3rd Tail

[whatthefoxsay]

[Kira is in the music room, standing by the piano, glancing sidelong at someone out of frame as she positions her device. She offers a nervous smile to the camera.]

So Bleu asked me to give her an example of contemporary music. I thought long and hard about it, because I mean, how do you try to encompass all those different styles? You can't, not really. So I thought at very least I could offer one example that I love, and hey Bleu, if you want to hear more or something different, just let me know.

Also, I have a message for my friends.

[She turns her head toward her accompanist.] You ready, Ben? One, two, three, four.

[The piano intro begins, Kira's head bobbing a little to the music. For anyone familiar with pop music of the last couple of years, it's Brave by Sara Bareilles.

As she sings, she holds up a series of placards with text written in black marker, just like that dude from Love, Actually.]


HEY STILES
YOU ARE MY FAVORITE NERD FRIEND


HEY ALLISON
YOU HAVE THE BRAVEST HEART

HEY LYDIA
STILL THE SMARTEST PERSON I KNOW

HEY ISAAC
SCARVES & SARCASM IS AN AWESOME COMBO

HEY SCOTT
YOU ARE THE BEST OF US
WE ARE BRAVE BECAUSE YOU ARE BRAVE
BELIEVE IT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN YOU


[When the song ends, she offers the comm device another quirked grin before leaning forward to turn it off.]

(ooc: Yes, that is Arden Cho. I couldn't resist! Forgive me if it's too cheesy.)

Comments

[lydiascreams]

[When Kira announces she's going to show Bleu contemporary music, Lydia expects her to play something from her computer, or phone. By the time she says she has a message for her friends, and starts the count down, Lydia already has her headphones on, since she's at the library.

She sets the book she's been going through down on the table and pays attention to the video. When it becomes clear that Kira is actually going to sing, Lydia is a little terrified she's going to embarrass herself.

The second she starts, however, Lydia realizes that's obviously not the case.

And not only is Kira actually good, but between the lyrics and the messages she's sending to all of them, Lydia can't help her eyes from tearing up. It's Kira's message to Scott that gets to her the most.

Lydia takes a moment before replying. She dries her eyes and checks on her reflection, reapplying just a little powder underneath her eyes before she starts her own video. A soft smile on her lips and her eyes might still be a little brighter than usual.]

I had no idea you could sing.

[whatthefoxsay]

[Still beaming, she shrugs one shouldered; a little sheepishly.]

Didn't exactly have time for it while battling oni and nogitsune. I'm karaoke good, not like, professional good. But I'm glad you liked it. I meant everything I said. Um. Wrote.

[lydiascreams]

You did a really good job, I wish you were here when we sung for Steve's birthday.

[Lydia takes a deep breath and purses her lips together, but smiles at the same time.]

It was a really nice message, Kira. And I think we all needed it. Thank you.

[semifreakingnormal]

[He doesn't notice how he starts to grin when she starts. She's good, she's way better than he would have guessed, and the grin grows as she brings up the messages. Because he agrees with them all: Stiles is the best friend anyone could have, Allison is the bravest person he's ever met and Lydia the smartest, Isaac might be rough around the edges but that's what makes him him, and that helps him push away how hard it's been lately to deal with him.

For that, at least, he's grateful.

He doesn't know what to do when she comes to his message, though. He doesn't agree - he doesn't know how he can be the best of anyone, because he needs them all so much. He needs to be brave for them, he needs to believe in them - and maybe that means believing them, too, about himself.

His smile is still there when he turns on his video. Not the bright grin it was before, but it's still solid, and real, and grateful.]

I'm so glad you weren't here when I sang to the Barge.

[whatthefoxsay]

[She laughs.]

Well, I'm not. What did you sing? Sing it for me. Just a little. Please?

[Big eyes. Big, big eyes.]

[semifreakingnormal]

[Those eyes are cheating.]

I dunno, it's pretty bad. I might have said McCall me maybe at some point in it.

[whatthefoxsay]

[Kitsune are tricksters, you can't blame her for genetics.]

Really? [And of course, unable to resist,]

Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy...

[She gestures toward him, aaaaaand....?]

[semifreakingnormal]

But here's my number, McCall me maybe?

[He's definitely laughing through it, which makes even trying to carry a tune hard. He's not very good, but at least he's not totally tone deaf. Just a little.]

[whatthefoxsay]

[She claps her hands, laughing delightedly,]

It's hard to look right atcha baby...

[Oh no she's making him do it again unless he begs off.]

[semifreakingnormal]

[Scott laughs, finally shaking his head and waving his hands in defeat.]

No, no, I'm totally ruining it.

[But there is a spark of mischief in his eyes, and he grins before striking a pose with a fake microphone and belting out,] So here's my number, McCall me maybe!

[whatthefoxsay]

[Her expression turns positively sly.] If there's ever karaoke in the bar, you have to promise you'll duet with me, I don't care how bad you think you suck. Promise.

