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[matadorable]

If you're hearing this message, I am probably not here. Or I am furiously pressing every button I can because I forgot how this thing works. One of the two! Either way, I will get back to you...eventually.

Comments

[matadorable]

Joaquin? [He grew alarmed at the sight of his friend's retreating back.] Where are you going?

[medalsome]

Why do you care? [He spoke over his shoulder, not even taking a moment to look back.]

[matadorable]

[Manolo promptly ran after him.] Because you're my best friend!

[medalsome]

[Joaquin rounded on him then, not able to take a claim like that calmly.]

Well you sure haven't been acting like a friend!

[He felt heat rushing behind his face, stuffing and suffocating his thoughts.]

You clearly don't care about my feelings, and you sure as hell still don't actually care if you die! Why should I continue to waste my time and energy on someone so insistent on slapping my good intentions down like they're nothing!

[matadorable]

[Those words are like a sharp punch to the gut, freezing Manolo in place.

When he speaks, he's oddly quiet.]

I do care, both about you and about staying alive. That's...why I'm here.

[medalsome]

No you don't! If you did you would have stayed put and let the registered imports take care of things!

[There weren't too many people in the park but the few nearby were starting to stare.]

[matadorable]

[The accusations are met with a pained expression. Him coming here had nothing to do with how much he cared about Joaquin, and it hurts him to hear is friend conflate the two.] Joaquin, that's not true...

[medalsome]

Like hell it isn't!

[He wanted to keep screaming until Manolo could just get it through that thick skull of his that what he did was not okay but it seemed so fruitless and Joaquin was so tired... He deflated but that didn't mean he was going to come around. Not by a long shot.

When he spoke again his voice was soft but not gentle.]

Manolo, I love you, you know I do, but I just can't handle you right now.

[He turned away, starting back on his path. He didn't look back.]

[matadorable]

[He reached out toward him, as if he could will his friend to stop with a single gesture.]

Joaquin, I'm sorry!

[medalsome]

[He still wasn't going to look back, but he barked a few works over his shoulder.]

Go home, Manolo! Or get lost! Do whatever you want! You're going to just do that anyway!

[matadorable]

[And just like that, Joaquin had left Manolo out in the cold both figuratively and literally. Seeing his friend so angry tore at Manolo in the worst way. The man had walked off with a piece of his heart, and dread washed over him when he considered that maybe, just maybe...he'd crossed the line for good, that Joaquin would stay mad about this. At that moment, all Manolo could do was sag onto the ground, resting his back against a tree, and replay the awful conversation in his head over and over again...]

[rassera]

You've never seen one?

[Not surprising. They were rare in Kaneda's time too.]

Yeah, you just gotta put it on a CD, you know? I put the CD in, and--[His hands splay out, like an explosion]--music happens!

[matadorable]

[Manolo grins at Kaneda's description.] That sounds great! Think you could you show me sometime?

[rassera]

[Brows arch. Mostly because YOU BET.]

Anytime you're in Nonah, stop on by.


It doesn't have anything in it just yet, but hey, maybe your CD'll be the first.

[Yes, you're already making one in his eyes.]

[matadorable]

Oh wow, really? [He is genuinely flattered by that, Kaneda. But then something occurs to him, and Manolo grows more thoughtful.] Do you, uh, know how to make one?

[rassera]

...

Well how hard could it be, right? There's millions of CDs in the world.

[matadorable]

Yes! That...is a very good point. [Suddenly, his face brightens.] I'll bet Jaime would know! He is always teaching me about computers, the Netflix, and things like that.

[rassera]

Jaime...

[He's heard that name before...Ken's mentioned him a few times. But it's weird--he's like some elusive person he keeps seeming to miss in this strange world...]

Sounds like he's our ticket to getting you on the map then, huh?

[matadorable]

[He's still having a hard time imagining lots of people listening to him, but Manolo can't help but smile when he thinks about the possibilities.]

You mean we'd make CDs for other people too?

[rassera]

Damn right!

Look, it's like a reputation on the street, alright? You gotta let people know who you are, and word spreads like a fire.

[matadorable]

A reputation...

[Back home, the Rodriguez brothers sure made a name for themselves -- but not a particularly good one, despite being excellent musicians. The laughing stock of the town, his father had once called them, and he'd been quick to equate that with Manolo's own desire to be a guitarrista.

But here? People like Kaneda were supportive of him from the very start, as if they truly believed Manolo had a gift that ought to be shared.

Manolo squared his shoulders with confidence. If other people could believe in him so fully, then the least he could do was believe in himself too.]

It's always been my dream to become a full-time musician. If that'll help me achieve my goal, then...I'll do whatever it takes.

Jan 22

[driftsintobuffetline]

[ Shortly after this and the thread with Hermann. Strikes are deletions.]

Hey. Uh. I'm not
I'm sorry about how much we have to lean on you I have to lean on you and Joaquin at this time--but I was, uh, wondering if we I could call in another favor? Look, there's like a about fifty of us here, I guess, and we're all a little worked up and tired and stressed and I've been, well, don't mention this one to Hermann, but I've been off antidepressants for my entire stay here and it's making me (predictably) kind of cranky and that's fine, I'm coping when I can do the ideas thing? But right now it's just, I don't know.

The point is

Could you just play a song on the network? No explanation required and those who want to can tune in, don't say it's for the imports so if the Russians haven't realized we can do the network bit, they don't realize it there but. Yeah. Some anti-stress music. Maybe. If you have time.

[matadorable]

dr. geiszler!

i am so so relieved
to hear from you directly

please do not apologize
or feel like you have
to explain yourself

its okay
i promise

i always have time
to play music for you
and anyone else
who wants to listen

[Actually, he's not sure if he has any suitable cover songs to play, and the thought of sharing his original music over the network terrifies him a little bit. But...if it's for a friend (and a friend who specifically asked, at that), then Manolo can't say no.]

delivery! (2/14)

[glitterateur]

[On this, the most important romance-related holiday of the year, Manolo receives a card delivered by a flying pig .The pig was probably supposed to look sort of like cupid, as is appropriate for the day, but Mabel made the wings way more bat-like than cherubic. Oops!

There’s a small chocolate heart taped to the back, and a little note: Happy Valentine’s Day! Have the best day EVER!!]

text; same day

[matadorable]

that was
THE BEST
valentine's present
ever

thank you so much mabel
you really made my day!