A Twist in Time

He was concerned it wasn't some part of her imagination but he had not seen or heard anything beyond a load thunk on the floor, and he had surmised that had belonged to her in some way. The dark always had the effect of playing tricks on people but sometimes those tricks were actual truths. He sighed and got into bed hoping the morning would come quickly. Knowing how fickle luck was, it was equally likely that she hadn't been seeing things and there had been an intruder. He knew he would sleep easier knowing his door was open and that'd he'd wake to further disturbances. He doubted it though, it didn't make much sense to try again so soon. It wasn't too long before he did eventually fall to sleep, his snores filling the room with a surety.

Morning came and he woke to a brightly filled room. He rolled to his back and rubbed his face free from all the sleep and stared up at the ceiling for a while. He spent a little moment reminding himself again that he was not in a world he knew and understood but several years into its future and currently guest to a hostess connected with some project that had unwitting pulled him out. Kaeso sighed before he rose from the bed wincing as he heard the bed make a noise in the process. He looked at it, the noise hadn't really sounded that wooden and he scratched his head slightly before shrugging and choosing something from the box to wear. Simple trousers and a shirt and both felt very comfortable. More so than he was used to. He folded his nightclothes and made the bed if only for something to do. He had noted he had woken quite early and figured he might as well tidy up and save her some work.

Once he was done, he left his room and glanced down the hall before heading to the living room come kitchen area reminding himself that she said she was taking him to what she had called a gallery. He still was curious about it. He was thirsty and he spent forever in trying to find a cup before he moved to the tap and filled it once he figured out how the tap worked. He heard movement and turned before he smiled, "Good morning... Did you get any sleep?" he asked, concerned. He was always anxious or jittery before a fight but to have an intruder in your home even if it was one that was imagined couldn't have been easy going either.
 
Valerie was plagued all night by nightmares, her unconscious mind swirling up images of dark figures chasing her through doorways, slowly gaining on her no matter how fast she ran or how she tried to hide. She kept looking over her shoulder as she tried to evade the mysterious figure, seeing his silhouette getting larger and larger. Eventually, she could hear the panting of his breath right behind her, his presence near enough for her to sense without looking back that he was about to catch her. It was as she felt his hands grab her shoulder that she woke with a start, sitting straight up in bed panting.

She groaned, rubbing her hands with the heels of her palm, heart thudding in her throat as she tried to compose herself. "It was all just a dream...only a dream..." She muttered to herself repeatedly, getting out of bed and changing into a short summer dress and sandals before heading to the kitchen. As expected, Kaeso was already there and greeted her. "Good morning to you to. In all honest, it wasn't great, but I'm sure I'll sleep better tonight." His voice was something of a comfort to be greeted with after the shocking awakening she had received that morning. She smiled at him, preparing them each a quick breakfast and brew of coffee before grabbing her keys and heading to the car outside. As soon as they were both inside with their seatbelts buckled, Valerie started the car and began driving out the Apartment block's parking lot.

The image of the figure standing outside her window still plagued her thoughts, but she forcefully forced herself to push the negative, shadowing thoughts aside and focused instead on the adventure that lay ahead. "Right, so we're going to the gallery first. It's a bit of a drive, but it will be worth it I promise. Besides, the zoo is close at least to the building so getting from one to the other won't be too much of a mission." The girl turned to him in her seat, wondering how he was feeling about the possibility of seeing the art. Would he be shocked by it? Would he value how some of the work had been preserved? Or would the military life he had lead thus far make him indifferent to what was available? These thoughts all swirled in her head as she continued to drive.

The art gallery and zoo had always been places of sanctuary for Valerie. While the university held only the expectations of her professional life and career, the zoo and gallery had always been places she went when she wanted to get away from things and explore other facets of her personality and individualistic needs. The gallery in itself was a sight to behold, with it's tall roof and curving architecture that swept up the viewer in some grandiose view. It appeared as if some part of the building floated through how the builders had played with the placement of mirrors and glass. While Valerie appreciated the science that was conducted at her place of work, the gallery and zoo were places that highlighted her artistic side.
 
He gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile before he drank a good quarter from the glass after he nodded. "Sorry to hear that... I hope that you will," he replied before he helped as much as he could. He didn't particularly want to be a burden about her home and he liked being useful. A tool without purpose was no good at all. He did make sure her windows were all tightly latched before they left. He didn't want to leave it much to chance that the man she had seen wasn't part of a wild imagination. Kaeso had to admit the previous night had left him with a feeling but one he couldn't really justify or explain.

Kaeso followed her out and into the car, pushing the buckle in with a click. He felt too big for the car but it was comfortable in the least. He glanced to her as she spoke and then watched the scenery go past again. He knew he was in for quite a new experience having never been to any sort of art gallery before and whilst he had seen exotic animals in the arena before, he had never seen them put into enclosures. He wasn't too sure what he could expect at either place and he found he was rather looking forward to it more than he had realised. Kaeso wasn't usually fond of not knowing what was in store for him but equally he was used to that feeling.

"I'll take your word," he nodded, "Should be interesting..." he smiled warmly as he watched the world go by with other cars passing. It was such a strange feeling to be enclosed by so many peculiar and alien things and yet it held some familiarity. Traffic of people and these tin cans seems rather similar to him. He watched it all through the wing mirror for a long time through the drive not realising they were being followed.

It was good when he could get out of the car at the other end and stretch his legs and get some fresh air. He turned to her and then smiled, "Well, I'm completely in your hands." This was entirely new for him and he didn't know really what to do or how to act. Watching other people in the vicinity made him realise just how much society had changed around the edges.
 
Valerie was too busy trying to avoid busy traffic and transverse traffic lights to notice the black van behind them. It was large and mostly inconspicuous, seemingly like any other ordinary vehicle even with it's slightly darkened windows. She didn't even notice when it pulled into the same parking lot as them for the art gallery, oblivious to her and Kaeso being closely monitored as she exited her car and breathed out slowly. It had been a while since she was here and the excitement that filled her brought a wide grin across her face which managed to even touch her eyes. Her green pupils shone brightly as she turned to the Roman, speaking Latin low under her breath in case anyone was listening .

