Aulius stood from his curle chair and addressed the Senate.

"Conscript Fathers, I honestly thank you for this gesture of good faith towards me, and it is something that I appreciate. The situation in Aegyptus is not one that should be over-shadowed by the troubles in Asia Province"

"However, that being said, I must decline the offer to assume command of the Aegyptian theatre"

Voices rose at once as Senators began to clamour to shout their opinion. Aulius held his hand up and the house fell back into silence.

"Servilius Nerva is a capable commander in his own right. He has trusted and experienced legates in his council. The problem of his jurisdiction has, to the best of my knowledge, been solved. My arrival would only complicate matters unnecessarily"

Aulius took his seat, sighing as he resumed speaking, "While I can not turn a bill outright, I would encourage this one to be dropped, with many thanks to its conciever"

Aulius Lupus Titus Augur
Senior Consul
Pontiff

OOC: It was not unprecedented for both consul to be absent from Rome. If you're looking for an historical example Casca, I believe both Consuls (several of them over the course of the election years) were absent from Roman during the Social War when either of them took control of the Northern and Southern fronts.