Octavian had decided to attempt a better understanding of Judeo-Christian theology, idiocy though he knew it to be. His conversation with Michael had convinced him he ought to know his enemy
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The backstory his mun made up for his coming to Hogwarts was extremely blurry and iffy. Octavian therefore did not have the most solid of answers to give, where the matter of travel between worlds was concerned. He spoke his mind with care, narrowing his eyes to watch the Baron's face, to see whether the notions so expounded would strike the elder statesman as acceptable reasoning or fanciful folly:
"As history does not show a disappearance, sudden death, or unexplained lapse of recorded existence in my life's course, I have two tentative hypotheses. Hypothesis the first: My stay here is temporary; I will return, or be returned, to Rome. This would likeliest occur when it no longer amuses the Sorting Hat or serves the castle's unknown purposes to keep me here. Hypothesis the second: My stay here represents no interruption in the normal course of time. I am not missing years of civil strife and political opportunity in the Rome of my time. Nor does my physical form appear to be aging," he added in support of this theory. "I do know that some persons here celebrate birthdays, but the only ones I believe to be aging are the ones who originated here. There may be exceptions to the general rule."
His jaw tightened. "There is another possibility, that history is wholly wrong." Had he known of gholas, a whole new world of emo speculation would have opened to him. Octavian's immediate suspicion would then be that the Hat had created all of them as gholas for its own amusement. That would have changed his prospects drastically; he might lose his will to live, or at least to do anything much but sulk. "There are differences between recorded history and what I know to have been the truth of events. However, it is eminently possible that modern historians are in error. I find it much the simpler and likelier explanation that where written history diverges from truth, it is the written history I should question, not the nature of truth or of time."
The Baron listened to Octavian's hypotheses with an open mind, as, he was just also clueless about any reason or manner of arrival. So, all theories were worth considering, at least to some degree. He sipped at his goblet as he listened, finding Octavian's logic to be very sound. The second one sounded as if it could be the most likely event, however, as time was an exceedingly complex topic. The opinion of a member of the Spacing Guild would be interesting to hear, but he knew that wasn't likely to happen unless one appeared here too, which seemed statistically unlikely.
He was extremely intrigued by Octavian's mention of a lack of aging. Vladimir was already 80 years old, although he easily passed for someone in his mid-50s due to the preservative qualities of the spice, which lengthened the lifespan. His prospective lifespan was longer than a human without spice treatment, but, he still realized that he probably couldn't have had all that much longer, even without the ever-present Imperial threat of assassination. So not getting older was nothing he could complain about, and he hoped he'd not be an exception. And it of course didn't slip his mind that this meant the abundance of lovely young men at Hogwarts not getting older, either.
"All logical theories, Octavian- I'd be inclined to lean to the second theory. Time is complicated, and, it seems that the possibility might exist for alternate timestreams to exist. A member of the Spacing Guild of my era would know a great deal more about the ideas of time and space than myself. I've heard the theory from a couple of others here, and it seems the most scientific. But it may be simpler to accept the cold, impersonal whims of a random, but natural occurrence than to think that a magical hat has tampered with my destiny."
He smirked, still finding the hat about as absurd as he did on the day of his arrival. Luckily for Vladimir, in his time, it was not known that the original memories of a ghola could be re-awakened. If he'd known that, he'd also be getting concerned. As it was, he could remember everything but whatever it was that happened shortly before finding himself at Hogwarts.
"Even if the modern historians are in error, it would be worth considering that it's history itself that matters more than the events. It is what people believe about the events that shapes the future- and so whether or not it is accurate, you will have your influence." But, judging from this young man's character, he was more than capable of achieving his historical destiny. So he couldn't consider an error very likely.
"What I do not wish to believe," Octavian admitted, glaring at his knees, "is the possibility that I am no longer a part of Rome, and will never return. It would be the profoundest exile imaginable."
So much would be lost -- and Antony would have won.
