plenty of times, with and without killing them and he knew about pain. Marcus just didn’t like to be in pain himself. Of course, he didn’t. Who did? Would this death be quick? He inhaled a breath and exhaled, and the striped cat stopped and smelled the air. Then it lowered its head, staring right at him. Where was the other one? He could hear it behind him. He wanted to look over his shoulder at it, but what if he did and the tiger attacked him while he looked away? Fuck. It was going to happen. Any moment now. He had not planned to say anything, but now there was an urge, before he went. While he still had the chance. And he knew no one up there felt sorry for him. So why try and plea for his life now? No, it wouldn’t be something like that. But he liked making people fear him. He couldn’t hurt them anymore, not physically. But he could make them think… make them feel… and he knew exactly what to tell them. He closed his eyes briefly, inhaling another breath while the tiger took another prowling step closer to him. His gaze left the cat briefly to look up and around him. “YOU ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!” Marcus then yelled to the arena. And that would be the last he said. For his words and his action by speaking made it happen. The crowd roared and howled up there, but after he spoke, he had no time to focus on them. For it wasn’t the tiger, the one he could see, that started it. No, suddenly he was tumbled over from behind, the lion had jumped at him, and he felt its claws penetrate his skin and he felt its teeth somewhere on his back, trying to get a hold of him. He naturally made a screaming wail of pain as it happened, it was not something he could prevent. He lay flat on his front, sprawled there, his hands desperately searching for something to grasp onto, but there was nothing. He was pinned. And just as he looked up, the tiger’s teeth and growl were right in front of him. The lion cat tore at his back and then chose to take hold of a leg, trying to pull him away from the tiger. But the tiger wasn’t having that and since Marcus looked up, the tiger went for his shoulder. Teeth sinking into and around his bones, pulling the other way. For a brief while the crowd would see nothing but growling beasts pulling at the person in the arena, and blood soaking the sands. The lion let go for a moment and pulled back and roared. And in the briefest of moments, the crowd seemed to hold their breath. Long enough for someone to yell “He’s not dead yet!”. Words that everyone heard. Marcus attempted to pull away from the tiger, more instinct than anything else. The tiger had a go at the lion to fight it off. They both let go. But then their prey was attempting escape, something that was barely even possible with just one functioning leg and one arm. The one shoulder was torn to pieces. And one leg was torn almost in half too, only just clinging together by the knee, with bones sticking out. The tiger came back to him first. Somehow, he had turned himself over to lie on his back. And now he stared right into a mouth, as jaws opened above his head and his throat and sharp teeth bit deep into the flesh of his throat and lower face. There was pain and blood and the sound of bones cracking. And then... Marcus Barbatius was no longer. Not that it made the beasts stop. They tore the carcass apart from each end. It was a gruesome thing to watch, a carnage. When the tiger let go of his face, it didn’t look like anything but bones and tissue and blood. The tiger continued to pull at an arm – it came off easily because of the torn shoulder. And the lion returned to the leg. They both managed to tear off a limb and they continued, the smells and the sounds made them unable to focus on anything but the prey they both fought to get. And they were allowed to do it. They tore the prey apart. Eventually they lay in each their side of the arena, eating their share in front of the crowd. In the middle of it all lay the remains of the corpse as a bloody heap. There was nothing but bones and blood and scattered tissue in the arena once they were done and finally ushered away. It wasn’t the first time ever, that a person was executed like this. But to some, maybe the most satisfying. To others, it wasn’t enough. After the beasts came more games, more ordinary entertainment for the Romans in the arena, that many considered even more exciting. Many, maybe most, Romans would forget about the scene with the big cats in a few days. Most would forget. But not everyone. @Sarah @Sara @Chevi @Sharpie @Sains

She was sweet when she chuckled at him and smudged his nose clean too. But when he did the same to her, it was all too easy to admire her beauty and how much he'd come to admire that in her. Right from the start, since that night he caught her alone in the gardens, she'd done something to him and even now, he couldn't hide it. But he couldn't have her here, it wouldn't be right. So instead he finished cleaning himself and let her come to do the same, while he picked up a cloth to dry himself as well as possible down here. Charis cleaned herself too and then turned to face him. He looked her over, the gods must surely have had a plan when they presented her to him, that day he went to purchase a new slave. A plan for him and her, for why else was he so taken with her? Surely it wasn't just their private moments in this temple that did it. "You look perfect to me." Tertius said and came closer, touched her hair, "You have a little here, but it's not so bad." It was true, there was a little bit of blood in her hair too, "How do I look?" @Sara

