Purple wasn't Octavian's favorite color. He liked blue. But since the camp color was purple he embraced it and wore it gladly. He wanted to fit in. He knew people didn't like him but he was still hopeful that if he tried hard enough he'd fit in. He did his augur job day to day pretending to be normal even though he knew he wasn't. Being augur gave him a headache. But he got paid for it. And he liked being paid. He could by smoothies and sour candy and whatever else he wanted. Nine year old Octavian found this a very valuable ability. New Rome was full of places itching to take the eager boy's money. However, with all the options available, young Octavian still preferred the New Rome Walmart.

On one such shopping day he found himself wandering the halls of the New Rome Walmart searching for things to purchase, he already had a package of sour candy and a bottle of sprite and was looking for one last thing before calling it a day. He walked past the shoe displays and saw a pair of purple nikes He grinned. Purple was camp colors. People would think he was cool for having purple Nikes. He bought them. The little Nike check mark was pink, but he colored over it with sharpie and thought that the problem was solved. However when he rocked the purple shoes the next day he didn't get the reaction he'd been expecting.

"Those are girl shoes! Octavian is a girl! You're such a loser Octavian!"

"Maybe we should call her Octavia since she's such a girl!"

"Those shoes are so lame!"

"I think they look great on her." Octavian was mortified as comments were flung at him left and right. He ran back to his room, his silent sanctuary where he hid from the world. He flung the shoes against the world and buried his face in his stuffed raccoon Augustus as he cried. When his tears dried he lit the shoes on fire and watched them burn. So many times he'd given up on being accepted. But each time he came back, hopeful. One day in his hope he'd go too far, but not today. In only ten years he would burn. Today only his shoes burned. And he had really liked those shoes too...

Welcome to New Rome Walmart, and addition to my Octavian fandom that I felt was a good contrast to the neat and orderly appearance of New Rome. I felt like it really belonged there even though most people wouldn't consider New Rome having a Walmart. If you like New Rome having a walmart feel free to use it in your story, no credit required. The New Rome Walmart will also be featured in a story completely dedicated to it. My cousin thinks that that is a stupid Idea. But I don't care.

Sorry its so short.

I love ya'll