A man of peace? Ideas take precedence.

[capturetheworld]

WHO: Leonard da Vinci
WHERE: Various places
WHEN: Through February, more specifically February 8th-23rd
OPEN TO: OTA, one locked to Alistair (in comment)
WARNINGS: Nothing for now, will update if necessary!

---

All of Feb 8-23rd

After Leonardo's declaration on his wrist band, he got straight to work in the smithery. It would take time to change his ingots into something workable, and he had many long days and late nights ahead of him, but he was very happy about it. He started on Ezio's hidden blade, of course, always his first priority, the mechanism not difficult to put together with all the proper supplies. But then there was the steady clang when he started on blades. He can be found in his forge so if anyone requested an item from, they can swing by to give direction or ask questions.

He also occasionally remembers to take breaks from the forge only to enjoy the sunlight as he works on patching up a boat he identified as the best possibility for the pod. He can be found out back of house of house 26 doing that

Color Change, February 16th-23rd

Leonardo wakes up on February 16th feeling unburdened by some of the anxieties he'd be living with. He felt good, actually, and at first he chalks it up to certain things happening most recently, but eventually he can sense this particular boldness is something else. When he notices his wristband changed its lovely violet to a vivid red, and remembers people speaking of this on the network, he almost gets concerned. And then he doesn't actually end up caring, because really, it is what it is. So be it.

It is not overly noticeable at first that he's changed, but he does find himself more honest, feeling less like he has to reconsider everything he does. He can be found eating at the inn, walking through the greenhouse, lounging in the hot springs, and generally walking around with his head held high and a sharpened focus in blue eyes.

Comments

House 26, Feb 16

[demiurgency]

Billy's on his way back from a solid morning foraging in the forest east of the South Village when he hears the sound, a repetitive, hollow sound that implies work being done. He hadn't realized anyone was staying this far out this way, he thinks, but maybe that's because he doesn't know anyone over here. No reason to not investigate, though, right? Curious, one hand on the strap of the backpack slung over his shoulder, Billy follows the sound to Number 26, then around to the back, quietly watching. He doesn't want to interrupt, but he also doesn't just want to stand there like a creeper and maybe give this dude a heart attack, so at a lull in the work, Billy clears his throat, lifting a hand in greeting.

"Hey--need a hand?" He doesn't know exactly what he's doing, but it seems like that's the standard greeting these days. Everyone needs help with something.

[capturetheworld]

Leonardo picked this as his very first project, so while he is focused on the blades people asked for in late nights, this can mostly get done only during the day. He picked out one of the boats that already existed, searching until he found the the sturdiest. He'd get around to the others, but he wanted to start there. He's currently stripping rotten wood away, leaving it to the side. It'll be the size to fit at least three people when he's done, to the pod.

He glances up when he hears the throat clearing, not very jumpy although he realizes he's been so focused it's possible the young man did it more than once. "Hello!" Leo smiles and glances back to the boat. "Hm, certainly. There is one major piece left to take out. It wouldn't hurt to come at it from two angles." He cannot start repairing the patches and wheedling down the wood he has until he knows how much he'll need and in what form. "I plan to make this into a workable transport to the...." Searching for the word. "Platform to the underground facility."

[demiurgency]

"The dock? Yeah, I've heard about that. I haven't been, yet," he answers, dropping his hand back to his pocket and moving towards the boat to get a look at what's been done so far. It looks like he's taking apart the boat to maybe replace parts, at least to Billy's untrained eye. Setting his backpack down, he moves around to the other side of the boat. "The bunker seems kind of, I don't know, creepy? A little too Roswell for me, I don't want to run into any other clones of me they might be growing." He doesn't seem to realize that half of what he's saying is probably incomprehensible to Leonardo.

"So, where do you need me?"

[capturetheworld]

"Yes, the dock. A very special dock, I'd say! It moves so fast." Of course Leonard hasn't been able to resist going to the bunker. It was very confusing and almost scary at first, when it started moving, but he adjusted quickly and spent half a day wandering around. He understands more of what Billy says now than when he arrived, because creepy and clone were terms that were brand new to him then. "I did look for clones when I was there, although I still am not sure what they are in scientific terms. I know they are created to be identical to us." So it wasn't that hard to look for someone who might look like him down there.

