01 → video

[replicates]

[ the feed starts abruptly with the corner of what appears to be a book covering a small portion of the camera. it shows a slightly awkward angle of Riku and the Replica tucked in a corner of the library, deep in conversation: ]

These books are stupid. These names are stupid. [ the Replica sighs, throwing another book on the desk while Riku continues to flip through his book. ]

What d'you want me to break out, kid's books? There's got to be a name you like somewhere in here.

Probably wouldn't make a difference. I don't want to be called Chris, or Mark, or Lucifer? What do they even mean?

Uh, let's steer clear of Lucifer. I don't know. I know 'Riku' means land. 'Sora' means sky... I think. 'Kairi' has something to do with the ocean. There's got to be something that says what they mean somewhere in here.

[ there's a moment of brief silence before the Replica snickers. ]

... Land?

Land, or earth, I thi--... what?

Nothing. It kind of works... you're stubborn enough, I guess.

Wouldn't that mean the same for you?

I never said I wasn't.

Maybe we should name you 'Volcano'. You're always ready to explode.

[ no sooner had Riku said it before the Replica grabbed a book and threw it across the table at him, aiming for his head. Riku barely even glances up and merely leans his head to the right as the book goes sailing over his shoulder. the Replica scowls at him. ]

Once a jerk, always a jerk.

I don't hear you rejecting it.

It's dumb enough that it shouldn't even be suggested, let alone be rejected.

At least I'm suggesting things. What about 'Virgil'?

[ silence again. this time the Replica seems to be considering it, head lowered a little in thought. Riku looks up from his page and quietly waits for his opinion. after a moment: ]

.... Does it mean anything?

[ there's a wry smile from Riku ] Strong.

Okay.

[ as the Replica (now Virgil) stands to gather up the books, he finally notices the tablet and quickly turns off the feed with a resigned sigh and a quiet groan.

OOC: responses will come from either or both limitstorm and replicates! ]

Comments

[replicates]

They were that good?

[ maybe the library would have some of his works left. ]

[onemistress]

They were. The Aeniad is the most famous, and the one I used to read as a child. [ Over achiever that she is. ] I have not read them in anything other than Latin unfortunately, but if I see any, I would be happy to pass it along to you, if you like?

[replicates]

[ oh. that's some generosity right there. he shrugs a little at her offer, idly rubbing the back of his neck. ]

Sure, I guess. Dunno how to read Latin though.

[ and then, awkwardly: ]

... Thanks.

[onemistress]

You are not the first I have heard that from, believe me. Which is strange because a person cannot even be called literate where I come from if he cannot read Latin.

[ Historical people are weird and strange and double standard-y. ]

Which is a shame, for some poetry cannot be translated very well at all.

[ she shrugs, because she hardly needs thanks for that kind of offer. ] Do not thank me, if it is your name now, you should know why it is a great one.

[replicates]

That's one of your native languages in your world, right? Guess that makes sense.

[ if she's giving this Virgil poet guy such rave reviews, he's gotta be at least pretty decent. he's no poet himself, but he's curious now. ]

That's fine. If Latin's what he wrote it in, then I'll learn it. I've got all this time anyway.

I am so sorry she just talks too much sometimes.

[onemistress]

No, not so much like that it was -- [ she pressed the tip of her tongue against her teeth as she thought how to explain the Roman Empire as briefly but as clearly as possible. ] -- the Empire I spoke of? It ruled from... Turkey, to this land where I have lived all my life, England. It was the very core for trade, learning, its military was unparallelled, but more than that it was a meeting place for every man from every country. They conquered lands and so changed them forever with the strange they knew things they brought with them. But many of the countries they came to face had their own language. England, France, Germany, Egypt, Carthage, spoke their own tongue, but if you wanted to trade with people from far across the sea, the only language you had in common was Latin, and as such, it was considered... higher, I suppose you could say? More universal and more pure a language. By contrast, English is a most common and base language.

Granted, her Empire had fallen by the time I lived in England, but the power of Rome is still felt in many ways.

[ The Pope, for one, but lets not bring that up with a Protestant shall we? ]

I could translate it for you, if you wished?

[ It was a hobby, even. ]

no never apologize this is like the history lesson he'd never gotten

[replicates]

No, that makes sense too. Everyone's got their own way of communicating and their own way of doing things, knowing a language that's universal is always good. Especially if it's one that's held in higher regard.

[ still, there's a lot of things she said that he's not really familiar with. but he just chalks that up to then being from different worlds. things are a lot simpler when you're half Disney after all.

there's another awkward neck rub at her offer. ]

Maybe you could... teach me, instead? I mean, if you have the time. Or want to. Though with the library being this big, I'm pretty sure I can find some books on it too.

history lessons from the queen of england. this is some level of meta (also she's biased forever)

[onemistress]

I do not know if it is universal now, but if we are to go back to another time as they say we do, it may be of use to you then.

[ Being half Disney is a serious affliction.

She picks up at the offer, she hadn't thought anyone would be interested in such things at all. ]

I should be happy to. It is one of my favourite languages, I learned it when I was ... well younger than you now. [ Ladies don't admit to their age when they are 25 and unmarried, woe. ]

[replicates]

[ he's getting the feeling that she's pretty important, wherever she's from. it helps that she's got this air about her that kind of makes him want to check himself before he does something stupid; which is weird because he doesn't care about authority or what people think.

maybe it's also because he's only known about three women in his life and the one closest to her age was really horrible. he really just doesn't know how to feel. ]

... How many languages do you know?

[onemistress]

[ She speaks with too much authority, she always has. Even if the world told her she was not a Princess, no one could tell her father wasn't the King and that there was royal blood in her veins. ]

Five, excluding English. French, Italian, Latin, Greek and Spanish. A fair amount of Cornish as well. I know enough German and Portuguese to get by in a conversation but I am not so skilled in their writing at all so I could not help you with those really.

[replicates]

... That's a lot.

[ it's kind of strange. back home, everyone only spoke one language -- though he vaguely remembers Riku learning to speak Japanese. he didn't learn much to pass it along to him though. ]

How long did it take you to learn all of them?

[onemistress]

As many as I need to better appreciate those around me.

[ She thought on that for a moment, her lips pressed together as she tried to remember when she started learning. ]

I began French when I was... four or so. I'd mastered it, Latin and Spanish by I was eleven. I finished learning Greek and Italian by the time I was thirteen or fourteen.