<div class="floatleft">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/38/cc/26/38cc2642f241a0a2b4ba35234c112f2c.jpg)</div><div class="floatright">(https://i.gifer.com/BhME.gif)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Decius Meridius/Isco Pilar<br/><strong>Status:</strong>Aedile/Bodyguard<br/><strong>Date | Time:</strong>Morning/Late Afternoon<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Meridius Estate/Senator Publius Fhloston’s domus<br/><strong>Wearing:</strong>Nothing/Morning attire<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>Auria<strong>Mentioned:</strong>Does your character mention another character but not interact with them?<br/><strong>Content Warning:</strong>N/A<hr/><br/>The sun had crested the horizon hours ago, and Sol had made good time towards a noonday climax that, if the lack of clouds in the sky were of any indication, would be scorching. Even so, the villa was built with the the heat of a Roman summer in mind, and the marble had a cooling effect on the entire house. It wasn't cold enough to chill, but enough to be refreshing in the absence of rain. Isco ran his fingers through his long hair, his footsteps echoing through the halls, only sparsely populated. It was well known that the master of the house had a tendency to sleep deep into the morning, and sometimes into the afternoon as well, as the call of his position was usually in the afternoon and evening. Considering the upcoming festival, with most of his duties concluded and most others willing to wait until afterwards, Decius would be lucky to wake in time for the Bacchanalia.<br/><br/>The bodyguard stepped up the doors of the Decius' quarters, and, without knocking, let himself in, closing the door silently behind him.<br/><br/>Decius was up, although just from the looks of his disheveled appearance and lack of clothing. Isco barely paid the man's nakedness a second glance as he moved towards a table that carried a decanter and a handful of goblets, helping himself to one of them as Decius splashed his face from a bowl of scented water next to the massive bed, still a mess. The room itself was elegantly decorated, showing the kind of means that the Meridius family held despite the Pater Familia only holding the lowly title of Aedile. A large fleet of trading ships bearing the Meridius flag across the Mediterranean paid for the opulence that surrounded the two men.<br/><br/>"I was half expecting to find a group of slave girls still in the bed," Isco opened, taking a sip from his goblet, pausing in his thought to nod in appreciation," Exhausted from a night's worth of debauchery worthy of a warm-up for tonight."<br/><br/>Decius turned to face Isco, a playful grin spreading across his face," I never bed slaves if there are more delicate delicacies ready to be tasted."<br/><br/>Isco pointed a finger at his friend," That is a lie."<br/><br/>Decius nodded," True. But the slaves in this case were handmaidens to the very... enthusiastic noblewoman that came to see me."<br/><br/>"I know. I had to escort her and her handmaidens from the house at dawn, and back to their own home. Wife of a senator, is she?"<br/><br/>"Praetor. Still in Gaul, leaving his beautiful wife woefully unattended. I was doing the man a service. Imagine the scandal that could arise if her needs weren't met?"<br/><br/>Isco smirked," Scandal indeed."<br/><br/>Decius moved over a chest where he pulled a white silk tunic and pulled it on over his head. It was quickly followed by a pearl-white toga that was quickly and expertly draped across his shoulders and wrapped around his waist. Isco poured the man a goblet as well, and once Decius was finished clothing himself, Isco handed him the spare. The two lightly tapped their two goblets together and took deep sips.<br/><br/>"To the Bacchanalia," Decius said with a wry smile.<br/><br/>"Romans," The Celt answered with a chuckle and a shake of his head," So civilized all the time so that when you finally do get a chance to release yourself into your lustful urges, you do have a tendency to overdo it. Release all the time, and you'll know how to keep up one's stamina."<br/><br/>"I'll fucking drink to that."<br/><br/>"I had the servants prepare a bath for when you woke. It should be ready by now. Should I send Auria to tend to you?"<br/><br/>Decius shook his head," She has a busy night ahead of her. Let her rest, and send someone else. Wasn't there a new girl that arrived just last week?"<br/><br/>"Yes. She is a bit young..."<br/><br/>"Fine, send one of the others... Oh, and Isco?"<br/><br/>The man turned from his intended exit," Yes?"<br/><br/>"I hope you're ready for a long night as well."<br/><br/>Isco chuckled," It's like you don't know me at all."<br/><br/><hr/><br/><em>Late Afternoon</em><br/><br/>The sun was starting to turn the sky an angry red as the two men arrived at the Domus. Decius was far more composed, with a blue tunic instead of the white, his hair neat and still short despite having left the legions years ago. Some habits never went away, and in truth, with the man's lean, muscular build and charismatic bearing, he was precisely the pinnacle of what would be considered Roman Nobility. A veteran of high standing in the legio, with sound business practices and already a beginning in the world of politics, and he wasn't even in his thirties yet. It was a wonder that the ladies of high noble standing but lesser fortunes weren't tripping over themselves to tie the man down in marriage. Not that the sanctity of matrimony would do anything to tie Decius down anyways.<br/><br/>Isco himself was in humbler attire. He was a freedman with a respectable financial standing on his own, but he wasn't a patrician as most others attending the celebrations were. Engendering ill-will for appearing to be an equal despite being an immigrant was not what he had in mind for the evening. Even so, he had a relaxed bearing. Scars and tattoos on proud display through his sleeveless tunic and his dark blond hair tied into a loose ponytail, he was something of an eyecatcher, with his bulk somewhat dwarfing the Roman beside him.<br/><br/>"I still think you should have worn your gladiator regalia. An attractive man, yes, but it's really hard to recognize you without your swords, your armor..."<br/><br/>"Blood splattered all over my glistening chest, left bare for no reason except the pleasure of your crowd?"<br/><br/>"Quite," Decius chuckled as one of the servants arrived offering both refreshments from crystal glasses. Plum juice with a hint of spirit. Not enough to get one drunk, but certainly enough to liven the staleness that occupied every party's beginning.<br/><br/>Isco made a face, disapproving.<br/><br/>"Where is that girl?" Decius looked around," She was supposed to arrive here before us."<br/><br/>"Worry not," Isco answered in an intimate whisper," She'll arrive soon enough. Life of the party, that one."<br/><br/>"Yes well... not enough of a party to have life yet. I'd have sworn that we would be the last to arrive, but... no, sadly."