<strong>~ Liliana in the outer courtyard with Antonious and Aulus, at Antonious’ temporary kiosk ~</strong><br/><br/>When her mesmerizing violet gaze had locked with his limpid azure pools, Liliana had felt a tantalizing spark of the thrill of the hunt. Aulus’ guileless stare reflected back to her the wide-eyed uncertainty of a rabbit or a deer, a gentle creature that thought it might scent danger in the air but stood rooted to the spot, waiting to see if it would fall prey or escape.<em>And yet...and yet he bore the mark of the Legion!</em>A soldier could ill afford a gentle nature whilst battling in mortal combat ~ what an intriguing contradiction young Aulus was thus far proving to be.<br/><br/>Her dark fringe of lashes dipped as her gaze lowered from his eyes to enjoy the telling flush across his handsome cheeks. When the boy required encouragement from Antonious to place the pendant around her neck, her mind had settled on an answer to her earlier question which she had posed to herself.<em>Innocence it is, then,</em>she purred soundlessly, her observation confirmed with certainty in her mind when he did not respond or react to her playful flirting, but simply moved artless fingers to shakily drape the heavy amethyst around her neck.  His naivete was charming and refreshing to her, and yet the feel of his strong fingers lightly brushing over the soft skin of her shoulders and neck was enticing.<br/><br/><strong>“A most splendid choice, even Venus herself would cry in shame if she knew such beauty existed”</strong><br/><br/>Soft laughter bubbled over her lips at his eloquently dramatic proclamation, as she twirled gracefully back around, releasing her long dark hair to cascade down her back once again, smiling playfully into the young man’s face.<br/><br/><strong>“Allow me to introduce to you my apprentice, Aulus Livius. Young lad too, only nineteen... 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.”</strong><br/><br/>She wasn’t sure which delectable nugget of information intrigued her more; Aulus’ tender age or his apparent prowess in battle.<em>Nineteen.</em>He was only a few years older than she was when the flower of her innocence was gently plucked by a kindly man who at the time was already old enough to be her grandfather.<em>Is it possible our young Aulus has refrained from the over-indulgences freely afforded men at war?</em>On the heels of that captivating thought, visions of a youthful yet muscularly toned Aulus embroiled in heated battle against pirates, as the right-hand man to Pompey...she shook her head slightly to clear it of the delightful mental images distracting her as Aulus again spoke, presenting her with a gallant bow in her direction.<br/><br/><strong>”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.”</strong><br/><br/>As she once again found herself sharing a fleeting yet intense moment of focused stillness with Aulus, their eyes fixed on each other’s gaze, she marveled at her unaccustomed feeling of indecision.<em>Shall I treasure and safeguard the boy’s apparent innocence, providing companionship and guidance to him as I would a brother-friend?  Or, shall I partake of such an exquisite prize with enthusiastic abandon, introducing such a luscious morsel as he to the sensual delights that may still await his discovery?</em>Not certain yet of her decision, Liliana nodded graciously toward Aulus and returned his polite greeting, “Please, put your mind at ease, dear Aulus ~ you have been nothing if not proper. And indeed, it is my pleasure to meet you as well.”<br/><br/>Glancing around the courtyard to peruse any others who might be wandering the area, Liliana spoke her curiosity aloud, “So, Antonious...have you had the prior privilege of meeting with the Domina - and perhaps even Dominus - of this fine ludus? I find myself very much looking forward to making their acquaintance and determining if my aspirations toward participating in the gladiatorial games might bear fruit from among their stock. Pray, do share your knowledge with me of our illustrious hosts and their impressive ludus.”<br/>