maskormenace | 02 ♥ Voice (posted in the morning)

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02 ♥ Voice (posted in the morning)

[After his epic fail from the other week, Manolo isn't in a hurry to try using the video function. Instead, he sticks to the audio (and triple-checks that it's really just the audio), although it seems to take him a moment to realize his device is actually on, and people are treated to the sound of his communicator shifting in his hands.]

Um, hi there. Hahah…

[Okay, not the best start. Let’s try that again…]

So! For anyone who doesn’t know, today is the Day of the Dead. Back home, it's a time to remember those who’ve passed on before us, to make sure the dead aren’t forgotten.

I may not be in my village anymore, but today is still important to me, and it’s probably important for some of you too.

That’s why, if anyone wants to talk about dead friends or family, I’d love to hear about them. You know…what kind of person were they? What are your favorite memories of them? That kind of thing.

...Oh, and if some of you have died back home, you’re welcome to share stories about your life here too. Not the traditional way of doing things, but that only seems fair.

[There’s an awkward pause here, since he’s unsure how he ought to end this message. It’s not like a letter, but it’s not like talking with someone face-to-face either.]

Ah, right! Maybe I should properly introduce myself this time. My name is Manolo Sanchez, and I'm…looking forward to hearing from you?

[Then there's an awkward pause before the feed finally shuts off.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The Day of the Dead...

You know, it sounds a hell of a lot more morbid than it is, from what you're saying.

[He laughs a little.] No no, it's actually a lot of fun! I mean, I guess it does revolve around death, but it's just as much about honoring the people who've gone before you and keeping their memory alive, you know?

...

[Weird, he never thought he'd see that as a happy thing, but the way Manolo talks about it...

With a flick of his hand, he locks the feed. Not just for himself, but Manolo should really private this shit too. Call him cautious, but in this place, airing out personal memories can be dangerous.

He knows.

But he gets reminiscent for a moment, letting out a little chuckle behind the feed. Well, if anyone deserves to be remembered, it's him.]

You first.

Edited 2015-11-03 01:15 (UTC)

[It honestly doesn't occur to Manolo that someone could use his memories against him, so he just assumes Kaneda locks their conversation because he's naturally a private person. Since the guy took the trouble to hide their conversation from the public, though, he's a little surprise to hear him request that Manolo go first.]

Oh, alright! Hmmm...[He pauses a moment before eventually settling on a story.]

My great-uncle Jorge Sanchez dreamed of singing in the opera. Of course, Sanchez men were expected to become bullfighters, and people always told him that music was not work fit for a Sanchez bullfighter! So, in the end, bullfighting won, and he trained to become a matador.

Apparently he had trouble concentrating in the bullring, though, because he lost an arm and a leg from various accidents. Most people would have taken that as a sign to retire, but my great-uncle Jorge? No. It just became a challenge to fight bulls with only one arm and one leg. He would say...

[Manolo gives a dramatic shake of his fist for effect.]

Arms and legs...are for cowards!!

[Oh Manolo, you're in for a rude awakening one of these days. Although you're not exactly wrong on your thought either. His past? Not something he really brings up.

So he listens, not really paying TOO much attention at first, but you know? It's kind of hard NOT to pay attention to a story about a guy fighting bulls...missing an arm and a leg.

You can even hear the soft sound of chuckles behind the feed at parts.]

I like the sound of this guy!

[Kaneda can't see him, but Manolo's smile still comes through in his words.]

Yeah, he was really great! A fantastic singer, too! [In many ways, Jorge was also the bullfighter he felt the closest kinship with. They'd laughed about their crushed childhood dreams together, which isn't something you can do with just anyone.]

Quite a few Sanchez bullfighters were pretty notorious for finding insane ways to set themselves apart from everyone else, to be honest.

[It's weird how upbeat this conversation is, in Kaneda's mind. He'd never have thought talking about someone who's passed on would be such a happy moment. The way Manolo talks, it's like Jorge is right back at home waiting for him.

He knew that wasn't the case, otherwise he wouldn't be telling him this story now. Jorge Sanchez was dead, but...

Huh. Maybe he's onto something here.]

Gotta make a name for yourself somewhere, yeah? Sounds like he did.

[To Manolo, his dead friends and family are always just a thought away. That something so simple and natural could keep people connected between realms has always struck him as beautiful, and it shows in his enthusiasm.]

He certainly did, as did his nephew, my grandfather Luis. The people called him "El Super Macho" because he insisted on facing three bulls at once. Fighting any fewer than that was for cowards, naturally!

[There seems to be a pattern here...]

[Beauty...now there's something that Kaneda can't really see in death. Maybe that's something he's got to learn--after all, back home he didn't really get all that good of a picture.

But this...this is getting a laugh out of him. Manolo, your family sounds ridiculous in the best way.]

I'd do that. What's two more?

[He's happy to hear this guy laughing. For some people, death is such a grim prospect, but Manolo genuinely appreciates the opportunity to keep the memory of his loved ones alive.]

Oh yeah? How about fighting a bull without a cape?

[You're definitely putting a different spin on it, Manolo. It's hard to be sad when you're talking about them like they're still with you.

Bonus points that you have such a vibrant family.]

Capes aren't my thing anyway. All I need's my jacket.

[Well, he's not wrong. It's bright fuckin' red.]

[That's the idea! As long as he keeps them alive through stories, then they're always with him in spirit.

Manolo laughs, tickled by Kaneda's comment.]

Hah! You sound like you'd fit right in at a Sanchez family reunion!

You think so? Well, I live with a bull here, so I guess I would fit in.

...

[It's locked...]

Heh, guess there is one person who'd want me to talk about him.

[Manolo almost asks about the bull, but he's glad he held off because Kaneda finally sounds like he wants to talk about someone.

With a smile in his voice, he replies:]

Yeah? What was his name?

[Oh don't worry you'll find out ALL about the Bull soon, Manolo.

But for now, he's reminiscing for what's probably the first time since it happened.]

Yamagata.

Biggest pain in the ass, but a good guy.

[Manolo gives a snort of amusement.]

A friend of yours, then?

Yeah. Kind of like my right hand man, you know?

[He's never had anyone he'd consider his right-hand man, but Manolo can at least get a sense of their dynamic with that description.]

Sounds like the dependable type.

Got that right.

[His voice turned distant a moment, almost sad as he reminisces. The dependable type...until he wasn't. Until he depended on Kaneda, and he wasn't there.

This was harder than he thought.

But he'll try and fight through that, thinking of something positive.]

He had a lot of siblings, all younger than him, so he had to take care of all of em.

So family was really important to him too, huh? [ That gets respect points in Manolo's book.] He really does sound like a good guy.

...He was.

[His voice falters for a moment, before steadying itself again.]

You're a hell of a lot better at this than I am.

[Manolo is quiet for a moment. Something painful twists in his heart when he hears Kaneda's voice waver like that.

In many ways, being the one left behind is a much crueler fate than dying. He knows because he's experienced death from both sides of the fence.

When he speaks, his voice is gentle.]

You're better at it than you think. Anyone would be honored to hear their good friend say such things about them.

...Heh, yeah, he'd probably want me to tell everyone what he was like. He's that kind of guy.

...

[There's a thought.]

Hey, did you guys make anything...physical to remember people by?

Of course! Most people build altars with different offerings, like the deceased's favorite foods and drinks, candles, incense, flowers, and other things like that. It's common to include a picture, but I obviously couldn't do that this year.

...That seems like more my style.

I mean...not an altar, but something to keep their memory alive. Easier than words sometimes, you know?

02 ♥ Voice (posted in the morning)

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