Livia with Aulus in the study / Caris in the kitchen<br/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>Livia</strong></em></span>noted much about him now that had been missed upon the sands when he fought, the blue of his eyes and the wave of his brown hair. On his neck was the mark of the Roman legion and his very posture was confident and assured, a man she thought of rank more than a simple soldier. She eyed him speculatively, allowing her gaze to defer to the older man on occasion, he was not as pleasing to look upon and indeed seemed extremely uncomfortable in his seat.<br/><br/>She accepted the compliment with a graceful nod to her head, she did not mind his saying so at all and even found his accent pleasant to her ears but she was not famous for her admiration of a beautiful face. Livia was a good woman, strong of character and beautiful of spirit. It took a lot to rankle her calm demeanour and yet she let her fingers curl tightly upon the lions head as he began to explain his earlier actions.<br/><br/>It would have been easy for her to admit that the female gladiator had been the instigator of the fight but she discovered in this man an admirable quality for taking responsibility for his own actions, something very few seemed capable of doing of late. Again she inclined her head partially, a slight wave of her slender soft hand as if to wave off his concerns in relation to his actions.<br/><br/><strong>"You behaved in accordance to any man or soldier of worth, I thank you for ... not wounding my latest acquisition and am grateful for your manipulation of the situation she put you in."</strong><br/><br/>The man gave finally his name and to which legion he was party to. Her features took on a contemplative look. She knew Pompey Magnus by reputation only and wondered that he would send one of his soldiers as an errand boy, looking to the older man she lifted a hand in his direction.<br/><strong>"And who is your companion?"</strong><br/><br/>It was a fair question in her view, she would hear what the message was of course but somehow she thought it best if the elder man were shown somewhere more comfortable to rest. Perhaps their journey was far too harsh for his tired looking frame. She stood and elegantly gathered her toga to the side so as not to tread upon its hem as she walked towards them.<br/><strong>"Rise, we shall find you a place to rest while Aulus Livius relates his most important message."</strong><br/><br/>Without waiting for the old man, she left the room and walked down through the corridor, glancing into first one opened door and then another before a pleasant enough chamber opened before her. It's silver and green damask chaise and drapes were quite pleasing though not at all to her tastes, which was why she had no trouble stepping back and raising her hand to direct the old man inside.<br/><br/><strong>"Go rest, he shall send for you when he is ready"</strong>she left him to his own devices, giving herself time as she returned to the study to dwell on what Pompey Magnus could possibly want with this Ludus or the owner at least, though of course he had thought his message would be reaching Manius. With Caris deep in the kitchen boiling water and muttering to herself about how inept this household was, Livia re-entered the study and closed the door behind her.<br/><strong>"Now ... I will hear this message."</strong>