you know how you’re okay with Antonio!Armand? I’m also okay with QOTD Marius (i know I know) If only because unlike a man with long blond hair- QOTD Marius actually looks like a damn Roman!
The other interesting wrinkle is that in her book, Pandora describes him as returning to Rome from his wanderings with long hair, which was very much not done, it being a barbarian look. I like think that he let his hair grow so he could mingle better and get them to talk to him (in much the same way that people will – often unconsciously – alter their speech patterns to fit in) to get material for whatever he was writing at the time.
Of course, as you say, the situation with the druids was a whole other thing, but the fact he’d kept his hair long against social custom in the past explains why he doesn’t always rush to cut it in later times – apparently in Europe in the 15th century men could get away with whatever length they wanted, though I’m trying to narrow it down to 15th century Italy, or even Venice, because jesus christ I require all the Marius knowledge apparently…