"See that part?" Leonardo moves the boat on its side, pointing at the long plank that ran at the bottom. "Kick it toward me and I will see if I can strip it." He always appreciates the help, even if he can do most things on his own. He continues the conversation though. "It was unnerving though, yes. More so for me than others, I think. I am from the fifteenth century on earth."

[demiurgency]

Billy obediently follows the direction, coming around to the other side of the boat and looking for the plank Leonardo's talking about. It isn't hard to spot, it's just getting the right angle to pop it out. Holding onto the edge of the boat with both hands, he shifts enough to get leverage, still talking as he does so.

"Fifteenth century? Man, you're adjusting a lot better than I'd think," he says, honestly impressed. "Even this place is a ways ahead of anything you know--I mean, minus the weird bits. The bands and the bunker and whatever. I'm from Earth, too, though, twenty-first century." He gives a test kick, then does the same for real, hitting one end of the board to try and leverage it out. Two or three kicks and it finally creaks, popping free, and Billy shifts again to hold the boat while Leonardo pulls the board free. "How long have you been here?"

[capturetheworld]

Leonardo chuckles. "Adaptability is one of my better skills, I would say." He does seems genuinely at ease there, and it is because he is. Strange, bizarre, distant from everything, yes, but he faces such uncertainty with curiosity and enthusiasm. "Everything I've seen here is magnificent. I could not even fathom up a concept of electricity, and yet it is here, and I know powers big cities in your time. And there are flying machines everywhere!"

Leonardo loves hearing about airplanes and helicopters the most. It's been his dream for so long. He pulls the board free and tests to make certain they got the most of it out. From here he will have to give a visual measurement to the space needed, but it isn't his first time. "I have been here since early January, it has been quite an experience." His Italian accent was thick but he is very comfortable with English, his tone enthusiastic.

He hesitates, glancing over to Billy, and smiles with slight shyness. "I should warn you that people from your time have been surprised when I introduce myself." It feels like he should say that first. He offers his hand. "Leonardo da Vinci."

[demiurgency]

"Not gonna lie, it's actually kind of refreshing to hear someone so excited and optimistic about this place," he says, and there's a smile on his face when he does. To think that someone from almost five hundred years before his time is here, and is looking at these things with this almost infectious sense of wonder and joy instead of fear and hatred--it's nice, yeah.

Billy's smile shifts, though, as Leonardo introduces himself, becoming something more quizzical as he reaches over himself, automatically taking that hand without even thinking about it. "Uh--that--you mean...Italian inventor and painter--that Leonardo da Vinci??" He'd never thought about da Vinci being a cute guy before. The disconnect is kind of jarring.

[capturetheworld]

Leonardo laughs. "I am pleased to hear someone say so, I think most stare at me in confusion. I do understand that this place is odd and dangerous, and most people want to go home. I do miss home a great deal. But there are great things about such an experience too." He does have an obnoxiously cheerful disposition, which he's been told multiple times and simply smiles and shrugs about. The world is full of wonder, and now he's been to more than one. How many people got to experience such things?

He takes the hand and nods, shaking it lightly. "I am indeed. It is still shocking to know that my work lasted for so long, but I am of course honored by it." Leonardo keeps being delighted whenever people bring up the inventor part as well. He loves painting, it is his trained profession, but his passion is in creation. He spent a lot more time on his other hobbies and inventions than in the work that paid for his lifestyle, so he was lucky to have enough talent to get by!

[demiurgency]

The optimism is definitely a nice change, and a good reminder that even with all the terrible stuff that could happen, there's good, too. After all, Billy's made so many new friends here that he'd never have met otherwise. He's found Tommy. It's just...good, is all. Good to remember the good. And look at this meeting, which definitely wouldn't have happened without coming here.

"Well, yeah. I mean, not to break the timeline or anything, but you're a pretty big deal." Billy grins, shaking his hair out of his face as they shake hands. "At least on my version of Earth. There's a lot about the way the world works that wouldn't if it weren't for what you accomplished. So, thanks, I guess." It's a little weird to say, but honestly, he's said weirder.

[capturetheworld]

"If it would break the timeline, it would already have done so, I've been told by several people about the future. No person truly gets to know the long term impact they have on the world, so it is humbling. I only can hope that I can live up to a legend!" Leonardo is concerned at times, that he cannot possibly, for all that people say of him. He does have a clever mind and an artistic soul, but a legend is unnerving. Still, the other times he simply accepts that he is who he is, and hopefully that is enough.

