03 ♥ audio (late night)

[matadorable]

[This is the first time he's ever made a top post with his guitar, and the second time he's ever publicly played anything over the network.

After seeing how everyone reacted to Dorian's version of "Wonderwall", he wasn't in a hurry to put himself out there, least of all with something as intensely personal as his music.

But he's feeling pensive tonight, and he has too much free time on his hands now that the holidays are over and Heropa has been rescued. At around 1:30 in the morning, he starts a live audio feed. Without any words of introduction, an uncharacteristically melancholy guitar piece floats through the network. There are no vocals, no words -- Manolo's guitar does the singing for him tonight.

Music buffs will indeed recognize it as a rendition of "Caroline, No" by The Beach Boys. The interpretation is Manolo's own work, done entirely by ear (not an easy thing to do with a guitar solo, considering the complexity of the original source material). But even those who are unfamiliar with the song may feel quiet pangs of sadness and a sense of longing for simpler, happier times...

Once the song reaches its conclusion and the final notes gently fade into silence, Manolo simply closes the feed.]

Comments

[voice]

[timecapture]

That was amazing!

[She really needs to get a guitar again so she can start practicing.]

[voice]

[matadorable]

I'm happy you like it. I was hoping to capture at least some of the feelings behind the original version.

[timecapture]

You did a really good job. How long have you been playing?

[matadorable]

Thank you for your kind words. I've been playing for almost as long as I can remember. My late mother gave me my first guitar as soon as I was old enough to hold one.

[timecapture]

I'm sorry about your mother... but I'm glad you've kept playing.

[matadorable]

Thank you. I am as well. It's no exaggeration to say that music saved me.

[timecapture]

Glad to hear it. I'm Max.

[matadorable]

Manolo Sanchez, at your service.

[timecapture]

Nice to meet you, Manolo!

[matadorable]

You too, Max! How long have you been here?

[That always seems like the most logical place to start when meeting someone new.]

[timecapture]

I've just been here since November. What about you?

[matadorable]

October, for me! Hah, I still feel so new to everything...I just assume everyone else has been here longer.

[timecapture]

I know, right? And I don't think I'll ever get used to the whole "superhero" thing.

[matadorable]

You didn't have anything like that back home?

[timecapture]

Not really.

[Not mentioning that she had her powers before, nope.]

[matadorable]

We pretty much did, but nothing like this Registered or Unsettled stuff that's going on here.

[timecapture]

Really? Was it as scary as it is here?

[matadorable]

What do you mean?

[timecapture]

Superheroes? I don't know about you, but I get pretty scared.

[matadorable]

Because of the attacks and things, you mean?

[timecapture]

Yeah.

[matadorable]

Ah. Yeah...well, we had attacks back home too. Mostly from regular banditos, though, not from people with superpowers or shady secret organizations. At least, not in my town anyway. [The city was a different story.]

[timecapture]

That sounds awful.

[matadorable]

It was pretty bad, yes. But it was also all I really knew until I came here, so I didn't have much to compare it to.

[timecapture]

That's still terrible. Nobody should have to deal with that.