CHAPTER FINALE ♔ darling can't you see it's now or never

[romanticidal]

♬ Astronaut (A Short History of Nearly Nothing) - Amanda Palmer ft. Zoe Keating

WHO || Rafael Giovanni, Eterna Jade, Burt Becksworth, Isabella Alessandro, Finnick Odair, Myrilandel de Tanos, Buffy Summers, Spike, Elena Gilbert, Dawn Summers, Desmond Descant, Jeanne Gar, Kat Samcelot, Mark Sandazhard, Violet Fiore, Sterling Archer
WHAT || CHAPTER ONE FINALE: Rafael Giovanni & Finnick's televised international concert debut
WHERE || A music hall in Chicago, IL
WHEN || July 3rd, 2013 [ forward dated]
HOW || Actionspam

The hour is finally upon our heroes, to learn whether their crazy plan to invest in making Finnick and Rafael international superstars under Burt Becksworth's management will pay off, and keep control of NOVA Records out of the hands of Chad Becksworth and his sinister compatriots. Now, as the Knights finish taking their seats in the balconies directly overlooking the stage, the concert goes live, broadcasting around the world, to where even other members of the Knighthood in London can gather to watch.

The camera pans across the endless sea of gathered, curious fans, who shake their arms wildly for their two seconds of fame, and then zooms in on a blonde figure on one corner of the stage, where she stands ready with a microphone: Buffy Summers.

[ the action of this post will be continually propelled by the interspersed musical numbers performed by finnick and rafael. each musical number will be up for a short amount of ooc time, in which players are free to create mini-thread responses directly to that song comment. these can be for internal reflection, to make commentary to the neighbors seated in their rows, for backstage convos for those involved in the program, or for 'host' commentary between some songs by archer and kat. threads that result from these responses should be kept short and sweet, as each song is only 3 to 5 minutes long, which doesn't leave a lot of time for in depth conversations. ideally, by the time the next 'number' is posted (as a direct response to the last musical number comment), your response threads from the previous number should be considered over and done with, and you can continue anything going on in them as a new mini-thread under the most recently posted song. in order to keep track of when things are rolling on to the next song, I highly encourage everyone to please track this entire post. ]

Comments

[65]

[ ♬ never close our eyes - adam lambert

yeah idk finnick is still on stage singing and gyrating and being all hot and shit. he has the talent of being able to look down into the audience and make every girl feel like he's staring ~exactly at them.~ (perform 38)

i wish that this night would never be over
there's plenty of time to sleep when we die
so let's just stay awake until we grow older
if i had my way we'd never close our eyes, our eyes, never

i don't wanna let a minute get away
cause we got no time to lose
none of us are promised to see tomorrow
and what we do is ours to choose

forget about the sunrise
fight the sleep in your eyes
i don't wanna miss a second with you
let's stay this way forever
it's only getting better if we want it to

you know that i wish that this night would never be over
there's plenty of time to sleep when we die
so let's just stay awake until we grow older
if i had my way we'd never close our eyes, our eyes, never

it's so hard to think this could fade away
but what goes up must come down
why can't we just live life with no consequence
and always live in the now

forget about the sunrise
fight the sleep in your eyes
i don't wanna miss a second with you
let's stay this way forever
it's only getting better if we want it to

you know that i wish that this night would never be over
there's plenty of time to sleep when we die
so let's just stay awake until we grow older
if i had my way we'd never close our eyes, our eyes, never

oooooooooooo, yeahhhhhh, ooooooooo, yeaaahhhhhh

you know that i wish that this night would never be over
there's plenty of time to sleep when we die
so let's just stay awake until we grow older
if i had my way we'd never close our eyes, our eyes, never ]

[romanticidal]

[ meanwhile, rafael is pacing the fuck out of the backstage area, occasionally stopping to look at one of the screens that show camera takes over the audience, futilely waiting for a glance at a certain balcony out there. ]

[witchwoman]

[God damn, Finnick... Myri is not able to really focus on conversation or anything else while these songs continue to rock the shit out of this place. When he glances in her general direction, she's not immune to his performer's stare. Her breath hitches and she feels warm all over. It's not hard to pretend to be a fangirl for the pop star when you've got it so bad for him in real life.

