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

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[whitequeens]

Ah... as a hobby, yes. His real business was something else, but he did love to paint.

Most of the paintings I saw of his were landscapes, or still lifes. Flowers were a favorite subject of his!

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[matadorable]

[Manolo's expression softens.]

So he really enjoyed nature, then?

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[whitequeens]

He did, I think. He would always visit the rose gardens at the-- at our father's house. I miss him very much, sometimes.

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[matadorable]

I don't blame you. It's hard not to miss family.

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[whitequeens]

[All the more so since he's dead.] Yes, that's true.

I have a very large family... many of them I haven't seen for quite some time! What about you, Manolo?

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[matadorable]

It was just me, my father, and my great-grandmother for most of my life. But I heard lots of incredible stories about the deceased, so...in some ways, I still felt like I had a large family.

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[whitequeens]

It's good that you at least heard the stories about them! That must have been wonderful to learn.

Ah, but-- didn't you say your mother taught you music?

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[matadorable]

[It was wonderful and a bit stressful at the same time. On one hand, he enjoyed hearing about their exploits. On the other, he hated knowing he was expected to follow in their footsteps. Thankfully, though, the latter isn't an issue anymore.]

I received my first guitar from her, but my mother actually died during the war, back when I was still really young.

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[whitequeens]

Oh.

...I'm so sorry to hear that, Manolo. That must have been very difficult.

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[matadorable]

[His voice is more subdued, but there's a bittersweet tone to it.]

It was. I missed her very much, but as long as I remembered her, I could feel her watching over me. And, I did get to see her again, if only for a little bit. She's happy where she is, which makes me happy.