"Well, guess we better get inside. We can go through it as quickly or slowly as you want, I know that stuff like this isn't exactly everyone's cup of tea. I've seen most of the things inside, so I'll be able to answer some of your questions but not all of them." She was jittery with her eagerness to get inside, jumping around on the balls of her feet with anxious energy. This was strange for her, sharing apart of herself that she very rarely let others see. In some way, it was like she scrubbing away some of her straight-faced and stiff-backed self she put on show for when around the other scientists and Shane, exposing something a little more unique to her own self. She was vaguely reminded of how she had felt as he paged through her art, the same nervousness at what he would think managing to equal her elation at their chosen activities during the day off. The female linked her arm through Kaeso's leading him slowly through the glass sliding doors that opened wide like a gaping mouth when they got close.

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The men in the black van watched the exchange with muted expressions, each keeping their thoughts to themselves as four pairs of eyes watched the scientist and soldier enter into the building. The same man who had been outside of Valerie's window the night before was the first to break the silence among them, cracking his knuckles out of habit before speaking. "Right. They've gone in. I'll follow and observe, you lot keep track of the video and audio I'll be picking up using the hidden camera and microphone. Try not stuff around or make any shitty errors while I'm gone, I don't feel like cleaning up anyone's mess when I get back either." With that he stepped out of the van's sliding door, straightening his tie and coat before gingerly stepping towards the building's entrance.
 
Her dropped voice was a stark and sudden reminder just how equally alien he was to the people of this world. He only understood a little out of the mass expanse of words they spoke and even as they stood in the parking lot for the cars, he could hear this strange lingo all around him. It was like trying to catch a ghost of a dream. He didn't like it. For Kaeso he was used to having the knowledge and experience the legionaries depended upon him for. He was used to commanding and watching over his men, leading from the front. However, in this place, he was back to square one only he didn't know how to behave or even what to say. He frowned, it made him vulnerable and reliant. He was out of his depth even with his guide, as lovely and as helpful as she had been. He was unsure how to properly convey his gratitude.

Marcellus nodded lightly, startling slightly when she took his arm but was equally thankful for it. This was clearly something she was looking forward to, he had noticed there was something in her demeanour where the burden had lifted from her shoulders. He was glad she knew what they were doing for he as sure did not. "We'll see how it goes.... If it's anything like your sketches...," he nodded to her, anxious and excited, as he followed her lead trying to seem as normal as everyone else whilst feeling he was sticking out like a sore thumb. It wasn't as if he could scream anything but of one used to throwing punches.

It was fairly busy and reminded him in some ways of the Forum with pillars but the layout was strange and didn't conform to the style he was used to. There seemed to be no charge as they moved through past what seemed to be some form of reception room and into the first hall. The walls were lined with paintings of various sizes and colours but all seemed to follow some theme or so he could guess. There was a lot of horses involved throughout each painting. The constant utterance of the native tongue was forever in his ears but he was happy to ignore as he looked around the room. He saw one that drew his attention and he steered Valerie towards it in his keenness to see it closer up. On the wall was a painting of a striped horse with its large ears pointed backwards with a mane and tail quite unlike that of any horse he had seen before. "I've not seen one of those before... always missed the events where they were used in the circus," he kept his voice low but there was no hiding his awe of the striped beast. "I hear they're a lot fiercer than normal Equus," he breathed, admiring the detail in the painting itself. There was a great deal of brushwork and care taken into the composition and colours, even down to the expression on the striped horse. His people called them Hippo Tigris but he had no real idea what Valerie would know it as.

"What do you call them?" he asked, pointing a finger at the striped horse stood in a small under-light clearing with trees behind it looking like it had lost its herd. There was a lot to see and it wasn't that long till they were moving from one room to the next each one filled with art pieces of various styles and themes. It wasn't just paintings but statues or sculptures as he had learned. It amazed him how someone could capture another's likeness on a page and make it seem as if it was about to blink at any moment. He felt her tug on his arm again before they entered another wing of the gallery. Within were objects that he recognised and knew, some were a long way away from where he had known them to stand. He had to stand still to take it all in for a moment. There were carved reliefs on the walls too. He wasn't sure what to make of it all. It felt so peculiar and unnerving to see parts of monuments he had known since he was a child or from when they had been erected so broken and aged by thousands of years.

His expression grew hard with pain and disbelief. Like any Roman, he had fought with the ingrained belief that even though she may suffer numerous defeats, Rome would never be broken or die. She was as much an alive entity as he was. Yet here he stood witness to that broken future. He was oblivious to the space around him as they moved closer in, "Somehow... I feel so very small," he breathed unaware of their shadow that followed them as they went. It was doubtful that many in this room would understand just as well as Valerie could. For Kaeso, he could read the writings carved into the stonework. He looked and saw a display case before he moved towards it. Inside was a small horse standing on three legs with its left foreleg raised upwards in a hook with its head outstretched slightly. Its hoof was missing and the ears chipped away, its skin mottled as if eaten and pockmarked but he could recognise it well enough to remember it as new as the day it had been made. He didn't know how to describe what it made him feel. "Fuck me..." he muttered forgetting to keep his tongue civil, "The man who carved that..." he drew her near and pointed it out to her, "I grew up with the man who made that. It was part of a set of four with an exquisite chariot and men... Oh Marcus, if you could see it now..." he mused aloud, running a hand over his mouth and jaw in simple wonder of how something so familiar looked so worn and pale evoked joyous memories. "Damn thing got him his apprenticeship," he grinned at Valerie.

If he had known the identity of the man stood a little way off pretending to be interested in another Roman artefact, he might not have been too free with his words.

