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

[oathkeeping]

You died?

[matadorable]

That is...another way of saying it, yes.

[oathkeeping]

Most people don't have a lot of ways of saying that.

[matadorable]

You would be surprised! Poets and musicians have all sorts of ways of saying the same thing.

[oathkeeping]

If you say so. [He still looks wide-eyed for a moment, then shakes his head and smiles.] You'd know better than me.

[matadorable]

You think so? I just figure death is one of those...you know, "multi-versal" things, and people are definitely creative!

[oathkeeping]

As far as I know, where I come from, when people die, they're just...gone. They don't come back from any land.

[matadorable]

...Well, I can't say I know how death works in every world. Just that it exists. But I like to think no one is truly gone, as long as there's someone who remembers them.

[oathkeeping]

And if people do forget?

[matadorable]

[Manolo grows somber at that question.] If people forget, then...that is when the dead are lost to us.

[oathkeeping]

Yeah. That's what I figured.

[He's quiet for a moment, then shakes his head.]

Anyway. It's cool to hear your music. I hope I can hear you some more later.

[matadorable]

[He doesn't like to be a downer, but there's no way for him to really sugarcoat it. Least of all when he's actually seen what happens to poor souls who've been forgotten by the Living.]

Thank you. I would love to play for you again. Feel free to knock on my door, even if you just want something to relax to.