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Oct. 8th, 2014 07:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fucking_gauls→ IC
□ Name: Agron
□ Journal: fucking-gauls
□ Series: Starz’s Spartacus
□ Canon point: Post-canon
□ History: http://spartacus.wikia.com/wiki/Agron
Small note: Neither the show nor the wiki cover (much of) Agron’s past before coming to Batiatus’s ludus, and canon is contradictory. He and Duro are marked as new slaves when Batiatus buys them, yet later statements in Vengeance contradict that. Based on what we know of Agron and the other Germanic warriors, I assume that Agron served at least six months, likely more, as a slave before being sold again to Batiatus in Capua. I base this assumption on three things:
1) The fact that Agron speaks of "fighting men, prisoners of war" being sold in Neapolis "as my brother and I were a lifetime ago."
2) The German warriors they liberate from Neapolis in Vengeance speak no or very limited Latin. Agron and Duro both speak fluent, unaccented Latin by the time they’re purchased by Batiatus. I’m using six months as the baseline for language acquisition, since six months pass between Vengeance and War of the Damned, and in that time, the German prisoners also become fluent in Latin.
3) Neither brother carries a Germanic name. “Agron” is Illyrian and “Duro” is Latin, which would imply that they were renamed at some point during their enslavement prior to being purchased by Batiatus. Neither brother changes their name after obtaining freedom.
□ Personality: Gladiator in the streets, snuggle bunny in the sheets!
To begin with Agron’s surface personality, he is gruff, sarcastic, abrasive, and brutally violent. He’s very willing to start fights, very willing to end fights, very willing to participate in fights he’s not even tangentially involved in -- essentially, he is the epitome of the gladiator. A fighting beast too stupid to be allowed out on its own. He certainly works to promote this image, and wants people to believe that he’s a vicious killing machine. And if it seems like I’m kind of breezing through this, that’s because it is honestly the least interesting facet of Agron’s character.
The real meat of Agron’s personality kicks in in the exceptions he makes to his gruff, (in the words of showrunner and writer Steven deKnight,) “kill everyone in my path” persona. Obviously his brother (Duro) and lover (Nasir) figure hugely into this, and so I’ll start with them. Agron, from his first introduction, is hugely protective of Duro. To the point where other characters repeatedly comment that his overprotective nature is actually harming Duro in the long run. Despite hearing this many times over, from Duro himself as well as from men he has grown to respect, Agron appears physically and emotionally incapable of letting Duro fight his own battles. (Very literally.) After Duro’s death, this protectiveness carries over to Nasir almost immediately. In season 2, except when the plot demands it, they are very rarely seen from each others’ sides. Agron is shown obviously hovering in the background while Nasir gets his wound tended to, defending Nasir when others criticize him, and fetching food and drink for Nasir on multiple occasions.
Which leads into the second incongruity of Agron’s character: he is extremely physically affectionate, and not just in romantic and sexual situations. As I’ve mentioned above, he routinely fetches food or drink for Nasir without being asked, and on at least two occasions I can think of, they’re shown in the background dining together. After every battle (and we’re talking about a show that has 2-3 battles per episode) he gives Nasir either a hug or a kiss. This applies not only to actual battles where they’re fighting for their lives, but to sparring matches where neither of them is in any actual danger. At one point, when Nasir stops between opponents in a training bout, Agron grabs him for a kiss.
It is almost always Agron initiating these touches. As the series progresses, you can see Nasir learn to anticipate and return them, but Agron is constantly reaching out for a physical “check in” from his lover. He initiates their first kiss (Nasir is clearly surprised by it.) He is the first to give voice to his feelings, both when talking about Nasir to others, and when speaking to Nasir directly. In general, even after he and Nasir are very established as a couple, he is much freer in speaking about his feelings than Nasir is. (“Jupiter himself would find cause to tremble if he laid hand upon you,” “My heart will never beat for another” “Nasir: I am a warrior! Agron: One I am most proud of.”) All of these statements are made unprompted: Agron has lots of feelings and he wants everyone to know. (Again, to continue the Steven deKnight quote above: “Agron, who's just a big ‘I want to kill everyone in my path’ [person] suddenly becomes a puppy dog around Nasir.”)