(The painting is Zebra by George Stubbs)
 
There were people milling about, most huddled in pairs or groups of three around certain exhibits. Valerie assumed some may have been art students by the way they were scribbling on notepads while occasionally looking up at whatever work they were examining, while others were elderly and simply walking through to pass the time. The air here was cool and clear, the sound of the air-conditioner humming overheard mingling with the quiet whispers and chatter barely audible unless one was part of the conversation. Valerie sniffed, smiling when the smell of roasting beans from the cafe on the other side of the building greeted her nostrils. Her curls bounced as she stepped, sandals squeaking lightly on the white tiled floors as she made her way into the first room of exhibits. The necessity for the large windows was now clear, the crisp sunlight streaming through illuminating the works of art in a natural way that didn't change the colouring and hues displayed within the paintings or the colour of marble used to sculpt the statues.

At the back of her mind, there was some worry that Kaeso would be strongly disinterested by this and find the visit something of a bore, but when he suddenly pulled her forward (her arm still being linked in his) she realized that she may be worrying over nothing. He stopped in front of a painting she wouldn't have thought would interest him, the subject matter clearly set front and center within the depicted scene. He explained to her that they used to show them in the circus, the girl not able to stop her grin when she realized with some satisfaction that he would be able to see one in person today at their next destination. Until they were there though, she decided she would keep it as a surprise. "We call them zebras, zebra is the singular though. They come from mostly the southern half of Africa. I wouldn't say they're fiercer than a horse, but they're certainly not as domesticated. They're actually a lot smaller than most horses too."

They continued on throughout the artworks, going from one to the next with Valerie stopping occasionally to explain something to Kaeso or to answer any questions he might have. They were soon going into the room she was most eager for him to see, the one filled with ancient Roman artwork as well as many statues and sculptures. Many had been recovered in their current conditions and while time had taken it's toll on the pieces, Valerie still loved to admire the history and time put into each of the pieces of art. Strangely enough and without her realizing she was doing it, she found herself watching Kaeso to see his reaction more than she was looking at the items out for display. Val could recognize the familiarity that sometimes flicked across his face, the sudden focus he had in scrutinizing each artwork they came across. When the pain that reflected in his eyes was suddenly visible to her, she felt a sharp pang of regret at having brought him. She bit her lower lip, inwardly banging her head against a wall at not having thought before hand how difficult it would be to see the life he came from dwindled down to these crumbling ruins. He didn't voice these feelings though, so she left him to process them instead. All the while, she made sure to keep their arms linked, silently letting him know that she was here if he needed to talk.

It was fascinating to her, trying to figure out what he was thinking and feeling...however, she did not interrupt him and instead waited until he spoke first before responding. "You...were there when this was made? Or, at least, unveiled? That must have been such a sight to see. It's one of my favourite pieces in the room oddly enough. It's not as new as the others or the best preserved...but it has character. Like the sculptor wanted it to look like it might run right off it's pedestal if you blinked." She placed her free hand on his arm that was linked with hers, saying gently "Sometimes, it's okay to feel small. It allows you to fully appreciate just how great and complex this chaotic world is....and yet you've been allowed to be part of it and somehow are still surviving in it. That's a feat in itself if you ask me. Besides, when we feel small, we're able to appreciate the smaller things around us too. Not all blessings come as grandiose arrivals and might go by unnoticed if we don't take note of them."
 
"Zebra," he echoed the named across his tongue and he liked it. The name was quirky and as strange as the beasts themselves. He had heard stories of them being able to kill with sharp kicks of their hooves or in the least do a substantial amount of damage. Then again not everything had to be big to be able to cause great harm. He looked at it again and smiled wondering what seeing one in the flesh would be like. He could appreciate a work like this. It was clear someone had put a lot of thought into it and he could see that in a grand villa somewhere fancy. He knew he would never be able to afford something like that even if he saved up all his earnings plus gratuity. Kaeso could dream though and now that he had seen this, it wasn't something he was going to forget. He could always imagine it on the wall instead. That was enough for him.

"Would the zoo have them, the zebras?" He asked looking at her with wonder that was almost akin to a boy's than of the man it was plastered to. He wanted to see one. He thought they looked very interesting and strange. They certainly sounded far more exotic than anything he had seen. Even lions, which might be big and powerful but they had no real distinguishing colour that he knew about. "I like this room," he commented looking around once more, happy to remain at Valerie's side as sharp eyes picked out details of the other paintings in the room. Whoever this artist was, he clearly had some kind of obsession with horses in some way but some were better than others. Perhaps it was a sign of trying to improve a style or technique. Something that Kaeso could relate with as a soldier where you always had to improve on your training. Any little thing you had in your arsenal that you could use to throw your opponent could mean the difference between life or death.

"I could spend a lot longer in here," he smiled at her before they moved on.

The room filled with relics of his present was a strange peculiar feeling but he was glad he was not here by himself. He had someone to share the moment with that could simply be there for him. Seeing Marcus' work inside a display case a shadow of its former self was tragic. He wondered where the rest of it was. Perhaps someone else somewhere else in the world had it wondering where the horse was. "Really? Marcus would have loved to hear that," he grinned at her, nodding slightly before it simmered to a smile. "Aye, I was the first he showed it to after he made it. It was before I enlisted. Heh, it certainly does look like it's about to race off, doesn't it?" he agreed.

He looked at her when he felt her hand on his arm and it was clear he was used to focusing on people. Perhaps it was the nature of his rank and station. He smiled deeply as she spoke to him and nodded, "Words of wisdom too, you really are talented, Valerie. Thank you." He was appreciative of her words. It wasn't patronising but supportive and calm. He very rarely let his emotions get the better of him but with all that had happened to him in the past few days it had spilled over the edge regardless off his control. It wasn't in a Centurion's nature to let themselves fall short of the mark and he had been trying to keep to that line.

Kaeso turned to her and reached to squeeze her hand that lay across his arm. She seemed so much smaller than himself but it was sometimes easy for him to forget that he wasn't exactly a small man. "If I had money, I'd get you something , or cook something," he said softly knowing he owed her a lot.
 
"Whether or not they're at the zoo, that's just something you'll have to wait to see." She looked at him with a crooked grin, shrugging her shoulders in a sly manner. Back in the room with the horse carved by Marcus, Valerie continued to walk around with him around the various exhibits. She still spoke softly under her breath when addressing him, although the whispered quality of their conversation was not unusual with everyone else in the art gallery doing the same thing. The girl was surprised by the openness with which he spoke, Valerie not taking it lightly just how vulnerable he had made himself by speaking his mind instead of his usual front of a hardened soldier.

