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]

[ unfortunately for vi, rafael can't really hear the tv hosts over there. not that it would likely do much to halt this train now. rafael returns to the piano, which has slid across the stage to a position directly below that big ol' moon. he launches into a very determined sounding number with a driving piano melody. (piano 25, sing 43) that level of intimacy doesn't drop for a second. in fact, if anything, this song seems to kick up the purposeful resolution behind his performance. ]

♬ hidden away - rafael giovanni

Over mountains and sky blue seas
On great circles will you watch for me?
The sweetest feeling I’ve got inside
I just can’t wait to get lost in your eyes
And all these words that you meant to say
Held in silence day after day
Words of kindness that our poor hearts crave
Please don’t keep them hidden away

Sing it out so I can finally breathe in,
I can take in all you say
Holding out for something i believe in
All I really need today
I want to free your heart
I want to see your heart
Please don’t keep your heart hidden away

You’re a wonder, how bright you shine
A flickering candle in a short lifetime
A secret dreamer that never shows
If no one sees you then nobody knows
And all these words you were meant to say
Held in silence day after day
Words of kindness that our poor hearts crave
Please don't keep them hidden away

[ as he belts out the chorus, tiny stars begin to pepper the backdrop of the set ]

Sing it out so I can finally breathe in
I can take in all you say
Reaching out for someone I believe in
All I really need today
I want to feel your love
Will you reveal your love
Please don’t keep your love hidden away

[ a seemingly invisible until that moment ladder shimmers into place leading up from the piano, towards the 'sky' of the set, as he gets really into singing the last few phrases again, with that unfaltering earnestness. ]

I want to free your heart
I want to see your heart
Please don’t keep your heart hidden away

[witchwoman]

[Myri might not have had such a strong reaction to the song if it weren't for her gift, which tugged at her to ease the pain. It wasn't a wound that she had the ability to heal, though, and that's what made it so much more difficult for her.

She reaches up with her free hand to wipe away a tear. It's not for Rafael, or even for Jade. It's for the whole situation, the way the chips have fallen. As the next song starts, she pulls herself out of her own thoughts.]

I think I need some air. [She pulls her hand away and stands, debating if she wants to ask him to join her. There could be some crazy fans trying to catch him out and about okay...] I'll be back soon.

[She doesn't look upset, just... overwhelmed. She really wasn't expecting to be slammed in the face with that wall of feelings. With a soft smile, she heads out of the balcony to distance herself from the music, at least a little.]

[65]

[the irony of myri implying for him to stay put after finnick said he wished he'd follow her outside a little over a year ago isn't lost on him. and maybe he actually should this time, too. but it was right that there might be crazy fans lurking around (ESPECIALLY NOW THAT RAFAEL WAS NICE ENOUGH TO POINT HIM OUT IN THE AUDIENCE THANKS FOR NOTHING DOUCHEBAG), so he stayed put in his chair and listened to rafael while furrowing his brow and biting his lip. look, finnick is a bit of a hopeless romantic. but there's a point where you have to check yourself before you wreck yourself and rafael is lookin' pretty desperate.

so now, with nothing else to do besides watch this unfold and feel sorry, he starts eavesdropping on jade and des's conversation a few chairs down (listen 16).]

[shootfirst]

[ guess who's out in the hallway shrugging a leather jacket back on? Yep, it's Kat, who looks up and catches Myri on her way out. ] You have no idea how good it feels to be out of that torture device they call a dress. What did I miss?

[witchwoman]

Rafael's singing about Jade, for her... to her. [She shakes her head slightly and wipes her eyes again before forcing a small smile.]

The crowd seems to be enjoying it.

[borrowedheaven]

[ jade can't stop listening intently now. her eyes are glued to the stage as he pours his heart out, and she murmurs to des, without looking at him, as if coming to a realization about something that weighs heavily on her heart: ] He's already had that moment.

Maybe he's afraid that if he lets go of hoping to get it back, he won't see that value ever again.