I bring up all these traits because, while they’re most evident in his relationships with Nasir and Duro, all of these traits carry over into his relationships with others. Something which sets Spartacus apart from other TV shows is that they use their stars as extras, so the named characters are frequently on screen in scenes which don’t feature them. A lot of personality can be gleaned from watching their unscripted interactions. For instance: While Agron is definitely most physically attentive to Nasir, anyone he respects is likely to get their hair ruffled, their hands clasped, or even a full on post-battle manhug. He’s constantly in physical contact with other characters on the show. The final shot is actually him casually ruffling the hair of a child who he never has any prior interaction with. It seems fair to extrapolate that, as long as you aren't someone he expressly hates, you’re going to get some cuddles from Agron. He’s a pretty affectionate guy across the board.
Ditto his protective nature. While it’s most obvious around Duro, it also comes out with Nasir. (In addition to what is mentioned above, in War of the Damned he attempts to send Nasir away to protect him, breaking both of their hearts in the process. He also lies to Crixus about Naevia’s death to protect Nasir and Spartacus from going into the mines.) Even Spartacus (who is undeniably one of the most proficient warriors on the show) isn't safe from being mothered. When Agron believes a Roman has infiltrated Sinuessa en Valle, he tells Spartacus, “I will be as fucking shadow until threat becomes known.” And proceeds to be the world’s most awkward bodyguard for the next several episodes.
Loyalty is another trait of Agron’s that is closely paired to his overprotectiveness. Obviously, he is loyal to Nasir as a lover. (And insanely jealous of anyone who might jeopardize that.) He is equally loyal to Spartacus: for much of the show, he follows him blindly, even when he is expressly against Spartacus’s plans. At one point, he goes so far as to renounce his heritage (a source of great pride for him), saying “I stand with Spartacus, and call no man my kin who does not also stand so.” The only times in the early seasons he shows resistance is when he believes the lives of another of his people is endangered by Spartacus’s plans. (Nasir in Vengeance, Duro in Blood and Sand.) At the end, when he finally parts from Spartacus’s cause, he only does so after struggling with it and discussing the choice with Spartacus. Even after his crucifixion, Gannicus remarks on Agron’s extreme dedication.
The general rule of thumb is that if you aren't a Roman, Agron is invested in you to at least some degree. It even shows with people he actively dislikes. When he sees Crixus mourning Naevia, he says, “I hold no love for the man, yet it tears my heart to see him so.” He’s not moved enough to admit that he lied about Naevia’s death to protect Nasir and Spartacus, but he does honestly empathize with Crixus’s pain. At other times, this emotional crossover has more hilarious results. There are several times when Agron finds himself giving unnecessary aid to someone he has previously professed to hate, and when this happens, he follows the same pattern. First, he tries really hard not to offer aid, and scowls a lot when he realizes he can’t. Next, he refuses thanks and places the blame on someone else. (“I didn't do it for you, I did it for [Nasir/Spartacus/etc.]”) Then he tells the person he wishes they were dead. And then he yells at anyone who saw him being nice. His emotional struggle is obvious: he’d really like to be the kind of person who doesn't give a fuck. Unfortunately, he gives all the fucks. And that is really frustrating. (For him. It’s blatantly hilarious for everyone else, which is lampshaded in canon.)
All that emotional depth aside, if you harm one of Agron’s people, he will immediately revert to the brutal beast all gladiators profess to be. The beginning of season 2 sees him repeatedly bashing a Roman’s skull against a rock, just for the sake of doing so -- because he has sworn to kill all Romans and blames them for Duro’s death. His need for vengeance never seems to abate, even after his crucifixion.
Agron also has trouble seeing any emotional depth within himself. Although he has many deep and honorable qualities, he believes himself limited to a life of war and death. (“Blood and battle are all I have ever known.”) He finds it difficult, even frightening, to contemplate a life not spent in battle, and chooses twice to continue fighting, even though he believes it will result in his death.
