b u o n e ~ f e s t e

[sharktrash]

Who: Priders! (Basically if you (or your friend, or your dog) has had a positive interaction with anyone from MANTICORE, consider yourself invited, dragged along or sent in someone else's place. And even if you haven't been invited it's totally fine to notice something's going on and show up or  randomly come across this and stay!)
What: Genos and Squalo throw a Solstice dinner party. Italian food for everyone!
When: December 21?ish (forward-dated a bit so it doesn't fall right before irl holidays)
Where: MANTICORE penthouse
Warnings: MANTICORE Squalo, Carnies, language, minors getting drunk, substance abuse, someone might decide to bone, idk.


[ Fuck the creepy shit, MANTICORE are aggressively throwing a Solstice party! Because why not, and who has the patience to wait until New Years? ]

[ There are locations/prompts in toplevels, but feel free to start your own as well. Generic timeline of the night would be: cooking, dinner, socializing with games and booze and possibly other things, and  a movie marathon into the wee hours of the morning for the ones interested.  ]

Comments

[variaboss]

[ooc: the song is sung to this and the rewritten lyrics are in Italian, idicated by the italics.]

[ Well, this might not be the lyrics that she's used to. Xanxus has changed them a little. He needed to put this down. The feeling he had. That feeling of a young boy eager to go and see the one person in the world that mattered to him and only got to see her on Christmas Day. A memory that lingered more and more as the date grew closer. But he's certain she's professional enough not to falter if the words aren't exactly what she expected. ]

Good. Then let me just slide on over here and we can begin.

[ He puts a light hand upon her shoulder, perhaps for support since he still has some difficulty standing for long periods of time. Then he begins. Waiting for the musical intro to fill the room with his rich, booming baritone. The rich sounds of Italian filling the room with operatic warmth ]

one single moon, on one single night
These hopes of the year,
waiting for the singular moment
when we can be together again

the moon, she watches
as I finally get to see her
go tell her, she I care for
that I will be there soon.

[scalpedsociety]

[Tamara is pretty sure those aren't the lyrics to Vaga Luna but she doesn't mention it or mess up the music backing him. The melody doesn't change. Merely folds around that voice of his, providing it with support much like her shoulder.

It's beautiful and sounds like it was sung from the heart. It's really doesn't matter if it's the original lyrics or not. During the final notes, she closes her eyes and lets herself bask in the combined effort of her music and his voice.]

[variaboss]

Tell her I wanted all year long,
for this one moment with her,
I can't wait to see her soon
to tell her all she has missed.

tell her how much I have missed her
I count the hours until I can see her,
That hope, this season, this one moment
is all I ever wish for.

[ Those are indeed not the lyrics and he's rather glad that Tamara is such a professional. Even if she had stopped playing, he would have continued acapella. He's glad he doesn't have to. She plays beautifully. Her soulful notes lending just the right amount of emotion and weight to his words.

He trails off and listens to her finish the last strains of the song and smiles down at her. There's a softness to those now crimson eyes. ]

Do you want to do another, Tamara? We can always do one of your choosing this time. I'm certain I can sing whatever you wish to play.

[scalpedsociety]

[Tamara leans against the cello with a peaceful smile on her face.]

It's not really a Solstice song, but I think you know Gia mi dicon venal. You probably have done Scarpia before.

[Plus the the benefit of hearing that voice again. It's... breathtaking.]

[variaboss]

[ His fingertips play a little with a bit of hair at her neck where his hands are resting. ]

Of course I have. Will you be my lovely Tosca then? Or were you simply hoping for his part of the aria? Because I wouldn't mind it. Being bribed by you. Unlike Scarpia, my ruthlessness is only exceeded by my lack of morals.

[scalpedsociety]

[Her eyelids lower, and the tone is her voice is still playful but with a little... husk in it.]

Oh no, I couldn't possibly keep up with you. I was taught to play these things, not sing them.

But whatever could you be bribed with?

[So suggestive.]

[variaboss]

[ He steps slowly around her, his hand sliding over the woman's shoulders until he is standing right in front of her. He executes a gallant kneel and takes her hand to try to place a kiss to her knuckles. He then will look up at her, look at her with those brilliant crimson eyes. ]

Perhaps a kiss. Perhaps a smile. Or maybe a song with me. I'll sing you yours, but I want to hear it. You sung to me once over the phone. I want to hear you again, Tamara.

[scalpedsociety]

[...Oh. Part of the reason she's so teasing towards him is it's a self-imposed challenge. His voice, his body, his hands, and even those newly red eyes... everything about him suggests sex to her. But the lead singer of his band is Lucifer. What better partner to have than an Incubus?

Plus he has to hurt, taking that kneel. After that kiss to her knuckles, her hand might lightly touch his jaw, then goes right over to brush through his hair, feeling the shaved part underneath her fingers.]

Fine, I'll sing. But only for you.~ Please don't be too disappointed, Mary Kalos I am not.

