Need a distraction so I'll be "writing" a little Eurovision story with your help! I'll write a line or two then let you decide how the story goes! (This will be a thread.) Polls run 15 minutes each.

First things first: What act are we?

It's a tie! So, lightning round tiebreaker. What act are we? Five minutes to vote!

So we're a common framework! (To incorporate the solo male tie, we're a common framework of six male soloists.)

Were we internally selected or do we have to go through a national selection?

Another tie? I guess it's time for another five minute lightning round! Internally selected or national final?

Our national broadcaster has selected us to represent our country at Eurovision (let's say) 2022! Which country are we representing, then?

Grazie mille SMRTV! We're going to do our best to make the micronation proud! In what language is our song going to be in?

Wanting to reach a bigger audience without necessarily compromising our national identity (and also because not everyone in our six-person common framework is fluent), we've decided to go bilingual and sing in both English and Italian.

What kind of song are we sending?

Taking inspiration from Il Volo's success as well as San Marino's disco reputation, we've decided to combine both. Popera is a thing of the past, it's time for some DISCOPERA!

What's the title of our Eurovision entry? (Thank you, Google Translate.)

Another tie? Looks like it's time for another Lightning Round! What's the title of our discopera song?

....another tie. So I guess I'll have to break the tie, then!

The title of our discopera song is... "L'amore è amore"! We really said Gay Rights.

oh fuck we forgot to name our common framework quick what are we called

The time has finally come. The common framework E.U.R.O.P.A. has finally released its discopera song "L'amore è amore" representing San Marino at Eurovision 2022. How are the odds reacting?

"L'amore è amore" is generally well-received, and it moves up the betting odds, settling at 14th place, a huge deal for the micronation!

Preparty time is upon us, and E.U.R.O.P.A. heads to London for LEP. But things never go smoothly. What scandal befalls us?

Everything is set for their first live performance in London, but unfortunately one member overslept and missed their flight. Twitter is abuzz about how "irresponsible" this member is, with some suggesting they could be replaced. The group has to release a statement (...)

(...) saying that the line-up won't be changed, and that this was a one-time thing. The performance is saved at the last minute when SuRie steps in to replace the missing member.

After London is Amsterdam and Eurovision in Concert. What goes wrong there?

Trying to put the troubles of LEP behind them, all six members of E.U.R.O.P.A. make it to Amsterdam for EiC. Unfortunately, on the night before the big concert, one of them gets a sore throat and can't sing! Thankfully, another contestant helps them out. Where are they from?

In the true spirit of Eurovision, the Irish representatives helped E.U.R.O.P.A. out. And although Jedward didn't do opera, they certainly knew how to disco, and the live performance went down amazingly at AFAS.

Up next is Madrid. Rumors of a budding romance between one of the members of E.U.R.O.P.A. and another contestant are the talk of the town. Where is the romantic interest from?

It's hard to miss the special chemistry between one of the members of the group and the Australian representative. While they try to downplay any romantic connection, the constant "down under" jokes from the rest of the group suggest that maybe there truly is a love connection.

It's finally time for rehearsals at the arena. One moment in particular has made all the livebloggers GASP. What happens onstage?

As the performance starts, all of E.U.R.O.P.A. are onstage, wearing appropriately sparkly suits, one in each color of the pride rainbow. When the first chorus hits, suddenly all six SOAR above the stage and the audience as it's revealed that they're on harnesses!

The gimmick gets a huge GASP followed by applause from the press room. What else happens?

While the fandom seems to react positively to the staging, some people aren't too happy about it. One competitor in particular has gone on to talk about how, while they're making "real music", other acts are "a literal circus", and that E.U.R.O.P.A. winning would ruin Eurovision.

Still, the boys representing San Marino are optimistic! Could they be heading to the Grand Final, like Valentina, Serhat, and Senhit?

It's the semifinal. The boys have performed.

"The first country qualifying to the Grand Final is..."

"...IRELAND!"

Jedward unsurprisingly jumps up and down, celebrating their third qualification into the Eurovision Grand Final. Sweden, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Norway also book tickets for Saturday.

E.U.R.O.P.A. is nervous. Will they even qualify?

"Five more to go. Next is..."

"...SAN MARINO!"

Loud roars and cheers erupt in the arena as San Marino qualifies for a third consecutive contest, following Serhat in 2019 and Senhit in 2021! The boys celebrate in style, and the cameras catch...

Well, the camera catch a LOT going on. Two of the boys rip their shirts off (wearing something other than their costume, thankfully). One grabs a champagne bottle and starts CHUGGING. Two of the members start kissingeach other, while the last kisses the Australian contestant.

Twitter would have a field day trying to screencap every single thing!

Lithuania, Georgia, and Montenegro all book their places in the final. One spot left. The boys are nervous: Will their "close friend" from Australia make it?

"The last qualifier is..."

"...AUSTRALIA!"

The boys are overjoyed, and once again the Aussie delegate and one of the boys are caught kissing on camera.

Time for the press conference. They draw a scroll from the bowl. San Marino will perform in the...

The boys roll open their scroll. To their delight, San Marino will be performing in the second half! Very good news indeed.

There's time for more questions. One blogger asks whether the one member of E.U.R.O.P.A. and the Aussie contestant are dating. The response?

The boys of E.U.R.O.P.A. just laugh while the Australian simply smiles and says "no comment". The blogger tries to press on but the host says time has run out.

At the Grand Final, the boys perform their song to great applause. Now it's time for the jury votes. Last year's hosts Netherlands are up. Jeangu Macrooy gives the points. How many does San Marino get?

TIEBREAK! How many points does Netherlands give San Marino?

The first points from the Netherlands show up on the screen. San Marino are nowhere to be seen. "And our twelve points go to... SAN MARINO!" The arena ERUPTS into wild cheers! How do the boys react?

The celebration by E.U.R.O.P.A. is tame by their standards, waving a some pride rainbow flags while smiling and cheering, thrilled to start off the night with douze points.

How will their night end? Find out tomorrow, when I post the last few polls of this story!

PREVIOUSLY ON THIS THREAD

The all-male common framework E.U.R.O.P.A. was chosen to represent San Marino at Eurovision 2022 with the discopera song "L'amore è amore". Despite preparty setbacks, they've made it to the Grand Final and have just received douze from the Netherlands.

We are now halfway through the jury votes. Who's currently on top of the leaderboard?