She continued on walking between the dustless, well-maintained exhibits, pointing out certain aspects she liked and others she did not. The atmosphere was calm and relaxed, with the pair having no knowledge of the man that continued to lurk behind them like a shadow. Valerie was unused to needing to constantly be alert, not in the least suspect of the man who had carefully been trailing them since they had entered into the building. With the throng of people always moving in and out of whatever room the scientist and soldier found themselves in, the man in the cloak was all but unnoticeable.

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The cloaked man kept his head down and his distance far enough so that he wasn't in their peripheral vision but he was still close enough to catch most of Valerie's and Kaeso's conversation. All the while, he spoke softly to the audio device planted strategically onto the collar of his coat. "His reactions...they aren't overly invested, but you can definitely see he's interested in certain pieces above most. All the ones that are linked to the region that the Roman grew up in or had military missions nearby. He doesn't seem to recognize anything else except for the prancing horse but that was to be expected with the artist's background coinciding with his. Are you idiots in the van getting all this video? If you're stuffing around in there, I assure you there'll be hell to pay. The only reason I'm not in the van myself is because gathering the data is more important than making sure it's going into the data storage and you monkey-brained fools aren't trustworthy enough."

The pair turned around, seemingly heading back towards another display and going straight towards the spying man. He shifted around slowly and inconspicuously, making sure that his presence would not be noticed. "They're heading to the zoo soon. I'm heading back to the van now so we can get there before then and change up the audio and video devices for some fresh ones."

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Valerie continued to watch Kaeso, peeking at her watch every so often as they walked through the exhibit. "There's no rush, but would you like to head to the zoo? I don't mind staying here a little longer if that's what you would prefer. There's some coffee further down the hall as well."
 
She was being cryptic and he looked at her with a mixture of uncertainty and curiosity before his mouth quirked, the corners lifting to form a smile in return. He could tell she was far more relaxed now than earlier in the morning and it suited her a lot, the grins and the laughter he had seen and heard thus far. "Okay," he nodded, following her out.

It got easier to deal with what the room meant for him the longer they walked around it viewing different things. There were some things that were completely new to him and it showed him how far Rome had gotten before her fall. The very idea that Rome could be defeated in its entire civilisation was still something he was processing but the emotion that sat heavy on the shoulders grew easier to bear, especially since he had someone with him. The gods could only speculate what he would be doing with himself if he had been here alone. He wasn't too sure of himself and there was a lot he was second-guessing whereas he would never had done so before.

Speaking in low tones was also something he wasn't quite attuned to, occasionally his voice would break the understood silence level and he'd get a funny look of incomprehension and irritation. It took him a while to follow the unspoken order of maintaining the sound of his voice. He was used to shouting for most of the day regardless of what it was he was saying. It was in a Centurion's nature to follow the rules and to be observant so it didn't take him too long all round. He was aware he had spoken quite a bit, more than he knew he would normally have done but in the time and space in which he had come to know her, he found he trusted her. His rank meant he had to get a read on people and there was nothing about her that raised alarm bells thus far. He didn't feel that she would betray him or turn on him. He could see she was an honest and caring hard worker in everything she was doing.

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The pair in the van rolled their eyes as his voice came through and one glared at the other when one of them dropped his phone with a curse. His eyes ran over the recordings on the monitors in the van before he replied all too used to being called an idiot. Wasn't as if he had much chance not too with his colleague who often made him wonder how he got to where he did. All brawn and perhaps something of a brain maybe. "Yes, we're getting it," he held the exasperation back, letting that slip would only make the other's mood worse and that they could do without. "Yes boss, will get those ready," he clicked off and glared at the other in the van again. "Get on with it, daft fool," he rolled his eyes as he readied the fresh tapes and feeds, hearing his partner's episode of Tom & Jerry start up again.

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Kaeso couldn't really put a finger on it but that feeling of unease was coming back to him. Something about the crowds perhaps, he mused to himself as they explored more of the gallery, seeing more paintings and sculptures from other times through history. It seemed a great time had passed since he was technically current. He looked at her and decided to ignore his feeling of something wrong, he didn't want a sour day, "I would love to see the zoo. Would make a change from seeing the beasts in the arena," he grinned excitedly as they drew nearer to the route leading to the exit back where they had started.

"Though coffee sounds like a good idea," he nodded, breakfast seemed quite a while away and he could do with just a drink. Normally he'd use watered down wine or water from his canteen but he was slowly getting used to the more exotic flavours of her time. There was nothing like it in his time that he could think of and he doubted he could even take it back with him if and when he could go back to his time. In some ways he was not looking forward to that. It would mean saying goodbye to a new friend and wondering at what point he'd arrive back. He wouldn't even be able to share it all with the lads. They'd think he'd gone mad which could also mean he could lose his career in the army if it reached his superiors. He could probably share it with his father if the old boy was still alive but even then it was risky.

They sat at a table and he was glad to grab a few minutes off his feet. He wasn't entirely used to the shoes he wore since he was used to the Roman sandals that formed part of his kit. They were worn in by the feel of them but having his feet so enclosed felt strange. It was a minor thing he could ignore though. He watched as two small children ran about in what looked some game of tag laughing wildly and he smiled at their innocence. They were lucky. The Roman was aware of how much rougher his time was compared with Valerie's. It seemed they could choose what path they walked in life when they would come of age and not have to worry about the same things he had worried over when he was young. He looked back at her and offered her a grin before sipping the coffee wincing slightly when he found a little too hot still to drink.
 
They walked slowly towards the cafe side of the building, Valerie staying in step with Kaeso as they maneuvered through the different rooms and patches of people standing around. The light was beginning to strengthen now that the morning was growing older, the pair walking into a passage where one side consisted of floor to ceiling windows. Through it, golden sun streamed through and lit the area in a yellowy veil, the female turning her face towards the glass to fully bask in the warmth with eyes closed. The coffee place was just on the other end, the sign for the cafe cutting off the sunlight as they approached.

