o.1 // application

[decoding]

Player Information:

Name: Kiwi Fruit
Age: 21.
Contact info: and winter fell @ aim
Characters currently played at Sanctum, if any: Not applicable.

Character Information:
Name: Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci
Canon: Assassin's Creed II.
Canon point: 1488, on the way to the Villa Auditore.
Age: 36.

Appearance: Leonardo has bright blue eyes, shoulder length sandy blond hair, and a small but noticable amount of stubble. He's extremely tall for his era,
Background: Look at this sexy link.
Post-Canon History: Not Applicable.
Previous Game History: Not Applicable.


Personality: Leonardo fits the definition of "absentminded genius" well enough that his picture should be in the dictionary next to the word. He's extremely intelligent, btu that intelligence is tempered by how forgetful he can be. While he does use his genius to figure out problems, he can be derailed from almost anything with a few well-placed questions or comments. Want to distract him from trying to unravel the secrets of the ancient world? Ask him what else he's working on. What to distract him from tellin you all about his new designs for a flying machine? Hand him some ancient secrets to unravel. On top of his distractability is the fact that he can be-- to put it mildly-- completely forgetful on an astonishing level. It isn't that he walks into a room only to realize he forgot what he went into the room for, it's that he walked into the room, saw something else, had a revelation, and immediately sat down to work on that new project, completely forgetting that he had ever been in the room for any other reason. This can lead to one of his greatest failings, which is his procrastination. He starts many projects he never finishes, and those that he does can take years to finish, much to the chagrin of people who pay him to do good work. Leonardo also has an alarming tendency to, in a word, ragequit his work when it doesn't go his way. He at times gets so frustrated with trying to make his designs work that he will throw everything off his desk and sulk like a child (at least as long as it takes until inspiration hits him again).

Leonardo's genius is one of those that can take many forms. He's a quick learner who is interested in almost everything and propels many things forward. His designs were almost anachronistic for his time, from flying machines to a design for a tank. On top of his inventions were his paintings-- perhaps what he is most well known for, today-- and he was extremely skilled at it. He had ventures in music, into learning about human anatomy (which involved corpses, thus proving he had a stomach of steel on top of everything else), into mathematics. Despite his genius, he maintained a state of humility, saying that he believes his work lacks purpose. Even when he does courageous things, such as taking great risks to help protect Ezio, he claims that courage is not his strong suit.

A pacifist, Leonardo makes designs for war machines anyway, believing that ideas take precedence over his personal opinions. Despite being a pacifist, he is friends with a notable assassin, and doesn't chastise Ezio for his methods. He's extremely loyal to both the Auditore family as a whole, despite them being wanted for execution, and also to Ezio on a personal level, considering him one of his greatest friends-- even when Ezio is so notorious of an assassin that guards will chase him halfway across the city. Of course, being a pacifist and a loyal friend has nothing to do with being a troll and a prankster, which is another of Leonardo's finer qualities. While no one would accuse him of being a practical joker, he isn't one to pass up an opportunity to joke around, once telling Ezio that to use a weapon, he would have to remove one of his fingers, only to embed the knife into the table and tell him he was joking.

Leonardo is also an extremely optimistic individual: even in the light of being beaten up by a guard, he can pull a smile and crack a joke, and even when practically imprisoned by the Borgia's and forced to design war machines for their use, he still allies with Ezio and is capable of staying optimistic. He looks towards the good in people, and is extremely generous with the money he does have. Ultimately, he's a very adaptable figure who can showcase his intelligence in many ways.

Leonardo's most obvious strength is also his most used: his intelligence. He can wield it to figure out most problems, proving that his intelligence is more than just facts-- it's easily applicable to situations he encounters. His optimism and cheerful nature helps him get through many things, and he doesn't easily make enemies. He knows the power of discretion and secrecy, and will take the secrets of those he's loyal to with him to the grave. His ability to invent things to make everyday life easier is another asset of his, and the fact that he's from the 1400s in Italy can't be discounted-- he's used to traveling long distances, and used to doing so on foot.

His greatest weakness is his procrastination. Doing things takes him longer than it should, even when he is properly motivated. His humbleness can interfere with things-- he does not always try to achieve the end result of an idea, convinced that the idea itself is flawed. His optimism can be a two-sided sword, turning back around on him without too much trouble if he puts faith in the wrong people. The fact that he's from the 1400s is also a distinct weakness, all things considered: he's stumped by modern technology, by modern ideals. The short skirts many girls wear would be scandalous (or indicative of a career as a courtesan) and the relaxed attitudes many people have about religion and homosexuality would be a strange concept, indeed. While by no means xenophobic, he's not used to seeing many people from different backgrounds, so dealing with people from different countries (not to mention different universes) will certainly cause him to stop and pause. Physically, while he's by no means fragile, he's also not used to flat out brawls, and would not be able to hold his own against too large of a fight, particularly when his pacifism is taken into account.

Leonardo moves both elegantly and gracefully: he's well known for being a bit of a dandy. He smells like rose water and dresses extremely well, even in periods where he's a bit hard up for money. He's generous and perhaps a little too talkative, spilling secrets to those he trusts (even when he, perhaps, should not trust them so much).

