Application: Quintus Lentulus Batiatus (Spartacus : Blood and Sand)

[masteroftitans]

((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

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[masteroftitans]

Batiatus gave Jasper's rings a brief but observant glance- the wedding band meant little, plain as such things were, but the other ring was definitely a signet of some sort. It bore enough of a resemblance to complex signet designs that its function was evident, even if the design itself was unknown to him. Although it was impossible for Batiatus to know exactly what the ring meant, but it did make it event that Jasper was not a slave despite his helpful offers. Beyond that, he could tell little- it could be a relic of wherever Jasper had been drawn from, or it could relate to something at the strange school. But, it definitely meant he wouldn't be for sale.

Jasper's confidence wasn't missed, and Batiatus watched with intent interest as he passed his hands over his clothing and murmured some odd words. "Jupiter's cock!" he exclaimed, startled and astonished as the gore simply evaporated from his garments completely. It seemed there was something to this magic he kept hearing about. As Jasper's hands moved, he caught a glimpse of yet another crest- was it a variation on the previous one he'd noted? It was difficult for him tell before Jasper's sleeve slipped over the wristband again, but, another glance at the ring confirmed that one crest involved a gryphon. The other, however, might have been a lion? This was interesting indeed, although he still couldn't have any real notion as to what it meant, other than Jasper being interesting. "That was astonishing, and I am grateful for your assistance. But, I've yet to know why I've found myself at this magic school. My profession's about the furthest thing from magic. But, such an ability's damn impressive- you say you learned that here?" Batiatus did find the idea of magic intriguing, for surely, it held potential- after witnessing an actual display of it, he couldn't deny this. But, he was not disappointed to hear that classes were rarely held- he wasn't much in the mood for subjecting himself to any sort of formalized education.

He listened very carefully to all that Jasper said- the man was much more informative than most of those he'd met. Although much of what he was saying seemed absurd, as it confirmed the talking hat, Jasper seemed eminently sane, and, his advice credible. "Wands and ancient runes and talking hats, sorting and squibbing- I can't pretend to understand any of it. But, if I'm to be stuck here, I'm not much inclined to the idea of charity. Whatever the paper upon my arrival might have rudely suggested, I'm not useless." Although it was still all perplexing, and he didn't much like the sound of some of it, still he smiled at Jasper thankfully. The man obviously had more experience than himself with 'Hogwarts', and yet appeared entirely rational. So chances were, it might work out alright.

Batiatus indeed had many questions, but, knew that his most immediately pressing ones most likely couldn't be answered. No one seemed to know how or why the place operated, and he suspected that if Jasper knew, he'd have explained it already, informative as he'd been. And so, it seemed that the most immediately interesting questions were about the curiously pleasant man he was speaking with. "It's impossible not to have questions- but what I'd like to know first is, what is your name? I like to know who I am speaking with- I am Quintus Lentulus Batiatus, dominus of the House of Batiatus." He reconsidered, as this wasn't entirely accurate, if he was deceased in his own time. "Or I formerly was, but hell if I know now," he added with a wry smirk.