Taking a cue from the girls all around them, Myri stands and briefly adds her voice to the screaming fans. She got herself caught up in the moment, okay. It felt right.]

[notaroundme]

[Elena's much the same, totally caught up in the performance. What is talking when you can watch this.

She finds herself getting to her feet when Myri does, her hands cupping her mouth as she screams before she turns to her and smiles widely, reaching for her hand and giving it an excited squeeze, bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet.]

[rationalizes]

[ gar glances over and sees the girls standing so she rises as well, but she's too british for screaming, so instead she claps and shouts spirited adorable things like "Well done!" "Hurrah Finnick!" and so on. she's grinning from ear to ear though and clearly having a good time, not to mention glowing with a certain amount of team pride. it seems clear that this is going to be a victory for team failboat, as panties drop around the nation and finnick shows himself to be a shoe-in platinum artist. ]

[witchwoman]

[Myri has no experience with concert etiquette so she has no way of knowing that Gar is doin it wrong. She's just getting into the show, jumping and clapping now as the song continues. She looks to both women beside her and grins wildly.]

[isisagent]

[Archer suddenly reappears backstage, still not entirely sure what the hell he's been signed up for. Having no luck finding a decent drink here, he had left the show to find a bar. He struts in with a martini in each hand, and a now-full flask secreted away in his jacket.]

[Nearing Rafael, he quickly finishes off one of his drinks - throwing the glass casually - **SMASH** - and clapping Rafael on the back.]
Try not to piss yourself, Machiavelli.

[He scans the area, passing over Kat a few times, before talking to her.]
Hmm... Hollywood said I was supposed to track down some tits backstage... Seen them anywhere?

[65]

[ ♫ chokehold - adam lambert

time for a less high energy song but not really bc you can't stop finnick being awesome and everyone going all batshit over him. (perform 26)

staring at the ceiling in the dark
sheets are in a knot
my heart is like rock, hey

pictures flashin' by inside my head
i'm hanging my a thread
but, i'd do it all again, hey

i keep running away, running away, running away from you
but i can't stand breaking the chains, breaking the chains, breaking the chains
it's too good, cause i know the second you go
wantcha to bring it on back, bring it on back, bring it on back to me

and you know i want your chokehold
wantcha to bring it on back, bring it on back, bring it on back to me

bring it on back to me
bring it on back to me

oh without your touch i suffocate
could asphyxiate
but i kinda like the pain, yeah
baby i can smell you on my clothes
i try to stay composed
but i feel the fever grow gro-ow oh

i keep running away, running away, running away from you
but i can't stand breaking the chains, breaking the chains, breaking the chains
it's too good, cause i know the second you go
wantcha to bring it on back, bring it on back, bring it on back to me

and you know i want your chokehold
wantcha to bring it on back, bring it on back, bring it on back to me

bring it on back to me
bring it on back to me

cause i know the second you go
wantcha to bring it on back, bring it on back, bring it on back to me
and you know, i want your chokehold
wantcha to bring on back, bring it on back, bring it on back to me, yeah

bring it on back to me
bring it on back to me
bring it on back to me ]

[romanticidal]

[ rafael is drawn out of his reverie by buffy grabbing him and turns towards her, keeping close that they can speak without being overheard, and glancing over his shoulder at her comment. he inhales slightly and then nods absently. ]

... Grazie, carina. [ he runs his other hand through his carefully styled hair, mussing it a bit ] I ... do not know if I am ready to be so on stage for all the world. [ there's an anxiety beyond fear of a large crowd there, one he's sure she understands. ] There will be no going back from this.

[65]

[ ♬ disturbia - the cab

i never know what to write in these brackets. finnick is still singing and being badass and w/e. (perform 28)

what's wrong with me?
why do i feel like this?
i'm going crazy now

no more gas in the rig
can't even get it started
nothing heard, nothing said
can't even speak about it
on my life, on my head
don't wanna think about it
feels like i'm going insane, yeah

it's a thief in the night to come and grab you
it can creep up inside you and consume you
a disease of the mind, it can control you
it's too close for comfort

put on your break lights
you're in the city of wonder
ain't gon' play nice
watch out you might just go under
better think twice
your train of thought will be altered
so if you must falter be wise

your mind's in disturbia
it's like the darkness is the light
disturbia, am i scaring you tonight?
disturbia, ain't used to what you like
disturbia, disturbia

