knightsoflegend | italy ♔ a promise lives within you now

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italy ♔ a promise lives within you now

WHO || Rafael, Buffy [Closed]
WHAT || After months apart, Rafael and Buffy celebrate the end of his tour with a private trip to Italy
WHERE || Italy
WHEN || /truck drives by, blaring horn
HOW || Actionspam.

It hasn't been an easy few months, but then again, it hasn't been an easy few years. Following the night of the Grammy's, Rafael's returned to his tour, aspiring to use his concerts as a chance to try and warn people of the dangers inherent in listening to Blade and company's music, even at the risk of looking like a crazy person. It wouldn't be the first time the world thought it, alright. Meanwhile, Buffy's been dealing with the fallout of what the Mind Master did to Finnick, and by extension, Myri, trying to be there for her friend in every way she can. It would be easier for both of them if they had each other to lean on through it all, but they had to rely instead on numerous phone calls and memories of one night that finally offered them both some hope just when everything had started to seem more impossible than ever.

They also had the promise of this to look forward to: a planned trip to Italy that Rafael insisted be just the two of them, once he was finally free again. He's arranged to meet her at the Galileo Galilei International Airport in Pisa, and when she gets out, there's some Italian chauffeur guys holding a sign that says "Summers".

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ dinner is amazing, the food perfect, and rafael seems just as content to casually flirt his way through each course, every bit invested in apparently crafting her the perfect romantic evening. he tells her stories from the tour, about dealing with burt, fans, the crazy security measures, things he left out of his phone calls. conversation is easy and natural, and it's afterward that he mentions that he's bought them tickets to a show at the same venue where they first met. as they approach, he looks up at the building with a nostalgic grin ] It has been too long since I last saw this place.

All arena blowouts for you lately, huh? [ She nudges him gently as she teases, eyes scanning over the entrance of the theater, and then settling on the people that mill about it. ] Not having to sneak in really adds to the experience. [ A glance over at him. ] You're not afraid I'll leave you to run up on stage and woo the next Italian Idol?

Well, if I was not before, perhaps I am now. [ goes to turn in their tickets, and then gestures her in ahead of him ]

I'm sure it'll be fine. I mean, the chances of him having better hair than you are ... [ As she passes him and heads inside, she shakes her head. ] Remote at best. [ From the familiar interior, she has no problem making her way towards the theater seating. ]

[ he raises one eyebrow as he follows, very amused ] ... I did not realize you felt so strongly about my hair.

[ With the shyest of smiles, Buffy remarks plainly, ] I feel strongly about every part of you.

[ as they find their seats, he remains standing for a moment while she sits, staring down at her with a lingering smile on his lips, letting the words sink in. finally, he slides in beside her, lifting her hand to kiss the back of it with utmost tenderness, his eyes sparking as he says: ] Enjoy the show, carina.

[ there's probably little worry about her abandoning him for an italian hottie b/c it's like

all fancy instrumental music, actually. dynamically so, at least, like seeing lucia micarelli or something. ]

[ Buffy's level of interest in instrumental music is a surprising 52%. Lucky Rafael. She stays focused on the show, albeit not riveted, for most of it, only periodically glancing away from the performers to watch him, which is where the real show lies for her. Her enjoyment of music is a tertiary thing, an appreciation and respect for his passion and ability, so watching him engage with it is more fulfilling than any awe she feels at the performers' talents. ]

[ between sets, he murmurs: ] I will be right back, carina. [ nodding his head towards the back where they sell water bottles and little snacks and shit. he squeezes her hand, brushes a kiss to her cheek, and hurries up the aisle to avoid missing anything.

meanwhile, she can make a spot check now that she has one less half-elven distraction to stare at ]

[ For a moment after he slips off, Buffy watches after him because let's be honest, every part. But she straightens up after he's beyond their row, and glances around the theater, pulling herself out of her lovey-dovey haze to really sweep the room (spot 41). ]

[ what she sees is right off on the wings of the stage - a familiar face that she hasn't seen in years but how the fuck do you forget a pimped out gnoll, i don't know. IT'S ANGELO, and he's pacing back there with a scowl on his face, before he finally looks over his shoulder and then vanishes out of sight. ]

Just like old times, huh?