"Fortunately, I can say in truth that I believe that the less likely possibility. I do think that we will have returned to our own times and places without any lapse or loss, and I have every intention of continuing my political career when that occurs."
Beginning his political career, really.
It might be evident from the fact he was still glaring at his uniform-clad knees that this entire concept was a severe source of emo angst concern to Octavian. A change of subject would be welcome, or even a change of venue.
Octavian's angst got Vladimir thinking about the same thing, a topic he'd been trying to avoid too much except in the most objective of terms. He'd been trying to not have any specific feelings about his relocation, as, it would be unproductive to sulk about it when there wasn't anything he could do about it. So, he'd been leaning on a split time stream theory which was based around him still being at home, presumably assuming everything was normal, while this instance of him had somehow started to occur at Hogwarts. Some sort of bizarre bend in space and time both had to have occurred to bring him here, and as it was an anomaly, the statistical probability of returning to his standard stream of consciousness was unlikely, so for sanity's sake, he felt it best to presume his current theory.
"I like to think that I am still there performing my job, while this is merely some unlikely anomaly that has caused me to experience some adjacent existence of scant probability. It's a little easier to handle the concept of exile that way." He smirked slightly, but didn't really have the heart to be sardonic at the moment, so he grew more somber. "I've been finding it best, as, there is not such a strong feeling of neglected duty. It's been allowing at least some level of enjoyment of this enforced retirement."
He finished off his wine, thinking a change of subject was in order. "This is why teaching seems like it would prove an excellent distraction. I need to find the 'Muggle Studies' wing to confirm that it's a good choice. And to watch some form of presentation called 'The Maury Povich Show'. Although I am inclined to not trust suggestions made by a hat, the hat did mention it in conjunction with some matters I wouldn't have expected it to know about."
Much less conversant with notions of time travel, alternate universes, and the like, Octavian found the Baron's chosen explanation at once ingenious and disheartening. If he, Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, were not to return to Rome, what purpose would he have in the world? What reason for living?
It could not be contemplated, not now; best to lay it aside for a more opportune moment, a space of solitude. Octavian let pass the notion unremarked, and gave his attention readily to the introduction of a new topic.
"Muggle Studies? But I know where that classroom and office are located," he said at once. "Shall I take you there?"
Vladimir's ability to use his theory in order to better tolerate his exile, as it did make it impersonal, was probably due to his age. He was already approaching the point where he realized he didn't have forever, and being a dedicated hedonist, he did wish to enjoy his remaining years to the best of his ability. And so, if he was actually stuck here, there was at least the consolation that he'd be able to do so without nearly as high a likelihood of assassins or poison or other common causes of Imperial death. It still wasn't a cheering topic. There were a great deal of things he was starting to seriously miss, especially the bedroom slaves.
Octavian's offer to take him to the Muggle studies department was an excellent distraction, and he smiled thankfully. Octavian was far better company than any house elf he could order to take him there. "You know where it is? I'd appreciate that very much, Octavian- I confess I'm growing impatient to learn more about it." He wondered briefly if he wasn't quite polite enough in his response- after all, this was Augustus Caesar offering to escort him around a school! "Only if it wouldn't interrupt any of your plans, of course." He hoped this would cover any possible breach of etiquette.
"Quite the contrary, I've had my fill of this stuff for the day," Octavian said as he rose and gathered his books. The books, of course, were this stuff.
In his own mind, Octavian was still the young protege of Julius Caesar, not the eminent (indeed, august) personage recorded in the annals of history. He was not yet Augustus Caesar in his own mind -- indeed, he knew of the Augustus name only from his readings in Hogwarts' library; himself, he had been considering the name Romulus, not Augustus at all. He was used to being the junior member of any important gathering, the underestimated whelp of the Julii; and as such, he saw nothing odd about serving as guide to one of his elders.
