Cowboys of Remnant: "Now That I Found You..."
AndrewJTalon
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Cowboys of Remnant: "Now That I've Found You..."
- - -
Pyrrha knew many different kinds of smiles. Soft and warm smiles for television interviews, indulgent smiles for private meetings with bigwigs, politely uninterested smiles for pushy fans. They all came with a certain level of detachment, and so she always felt so very... Plastic. Like a hollow mannequin.
She exited out of the warm building into the crisp evening air, the sights and sounds of Vale's late afternoon filling her senses. She was in a classic incognito outfit: A long blue skirt, cream white blouse with a blue jacket, a blue and red headscarf and sunglasses. Her mother and agent flanked either side of her, and Pyrrha did her best to not look like she was tuning out their conversation.
"I just don't see the need for her to be a singer too," her agent Teucer Salamis said, "Sure it's a great look but she's not going to outsell Weiss Schnee any time soon-"
"Come now, she's wonderful at it!" Athena insisted with a smile, "She's raw clay, just needing to be molded!"
Yes. Molded. Like a plastic doll, into whatever form needed or required.
"She's got a great voice, Athena," Teucer sighed, scratching the back of his curly head of hair, "But you heard the recording guy: She's all technique, no passion. I just don't see a break out. Plus, crossing over from athletics into the arts is tough. And after that movie-"
"We're not bringing that up again," Athena growled. Pyrrha's smile was slightly more genuine. That movie had been utter hell and frankly? She was glad it had been a box office bomb so she didn't have to do it again. Getting yelled at by a director to manipulate her emotions and having to put up with her mother's manipulations at the same time for months on end...? Ugh.
She did feel bad for the cast and crew though. At the very least they did get paid before the movie premiered.
She heard a guitar strumming nearby. A song she recalled... One that Jaune liked to play... She wondered what he would think of her movie. Maybe he'd laugh at it with her...
Jaune! She needed to train with him again! She checked her watch: It was so late, she was late!
"Pyrrha? What's wrong?" Athena asked, concerned. "Do you need more rest?"
"Yes!" Pyrrha immediately said, a bit too loud. Athena's stare intensified. "I-I mean um... I do need to focus on the Vytal Tournament, Mother. Maybe we should keep side projects to a minimum until that is concluded?"
Athena and Teucer both stared at her as though she had grown a second head. Pyrrha's eyes widened in disbelief.
Did... Did I just say that out loud?
That song... It had reminded her of Jaune. It had reminded her of who she wanted to be.
Teucer recovered first, smiling wryly.
"She's got a good point, Athena," he pointed out, "She's got enough pressure on her as it is."
"I..." Athena hummed. "I suppose... That said, it's something to consider..."
The guitar music was getting louder. Pyrrha zeroed in on the source. Her green eyes widened again.
Jaune?!
Athena sniffed as she saw the young blond man in a poncho and Stetson, playing his guitar up against one of the columns of the building.
"I thought security cleared this place? I don't want a vagabond around my daughter!" She growled. She turned to Teucer. "You should call them to escort him away at once and-"
"N-No! No, I know him!" Pyrrha insisted. Athena gaped.
"What? You know him?!"
"Jaune!" She called out.
The cowboy looked over and smiled brightly. He walked over to her, tucking his guitar under his arm.
"Howdy Pyr! You were running a bit late so I decided I'd wait for you," he said, "Hope you don't mind? Oh, howdy ma'am." He took his hat off and smiled kindly, holding out his hand.
"Mrs. Nikos, right? Name's Jaune Arc, I'm Pyrrha's partner at Beacon."
Athena glared. She slowly held out her hand and took his. She shook it once before pulling her hand back with a hint of disdain.
"Charmed," she stated flatly. Anger swelled in Pyrrha's chest.
How dare you look down on him! Pyrrha raged. How dare you...!
"Do you make it a habit to wander around like a vagabond, Mister Arc?" Athena asked dryly. Jaune shrugged.
"There are my work clothes, ma'am. I'm just used to them," he said.
"R-Right, um, we need to get to our training," Pyrrha said urgently.
