maskormenace | 03 ♥ audio (late night)

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yes, but...my friend is very angry, so he doesn't want to talk right now.

Doesn't want to talk, zura?

[Well if he doesn't want to talk, what other ways are there to communicate?

Wait.

...This is a magic music phone.]

Then there's only one thing you can do, zura.

You'll have to...sing him an apology with your magic music, zura!

[Joaquin isn't a bull I can serenade with a song, he wants to say, but thinks better of it.]

Normally, that's a good idea. But I feel like I should only apologize if I know I'll never repeat the thing that made him angry. "I'm sorry I made you upset" isn't a good apology. I...have to be truly sorry for what I did for it to mean anything, right?

Edited (what is English and trying to figure out how to word things) 2016-01-13 13:11 (UTC)

Monge!! Y-You mean you're not sorry, zura?!

[Is that what he's saying? But...he sounded so sad, how could he be anything but sorry.]

W-We need to fix that, quick! Start feeling sorry right now, zura!

I am sorry for not being more open with him. [Maya was right. He absolutely should have put his foot down sooner, as long as he'd known in his heart of hearts that he wouldn't be able to stay out of trouble if push came to shove.] But...my friend, he cares about me, which is why he wanted me to stay out of Heropa while Pan was taking over. In the end, though, I decided to help anyway, and it hurt his feelings...very much.

A pan took over Heropa...I see, zura.

[Note to self, check brand before purchasing any kitchenware. Could be evil.]

Mm... But... isn't helping a good thing? Why would your friend want you to stay away, zura?

Yeah, he turned it into a weird jungle and everything!

[Ugh, Pan. He still hasn't been caught, either...]

Helping is a good thing. It's just...my friend is afraid I'll get really hurt, you know?

Hmm...oh! You should tell him that you'll bring bandaids next time, so he doesn't have to worry about you getting hurt, zura!

[Komasan just... assumes there's going to be a next time]

Oh, wait, he isn't talking to you... I could tell him that for you, zura!

[There probably will be a next time. And the funny thing is, Manolo actually has a power that helps him not get hurt, but...it also involves becoming a walking skeleton, and he can see why reminders of his death might bother Joaquin.]

That's very kind of you to offer. [Manolo's voice is gentle.] I think we might need to give him some space, though. Sometimes it takes people awhile to figure out how to talk about their feelings.

[Give him some space, huh? That doesn't sound like a bad idea. In fact...]

Monge~! That's a great idea, zura! We can send him into outer space and then he can learn to calm down, zura!

[HE'S PRETTY SURE AMERICA HAS ROCKETS.]

I'll make him a lunch so he doesn't get hungry up there, zura.

[Manolo has to stifle his laughter behind a fist. He has no idea who this guy is, but he is adorable.]

I...definitely wouldn't have thought of that. Have you been to outer space before?

...

[There is the tiniest, most defeated sounding sigh.]

N-No... But I'd like to go someday, zura.

[Manolo's first instinct is to reassure this poor little guy.]

Well, this is the future. Maybe you'll get to go while you're here!

[T-That's right, it is the future! He met robots and everything!

And just like that, it's like all the doors have just been opened.]

M-Monge...

You really think they would take me, zura?

I can't really speak for other people, but I'd take you if I could!

[...His phone wants to take him into outer space. This is the greatest night of his life.]

I love you so much, Magic Music Phone, zuraaaa~

[Ahhh, this guy is just too precious!]

Aw, I love you too! [You can heat a big ole smile in his voice.] You can call me Manolo, though. Also, I'm not always in the phone like this, so maybe we can meet face-to-face someday.

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