Rachel Berry (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
somethingspecial) wrote2011-04-06 08:48 pm
somethingspecial) wrote2011-04-06 08:48 pm
19 [Accidental Video]
[The video cuts on in the middle of Rachel brushing out her hair, watching herself in her mirror. There's a large macaw in the corner, which is the only sign of the event being in her room.
She doesn't seem focused on the PCD -- or the parrot -- but instead on her image in the mirror. Rachel sighs -- the humidity is causing her hair to be curlier and poofier than it normally is and the amount of moisture certainly isn't doing anything for her skin. A tug or two through and the brush makes it through her hair, but the girl looks less than satisfied.
Until Rachel cocks her head to the left and curls her fingers around the handle of her brush and begins to sing to herself, softly, at first, but the more she sings, the louder and more passionate it becomes:]
My mama told me when I was young, we're all born superstars. She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on, in the glass of her boudoir --
[A neat spin and Rachel is full out singing into her mirror -- and seems to be doing a dance, along with her song -- and it appears perfectly choreographed.]
There's nothin' wrong with lovin' who you are, she said, 'cause he made you perfect, babe, -- so hold your head up, girl, and you'll go far -- listen to me when I say -- !
[The brush is long since forgotten on the dresser, by this point, as she continues her dance.]
I'm beautiful in my way, 'cause God makes no mistakes, I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way -- don't hide yourself in regret, just love yourself and you're set, I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way --
[The PCD times out soon after -- the network has apparently had enough diva for the time being.]
She doesn't seem focused on the PCD -- or the parrot -- but instead on her image in the mirror. Rachel sighs -- the humidity is causing her hair to be curlier and poofier than it normally is and the amount of moisture certainly isn't doing anything for her skin. A tug or two through and the brush makes it through her hair, but the girl looks less than satisfied.
Until Rachel cocks her head to the left and curls her fingers around the handle of her brush and begins to sing to herself, softly, at first, but the more she sings, the louder and more passionate it becomes:]
My mama told me when I was young, we're all born superstars. She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on, in the glass of her boudoir --
[A neat spin and Rachel is full out singing into her mirror -- and seems to be doing a dance, along with her song -- and it appears perfectly choreographed.]
There's nothin' wrong with lovin' who you are, she said, 'cause he made you perfect, babe, -- so hold your head up, girl, and you'll go far -- listen to me when I say -- !
[The brush is long since forgotten on the dresser, by this point, as she continues her dance.]
I'm beautiful in my way, 'cause God makes no mistakes, I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way -- don't hide yourself in regret, just love yourself and you're set, I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way --
[The PCD times out soon after -- the network has apparently had enough diva for the time being.]
[Offline]
You had better mean it. [And then, after a moment's pause, he's letting her go, moving to plop down on her bed before moving a hand up to start desperately trying to salvage his hair.]
Sing it again. From the beginning. I don't want to miss a note.
[Offline]
Fine. Pay attention, please.
[Before Rachel straightens her posture and counts silently to herself, to ensure that the song is sung to the best of her ability. It's different, obviously, from the original -- but it sounds beautiful, all the same -- a mellow-er version of the original anthem.]
[Offline]
You didn't tell me it was an anthem.
[Life just got even better. And what's better, he thinks he's gotten most of the melody from Rachel's demonstration.]
[Offline]
[She drops onto the bed next to him with something of a huff.]
But we'll never get to perform it, in New Directions, not without the boys complaining again. And I can't quite see the Warblers pulling off Gaga.
[Offline]
[He pauses, forces himself to calm down a bit, to take in deep, calming breaths before he runs a hand along his hair again, trying and failing to get it to curve the right way again, just blowing up at the chunk that's refusing to leave the middle of his forehead.]
The Warblers? Gaga? Rachel. You have seen us perform, right? As much as I love our energy and unity and the musical prowess of everyone in the group... we wear uniforms to perform.
[He will grin and lean forward, though. His voice a little breathy in his excitement.]
That doesn't mean we can't hold our own performance here, though. I know you and... Jesse - [He makes a face quickly, just for emphasis] - aren't as used to a capella as Blaine and I are, but we could pull it off.
Besides, I think I'm going crazy with the lack of performances here.
[And he can force Blaine to perform out of uniform. That is something he needs to see.]
[Offline]
Jesse St James, sing a capella? You must have hit your head on the way here. His voice is suited for Broadway, not for harmonizing. You didn't see his performance of Bohemian Rhapsody, for our Regionals together, Kurt, it was positively powerful -- though he's improved by leaps and bounds since --
[But suddenly, Rachel stops herself. All of what she said was true -- and Rachel can't listen to Bohemian Rhapsody anymore without feeling the urge to throw something or cry -- but discussing it so freely -- and admitting that Jesse somehow grew a soul during his stay in Los Angeles... seems to be a taboo subject, for some reason.
