"Gli farò un'offerta che non potrà rifiutare."

[sharktrash]

Who: MANTICORE and Roy Mustang
What: the violence-worshipping band give the warm-up band's guitarist an offer he can't refuse.
When: 17ish?
Where: someplace a gig can take place. Vista City Mini Amphitheatre? idk
Warnings: language? probably?? SQUALO? idk will add as necessary

(( There are four main sections you can post your toplevels or tag in to:
- before Manticore's performance (watching Roy play, generic shenanigans, forcing him to stay onstage after his band's done),
- during (if you wanna play out making music and/or stage shenanigans!),
- after (the final verdict) and then, finally,
- dragging their catch back home and staging THE INITIATION CEREMONY. that's right MANTICORE is lowkey a frat house.
Have fun! Threadjacking encouraged and expected! Basically, go wild. ))

Comments

[wounds]

[They don't have much of a choice. As a rock band they're going to sound empty when they don't have a lead guitarist- especially when such a huge chunk of their songs have at least a small chunk that's dedicated just to their lead guitarist.

They go through the first song in their set just fine, and they move seemlessly to the next.]

I feel so unsure
As I take your hand
And lead you to the dance floor

[sharktrash]

[ Exactly. It all hinges on a good lead guitar, to be honest. Sure, Genos' instrument can cover most of the riffs and Squalo's most of the melodic wiggles and solos, but it's not quite the same. People like this genre for the "axe". It's more than a necessity. ]

[ He "helps" with the main melody, going for a minor chord to make it ring more eerie in contrast with the guitar, then slips back into rhythmic patterns to keep the background sound rich, his playing going more gentle when the singing starts. ]

[ He waits for Genos to finish the verse, providing a nice reverb in just the same pitch as his voice, to make it sound like it lasts well into the next part; he takes a deep breath and then continues in unison with their singer, his voice a more rasp, almost shouting counterpart to the other's more melodic take. ]

I'm never going to play again
These guilty hands have got no rhythm --

I love different genre covers 8D

[snapcrackleburn]

[ This happens to be one of Roy's favorite of MANTICORE's songs, one that he has played countless times on his own. Jecht's clear beat from behind him add spirit to his performance. Genos's vocals ring out clear and captivating over the speakers and Squalo (despite being a knife-wielding bastard) shows off his talent wonderfully the way he compliments Genos's voice.

Song number two with this band, and somehow the experience has turned into something that naturally flows out of him rather than a struggle. Something about it just seems to fit.] ]

They're great!

[wounds]

Though it's easy to pretend
I know your not a fool

[He takes a deep breath as the chorus ends and starts in on the next verse. His voice is as clear and pleasant as ever- the feeling bouncing off of him is regret as he goes through the lyrics.]

Should've known better than to cheat a friend
And waste the chance that I've been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you

[sharktrash]

[ He's doing it again. Squalo can sense it, that vaguely familiar sensation he thinks he's felt before at the club Genos had invited him to for a joint show with that Kido girl. Is he even aware of it? Who knows. It's not that strong there on the stage, but it definitely reaches the audience. He leans sideways toward Roy, nodding his head at Genos. ]

Vooooi, watch this.

[ He causes reverb again and plays into the next verse, watching the first rows of fans to see if he can confirm his suspicious, and trying to fight off that looming sensation of regret himself. ]

[ And do the listeners enjoy it. The screaming's louder than usual, and he's sure he can see a few girls in the front tear up, holding their arms out as if reaching for Genos. Mass ecstasy is starting to sound like a decent description. ]

[snapcrackleburn]

[ Roy watches in fascination. He had performed for large cheering crowds before but warm up bands and smaller venues rarely ever got such an emotional reaction on this scale. Maybe one sobbing fan max.

He can feel Genos' song tugging at his own emotions. It's amazing to feel this caught up in the music but it almost feels like it isn't a matter of his own focus. It's too consistent, too automatic, it doesn't waver even as he watches the crowd or Squalo. ]

[wounds]

[Squalo's only amplifying the feeling for all of the audience members.

Regret, pain, a feeling of broken friendships that can never be mended.]

Time can never mend
The careless whispers of a good friend
To the heart and mind
Ignorance is kind
There's no comfort in the truth
Pain is all you find

[Every word carries the meaning and feeling through to the audience.]

[sharktrash]

[ You're welcome. ]

[ It's a good thing broken friendships are a sensation Squalo's unfamiliar with (yet). He has an easier time not getting lost in the emotions getting pulsed out right next to him. But it does make it easier to really get into the music. ]

-- IS ALL YOU FIND!!

[ he echoes, so Genos can seamlessly move into the chorus. ]

[snapcrackleburn]

[ Regrets and pain over friendship lost. Roy has never lost a friend like that, yet it feels like somewhere in the back of his mind there's a familiarity with the feeling. Something starts to eat away at his thoughts and he squeezes his eyes shut and focuses on the chords under his fingers. Not now! Now, he plays for this audience.

He waits for the finale and let's another wave of flames erupt from his guitar. Later he'll have to remember to ask Genos about that song. ]