☩ ００５． ＶＩＤＥＯ

[mansuetus]

Tranquility.

[ Lucrezia Borgia's hair is braided and her silks are pink as her cheeks. ]

The fireflies had returned to us. To them and to those who had been asleep, Ben Tornati! as you all have been so direly missed. I would hear that you are well from your lips or through the firefly.

To all others, I offer a trade.

I would hear of your name. I heard so many names since my arrival here and yet I never asked for their meaning in your respective languages. I would listen and tell you of my own, if you care to hear it.

[ but then she seems a bit bothered by something, as if she had realized something is missing. ]

I have no words of poetry to offer today, what a shame.

[ give her a moment before she'll smile and, lifting her chin with mischief in her eyes, speak the next words in Latin before shutting down her firefly. ]

quae bello est habilis, Veneri quoque convenit aetas.

( The age which is apt for war, is also suitable for Love. )

Comments

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[chambermaid]

May I ask the meaning of your name, Lucrezia?

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[mansuetus]

Lucretia was a woman of virtue and honor, sweet Gwen. Yet one evening, the son of the king of Rome came to her husband's mansion. She had her servants greet him with honor and luxuries yet he was mad with lust for her. He came to her bed at night, placed a knife against her breast and said he shall kill her at the first sound.

She was unwilling to live in shame after that night and so she made her father and her lord husband vow to avenge the deed before stabbing herself to death to prove her heart was still pure.

[ Lucreiza doesn't need to wonder if she would have done the same. She had known rape but she also knows she would not take her life because of it. One day, she knows she would ask Cesare to kill Giovanni Sforza and she would be there to see his body afterwards. There is no glory in killing herself for his crime. ]

Her death dragged great mutiny and led to the fall of the kings of Rome and to the birth of the Roman Republic.

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[breathalyser]

Fireflies?

[ Cute. ]

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[mansuetus]

They glow in the dark, signora.

[ said with a smile. She had seen nothing quite like that before. ]

[hejhej]

Lisbeth is a variation of Elizabeth. It means "God's promise."

[far from the truth, in her honest opinion]

[mansuetus]

What a pretty name, Lisbeth.

[ she smiles, giddy with seeing her face. It's been too long, far too long. ]

And she had been sorely missed, my dear Lisbeth. Do you still favor passerota over your name?

[voice]

[jurisimpudent]

You are well, Lucretia?

[voice]

[mansuetus]

Wonderfully well, signore Miles Edgeworth and happy to hear your voice. Time has passed since we had last spoken.

[ but there is a smile in her voice and no accusation. ]

Yourself?

[voice; private; encrypted 100%; forever]

[ryuuzaki]

Not everyone knows the meaning of their name. It may be in an unfamiliar language.

[He and Lucrezia have spoken before, but not recently; she may or may not recognize the voice.]

Mine is related to dragons.

[voice; private; encrypted 100%; ]

[mansuetus]

With so many aboard this ship, perhaps the meaning can be discovered through conversation. I would like to one day count how many languages are spoken on the Tranquility.

[ she remembers the voice, all mystery and intelligence. ]

Dragons! Are you fond of it?

[ would you tell me? ]

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[coffeeking]

I think I told you about my name before, didn't I? Or am I misremembering?

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[mansuetus]

Tell me again. A story is truly a good story if the audience asks for a second hearing.

[ and she is sprawled before the firefly, smiling as if he is about to tell her the world's greatest story. ]

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[walksonrooftops]

[Asato's ears pick up traces of a language he recognizes, though he can't figure out their meaning, no matter how much he tries. But it must have something to do with the books he's sometimes seen Konoe read, whose texts he's tried to mouth to himself over Konoe's shoulder, at ease with the pronunciation but lost when it comes to the content.

But first, her question, which has him puzzled in its own right.]

I don't really know what my name means. But it's the name my mother picked for me, so I'm happy with it.

But... That other thing you said. What does that mean?

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[mansuetus]

A fine answer, the sweetest of them all. Perhaps one day you shall know the meaning and be all the happier.

[ a curious looking boy but his answer pleases her greatly, more than he would have guessed. ]

My riddle. It is Latin, have you ever heard the language?