□ Age: Mid to late 20s; canon never specifies
□ Gender: Identifies male, cisgendered
□ Appearance:
http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130717173707/spartacus/images/thumb/e/e2/Agron-gladiator-BAS.jpg/290px-Agron-gladiator-BAS.jpg
http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130717173914/spartacus/images/thumb/9/98/Agron_rebel.jpg/290px-Agron_rebel.jpg
http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121204142151/spartacus/images/thumb/c/c3/Redeye-spartacus-war-of-the-damned-photo-galle-010.jpg/290px-Redeye-spartacus-war-of-the-damned-photo-galle-010.jpg
Enjoy!
Agron is 6'2", light skinned, and very powerfully built. His musculature is extremely well defined and he has very little visible body fat. His hair is dark brown and cropped closely and unevenly to his head. It is thickly textured and will dread if he allows it to grow out, as seen in Blood and Sand. Generally Agron has 2-3 days worth of stubble, but he has trouble growing out any thicker beard. (As per actor Dan Feurriegel.) His body is heavily scarred from injuries taken in battle. Most noticeably he has thick and relatively knew scars from stab wounds along the right side of his front -- one is high on his shoulder, the other on his hip and abdomen. He has large, quarter-sized scars roughly the same age on the front and back of his hands from being crucified. On his left pectoral he has a much older and heavily knotted scar which stretches diagonally from clavicle to armpit. He also has the mark of Batiatus (a fairly simple B) branded on his right forearm.
In canon, Agron tends to wear very little clothing, even when fully armored. As a slave in Batiatus's ludus he often wore only a loincloth. As a free man, he makes clothing out of what is available -- a difficult task, given his size and bulk. Often he wears a loincloth with some (usually not all) of his armor over it. Generally this consists of a leather and brass belt and sheath and generally some sort of shoulder guard and pad for his shield-arm. Occasionally he wears an open knee-length vest over this. In battle, he covers this with a second belt and full shoulder guards for both arms. His leather is feathered armor, a shorter red layer over a longer dark brown layer. He shoulder guards are held on by several chest-straps which criss-cross his torso. In a few scenes, during cold weather, he is shown to add another open vest and a dark grey scarf to this ensemble for warmth.
I’m asking for a few small medical treatments for Agron as part of his processing. Agron was stabbed twice and crucified shortly before the final battle in WotD. In the final episode, these wounds are still shown to be fairly fresh and heavily bandaged. (http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/ash48/10852457/144369/144369_600.jpg) I am asking that the wounds be healed to the point they would have healed naturally in Spartacus canon, which means heavy scarring. In the case of his hands, specifically, the scarring would limit his ability to grip as well as his dexterity. (This would be a partial improvement over the final episode, in which he is shown to have great difficulty forming a fist or moving his fingers at all.) He still would not be healed to the extent that he could hold a sword for any length of time or use one in battle, however he would retain enough usage of his hands for every-day activities.
□ Abilities/Powers: Agron has no powers that would be subject to limitation by the city.
Abilities: Agron is an extremely skilled fighter. He has trained (presumably since birth) to be a warrior, fighting against Roman armies. He gained enough of a reputation as a skilled warrior that after enslavement, he was purchased to fight as a gladiator. In Batiatus’s ludus, his skills were further honed, and it’s shown that after he joins Spartacus’s rebel army, he continues to train, as well as instruct others.
Agron is extremely skilled at fighting with a sword and shield. He survives many battles, both in the arena and in actual warfare, against single and multiple opponents. In training, he is shown competent enough to hold his own against Crixus, and he fights Julius Ceasar to a standstill in War of the Damned. Other than the wound he takes in episode 9 of WotD, the only battle we see him definitively lose is his sparring match against Oenomaus in Vengeance. Additionally, when driven to rage, Agron loses control and becomes an even more deadly warrior, fighting without regard for his own survival.
Agron is also very skilled at unarmed combat, though his abilities here are less well-defined. He gets into frequent fist fights against very competent opponents (Crixus, Castus) and certainly holds his own. Generally, though, these matches are interrupted before a clear victor emerges.
□ Personal Items: Agron is coming from the end of WotD, and will only carry the items seen in his possession in that season.
1) The armor he’s wearing in the third picture above
2) A dark brown scarf/cloak that he is shown wearing here: http://giphy.com/gifs/IdS4286UNwity
3) a small traveling pack containing enough water and jerky for a day’s march.
