A Gift of Thanks
Sep. 21st, 2024 06:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
princesscharmEverything leading up to this concert had been done in secret. Few knew what was up. City Charms, Niko, Ragnar, and Jake... well, and Tom who had helped them find a place to write where no one would notice. It had been nearly a month of work and Davy was still stunned that it was Jake who came to him with nearly a full song idea. The lyrics needed no editing. They were heart wrenching but Davy had agreed with the reason Jake had written it one late night while he was separated from Niko and thinking about people who had lost others permanently.
They had planned this, to the point of having various people invite or ensure that as many of the band members were there as possible. It made the true target less aware of what was happening. It was a surprise, a gift, and Davy couldn't help but think the sound was a mix of Jake's dark sorrow style and Davy's own high emotions. It was somehow perfect in ways that went beyond the music.
Davy had gone out on stage past Jake pacing the back halls. He understood but after so many years Davy's stage nerves were far calmer than Jake's. It was halfway through the show when Joey and Syn left the stage.
"We have a special song for you tonight." Davy spoke into the mic while seeing the others come up to the stage wings. "I've written a new song that no one has heard yet, well, I wrote the guitar but.. I need to bring Jake Harper out to sing his own lyrics."
Jake came out picking up Joey's bass on the way to center stage. Davy went on. "This song was written for a mutual friend who lost their wife to an unexpected illness."
Davy glanced at Jake who took up the talking when his cousin faltered. "We've watched this friend go through the ups and downs of moving on and wanted to give him something for the pain." Jake had found Joakim in the crowd with Jan and stared directly at him while speaking.
Niko and Ragnar stepped out to join them on the stage. The song had so much power in the guitars that having Davy on the acoustic and the other two on electric would bring the right sound. Davy started the acoustic and Jake swallowed hard before he started singing. From Jake's perspective the time was flying by and somehow felt like an eternity at the same time. The song wasn't high or smooth like so many of the others who sang on the tour. Jake had a raw, rough voice with only a vague amount of training from when he tagged along with Davy when he was learning. Still, it was that vocal roughness that pulled the emotion out of the lyrics in just the right way. Davy stared at Jake by the time they hit the chorus because the pained sound in his cousin's voice was like a hurricane. He wondered why Jake never had more singing training. His voice could push emotions in ways that Davy had yet to master.
It was the second verse when Davy realized his eyes were burning from tears. Jake had pulled so hard on his heart with the tone of his singing that the tears wouldn't stop. He blinked hard against the eyeliner running into his eyes. He was so glad that Niko took over the solo so he could rub his eyes with his sleeve. They had practiced the song so many times but something about hearing it on a stage was completely different. This was almost too much and Davy nearly missed his cue to switch to his electric guitar.
Once it was done Jake left the stage, almost forgetting to return the bass to Joey as his nerves raged. He was shaking from what he had just done. Acting he had no problem with but singing, he learned, was something entirely different. He found Niko and just hung on him while coming down from the emotions of singing. There were three more songs before City Charms joined them backstage. Jake had gone from stage nervous, to nervous about what Joakim might think of what he wrote. It was Davy that gathered him up to go out front and have a drink. They would find out soon enough what others thought of the music.
They had planned this, to the point of having various people invite or ensure that as many of the band members were there as possible. It made the true target less aware of what was happening. It was a surprise, a gift, and Davy couldn't help but think the sound was a mix of Jake's dark sorrow style and Davy's own high emotions. It was somehow perfect in ways that went beyond the music.
Davy had gone out on stage past Jake pacing the back halls. He understood but after so many years Davy's stage nerves were far calmer than Jake's. It was halfway through the show when Joey and Syn left the stage.
"We have a special song for you tonight." Davy spoke into the mic while seeing the others come up to the stage wings. "I've written a new song that no one has heard yet, well, I wrote the guitar but.. I need to bring Jake Harper out to sing his own lyrics."
Jake came out picking up Joey's bass on the way to center stage. Davy went on. "This song was written for a mutual friend who lost their wife to an unexpected illness."
Davy glanced at Jake who took up the talking when his cousin faltered. "We've watched this friend go through the ups and downs of moving on and wanted to give him something for the pain." Jake had found Joakim in the crowd with Jan and stared directly at him while speaking.
