Application: Quintus Lentulus Batiatus (Spartacus : Blood and Sand)
((WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS for Spartacus: Blood and Sand, season 1.))
A middle-aged man of unimpressive stature, dressed in the garments of a successful Roman and drenched in blood, appeared on the floor of the Sorting Room. After a moment, he stood up, looking around. There was supposed to be a river. And a ferryman. And a three-headed dog. But ( Read more... )
A middle-aged man of unimpressive stature, dressed in the garments of a successful Roman and drenched in blood, appeared on the floor of the Sorting Room. After a moment, he stood up, looking around. There was supposed to be a river. And a ferryman. And a three-headed dog. But ( Read more... )
Having died already that day, Batiatus merely found the sight of a properly Hades-sized canine interesting, and not shocking- even if he was beginning to doubt that Hogwarts was an 'underworld' in any sense he was familiar with. And, as Joachim had but one head, it presumably wasn't Cerberus. He eyed the creature approvingly, death and his sudden relocation failing to prevent his mind from leaping to the remarkable potential of such a beast. Although Batiatus had only trained men to fight in the arena, and not beasts, this sort of beast could be worth something. Animals didn't usually survive the arena, but, this one looked as if it would have an excellent chance.
He'd already met a talking dog, so, the enormous wolf sitting down and beginning to talk came as no surprise. The gears in his mind immediately added 'talking' to the equation of 'horse-sized silver wolf' in his head- such a beast wouldn't be worth something, it would be worth a lot. Batiatus looked at Joachim directly as he spoke, not flinching or showing an ounce of fear as he sniffed. He might have been slaughtered not long ago, but, this single event couldn't break a lifetime's worth of experience as a lanista. He was extremely used to the company of dangerous things. "I've been told it is a school to learn. . . magic." He'd not really focused on what sort of school the red-headed man had called Hogwarts until now- he'd been too occupied with presuming it a weird Hades. "Why the fuck I've ended up at a school for magic instead of in my proper place in hell's beyond me. I did mention slaves- I am, or was, a lanista. I dealt in gladiators, not portents and sorcery." He was exasperated, although this wasn't directed so much at what seemed to be a huge talking wolf, than at the Hogwarts experience in general, as was the muttered bit of vulgarity which escaped his lips. "Jupiter's cock! A magic school. . ." Properly dead may well have been easier to adapt to than such nonsense. At least his wife might have been with him then- and suffering in Tartarus with her by his side seemed preferable to his current situation, which was fucking weird.
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And there it was, straight from his own lips. Yes, a lanista.
That he had yet to even flinch spoke volumes-this wasn't a man too stupid or arrogant to be afraid, he was simply a shade brighter and more cunning than the average Sortee who passed through this inane ritual these days. And yet he'd clearly miscalculated somewhere along the line, to show up covered in his own blood, muttering about cocks and expecting to be ushered into hell...
The warg's broad, heavily muscled shoulders shook as he gave a growling laugh, focusing on Batiatus with a keen stare.
"You would make me your slave, hmm? I'm a nobleman of higher rank-and greater power-than many you will encounter here in this silly little establishment." Had been a nobleman, anyway, a few thousand years ago; Batiatus was not the first to contemplate Joachim's potential as a thrall... But Batiatus' nascent idea held a strange appeal all the same. Life at Hogwarts had become tedious now that most of the people Joachim had known before were gone, and Ancalagon was seldom in the mood for company lately. Probably busy plotting something. Maybe he could get in on it later. Because who doesn't love a good clusterfuck? Clearly Joachim has to meet Vladimir and/or Elric one of these days.
"Perhaps with the right incentive," Joachim went on, eyes creased in amusement. "You should know that no one can die on school grounds, courtesy of an enchantment none have yet managed to break, and many of us are immortal besides. But even in a place such as this, it does not hurt to have-allies. It may be that we can reach a mutually beneficial arrangement. What say you?" Batiatus had little to offer him now, but there could be no doubt that a man of his particular disposition would soon suss out a way to use the 'system' at Hogwarts to his advantage. Letting him think he was gaining a faithful pet in the process might prove to be entertaining, and Joachim stood to lose nothing but his boredom.
His ears swiveled fully forward as he curled his lips back into even more of a fearsome grin. "To think anything here is truly permanent would be a mistake. You may yet meet that dear wife of yours in Tartarus, just as you desire."
