(Borrowed from Marcus Flaccus Valerius.) Marcus had heard a while back that Masala would be coming back to Rome, on special order of the emperor, to be garrison commander, some business about protecting the city from rebellion. Sure, the masses always got restless in the summer, and the drought threatening the grain supply was no help, but why this called for the sudden transfer of an arrogant man to lead the garrison was beyond him.
And of course, this would make the second rather unpleasant surprise in as many attempted dinners with Messalina. Fully expecting to meet the man tomorrow, his presence at what was supposed to be an intimate evening made putting on his warm demeanor rather difficult. He hoped Messalina wouldn't catch on to his discontent at the man's presence.
But, they were still colleagues, and had been soldiers and commanders together under the emperor's banner, although they had never met officially. Marcus resolved to put this annoyance behind him and welcome his comrade to his city.
As they reclined together around the table, Marcus smiled at Messalina flirtatiously, and perhaps obviously. "My lady, you look stunning. And your house is decorated most exquisitely."
She smiled contentedly. "Thank you, Marcus. Of course I would not compromise where you are concerned!"
Masala chuckled lightly. "I couldn't agree more, Messalina. Your tastes are impeccable - I recall how the garden in your villa in Antium. It would just sparkle in the moonlight, with your flowers and ponds and fountains. Gorgeous." The two shared a smile.
Ridiculous, thought Marcus through his polite smile. He intends this to be a competition. They seem to have some kind of history together from back in Rome, and he flaunts it in front of me. But I hold Venus's favor, so two can play at this game.
"So tell me," said Marcus after sipping his wine, "how did you two know each other?"
Messalina and Masala shared a glance. Messalina laughed lightly. "Oh Marcus, it's nothing like you think. Masala and I were simply friends. Although he was always following me everywhere - but of course he wasn't the only one!" She smiled.
"You were the darling of Rome!" Masala said, covering his embarrassment at Messalina's telling Marcus what he used to be like. "Especially when you became its most talented actress."
"There you go with the flattery again!" Messalina laughed. "But anyway, I was so sorry to see him go off to war - I thought surely the army was not where he belonged. But now I see what a capable man he has become!"
"And now you work for the emperor directly," said Marcus to Masala, hoping to expose more embarrassing details. "I must say I am quite impressed. I decided to return to my home in Rome after my duty was finished, however. In fact I have never lived in Rome, only visited briefly. Perhaps you can tell me more stories about life here." He smiled warmly.

“Who is this Marcus?” Masala watched from behind his goblet of unwatered wine as an imposing figure entered the atrium. He was imediatly surounded by the dancers that Messalina had hired to swarm over him as he entered. “Ye Gods!!! He is enormous! Of no consequence though. Across the Rhine I have slew countless barbarians every bit as big as him. Ahhhh, but he Roman. This will have to be a civilized contest.”

Masala buried the pain of what he was paying witness to. A pattern his troops would soon learn, the tribune would release his aggressions on the drill field tomorrow. As for now, Masala would watch, drink, and smile.

Marcus who laughed as he shrugged of the dancers. Messalina extended her hands out drawing him near to kiss both his cheeks, her eyes lit up as she gave him a special smile. The expressions in their faces revealed that were both on the hunt and being hunted

”Oh, Marcus, there is someone I want you to meet!”, Messalina spoke in a burst of delight as she led Marcus by the hand. “This is my dearest of friends, Masala.”

“Finally we meet”, said Marcus striding forward as he offered his hand. The room seemed to part open before him as if all those present were in the path of a bull. All that is except for Masala who firmly stood his ground.

Clasping arms as warriors do, Masala spoke, “The honor is mine, Marcus Flaccus Valarius! I had intended to meet you tomorrow. It was to my surprise to find out that Messalina had planned a state dinner.” The two men stood before each other, the titans of Rome. “Nothing of the kind, Massala. I have no intentions of boring the Lady with politics and affairs of state”, Marcus replied with a smile. “Of course you don’t! But if I know my Messalina, within these walls are where great decisions are made.” The men laughed warmly as they turned to again give their attentions to the hostess that beguiled them both.

”Desdemona will tell me more about this first man in Pompeii”, thought Masala to himself. “The emperor allowed me this post for the purpose of sniffing out rebellion. For now, I have no choice but to work with him. The Gods favor the bold and I am their darling. I’ve outwitted death itself in the field and in the circus. I always win.”

