Summary: (Suggested by @magnaesquire) A few months after they arrive in the museum, the Western Diorama invites Rome for a stag dance. Curious, they decide to accept. AU where theyâre friends from the very beginning. (A bit OOC but I donât think by too much?)Â
Octavius had been in strange situations. On the top of his list was ending up as a figurine in a diorama. Though, in all honesty, Octavius was relieved. When heâd died, heâd died believing that he had not done enough. True, there wasnât much he could do in his small environment, but at least he was back to work.Â
Since his men were still adjusting to the new Rome they were in, Octavius had not had them go explore outside of the diorama. They were not yet ready to take in the vastness that was outside of their territory. During empty hours, Octavius studied the language that was spoken by the giant people that walked through the halls. He was doing quite well, but was still a bit rocky. He couldnât speak it that well, but his writing was alright.Â
Their first contact with those outside of their diorama was when a person called a âCowboyâ came to Rome. With him, he brought a letter that was hastily handed to them before he disappeared. The letter was then given to Octavius, he being the only Roman who could fluently understand the English language.
âA âstag dance,ââ Octavius read out loud, arching an eyebrow. âI have never heard of such thing.â
He said this to no one in particular, since his men would certainly be no more informed than he was. He rolled up the letter and crossed his arms behind his back. None of his men had moved, all standing at perfect attention. Octavius stared at them, then a smile split on his face.
âShall we go see what our neighbors have to offer?â he asked them.
âYes sir!â they all echoed at once.
âAt ease!â Octavius commanded. âIt says to meet them in theirâŚdioramaâŚat any time possible. Shed your armor and wear your togas. They will be far easier to move about in. TheyâŚsaid weâd want to be loose.âÂ
His men looked back-and-forth at each other, confused, but they all just shrugged and wandered off to their houses to remove their armor and put on their togas. Once they were all gone, Octavius left to do the same. That was another big adjustment Octavius had to make when he awoke in the museum. He had no servants. Octavius had been somewhat against slaves-he had had a few, but not nearly as many as other high-ranking Roman authorities-but theyâd helped with with many everyday tasks such as getting dressed. His toga was quite difficult to put on himself, but, nowadays, Octavius managed.Â
While most of his men wore a basic white Toga Pura, Octavius wore a Toga Picta. A dark, rich, purple one. There was such a difference between clothing because, in this diorama, there were only legionnaires and then Octavius. So, his status as their leader was only cemented by the beautifully colored and gold-threaded toga he wore. It was quite difficult getting all the fabric to fold and layer itself in the right way, but Octavius was able to get it done after so much practice. Once he was done, Octavius put a gold crown shaped like laurel leaves atop his head.Â
Before he stepped outside, Octavius slipped away to find Atticus. Atticus was the youngest man in the Diorama, hardly older than sixteen. Octavius treated Atticus like a son, and Atticus treated him like a father. Every time Octavius put on his toga, he always ended up asking Atticus to fix it up for him. Since there were no women in the Roman Diorama, the men needed to manage, learning how to cook, weave, clean, etc. Atticus took to it like a fish to water. So, Octavius trusted him with all of the tasks that he still did not yet feel comfortable with.Â
âAtticus?â he called softly into the small house that was behind his own. âAtticus, are you there?âÂ
A few moments later, Atticusâs happy, bright face appeared in his doorway. âWhat do you require of me, Father?âÂ
Octavius smiled gently. âJust to assure me that I am wearing this Toga correctly.âÂ
Atticusâs eyes narrowed and fierce concentration spread across his face as his sharp, artistic eyes scanned for any flaws. âNo problems here! Youâre faring better than the time before.âÂ
âSo something is wrong, It is not perfect?â Octavius asked.Â
âWell, your laurel crown is a bit crooked,â Atticus decided. âBut other than that, your toga is on correctly.âÂ
Atticus had also immersed himself into the study of the English language. Unlike Octavius, he fared better in the language itself than with the writing. Though Atticus couldnât write much to begin with, anyhow. But Atticus decided it would be a good idea to learn English, should the occasion arise that he needed to converse in that language with someone.Â
âThank you, Atticus.â Octavius straightened the laurel crown. âAre you properly dressed for meeting our neighbors?âÂ
Nodding, Atticus stepped completely out of the doorway to show that he was wearing his own toga. âWhat do you think of them? Will they be like the barbarians? Is this a trap?âÂ
âI do not think so. If this is a trap, it is a very poorly thought-out one. Even without armor, Rome has the best hand-to-hand combatants. Besides, what have we done to anger them? Nothing. So, as of right now, I am deciding to trust them,â Octavius explained.Â
In all honesty, he wanted to trust them. Octavius had lived his life learning that he had to trust no one. That the only person he could depend on was himself. And that caused him to live a very lonely, sad life. Even after heâd met his one and only love, Livia, his joy had been short-lived as she died in childbirth shortly after their marriage. After heâd awakened and realized that he was alive again, Octavius had searched through all of Rome, desperate, seeing if Livia was alive with him. But there was no such luck. So, he finally decided it was time to try and trust, or else heâd be doomed to live his life in the dark emptiness it had been before.Â
âWell, itâs your call. And I wonât question it,â Atticus decided. âAndâŚI excited, honestly. Just from what that man was wearing, I can tell that they are far different from us.âÂ
âYou also find him attractive, donât you?â Octavius guessed.Â
Atticusâs ears turned red. âMaybeâŚâÂ
Octavius laughed brightly and patted Atticusâs shoulder. âDo not be ashamed, Atticus. Heâs a handsome man. No one can deny that. Just be careful and do not leave my sight. Alright?âÂ
Nodding, Atticus followed behind Octavius as he gathered the rest of his men. It wasnât too hard getting to their neighboring diorama, surprisingly. The hard part was getting up. But, they lowered a ladder down and, one by one, the Romans lifted themselves up to the top of the diorama. Once up there, the cowboy from before gestured for them to follow him.