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Batiatus' profession meant that he couldn't flinch- and it was a profession he'd been raised in. His father had owned the ludus before him. Batiatus' own professional plans had required him to temper this trait even further than required within the walls of the ludus, for he'd chosen to aim beyond his position and play the political game. Prior to his unfortunately timed death, he'd finally managed to maneuver circumstances to a position where he had a legitimate chance of reaching the office he so desired- a seat in the Senate. In fact, it had been at the private celebratory games marking the official patronage of the powerful legatus Glaber that his death had occurred.
Still, his expression could not remain entirely passive while listening to Joachim, and there was a brief, startled flicker of impressed surprise as he realized that the giant wolf not only had powers of speech, it appeared to be extremely intelligent and perceptive. It was almost as if the creature was able to read his thoughts. This would have seemed normal and proper for an encounter with a giant talking beast in the underworld, but, as Batiatus was beginning to accept that he was not in the underworld, it was not normal and proper at all. It was remarkable, and, only increased the potential value of his ideas for such a creature, both in and out of the arena. Nobility and a greater rank than himself had never held Batiatus back from ambitious ideas involving such individuals, and so this particular revelation about Joachim didn't deflate his interest- but it was a factor he'd have to remember in dealing with the giant wolf.
"A 'magic' school where none can die- that does make matters more complex." Problems were usually solved most easily by putting a permanent end to them- and after all the other ridiculous things he'd heard, he expected that the speaking wolf was telling him the truth. He did however agree that in such a place allies were just as important as they would have been anywhere else- there were plenty of ways to deal with problems that didn't involve death. Death just happened to be the most convenient and thorough method. And, advancement didn't always require a great deal of death- death just tended to speed things along a bit. "But, I still believe that we could benefit one another a great deal- were we not at this 'magic school', I would make you a champion!" For, a talking wolf could surely stand amongst the most famous titans of the arena, and, although a champion gladiator was still a slave, they also enjoyed more fame and admiration than the majority of free men. Batiatus always made sure to focus on this aspect when motivating his fighters. "I've yet to learn what can be made of this place- but I expect I'd learn a great deal faster with an ally such as yourself." An ally who could seemingly read minds? Valuable indeed, and an excellent key to manipulating whatever power structure was in charge of the school.
Any doubt that Joachim could literally read minds was banished when he spoke of his wife- he had not mentioned her to the wolf, but he had thought of her. If he could have flinched, it would have been at that moment. He was familiar with oracles and the like, but the ability to read a mind directly was exceptional. "How the fuck do you do that? It's damn impressive." And could be used so very profitably. If this was actually some reprieve and second chance at living, Joachim was clearly an ally to obtain- and the potential of such an ally did put the situation in a somewhat improved light. "I suppose that given a choice, I'd rather meet my wife again here- as I was diverted on the road to hell, there seems a possibility it could happen to her as well." A possibility he was too smart to count on, but, despite his overall practicality, Batiatus could not avoid a certain amount of sentimentality regarding Lucretia.
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Reading thoughts was just something he did because he could, and it wasn't exactly the sort of ability that came with an 'off' switch, for him. Unfortunately.
Talk of making him a champion (presumably with all the benefits that entailed) certainly appealed to his vanity, and Batiatus even appeared to be sincere about it. Someone who didn't use empty flattery was quite unusual to Joachim, and he could get to like it. Getting up, he lowered his front legs and offered a theatrical 'bow' with a flourish of his tail in lieu of a dramatic sweep of his cloak. He rarely did anything half-way.
"Then you may consider me at your service," he happily replied, sitting back down. "I am Joachim," he said, pronouncing it as something between Ah-heem and Yoh-heem the former being the English pronunciation and the latter being the Japanese, though the translation charm did sometimes take liberties with his name and mangle it. "Beyond the school there is no such protection from death, and as it happens we are surrounded on all sides by dragons: in the woods, in the lake, in the mountains. Something to keep in mind should you wish to venture off school grounds," he said with another lupine grin. He would be disappointed to have gone to all this trouble making a new friend, just to have him go and get himself eaten because no one had thought to warn him. "We are all afforded a great amount of freedom here, and how you use it is up to you. Nothing is mandatory, classes are seldom held. Oh, one or two every few months, if even that. So don't count on occupying your time with those. There are so many more interesting things you could do. I'm sure we'll find you something that appeals to you."