[ She perks up slightly at the sight, trying to decide what to make of his grousing. Then again, he was always a grouchy little bastard. They followed that lead as far as it would go, and she's on vacation. That's what she tells herself to stay rooted to her seat for all of two minutes more. Cut her some slack, she rolled a will save of 5 (okay, 18, but it started as 5 and I respect that). She wasn't kidding about not knowing how to leave work alone.

Then she glances around for Rafael and gets to her feet, ready to find a less stage-rushy way up to the backstage. If that spot can find her one ?? ? And if it can't her new spot is 34. ]

Edited 2015-04-27 05:25 (UTC)

[ the first thing she likely notices when she gets up is that rafael isn't visible in the back of the theater, although the bathroom doors are right there so that's a likely explanation. there are two doors on either side of the stage that lead backstage, but each has a guard stationed at them. there was probably a backstage door in the lobby as well, that she likely noticed even through her staring at raf, i'm giving her the benefit of the doubt here. ]

[ So she could wait for Rafael to get out of the bathroom, but ... It's only going to take a few minutes ?? Catch up. Get into Angelo's business. See if he's still dealing with NOVA. It'll be fine. She slips back out into the lobby, heading for the backstage door she'd seen there as though she belongs there. ]

[ it's as she gets about three quarters up the aisle back towards the doors to the lobby that she would hear angelo's voice, coming over the speakers. he speaks first in italian, but even with her limited grasp on the language, she knows enough to recognize two words: rafael giovanni.

he repeats the message in english after:

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a very special treat for you this evening. We currently have a visitor who got his start right here in this very hall, and has gone on to be a celebrated Grammy winner. He has graciously offered to perform a special number for us - a song previously unreleased, debuting here for you tonight. Please give a warm welcome for Rafael Giovanni!"

the crowd erupts with wild applause, audience members excitedly turning to whisper to each other about how lucky they are, no doubt. ]

[ Buffy freezes at the name, looking up at the speaker like it will ?? offer her answers ?? ? And surprise it does. English. God bless America. An eagle soars overhead and a red, white, and blue rainbow shoots across the sky outside.

She doubles back quickly, heading back into the concert hall proper and fumbling blindly back to her seat, eyes fixed up on the stage. As a result of how startled she is, the applause she eventually realizes she should be contributing to is slow, uneven, and distracted. ]

[ the spotlights scatter across the stage frantically for a moment before coming to rest on the center, where rafael sits, perched on a stool, mic in his hand. he certainly doesn't look put upon for being there, and what's more, he has a few simple words to say before the music begins, a humbleness to his demeanor as he recounts: ]

I wrote this song over the course of these last few months, for someone who was waiting for me.

What she does not know, perhaps, is what I have waited to tell her, all this time.

[ ♬ my confession - rafael giovanni ]

with that, a sweet guitar starts up, the band already clearly familiar with the song, indicating that they received this music long enough ago to practice it - perfect it, even.

rafael lowers his head, listening with his eyes closed, lost in it until he launches into a low, throaty verse, every note flawless as he clearly pours his heart into each of them (perform 36). ]

I have been blind, unwilling to see
The true love you're giving.
I have ignored every blessing.
I'm on my knees confessing

That I feel myself surrender
Each time I see your face.
I am staggered by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart is turning,
Falling into place.
I can't hide it
Now hear my confession.

[ he rises to his feet, moving forward to the lip of the stage, lifting the mic as the song rises in intensity ]

I have been wrong about you.
Thought I was strong without you.
For so long nothing could move me.
For so long nothing could change me.
Now I feel myself surrender
Each time I see your face.

[ his eyes sweep across the darkness of the audience, a smile creeping up his face as he sings: ]

I am captured by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart is turning,
Falling into place.
I can't hide it
Now hear my confession.

You are the air that I breathe.
You're the ground beneath my feet.
When did I stop believing?

Cause I feel myself surrender
Each time I see your face.
I am staggered by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart
Falling into place.
I can't hide it
Now hear my confession.
I can't hide it
Now hear my confession.
Hear my confession

[ Watching Rafael perform is always something of a rapturous experience for Buffy. She settles in to listen, but her expression grows slack with genuine shock as he makes his introduction. And then, steadily, her face reddens, as if she can feel everyone in the theater looking at her despite the fact that not a single person probably is. They don't know who she is, of course, and that's what makes it feel so strangely intimate. A theater full of people, but he's singing directly to her and only her, and they're the only ones who really know it.