He chuckled again when she teased him, as if he wasn't worth her time and she could find someone else in here. But she was interested, then? And so was he, she should know that. Else he would not be teasing her too, "I doubt you'll find anyone here, who can keep up with you as well as me." He said, "After all, we're both from the same... place, far from Rome." He added, not wanting to reveal to her that her tribe had once been his too. Decades ago. Before she was even born, probably. She looked young. Not as young as Charis, but certainly not near his own age either. But he asked her how a man should win her over, and she wanted to know a few things. Alexius smirked. "How do you want me to describe it? Maybe not too... detailed, in a place like this." He said with a grin, sipping more wine, "It's easy though. I thought I already told you... you're interesting and not inferior and quiet. Independent. I like that in women. And you're easy on the eyes too. It's not just the hair." He said, looking her over and then he leaned closer to whisper to her, both because it was a fun way to flirt and to let his warm breath brush her skin as he did it, "What I'd want from you, is... well... it's easier to show than tell, isn't it?" @Sara

He gave her a look when she suggested to try and catch Charis when she was leaving the house, "It would be weird though. And I don't want to seem like some kind of stalker." But he was sad that what could have been a friendship turned into nothing, probably all because of his stubborn piece of a father. He wasn't sure though that Hilda would agree with him or if she'd just go and seek out Charis anyway... "Don't hurt her, alright? Her son is my brother." He added, just to be sure. Then somehow the topic turned on him being the next leader and king of their tribe, and how Hilda thought him young. He wasn't that young though. But she just grinned and said he was young, and that it wasn't always a bad thing. But she went about how when they went home, no one would know what happened here in Rome. He arched a brow again. "I think mother would guess it didn't go very well. But then I suppose, she's not one to judge? She made me think my father was approachable." He rolled her eyes, maybe it wasn't just his father he should be mad at, but his mother too. She'd judged this all wrong. If she never told him about his father, he would still be in Germania and he would not have been through the disappointments here in Rome. @Sara

July 77 AD It was yet another ordinary day at the thermopolia. Well almost. Melissa's father wasn't getting any better, in fact his cough had gotten worse lately and her mother was very worried. They still had not heard anything from Melissa's brother and the medicus, who came almost daily now and was becoming a regular at the thermopolia itself, he said that it was a deep cough and he couldnt' do much more for the older man. And he wasn't even that old. So Melissa was working, trying to keep her mind distracted as always. It was hard though, with the worry weighing on her shoulders. Even the slaves told her to take it easy and they could do more of the work, but she wasn't having it. If they didn't earn any coin, how were they supposed to keep up without her parents working at all? She would have to do it. She would welcome any other distraction though, but there wasn't time. She put on another bowl of the usual stew with plenty of warming spices and then she sat down by a table. For now the thermopolia was empty, so she would allow herself to just sit down. A slave came over with wine for her and she downed some. Then there was a guest entering the thermopolia, a big and broad man, he almost reminded her of another friendly giant she knew, but this one had a different and less playful expression in his eyes. He almost seemed confused to her. He was new, however, so Melissa stood to greet him, "Welcome, what are you looking for today? Stew, I hope. Please, take a seat and let me know." She said with a cheerful tone. Always smile at new people, so they might return another time. @Chevi

Tertius only ever had the chance to be a proper father to Antonia and now to Peregrinus. He didn't really know Teutus as a child and wasn't really allowed to get to know him either, because of how strict his father was. So he did what he could now, trying to show Teutus that he cared and that he wanted to be there for him, should Teutus need anything that Tertius could offer him. All he had to do was tell Tertius what it was. For now, a fur-lined cloak sounded nice and Teutus would look into it. And then Teutus wanted to send a gift to Charis. "Of course." Tertius said, "Did you have anything particular in mind for her?" He then wondered, quite naturally, since she was his wife and he cared for her. Tertius could naturally aid Teutus in picking something, if he should need it. @Sharpie

She seemed tense, but when he looked at her, squeezed her hand, she seemed to relax. Tertius couldn't change the past, he couldn't. And who knew if he would have done things differently, if he got the chance? There was no knowing that. And it wouldn't happen anyway. They would focus on the future, both of them, that would be best. And since she was now his wife and had his son, his official heir, he did hope for a bright and loving future between them. She squeezed his hand back with a smile, and said she hoped for the same now that they had given so much to Vesta for it. Tertius nodded, she was right. What Vesta would do, if she would bless them, was up to her now. And it was up to them to help her help them towards their goal. Charis then said they should wash off the blood and Tertius nodded, while she let go and stood. He followed her, not quite as easily as her, he was not as young as she, even if he tried his best to stay fit, "There should be a place for washing right here." He turned into another room, where there was a small basin of water and clean cloths laid out for them. The place was quiet save for the sounds they made, there was a sense of... peacefulness here, at least to him. Tertius removed his gown, leaving it on the floor as he went to dip his hands into the water to clean himself. He looked to Charis, "Do I have any blood on my face? You have a little." He said and smiled, dipping his hand into the water and then to her face to rub the blood off her. She was so beautiful, even like this. And since he was naked, he was unable to really hide what her beauty did to him. When he felt it, he turned away and back to the water basin to continue cleaning, it didn't feel right to be aroused in a place like this. It was Vesta, not Venus, they were here for. @Sara