He looked eminently pleased with the compliment. "I see thoughts," he explained, "as though they were my own. Some minds are more guarded than others, and something at this school interferes with how clearly I'm able to perceive them. But not with you. Your thoughts are vivid." He tilted his head, getting a slightly unfocused look in his eyes again. "The other wife... Killing her is what ultimately led to you being here?" he guessed. Those thoughts had been very convoluted, but that seemed to be the gist of them, as best he could tell.
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But, it wasn't only the obvious potential advantage than a giant mind-reading wolf offered him that inclined Batiatus towards the creature. It was impressive, but, Batiatus also liked the idea of Joachim as a comrade- he would be a truly unique one, the sort that few men could claim. Of course, Batiatus was still thinking of Joachim in canine terms, despite the speech- it was inevitable that he'd end up extremely surprised to learn what he actually was making friends with. The theatrical 'bow' certainly indicated a human level of intelligence, and although the gesture was not one of ancient Rome to the best of the mun's knowledge, Batiatus could recognize the idea behind it. He returned the evident gesture of respect with a grave inclination of his head, and, perhaps unfortunately, an attempt to give Joachim a friendly pat on the neck- had he realized that Joachim's actual form was quite humanoid, he'd have possibly forgone the latter action. But, he was still thinking canine, and thus, attempting to communicate his reciprocation of friendship to the creature.
"It is a pleasure to make the acquaintance of such an ally as yourself, Joachim. I am Quintus Lentulus Batiatus, dominus of the House of Batiatus." He managed not to mangle Joachim's name too badly, and although he'd written down his name, and figured it likely Joachim could pull it out of his head, a proper introduction seemed a pleasant formality. He listened curiously to Joachim's description of the castle- surrounded by dragons, was it? This might have seemed ridiculous coming from someone else, but, when a giant wolf said that there were dragons, it was the sort of thing that seemed entirely believable. "I shall remember that, my friend- a dragon, fascinating as it might be, is something I'd rather not encounter." At least, not without the dragon extremely well-subdued, first. So, Joachim's warning would at least not go to waste. "It sounds as if leaving may be the only restraint- a great amount of freedom does hold a great amount of possibility." He had little doubt that something would eventually appeal to him, especially if the school were as vaguely organized as it appeared to be.
Joachim's comments about seeing thoughts, and the differences between various minds was interesting- he wondered why it was that his thoughts seemed especially vivid to the creature. He supposed that his thoughts were generally quite clear and well-formed in his own head, although he'd never considered where this might prove a disadvantage. But, as he and Joachim were evidently allies now, it didn't seem a real disadvantage unless there was someone else at the school capable of doing it, who might not be inclined to a relationship of mutual benefit. Although Joachim's perception regarding Spartacus' wife was somewhat unnerving, it only revealed his potential value all the better. "You are correct- if that damnable Thracian, Spartacus, had never learned that I'd arranged his wife's death, I doubt he'd have turned. I had to arrange her murder, and he had to see her die- it was the only way to put a leash on him. He was a gamble, and I fucking lost." He still wasn't sure how Spartacus had figured this out, but, he obvious had- his last words to Batiatus before he'd killed him made it clear. He'd seen it brewing in his eyes for days, and had attempted to take precautions, but, they hadn't been enough- that he'd manage to recruit all the other slaves in his vengeance was a factor he couldn't have ever anticipated.
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Normally he might have minded a relative stranger initiating physical contact with him, but when he took the form of a creature, he also took on their instincts and, in part, some of their thinking as well. Wargs were certainly not dogs, but he enjoyed and even leant into the pat on the neck anyway, since it did feel good, and didn't appear to be intended as a demeaning gesture. Just a friendly one. His mentality was sometimes very childish to begin with; he was the sort of person who could easily get along with Toki while neatly circumventing Skwisgaar's jealousy issues, since sexuality was mostly still a foreign concept to him-something that applied to other people, but not himself. The only thing that would be funner than crafts and video games would be playing with decapitated heads, for him, a hobby which he'd picked up while imprisoned in the huge sewer waterway of an evil enchanted castle for several centuries.
Hey, times had been tough. He had to find his amusement where he could.