□ Name: Agron
□ Journal: fucking-gauls
□ Series: Starz’s Spartacus
□ Canon point: Post-canon
□ History: http://spartacus.wikia.com/wiki/Agron
Small note: Neither the show nor the wiki cover (much of) Agron’s past before coming to Batiatus’s ludus, and canon is contradictory. He and Duro are marked as new slaves when Batiatus buys them, yet later statements in Vengeance contradict that. Based on what we know of Agron and the other Germanic warriors, I assume that Agron served at least six months, likely more, as a slave before being sold again to Batiatus in Capua. I base this assumption on three things:
1) The fact that Agron speaks of "fighting men, prisoners of war" being sold in Neapolis "as my brother and I were a lifetime ago."
2) The German warriors they liberate from Neapolis in Vengeance speak no or very limited Latin. Agron and Duro both speak fluent, unaccented Latin by the time they’re purchased by Batiatus. I’m using six months as the baseline for language acquisition, since six months pass between Vengeance and War of the Damned, and in that time, the German prisoners also become fluent in Latin.
3) Neither brother carries a Germanic name. “Agron” is Illyrian and “Duro” is Latin, which would imply that they were renamed at some point during their enslavement prior to being purchased by Batiatus. Neither brother changes their name after obtaining freedom.
□ Personality: Gladiator in the streets, snuggle bunny in the sheets!
To begin with Agron’s surface personality, he is gruff, sarcastic, abrasive, and brutally violent. He’s very willing to start fights, very willing to end fights, very willing to participate in fights he’s not even tangentially involved in -- essentially, he is the epitome of the gladiator. A fighting beast too stupid to be allowed out on its own. He certainly works to promote this image, and wants people to believe that he’s a vicious killing machine. And if it seems like I’m kind of breezing through this, that’s because it is honestly the least interesting facet of Agron’s character.
The real meat of Agron’s personality kicks in in the exceptions he makes to his gruff, (in the words of showrunner and writer Steven deKnight,) “kill everyone in my path” persona. Obviously his brother (Duro) and lover (Nasir) figure hugely into this, and so I’ll start with them. Agron, from his first introduction, is hugely protective of Duro. To the point where other characters repeatedly comment that his overprotective nature is actually harming Duro in the long run. Despite hearing this many times over, from Duro himself as well as from men he has grown to respect, Agron appears physically and emotionally incapable of letting Duro fight his own battles. (Very literally.) After Duro’s death, this protectiveness carries over to Nasir almost immediately. In season 2, except when the plot demands it, they are very rarely seen from each others’ sides. Agron is shown obviously hovering in the background while Nasir gets his wound tended to, defending Nasir when others criticize him, and fetching food and drink for Nasir on multiple occasions.
Which leads into the second incongruity of Agron’s character: he is extremely physically affectionate, and not just in romantic and sexual situations. As I’ve mentioned above, he routinely fetches food or drink for Nasir without being asked, and on at least two occasions I can think of, they’re shown in the background dining together. After every battle (and we’re talking about a show that has 2-3 battles per episode) he gives Nasir either a hug or a kiss. This applies not only to actual battles where they’re fighting for their lives, but to sparring matches where neither of them is in any actual danger. At one point, when Nasir stops between opponents in a training bout, Agron grabs him for a kiss.
It is almost always Agron initiating these touches. As the series progresses, you can see Nasir learn to anticipate and return them, but Agron is constantly reaching out for a physical “check in” from his lover. He initiates their first kiss (Nasir is clearly surprised by it.) He is the first to give voice to his feelings, both when talking about Nasir to others, and when speaking to Nasir directly. In general, even after he and Nasir are very established as a couple, he is much freer in speaking about his feelings than Nasir is. (“Jupiter himself would find cause to tremble if he laid hand upon you,” “My heart will never beat for another” “Nasir: I am a warrior! Agron: One I am most proud of.”) All of these statements are made unprompted: Agron has lots of feelings and he wants everyone to know. (Again, to continue the Steven deKnight quote above: “Agron, who's just a big ‘I want to kill everyone in my path’ [person] suddenly becomes a puppy dog around Nasir.”)
