It was a strange thing watching people gossip.  Aulus could swear that time would pause the moment you homed in on a group of people swallowed in idle chatter.  During his days in the legion he was only told what to do and from there he would get on with his duties.  Even with the men he fought with he didn’t talk much to them, allowing himself only to know their names and where they were from.  Watching Antonious and Liliana was so alien to him that little did he know that he was actually staring at them like a snake to a frog.  Antonious dialogue began with first questioning her husband’s wellness, which allowed Aulus to first establish that she was a married woman.  It seemed quite understandable, after all beauty such as Liliana is hard to not to take notice<br/>of.<br/><br/>“Ah, dear Antonious - yes, my beloved husband Gnaeus is well indeed, thank the gods - and he would most assuredly offer his profuse felicitations had he known I would be so fortunate as to make your acquaintance in his absence.”<br/><br/>Antonious chuckled in humbleness at her endorsement of him to her husband, “If only he could reach me sooner, I am getting old my dear, and fear I may need to finally retire and settle down….” Aulus looked to his guardian with a slight degree of dismay on his face.  Antonious did remember to note afterwards, “……but I do however have a promise that I must honor.”  Antonious eyes fixed on Liliana moved towards the direction of the young man, as he struggled remember the order of setting of jewelry sets.<br/><br/>While the gossip continued on Aulus felt completely helpless as he tried to remember what Antonious had instructed him to place merchandise in a properly displayed order.  There were so many factors one had to consider; what gems to use, length, positioning of set accessories.  A nightmare off the battlefield it would seem.  At that time Antonious had finally discussed about the prospect of her sponsoring a slave which caught his attention since he was unfamiliar with something such as that.  Like a hungry wolf his curiosity was certainly getting the best of him.<br/><br/>“In all honesty, my kind Antonious, I have no experience in the realm of sponsoring a gladiator.“<br/><br/>Aulus would watch then as she moved closer to his guardian caressing his arm as she asked him, “Have you knowledge and experience of the arena and the business of gladiators?” A strange approach to initiate a question, after all wasn’t she a married woman?  He had seen behavior like this before; very aggressive, leaving one no time to really think but to act out of instinct, a behavior very similar to the girls at the brothel where Antonious had been staying.  Of course though Aulus hadn’t any reasons or claims to call her a prostitute, clearly in her stature and demeanor she was of a much higher class.  A class that most likely was above his own, which made it all the more important to not embarrass Antonious.  Which is why when she looked at him he could only look back, letting his sky blue eyes be displayed for her viewing pleasure, while his hair frolicked like leaves from a tree as a gust of wind passed around him.  A moment that would last only for a while.<br/><br/>“Oh, dear Antonious, apologies for my distraction from your purpose here - let us first discuss your business at hand, then perhaps we can converse later at our leisure with regards to my potential....investment or gamble, I have not quite determined which title better suits!”<br/><br/>Around that time Aulus had collected all the jewelry needed along with the one he had a close call with.  The woman’s interest taken away from the gossip now became focused on the wares of the old merchant.  This part was always interesting to Aulus, since it helped him understand people’s tastes in merchandise.  If he was going to learn anything….and believe me anything about this kind of career he would at least understand peoples tastes in such accessories.  She was clear to point to him finally that the one necklace with the amethyst pendent was one she had a wonderful interest in.  He moved from the back of the kiosk to move to the front picking up the necklace and placing it on the open palm of his hand.  When he turned to face the woman so to bring it to her to try on, already she was right in front of him, her bodice grazing against his chiseled figure.  His cheeks flushed into a bright red followed by a bead of sweat.  Nervous, perhaps.  If one had acute hearing you could hear the rapid beating of Aulus’ heart.  Of course this would pass finally after she turned around showing her back followed by the lifting of her hair.<br/><br/>“Dear sir...would you be so kind as to fasten that beautiful jewel around my neck so I may determine if I have chosen wisely?”<br/><br/>This was something that Aulus did not expect.  He had the impression that women were especially well skilled in dawning accessories such as these, and to touch a lady of such class, isn’t there some rule that low class citizens have no place touching high class ones?.....His head turned to Antonious with worry and distress written all over his face.  Antonious only looked at him with a grin and the same old chuckle that seemed to rob anybody of any worry.  “Go on lad, you musn’t keep a lady waiting now…its your sale after all”  Aulus swallowed his worries away as he turned back nervously to the woman’s back.  First he used his free hand to pinch the end of the necklace so to hold it with his right hand.  Next he would he would both his arms around the sides of her shoulder so that they would be in front of her with the pendent ready.  Of course to do this he had to get close to her.  Close enough to the point to where their bodies were practically touching each other save for the garments that they wore.  Even in this state Aulus couldn’t help but remained slightly flushed, and dripping with set, no doubt thanks to the sun’s assistance.<em>Jupiter’s ass what have I gotten myself into now…..</em>His thought interrupted by the smell of perfume which was indeed intoxicating, but would only interrupt his thoughts as he could not allow it to interrupt his attention to the customer.  Using the finger from his right hand he parted the necklace bringing it to her neck.  His fingers were slightly shaken and clumsy, as they glided along the neck and shoulder of her bare skin.  His body acting on instinct forced in to take another swallow as if trying to find a means of ridding of his worries.  Fastening would prove a little tricky at first, but after what should have been done in a few seconds but ended up in a couple minutes, she now was wearing the necklace.  It was only proper to compliment her since it indeed enhanced her beauty.  For a man of few words she would for the first time hear his voice, which was young and sincere, like a young lad from the schools of Rome herself.<br/><br/>“A most splendid choice, even Venus herself would cry in shame if she knew such beauty existed”<br/><br/>He hoped he had used the right words.  He turned to Antonious whom seemed to be all nods and smiles.  Of course that didn’t stop from forgetting to do something.  “Oh my manners, where are my manners?....” His body let out a soft sigh of disappointment in himself.  Another example to enforce his claim on age and proposing the idea of retiring soon.  “Allow me to introduce to you my apprentice, Aulus Livius.  I was given guardianship over him from Pompey himself.”   His hand waving a small parchment that still held Pompey’s seal still attached to the parcel. “Young lad too, only nineteen I believe.  Yet so young he served in the third war against the king of Pontus, and just returned as a matter of fact from 20 days campaigning against pirates next to Pompey himself.”  All of course which was true, but not something Aulus did not like to declare so openly, however this was his guardian so perhaps he knew what was best.  He nodded to her as he tried to hide the sweat from his brow.  He bowed slightly with his hand raised almost as if to salute but instead was secretly wiping his brow of any moisture.”Please excuse my early silence, I’m not from around here so I do not know when it is proper to speak.  It is a pleasure to meet you.”  His eyes looked at her once more giving away again that strong glare, almost as if behind the shell of a model roman citizen resided an animal clawing for freedom.<br/>