It might also be noted that Octavian thought of the Baron, by this time, as a sort of foreign potentate.
He gathered up his blanket and whatnot, and tucked them away in the basket the elves had provided for him; the books he carried in a bookbag. Laden with his various accoutrements, he might have looked like a servant himself -- except that as soon as he and the Baron re-entered the castle, Octavian snapped his fingers to summon a house elf at once, and loaded the elf down with the lot of it, imparting curt instructions as to the disposition thereof. This left him unencumbered for the short walk to the Muggle Studies room.
As they walked, he told the Baron what he remembered of the Muggle Studies room. It did not help that the objects in the room were nearly as unfamiliar to Octavian as to a purebred wizard. He remembered televisions from his visit to Muggle Scotland, when Maia had explained all sorts of things to him. Atari systems, not so much. He did know the room contained a model kitchen, though he readily confessed he had not the faintest notion how Muggles worked the appliances -- "they ought to have slaves for that," said the young patrician.
Also, there was a stereo. He had the vaguest notion about those. "They are played by 'deejays'," Octavian related. Thus had his nightclub visit taught him. And because he had to explain that, too, he described the nightclub he had visited: "utterly ghastly, and frequented by the worst sort of people." By the time he had finished denouncing the lowlifes of Glasgow, they had reached the Muggle Studies room.
"As history does not show a disappearance, sudden death, or unexplained lapse of recorded existence in my life's course, I have two tentative hypotheses. Hypothesis the first: My stay here is temporary; I will return, or be returned, to Rome. This would likeliest occur when it no longer amuses the Sorting Hat or serves the castle's unknown purposes to keep me here. Hypothesis the second: My stay here represents no interruption in the normal course of time. I am not missing years of civil strife and political opportunity in the Rome of my time. Nor does my physical form appear to be aging," he added in support of this theory. "I do know that some persons here celebrate birthdays, but the only ones I believe to be aging are the ones who originated here. There may be exceptions to the general rule."
His jaw tightened. "There is another possibility, that history is wholly wrong." Had he known of gholas, a whole new world of emo speculation would have opened to him. Octavian's immediate suspicion would then be that the Hat had created all of them as gholas for its own amusement. That would have changed his prospects drastically; he might lose his will to live, or at least to do anything much but sulk. "There are differences between recorded history and what I know to have been the truth of events. However, it is eminently possible that modern historians are in error. I find it much the simpler and likelier explanation that where written history diverges from truth, it is the written history I should question, not the nature of truth or of time."
Reply
He was extremely intrigued by Octavian's mention of a lack of aging. Vladimir was already 80 years old, although he easily passed for someone in his mid-50s due to the preservative qualities of the spice, which lengthened the lifespan. His prospective lifespan was longer than a human without spice treatment, but, he still realized that he probably couldn't have had all that much longer, even without the ever-present Imperial threat of assassination. So not getting older was nothing he could complain about, and he hoped he'd not be an exception. And it of course didn't slip his mind that this meant the abundance of lovely young men at Hogwarts not getting older, either.
"All logical theories, Octavian- I'd be inclined to lean to the second theory. Time is complicated, and, it seems that the possibility might exist for alternate timestreams to exist. A member of the Spacing Guild of my era would know a great deal more about the ideas of time and space than myself. I've heard the theory from a couple of others here, and it seems the most scientific. But it may be simpler to accept the cold, impersonal whims of a random, but natural occurrence than to think that a magical hat has tampered with my destiny."
He smirked, still finding the hat about as absurd as he did on the day of his arrival. Luckily for Vladimir, in his time, it was not known that the original memories of a ghola could be re-awakened. If he'd known that, he'd also be getting concerned. As it was, he could remember everything but whatever it was that happened shortly before finding himself at Hogwarts.
"Even if the modern historians are in error, it would be worth considering that it's history itself that matters more than the events. It is what people believe about the events that shapes the future- and so whether or not it is accurate, you will have your influence." But, judging from this young man's character, he was more than capable of achieving his historical destiny. So he couldn't consider an error very likely.
