Post by Nicole on Mar 2, 2011 20:54:52 GMT -5
Kerina sat with a humored grin as she watched the array of gladiators she'd bought displayed before her. Her breathing quickened some as she humored herself to think of what must be under those subligaculum. She had such a grin rising upon her lips she didn't hear Victor come in, in the least bit of the sense.
Victor stood behind her, watching his wanton wife,"Well at least I see you've had entertainment while I was away."
Kerina gasped as the husky familiar voice filled her ears, turning her eyes settled upon a man she'd not seen in months, nigh, half a year. His name would soon leave her lips, " Victor!"
"Hello...Kerina", Victor replied, looking at the gladiators. "Kept busy I see. You bought these men for sporting purposes only, I assume?"
Kerina rises from her chair and turns to face her long vacant husband, her eyes glimpsing along him before settling on his eyes, her head tilting, " Yes, just as you bought those wenches only for their cleaning abilities." she smirked some.
"You'll be pleased to know your house has been elevated in status.. we've won many games."
Victor allows a lip to curl slightly before shooting a glare to one of the aforementioned wenches. The girl looks between Victor and Kerina nervously and scrambles to retrieve wine for Victor.
"A man's worth can be viewed by the marble holding his roof and the silver bindings woven throughout. His worth and simultaneously be viewed by the grime upon these stones or tarnish upon the silver. Do not fault me that I would choose house servants to protect my investments that can by themselves add beauty to the fortune."
Victor looks to the gladiators, sizing them up, " As long as they bring about solid winnings for the home, though doubt any of them have either my Olympians spirit or the true fighting skills of taking to with the Legion."
--------------------------
Kerina
"Back to the Ludas." Kerina instructed, waving off the gladiators who promptly left sight of their mistress and her husband. Kerina's eyes returned back to Victor as she approached him, it was true, they had not the perfect relationship, nor had she entirely missed him during his absence, but.. well.. it was good to see him, alive at that.
"No one compares to you Victor." Kerina replied, her hand extending out and taking the cup of wine from the servant girl who returned with it, offering it to her husband as her eyes lingered on his, falling to her subservient status once more now that her husband had returned - something she wasn't all too keen on doing, but then again, perhaps she'd give Victor his dominance over her, for the time being, she supposed she could be cordial upon his arrival from being gone so long.
Victor
Allowing himself rest within his great chair, he looks to his wife, taking the goblet of wine and sipping from it. How keen the servant was to relinquish the serving duties to Kerina. No doubt that Kerina would have her flogged for little reason. Victor has noticed many of the service girls wore their gowns higher upon their backs than normal, he could only assume this was to disguise welts.
"I would hope you refer to more than just the games on that, Kerina. I am pleased to see my house grows more powerful in my absence. My duties to Lusitania are tiring but a necessity. It pains me to know that rival houses might fall into higher favor by sitting idle than I while I do a civic duty to secure the reins from Rome."
Victor turns to one of his personal praetorian, taking from him his spear to inspect idly. Part of this was to ensure proper maintenance of arms while he was away, but there were underlying tones as well. To strip one of the higher ranking guards of his weapon was a message to all of them, to remind those that would, or have, had their ways with the lady of the home that it was still he that was in charge, and it was he who had a wraith like few others of the noble houses. Further, he gave order without looking to the guard. He would break ales with the guards later on and hear of stories local while he traveled, but for now it was a reminder that to gain his respect took effort, but to loose respect could happen with ease.
"Thasarius, tell the carriage men to retrieve that which I have been awarded in nations abroad and have them lined before my woman that she may choose the finest for herself. Have also a runner report to the palace of the Emperor; inform his people that I have returned and that I await my opportunity to share of my diplomacy once his Lordship is able to send for me."
The guard nods and moves to carry out orders, humbly accepting back his spear before he goes. Victor meant to keep everyone, his servants, his sportsmen, his guards, his family, even the Emperor himself; and to keep them in their due place. However, he would not disrespect his personal phalanx in such a means as to send him on a duty unarmed. There was always a fine line to draw in means of holding his men to a due status while keeping them honoring him that they might not plot against him.
After a moment, an extravagant display is made of the guard returning to the hall, behind him following half a dozen men carrying chests of treasure. The men arrange the chests carefully and open each, laying the goods at Kerina's feet to examine. "I have need to bring goods to the Emperor and Empress; but I shall allow my own Empress first selection. Choose my woman, pick that which suits you, and choose that which I shall present the powers that our favor be elevated further."