[nothingsodivine]

And maybe he's closing his eyes to everything else. [Des thinks about Buffy and Spike and the way Buffy makes moon eyes at Rafael, all the while Spike makes moon eyes at her. To think, he never really gave this freakin' love rhombus much thought until now.]

Maybe we're all chasing after the wrong things.

[borrowedheaven]

If that's the case, how are we ever supposed to know what's real and what's just a fantasy?

[savemyself]

Don't underestimate him. [ she glares across the stage, sullen and seething ] I never do.

[bigbad]

[Spike eyes her.]

Don't tell me you're in love with him too.

[BECAUSE IF THIS IS HIS TYPE HE WOULD LIKE IT TO NOT BE.

Actual Angel Rafael Giovanni]

[savemyself]

[ wow she looks and sounds super offended spike ] I said nothing of the kind.

[romanticidal]

[ a more wistful melody begins, and Rafael starts into a remorseful tune, slowly crossing the stage. ]

higher window - Rafael Giovanni

For all the times I tried for this
And every chance at you I missed
I've been known to go my way but I confess
It made me miss you more

I drew my line across the sand
And set my flag in no mans land
But here I am the one man band
With a song that's meant for two

[ he reaches the foot of the grand staircase and takes a single step up, looking up to the top as he sings the lovely chorus (perform 39) up toward the moon. ]

And there is a light
From a higher window
Shining down on you tonight
And the music floats on the breeze
Bringing an easier time.
And all of our cards are on the table
Tell me what you want to do
Just don't tell that it's too late
For me to love you.

[ he begins a slow and purposeful climb with the second verse ]

How perfect we were meant to be
Our warm and silent symmetry
It's times like these when all
All we need is to be reminded

[ the last phrase of which is accompanied by another determined, pained look up toward the balcony ]

And I have flown a thousand miles
To empty rooms and crowded aisles
And we went from cathedral bells
To show and tell and wish you wells

And I still look at you
And I am blinded.
I am blinded

[ his climb has brought him to a height with her balcony, and though he's on the furthest side of the stage from her, it's clear to those in the know who he's looking at... and then he continues climbing, all eyes on the moon above. ]

Because there is a light from a higher window
Shining down on us tonight
And the music floats on the breeze
From an easier time

And all of our cards are on the table
Tell me what you want to do

[ as he ascends, so does moon, until it disappears into the ceiling, leaving him adrift among starlight, singing sorrowful and shaking his head, eyes closed. ]

Just don't tell me that it's too late
Don't tell me that it's too late now

Just don't tell me that it's too late
For me to love you

[witchwoman]

[Myri shakes her head, not in disagreement, but in the lack of knowing.]

I'm not certain. She's been talking to Des for most of the evening. Maybe he's been distracting her from it.

[shootfirst]

Well, either way it'll be all over soon. There's only a few numbers left.

[bigbad]

I understand it, but... [He turns to watch Rafael as he starts his last song... another ballad dedicated to the great Eterna Jade.] Seems a bit of a lost cause.

[savemyself]

He will be happy one day. Things were...improving, before your friends came into our lives.

[nothingsodivine]

[Every note of the piano is damning Rafael in Des's eyes. He actually supported him. He told him he could get her back. Months of evading and ignoring for his own sake and now he's sitting here, after hearing everything from her perspective, and wondering how on earth he really thinks he deserves her- this desperate man clinging to an illusion.

She doesn't need to remember. He doesn't know what she needs, but he's doing a hell of a lot better at figuring it out than a guy onstage singing meaningless words right at her.

He's not heartless. When he makes his move, it's after Rafael has diverted his attention from the balcony and that's when he releases her hand and pulls her into a kiss.

It's not as chaste and awkward as the first one was.]

