The elderly woman who’d been enjoying the music dropped the bills quickly into Wayne’s open case and scampered off upon seeing the look on Pandora’s face. Wayne was incredibly oblivious at first, continuing his mournful song. Strumming another note, Wayne tipped his head back and let the sun hit his face, his voice filled with overflowing emotion. The song took on a near frantic swell, chaotic as his heart.
Finally noticing the intensity on the pink haired woman, Wayne turned his head towards her. He was so used to wearing masks, his face only ever reflected his true feeling when he was lost in thought, so his friendly mask slid into place. He flashed a charming smile like a familiar glove. Even if it was far more uncomfortable and exhausting than it once was. His eyes still shown with his weariness, but his smile was as brilliant as ever.
His little Blue buddy used to call it nearly predatory, there was something about the larger alien. He was in truth as inhuman as any of the blues, humans just refused to be aware of it. Wayne was certain they did see it. There was a reason few wanted to actually befriend him. To spend a lot of time with him. Something that was off, unsettling. It was why his Mother was so insistent he learned to be a charming boy, to win them over. It had worked… but only as admiration. The charm and smiles had won him few real friends… and those were all gone now.
“I’m taking requests if you have something in mind, little lady,” Wayne offered, twanging the guitar string again. He noticed her stance but refused to acknowledge it. He didn’t do that anymore. Done, hands washed of the whole mess. It never did any good.
-For where to start? First at all, not a request. Totally. He would turn Happy song into a ballad to Death. She frowned and continued staring at him with full distraust and a hard desire to make the tree behind him collide against his head. – “No” she answered finally. “No songs.” then she crossed her arms, trying to decide if she should ask nicely or accuse him to exist.-
-“Metro man? What truck hit you? Not that one could really hurt you but…..” she waved her hands to gesture towards his aspect, like expecting for this enough signal to get an explanation. Even his hair was a complete mess. His clothes? A Hippie Yoga instructor probably… This was too odd for her taste. No matter what he could tell her. He is Metroman. She just scanned his face’s structure and the crane and facial features say it’s him. Her system shows Wayne scotts, Alias Metro man, in the front of her internal screen…
Wayne’s brows knit and he raised a hand to rub the back of his neck, “Well… singing is really the whole point. Usually people like music?”
He just wanted to not be alone. Normally people just listened and he could enjoy just being near people for a while. What she followed up with had laughing easily. He was shocked in truth, he hadn’t been called Metro Man is so very long, but deflecting it had become ingrained.
“I do sorta look like him, don’t I?” Wayne grinned easily, “It’s the chin I think,” setting down the guitar, he shifted into his most charming mask. He was rusty, but his mood was decent enough that it wasn’t too painful. The mirth on his face never could reach his eyes. Holding out his hand to shake, he added, “Wayne. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss…?”