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.]

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[It's okay, Bucky, Manolo doesn't judge.]

Oh yeah? Do you have a favorite?

Uhh vodka and a mixer usually doesn't taste too bad together. [ He opens the fridge, checking. ] I've got some orange juice. Want a screwdriver? Goes pretty well with vanilla.

[ For when all you have is spirits. ]

Screwdriver, eh? Sure, I'll try it.

Edited 2016-01-17 09:15 (UTC)

Swell! [ He grabs a bottle of vodka and the orange juice and brings it over to the counter. ] You can check the icebox for ice cream! Take which ever ones you want! Bowl's are in the top cabinets.

Thanks, amigo! [And Manolo does just that, wandering over to the icebox and checking out its contents. Since Bucky mentioned vanilla going pretty good with a screwdriver, that's what he settles on.] Want me to scoop you a bowl while I'm over here?

De nada! [ It's not the best accent, but Bucky doesn't study Spanish. Just paid more attention now that he has a Latin friend. ] Yes, please! I want Rocky Road and Cookie Dough!

[That earns a grin from Manolo. Even if it's not perfect, he appreciates the effort.]

You've got it! [He ends up giving Bucky a generous helping of each, and then adds a little to sample along with his own bowl of vanilla ice cream.]

Edited 2016-01-17 09:57 (UTC)

And here you are! [ Bucky gives him a pretty powerful screw driver in a coffe mug, because what is class? He gets himself a Coca-Cola (glass bottles of course) and meets Manolo at the kitchen table. ] Dig in.

[He laughs a little when he realizes he's the only one drinking any alcohol, but...well, that's fine, he decides as he accepts the mug.] Excellent, hahah.

[Once he sits down, he takes a bite of ice cream, savoring the creamy texture.] Ohhh, this is perfect...

Right? This century's got some good points, I'll admit. [ He takes a bite of his Rocky Road and enjoying the marshmallow bites. ] So what's up, pal?

...[Manolo stares into his bowl for a moment before taking another bite. A lot of the good cheer from just seconds ago bleeds right out of him, and he looks entirely too morose for someone with some ice cream and a screwdriver -- or maybe it's the perfect image of someone who feels as pitiful he does in that moment.

Either way, he answers with a sigh:]

I made Joaquin angry, and...now he won't speak to me.

Oh. [ Bucky pulls a face and takes another bite. ] How long ago was this?

Right after Pan got run out of town.

So it's been [ Hang on he's counting on his fingers. ] Ouch, five days? No talking, like, at all?

[Manolo shakes his head, sighing. Somehow, hearing Bucky spell it out like that just twists the knife a little deeper into his heart.] He keeps giving me the cold shoulder...

Edited 2016-01-21 13:00 (UTC)

Hmmm... [ Bucky is actually thinking about this. Very very hard. ] It's okay, Manny. With all that energy he's puttin' into bein' mad, he'll get over it!

[ It's said with such confidence! ]

[And it's that very confidence that makes Manolo arch an eyebrow.]

You speak from experience?

Well, you've met me! A lot of people get angry with me, but that's different! [ Remember how mad you got at him for the helicopter scam? Yeah, that's fairly normal in his daily routine. ] I guess you could say experience, but on the other side of it.

I'm not a big fan of letting people get the better of me, so I don't... You know, put a lotta stock in other people. Seems silly if things turn sour, see what I mean? [ It's cynical at best, and depressingly concerning at worse, Bucky. ] So, I think if you're gonna put that much energy in getting mad at a friend, then they must mean a lot. They really got under your skin 'cause that's where it hurts.

And if you're already wasting all those feelings on someone, you wouldn't throw them away! Not over one fight. [ Then he simply shrugs. ] That's what I think, anyway...

[Manolo listens to Bucky, a finger idly rubbing against the side of his cold bowl of ice cream to keep himself grounded enough to really hear what he's trying to saying. And suddenly, things seem to click into place, and Manolo thinks he might understand a little more about where people like Bucky are coming from.]

Joaquin, he's...the same way, actually. He doesn't like putting much faith in people. Outside of me and Maria, he's been a loner for as long as I've known him. [A quiet sigh.] I must have really hurt his feelings, but...I guess it's true that he's so angry because he cares about me so much.

[Bucky's words definitely give him a better perspective on things. Sometimes, when Manolo gets upset, it's so hard for him to imagine feeling better as long as the original problem exists. The reminder that Joaquin will get to talking to him sooner or later eases some of the tension in Manolo's shoulders.]

Exactly. [ Bucky gives him the patented Dick Grayson finger guns. ]

[Okay, those finger guns make him crack a smile.] I guess you really know what you're talking about sometimes, huh.

Sometimes? Aw, Mannybear, I'm hurt.

Yes, sometimes. [There's no real ire in Manolo's voice, though.] Mannybear, though? That's a new one, hah!

Eh, you know, I like to keep things fresh. [ With a smug grin, he takes another heaping bite of cookie dough. ] So, did that help any?

It did, actually. [He smiles as he lightly swirls his drink around. Sometimes he needs other people to help him understand how things really are.] Thank you, Bucky. Truly.

03 ♥ audio (late night)

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