[semifreakingnormal]

You are completely evil, Kira, do you know that?

[whatthefoxsay]

[Without batting an eyelash,]

It's my trickster nature.

Promise?

[semifreakingnormal]

...I promise.

I'm so gonna regret this.

[rhapsody_in]

That was delightful! You have a beautiful voice. The song reminds me of one of those arias with vocal turns written for a particular diva; did you write it, or alter it at all?

[whatthefoxsay]

Just the key to make it a little easier for me to sing. It was originally written and performed by a lady named Sara Bareilles. I can locate an electronic copy if you'd like to compare. But it's honestly not even scratching the surface, there are so many genres of music. I'll put together a mix for you, if you'd like? Maybe we can swap, you can tell me stories about artists in exchange.

[rhapsody_in]

Sounds good to me; I have no shortage of stories. You'll just have to show me how to turn it on and make it go.

[whatthefoxsay]

How to turn it on and make it go?

[She's not following. But this may be How It Goes when it comes to Bleu.]

[rhapsody_in]

The electronic copy. How does it work?

[whatthefoxsay]

[Kira's eyes go fairly wide; she has no idea how to explain it.]

There's a long history on how recording sound began and how it's developed; I don't think I have the ability to explain it well. I could probably pull up the information for your reference, though.

Do you sing, Bleu?

[rhapsody_in]

Regardless of the specifics, I just want to know how to turn it on and play it. Is it buttons like on one of the video players? [That's the extent of 21st century entertainment technology she knows.]

Occasionally. Why?

[whatthefoxsay]

It might be fun to sing together sometime. I think art makes us better people. Beings. [She's including music under the general umbrella as 'art', apparently.]

[rhapsody_in]

You're right. Art always does. [Or almost always. Maybe not those she effects, but let's not get into that.

Music is not Bleu's forte but she has a healthy appreciation for it. She can sing -- her control over her voice is extensive, and though she spends little time on it, music can be wondrous.] That would be fun, if we can find a song we both know. Or I suppose you could teach me one and vice versa.

[strangehistorian]

[Chromie claps when the piece is over, excited.]

Great! Awesome job!

[whatthefoxsay]

[Beaming,] Thank you! We only rehearsed a few times and it's a little high for me, but I thought we did pretty well.

[strangehistorian]

You're both so talented!

text

[150th]

...Your friends are very important to you.

[whatthefoxsay]

Yes.

Video

[changeitroundsome]

[Literally every single reference here is lost on him.]

...Well, that happened.

Video

[whatthefoxsay]

[A laugh.] You're observant.

[changeitroundsome]

[Amused.] It's one of my defining traits.

Got to admit, that's an unusual way to show your appreciation for your friends.

[whatthefoxsay]

Sometimes music conveys more meaning, and people need to be reminded that others care about them.

[changeitroundsome]

Couldn't agree more. [About the music thing, other people can rot, but he won't voice that opinion.]

[punched_hitler]

[HEY he's even heard that one before.] Good song choice.

Not to mention - great voice.

[whatthefoxsay]

[Oh, there might be blushing CAPTAIN AMERICA thinks her voice is great.]

Thank you! Ben and I only rehearsed a couple of times before we gave it a go. It's a little high for me.

[punched_hitler]

[Well it's true, okay?]

If that's after a couple of run-throughs, I'm almost afraid of what would happen if you had time to really rehearse.

[whatthefoxsay]

Oh, wow.

[She's blushing so hard.] Well, hopefully I can convince Ben to accompany me more and we'll do it more often. Maybe get other people who are good with music to join us.

[punched_hitler]

Yeah? Well, I'd happily be a one-man audience, but I'd also bet I wouldn't be the only one interested in listening in.

[voluntaryapnea]

[He grins, shaking his head as she sings and holds up the cards. By the end of the song, he's actually beaming. She's good. Really good. Plus the things she'd written to all of them is a reminder of how sweet she is. She's such a positive force for the pack, even when things aren't necessarily going the way she wants them to.]

You're awesome. Just for the record.

[whatthefoxsay]

[She beams with pleasure, and retorts,] Well, you're awesome. Just for the record.

You guys all needed reminding. Some more than others. You know?

[voluntaryapnea]

Yeah. Yeah, I know. [Scott, for instance.]

[freezerburns]

[There's definitely a part of him that even after everything doesn't feel like he's part of the pack or like he deserves to be, and he doesn't know Kira all that well at all, and so wow the message is... unexpected and kind of embarrassing but kind of really nice? He doesn't really know what to say and instead of sarcasm, Kira gets an awkward-but-genuine smile.]

Hey... thanks. That was cool.

[whatthefoxsay]

[Here's the funny thing, Isaac. Sometimes? Kira feels the same way. Like she's an outsider, and that her presence in the pack is only at the tolerance and whim of the others.

Maybe that's something they can talk about sometime.]

You're welcome. I really meant it.