<strong>At the Carts</strong><br/><br/>As the carts rock from the startled beasts pulling them and bucking instinctively from the sounds of the row, the servants pull in. At first, a few look to intercede directly with the fight. However, a quick signal shared up with the Dominus has them hold from rasher action for now. Instead, a few of the men jump in around the scrap with thick sticks, caught by surprise as the mountainous figure beat them to the punch, as it were. After his words, they move in to pull the slaves apart, rather rough in their handling of the matter. Then again, Romans were well aware of the costs of slaves fighting back too hard against their masters (or their paid help), so restraint was not something they felt overly beholden to provide. Even so, the presence of three predatory slaves there made them hold off from any truly egregious abuses, mere prodding their signal to obedience.<br/><br/><strong>The Ludus, upon the sands.</strong><br/><br/><br/>Heading from the lofty perch in procession, he was somewhat miffed at the debacle unfolding below. However, with a hand signal he called on his servants to calm the fray, and things seemed reasonably under control as he moved to the stairs. Coming out the door, he finally makes his presence more visceral. Sandaled steps carry him right to the domina, an exuberant smile taking over his face as her presence is wont to provide for him. He sweeps in by her and joins in the observation of the new blood against his trained men. As she makes her rounds, Manius is approached by his right-hand man, Numerius Claudius Brocchus, the one who purchased the new slaves in this batch. "Are they not amazing?" the grinning incomer announces loud enough for all to hear.<br/><br/><br/>The lanista's smile fades as he turns his attention to more serious affairs, walking with the other man toward the new slaves. "At the very least, you were able to find bodies with life, as much as they try to deny you that," he quips thoughtfully, moving in toward the doctore and the new slaves.<br/><br/><br/>"Would you have it any other way? They have the fire I have seen of you in the arena... surely you then can appreciate it better than anyone, especially the Celt," the other replies, his grin fading as well, though his face still reeking of pride.<br/><br/><br/>"This is not a house of trained beasts, Numerius. And we are not some show house to feed novelties to the grinder."<br/><br/><br/>"Indeed, Dominus, but you cannot deny their potential."<br/><br/><br/>"Nor the trouble you've likely caused me with my wife over the northern woman. Do you not understand the trouble this is going to cause?"<br/><br/><br/>Nodding with a return of his grin, Numerius retorts, "Dominus, Manius... I have faith in you as you've had faith in me. Surely we can carve some legends out of this lot," patting one of the loin's head pauldrons.<br/><br/><br/>Looking to the domina as she glares back to him, the lanista gives an apologetic smile and shrug made comically exaggerated from the grandiose nature of the shoulder adornments bobbing with it. "You'd better be right... and thanks," he lets out before heading back to his wife to more closely inspect the new stock.