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[oikodomae]

Annabeth means favor or grace in latin. The English meaning has something to do with God's grace or favor. Chase, in old French, means to seize or catch. [ she frowns a little bit as if she's making sure she remembers that correctly. ] It also means hunter or huntsman, I think.

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[mansuetus]

Annabeth Chase, the name is all melody and beautiful meaning. God's Grace and a huntress, as Diana was. Do you favor it, your name?

[ Lucrezia does. Annabeth sounds pretty, the name of a lady and the girl is pretty enough to be one, too. ]

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[blasphemous]

Latin. You don't hear too much of that around here. [Meg will keep an eye on you...]

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[mansuetus]

[ sobs Meg, she only ever uses it for poetry. ]

I have been taught since childhood. It is the language of the holy scriptures and the language of poetry. One would not know Ovid without it.

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[yellowroses]

I'm Mary!

[ She peers into her device for a moment, then grins wide and cheerful. ]

You're pretty! Really really pretty!

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[mansuetus]

The name of our Holy Mother.

[ and she brightens at the compliment, dips her head down in gratitude. ]

A sweet name for a sweet soul. Thank you, dolcezza. You are quite fair yourself. Am in the presence of a fairy?

[cl_cl_claudius]

L-lucrezia, ch-child, w-what scandalous poetry you favor. [so, so amused]

Mars d-dubius nec certa Venus; victique resurgunt, q-quosque neges umquam posse iacere, c-cadunt. Ergo desidiam q-quicumque vocabat amorem, d-desinat.

I th-think you know the meaning of my own n-name, as I know y-yours.

[mansuetus]

[ she's not a blushing child, Lucrezia. She grins and inclines her head. ]

Ovid wrote well of conquests. Shall you keep my secret?

I do, the name of Emperors and the name given to many saints.

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[firms]

Rachel probably means something. I've never thought to look it up.

[ and she adds. ]

Rachel's my name. Since you asked.

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[mansuetus]

An Hebrew name, the wife of Jacob. I favored her tale as a child.

[ she smiles, happy to be supplying information. ]

And I am Lucrezia. Well met, Rachel who now knows the meaning of her name.

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[northerner]

[ there's a breath of a pause before robb speaks. ]

I was named for King Robert Baratheon, the first of his name. My lord father and he were as brothers, and my family honored him in this, in fashioning the name of their firstborn in his likeness, though it were only a shortening.

[ and he smiles, something soft and private. ]

But I would sooner hear the meaning of that last you said, for the language is beyond me.

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[mansuetus]

A king named after another king with no blood relation.

[ a first time she is hearing something like this but it's new, refreshing. Most kings loathe one another, she knows. They laugh and drink together but they would see each other dead before long. ]

In Latin it stands for wealth, my Lord, and benefit. Yet the name was chosen as a namesake of another Lucretia whose story is well connected to the rise of the Roman Republic. But I fear it is not a happy story.

[certainproclivity]

[This is some part of himself he finds distasteful, but at the same time, it's so distanced from who he really is, he can toss it out freely as a gem for Lucrezia to catch. If one is to be a compatriot of Lucrezia Borgia, one must bow to her whims a bit.]

Names are complicated, Signorina. Too often people use them as effectively as they use masks. My own family was no exception. Lazarey was made up as a means to distance them from the fallen Romanov family. [And because it's basically the best surname to give to Anastasia, because fuck all, Alias probably thinks Anastasia got out and birthed a line of Russian crazies. Or not. Either way, names in Alias are hard.] No doubt the root of the name won't escape your notice.

[mansuetus]

Lazarus who had rose from the dead back to life. One of the greatest of miracles.

[ Like a phoenix, Lucrezia would say when she was little and heard the Gospel of John. Lazarus was chosen to rise again. She thinks of the name used as a mask for a family; something fallen to ashes only to rise again in victory. ]

A fine mask to wear.

[wolfinthesnow]

Have you gotten many meanings?

[mansuetus]

Many.

[ a smile. She is glad to see him. ]

But not yours.

[voice]

[yardbird]

Murphy. Though that's 'bout where it ends as far as its meaning goes... Never looked it up.

[The name actually has an Irish meaning for "sea-warrior" which, all things considered, is funny when you think about his water-related traumas.]

[voice]

[mansuetus]

Murphy. It has a nice sound to it. Perhaps you can discover the meaning here, with so many languages being spoken and so much knowledge existing on the ship.

