"The girl is an easy way for some to feel both powerful, pleasured, and superior all at the same time, why should she not be a focus?"<br/><br/>He shakes his head, and then just listens to her quietly.<br/><br/>"And this is Rome. If everyone did not have their own agenda, if most of them did not have an entirely treacherous one, it would not be Rome. So chances are you are correct."<br/><br/>He moved to settle back beside her, though in truth he actually floated just imperceptibly where he sat back, unsure if the couch could support him.<br/><br/>"Mine, so that you know it upfront and we can thus set it aside, is that while the society itself is likely entirely worthless, and falls and fails of its lofty ideals, the people within it all the same have their moments of meaning, and of comfort, and of care for each other. Which considering the overall filth of even their own ignorance and flaws they mire themselves in, never fails to astound me each time I see it. Their children can still look to the world with wonder that almost nothing can. To me, they should have such small warmths as they can find them. Their earnest felt smiles and cries both. And so for that I bear... all this."<br/><br/>He pauses and frowns, strong arms sliding around her.<br/><br/>"Such agenda as I have with you Sthenae rises and falls only on that.. I look to you and see a part of you that exists in isolation from the world. I simply.. think that I know how that feels. I would only see you bear that better, with less hurt taken onto yourself for it. That is all."<br/><br/>Shimmering fingers find passage around her body to stroke softly along her back as he speaks, brushing gently over her smooth skin, kneading just lightly in lingering touches that have a hint of warmth drawn out through the otherwise chill of his silvered form.