The man next to Quintus Servilius Nerva had been holding his breath for the whole of the first match of the second group of eight. Quintus was quite sure he'd pass out if someone didn't win soon. These merchants, it seemed they were incapable of putting money on anything, and equally incapable of thinking of anything but their investment, Quintus' neighbor had placed quite a bit more than he should have on Sullanus and seemed to shudder anytime it looked like Carnifex might get an edge. Finally the match ended with Carnifex on the ground and the merchant stood up with a roar "Ha! This Sulla doesn't need luck defeat his enemies!" He jubulantly ordered a nearby slave to bring wine for everyone sitting around him, before placing another unseemly large bet on one of the gladiators of the next match-up.
Quintus was having an exceedingly good time. The populace of Rome had been on a wild emotional ride these last few days, from the anger in the near riots in the forum, to the sorrow of the funeral procession, to the confusion over the actions in the senate. Now the all of Rome seemed ready to unleash all the emotions they had been holding back all at once with a wonderfully exciting result.

Quintus turned to find out who his nervous neighbor had chosen to bet on for the next round, but before he could the slave he had sent in search of Marcus Fulvius Flaccus returned bearing the news that he had in fact found the man, that he had accepted the bet, and that he requested Quintus come forward and enjoy a better row of seats. Never one to pass up an offer to move forward a few rows at the games Quintus happily agreed, wished his neighbors good luck, and bounded off to Fulvius' box before the next match could begin.
Just as Asiadores and Ineptius began their combat Quintus arrived in Fulvius' box and greeted him,
"Salve Tribune! I thank you for the invitation, your seats are far nicer!"

Still in the best of moods Quintus then fell into talk about the gladiators and the like and eagerly cheered as Ineptius fell to the sand. He did the same as Venomus defeated Mentula and then before Flabius and Tiberinus turned to Fulvius Quintus.
"Ah! The next two are our own! I'm quite excited! We'll see which will prove to be the least inept!"
As the fight began and drew on it seemed that both were far too unlucky for either to win. Both seemed to have a knack of missing even the most obvious opporunities to win.
"I fear, my friend, that these two aren't worth a single on of the dinariis we spent on them!"
As he spoke the words Tiberinus seemed to stop and stare. Flabius, stunned, looked around to figure out what was going on. Had the match ended? Had perhaps Mars himself descended on the arena and demanded to fight the winner? Why would a man stop fighting in the middle of a gladiator match? The crowd all followed the eyes of Tiberinus and soon found the object of gaze, a lady in the booth next to Quintus. "Ha! Quite a moment to fall in love!" Someon shouted and the arena burst into laughter. Flabius regained his wits, knocked Tiberinus' feet out from under him (though almost tripped himself in the process) and won the match.

Quintus was overjoyed by the win, and by the way in which he'd won. "Sorry my dear Tribune, it seems you hired a selfless romantic!" He turned to the lady in the next booth, Messalina Terentia, and happily complemented her "My dear lady, it seems I owe my gladiator's victory to you! I feel I must thank you for so charming a man that he cares not even to lose a match so long as he can look on you!" He then turned back to Fulvius, "I guess I have won the bet! The mode of victory being what it was, however, I fear I must decline the winnings! You will have to donate them to the temple of Venus for giving me the victory!"
Quintus then settled down a bit as Marcus Entus attacked Arachnus.