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

[romanticidal]

[ raf lets the last notes of the ballad hang in the air for a moment before he rises to his feet, and takes the mic from the stand again, walking to the edge of the 'roof' and lifting a hand towards the audience in greeting, as they cheer wildly. ]

Grazie, grazie. [ he's forced to lower his hand and wait patiently a moment for them to stop hollering. ] Buona sera, Chicago!

I am very glad to be here on this very special night, and to share the stage with the most talented Finnick. [ just saying his name prompts some very high pitched screams, and oh hey, you two making out on the balcony might want to take note that people are probably looking up at him now ] ... si, si, such a wonderful artist.

You may not know, but I have come all the way here from Italia [ more screams and he breaks a smile ] -- how could you tell? si -- [ that prompts some laughter ] and so I would like to share with you a song in my native language. In English, it would be called 'Wander With Me', but in Italian, we call it 'Gira Con Me.' [ with a nod to the orchestra, the sweet melody rises, and he launches into the song (33 perform). those who understand italian (or have picked some up from him) might understand the words...

♬ gira con me - rafael giovanni

Il mondo gira con me questa notte
Piccoli passi che faccio con te
Seguo il tuo cuore e seguo la luna
Cosi' nascosta lontana da me

Il mondo gira con noi questa notte
Ahhhh, esistesse lontano da qui
Un posto dove scoprire il mio cuore
Sapere se lui puo' amare ti o no

E girera e girera
Il cuore mio assieme a te
E girera il la terra
Girera la mia vita
E un giorno lui si si caprira

[ the building he stands on begins to lower into the 'city' set below, until he finds himself able to step out into it and walk among the ruined streets. ]

Sei tu che giri con me questa notte
Sei tu che giri lontana da qui
Ma si io so che tu sei la mia luna
Qualcosa mostri qualcosa no

Ci sono strade azzurre nel cielo
Ci sono occhi e il cielo e gia li
Si questo credo cesiano le stelle
Ahhh, se potessi fermarmi cosi'

E girera e girera
Il cuore mio lontan da te
E girera il la terra
Girera la mio vita
E un giorno lui si si caprira

[ a dramatic swell of music breaks up the song and he stations himself in the shadow of a collapsed home, a forlorn and powerful staging. ]

Cuore e gia lontano
Si tu sei la luna
Potessi scoprirlo nel cielo

E girera e girera
Si girera il cuore mio
Girera il la terra
Girera la mia vita
Un giorno lui si si caprira
Un giorno lui si ti caprira

[witchwoman]

[Myri's arms move to loop around Finnick's neck, but just as she's really getting into it, Rafael's voice breaks through and he... sure if saying Finnick's name. She breaks away and turns her gaze towards the stage/audience. She smiles weakly, incredibly embarrassed right now, but too stunned to untangle herself fully.]

[starfucker]

Cool it a little bit already, you two. [ nobody else needs to get pregnant tonight, aight ] These ladies need to think his dick is fully available if we want 'em lining up for his album tomorrow.

[ sounding a little bit more like himself, he leans over the balcony, watching raf ] As for Mussolini over there, we hit his big three selling points right outta the gate: guy can sing, guy can play, guy's foreign as hell.

[65]

[finnick is not usually one to become flustered, but he certainly looks it now. or rather, looks flustered for one split second before putting his playboy face back on and waving while the attention is on him. he then wanders over to and slinks down in his seat. annnd now that he's sitting, he stretches out his legs and props his feet up on the balcony railing. karma came back around and cockblocked him apparently .o. ]

[watcherjunior]

[ As the last song ends, Dawn claps wildly, even going so far as to put thumb and index finger in her mouth and letting out a shrill high whistle.

What? He's awesome.

As the next song begins, she's listening closely. She doesn't speak Italian, but Latin is close and she's trying to match up what she knows to it. ]

[graveflowers]

[Something about the moon and walking, dancing maybe. King Harvest cover, anyone, Raf would kill Dancing in the Moonlight.

But Vi has finally gotten down the stairs and made her way to the back again, looking for Mark. It should be... this door? She shoves it open.]

Helllllllo?

[nosdacariad]

[ annnnnnd as she opens the door, mark jumps so high it's a wonder he doesn't go tumbling down the back steps into the alley. he barely catches himself on the rail, and his entire face goes pale as he looks back at her, appearing completely unsettled by her sudden appearance ] What happened? [ his voice is urgent, anxious as if expecting the worst ]

[graveflowers]

[Whoops!]

Nothing happened. If you don't count Rafael and Finnick causing spontaneous pregnancies, which I don't. I just came to -- if something was wrong do you really think I would have opened with hello and not "holy shit Mark we gotta go"?

[nothingsodivine]

[Des stares at Jade's hand on his arm and then turns to focus on Myri and Finnick, instead of... anything else.]

Burt's right- those two need a room. Stat.

[borrowedheaven]

They're happy together. And it's more or less easy for them to just be that way.

Most people don't get that. [ she shrugs a little bit ] I mean it's not any less annoying to the rest of us, but I can deal with it.

[nothingsodivine]

Hey, if there's a possibility that Burt can pull his head out of his ass and actually get happiness, there's hope for us all. Nothing annoying about... [He turns his head to face her and just sort of... stops, like he's not really sure of everything all of a sudden.] ...it.

[bigbad]

[Spike leans towards Isabella, still keeping an eye on the concert.]

Not hardly. I'm all about the up close and personal stuff. Fists and fangs and blood.

[savemyself]

[ well she doesn't seem freaked by the fangs comment at least ] ... I do not blame you, actually. I prefer swords, myself. Guns have never called to me.