Reply
So much would be lost -- and Antony would have won.
"Fortunately, I can say in truth that I believe that the less likely possibility. I do think that we will have returned to our own times and places without any lapse or loss, and I have every intention of continuing my political career when that occurs."
Beginning his political career, really.
It might be evident from the fact he was still glaring at his uniform-clad knees that this entire concept was a severe source of emo angst concern to Octavian. A change of subject would be welcome, or even a change of venue.
Reply
"I like to think that I am still there performing my job, while this is merely some unlikely anomaly that has caused me to experience some adjacent existence of scant probability. It's a little easier to handle the concept of exile that way." He smirked slightly, but didn't really have the heart to be sardonic at the moment, so he grew more somber. "I've been finding it best, as, there is not such a strong feeling of neglected duty. It's been allowing at least some level of enjoyment of this enforced retirement."
He finished off his wine, thinking a change of subject was in order. "This is why teaching seems like it would prove an excellent distraction. I need to find the 'Muggle Studies' wing to confirm that it's a good choice. And to watch some form of presentation called 'The Maury Povich Show'. Although I am inclined to not trust suggestions made by a hat, the hat did mention it in conjunction with some matters I wouldn't have expected it to know about."
Reply
It could not be contemplated, not now; best to lay it aside for a more opportune moment, a space of solitude. Octavian let pass the notion unremarked, and gave his attention readily to the introduction of a new topic.
"Muggle Studies? But I know where that classroom and office are located," he said at once. "Shall I take you there?"
Reply
Octavian's offer to take him to the Muggle studies department was an excellent distraction, and he smiled thankfully. Octavian was far better company than any house elf he could order to take him there. "You know where it is? I'd appreciate that very much, Octavian- I confess I'm growing impatient to learn more about it." He wondered briefly if he wasn't quite polite enough in his response- after all, this was Augustus Caesar offering to escort him around a school! "Only if it wouldn't interrupt any of your plans, of course." He hoped this would cover any possible breach of etiquette.
Reply
In his own mind, Octavian was still the young protege of Julius Caesar, not the eminent (indeed, august) personage recorded in the annals of history. He was not yet Augustus Caesar in his own mind -- indeed, he knew of the Augustus name only from his readings in Hogwarts' library; himself, he had been considering the name Romulus, not Augustus at all. He was used to being the junior member of any important gathering, the underestimated whelp of the Julii; and as such, he saw nothing odd about serving as guide to one of his elders.
It might also be noted that Octavian thought of the Baron, by this time, as a sort of foreign potentate.
He gathered up his blanket and whatnot, and tucked them away in the basket the elves had provided for him; the books he carried in a bookbag. Laden with his various accoutrements, he might have looked like a servant himself -- except that as soon as he and the Baron re-entered the castle, Octavian snapped his fingers to summon a house elf at once, and loaded the elf down with the lot of it, imparting curt instructions as to the disposition thereof. This left him unencumbered for the short walk to the Muggle Studies room.
As they walked, he told the Baron what he remembered of the Muggle Studies room. It did not help that the objects in the room were nearly as unfamiliar to Octavian as to a purebred wizard. He remembered televisions from his visit to Muggle Scotland, when Maia had explained all sorts of things to him. Atari systems, not so much. He did know the room contained a model kitchen, though he readily confessed he had not the faintest notion how Muggles worked the appliances -- "they ought to have slaves for that," said the young patrician.
Also, there was a stereo. He had the vaguest notion about those. "They are played by 'deejays'," Octavian related. Thus had his nightclub visit taught him. And because he had to explain that, too, he described the nightclub he had visited: "utterly ghastly, and frequented by the worst sort of people." By the time he had finished denouncing the lowlifes of Glasgow, they had reached the Muggle Studies room.
"This is the place."
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