I bring up all these traits because, while they’re most evident in his relationships with Nasir and Duro, all of these traits carry over into his relationships with others. Something which sets Spartacus apart from other TV shows is that they use their stars as extras, so the named characters are frequently on screen in scenes which don’t feature them. A lot of personality can be gleaned from watching their unscripted interactions. For instance: While Agron is definitely most physically attentive to Nasir, anyone he respects is likely to get their hair ruffled, their hands clasped, or even a full on post-battle manhug. He’s constantly in physical contact with other characters on the show. The final shot is actually him casually ruffling the hair of a child who he never has any prior interaction with. It seems fair to extrapolate that, as long as you aren't someone he expressly hates, you’re going to get some cuddles from Agron. He’s a pretty affectionate guy across the board.
Ditto his protective nature. While it’s most obvious around Duro, it also comes out with Nasir. (In addition to what is mentioned above, in War of the Damned he attempts to send Nasir away to protect him, breaking both of their hearts in the process. He also lies to Crixus about Naevia’s death to protect Nasir and Spartacus from going into the mines.) Even Spartacus (who is undeniably one of the most proficient warriors on the show) isn't safe from being mothered. When Agron believes a Roman has infiltrated Sinuessa en Valle, he tells Spartacus, “I will be as fucking shadow until threat becomes known.” And proceeds to be the world’s most awkward bodyguard for the next several episodes.
Loyalty is another trait of Agron’s that is closely paired to his overprotectiveness. Obviously, he is loyal to Nasir as a lover. (And insanely jealous of anyone who might jeopardize that.) He is equally loyal to Spartacus: for much of the show, he follows him blindly, even when he is expressly against Spartacus’s plans. At one point, he goes so far as to renounce his heritage (a source of great pride for him), saying “I stand with Spartacus, and call no man my kin who does not also stand so.” The only times in the early seasons he shows resistance is when he believes the lives of another of his people is endangered by Spartacus’s plans. (Nasir in Vengeance, Duro in Blood and Sand.) At the end, when he finally parts from Spartacus’s cause, he only does so after struggling with it and discussing the choice with Spartacus. Even after his crucifixion, Gannicus remarks on Agron’s extreme dedication.
The general rule of thumb is that if you aren't a Roman, Agron is invested in you to at least some degree. It even shows with people he actively dislikes. When he sees Crixus mourning Naevia, he says, “I hold no love for the man, yet it tears my heart to see him so.” He’s not moved enough to admit that he lied about Naevia’s death to protect Nasir and Spartacus, but he does honestly empathize with Crixus’s pain. At other times, this emotional crossover has more hilarious results. There are several times when Agron finds himself giving unnecessary aid to someone he has previously professed to hate, and when this happens, he follows the same pattern. First, he tries really hard not to offer aid, and scowls a lot when he realizes he can’t. Next, he refuses thanks and places the blame on someone else. (“I didn't do it for you, I did it for [Nasir/Spartacus/etc.]”) Then he tells the person he wishes they were dead. And then he yells at anyone who saw him being nice. His emotional struggle is obvious: he’d really like to be the kind of person who doesn't give a fuck. Unfortunately, he gives all the fucks. And that is really frustrating. (For him. It’s blatantly hilarious for everyone else, which is lampshaded in canon.)
All that emotional depth aside, if you harm one of Agron’s people, he will immediately revert to the brutal beast all gladiators profess to be. The beginning of season 2 sees him repeatedly bashing a Roman’s skull against a rock, just for the sake of doing so -- because he has sworn to kill all Romans and blames them for Duro’s death. His need for vengeance never seems to abate, even after his crucifixion.
Agron also has trouble seeing any emotional depth within himself. Although he has many deep and honorable qualities, he believes himself limited to a life of war and death. (“Blood and battle are all I have ever known.”) He finds it difficult, even frightening, to contemplate a life not spent in battle, and chooses twice to continue fighting, even though he believes it will result in his death.