faded pictures on the wall
it's like they talking to me
disconnecting on calls
the phone don't even ring
i gotta get out
or figure this shit out
it's too close for comfort, oh

it's a thief in the night to come and grab you
it can creep up inside you and consume you
a disease of the mind it can control you
i feel like a monster, oh

put on your break lights (break lights)
you're in the city of wonder
ain't gon' play nice
watch out you might just go under
better think twice
your train of thought will be altered
so if you must falter be wise

your mind's in disturbia
it's like the darkness is light
disturbia, am i scaring you tonight?
disturbia, ain't used to what you like
disturbia, disturbia

release me from this curse
i've been trying to maintain but i'm struggling
if you can't go-o-o
i think i'm gonna ah, ah, ah, ah

put on your break lights
you're in the city of wonder
ain't gon' play nice
watch out you might just go under
better think twice
your train of thought will be altered
so if you must falter be wise
(think twice tonight)

your mind's in disturbia
it's like the darkness is the light
(is the light)
disturbia, am i scaring you tonight?
disturbia, ain't used to what you like
disturbia, disturbia ]

[borrowedheaven]

[ as everyone cheers and claps and bounces beside her in the lower balcony, jade slips something out of her little clasp purse and turns it over in her fingers, a strange, absent gesture. my precioussssssssssssss a spot check of 15+ will notice it - it sure is her silver chain and emerald pendant necklace. at least she's not wearing it, vi... ]

[witchwoman]

[Myri is too distracted by her crazy sexy boyfriend guy to notice Jade's fidgeting (spot 11) but she does notice that Jade is not enjoying the concert, so she finds a moment to stop her fangirl screeching and steps back and moves to Jade's side.]

It must not be as exciting- since you've been on stage. [She wants to ask about Rafael and if she has any ~feelings~ about seeing him perform, but knows that it wouldn't end well...]

[borrowedheaven]

I wouldn't say that. He puts on a helluva show. [ she glances back out at the stage, then... brings up what myri's thinking about anyways ] I guess I'm just a little focused on what's coming.

[graveflowers]

[Yep, still drooling. IDK maybe she noticed and caught that. Maybe she is doing her nails. Maybe she is waiting for her BFF shout out AHEM FINNICK, she is still all ick from her creepy ass nightmare o'doom that she keeps replaying in between enthusiastically clapping. Yay Finnick!]

[isisagent]

[Archer nudges his co-host]

This guy's not half-bad. I mean, I don't usually listen to, you know, gay artists - but man he's got some pipes.

[Archer secretly hopes Finnick sings 'Danger Zone.']

[shootfirst]

You're the one complimenting the guy's plumbing. Just sayin'.

[65]

[ ♬ if i had you - adam lambert

UGH ARCHER RUDE. whatever u just can't handle this jelly. (perform 35)

so i got my boots on,
got the right amount of leather
and i'm doing me up with a black color liner
and i'm working my strut but i know it don't matter
all we need in this world is some love

there's a thin line between the dark side and the light side baby tonight
it's a struggle gotta rumble, tryin' to find it
but if i had you, that would be the only thing i'd ever need
yeah if i had you, then money fame and fortune never could compete
if i had you, life would be a party, it'd be ecstasy
yeah if i had you
you y-y-y-y-y-you, y-y-y-y-y-you, y-y-y-y-you
if i had you

from new york to la getting high rock and rolling
get a room trash it up 'till it's ten in the morning
girls in stripper heels, boys rolling in maseratis
what they need in this world is some love
there's a thin line between the wild time and a flat-line baby tonight
it's a struggle gotta rumble tryin' to find it

but if i had you, that would be the only thing i'd ever need
yeah if i had you, then money fame and fortune never could compete
if i had you, life would be a party, it'd be ecstasy
yeah if i had you
you y-y-y-y-y-you, y-y-y-y-y-you, y-y-y-y-you
if i had

the flashing of the lights
it might feel so good but i got you stuck on my mind, yeah
the flashing and the stage it might get me high
but it don't mean a thing tonight

that would be the only thing i'd ever need
yeah if i had you, then money fame and fortune never could compete
if i had you, life would be a party, it'd be ecstasy
yeah if i had you
you y-y-y-y-y-you, y-y-y-y-y-you, y-y-y-y-you
if i had you

that would be the only thing i'd ever need
yeah if i had you, then money fame and fortune never could compete
(never could compete with you)
if i had you, life would be a party, it'd be ecstasy (it'd be ecstasy with you)
yeah if i had you
you y-y-y-y-y-you, y-y-y-y-y-you, y-y-y-y-you
if i had you ]

