[ WP ] You 're the only Roman senator who was n't briefed on the whole 'kill Julius Caesar ' thing .

`` More wine!'' 
 
 On the eve of my 37th birthday I felt as if Jupiter had descended and occupied my body. Things were changing with Caesar in power, with or without the approval of the senate. I, on the other hand, was ready for such change. Caesar had quickly become an enemy of the political class, the aristocrats, the oligarchs, whatever you'd like to call them... But he was a man of the people. This was his penultimate crime. Refusing to bow the ruling elite was his ultimate. 
 
 Albeit a new senator, I'd seemingly gained Caesar's trust, much to the chagrin of my fellow senators. Perhaps my background as a soldier softened him to me? Or perhaps the fact that I was one of the few and possibly only current senator to have ascended from poverty to become part of the decision-making minority? Whatever the answer, it was n't important to me. What mattered most was Rome. Dreams of self-grandeur be damned. While I differed ( vocally ) with Caesar in regards to military expansion, we both had Rome at the heart of our interests. Love fed our interest. Love for a time and place that was like none other before it. 
 
 Three days prior I'd heard word that a secret meeting of senators was to take place the night of my birthday celebration. However, no other senators could confirm that such a meeting would take place... In a city such as Rome, whispers of secret meetings and such is relatively commonplace. It meant nothing to me and I attributed it to rumors put in place by bored housewives or philandering civic workers. Regardless, news of such a meeting concerned me. It had been a turbulent time amongst the senate and Julius Caesar's `` insubordinate'' actions had been the catalyst for such turbulence. 
 
 My last conversation with Caesar had also been my first. While attending to various civic duties at the senate, Caesar had unexpectedly arrived. He looked his normal self. Nothing unusual. Albeit fond of the man it was in my best interest to avoid him. I knew that my fellow senators would be less than happy to hear of private discussion between the emperor and I. Nonetheless, Caesar approached me: 
 
 `` Your day of birth approaches, plebian.'' How he knew this I'll never know. Caesar was constantly surprising you. 
 
 Caesar smiled. He was well aware of my socio-economic background and the disdain it had brought to many fellow senators. Perhaps this alone was why he favored me. 
 
 `` One day closer to death.'' I smiled back. A youthful admiration of the man had overtook prudent senatorial instinct. Caesar smiled. 
 
 `` Look to the horizon and you'll always see the sun. I have plans not only for Rome but for the known world. Oligarchs have drowned the public perception of ruling-class competence for too long. All men deserve what is just, not just those privileged by birthright.'' 
 
 Caesar's tone had changed. He was in another place... It was n't so much him talking to me as it was a vocal monologue on his behalf. But that was it, Caesar awoke. 
 
 `` Rome needs more men like you. Rest on your day of celebration. The fight has only begun and we will need our strength in the coming months. Your peers will make sure of that.'' Caesar clasped his hand on my shoulder for a second before moving away. 
 
 It was now the day of my celebration and I could n't stop thinking about what he'd said about the days ahead. As the celebration waged warfare on the collective sense of the party I began to feel guilty... I had neglected certain duties in preparation for the celebration. But this was why I'd chosen a villa conveniently located within walking distance of my senatorial chamber. While the celebration amplified to soft-debauchery I exited unnoticed and headed for my chamber. Wine in hand. 
 
 Everything made sense in the senatorial chamber. An abundance of wine further developed such cognitive clarity. As I sat down and reviewed various neglected scrolls the sound of footsteps broke the silence. Then I heard him speak. 
 
 `` I see that most of you are here, but not all of you.'' 
 
 At that moment, mayhem broke out. I heard angry men tussle and I heard a man cry out in pain. I ran down stairs and peered around the doorway: my peers in the senate were continually stabbing the emperor. Cassisus looked elated. Brutus looked conflicted. The others were simply blood drunk. As a coward would, I hid, wine in hand, and waited for them to exit. After silently staring at the body of the emperor ( what seemed lie a small eternity ), Brutus left. 
 
 I walked in and gazed at my emperor. His eyes were cold and hard. The turbulent days ahead had arrived whilst drunk in my chamber. A visceral sense of sorrow permeated my bones... Such was the feeling on the night my celebration. 

