01 ♥ Video

[matadorable]

[It's hard to type with little stone fingers, so he's trying to use the voice function for the first time.

Too bad he accidentally activates the video option instead. And also makes this public. Oops.

The communicator shakes, and though the image isn't entirely clear, anyone watching can see couple of dark sockets with glowing pupils and what appears to be a skull with ornate carvings and distinctive hair. Sunlight spills through what seem to be leaves in the background, and it's obvious the person on the screen is crouched down somewhere, trying to hide. He's not looking directly into the camera.]

Hey. Joaquin. It's me, Manolo. So, uhhh...[How do you even put this.]

Funny story! You know how I said my powers were music-based? That's actually half of what I can do. I can also do something else. I think it keeps me from dying, which as far as powers go? Not a bad one, if I do say so myself! [Because he's already dead in this form, but like hell he's going to say that, hah hah hahhh.....

Maybe if he sounds upbeat enough he can bullshit his way through this.]

The only downside is that people shouldn't see me. Don't ask why, it's just...a power thing, you know? So maybe you could come down here with, like, a...sheet? Just toss it in my general direction, and we'll be good to go. Everyone will think I am dressed as a ghost. Perfect disguise, yes?

[He is grinning really hard and hoping all this optimism and false confidence will be enough. But then he notices something and now he's looking at the communicator like it just ran him through with a sword.]

Oh no...

[Oh yes. And now everyone can see exactly what this power actually is. Good job, Manny!]

Comments

[kicksomegrass]

Yup.

Guessin' the whole... skeleton thing would be why.

[matadorable]

It's not exactly the best way to look when you're visiting hospital. Someone might try stuffing me in a body bag, and those things aren't really my style, you know?

[kicksomegrass]

Betcha these people have seen weirder. [ says the talking raccoon ] But I don't blame you for lyin' low.

[ A beat ] Now that you got the video going, you don't know how to turn it off, do ya?

[matadorable]

You really think so? [He's not sure if that's encouraging to hear or not.] But, yeah, it feels weird to just walk around in broad daylight like this.

[A pause. Manolo's eyes dart around the communicator for a moment, but it's hopeless. He gives a defeated sigh.] ...No.

[kicksomegrass]

Okay, listen up, 'cause I'm only gonna say this once.

[ What follows is a brief, simple tutorial on how to turn off the video, as only Rocket can give a tutorial. ]

voice;

[matadorable]

[This guy's sarcasm may seem kinda harsh, but at the end he's still a good person for showing him how to turn off the video. Manolo follows the simple instructions, smiling when the video finally turns off.]

Thank you so much, señor. [There's audible relief in his voice.] That would have taken me much longer to figure out on my own.

[kicksomegrass]

Nobody likes to be gawked at. [ He speaks from experience, though he tries to keep his tone bland. He's not doing this to help or anything, okay? ]

[matadorable]

[Sure, Rocket.]

Yeah. I mean, I'll take gawking over people pelting me with stuff, but it's still kind of uncomfortable either way.

[kicksomegrass]

People throw things at you? What a buncha dicks.

[matadorable]

Not recently, so there's that! In this place, I'll take what I can get.

[kicksomegrass]

Man, you got way too much optimism for me.

[matadorable]

Hah! Well, I'm not saying people don't have anything to complain about. I just don't have much to lose at this point, so I may as well try to look on the bright side when I can.

[kicksomegrass]

This comin' from a skeleton. [ he sounds somewhat amused at least ]

Did the guy you were tryin' to call ever find you?

[matadorable]

Trust me, there are definitely worse things to be. [Like one of the Forgotten, but he doesn't even have to worry about that here, so he won't mention it.]

He's on his way now, actually. Once we're home, I think I'll be done with hiding in bushes for awhile. No offense to the gardener here -- whoever works on these grounds does a fantastic job, really.

[kicksomegrass]

At least you're not hidin' in a dumpster or something.

[matadorable]

True! That was my plan C, actually.

[kicksomegrass]

So were the bushes plan A or plan B?

[matadorable]

That's my Plan A. Plan B is pretending to be one of those Halloween decorations if someone finds me.

[kicksomegrass]

[ That actually gets a laugh out of Rocket- a short, amused ha! ]

You should do that anyway. Just stand real still and then move suddenly when someone gets too close.

[matadorable]

[Manolo's shoulders shake with a small laugh.] Hey, not a bad idea! People seem to like that kind of thing this time of year, and it'd probably send them running in the other direction.