[isisagent]

Say uh... [He thinks a moment] ...Katie?, did Finnick just have a stroke on stage? He seems to be st-st-st-stuttering a lot

[isisagent]

I mean, don't get me wrong, guy still sounds like liquid gold.

[bigbad]

[Spike's impressed and all but he's also playing Fruit Ninja on his phone now. Look he's bored of Angry Birds and he's not gonna pay to get more stuff.]

[slay]

Wow. Guess they're not lying when they say even the superstars get cold feet. [ buffy's surprise is legitimate, but it's followed by a warm smile. she reaches out, squeezing his arm. ] I'm not gonna lie to you. I mean, you should be scared, this is scary stuff. But you're not gonna be alone in it. There is no going back from this, but I know that you can handle it, and I know that we're all here to help you.

[romanticidal]

[ ♬ baby be brave - the corrs

rafael looks down, brow furrowing, but nods reluctantly and gratefully at her words ] I do know this, si. And I am most certainly fortunate to have you all. But that is not what I meant, entirely. Not that I am not afraid to perform for all the world - but... [ he glances behind himself, a casual scope of who might be standing nearby, and then reaches up to cover his headset mic with a hand, just in case, and leans across her shoulder to say in a low voice: ] You, of anyone, understand how dangerous it could be to have my life under such close scrutiny... [ he shoots her a significant look ] And my past.

[65]

I have to dedicate this song to a little someone … I think you all know who.

[ ♬ i knew you were trouble - sam tsui & kurt schneider

yep he sure is singing taylor swift's own song back at her. IT'S SUPER DRAMATIC OK. hell it was probably burt's idea even … (perform 31)

once upon time
a few mistakes ago
i was in your sights
you got me alone
you found me
you found me
you found me

i guess you didn't care
and i guess i liked that
and when i fell hard
you took a step back
without me, without me, without me

and you're long gone
when you're next to me
and i realize the blame is on me

cause i knew you were trouble when you walked in
so shame on me now
flew me to places i'd never been
till you put me down oh
i knew you were trouble when you walked in
so shame on me now
flew me to places i'd never been
now i'm lying on the cold hard ground
oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble
oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble

no apologies
you'll never see me cry
pretend that you don't know
that you're the reason why
i'm drowning, you're drowning, you're drowning

and i heard you moved on
from whispers on the street
a new notch in your belt
is all i'll ever be
and now i see, now i see, now i see
you were long gone
when you met me
and i realize the joke is on me

i knew you were trouble when you walked in
so shame on me now
flew me to places i'd never been
till you put me down oh
i knew you were trouble when you walked in
so shame on me now
flew me to places i'd never been
now i'm lying on the cold hard ground
oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble
oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble

when your saddest fear comes creeping in
that you never loved me or him or anyone or anything
yeah

i knew you were trouble when you walked in
so shame on me now
flew me to places i'd never been
till you put me down oh
i knew you were trouble when you walked in
so shame on me now
flew me to places i'd never been
now i'm lying on the cold hard ground
oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble
oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble

i knew you were trouble when you walked in
trouble, trouble, trouble
i knew you were trouble when you walked in
trouble, trouble, trouble ]

[starfucker]

[ leaning over the railing, burt cuts a shit eating grin back at everyone as a tv screen above the stage projects a close up of taylor swift in the audience - a grimace of a smile plastered on her face and rapidly melting. ] And there's the money shot. That little stunt alone'll get this show recapped on every celebrity gossip site, show, and rag in town for weeks.

I'm such a sucker for a happy fucking ending.

[slay]

Past schmast. [ buffy's dismissal comes promptly, but then she grows more sympathetic and explains why she's so cavalier about it. ] It's true, tabloids love a good story, but nobody in Italy's figured it out yet and you're plenty popular there, and not a single one of them's figured out what Finnick does on his days off.