"Isn't that always the way," Ate agreed, her eyes on his, watching as he watched her. "I think you'd probably hold up better than they did though."
"It was better back in Greece, of course," Ate began, "but I can still make it work on some of them. Arrogant men are best, I can get inside them, make them think that all that want in the world is little old me. To them, I am their dream. They'd happily waste away if I asked them to." Ate's smile was dark and pleased. She didn't mention how very difficult that was to do now, how near impossible to completely own a man like that these days. At the height of her power she had gods and emperors ready to throw themselves in front of wild horses without a thought just because she suggested it, but now all she was was a suggestion in their heads, a little niggling idea they couldn't kick. "I prefer the hands on methods with them these days though," Ate told him, and then thumbed behind her towards the bathroom. "Humans tolerances interest me, at least in short bursts. Hence the man in the bath."