maskormenace | 01 ♥ Video

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01 ♥ Video

[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!]

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Okay.

[I understand that now.

That makes it sound like Manolo had been suicidal, perhaps, but had learned how to move on and recover before sacrificing himself for the greater good. He's quiet for a moment - it hits a little close to home, that's something he can't deny - but when he speaks again, his voice is a little softer, a little less insistent.]

I'm glad. Not that you had to give it all up anyway, but that you get how important your life is. I really hope you can turn back soon. Being like that... it can't be fun.

[Manolo gives him a bright smile.]

Thank you. It's not so bad, though! Other people's reactions worry me more, but...I guess most imPorts have seen weirder, huh.

Trust me, we've all seen much, much weirder.

[And know about ten dead people apiece. It's okay, Manolo!]

Though from the sounds of it, Joaquin's the exception to that one. You're worried about him, huh?

Yeah... [His expression grows more subdued.] He was already upset about what happened to me. Seeing me like this...didn't help much.

Yeah, of course. It's pretty obvious that the two of you are - [were?] - friends. But... if you can't control this, he might just have to get used to it. Have you guys really talked about it yet?

[Or have they played the game of studiously avoiding it? Jaime knows that game all too well, and it tends to work about as well as you'd expect it to.]

A little? His power lets him, uh...see certain things whenever he takes off his eyepatch and looks at someone who's died, and that includes me. We've gotten into a couple arguments now, mostly because he doesn't want to watch me run into danger if I don't have to, and that all ties back to...you know.

[A small sigh.] I don't like seeing him this way, but I don't know how to fix things.

I didn't think you'd have many actual opportunities to rush into danger since you got here.

[There was that attack on the Swear-In, maybe, but that hardly counts. Everything turned out okay back then, didn't it?]

It's something that you don't really fix so much as you just get used to, I think. The way I see it, being here is something that people like you guys and like me should be grateful for. Does that make sense?

He told me to stay out of the way during the attack at the swear-in, but I didn't want to promise him anything.

[What happened at the swear-in doesn't even sound like the worst of it, in the grand scheme of things, which is another cause for concern. If they don't strike some sort of balance before the next big crisis, then that could become a problem for the both of them.

As for that second bit...it's sound advice, but Manolo isn't sure what to think of the wording.]

It's true that there are plenty of things here neither of us would get to experience back home. Is it the same for you, Jaime?

It's impossible to promise anyone you'll stay out of trouble around here. Best you can promise is that you'll be careful, [Jaime's swift to admit. He could ask people to stay out of trouble, but sometimes, you're safer facing it head-on. They're targets so frequently that Jaime's of the mind that it's better to prepare than it is to flee.]

But yeah, of course it's the same for me! I wouldn't have met most of the people here if not for this place. Maybe it's not permanent, but I'm grateful to have the opportunity in the first place. And for a lot of people, this place is a second chance.

See, I'm glad you understand! [He wishes he could take Jaime to his friend's room and just. POINT!!! at him, but no, he has more tact than to drag someone else into their personal problems.] Maybe Joaquin will come to his senses once he's had a chance to settle down with things.

[He smiles when Jaime mentions how grateful he is. For some reason, he hadn't considered that someone more familiar with this time period would still find things to marvel over, but it makes sense that Jaime would come to cherish the connections he's made here. In some ways, the imPort community was its own little town, wasn't it.]

I'm glad you've found some good here. And, you're right...this is technically my third chance, which is way more than most people get, so I've decided not to waste it.

I'm glad.

[Knowing so many people who have used this as the same thing, there's nothing that's not genuine about his words. He wishes that this could be a permanent chance, but hey, maybe Manolo will stick around long enough for him to actually get a permanent chance.]

Does that mean you've decided a few things you wanna do with it?

Of course! [He is so glad you asked, Jaime, and it shows in his smile.] Playing music for people...that's always been my passion. This place gives me the chance to finally focus on that.

Oh!

[That part, Jaime would have never guessed. What kind of music do they even play way back when? He has no idea.]

That's great! What do you play?

The guitar! I can actually summon mine from anywhere. It's one of the powers I got when I woke up here.

Well, that's handy. I guess all that's left is finding a band and getting a gig... unless you're the kind of guy who'd rather be a solo act?

I was actually part of a mariachi band back home, so doing something like that here could be nice. It's a little hard to imagine standing under the spotlight alone, you know? I'm just a simple guitarrista. People might get bored with that.

Naw. There are lots of guys around who get paid the big bucks for doing nothing but sitting on a stage with a guitar and their voice. If you don't sing and you only play guitar, then you might need a band, but people do the whole music thing on their own all the time.

[After considering this for a moment, Jaime admits,] I like bands more, though. [He taps one hand against the table.] But that's probably 'cause I like the drums.

[Music with a beat's pretty much all he asks for.]

Oh, I definitely sing. [He's still not sure how he feels about sitting on stage by himself, though.] Mariachis don't do drums, though. Mostly strings and trumpets.

Right, right, Joaquin mentioned something about you doing mariachi. You're gonna have a heck of a time finding anyone to play that with you, though. It's not exactly popular here.

[Jaime will listen to it if it happens to be playing at an event he's attending - back home, of course, but not here - but it's certainly nothing he seeks out. He just turns on the radio if he feels like listening to music.]

Let me guess. By "not exactly popular", you mean it's better suited for a museum.

Not quite that bad. Sometimes they're still hired for quinceañeras and stuff like that. But... they're usually not the main event.

Oh, well...it doesn't have to be the main event. As long as people are enjoying themselves, then I'm happy to play.

Then you might be able to get a couple gigs in here and there. I dunno how many, but it's gotta be worth a shot.

I have to find a mariachi band first. Either way, though, it sounds like it's only something I can do on the side. Maybe I can try other things with my music too.

Yeah... maybe you could give guitar lessons? I'm sure people'd love those.

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