[bigbad]

Those're good too. More... personal than guns. It's no fun fighting from a distance.

And I've only ever punched a fellow knight on purpose.

oh wait i forgot

[romanticidal]

[ more subdued applause follows that number, because most Americans don't want to listen to songs in other languages, lbr.

The band transitions into a simple, classy melody, as the lights of the city set lower, leaving raf in a single spotlight of silver "moonlight" projected from a large, impressive fake moon that fades in overhead.

the moon is a harsh mistress - Rafael Giovanni

See her as she flies
Golden sails across the skies
Close enough to touch
But careful if you try
Though she looks as warm as gold
The moon's a harsh mistress
The moon can be so cold

Once the sun did shine
And Lord it felt so fine
The moon, a phantom, rose
Through the mountains and the pines
And then the darkness fell
And the moon's a harsh mistress
It's hard to love her well

[ Rafael' s warm voice carries the simple, beautiful tune easily (perform 41), conveying a quiet sense of melancholy that clearly comes from the heart. ]

I fell out of her eyes
And I fell out of her heart
I fell down on my face
Yes I did
And I tripped and I missed my star
Then I fell and fell ago
And the moon's a harsh mistress
And the sky's made of stone

The moon's a harsh mistress

She's hard to call your own

[graveflowers]

[Vi may be in the back so idk maybe is talking to herself or a stagehand or the door, who knows</>, but she still has her two cents to give.]

Wow. That is not even subtle at all. Kind of rude, actually.

[shootfirst]

[ well she would be back there when Kat slips back here mid number to hoist up the front of her dress and adjust her boobs, grumpily. ]

I swear to Christ, if Archer calls me Katie one more time, I'm decking him. Live before a studio audience.

[bigbad]

Right... when you're fighting someone... the why's and wherefore's aren't what's important, just them and you, and who's gonna break first and give an opening. Death like that, it's almost worth it, if you get a really good fight out of it. [A beat.] Even better if you live, of course, but still better than being shot.

[Not that a bullet is likely to kill Spike. Vampire perks. Could be a holy bullet, though. Or something.]

[savemyself]

Si, there is something very... pure about it, yes? People wear so many masks... but they strip them away at the end of a sword.

[notaroundme]

[Elena has been seriously captian oblivious because this show is probably the most amazing thing she's ever seen.

She wonders if any of them were nervous about going up on that stage. If they were, it sure hasn't shown. They're remarkable.]

[rationalizes]

[ gar happily speaks up because she's just trying to ignore the makeouts and dramatic pregnancy reveals and sexual tension on the other end of the balcony there. thank you elena, for being her anchor to sanity here. ] This will be a pleasant note to end this leg of the mission on.

[nothingsodivine]

[It takes Des a moment to find words again- just enough time for Rafael to switch songs, but he's not paying attention to the concert anymore. It's just hit him that he's been with this group for a long time now. Longer than he's been with anyone really, aside from incidental encounters. There's a lot to be done. He plans on sweettalking Wynn into letting him have a few minutes alone with the Talisman to see what comes of it and then... and then what?

What the hell does he do after this? He's never had a group of people he'd actually regret never seeing again before.]

Maybe I did.

[borrowedheaven]

[ you only live twice - coldplay

when he finally speaks up, she's looking up at him with a thoughtful, fond expression, and the smallest smile.

her hand very gently squeezes his arm, and she leans a little closer so she can say quietly and still be heard: ]

It's not a bad look on you.

[witchwoman]

[when finnick offers his hand, she takes it without hesitation. The railing of the balcony should obscure the contact so any fans trying to steal glances at the rising star would be none the wiser. Myri turns her attention to the concert, but as the song registers, she casts an uneasy look to jade. She hopes the rest of Rafael's songs won't have a theme.

But since jade is deep in conversation with des she decides to try not to worry about it and enjoy her evening. To be honest, she's still buzzing inside at the realization that she's in love... And loved in return. She squeezes finnick's hand lightly as the moment sinks in fully.]

[romanticidal]

[ as the audience roars once more, they're quieted by a slightly more upbeat melody with an almost folk undertone... although when rafael launches into the lyrics, it's much more bittersweet than it first sounds, and he communicates a self-deprecating, lonely sort of humor through song just as easily as he often does in person. (perform 38) ]

♬ happy in my heartache - rafael giovanni

Coffee is on the table, and I
Just can't seem to wake up this aching heart of mine
One more day without you and I'll be fine
I know I'm good for waiting but waiting's wasted time

Oh and I, I don't take it lightly,
The trouble that I've gone through, to get you to know who I am
Oh and I, I can't find a reason to be happy in this heartache
'Cause I should know better than that
I'm better than that

[ he cuts a slow path through the ghostly frame of a half building, where remnants of paintings and a life once lived can be barely made out among the ruins ]

Wicked winds are blowing through the halls
These old familiar faces are clinging to the walls
I know its cold but I can't feel at all
And I know these walls are crumbling
And I won't stay to watch them fall

Oh and I, I don't take it lightly,
The trouble that I've gone through, to get you to know who I am
Oh and I, I can't find a reason to be happy in my heartache
'Cause I should know better than that

[ he stops with one foot atop a blackened chair and looks up right at the balcony where jade sits for a moment, to sing very deliberately: ]

But I can't stop loving you
I don't know what to do
To keep holding on

[ and then he looks away again, and walks center stage to finish out to the audience. ]

Oh and I, I don't take it lightly,
The trouble that I've gone through, I've given you all that I am
Oh and I, I can't find a reason to be happy in my heartache
'Cause I should know better than that
Oh I'm better than that