Time to get branded

[toobitter]

Who: Reyna + Romans (and anyone who wants to watch?)
What: Get another bar added to your SPQR tattoo!!!
Where: The Arena. Because that's about as Roman as it could get here.
When: October 18.

Reyna gave the message to the Romans at morning training. The next bar for the Legionnaires in their years of service to New Rome... It was, like for the Greek campers and their beads on their necklaces, a big deal for Romans.

And so this afternoon, Reyna sat in the Arena in her ceremonial toga, dogs on either side of her. It would be time for the branding ceremony soon enough, to honor the Gods, their ancestors and all those who served the Legion before them... And to earn their new bar. For those on Probatio to get theirs and to be one of the few actual Roman things left in their control. If there are Greeks or Magicians that want to witness the ceremony, Reyna will not turn them away, glad to share a part of their culture with everyone else.

Comments

[notthatjason]

Jason may not have worn the toga to the big meeting, but he knew better than to try and wear anything else to this ceremony. Not only would Reyna have killed him, but it would have been a poor showing to those new to the Roman Legion. Besides, he didn't mind this tradition show much. He actually thought the togas were kind of comfy.

"Well this is exciting, huh," he remarked.

[toobitter]

Reyna glanced over at him, frowning just a bit, and sighed. "There should be more of us here."

It was under her breath and only barely audible for him. Every day she was guilt ridden for so little of the Legion being here with them. This was only going to drive home that point.

[notthatjason]

"I know. But that means it's all the more reason to celebrate and perform this ceremony as it should be." He knew all too well the feelings Reyna was having about the Romans not here. However, there was only so much they could do to get the Romans to camp safely. Many of them had families, some families even outside of the camp grounds. Others may still be lost. But Jason didn't like to dwell on them...since he spent far too much time on that.

[toobitter]

She crossed her arms in front of her, hands rubbing at them a little. "You're right."

Reyna still hated that they weren't here. And no matter how important this ceremony was? She would still dwell on the fact. "At least we have who we do. I am thankful for that."

[notthatjason]

"Exactly." Jason replied. It was better in the long run to focus on the positive. "Besides, it's always fun to see the new guys get theirs and we do have some new legionaries despite everything."

[thewindything]

[So the time has come.]

[John isn't really sure what he's expecting. He's kind of excited, to be honest, but maybe he's also really nervous. It feels like things are happening pretty fast. Four months ago he'd stumbled into this camp a scrawny nerd with a problem propelling cakes through his bedroom window.]

[And now he was being initiated into the Legion. He was a Roman.]

[Was he really good enough for something like that? He didn't know, but apparently everyone else thought so, so here he was, waiting for his turn.]

[salvagedlight]

[Ven's right here next to you bro. To stop you from screaming. Because he knows you likely will.]

[thewindything]

[Hey he's not that big of a weenie. Okay he might scream a little, but mostly because he has no idea what to expect. Are they going to break out a tattoo gun, or is it going to get wild west up in here.]

[John is pretty sure he'd go with the tattoo guy, tyvm.]

[But hey, teasing aside, he is glad Ven is there! He gives him a small nervous smile.]

[salvagedlight]

[Don't you know by now? It's ~magic~. Although how they're going to do this without the augur is something he's not too sure on himself. He can't say he's sorry that Octavian is one of the ones they're not sure about. He returns John's nod, but focuses his eyes on the praetors once again to wait for them to speak.]

[toobitter]

[As one of Apollo's children went through the ceremony, Reyna made her rounds to check on the Romans. First up? John. Pressing her lips together, she stopped next to him and folded her arms. When she spoke up, it was quiet.]

Don't be anxious. You are a Roman soldier, this is your right. You'll be among the first since you're new.

[annieisntokay]

[If you had asked Annie a few years ago if she ever thought she'd get a tattoo, she would have said no. But now, she was about to get her fifth. Dressed in her toga, she's managed to braid her unruly hair in a sort of crown, with seaweed and a water lily braided in amongst it, to represent her father. Already the tattoo on her arm showed the traditional SPQR, as well as the trident and seven lines already from the years she'd been to Camp Jupiter, having gone since she was nine.

Luckily, the Mist had taken care of any questions anyone would have had about why a middle schooler had a tattoo.

Anyway, as always, she hovered over towards the side, taking in everything rather than going out of her way to participate. For now, at least.]

[usernameallison]

[See, this is one of the many things that Scott loves about being Roman. He got his first bar added onto the tattoo shortly before the battle at Mount Othrys, right under the SPQR and chariot - the symbol of Victoria - he was also branded with.

He always wanted a tattoo - though if he'd ever asked for one before Camp Jupiter, his mom would probably give him a stern look, laugh her head off, or both. (Probably both.) But he likes the idea behind them. Tattoos mean something - they're almost a kind of reminder. He's even been thinking about getting another one, lately, though he's not too sure of what just yet. The praetors could probably arrange for it within reason, though.

So he's come down to the arena in one of his purple camp t-shirts that he managed to save, his Imperial gold sword at his side - and for once, that's all he's carrying.]

[excusing]

[ The tattoo is one of things about being a Roman that makes Heather feel like a bonafide badass. She once wanted a tiny shamrock, as a symbol of the necklace she gave away once upon a time. This year marks her full third year as a Legionnaire and, frankly, she couldn't be prouder. This was one a girl who lacked ambition, now building a renewed sense of duty to her fallen Leigon.

She comes dressed in her more respectable SPQR shirt, hardly cut except for the more opened collar. For ceremonial purposes, the only jewelry she has is the dagger ring and the only weapon at her side is the spear she inherited from her grandfather. (Surely Venus will understand leaving the shield behind just this once. She honors her mother daily - it's the war part of her heritage Heather tends to skim over.)

Lifting a finger, she swipes a spot of lipstick from under her lip and stands tall, shoulders back. ]

[ensared]

[ Back just in time, Gale notes. A seventh, to mark his seventh year in the Legion, proud member of the Fifth. The ceremony doesn't impress him like it does everyone else - it's just another reminder of pointless time served in an army he doesn't care about, one that never gives him or his father any credit because they're from the Fifth with no notable family to speak of.

It's dumb, and some days, he really wishes he could remove the tattoo from his arm. But Gale still attends the ceremony, out of some misguided sense of duty to represent the Fifth in a decent light for once. He stands tall as he waits, sword at his side and bow at his back. ]

[salvagedlight]

[Ven's been through enough of these things to know how important this is - and for him it's kind of a personal birthday party as well, since his birthday had been just a few days before. Being bounced around from home to home as a kid meant he didn't have much in the way of birthday celebrations, so he honestly prefers this as the marker than anything else. A party just isn't important to him - he likes knowing he's part of something bigger, that he's making a difference, that he finally found a home to belong to. Getting his sixth bar is just reaffirming that for him.]

[He's made an effort to flatten his hair for this and failed miserably; it's so thick it just sticks up everywhere like it always does. He's also wearing the only purple t-shirt he managed to save (the one he was wearing when he went on furlough in the first place) and his best pair of pants, and he's got his sword by his side as usual. He's sticking close to John, ready to corral him if need be, because he fully expects his new brother to start screaming at the branding.]