He seemed uneasy about something, the oddness in the slightly down-turned manner of his jawline only noticed then by the girl. He seemed to buck up though, clearly not dwelling on whatever had caused him to feel that way. Valerie made a mental note to ask him about it once they were on their way to the zoo. He was thinking deeply as they sat and waited to be served, the female knowing by now not to interrupt him. If he felt the need to share something, he would do that without her prying. She worried though that whatever it was he was thinking about was the reason for his somewhat somber expression earlier. Valerie was distracted from this though as the waiter came to ask what they wanted.

"Morning ma'am. Plain cappuccino for you and your....ah...." He seemed nervous, perhaps his first day on the job? The waiter looked down to Valerie's left hand, eyes gazing for any significant jewelry that might help him in his confusion. His uncertainty in what to call the rather burly looking man beside Valerie did not skip her notice. She blushed, eyes widening as she quickly filled in his unfinished sentence. "Yes. Two of those for my friend and I." The man hurried off, grateful that the interaction was over and leaving Valerie in a slight state of awkwardness as she cleared her throat. Children rushed around, oblivious to the going-ons around them as they focused intently on their games. Most likely, they were releasing some pent up energy after being advised to behave while in the rooms full of expensive displays. Valerie watched them for a moment, sighing softly as she watched for the flush of her cheeks to die down.

She turned to Kaeso, wanting to start some topic of conversation to get her mind off of the earlier interaction. "So....how did you find your first visit to a gallery? I understand that things might have been difficult with the relics from Rome, but otherwise what are your thoughts?" She leaned forward, placing her elbow on the table which she then used to prop up her chin. Soon enough, the coffees arrived and the waiter made a hasty retreat after being paid. Valerie blew across the surface of the darkly coloured liquid, sipping precariously to prevent her lips or tongue from getting burned.
 
The silence between them was something he was thankful for. She wasn't pushing him and he found that extremely helpful as he processed and decided his head space as they entered the cafe. The smell inside was the first to strike and he liked it. It was warm and inviting and almost reminiscent of the streets of his home first thing in the morning when the baker was busy making bread and biscuit for the day. He was quite used to hard biscuit, biscotti was an army staple and he wondered if that had survived to Valerie's modern age. He hoped it had, it was a lovely biscuit that helped boost the mood of the day. He sat down opposite to Valerie as the cogs of his mind continued to whirr. There was still that feeling in his gut whenever something was flagging up as fishy but he couldn't nail on what it was that was bugging him. The whole morning was an experience that had assaulted his senses in more ways than any Celt had ever done.

Kaeso blinked slightly as a man walked up to them and forced himself to relax when the man spoke and Kaeso stared back at him dumbly for a moment as the man tried to determine his relation to Valerie. He raised a brow in question as he looked the man over. The mane seemed on edge and nervous. He kept his mouth shut feeling it probably wouldn't help if he spoke to the man and was glad when Valerie neatly intervened. He smiled slightly and leaned back in the chair seat not finding it all that comfortable. The place was busy and noisy with conversations flitting about his ears like excited bees.

HE looked to her and nodded, that room had been a trip and a campaign in itself, "Interesting... Seeing all those paintings on the walls.... all that hard work," he murmured and chuckled slightly. "Makes what I'm trained to do seem almost like it's nothing. I'm not... um, I guess Renius would have said cultured but after this morning... I'm glad I came," he nodded in affirmation and it was wholeheartedly genuine. "Not wrong about the relics though... It's just... It's put into every Roman's head that Rome will always be there, that she'll never be truly broken even after a defeat. Send us your Hannibals and Caratacus', we'll defeat them in the end... Seems stupid now, arrogant even. Seeing Marcus' work... was sad but it has good memories with it. I'm not even sure how to describe it all..." he looked at her as he finished answering her question.

The coffee soon arrived and he stared into the white frothy surface that seemed to be coated with a dark brown powder and yet somehow the drink still looked inviting. "Must be weird... Seeing me see all that?" he wondered before an earlier thought nipped at him again.

"Is biscotti still a thing?"
 
With waiter now gone and the pair no longer needing his services, Valerie soon forgot about the awkward interaction and tried to relax a little more. She had gotten away from the apartment and the university to try and unwind, enjoy the day with Kaeso and get to know him a little better. She was still managing to find ways to get herself wound up and she wouldn't have anymore of that. Valerie instead sat up straighter, wrapping her hands around the cup of coffee and savoured it's warmth. As the heat seeped into her fingers she let her mind clear, allowing herself to be pulled back into the present moment so that she might focus more on the here and now. He asked her a question, the query so simple and something unexpected that it made her chuckle.

"Biscotti? Well, yes it is. It's actually become quite a common thing in most countries, but most European countries have become especially keen on it. I buy it occassionally myself, my favourite brand has bits of cherry and nougat inside ." She took a cautionary sip of her coffee, licking away at the foam that stuck to her lips before she could look foolish. The coffee was mild in flavour and smooth, the brown liquid tracing a deliciously warm line down Valerie's throat as she drank. "If we're continuing on with last night's agenda, then I believe I want to ask you at what age soldiers are given leave from the army? Do you stay there until you die, or are you given up until a certain age to be part of the military? Is it difficult to adapt back to real life again? I mean, I just wonder how many soldiers actually get married if they're away for such long periods of time."

She waited for him to answer, paying the bill and getting up to leave while they continued their conversation. "Don't stop speaking, I just think it's time we start heading to the zoo if we're going to be in time for something you made me think of while we were here." She smiled knowingly, pushing the cafe chair back under the table while the waiter came and swiftly collected the bill and the mpomey for the drinks contained within it.
 
He had no idea what nougat was but he was glad about it still being a part of her modern age. It was something that he and the other lads always had on them, it was a staple that could be taken with them and nibbled on the go as well as during rest times. He particularly liked dunking his in his wine or mulsum sometimes. He grinned at her and nodded, "Sounds exotic compared with what i'm used to... Pistachio or Almond with olives was always a favourite of mine." Whether they still tasted good as the biscotti he was used to remained to be seen but it helped to find small parts of Roman life that still existed. He wondered if Italy was even the same anymore. He supposed it would never be the same Roman empire as it had been, otherwise how would it have fallen.

