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

[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.

[matadorable]

I agree. It kind of came with the revolution, though, since a lot of untrained fighters suddenly found themselves without someone to lead them.

[timecapture]

Which revolution?

[matadorable]

[Even now, he still forgets that people don't just automatically know what he's talking about.]

The Mexican one!

[timecapture]

Oh! I remember reading about that at school. So you're from the past, huh?

[matadorable]

Yes, from 1930. So...I am an old grandpapi, basically, hahah.

[timecapture]

[That gets a laugh.]

How old are you, really?

[matadorable]

I gained a month when I woke up here, so I technically turned 20 in December, but my birthday is actually this month. Ah, the joys of time travel!

[timecapture]

Yeah, that's weird. I turned 18 in September, before I came here, so I guess I've gained a couple of months?

[matadorable]

Oh, wow. I can see why some people just stop trying to keep track of that stuff altogether.

[timecapture]

Seriously. I mean, at least I'm from a relatively close time. A lot of people have come here from the far-off future or past.

[matadorable]

Being from the past isn't so bad. No one is living it up like the old man from 1930 who's seen a hoverbike for the first time, let me tell you!

[timecapture]

But have you actually ridden a hoverbike?

[Because Max hasn't, on account of being a wimp.]

[matadorable]

Oh yes! It was incredible. [The memory reminds him of something, though, and his voice suddenly grows more subdued.] It...became a very special memory for me. I hope to do it again someday.

[timecapture]

I'm sure you will.

[That tone? Max knows that tone. It's the same tone she uses when talking about the time she and Chloe broke into her school.]

Are you okay?

[matadorable]

I'm alright, thanks. It's just...hoverbikes remind me of my best friend, and we're not exactly on the best of terms right now.

[timecapture]

I've been there. [Chloe had been pissed at Max quite a bit. First for disappearing and for not keeping in touch, then for other things.]

If this person is really your best friend, I'm sure you two can work things out. Just keep trying, okay?

[matadorable]

[It kind of helps, knowing that Max has gone through something like this before.]

Does that mean things worked out for you, then?

[timecapture]

It did. We just had to figure some things out, first.