[variaboss]

[ Oh, kneeling hurts like a bitch. But he's not going to let the pain stop him. Mostly because he's certain that it's at least a little charming. Just enough to get a touch for her as well as agreement. She's going to sing for him and all he had to do was endure a little pain. He calls that a win. ]

Fine. Only for me. I wouldn't want to share that treat with anyone anyway. I want to be selfish and keep that voice of yours all to myself. For me and my ears only. So

[ Another kiss to her knuckles and then he's raising. ]

I'll sing for you. I'll sing to you of my supposed nobility. Please accompany me once more. Carry my voice with your skillful art.

[ Laying it on thick. You bet your ass. ]

[scalpedsociety]

[Definitely laying it on thick. The man clearly wants his piece of sexy pianist cake. He's practically crooning to her.

This is more difficult than it looks to tease and not merely give him what he wants. (And what she wants, she isn't going to lie to herself.) But it's fun. The way sneaking into a lions den is fun. (He doesn't have red eyes and scars for nothing, she knows it.)

But she starts the opening notes, laying the foundation for Xanxus to fill in with Baritone.]

[variaboss]

[ Oh, if she let him, he would utterly devour this decadent little cake in front of him. She's got more staying power and that means he has to actually make an effort and poor on the charm. It's been awhile since he's actively pursued someone and part of the charm is that she's making him work for it.

Once more, he starts around her. His steps cool and confident. He takes his spot once more behind her to start with. His voice ringing out clear and cold singing the song she had chosen for him.

As he sings, he starts moving again. He's actually doing the part, performing as if he and the cellist are on stage and they have an audience that is not just their peers. However, it's not for his peers or an audience, it's for the woman and only her. ]

[scalpedsociety]

[It's rare that Xanxus has to wait or work for anything or anyone. It's a unique thrill. (Also possibly nerve-wracking, blue-ball making, and possibly a little annoying.)

Oh dammit, he's not just singing. He's performing the song. This is just unfair, she swears. (It also makes her nervous about her short part as Tosca because she knows she can't be up to par with him when it comes to singing.)

But she still plays, in spite of the nervousness.]

[variaboss]

[ He can tell in her notes how nervous she is. But he's got a little secret. Something he's noticed but never tried. He rounds before her and lightly reaches out, fingers touching her hair. There's a different quality to his voice. Something a little more compelling. Not to get her angry ot make her try to kill anyone, but a little attempt at emotional manipulation within the song to give her just a little more confidence.

She can do this. She can be amazing. She can be his Tosca. Only she could ever be his Tosca. She's perfect. ]

[ooc: he's got Fame level 1 and it's up to you if you want it to work on her or not]

[scalpedsociety]

[Like it or not, it's working. Soon enough Tamara isn't precisely sure what's come over her, but she feels confident. Ready to sing Opera, even though she hasn't sang a serious note in her life.

I can do this. I can be amazing. I can be your Tosca. Only I could ever be your Tosca. I'm perfect.

When Tosca's parts come up, she sings them. Her voice is far from Operatic, but she nails them with confidence and the amount of pleading in her voice.

The Incubus put a spell on her.]

[variaboss]

[ He had been right. She might not be polished and trained, but her pure talent shows through. He loves it when he's right. She really was his perfect Tosca.

He slips more readily into the role, wrapping his arms about her shoulders, not enough to hinder her playing and he croons at her, filling the air with the duet until he lets her go so he can finish the song as he would. Walking away with a dramatic flourish.

When he finishes, he looks back at her and he smiles ]

Bella donna you were perfect. Now I really want to sing with you more and more. Tell me we can record a classical album together sometime.

[scalpedsociety]

[For a brief moment after the duet is done, Tamara looks surprised for a brief moment. Did I really just sing? But he's pleased by it, so clearly she must have done something right. Plus it really felt great to sing, Tamara hasn't done it in a while.]

I'd agree to an EP, and maybe a mixed style. With metal?

[Get their soprano and gravel on, get people talking.]

[variaboss]

[ He takes her hand for a moment and presses another kiss to her knuckles. ] That sounds perfect. A little bit of you and a little bit of me. We'd make magic. We can write some songs and use one of those recording booths here.

So think of a title for our EP.

[scalpedsociety]

[She really likes that. She really does, especially with the voice and everything.]

Kairos. But we can always discuss other names...

[variaboss]

Hmmm. It sounds artsy. I like it. Then we'll call it that. I know a photographer that could do a photoshoot for us for the cover art.

[ He seems actually sort of excited about that. Mostly because he wants to sing with her again. ]

[scalpedsociety]

It's a term for the perfect moment, the fleeting space of time for action.

Really? Care to email me that photographer's work?

[She's excited too. She just loves sound of his voice...]

[variaboss]

I will send it to you.

[ Along with some other more questionable photos. Xanxus is shameless like that. ]

And I'll start writing some songs. I won't tell you until it's time to record. They'll be a surprise for you.

[scalpedsociety]

[She'll be grateful for those shameless pictures Xanxus.]

Tease.

[But that gets her excited. Even more hyped to record with him.]

I'll start writing some too. And I'll be awful and not tell you mine either until we record.