Disclaimer: I don't own The Rocky Horror Picture Show

A/N: So... a rather short chapter. I couldn't think of much else to add to this.

This story is in some ways inspired by Monty Python's Life of Brian. That's the most historically accurate 'biblical' movie ever made and very funny. It makes fun of 'biblical' films by making more sense than them and not actually being religious. And there's a nice song at the end, when a bunch of people are being comically crucified (it's Monty Python, what did expect?). If you haven't seen it, rent it sometime.

After they'd been standing in front of the tent for a while, Puellus realized something: "We haven't been introduced!"

"You know our names," Magenta pointed out sourly.

This person – though he was perfectly nice – reminded her of 'ze Master'. Yes, he wore a proper legionary's uniform. Nice red tunic, sturdy armor, caligae… he looked very nice. Though his posture – not to mention the obvious touch of makeup – gave him a very queen-like look. It was quite strange. Magenta thought it sinister. Though it wasn't. Puellus – or, as he was properly called, Gnaeus Lucilius – was very kind, and something of a coward. It was his girlishness. Despite being a young man through and through, he liked to wear his elder sister Lucialia's stola and sometimes 'borrowed' her makeup. Lucilia didn't mind this, at least. She was the only one who didn't mind, actually.

He'd enlisted at 20 (three years ago) because his parents weren't very pleased with him. His father had threatened to disown him if he didn't stop embarrassing them. That meant he'd never see his family again. Since such a threat was perfectly plausible and horrifying Gnaeus had run away to become a soldier. He'd picked up the nickname when his superior officer – the dreaded centurion Marcus – had called him 'girl' as a joke. Indeed, he had been wearing makeup that day. Nobody really minded that he wore makeup as long as it didn't get in the way of his job. There was another secret, sadly, that would really ruin things if it came to light.

Though he wasn't the only one with a secret. A few of the other men who slept in the same tent as he did also kept embarrassing secrets...

For example, there was Aldricus. He seemed like the foreign, brooding type because he was kind of foreign. Though that wasn't a secret. Nor was the fact he'd been a slave once upon a time. Then he'd become Roman and joined the army. He had a very Roman view of life, despite his origins. Some even said he was more Roman than a number of 'real' Romans!

Then there was also Librus. He liked books quite a bit, and could somehow get a hold of them even with his not-so-impressive salary. That made many people suspicious…

Of course, I won't tell you what the secrets are. Would you want me to spoil the plot? No! So, back to our story…

Puellus wasn't bothered in the slightest by Magenta's gloomy demeanor. "Well, you don't know our names. I'm Puellus, the broody one is Aldricus, and the reader is called Librus!"

"Nice to meet you," Columbia said, half-heartedly.

"Nice to meet you," replied Librus.

Then, to everyone's surprise, Aldricus spoke. Slowly, yet deliberately, he said: "It is good to meet you girls. And the man you brought with you. Brother to Magenta the dark, friend to Columbia who is quite bright. Oh, how I do hope he'll return."

Magenta also hoped he'd return. Never had he ever been away from her for very long. She didn't want that. Well, technically, they'd been raised apart as children. Until she was five she hadn't known he existed. Since she was a girl she was less desirable to have around. Poorer families often sent daughter or weak boys, since such children were just another mouth to feed. A wealthy widow had raised her. Then, as a teen, her brother learned of her and found her. At that point he was an up-and-coming scientist of about 20. She was still a kid at that point, aged 14. They fell madly in love and ended up in an illegal (thanks to her age and their blood-relation) relationship.

The 'sending away lesser children' thing was very Roman, you know. Soon enough she'd realize that the similarities between her culture and the Earthling one would be useful…

That ol' queen Puellus began babbling on about the latest fashions to fill the awkward silence induced by Aldricus suddenly speaking. Apparently his sister sent letters on the subject. Colorful stolas were 'in' now.

It was then that Marcus, Centurion to these odd legionaries, showed up.

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