maskormenacelogs | March Catch-all

I'll say! [He's smiling now, genuinely happy that Kaneda has at least some sort of protection during a fight.] And that's a power the Porter gave to you?

[It's certainly come in handy. True, he's not damage proof--healers are truly a wonderful thing and something he has to rely on, but it's been more of a boon than anything.]

Yeeep. That and my bike.

[His luck is also there, but he doesn't make a point to mention it. Not like many would believe it.]

Your bike? It's magic or something like that?

My bike?

It's not really magic, just...

[Kaneda stops their walk a moment, snapping his fingers as it materializes at his side.]

I save a lot on parking.

[Disclaimer: he has never paid for parking in his life.]

Edited 2016-03-19 18:20 (UTC)

Woah! [He steps back, admiring the bike's sudden appearance.] So it's a little like my guitar! That's great!

[Except there are more flower petals in his case. Also, once he summons it, he's either gotta carry it with him or find a safe place to stash it until he needs it again...]

[Kaneda's hand runs along the bike's ceramic plating, fingers dragging along like you would a faithful pet, eyes cast on it like it was made of gold. Whatever attachment he had to his bike was beyond just 'it's a cool bike', like it was a piece of himself made physical. Beneath his fingers, it seems to hum with life, like a purring cat in his metaphorical lap.]

It's pretty special.

[His hips lean against it, hands supporting him as he explains.]

It only works for me. If you got on it...it'd either disappear or completely lock up.

[Manolo softly smiles, taking note of the tender way Kaneda's hand touches the surface.]

The bike is an extension of your soul.

[He says that like it's the most natural thing in the world. For Manolo, that would be his guitar, so he understands completely.]

[His hand freezes as Manolo says that, his fingertips trailing lightly along one of the stickers seemingly carelessly slapped on.

An extension of his soul...

It'd never been referred to as that. Not anywhere that wasn't his subconscious. But when its said, when Manolo puts to words what his mind only could describe as feelings, it's never felt so validating. His smile widens, warm and comforting as Manolo finishes, hand trailing along the end of the ceramic plating before speaking.]

Just like that.

[A pause.]

And no one can take it from me.

It suits you. [Riding through the wind to freedom, powered by the sheer strength of one's soul…that’s an image he can definitely associate with Kaneda. Manolo’s expression grows more affectionate at that thought.] Is there a story behind this?

[And right then, when Manolo compliments him on that...saying his bike suits him...it's like he radiates with pride. His bike seems to show the same, its lights glowing dimly in contentment.]

You mean how I found it?

[That glow really suits Kaneda too. Manolo's face lights up at the sight.]

Yes, and why it's so special to you.

[His hips lean idly against it, hands resting on top of the windshield as he scuffs a foot idly against the ground.]

Not much of a story, really. I had to steal it back in the day--bike gangs need bikes, you know? And I was the leader of my gang, so whatever bike I wanted, I made sure I got.

[His thumb runs along the edge of the windshield.]

This one's one-of-a-kind. Prototype or something. Computer controlled anti-lock brakes, Twin ceramic rotors, something like that. I don't really look at the specs. She's impossible to handle for any regular biker, though. Yamagata tried, hell, even Tetsuo tried. Damn hard bike to control.

[But that wasn't good enough for Kaneda, obviously.]

But that's not good enough for me. I make it do what I want--push it to what I think it can do...and it ALWAYS gets the job done.

...

Can't really explain it. It's just...my bike.

Edited 2016-03-24 20:44 (UTC)

[Manolo considers his story for a moment before he something occurs to him, and he grins.]

Anyone who's grown up around horses might understand. [At least, that's the clearest parallel he can draw.] Not at all horses are bred the same, and some require an especially good handler.

[Following that logic, he adds:] That bike needs someone with a strong personality to tame it, and it responds best to yours, right?

[Kaneda had never grown up with horses, but he'd heard stories about them, and from what Manolo's describing them as, it's certainly an applicable translation of the metaphor. Funny, how Manolo compared it to something more of his time period, and yet Kaneda had never lived anything close to it.

Cultural gaps, and overcoming them is amazing.]

Exactly. It needs someone who won't take no for an answer.

That's me.

Yeah? Well, I believe it.

[Confidence is something Kaneda has always worn well, and the same is true in this case too.]

...Can people ride with you?

Depends.

[He gestures to the seat, showing that it is indeed big enough for two riders.]

It needs my permission, you know? It can't be stolen, or it'll just disappear on em and you'll land with your ass on the pavement. Everything locks up if they try to open anything or push buttons...so it needs me at the wheel.

But yeah, rides can be arranged.

[Kaneda had mentioned that he's the only one who can control the bike, so that explanation makes sense.]

Oh, alright! [He grins.] Sometimes Joaquin takes me for rides on his bike, so I was just curious how that worked.

...Sounds like someone I've got to meet.

[He doesn't know who Joaquin is, but he's got to be a friend of Manny's if there's bike rides involved.]

Yes! [That thought puts a huge smile on Manolo's face.] You two should definitely meet. Joaquin is my best friend. We come from the same town!

Yeah? Like...childhood friends?

[Because Kaneda knows what that bond is like, and it's good to see Manolo has someone like that here.

He just hopes Joaquin isn't quite as high maintenance.]

Yes! Exactly like that. I’ve known Joaquin for practically as long as I can remember.

[They’re both pretty high maintenance, to be honest. Joaquin has a lot of baggage from growing up without much of a family, and Manolo’s lack of self-preservation doesn’t help with that.]

[Wow, way to completely mirror Kaneda's life, Manolo. If you'd just switched the names around to something slightly more Japanese, it would almost be word for word his bond between Tetsuo and himself.

Not that he knows that, but he gets the feeling that there's something vaguely familiar about the bond these two have. He nods, a more playful smile on his face as he leans on his bike.]

Lemme guess, you're troublemakers back home, huh?

When we were kids, we miiiiight have helped our friend free the animals from the butcher’s shop? [He gives a small laugh, shaking his head at that memory.]

But Joaquin…he’s usually been better-behaved than me. I never saw him slack off from his training, and sometimes he’d try to be the voice of reason. [He cracks an equally playful grin.] He can be plenty reckless when it suits him, though. Don’t let him tell you otherwise.

[Ah, right up until 'better behaved'. He knew there had to be a fork in this comparison somewhere. It's enough to get a laugh out of him.]

So you were the troublemaker, huh? And here I thought that was an innocent face!

Whaaat, this is the most innocent face! [Laughing, he points at his cheek for emphasis.]

You should know that I don’t make the trouble. I’m just the one who is along for the ride. [A beat.] …Or walking right into it, one of the two. Anyway, our friend Maria was actually the ringleader when we were little, not me!

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