They did just that, and Octavius could hear the sounds of music, whoops, laughter, and stomping feet. Atticus drew closer to Octavius, nearly shoulder-to-shoulder with him. Octavius was fine with this. Atticus was a shy boy and got nervous around strangers. For good reason, too.
One cowboy looked away from the fire he was tending to and stood up, a wide grin across his face. When he smiledâŚoh how Octaviusâs heart leaped. Had a child of Venus appeared before him? It could be the only explaination for this manâs exquisit features.
âHowdy, yâall,â he greeted them, tipping his hat. âWelcome! Glad that ya could make it to the stag dance!â
Octavius looked back and forth from the cowboy to his men. âWeâŚdo not know what a stag dance is.â
âWell, good thing weâre here ta teach ya! Nameâs Jedediah. Yers?â Jedediah asked.Â
âI am General Octavius, though I was once known as Emperor Augustus, son of Venus, adopted by Julius Caesar,â Octavius annouced proudly.Â
Jedediah laughed. âWell thaâs a mouthful. Is it âkay if I jus call ya âGeneral?â I think Iâd remember it better.âÂ
Octavius wanted to say something about Jedediah being incredibly disrespectful, but he forced himself to remember that Jedediah was raised in a completely different culture, so would not know about the formalities of Rome. âVery well. But we are not here for introductions. We are here for what you invited us to do.âÂ
âWell, then yer gonna to want introductions, General. A stag dance is a dance fer two men. I think that yer men are gonna want to get pretty friendly with mine.â Jedediah grinned, turning to his men. âGee up, boys! Guests are here!âÂ
âMost of my men wonât know English,â Octavius warned him.Â
Jedediah held up a finger and then pointed at the men. Latin words began to fill Octaviusâs ears and his mouth nearly dropped open in surprise. They had learned Latin? He turned back to Jedediahâs wide smile.Â
âYou allâŚlearned Latin?â Octavius asked, his heart doing a little flip.Â
âWell, on of my men was goinâ explorinâ and heard yâall tryna practice English so we figâred it was the least we could do,â Jedediah explained, rubbing the back of his neck. âSo, you wanna dance, General?âÂ
âIâŚâ Octavius trailed off. âI never learned. Iâve never even danced for fun.âÂ
âWhat?!â Jedediah exclaimed. âHow do you go your whole life not dancing?âÂ
Octavius shrugged. âRoman nobility is not supposed to dance. Thatâs a job for the servants. Entertainment, nothing more. ButâŚI suppose I can try.âÂ
He took Jedediahâs hand and let the cowboy lead him over to the pairs that were already dancing around the fire. Mostly cowboys were leading, since most Romans didnât know how to dance. Octavius was nervous, worried about making a fool of himself. He was Romeâs leader, and they looked up to him. Would they take him less seriously if he danced? Thatâs what Octavius was taught, anyhow.Â
âJusâ follow my lead,â Jedediah instructed.Â
He stepped back, so Octavius stepped forward. He found himself picking up on the dance quite easily, studying Jedediahâs movements and the other dancers around them. The band was playing a bright, happy song, making energy course through Octaviusâs body. Soon, he found himself a bit acting as though he were drunk off of his adrenaline, laughing uncontrollably. Jedediah spun Octavius around, then pulled him close.Â
âDo ya wanna lead now?â Jedediah asked.Â
âSure,â Octavius decided hesitantly.Â
They started out slow, Octavius getting comfortable with his new role. But, it was as though Octavius was meant to be the lead. He and Jedediah spun around, Octaviusâs toga billowing around both of them. After a few more songs, Octavius felt dizzy and overly giddy, so he decided to go sit down. Jedediah joined them, both of them talking for a long time as they drank glasses of water. Every moment with Jedediah just made Octavius find him more and more attractive. They danced for a few more hours before they realized that it was an hour to sunrise.Â
âThank you, Jedediah. I havenât had that much fun for a long time,â Octavius said gratefully.Â
âAw, it was our pleasure, General.â Jedediah tipped his hat. âRest well.âÂ
Back in Rome, Octavius was writing a letter of his own when Atticus walked up behind him. âWhat are you doing, Father?âÂ
Octavius looked up at Atticus with a small smile. âHow do you think our neighbors will like Bacchanalia?â