Kerina
Kerina indeed had a wraith to match Victor's, together they made the perfect violent couple. Apart, well, they didn't seem to agitate each other, but then again it always put Kerina on edge when Victor wasn't there. There was much danger in having her husband across the Empire in the military. It made him an instant hero, considering his numbers of successes, but, well, fame and fortune would do little of them either good if Victor became deceased.
She moved to his shoulder, a step behind his chair and rest her hand on his shoulder, her otherwise powerful gaze seemed to soften slightly at Victor's offer of treasure. He seemed to be oddly generous in his return, her eyes looked down to him in his chair, a moment of thought before she glimpsed to the door as the items were paraded in.
Had she known Victor would bring such, she perhaps would have had a greater reception for her husband, but then again, she hadn't even word that he was coming home. A pleasant surprise nonetheless.
She moved to examine the items, settling upon a gold necklace of emerald and pearl, something of elegant design that certainly would gather the attention of every roman male and female who gazed upon it.
She took it and turned back to Victor as he called her his empress. Her eyes lingered on his as she moved back to him. She sat sideways across his lap and brought the necklace up and rest it against her neck, letting the ornate gems hang down towards her breasts.
"Would it please you to see me wear this?" she asked him, her eyes looking over to his.
Victor
Victor watched thoughtfully as Kerina sifted through the treasures. It was fortunate every culture knew of Rome's customs to treat well of guests. In attempts to find their own favors with Rome it seems every noble upon that western peninsula adorned him with offerings and praisings of the tongue; be it through them, through their translators, or through the well talents tongues of their service women. While the trips themselves were long and often tired Victor with all the pleasantries, he would not relinquish the duty as long as it begot envy from his peers.
"Yes Kerina, it would please me greatly. That was a gift from the Duchess Bellatania. The only woman ruler of those lands since her husband was struck ill in naval warfare. I think that considering your success of rule of my household in my absence, it is only a fitting gift for you to adorn yourself with. Please, choose through, find me offerings to march to the palace as well. Let us see your tastes carry through to further push my prestige."
Victor leans back in his chair, exhaling a relief to finally be at rest from his travels. Even when diplomatic missions are a success and there goes not a single confrontation of his caravan; Victor finds wielding a smile and a deep bow much more demanding than wielding a spear and shield.
Kerina
Kerina's eyes lingered on Victor's as he told her the story of the necklace and where it had come from, whom it had come from. She nodded to his command to compile an appropriate gift to give the Emperor. She knew already that the most elaborate would go to the Palace, the rest would be sold at market to further Victor's coin. But her expertise would certainly be needed to gift items that were of popular style at the moment.
Her free hand moved up, gently touching Victor's cheek before she leaned forward and placed a grateful kiss to her husband's lips. " Thank you husband. Then I shall wear it tonight, and only it.." she grinned at him, slowly withdrawing herself from his lap.
She returned to the vast trove displayed across the room, pointing out various objects, jewels, statues, items which would certainly impress the Emperor, and be of great value, but not to such an extent that she wasn't thinking of Victor's coin bag in the process.
She paused in process, glimpsing back towards Victor before questioning. "We should hold a party tomorrow to celebrate your triumphant return to Rome." she replied, " It's far too late in the eve now, if only I'd of known you were returning today." she replied, pointing out a last few objects before returning back to Victor's side, gently combing her fingers through his hair, feeling much more affectionate to him after his glorious gift to her. He certainly knew how to tame his beast, horses and wife alike.
"Dear husband, is there anything I could have brought to you?"
Victor
An eyebrow peaks slightly at his wife's words. An appropriate homecoming gift to be certain though after a week's ride with little resting, he would need to clean himself up first.
"I do believe, my dear wife, that would be the most appropriate ensemble to compliment your figure. It will be especially pleasing to have our own celebration once I have had time to bathe. You may bathe me first, if you wish, and then after you may choose 2 of our servants to bathe the both of us, that I might rest cleanly in fresh linens. Nothing would please me better after months traveling dusty roads."
Victor nods at talk of the party in his hall. While he cares little for hosting, he knows that Kerina rather enjoys the duties, and enjoys being envied by the other women of Rome for the grandeur displayed during festivities of the Vitella house.