He sippsed his cappucino and relished the flavour as the coffee warmed his throat and he licked his lip clean of the foamy stuff that seemed to sit on the coffee's surface, it was very tasty. He was fast liking this drink and knew he'd be sad to see the last of it when it eventually reached the day of his return to his own time. If ever. He glanced at her as she continued and he smirked, nodding as she mentioned continuing their exchange of questions. He wrapped his hand around the mug, he could barely fit more than two fingers through the handle.

"Isn't that at least two questions?" he asked with a boyish grin filled with cheek before he nodded, sobering.

"Hm, we do get leave... it's longer if we're back in Rome but if there's a war on, not much chance of seeing Rome. I know one man who hasn't seen his family for nearly three and half years now, he's a fellow Centurion/pee" he began, watching her face to see her reaction. Not being able to see your family was sometimes rough on those who were close. He was close to his father for no other person had raised him but he had no wife or children to worry about. If he died, some of his money would go to his father and the rest would lend towards his funeral and the funeral pot. Nothing grand but the notion of being sent off with witnesses was a humbling thought. "As for length of enlistment... The usual stint is about fifteen years initially, but most opt to sign for more stays. Soldiering is hard work but it pays well enough. Can lead to a good career for some,"

She rose and he with her before he nodded, watching as she paid and eventually the waiter returning to collect it. "Hm, well, wouldn't want to miss out on whatever that could be," he smiled with a nod before moving towards the exit and he continued to answer her questions in the order she had asked them. He couldn't wait to go to the zoo, it sounded exciting and he wondered what other creatures he would be seeing there. The experience was entirely new for him and he liked that. Always ready to face a new challenge.

"Some don't... The army is family is many ways. The men of your unit are closer than a brother or mother, they're the one's who watch each others backs. Others find it easier, especially those that don't have to serve for so long or want to do their fifteen and be done with it. As for marriage... it's forbidden for Centurions and below to marry unless they get permission to do so within the time of their service but it's largely ignored. Many of the men have women in the follower's camp, and children too. Prefects and upwards can marry regardless and keep their station," he nodded with his explanation of the army life that was every day for him.
 
She realized she had overstepped in her question allowance, shrugging her shoulders casually as they began to pile into the vehicle. "I guess you're right....now I owe you two answers in return as well. I'm overly curious you could say. Despite having spent the last few days with you, the thought that you are not from this time never strays too far from my mind. I sometimes feel the need to pinch myself so I can be reminded that you're not some mirage my mind has concocted up. Then again, the complexity of the situation we're in is far too much for my brain to have simply thought of out of the blue."

Valerie started the car, the vehicle shaking to life like a wild cat waking from sleep. She reversed out of the gallery parking lot, the sweet taste of caffeine still coating her tongue as she headed down the road to get to the zoo. The scientist found his answers to her questions a curious thing, face scrunching up with confusion as she responded on what he had said. "Three years? That seems an awfully long time for a father to be away from his son or daughter. So much can change in that much time. In this day and age, with our advanced communication and networking I would still fret and worry over what my spouse was doing or whether he was in danger. I would hate to know what it must have been like needing to rely on letters that only came every few months. That much worry and stress over fifteen years would have turned me hollow." Soft music eeked out of the radio, the girl tapping her fingers against the steering wheel as she drove.

When her fiance had been away, she would think of him more than once an hour everyday from the moment he left to the moment he got back. It only got worse the longer it took for her to hear any word of what was happening and whether or not he was okay. The thought sent goosebumps across her flesh, Valerie rubbing her arms to ease them away while they were stopped at a traffic light. He spoke of the Centurion's right to marriage next, the thought making the girl frown.

"No marriage? That hardly seems fair. Just because you're a leader does not mean you should be denied the freedom to love and be loved. It seems a cruel fate to serve your life slaying and slaughtering and not be able to be rewarded with something to soften the harshness that that much blood-spilling brings. I understand the brotherhood that must form between the soldiers in a unit but there's only so much human interaction a brother can offer. Men tend to keep things to themselves and rarely share problems with other men. Having a life separate to the army seems like a good way to rid yourself of the trauma that must come with a life in the military." She realized that this may seem an odd opinion for her to have, but the girl also wanted to be honest.

They were nearing the zoo, the female slowing down her car so that she wouldn't miss the turn into the parking lot gates.
 
He smiled at her before he sat into his designated seat of the car and pulled what he learned was a safety belt. Apparently a legal requirement but he wasn't going to argue. This car went much faster than any horse he had seen gallop. "You're not alone in that... I keep wondering if all of this is just some weird dream whilst I'm flat out in the infirmary. However, don't think that's the case," he grinned before he relaxed as the car moved with a growl and grumble. She seemed to find his repsonse curious or perplexing and he glanced at her wondering just how much had changed for soldiers since his time.

"It's not for everyone," he nodded with agreement, some certainly found it harder to bear and would take the first opportunity going to either get a posting closer to home or wait for the end of their service to come. "But it provides their family with a means of keeping a roof over their head and well fed. "I can't say how his wife feels about it, guess she's used to it, but he does miss her. Counting the days, denies it all of course but he's transparent enough."

She seemed to find the knowledge of Centurions like himself being unable to marry wrong and he supposed it was in some ways but he understood the reasons why it was that way and he gave a slow rueful smile in reply. He liked the fact she wasn't afraid to say what she thought and it was something he appreciated and respected. He hated having wool being pulled over his eyes or being humoured out of some ill-perceived kindness. He'd rather have it straight out in the open where it could be reasoned or dealt with accordingly.

