<strong>[ Valeria: From inside the Ludus Estate to the Training Grounds ]</strong><br/><br/>Full lips defined by a well aimed arrow from Cupid's bow, curve to form a gratuitously soft smile which briefly cracks the stern demeanour of the Domina. She knew she had picked a more than capable slave for her personal hand maiden, but it was the small things like having water already prepared that brought deeper value Asine's position. Obedience was one quality shared by many, yet calming voice was such a far more unique quality. Still fanning herself with one hand as she sipped from the cup held by the other, Valeria's stiff shoulders managed to loosen. Now she only need wait for her husband's calling, and wait she did, back inside the cooler shelter of the estate. Better to divert her eyes from the training grounds below, to distract herself with an assortment of red and green grapes atop a golder plate, rather than make glaring assumptions about the freshly plucked slaves waiting for assessment below her feet.<br/><br/>At last, the loyal Fabian brought news for dutiful wife and house-bound slaves to venture down the stone steps onto the tainted, Ludus soil. So rare it was for Valeria's feet to touch the sand where Gladiator's tread, but she could not allow her stomach to tie in nervous knots. She must hold her head high, and walk as if even she could best the Champion, for she was above all but her husband. As the gongs cracked powerfully against the horizon and each Ludus member took their position, Valeria waited patiently for the fifth calling. With only her most trusted slave to follow as her shadow, her sandalled feet finally crossed the sands. Although the majority of her dark hair was gathered and piled up behind her head, several thick twirls cascaded down a partially bare back where fabric failed to conceal skin dotted with the odd beauty or two mark across pronounced shoulder blades. Her tunica falling in floating waves from the suggestive swelling of shifting hips beneath fine fabrics as she strolls with an even pacing. As though she alone owns the liberty to force her observers to wait far longer for her to take position, if she truly desired. Yet she also ignores the slaves, casting not a single glance in their unworthy direction as she instead puts focus on her husband as target to reach. Sharply arched thick brows accentuate the fixed gaze of dark, approving eyes as she casts her surveying glance to the Lanista's armoured garb. In contrast to his impressionable gear more fitting to the area, she on the other hand clearly represents the more sophisticated and noble aspects of the Ludus.<br/><br/>Stopping a foot behind Manius' slightly taller stature, the brief smile worn on indulgent lips and the light lifting of her chin, complete her pompous aura. The subtle eye contact silently accepting his apology for making her wait so long, and now at last, she casts her assessing gaze out to the new slave stock ahead of them. First, to the brief commotion with one of the wilder women with some of the nearby horses. Surely nipped in the bud by a whip, or by the back of a slave tender's hand for moving out of turn? The first demonstration of discipline. Valeria swallows back her anxiety as to why any coin should to spent on any of them as her stern gaze continues to examine each individual with equal length of inspection. To the men, the definition of muscles, and in particular, how well they fill their loincloths. Gauging the assumed size of their manhood as further proof of potential strength and courage in the arena, should they even make it that far. Only one female catches Valeria's more intrigued gaze; one of a younger, fair-haired presentation. The third however, causes her gaze to return to her husband in the manner of glare. What business does he have planned with purchase of such a physically developed,<em>female</em>creature?<br/>