Suddenly, the excitement and flush in her cheeks isn't quite there anymore.]
... we'll need to change the harmonies, certainly, in order for it to work.
[Offline]
Which is probably why he suddenly looks deadly serious as he leans forward a bit more, narrowing his eyes at the girl in front of him.]
Rachel... why are you saying this like you've heard Jesse perform since Regionals?
[Spill, girl.]
: [Offline]
She gets up, frowning to herself as she crossed her arms across her stomach. Kurt wasn't going to be happy.]
...he followed me, to the casino, to see me sing.
[Offline]
This is one very concerned Kurt staring at you, chewing on his bottom lip in an attempt to keep the fifty thousand stinging barbs he could be slinging in Rachel's direction in. He remembers their little argument earlier. He remembers his promise to... not be as judgmental about Jesse, but...]
And somewhere along the line he started singing, too? Rachel... [He sighs and reaches up to fiddle with his hair, closing his eyes and frowning a bit] I'm just being a concerned friend here, nothing else, but... are you sure this is a good idea?
[Offline]
[A very small voice.]
[Offline]
[This... is worse than he thought.]
You're falling for him again, aren't you?!
[Offline]
[Rachel spins on her heel to glare at Kurt, posture entirely defensive.]
No. I haven't seen him in a year, Kurt, and whatever we had is long since gone. There's absolutely nothing to be afraid of -- I'm not going to run off and elope with him or anything. It was just a song.
[She turns away, her fingers digging into her arms, and her voice becomes much softer.]
It was just nice to sing. That's all.
[Offline]
He will purse his lips and cross his own arms, effectively staring Rachel down from her bed. Which... he's taken over. For now.]
Just a song? The Birthday Song is just a song. Les Mis is something else entirely. Especially if he actually managed to get off his high horse and sing it and not sound like a sad excuse for a synthesizer.
Which, from how you're acting about it, I assume he did.
[Offline]
Just like their first initial meeting. How long had it taken? One duet and Rachel was done for.
Which is why she turns slowly on her heel, something odd in her eyes.]
I never told you how we met, did I? In Lima.
[Offline]
He does frown, though, at Rachel's question, tilting his head slightly at that look in her eyes, worry rising in his as he meets her stare.]
No... you haven't. [A pause] I'm not going to like this, am I?
[Offline]
Finn had just dumped me -- in the middle of a hallway, I suppose I should have seen a trend coming. [It's something of a callous addition, and Rachel rolls her eyes to the ceiling with a sigh.] And I decided to go to the library, to find a song for our 'Hello' number -- remember, that assignment? So... I decided to look through the musical selections and I found Lionel Richie's 'Hello'.
[It's impossible not to smile just a little bit.]
He was there that day -- and the very first thing he told me was that my rendition of Don't Rain On My Parade was flawed, that I completely lacked Barbra's emotional depth -- but that I was talented. And, well -- [Rachel waves a hand.] -- no one really bothered commenting on my singing unless I was needed, back then, so I decided to follow him and talk to him a little bit. That and he had my sheet music, so --
He sat at the piano and asked me to sing with him. And at first, I didn't want to, because -- well, he was Jesse St James, and I hardly wanted to conspire with the enemy, but...
[Rachel frowns to herself.]
That's the only time, besides when he sang for me in the casino, that I heard him put emotion into his performances. When we sang Hello.
[Offline]
And then, there was a gap between then and when they had to have that horrible intervention about Rachel and dating the enemy. The confrontation where he and Mercedes had drawn the line. Them and the Glee Club, or Rachel's enemy boyfriend.
Needless to say, the memory sobers him up as much as it pisses him off.]
No wonder you were so smitten with him. First impressions are key and he had Lionel Richie in his back pocket. You never stood a chance.
[His voice is softer than it was just a second ago, however, and Kurt's pushing himself up to go and lean against her dresser as well, giving Rachel a serious but... almost... compassionate look.]
Look, Rachel, I wasn't there for either of these... emotional miracles of his, but... [He's making a face again. Because this is clearly hard for him to say...] If what you're saying is true, and if you want me to... try and trust you and him. I can... hold my tongue.
But if he so much as wants to flirt with you, so help me.... He'll have to work for my approval.
[Protective diva mode activate.]
[Offline]
He was just -- different. He had this drive -- he still has it, of course, but it was just so... refreshing, to meet someone else who pushed themselves as hard as I did. And we had fun.
[And here, her tone lowers.]
I really thought we loved each other. That's all.