"I've yet to find someone with whom I can share my heart with but I can understand why it's the way it is. Family can be a distraction or a liability, even worse when you're a Centurion like me. You've seen my helmet. It marks me out so in an instant my life expectancy halves again. I'm a walking target. Now, not every man remembers to make a will. Standard practice is usually to say they made an oral will, which means their money goes into the unit's funeral pot so it may not go to a family that soldier may have in the follower's camp or at home. It's just how it is... was," he corrected himself with a frown. Thinking of Rome and his people as something that lay in the distant past was something he was finding strange to contend with. For him, fighting with his brethren was something he had been doing only three days ago.

"I'd be shamed if I left a wife and child at home without money to keep them in my death. The thought of where it would have potentially placed them is a concern. For me, it's easier on a heart without the worry about what happens to them. Soldiering is all I've ever done and wanted to do. I'm happy with where I am... was... It's all I know. Settling down with a family... have to admit, that's something I find daunting," he said peering down at the dashboard in thought, wondering what she would think of how he had viewed life. He felt comfortable speaking with her in the least and didn't feel as ashamed as he would be if speaking to someone else about it.
 
She maneuvered the car around the parking lot, gazing this way and that for a spot that might be free. Her shoulders loosened and her face lit up with glee as she spotted a gap not to far from the entrance, all the while musing over how she felt about what he had said. Valerie wouldn't lie to herself about her limited experience in family life and love. The closest thing she had had to having a family one day was lost in a far off land and ended with a notice from the military office informing her that her fiance was dead. Now that he was gone, she hadn't even begun to reimagine what she might do in the future. Instead, she had thrown herself into her work.

In some ways that had been a blessing, getting her a privileged spot working in the same department as Shane and then having her work recognized as important for the Doctor Who project. If she hadn't made a point of being busy enough to keep her mind off the tragedy, she might not have even been sitting with Kaeso here and now. It was odd to her how something that had torn her up so badly she had felt debilitated for the first few days had led to something she would never had imagined possible. The thought struck a cord in her, throwing her off kilter for a moment so that she nearly hit one of the cars parked on either side of her as swung her own vehicle into the parking lot. The female swerved sharply, righting her car before pulling into the space.

"Sorry about that, misjudged the distance a little," she said in an apologetic voice, unbuckling her seat-belt after switching off the engine. She paused though before getting out, saying softly "I guess in some ways, you're being kind. I would feel much worse, knowing I had ripped you away from someone who will be waiting for you back in your time. It must be the same as being ripped away in war though instead of by a disruption in the time flux." A soft sigh escaped her, the female staring off into the distance in front of her. She was looking through the scenery in front of her though, not at it while she was lost in thought. Valerie soon snapped back to reality though, getting out and locking the car once Kaeso was out too.

"Now that we're here, there's no more point in keeping it a secret. There are zebra here and I wanted to get here at this time because in about twenty minutes the public are allowed to feed them which I didn't think you would want to miss. I use to come here all the time as a young girl, my father use to rest me on his shoulders while I stretched my little arms through the fence to feed them hay." She headed through the arch, the metalwork above them twisted to look like the silhouettes of different animals.
 
He glanced at her and he hoped he hadn't offended in some way or shocked her with his response. It was true though, he had never wanted to put a potential family in the position of fearing for his life every time he went on campaign. The legion had been his bread and wine since he was a teenager and it was all he knew what to do. He didn't know the first thing about knowing what an honest job was. He didn't know how sell anything other than his fighting prowess and ability to get his voice heard. He couldn't do that to people. He knew something of what it was like with his own father and despite the fact the man was something of a childhood hero to him and that it had not changed his mind in becoming a soldier for the Empire, he still was afraid he'd lose another parent. Fortuna however had seen that the boy kept his father and life continued how he knew it to be.

Kaeso's heart sank a little, with his disappearance he knew he would have been listed missing in action presumed dead and his father would have had a letter of condolence some weeks after the fact. His mind went elsewhere as the car moved towards its destination. He gave a start when he noted another car getting far too closer for comfort and then again when the car swerved away from it suddenly. He blinked and held the seat not sure how else to react since he didn't really want to shout at her. That would have been his response had she been one of the men under his command.

He breathed a little when the car came to a halt and clicked the safety buckle free from its housing. He glanced at her and smiled, nodding with indication that he was all right and wasn't about to hold any sort of grudge over it. He got out of the car and stretched his back a little before he closed the door and turned to face her, leaning against the vehicle for a moment. He moved round the car then to join her side and offered her a reassuring smile, or at least he hoped it translated that way. "To be honest Valerie... if you hadn't pulled me through time when you did... I would have joined my unit with an axe in my head or chest. So, in a way.... you saved my life, I'm very grateful for that."

Secret? His brow shot up with curiosity as she then later spoke. Zebra, feeding time? "Truly?" he asked quickly falling into step with her pausing only briefly to give the front of the building a once over with a tone that suggested that the secret had come as a surprise to him. He had thought the zoo could have them but to have confirmation plus something extra was a little surreal. "That's going to... I can't wait," he grinned at her before offering her his arm not only so that she could steer him to the right direction since he had no clue as to where he was going but because he knew it made it easier when conversing. He was aware his native language was no longer the staple of the civilised world. He didn't really want to look out of place with everyone else.

But of course, by then and unbeknown to them, they had already stuck out like a sore thumb and the man from before followed with a safe distance between him and the pair. "Are the feeds all ready? What do you mean 'not yet'? Hurry the hell up!" he hissed into the line before straitening his jacket and continued onward.

Kaeso followed her quite excited to be able to not only see something which he could ever have dreamed about but also at the prospect of getting close to the striped creatures and feeding them. The painting had made them look all so familiar in terms of their equine heritage but their stripes and size made them far more alien and exotic. Would they behave like horses did, skittish and flighty or would they be different and react thus? He had often heard them being referred to as feisty, that a kick could do some serious damage and that they could move really fast. He wondered how much all of this was true. "Will they have information about the zebra?" he asked curiously.
 
He offered his arm to her, the female grinning as she linked her arm through his gently. The pair entered into the zoo, the earthy smell of cut grass cut by the smell of food from various stands that had been set up in odd locations around the zoo. The female first stopped at the entrance gate, paying the fee to enter as well as purchasing a couple of miscellaneous tickets. Some were for food, bright pink in colour, while others were for entrance to shows of their choice and were green. She thanked the woman at the greeting box with eyes gleaming brightly, taking Kaeso's arm once more as they went through the turnstile individually.