□ Age: Mid to late 20s; canon never specifies
□ Gender: Identifies male, cisgendered
□ Appearance:
http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130717173707/spartacus/images/thumb/e/e2/Agron-gladiator-BAS.jpg/290px-Agron-gladiator-BAS.jpg
http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130717173914/spartacus/images/thumb/9/98/Agron_rebel.jpg/290px-Agron_rebel.jpg
http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121204142151/spartacus/images/thumb/c/c3/Redeye-spartacus-war-of-the-damned-photo-galle-010.jpg/290px-Redeye-spartacus-war-of-the-damned-photo-galle-010.jpg
Enjoy!
Agron is 6'2", light skinned, and very powerfully built. His musculature is extremely well defined and he has very little visible body fat. His hair is dark brown and cropped closely and unevenly to his head. It is thickly textured and will dread if he allows it to grow out, as seen in Blood and Sand. Generally Agron has 2-3 days worth of stubble, but he has trouble growing out any thicker beard. (As per actor Dan Feurriegel.) His body is heavily scarred from injuries taken in battle. Most noticeably he has thick and relatively knew scars from stab wounds along the right side of his front -- one is high on his shoulder, the other on his hip and abdomen. He has large, quarter-sized scars roughly the same age on the front and back of his hands from being crucified. On his left pectoral he has a much older and heavily knotted scar which stretches diagonally from clavicle to armpit. He also has the mark of Batiatus (a fairly simple B) branded on his right forearm.
In canon, Agron tends to wear very little clothing, even when fully armored. As a slave in Batiatus's ludus he often wore only a loincloth. As a free man, he makes clothing out of what is available -- a difficult task, given his size and bulk. Often he wears a loincloth with some (usually not all) of his armor over it. Generally this consists of a leather and brass belt and sheath and generally some sort of shoulder guard and pad for his shield-arm. Occasionally he wears an open knee-length vest over this. In battle, he covers this with a second belt and full shoulder guards for both arms. His leather is feathered armor, a shorter red layer over a longer dark brown layer. He shoulder guards are held on by several chest-straps which criss-cross his torso. In a few scenes, during cold weather, he is shown to add another open vest and a dark grey scarf to this ensemble for warmth.
I’m asking for a few small medical treatments for Agron as part of his processing. Agron was stabbed twice and crucified shortly before the final battle in WotD. In the final episode, these wounds are still shown to be fairly fresh and heavily bandaged. (http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/ash48/10852457/144369/144369_600.jpg) I am asking that the wounds be healed to the point they would have healed naturally in Spartacus canon, which means heavy scarring. In the case of his hands, specifically, the scarring would limit his ability to grip as well as his dexterity. (This would be a partial improvement over the final episode, in which he is shown to have great difficulty forming a fist or moving his fingers at all.) He still would not be healed to the extent that he could hold a sword for any length of time or use one in battle, however he would retain enough usage of his hands for every-day activities.
□ Abilities/Powers: Agron has no powers that would be subject to limitation by the city.
Abilities: Agron is an extremely skilled fighter. He has trained (presumably since birth) to be a warrior, fighting against Roman armies. He gained enough of a reputation as a skilled warrior that after enslavement, he was purchased to fight as a gladiator. In Batiatus’s ludus, his skills were further honed, and it’s shown that after he joins Spartacus’s rebel army, he continues to train, as well as instruct others.
Agron is extremely skilled at fighting with a sword and shield. He survives many battles, both in the arena and in actual warfare, against single and multiple opponents. In training, he is shown competent enough to hold his own against Crixus, and he fights Julius Ceasar to a standstill in War of the Damned. Other than the wound he takes in episode 9 of WotD, the only battle we see him definitively lose is his sparring match against Oenomaus in Vengeance. Additionally, when driven to rage, Agron loses control and becomes an even more deadly warrior, fighting without regard for his own survival.
Agron is also very skilled at unarmed combat, though his abilities here are less well-defined. He gets into frequent fist fights against very competent opponents (Crixus, Castus) and certainly holds his own. Generally, though, these matches are interrupted before a clear victor emerges.
□ Personal Items: Agron is coming from the end of WotD, and will only carry the items seen in his possession in that season.
1) The armor he’s wearing in the third picture above
2) A dark brown scarf/cloak that he is shown wearing here: http://giphy.com/gifs/IdS4286UNwity
3) a small traveling pack containing enough water and jerky for a day’s march.