Pomponia stood back to admire her handiwork.
"The golden snake in your hair is just the thing."
Messalina turned to look at her refection in the large bronze mirror.
"Yes, it gives just the right hint of the Egyptian. The amethyst necklace shows off my bosom and the high neckline hits of hidden delights. You have outdone yourself Pomponia."
"Marcus will melt at the sight of you."
Messalina smiled. "Well that is all he will do tonight. With our houseguest in attendance I will have to behave like a lady. for the time being."
"That will be a challenge."
Messalina gave Pomponia a withering look and then laughed in agreement.
She picked up a long ivory stylus and applied the finishing touches to her makeup.
"Is Dianna back yet?"
"No, I am beginning to worry about her."
"She is a big girl, she can take care of herself. She's probably entertaining two or three gladiators at the barracks this very moment."
"She is not like you in that way."
Messalina laughed. "She is more like me than you think. She is a Terentius woman after all despite her virginal pose."
Messalina rose and checked her appearance from head to foot in the mirror and was pleased with the effect. "Well now, on to the banquet."
__________________________________
When she entered the atrium she was met with a room transformed into an Egyptian grotto. Festooned with flowers woven into garlands and in the corners where golden cages containing rare birds. Her pet Cheetah was chained to a pillar along the peristyle that opened onto the garden where the banquet would take place. He eyed the chattering birds with hungry eyes.
The garden too had been transformed with hundreds of blazing colored lamps. In the center stood a dais where the dinning couches were arranged, on three sides of the dais where golden polls that supported purple silk sheers that were embroidered in gold thread with scenes of the Nile. The light warm breeze lifted and curled the edges of the sheers creating a tent like effect. From the back of the garden came soft oriental music from a small group of musicians Macro had hired that afternoon from the theater.
"How Impressive!"
Messalina turned at the sound of Masala's voice.
"Yes the garden is beautiful, isn't it."
Masala took her hand to kiss it. "I wasn't speaking of the gardens, but of you."
"You flatter me."
"If you have any intention of seducing me in this resplendent setting..."
Messalina smiled and patted his hand thinking of him as still being that skinny boy back in Rome. "Now you flatter yourself."
Masala feigned being struck by an arrow through the heart. "I am devastated." He laughed.
"Now come, let us take our places in the picture and await the most powerful man in Rome." She took his hand to lead the way to the dais.
"But he is here with you now."
“I did not hire the most beautiful dancing girls in Rome to dance you into the banquet upon your arrival. I hired them to impress Marcus and to get his blood up.” She took her place upon the center couch and indicated the couch on her left for Masala.
He clicked his tongue as he reclined to admire the view of her.
“You are a wicked siren my Lady that not even Odysseus could resist.”

(PART ONE BORROWED WITH THE PERMISSION OF MASALA CAESAR.) The years had been good to him the tribune reflected to himself as he dismissed the guard. He earned much glory fighting for Rome in the East. That’s where he learned his keen eye for horses and earned his fame riding in the Circus. Most knew of his name for his success as a charioteer if not from his exploits as a legate in the provinces. Decorated by the emperor himself for valor on the field. Any position he wanted he could have. It was all his for the taking.
“When I was a boy, I dreamed of commanding the garrison of Rome. Now the wheel has turned. I am in command.”
With a sense of pride and satisfaction, Masala grabbed his gear and flung the baggage over the back of his trusty stallion Toes. The tribune preferred to travel light. The surprise of the commander arriving a day early shocked the men, but the signal was clear… there would be strict discipline within the ranks. “Drusus, I leave you in charge. If any of the watchmen sleep at their posts tonight, have them flogged to death!”
Drusus spoke as he shot his new commander a look of disbelief, “Yes, Tribune!” He made sure to give the man a firm salute.
“Oh Drusus, please close your mouth and don’t look so alarmed”, was Masala’s reply as he flashed his companion the warmest of smiles. “I know we are not in peril here, but the men need to learn respect and from the looks of it, get toughened up. They are too plump to be in the Roman army. Aside from the centurions, these troops are green, waiting for their chance to be bloodied. But that honor they will have to earn. Besides, pass the word around and the fear will keep them at attention.” And with that, Masala let out a hearty laugh as he gave Drusus a firm pat on the back.
“The remainder of my gear should be arriving shortly. Have my effects unpacked and arranged in my office. I will return before roll call in the morning. Work begins tomorrow, but as for tonight…” Leaving with a grin on his face and his words unfinished for Drusus’ imagination to complete, the mighty Masala mounted Toes. With a kick to the beast’s flanks, he was off to make is rounds. “Where has all the time gone? I can’t wait to see her again. I was such a scrawny boy then. Ahhh Messalina….”, this time leaving his words unfinished for his own imagination to complete.
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Messalina was at sixes and sevens trying to get the house in order for that night’s supper party. Pomponia was all thumbs when she went at Messalina’s head with instructions to make her hair more bewitching than Medusa’s. Other slaves were running through the house trying to arrange flowers and lamps and festooning the entire entrance with laurel and roses. There came a crash in the atrium so loud that Messalina thought the ceiling had collapsed. She ran to the entrance with Pomponia on her heels to find Macro sweeping up an overturned urn and scolding a scullery maid.
“Oh by the gods we will never be ready!” Messalina shouted above the din.
The sound of booming laughter cut the atmosphere causing all to turn to the door. There stood Masala in full dress armor.
Messalina screamed in delight. “Masala! By all that is holy what are you doing here?”
“Hello my Lady,” He said with a boyish twinkle in his eye. She ran to give her old friend a hug. Then holding him at arms length she looked him over.
“My but you have grown up and the army seems to agree with you.” She laughed and turned to Pomponia and Macro. “Look what happened to that boy who used to follow me all over the markets of Rome. We sent him away a skinny little boy and the army returns us a man.”
Masala nodded to the slaves then turned to Messalina. “I am arrived in Pompeii only yesterday and I…”
“Now I will not take no for an answer. You must stay her with me, I insist.”
Masala laughed. “Well only until I get settled.”
Messalina kissed him on the cheek and then her eyes popped open to their widest at the thought of her evening plans. “Oh my goodness…” She turned to look at Pomponia who was smiling slyly at the kabob that had endangered Messalina’s plans for the conquest of over dinner. “Marcus…” She looked at Masala and smiled.
“Am I interrupting something.”
“No, no! I am having a small dinner tonight..”
“Oh then maybe I should..”
“Nothing of the sort! You will be my honored guest. Besides, Marcus is a very important man in Rome. It will do you good to meet him.”
“Well, if you are sure.”
Messalina laughed. “I am never sure but I am determined. Now,” She turned to Macro. “Just follow Macro and he will see that you are settled.”
Masala gave her the imperial salute and then followed Macro to his quarters. Messalina watched his retreat.
“My but he has grown up to be so handsome.” She said. Then the urgency of the preparations ahead crashed in from all sides. “Oh! By the Gods! To the kitchens!” she shouted and started off running in that direction with Pomponia trailing close behind.