Slowly, a trembling hand raises to cover her mouth as he begins his serenade, and like every time she sees him sing, she watches, transfixed, taking in every movement, every passionate shift in his expression. Her heart expands as the music swells, threatening to burst in her chest; she's too breathless and awed to cry, but happy tears form behind her eyes all the same (will 30). Her smile starts as his does, a wide, blissful flutter of her lips hidden behind her hand.

Every bit of love that burns through her body, all the way to her fingertips, is visible in the gleam of her eyes as she watches him, unmoving in her reverence but to lower her hand.

The song closes, and she gets to her feet. Once there, she begins the enthusiastic applause, only to stop after a few claps to move through the row and slip back into the main aisle (will 19). For the second time in this theater, she disregards all order and moves for the stage. It begins as a brisk walk and turns into a run as she nears it to climb up with all the ease she did when she first met him (climb 20). ]

[ rafael moves to put the microphone in its stand as the others applaud, and there's none of his usual smiling and waving and acknowledging the audience as he turns back to look over them. his eyes seek out buffy's empty seat, trace down the aisle and find her already mounting the stage, easily enough to not need his help, especially by the time he notices. he stares at her as she gets to her feet at a level with him, a few yards away, a vulnerable hope in the half-smile he wears as he takes in her expression, weighs every detail of the way she's looking at him, waits for her response. ]

[ Breathless and flushed at the edge of the stage, Buffy doesn't move right away. She meets his gaze, the stage lights beating heat down on them both. Then her feet carry her forward of their own accord, and she's moving for him before she even realizes it. A brisk walk turns again to a hurried jog as though possessed by some force beyond her will, and she doesn't hesitate for even a moment as she throws her arms around him. Pushing up onto her toes, she knots one hand in his hair and pulls him down for a dizzying kiss on center stage. ]

[ ♬ open your eyes - snow patrol

there's no hesitation when her lips press to his, his arms wrapping securely around her instantly, pulling her closer as he meets the kiss with breathless anticipation of his own. his mouth melds eagerly against hers, a passionate edge of desperation to it as if he's been swiftly dispossessed of whatever illusions he momentarily held about keeping in mind where they were and who they were doing this in front of, all such thoughts vanishing in the wake of rolling a 3 on his will save.

one hand slides back up to her jaw, then presses more insistently back into her hair, fingers tangling there as he draws the kiss out to what's probably the breaking point of decency. with his 21 dex check, you can bet it's the sort of kiss that leaves her head spinning in its wake, too. you're welcome. ]

[ Pressed tightly against him, Buffy melts into the kiss, the rest of the world falling away into a distant darkness as she holds onto Rafael like he's the only real thing in this room. The din of the crowd quiets as it's forgotten, leaving her alone in this moment with him. Her lips part as she plays her own role in taking the kiss just to the brink of indecency (dex 16), but knows to break away just at the threshold.

She tilts her forehead against his, only putting distance between their lips, refusing to relinquish her grip on him quite yet even as she begins to compose herself (will 23). A wide, girlish smile starts to tug at the corners of her mouth between heavy breaths as she continues to separate from him by inches. She looks up at him, wonder and boundless affection warming her gaze as she takes in every bit of his expression. ]

[ he seems disinclined to be any further apart than that, to be honest, his dark lashes lowered appealingly, lips still half-parted as he drinks her in, his fingers still idly playing in the back of her hair. he looks flushed himself, a radiant glow behind his eyes, and his voice is thick and not just a little sensual (cha 21) as he murmurs: ] Mia carina.

[ Well, shit. When he's talking like that.

Buffy tilts her chin upward to catch his mouth in another, softer kiss. It lacks the intensity of the former, speaking of an inability to let him go rather than a real dogged inability to wind back up (will 19). She pulls her hand out of his hair to cup the side of his face when she draws back again. ]

That was beautiful. [ She whispers to him like they're the only ones on this planet, frozen in time. ]

[ maybe his will saves will impro-- /rolls a 2 nvm

the audience still entirely forgotten, he smiles gently at her, intimately. ] If that is true, it is only because of you.

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