[borrowedheaven]

[ and jade melts readily into the kiss, oblivious, while it lasts, to the strains of heartache still filling the air. there's an eagerness born of her months of patience with him on the subject that drives her to such an enthusiastic response, her hand sliding up his arm to grip him tightly, gently signalling that she wants this stolen moment to linger more than it probably should, given the circumstances. the momentum of her kiss, however, is a far less subtle plea for the same, since she... sure crit failed her will save to reign things in. ]

[isisagent]

[Archer comes around, tucking a flask into his suit jacket, and sporting a revitalized martini glass]

Yeah Kat... er... [He realizes his lovely co-host has a slightly different hair color... and is slightly less troll-ish] Oh. Violet. I uh, don't know if he could pull off The Supremes... He doesn't really have that strong... urban woman vibe.

I would however, give my left testicle to hear him sing "What's New Pussycat."
[Archer states that last bit so matter-of-factly it's more than a little unnerving.]

[graveflowers]

[What, sorry, she is staring at the makeout balcony...] Yeah, I think I'd offer that up to. On you behalf of course. Maybe he'll sing it for you, but I don't think it matches his theme.

Maybe "Why Do Fools Fall In Love". Can I have some of that drink?

[romanticidal]

[ in place of the moon, a piano that seems to be floating materializes on an invisible platform hanging out in the air there, because burt pulls no punches. and rafael makes his way to it, completely oblivious to what's happening on the balcony over there...

instead of feeling like a song intended only for jade's ears, there's almost a shift towards something much more internalized as he begins to sing, a level of private reflection with a particularly dark vibe to it overshadowing the number. there's a clear sense of guilt weighing down upon him, communicated easily through the heavy strokes of the piano keys and the desperate resignation of the lyrics. (piano 37, sing 41)]

♬ you're the only place - rafael giovanni

Seems like our love is on a road to nowhere fast
All my life I've thought a love like this would last
But every road can hide a corner we can't see
I had a vision that I woke up by your side
I felt you breathing and our souls were intertwined
But who controls love's destiny? Not me.

We had it all right in our hands,
We had the space to fly and still a place to land

[ there's a shift in his tone, a kind of reverent quality that seems more in line with a prayer than anything else, his words directed up towards where the moon vanished. ]

So I'm calling out, I'm calling out to the only one
Who can save us from what we've done
Don't leave me hanging on
I'm reaching out and praying you'll come back again
It's just darkness I'm living in
And you're the only place my heart has ever been.

Maybe I'm young and in the ways of love naive
Maybe I'm desperate for a reason to believe
There wasn't any way I thought that we would fall.
I've seen perfection in a rainbow in the sky
I've seen a child make the coldest grown man cry
But loving you I thought was greater than them all.

We had it all, just you and me
Now there's a doorway to my heart without a key

So I'm calling out, I'm calling out to the only one
Who can save us from what we've done
Don't leave me hanging on
I'm reaching out and praying you'll come back again
It's just darkness I'm living in
And you're the only place my heart has ever been.

Wherever you are right now
Come back and show me how you feel
Because I'm lost without you here

[ with a dramatic flash of spotlights converging, the floating platform spirals down towards the stage as the moon reappears above slowly ]

Calling out, I'm calling out to the only one
Who can save us from what we've done
Don't leave me hanging on
And I'm reaching out and praying you'll come back again
It's just darkness I'm living in
Cause you're the only place my heart has ever been.

[slay]

[ so much for quiet time alone.

buffy startles at the sound of kat's shout, and her eyes go wide as she stumbles upon her with myri. buffy looks between them uncertainly, and then slowly finds her voice. ]

Am I ... interrupting something?

[savemyself]

[ isabella doesn't answer spike at first, as she's listening oh so closely to every word of rafael's next song, looking increasingly like she sucked on a lemon ]

You did not think he truly believed he could win over the girl sitting below us with these songs of his, did you?

[notaroundme]

[Well, this is getting awkward fast. Between Rafael's heartfelt music and Jade ignoring him in favor of making out with someone else, and a few of the other people up and leaving, Elena's sinking back into her seat. She manages to clap and smile at the right moments, but oh god this is seriously devolving, or at least it feels that way.]

[nothingsodivine]

[Des doesn't look to the stage to see if Rafael's watching or singing at Jade or whatever. His eyes are all on her.]

Ask me that when I'm sure this isn't gonna go pearshaped on us, okay?