[ she inclines her head, smiling. ]

And I am Lucrezia Borgia.

[ video ]

[hostage]

[Lucrezia! Light of his life! By his reckoning, it's been months since he's seen her, so he's smiling especially brightly now.]

My name don't mean anything, I don't think. But I heard I was asleep for a long time, so here's me checking in to say I'm alright.

[ video ]

[mansuetus]

Jesse Pinkman would perhaps means favored by Lucrezia Borgia.

[ And she had missed him, her smile is bright and her eyes are speaking nothing but joy. There is always that to be found here, she thinks, among the shadows. ]

You have been terribly missed.

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[handelaar]

Been a long time since I read that one. Y'got it memorized?

[Why bother with introductions when there's poetry on the network. That, and maybe the fact that he didn't actually tune in until he heard the word "poetry".]

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[mansuetus]

I do. It is one of those I favor most.

[ she sounds curious, perhaps even excited. ]

Not many know Ovid aboard this ship, signore.

[voice]

[wolfdreamer]

But what do the words mean? The last ones that you said. What language is it?

[voice]

[mansuetus]

It is Latin, lord Stark. It is a poem I favor, written by a man named Ovid who is well known in my Rome.

[ she smiles, as if she is about to tell him a secret. ]

The age which is apt for war, is also suitable for Love.

[morenos]

[in truth, she mostly starts watching because she's never seen anyone like Lucrezia's dress before! not even in the circus, or at the San Paraiso Carnaval. it seems like every other person on the Tranquility is wearing or doing something stranger than the next, and, skittish though she is, Hana can't help but be curious. she also apparently can't help but trigger the video function, which means that for a while she's just quietly looking at the screen, wide-eyed.]

A firefly...?

[her eyebrows furrow, and WAIT A SECOND HER COMMUNICATOR IS TOTALLY ON ABORT ABORT]

I mean--! Pardon me, but why does it matter?

[mansuetus]

[ adorable. ]

It glows in the dark, this wonder box, sweet one. Like a firefly.

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[fraud]

[ mike grins and gives a wave. ]

Hey, Lucrezia. Long time no chat.

[ BECAUSE MIKE'S PLAYER IS A FAILURE I'M SO SORRY ]

Uhm, as for names... well, I go by Mike but fully it's Michael James Ross. Not really that special though, yours is nicer.

[ doot doot ]

Hey, do you speak in Italian when you talk to us? Or English? I mean, I hear English aside from some bits, but you might hear Italian. That just sort of occurred to me.

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[mansuetus]

[ NEVER A FAILURE. ]

Michael is an archangel; it is a fine, strong name.

I speak Italian mostly yet I understand all that is spoken to me. It is an odd thing.

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[attano]

[Corvo has kept quiet for the most part, trying to learn what he can without giving too much away. But here is a woman - a girl, really - who seems old-fashioned even to him. It's comforting, and also something that gives him hope - if she can adapt so well, surely he can to as much. He starts his reply with a courteous bow of his head.]

I am Corvo. It means crow, or raven.

If it's poetry you're after, I could share some from my home.

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[mansuetus]

Crow, indeed. It is a pleasure to meet you. There is an island bearing that name, near Spain. My brother once taught me the names of all the islands.

[ but poetry! She looks overjoyed. ]

Please.

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[onsilksheets]

My name is Bela and it only has one 'l' in it. I can't be completely certain but I think it has several meanings

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[mansuetus]

It sounds the same as Bella and in my language it means 'beautiful', which would be fitting to you; even if it is not written in the same manner.

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[stimulations]

[He's well aware he's one of the group that have been asleep for a month, but quite how to greet someone after that escapes him. So he just skips to answering the request.]

Josias is 'may Jehovah heal', if I recall correctly. [A twist of a smile at that one. It's an odd name to have and an odd meaning behind it, considering him as a person.] And if my surname has any meaning beyond the obvious, I've lost track of it.

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[mansuetus]

Do you favor it, dear Josias, your name?

[ she does, if to judge by the warmth in her eyes. She is happy to see him, too, which certainly adds to it. ]

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[gilding]

An interesting choice of poem to have memorised.

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[mansuetus]

Love and war, are they both not good subjects to write a poem of?

[ a smile. ]

Do you know it?