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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"I refer to style, color, and rank all in one. Pardon my mistake," for clearly it had been a mistake, since the man saw no signification in the color. "It happens that your manner of dress is similar to one of my home city, except that the color is one reserved for the highest ranks and occasions. A single stripe of the Tyrian dye is worn by senators of the Republic. We call it the purple; its appearance may be likelier scarlet, or of the shade of blood, depending on the richness and age of the garment. What you wear, all of it that color, would be reserved for a general in his triumphal procession, or for
( ... )
Octavian looked up and regarded the Baron in full, from head to floating toes. He considered for a moment, then gave his verdict.
"Whoever has advised you is correct in part. You'd frighten the 'muggles'. It isn't that they would be offended, it's that they'd have no ready explanation for what they see. You would draw unwanted attention. They aren't so advanced in science as to permit your suspensors to exist. If they saw you in a play, they would assume it to be a trick of stagecraft, and no one would object; in the streets, they could not justify it to their own minds. Though even so, in a large enough city ..." He pondered that. "I have not been in a truly large city of this time, yet. I've been to a reasonably sizable urbs, called Edinburgh, with a companion, but we spent little time there. I have no solid opinion on what they could or could not accept in that context. Nonetheless it stands to reason that in a large enough crowd, you might be ignored, or attract a harmless sort of attention. Some might think you a
( ... )
Again, the Baron was astounded by Octavian's level of perception. His assessment of the muggle mentality seemed average enough as opposed to brilliant, but, he was particularly impressed by Octavian's assessment of him, despite only having spoken to the young man for a short time. This was indeed the sort of quality that created emperors. Thus, he could not be offended by either Octavian's opinion of his muggle reception, or the blunt question about his appearance. Especially in light of the fact that Octavian seemed to display no personal judgment about it
( ... )
(( *dies* Hey, if Amaranth can wander around in nothing at all, or in nothing but a sandwich board ... )) Octavian tilted his head. "I see. The unwanted attention remains the main issue, I expect. I must admit I've only the most basic notion of what 'muggles' consider ordinary, and that is based entirely on personal observation without engaging the 'muggles' in discourse. Hogwarts has had no Muggle Studies teacher in the time I've been here. It's a shame; the class could be useful
( ... )
The Baron was starting to wonder if studying 'muggles' was something he'd end up having an aptitude for. Muggles were people, and people were a major component of his business- if it proved at all interesting, it would surely be simpler than attempting to master Transfiguration or some magical skill fast enough to teach it properly, and a far more efficient use of his time. And technically, if the majority of the population consisted of what the wizards called such a silly term, and the wizards had to hide from them, it was a damn important study, and someone with a proper attitude did need to be teaching it. The Baron of course knew that he had a proper attitude.
It was somewhat curious to listen attentively while he himself was the subject of somebody's evaluation, but, considering who was giving the evaluation, he found he was actually enjoying it. After all, this was Augustus Caesar practicing his skills, and, to feel like he might be able to have any had at all in the shaping of such a legendary emperor would almost make this
( ... )
"Of course. To believe in one's self-cultivated image is the precursor to a fall." In his career as Augustus, Octavian was to become a master of propaganda, surpassing even his uncle in savvy public-relations ploys. Already at the point in the HBO series from which he'd been taken he had begun to conceive of some fundamental ideas for the promotion of his image and agenda. Capitalizing on the Caesar name was only the start. Yet as much as he must remind the people he was Caesar, Octavian knew he must keep in mind the firm reality underlying his self-fashioning. He had no desire to end the way his uncle ended, stuck like a pig on the Senate floor.
"It's at the moment you feel safest that the enemy will strike. True. You are right to remind me of this." Actually, Octavian felt he would never need such a reminder, having seen his uncle on the funeral bier, bedecked in his bloody toga. What use was majesty to a carcass?
Vladimir hadn't been sure if Octavian's uncle had met his demise yet, but, his sombre shift spoke enough, despite the young man's excellently composed demeanor. He felt a bit disappointed that he had brought down the mood, but, it was an important point, and the sort of thing that young Emperors were going to be forced to think about if they planned to do a good job of it. So he couldn't feel too bad, but felt a shift of subject was appropriate.
"It is clear that you have been educated exceptionally well. Which is good to see here, where unfortunately education appears to be less than obvious, despite it being a school. I admit I have been considering finding a class to teach myself, as somebody has to attempt to do it properly and set an example. Have you been here long?"
"Longer than a year. The education here is not academic in form, which I agree is a pity. Nevertheless there are things to be learned, primarily through contact with persons from other times and places."
For example, demons? Cute teenage female demons?
"Indeed, some experiences are more valuable than others. I am inclined to postulate it would be more valuable to me to learn of your Imperium than to visit more 'muggle' nightclubs." Octavian had not enjoyed the nightclub. "Even if I am not permitted to recall these things when I return to Rome, I prefer to think my animus will remain enriched," he finished.
Vladimir smiled at Octavian, obviously pleased to be asked about details on the Imperium. "I expect that's very true, Octavian, and I would be honored to tell you about the Imperium. If we have our historical details right, the Imperium and Rome have a great deal of similarity in their systems. And I'd hope that given its duration, we've have improved at a few points. And I would be very curious to hear more about your Rome- we should meet for dinner and conversation, soon
( ... )
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
( ... )
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
( ... )
"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
( ... )
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
( ... )
"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
( ... )
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"Whoever has advised you is correct in part. You'd frighten the 'muggles'. It isn't that they would be offended, it's that they'd have no ready explanation for what they see. You would draw unwanted attention. They aren't so advanced in science as to permit your suspensors to exist. If they saw you in a play, they would assume it to be a trick of stagecraft, and no one would object; in the streets, they could not justify it to their own minds. Though even so, in a large enough city ..." He pondered that. "I have not been in a truly large city of this time, yet. I've been to a reasonably sizable urbs, called Edinburgh, with a companion, but we spent little time there. I have no solid opinion on what they could or could not accept in that context. Nonetheless it stands to reason that in a large enough crowd, you might be ignored, or attract a harmless sort of attention. Some might think you a ( ... )
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It was somewhat curious to listen attentively while he himself was the subject of somebody's evaluation, but, considering who was giving the evaluation, he found he was actually enjoying it. After all, this was Augustus Caesar practicing his skills, and, to feel like he might be able to have any had at all in the shaping of such a legendary emperor would almost make this ( ... )
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"It's at the moment you feel safest that the enemy will strike. True. You are right to remind me of this." Actually, Octavian felt he would never need such a reminder, having seen his uncle on the funeral bier, bedecked in his bloody toga. What use was majesty to a carcass?
Somberly, he stared into his wine.
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"It is clear that you have been educated exceptionally well. Which is good to see here, where unfortunately education appears to be less than obvious, despite it being a school. I admit I have been considering finding a class to teach myself, as somebody has to attempt to do it properly and set an example. Have you been here long?"
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For example, demons? Cute teenage female demons?
"Indeed, some experiences are more valuable than others. I am inclined to postulate it would be more valuable to me to learn of your Imperium than to visit more 'muggle' nightclubs." Octavian had not enjoyed the nightclub. "Even if I am not permitted to recall these things when I return to Rome, I prefer to think my animus will remain enriched," he finished.
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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.
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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?"
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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 ( ... )
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