"And what is your name, my young friend? I thank you for your help. Too many things here are in need of repair, it is good to have something to do with my hands." Leonardo is terrible at being idle, in fact, he never is. He is always moving and searching for something to do.

[demiurgency]

"That's the fun and exciting thing about time paradoxes, you never know what's actually going to break things," he says, like one who might know. "I mean, time's pretty resilient. More than people think. It's got all sorts of ways of fixing itself." After all, just look at what happened to Kang. "I wouldn't worry too much about it. You're gonna go on to do all the things you would have, with or without us. Maybe we inspire you," he laughs. Maybe they're all part of history, after all.

He has the grace to flush slightly as Leonardo points out his own lack of an introduction, reaching up to run a hand through his hair. "Sorry about that--I'm Billy. Billy Kaplan. It's really nice to meet you. I get what you mean about keeping busy, too." He nods with his chin over towards the backpack he'd dropped to come over and lend a hand. "I spend most of my mornings out in the woods foraging or looking for herbs. I've been reading a bunch of the books we have here about food in the wild. I'm a city kid, so it's been a little tough finding things I actually can do that matter, you know?" So if he can help, he definitely will.

[capturetheworld]

Leonardo listens with fascination, because he does not know much about time or time paradoxes, and Billy seems to speak from experience. How marvelous! "I expect I would, yes. And I am already very inspired by being here. If I take the knowledge with me, there is no telling what I can do with it. Or i may be limited by the fact we have very little advancements in my time, in comparison." And he cannot create everything there is. Still, he is inspired by this place and the people in it every day. It is difficult not to be positive with that in mind.

"No apologies necessary, Billy, we were busy talking." It is very easy to get distracted from introductions in this situation. "It is great to meet you as well. Especially someone who knows about time paradoxes, I have never heard of such a thing!" He glances toward the backpack and he nods when Billy explains. Oh he understands all too well. He smiles faintly. "My dear friend Ezio, he spends his time back home saving lives, saving cities, while I live in my workshop and paint. Every time I am able to help him even a small amount, it means a great deal." Leonardo knows now his inventions matter, but in comparison to what the Assassins do, it still seems small. "It is a keen mind and a good heart that seeks ways to help others when stuck in a situation like this, Billy. I am certain you add more to the community than you know."

[demiurgency]

"I get that sometimes. My Earth is, uh....well. It's not what usually passes for standard here, from what I've heard?" It's complicated, Leonardo. He's not really sure where to start. "My friends and I--there was some time travel involved when we first started helping people as a team. It got really complicated really fast, so I just try not to mess with time in general." There, that's probably the easiest way to navigate the complicated story that goes with that one.

And the rest of what Leonardo says? Well, maybe it does make him feel a little better about that sort of thing. Teddy had said something once to him about being a hero, and while all of what he said might not still hold up, at least part of it does. It does mean that Billy lights up, that grin shy but brilliant. "I try. Really hard. I mean, back home, my friends and I, we do what we can to help people. Or we did--it's kind of complicated. I guess it all is. But the point is, it doesn't matter what you can do, as long as you're trying to make things better, you know?" He has to hold on to that, at least. Even here. Especially here.

[capturetheworld]

"I often wonder how much of this ---" he gestures around them, "--is a dangerous step into that area. But from what I have heard, it does not change back there. Altair for example is here, and has been for a time, and nothing about his legacy or life has changed in our understanding of the world." Leonardo would know, he is a big fan of the man. So somehow this is happening but also not happening at the same time. Very intriguing and confusing. He suspects someone here might be able to make sense of it.

Leonardo smiles back at Billy, having been able to tell his words made an impact. He is glad to do that. He understands that instinct of feeling like you aren't making a difference, it happened to him occasionally. But it is all about intentions and heart, he feels. "Yes, I think that is the truth. There are many people who do not try at all, which is also a life choice that I understand, but there is power in doing your best. If it makes a positive difference to even one person, it is well worth doing." That is often what he tells himself, and why he does his projects. "This boat for example, it is a small thing. But it will safely bring people to the pod and back, so they do not have to fear getting cold, and if someone is woken up there instead of the fountain, it will take some of the trauma away from their experience by being soaked in water." That is the idea at least.