"Lentulus Batiatus... Your name is known to me. As is that of the infamous Spartacus," he said without elaborating. Quintus was a discrepancy, but judging by the man's thoughts, he was the genuine article regardless of his name. There were beings from all different worlds and alternate realities at Hogwarts, so it was completely plausible that Batiatus hailed from just such a place. Perhaps he'd explain it all to Batiatus later, once he'd come to terms with just being in the future.
"Compared to what and where you've come from, I believe it's safe to assume that you may look forward to a pleasant time here. You're unlikely to encounter any Spartacus types to foil your plans," he said, his tone clearly implying that he would help to make it so. "Now that we've reached an accord, I suppose I should cast my vote, for all the good it does." He paused for a moment to organise his thoughts and put the Houses into terms Batiatus might best understand. "Traditionally, Gryffindor is for the brave warriors, Slytherin for the ambitious politicians, Ravenclaw for the cunning tacticians, and Hufflepuff for the loyal and hard-working. In reality, the Houses generally fall as follows: Gryffindor for the whinging heroes with deep psychological problems, Slytherin for the incompetent egomaniacs with god complexes, Ravenclaw for the drunkards and doctors, Hufflepuff for those the rest of the school doesn't wish to deal with. There are also four other Houses, but those don't bear mentioning." He wrinkled his nose. "Excluding some of the actual gods here, as well as those dragons I spoke of, Hufflepuff is the House which lays claim to the more interesting and dangerous residents... It is my own, of course." Having picked up the mer-creature's thoughts with mun permission, since it has plot relevancy, he subtly nodded toward where Skwisgaar was. "And he's one of the Hufflepuff Prefects-Prefects are like the leaders of their House," he explained. "Have you a preference?"
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The awareness of this pretty human form would have been likely to stay Batiatus' hand, but, as Joachim leaned into the pat on the neck, he stroked the 'giant wolf' further, as if making further acquaintance with a prospective favorite guard or hunting dog. It was indeed not a demeaning gesture at all- Batiatus admired the creature, and, would have spared a lesser but adequate dog merely the pat, and, would have not spared a moment for an inadequate street cur. Not that Baitatus would be at all appalled to learn he'd been petting a very attractive man- it just wasn't his usual inclination to. The Roman culture did not draw quite the same distinctions as modern culture in regards to gender and sexuality, being more concerned with rank and standing where sexual propriety was concerned. Batiatus simply tended to prefer the female physique for the sensual arts, and wasn't inclined to molesting men in the Sorting Room- it wouldn't have been an appropriate place, even if he had felt the inclination.
Batiatus would be somewhat confused when he consulted the histories and learned of the naming discrepancy, but, he was intelligent enough that after some time at Hogwarts, Joachim's explanations of alternate realities would be likely to make sense. Batiatus was indeed a genuine Batiatus, but, one from a somewhat more colourful version of Rome, and one where he happened to have a slightly different name- the important parts remained the same, including Spartacus. It was strange to hear the name from the mouth of a giant wolf in some not-quite-underworld. But, he also felt confident that with Joachim as an ally, any problems with Spartacus types would be greatly reduced. "Your words build confidence, my friend, and even if Spartacus arrives here as well, I think I may look forward to a pleasant time. Especially if Spartacus arrives." Which would grant a chance for round two, an opportunity which Batiatus liked the thought of- he'd have learned from his mistakes the first time around. Thus, his words were accompanied with a smile.
He listened to the descriptions of the houses, none of which sounded particularly appealing. He had no desire to grant his loyalty to some House that wasn't his own, and with very little understanding of what he was doing. But, Joachim's second description, with its corrections for accuracy, made it sound somewhat less dubious- loyalty was possibly not of importance. That actual gods might be present wasn't too shocking to hear- he'd arrived under the illusion that he was in the underworld, and thus, had been expecting that sort of thing since he'd appeared in the Sorting Room. In some ways, his death had made it a far easier transition to Hogwarts than it might have been. His mind had already been prepared to accept the unusual. "Use your best judgment, my friend," he told Joachim in reply to his query, looking bemusedly at Skwisgaar for a moment. "But not the one with the heroes and their fucking psychological issues. I've had enough of that with Spartacus. I expect your House would do fine, and is likely to have a respectable bath." It was hard to picture it as anything but one, if the triton was in charge. But Batiatus was a product of Roman culture, and they did enjoy their baths.
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