Niko and Ragnar stepped out to join them on the stage. The song had so much power in the guitars that having Davy on the acoustic and the other two on electric would bring the right sound. Davy started the acoustic and Jake swallowed hard before he started singing. From Jake's perspective the time was flying by and somehow felt like an eternity at the same time. The song wasn't high or smooth like so many of the others who sang on the tour. Jake had a raw, rough voice with only a vague amount of training from when he tagged along with Davy when he was learning. Still, it was that vocal roughness that pulled the emotion out of the lyrics in just the right way. Davy stared at Jake by the time they hit the chorus because the pained sound in his cousin's voice was like a hurricane. He wondered why Jake never had more singing training. His voice could push emotions in ways that Davy had yet to master.
It was the second verse when Davy realized his eyes were burning from tears. Jake had pulled so hard on his heart with the tone of his singing that the tears wouldn't stop. He blinked hard against the eyeliner running into his eyes. He was so glad that Niko took over the solo so he could rub his eyes with his sleeve. They had practiced the song so many times but something about hearing it on a stage was completely different. This was almost too much and Davy nearly missed his cue to switch to his electric guitar.
Once it was done Jake left the stage, almost forgetting to return the bass to Joey as his nerves raged. He was shaking from what he had just done. Acting he had no problem with but singing, he learned, was something entirely different. He found Niko and just hung on him while coming down from the emotions of singing. There were three more songs before City Charms joined them backstage. Jake had gone from stage nervous, to nervous about what Joakim might think of what he wrote. It was Davy that gathered him up to go out front and have a drink. They would find out soon enough what others thought of the music.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-29 06:52 pm (UTC)What a singing voice he had too.
Joakim didn't want Randulf seeing him sad so wiped at his face and pulled the little boy into a hug.
"Come on, let's go and thank everyone for singing us such a nice song."
Randulf nodded and wasn't sure why his dad was upset but maybe it was about mummy again? He often got sad about that. Joakim walked with Randulf down to where Davy and Jake were hanging out with City Charms.
"That was---beautiful. Thank you. I can't tell you how much that moved me and little Randulf here too."
Joakim went to hug Davy first and then Jake.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-30 05:10 am (UTC)Davy wanted credit given where it was due. Even the guitar, Jake had heavy input on it. He had scolded Davy more than once for the guitar not having enough emotion. They had eventually gotten it.
Jake reluctantly let go of Niko to take the offered hug. "I couldn't..." what.. stop? Jake didn't even know. "I went crazy in a month.. I can't imagine." He pulled Joakim in for another hug and then smiled at Randulf. He knew they were both in good hands even if they were in pain.
"Vill du sitta på mina axlar?" He offered the young boy who was surrounded by people so much taller. With his boots on tonight, Jake was even towering almost half a foot over Joakim. "Det här stället har... milkshakes. if you want one."
Jake was learning Swedish along with his Finnish, and it was entirely his brother's fault. It did break through his own sadness a little to think about Lex and his nearly Davy level rejection of Gunnar.. now turning into a very hidden obsession. He wondered briefly where Lex was while waiting for Randulf to reply.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-30 05:48 pm (UTC)"You have a decent voice, Jake. Don't stop at this performance. I'd love to hear you sing again if you ever decide to."
The Swede smiled at the taller man and then looked down at Randulf who was a little shy with all the people around and Jake, who was so very tall! Was Jake a giant? There were a few giants here on the tour. The blond man---Jerry, he was one too.
"Jag skulle vilja sitta på dina axlar, farbror vampyr."
The little boy nodded and wanted to be hoisted up over the other grown ups. It would be fun! Milkshakes too!
"Jag gillar bananmilkshake."
This was Randulf's favourite flavour.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-30 07:42 pm (UTC)"farbror vampyr?" Jake asked while laughing then picked the boy up, easily lifting him so he could straddle the back of his neck.
"Jag föredrar choklad med körsbär." Jake started for the bar. Where Randulf was let him look down on everyone. Eventually if they ran into Jerry or Harald the boy could look down on them.
no subject
Date: 2025-02-21 09:12 pm (UTC)Randulf smiled and repeated the word "Uncle Vampire" because it seemed appropriate and polite at the same time. Joakim loved that his son was calling Jake this because it was hilarious. Randulf held on tight to Jake's shoulders and neck so that he didn't fall off because this was really high! It was like being on top of a giant's shoulders!
"Choklad med körsbär är också trevligt. Mumsig. Vampyrer äter körsbär?"
Vampires were monsters, weren't they? But Jake was nice and going to get him some yummy milkshakes.
no subject
Date: 2025-02-21 11:11 pm (UTC)"Vi äter körsbär när vi inte dricker blod från fåniga små pojkar!" Jake can barely say it without laughing. He was teasing the boy and added. "Cherry har alltid varit min favorit. Jag gillar körsbärsflöt också."
He got to the bar and looked up to Randulf to see what the boy might want.