"I hunger not for a feast tonight, though olives and cheese would do well to compliment my wine. I shall allow you the honor of handling the celebration; even had I arrived sooner a days rest home is finer than a night of flowing drink."
Kerina
Kerina's lips curled a bit more at Victor's response. Perhaps she had missed him a little after all, he had been gone a long time, his campaign in Lusitania certainly was long and intense. She gently traced her fingers along his ear as she nodded to him.
"As you wish husband." she answered him, looking to one of their many servants and nodding, "Have the fires freshly kindled so that the bathing pool is appropriately warmed for your master." she commanded to one.
"Fetch olives, cheese and more wine." she instructed to another. Her place at his side was expected by a wife, to attend to the needs of her husband while he ate. She was certain Victor was enjoying this from her, afterall, Kerina wasn't a woman who often waited upon any, even her husband.
"I will handle all the preparations for the feast. You have been away far too long and must relax while you are here." she told him, a gentle kiss to his forehead.
"I imagine all the tongues in Rome will waggle with your name when they see you are safely returned and with spoils of war." she replied, already plotting how this would effect them. She would imagine some of the families would attempt to become more friendly with them, afterall, with Victor there, many of the other men would attempt political ties with them, something she could only suggest to the wives of these people, Victor on the other hand, could directly approach the subject. She would have to fill him in the morrow on all the things he'd missed, but for now she was content to see her husband relaxing a little, if Victor wasn't on edge, it certainly would bode well for all around him, just as it did when Kerina was at ease.
Victor
He awaits the servants returning with his snack, enjoying the various worldly cheeses and freshly plucked olives. Despite having no desire for public drunkenness, the dehydrated travels would certainly let the wine do to his head with more ease than usual.
"Make sure to invite more than only political friends and rivals. I would like to see as many officers from the 2nd that are still in Rome, along with academic heads. Little more than well-spoken panhandlers those philosophers are, but they command an unheard of position within the eyes of the nobility and commoners alike."
Victor motions to the guard, who summon others to replace the treasures and take them to the house treasury. Victor himself choose none of the splendors himself; though had requested of his hosts various weapons for his own collection.
"Ah if only they were true spoils of war. It is an often occasion I reminisce of the front line; of taking my trophies from the dead rather than merely having them handed to me upon a velvet pillow."
Kerina
Kerina was no fan of having the lowly soldiers at meals. Or those who particularly were of no value to have there, but for the time being she would appease the more powerful male sitting next to her. Soon enough the servants would quickly return with their master's snack and fresh wine for his cup.
"As you wish." Kerina replied, taking a deep uneasy breath. She would have to be careful not to have some of the more....heretical philosophers attend.
"War is profitable.. and it helps boost favor to you my love." she replied, glimpsing to him, " But not so much that I would rather see you in risk of being killed."
Wow had she really just said that? Had the last four months made her that soft? She straightened a little, refilling her husband's cup and offering him one of the olives with their pits removed.
Victor
"I hear your sigh Kerina, and trust in me that I care nothing for the public speakers. However, the Emperor adores them. They are merely the entertainment. On this note, let us have jugglers and firebreathers as well...but only in the courtyard. I have no need of fools near when I push my position...though I suppose in that regard I have no choice but to invite Cealorius."
Victor's eyes flash disdain at the mention of his political rival. The two had been ever at each other's throats. This fire was further fueled when Victor attempted to exchange his duties on the western peninsula with a diplomatic detail to Egypt. Victor had been in high favor of the Pharaoh, but had lost the position once a daughter of Caelorius was offered in hand to a son of the great Pharaoh. Never would they be a ruling couple, as the Pharaoh had 3 sons elder, but it was enough to place the rival into a position of high influence within the region.
One of the Praetorian stepped to Victor's side, muttering something in a low voice. Victor nods before turning to his wife.
"It seems that the 2nd Legion is marching to the Persian border to secure lines. It saddens me that my brother-in-arms will not be joining us tomorrow, though it is a delight to hear he has replaced our old general at the helm. A strong suited commander to be certain, we will need to celebrate his return. Our dear nephew's as well, since this shall be his first march with the 2nd. For the party, we shall have to settle for the honored retirees; namely General Percernus and Captain Tylot. They at least have noble rankings to properly attend."
