<span style="color: #FF0000">Patrius unbuckled the sleeve of leather and iron covering his sword arm and let it, and the blood covering it tumble to the floor.  A slave girl stood next to the door that marked his captivity waiting for him to disrobe her purpose being to mend the cuts of those that needed it.  He felt the steam of the baths against his skin, the noise of other gladiators he heard in the next room as they splashed and laughed amongst each other.  He had no desire to share the baths with those that reveled in their captivity.  No, he cared nothing for them.  Bawling lambs, fit for nothing but the slaughter of the arena.  <br/><br/>He stripped off the greaves and spaulders setting them in the corner of his small cell to be cleaned and mended later.  A thick fingered hand run over his shoulder where a freely running gash trickled blood down his arm.  A nod was given to the slip of a girl and she entered with a basin of fresh water in one hand, needle and catgut in the other.<br/><br/>As the slave , whom he had never bothered to ask a name of, began to clean and stitch his wounds he heard the screaming of one of the gladiators.  <br/><br/>"RELEASE ME! I WANT TO DIE PEACEFULLY!"<br/><br/>Patrius just shook his head slightly.  He cared little for who died or didn't die.  He was here to WIN.  And win he would, as far as he was concerned only one thing mattered above that.  Freedom.<br/><br/>His dominus' words then came to his ears, so he drew his attention to his master.  Cold black eyes boring into him, judging him.  Never had he dropped his eyes in subservience to anyone.   Especially not this pompous wind bag.  Mars have mercy and show us victory.  What horses ass did he dig that shit from? Mars couldn't give a beggars leg what Patrius did in the pit. He never averted his glance from the dominus the entire way out the door.<br/><br/>The slave girl hissed softly at him as she continued to stitch the ragged skin at his shoulder.  "Have you lost your senses man? Why is it that you seek your death?"  Her whisper reaching his ears and none else.<br/><br/>The gladiator merely snorts his contempt at his dominus, the slave girl and the world in general.  "I care little for what that dog lickin shit for brains thinks.  You either for that matter.  Ya like being a groveling boot lick, so be it, and mores the worse on you.  Be damned if I will die in the damn arena or in this stinking hell hole."  With that he stood and stepped away from her and towards the emptying baths.  The slave sitting there a bit open mouthed as he drags the catgut as well as needle from her hand.</span>