Sexuality: Leonardo is a flat out homosexual. Of course, in Renaissance Italia, one could not simply be a homosexual-- to commit the act of sodomy would be to be hung later as punishment. Despite this, he was in his youth charged with the act, involving three other men and a male model (code for prostitute, in this case). The charges were later overturned and dismissed as a plot against the Medici family, who he was close to, but it didn't stop him from being anymore closeted than he was. He does not display his interests in other men, but will occasionally drop hints to those he trusts, saying that "Women pose little distraction to me". While Leonardo has no religious bias against homosexuality, he does hold his cards close to his chest with little urge to broadcast them-- particularly if the one he has interest in has little in the way of reciprocation.

Leonardo, later in life, would find romance in Salai, an apprentice he took on. Salai proved to be nothing but trouble, but Leonardo fell for him all the same, telling the boy his secrets (and some that weren't his to tell!) and pampering him, even when he was a thief. Salai proved himself to care just as much for his maestro, and after some kidnapping hijinks happened, Ezio informed Leonardo that he approved, saying 'Salai is good for you'. Leonardo was, for once, rendered completely speechless at the acceptance.

For all of Leonardo's closeted behaviors, he does still get attached to people easily. He considered Ezio to be a good friend of his after only meeting him twice; he hid the man when Ezio was a fugitive and he helped repair his hidden blade. He showed affection in his hugs and in his cheerful greetings whenever Ezio would stop by, and while it was obvious that he cared for Ezio a great deal-- perhaps more than as a simple friend (as he took beatings for Ezio very early on)-- he never pushed, and it was years before he even dropped a hint that his sexuality might be a little left of normal. Ezio showed his interest in females-- loudly and often-- and Leonardo acknowledged that.

Despite Leonardo's reluctance to get involved in relationships, he does not mind taking something of the lead in relationships. He is romantic (if absentminded) and pampering, and as loving as he possibly can be while still devoting an inordinate amount of time to his studies and inventions. To some extent, he will hold himself aloof for awhile: he is afraid of being hurt like he was when he was younger, and that keeps him paranoid. Once you win him over, however, you've won him over forever, and he will be dedicated forever.

Leonardo deals largely in monogamy-- as much as homosexuality is looked down on, it hasn't occured to him to do anything else strange. To be with one person for the rest of his life is completely normal, and an ideal he's rather fond of. It isn't to say that he isn't a fan of, well, temporary hook ups, but he does overall look for something a bit more serious than 'no attachments'.

It's also worth noting that it's heavily implied in later canon that he is sleeping with and in a relationship with Salai. This could be construed as a bit squicky to some people, as Salai came into Leonardo's workshop at the age of 10, and was involved with him in a more romantic way by the time he was 20. This isn't terribly unusual given the time period's views on age, sex and everything else, but still bears mentioning that Leonardo has less of an inherent aversion to people significantly younger than he than others may have.

Skills and Powers: Leonardo is a genius. He is brilliant in math, science, inventing, and everything else. He's quick to put puzzles together and can do math at a nearly inhuman rate; he can invent an invention for almost anything you could possibly want, from a flying machine to a tank to a device that opens jail cells.

Items: His clothes, a hat, some pieces of paper and a pen and inkwell and some florins in a pouch.

Writing samples:
Action: [Leonardo is completely unsure on how to work this device, so there's a few moments of cursing before he thinks it's actually working.] Ah--! Is this working? Hello? Can you hear me? My name is Leonardo, and-- this place is magnificent! I have never seen such a bustling city center! It's so clean-- and the devices! [can you sense his excitement? can you? because it is bubbling out all over this place.]

Never even in my wildest dreams would I imagine communication could be so effortless! This is years-- decades ahead of my time! I am curious, though, for all the mastery of communication and travel-- has this place mastered the art of flight?

Third Person Prose: Leonardo understood, in an academic fashion, that this place-- this strange, amazing, advanced place-- was considerably more lenient than Italy. He'd come in with that idea soon after arriving, but he had hardly been prepared for it to be more than lenient. It was downright encouraging, and it baffled him. To be this sexual, this openly, was nearly unfathomable to someone who had spent years hiding behind closed doors and making sure the curtains were always drawn tight if he did indulge himself. It was more daunting than it was relieving, and it was with this cautious, deep-seated sense of trepidation that he declined the flirtations of the young man in front of him, holding his hands up and apologizing. He had reading to do-- no, he was certain-- yes, he'd make sure he walked down this road again.

It wasn't until he was away and around a corner that he let himself breath, to steady his hands and stop the shaking. Hearing how lax everyone was here was different from seeing it, and the quiet terror that had infused his person since the incident where he'd spent weeks in a disgusting jail cell on someone's propaganda was hard to simply let go of.

Flirting had always been private. Quiet. Looks and glances and small touches; hidden messages layered so thickly in each other that they could be mistaken for something else. For friendship. Even Ezio, who knew Leonardo so well, was not someone Leonardo felt he could talk to about this.

...but it was a start, Leonardo thought. Knowing it was possible-- knowing it was permitted and encouraged, here, that two men should not have to hide-- that did wonders. He didn't think he would be able to go beyond trading looks and friendly words for some time, the paranoia of guards lurking just over his shoulder a sobering fear, but it was freeing to simply have the option. To know that, perhaps, he would be able to live in something other than hushed words and near-celibacy.

Between the technology here and the attitude that permeated it, Leonardo could see himself being quite comfortable.

In the Rift sample: Not Applicable.

Plans: I'd like to explore Leonardo being able to be homosexual in an environment that doesn't shame it, as well as have his interest in technology and science be furthered by the confines of the setting.

Any questions and concerns go here: