Eryx felt the eyes and heard the whispers. He certainly wasn’t dense, nor oblivious, though he did choose to ignore them until Tempus’ voice chimed in with a quiet thought. The young man quirked his brow curiously. “Heaven … A word I’ve heard, but a concept I’ve yet to grasp. The Germanic slaves we’ve taken here have mentioned something of the like, but I know nothing of it. If a place like this is heaven, I dare say I prefer your idea of death much more than mine,” Eryx commented as he looked over at the handsome slave, his eyes twinkling thoughtfully. “You must tell me more of this wonderous afterlife of yours … Though this isn’t the place, here in the kitchen, with our wonderful peers, we must make merry. For it is a feast night! And a glorious night it is!” Eryx beamed, speaking the last bit with such gusto behind his voice it elicited a cheer from the folks around them, and a handful of raised glasses.<br/><br/>The girls squealed in the corner, giggling shrilly in response, which seemed to tweak Tempus’ anger. Eryx turned his head at the man’s agitated mumbling and he chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Not a fan of the company of women, I presume … Though it would seem they’d be quite keen on your company,” he commented with a hearty laugh before turning to lift a plate. They were already preserved, and the portions that sat upon the simple wooden platters were extremely generous, especially when it was considered that these were the meals of the help. It was clear that Eryx’s own employers adhered to the idea that they needed to care for their staff well, lest they perform below their full potential.<br/><br/>“Come, Tempus, grab a plate and tankard, and we can sit,” he instructed softly as he carefully lifted a tankard full of sweet summer wine into his free hand, nodding his head over to the left before beginning to make his way through the bustling body of people towards a line of benches that sat against the wall, stools acting as makeshift tabletops for each individual person seated there. Eryx settled in, his platter laid out before him and his wine still in hand as he awaited his newfound companion, smiling. After Tempus had settled in Eryx raised the metal tankard to him, a beautiful, vibrant smile gracing his face, and joy lighting up his powerful gaze.<br/><br/>“To our newfound partnership and friendship,” he toasted, awaiting Tempus to lift his own tankard before he took a few healthy gulps of his wine and then began to dig into his food eagerly. He was so engrossed in consuming what delicacies had been laid out before him that he didn’t notice the women timidly approaching until they had engulfed them, shrill voices piercing his brain with a number of question.<br/><br/>“Oh, Master Eryx, when did this man arrive? Does he have a name?” One crooned as she batted her eyelashes at the well built german man.<br/><br/>“How did you pay for such a pedigree?” Another queried, clearly itching to touch and inspect the poor man.<br/><br/>“Was he selectively bred? I was, you know, if he was perhaps then perhaps higher Master would care to look into such a program … We could be the initial pair,” one of the particularly beautiful slave girls murmured, eyeing Tempus with a dark gaze.<br/><br/>“Will he be staying with you in the stables? If he doesn’t wish to I’m sure we’ve room for him in the quarters,” another squawked in what appeared to be an attempt at a sensual approach.<br/><br/>Eryx practically choked on his meal at some of the questioned he heard and he leaned over, hacking furiously before a few moments before sitting bolt upright. He held one hand up in the air to silence the women as the other reached up to rub his throat in a soothing manner. “Ladies, ladies … The man can speak for himself, you needn’t ask me all of these questions. But I implore you, this is his first day, don’t frighten him off with talk of breeding programs, pedigrees, and living arrangements. Shoo, we need to eat and then rest. Unlike you, we’ve physical labor to see to come morning. Not all of us were brought on staff solely to brush the ladies hair,” he jeered. Though there was an ever playful lilt to his voice the young women scoffed, rolling their eyes and offering lingering gazes to Tempus lest he urge them to stay, though they all wandered off quite promptly.<br/><br/>“I apologize, Tempus, these women are sometimes insufferable.”