<div class="floatleft">(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Kyodaiki/james-purefoy-rome.jpg)</div>Not caring to look down on their Gladiators just at the moment he glanced back to his Sister upon her question. With a smile he raised and lowered his shoulders in a casual shrug. "Late enough that you had been asleep, I did not have the heart to wake you." Of course he also didn't much care to lend his ear to his Father when he would have rather rested and done such in the morning, when he could properly handle the man.<br/><br/>For the time it lasted he was simply pleased to share her warmth, the dim light and cold air comfortable with her. The hand on the low of his back touched cloth, for a brief moment he wondered how she would have reacted if she felt the hilt of a blade resting under it. Shaking the thought away he nodded to her bitter words, knowing that Onivus was somewhat bitter that her interests were looked on with scorn. He understood why they tried to keep her away, but he also understood why she looked. For some time he had stayed out of the strife, but he made a point to be silent when he found her watching.<br/><br/>Feeling the light jump he chuckled, knowing the voice that startled his sister. He turned, leaving a calming hand on his Sister's shoulder for a moment while he glanced to his Mother. Even waking early from bed she looked every part the noble woman. Separating himself from his sister with a warm squeeze on her shoulder, and a candid glance of warning, and walked to his Mother.<br/><br/>Deciding that he would not step into the trap laid by his Mother, unintentionally or not, he simply rested his hands on her shoulders and smiled. Leaning forward he kissed her cheek, pleased to have had her warm smile if only for a moment. Moments after his Father came up behind them soon after.<br/><br/>Cassius stepped back quietly and glanced to him. He had no smile for Marcus, instead he bowed his head slightly in respect. "Then I am most pleased, as I have not disappointed you Father." Travel was never much of a difficult to him.<br/><br/>His nose caught the smell of food in the air, his mind drifting to the culina. "If you'll excuse me," He said, without giving reason, and walked back toward the Culina. Letting them amuse he was hungry after his travel was easier then trying to convince them before his departure, and he didn't much care to stay watch the new slaves arrive.<br/><br/>Upon arrival in the Culina he stood in the doorway, the scents of food urging his stomach to growl in protest of his plan to bathe before he would eat. With a moments thought he sighed and pointed a finger toward the dark skinned girl, a young slave he did not remember the name of. "You, take a loaf and come with me." He would turn and step away, moving at a casual pace, not waiting for the slave.<br/><br/>The bottom of his robes swept lightly over the cool floor as he headed down into the caldarium, not caring to bother with the luke warm tepidarium as his chill had not receded. Behind him he heard the rushed steps of the Nubian girl as she caught up to him, just before he was about to walk down into the warm moist air. Without a word he walked down the steps, his stiff muscles urging him toward the water the waited for him bellow.<br/><br/>Moisture greeted him as the stairs leveled off, the sight of the tepidarium greeting him. He walked to the doorway into the warmer caldarium and paused. While he was no soilder, as his father was, he had the masculinity of a man fit to be one, with enough training to defend himself easily enough. Healthy tone over lean muscle, stretching and accentuating deeper as he dropped his clothes and the dagger that rested along it's belt dropping to the floor after a breif tug or two at the fabric.<br/><br/>Stepping into the caldarium further warmth washed over him, and he walked easily into it, only the faintest wince at the difference in tempreture as the water rose up over his hip. With a pleased sigh he walked to the edge and leaned his forearms on the side, and held his hand up. "The loaf," He ordered, his hunger now demanding to be sated. Once in his hand he would tear off a sizeable chunk and bite into it, the warmth it offered as satisifying as it's taste.<br/><br/>With a sigh of pleasure he waved his hand toward the girl. "Out of those rags and wash me."