She could see the source of some of the scents that had been assaulting her nose, buttery popcorn popping loudly to one side while sweet caramel apples deeply red in colour were found on another side. There were information signs, pointing out directions to various animal closures or themed areas for reptiles, birds or aquatic animals. Valerie mused for a while, pausing as she looked at the watch on her wrist. "There's still some time before the zebra show opens up, so maybe we can walk around for a bit...you can ask your questions next, since I asked you last. I'm not going to count that questions about the zebra's as one of your two, since I asked some pretty in-depth things."

Back in the parking lot, the men in the van high-fived each other as the screens suddenly flickered to life and the audio he was picking up began to crackle through a speaker leaning precariously on the dashboard. They all breathed a sigh of relief, answering the leader of the group who was following behind the soldier and the scientist. "All up and running, proceed to tail them. If thing's start to fill up, we'll change the storage containers for fresh ones. Let us know if you need anything else, like back-up or whatever."

Valerie breathed in deeply, watching old folk throw bread crumbs at ducks in a small enclosure with a pond set up. In the same area, there were a few other smaller, child-friendly animals for a petting zoo. Two little girl's giggled with delight as they picked up rabbits the same size as their heads, their little arms straining with the fluffy load while cooing parents proceeded to take pictures. The scientist had always loved this place, finding that even if the exhibits never changed, watching the people here was always interesting. Now though, her main focus was on Kaeso, the girl interested to see how he would take this compared to his experience of seeing animals in an arena.
 
It felt a little weird walking around with no duties to be attending and spending his time in the company of a very talented and intelligent woman. From what he had seen thus far, she could easily rival some of his commanding officers. It all still felt very unreal, strange and dreamlike. Here he was in a strange land with an equally strange culture that he was completely alien to and yet they were walking around this place that she had called a zoo as if they were nothing more than a couple enjoying their time with some entertainment. He had never known that before. Smells assaulted his nose and his eyes rested on new sights he had never seen before. He watched her exchange coin for bright tickets of coloured paper and he wondered at the significance before a bird call attracted his attention. It was recognisable but he had never seen one himself. It was the call of a peacock, loud and echoing in the air. HE smiled, glad for the small shred of familiarity.

Kaeso felt her arm snake through his and he looked at her with a smile before they moved inside the zoo. There were scents he recognised and others that were new to him altogether. He was happy though, off to see something new that the Legions never could have provided for him. Not unless he had been posted to Africa and his century was not of Antony's. Kaeso reached up with his free hand to brush his short hair pausing when she spoke. He then nodded, continuing to complete the action before he dropped the hand back to his side, thinking of what to ask her.

"What made you choose science over art?" he asked in terms of why she had chosen something else over something that she was very talented at. He could see her sketches on a wall just like those paintings they had seen in the gallery that morning. He thought she was talented more than enough for that so to choose something else over that must have stemmed from somewhere else. It made him curious, not that he had much understanding of science or how it worked. For him, the gods had seen and been the cause for everything that occurred that was removed from their understanding.

"Hm, question two, If I can't get back to my time... What would you suggest?" He was something of a pragmatist, a realist who understood the necessity of asking 'what if's'. He wasn't keen in fooling himself that it would be a definite thing that he'd eventually be going back home. He may never be able to return to the world he knew so he had to consider his options. It helped him to do so, reining in his worries and anxiety about the whole thing. He kept his voice low, loud enough for her to hear, his head lowered slightly as he spoke.

He looked around after thatr, taking in the sights he saw and his eyes focused for a moment on the two girls holding rabbits that were clearly too big for them to be holding. His mouth quirked with amusement at the sight and he could imagine that had things been different and zoo existed, he could imagine himself in that position as a kid with a proud father looking over him. He heard some strange sounds and others that he instantly recognised to be a lion's or a bear's. "This place... definitely more peaceful than the arena," he nodded, looking at her again with an awed expression to his jawline.

(sorry for the delay, work's been real hectic)
 
(No problem. Starting exams next week so I might also be delayed)

Valerie stopped at the first exhibit, removing her arm from where it was linked with his and resting it on the cool metal railings marking off the enclosures boundary. Inside were the bears that had made the noises he heard earlier, one scratching up a half-cut down tree while another was prodding at feeder-buckets to try and get access to the morsels inside. He seemed to take a moment to figure out a question to ask her, either that or he had been meandering among his thoughts. She waited patiently, fingers circling the bar beneath her hands when he spoke.

"Well...that's a fairly complicated question I supposed. I was instructed to take art by many of my....ah...educators? I'm not sure if you had the same sort of teachers or schooling system we have now, with one adult teaching a room full of learners." A breeze picked up, making the skirt of her dress sway slightly and her curls swirl around her face. "I didn't want to pursue a career in art because it doesn't offer my much in the way of stable wage once I finish school. You have to rely on commissions and such. People nowadays...they only care for art from people who are mostly dead. That way it is of more value and people care more for the financial value of things than the artistic or sentimental value all artwork holds. They buy art because of the number of zeros on the price tag. I'm not famous enough to have anything of great value."

One of the bears, the one who had been stretching against the trunk, wandered over to the other one and began investigating the feeding barrel too. The animal sent the blue plastic drum rolling away, chasing after it curiously."Science is just...solid. Factual. Reliable. You want to find something out, you test the data and analyze the results until you get an answer. There's no guess-work." She sighed softly, turning so that her back leaned against the railing and her elbows rested on either side of her.

"As for your second question...that will largely be up to you. You're welcome to stay with me until such a time that you find your own place or want to have an apartment of your own. You could become a historian for Roman civilization or something like that. Sure, it might be cheating a little since you were actually there and don't need to study to gain the knowledge like others, but you'll need to find something to do or have some purpose to your life. I would even suggest joining the military here, but you may not like it. It's much different to the type of army life you come from in some ways but similar in others. "
 
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