Alexius chuckled when she said she'd only met the inferior and quiet Roman women, "Clearly you've not been alone with enough of them yet." He said, sure many of the women gave the right impression when they were out and about, but when you were alone with them, they changed and became wonderful muses and alluring goddesses to men like Alexius. And they were certainly not always quiet. He smiled at the thought, unaware that he also knew the thermopolia worker she just mentioned. Instead he went on to praise how Hilda was not inferior and quiet and her hair just gave her personality. And he considered her desirable. Which he did. She was lovely. Very lovely. As laughed at his words and wanted more wine, Alexius emptied his cup and pushed it forwards too, leaving a coin of his own too. The barmaid might as well fill both cups now she was here. Meawhile Hilda presented him with a challenge, "Who said I'm trying to win you over?" He said, arching a brow, but that turned into a charming grin, "You're still talking to me. You must find me interesting too. Not that I'm half as interesting as a foreign woman like you." Even if she was a Chatti, but she was friendly towards him so far. She was interesting and desirable, he was not going to take that back. Even if in the back of his mind, there was the image of another blonde woman, even more lovely than Hilda, at least to him. But she wasn't here and he had not seen her since that day at the library. And didn't know when he would, again. He had to focus on the present, rather than what might never be, even if he wanted it more than anything... and so he picked up his newly filled cup of wine, "I am curious though. What do you think a man should do, to win over someone like you?" @Sara

Well his only opinion of her when she first walked in, was that she was interesting and clearly not Roman. He thought she thought that he thought she was some kind of whore or up to something, which he didn't think! But she smirked and called him a liar. Alexius shook his head, "I don't usually do that, so... no." He replied, he had absolutely no reason to lie to someone like her. She could clearly fend for herself, she'd proven that much already. Maybe she could even actually fight, which wasn't very common for women to do in Rome, unless they were gladiatrices or unless Alexius took his time to teach them a thing or two, like he'd done with Didia. But he explained what he thought of her, all while the third cup of wine went down and she agreed that she was interesting. She did sure have confidence in herself too. Gods, he could almost see himself in her. Or his sister, maybe. What his sister would be, today. Like her. He wouldn't mind that, if his sister had grown into a beautiful, fierce and interesting woman like Hilda. Meanwhile she explained she might be different to the Roman women. "Ah, but Roman women are actually more... diverse than you think. Although I suppose the general thing is, they're supposed to be inferior and quiet. Not that all of them are." He said with a small smile, "And trust me when I say that I know." Alexius continued with a wink, "You're definitely not that, though. Inferior and quiet. I suppose your hair just adds to your personality? Which isn't a bad thing. You're very desirable." @Sara

Pinaria sat with the others of high class, not very far from Ovinia. Seated with her was Gaius Vipsanius Roscius, whom she had kept in touch with since the day they got acquainted when Lucius introduced them. There was a very very good possibility he would marry her and maybe even adopt her son. Gaius was a kind and friendly man, funny and sweet and she would not mind calling him her husband. Not at all. But he wasn't her main focus tonight. For while Pinaria kept an eye on the arena and that horrible beast of a man entering... she also kept an eye on Ovinia. She worried about her. The younger woman still didn't seem to be doing too well after her attack. Pinaria almost felt like she was not attacked at all, when she compared herself to Ovinia. Now she saw Ovinia bring her palla up to her mouth and she mutered something. Pinaria couldn't hear her, but she could see her and she could see her eyes. Pinaria too might have preferred a more gruesome death to the man down there on the sands. Beasts seemed almost too easy for someone who had committed such cruel crimes. But there was very little to do about it now. Tiberius had made up his mind. Whether it was his decision alone or not, she didn't know. "Excuse me a moment..." She said to Gaius and stood to move over to where Ovinia sat. It felt more right to be near her. She needed the comfort. She gave a nod to Ovinia's father, who barely seemed to notice her. So she touched Ovinia's arm gently. "Would you like for me to sit with you?" She asked in a low and soft voice to the younger woman. Her father seemed stern. She might prefer someone more understanding near her. @Sarah @Sara @Chevi @Sharpie @Sains