All Paths Lead To Rome - [locked to dream_departed]

[_megaman_x]

X quickly glanced around to orient himself after Aya had PINpointed them to a world in the era of the ancient Roman empire. They'd arrived in the shadow of a masonry archway. A few people were hurrying along the passageway toward where sunlight shone into the arched and columned structure. Outside, X could hear the sounds of a huge crowd getting

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[dream_departed]

Aya looks around and sees X moving to take his seat. She decides to go with the slave who beckoned to her.

She bows nervously.

"You don't need to do that." He smiles gently. "I'm Marcus Apollonius Paterculus. What are you called?"

He leads the way to seats, expecting Aya to follow, which she does.

"Fujimiya Aya."

"You haven't been given a Roman name yet?" he asks with surprise.

"No." Aya takes the seat offered to her and looks for X while the speaker makes the announcements. "I haven't been with my master long."

Marcus sees where she is looking. "Is he your master?"

"Yes."

"Is he kind?"

She smiles. "Yes."

"He must be, to let you see the races. Although I am surprised he let you go alone."

((Sorry for the delay. I spent the weekend offline.))

[_megaman_x]

X glanced over at Aya as the procession continued around the track. She seemed to be getting along well with the person sitting next to her. He turned his attention back to the track as the procession began to break up as the members headed for their various positions

[dream_departed]

Aya leaned halfway over the dividing wall as the chariot horses raced by. She saw the sweat glisten on the horses flanks. Although there is no way be certain because the helmet obscures a portion of his face, she could have sworn one of the charioteers winked at her.

"I have to try that," she said breathlessly.

"Sure, you do." And it's only now that she noticed Marcus behind her. He held the back of her robe like he was afraid she would fall. "Lean back a little."

[_megaman_x]

As the chariots thundered around another turn to the roar of the crowd, X glanced back up to the tier of seats above and behind him. Just in time to see Aya leaning almost dangerously far over the wall. He tensed, worried she might overbalance, but he could see the person behind her urging her to lean back away from the wall

[_megaman_x]

"No, it's okay. I've got this." X smiled and then approached the counter as he pulled out his wallet pouch.

"How much for the set of pins again?" X asked the vendor. The man stated a price and X began digging out the coins.

[dream_departed]

Aya pouted at X.

A young thief who saw the coins Aya was displaying rushes up and attempts to take her coin purse. Aya trips him and the smudged young thief tumbles to the ground.

[_megaman_x]

X caught the commotion out of the corner of his eye. He dropped the coins he'd counted out onto the counter and spun to face Aya and the fallen would-be thief.

Before the thief could scramble to his feet and bolt, X stepped forward and grabbed him by the shoulder. He hauled the thief to his feet. "Just what do you think you're doing?"

[dream_departed]

Aya noticed angry looking men in armor coming there way. She wasn't sure what the punishment for theft was in ancient Rome, but suspected it was brutal

"Don't hurt him!" she belatedly remembered to add, "Master."

For the benefit of the men carrying the pointy weapons she added, "He's just... my cousin... playing a prank."