"Wait, you can't just-!" Athena insisted, but Pyrrha shot Jaune the most desperate look she could manage.
Please...!
Jaune nodded, and whistled.
Moments later, Orleans galloped up, making Athena shriek and Teucer yelp as she landed right beside Jaune. Jaune mounted her, and held out his hand to Pyrrha. She leaped on with him, and Jaune grabbed the reins of his noble steed.
"Sorry Mother, Teucer. We'll have to meet again some other time!" Pyrrha cried out. Jaune pulled on the reins and Orleans neighed loudly before she galloped off like a shot. Pyrrha held onto Jaune's waist tightly, and didn't let go until the skyscrapers of Vale had receded into the distance.
Jaune brought Orleans to a halt on a plateau with a beautiful view of the city, the mountains, and Beacon gleaming like a giant pearl. Some old white ruins and trees were their own companions, as Pyrrha lit off Orleans and took some deep breaths.
Jaune slid off next, and after patting Orleans, walked up to the redhead.
"Pyr? You all right?" He asked softly.
"Y-Yeah, just..." She smiled at him in a mixture of worry and gratitude, "I just... My mother is... Difficult."
Jaune slowly nodded, letting out an uncomfortable grunt.
"I figured," he said quietly. "You want to talk about it?"
Pyrrha opened her mouth. She wanted to explain. She wanted to just spill everything. She wanted to bare her soul...
Yet still she hesitated. She looked away, clenching her fists.
"Hey," Jaune said softly, "If you don't want to, that's fine. Ain't gonna pry-"
"I-I wish you would!"
She grimaced. She hadn't meant to get that loud, that angry...
She turned back and bowed her head.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. Jaune stared back at her, and adjusted his hat.
"It's all right," he said softly. "Ain't nothing to be sorry for."
Pyrrha sniffled and nodded.
"... Thank you," she murmured.
Silence fell, save for Orleans munching on some grass. Jaune clearly searched for something, anything to say... He sighed.
"So uh... What was the meeting about?" He asked.
Pyrrha grimaced.
"They uh... My mother wanted me to try singing," she said, "Professionally."
"Oh?" Jaune smiled. "I reckon you'd be good at that."
"I..." Pyrrha shook her head. "I've been trained for it. But well... The recording man said I..."
"What?"
"... That I lacked passion," Pyrrha admitted quietly. How strange: She felt ashamed admitting it to Jaune.
He just smiled, pulled his guitar around, and sat down on a rock. He tuned his instrument up a bit.
"Well... Maybe you just need to find your passion," he said. "What were they having you sing?"
"Some pop standards," Pyrrha said with a shake of her head, "I... I mean, they're okay but not... Not the kind of music I like."
"Well, what would you like to sing?" Jaune asked with a soft smile. Pyrrha smiled back.
"... That... You were playing it while waiting for me," she said.
"Well then... Let's give it a try," he said. "I would hate it if you grew to hate music cause of all this."
Pyrrha smiled. All her negative feelings this entire day being in a recording studio, gawked at, directed to do whatever... And here was Jaune. A bright light in her life.
"If you could... Please...?"
Jaune's smile grew. He began to strum his guitar, and tap his boot on the ground in time. Pyrrha nodded along, letting the beautiful scenery, the music, and the young man she loved. She closed her eyes and sucked in a breath. Her voice was tired. She was tired. Yet... The music came as though from her very heart.
"Baby, now that I've found you
I won't let you go~
I build my world around you
I need you so, baby even though
You don't need me now~..."
"Baby, now that I've found you
I won't let you go~
I build my world around you
I need you so, baby even though
You don't need me
You don't need me no no~..."
Tears fell from her eyes as the song just filled her from head to toe. Because Jaune was seeing her. His smile burning with love and care. It was just... Just too much...!
"Baby, baby, when first we met
I knew in this heart of mine~
That you were someone I couldn't forget
I said right and abide my time..."
"Spent my life looking for that somebody
To make me feel like you~
Now you tell me that you want to leave me
But darling, I-I just can't... let you...!"
Jaune stopped and looked at her in concern. He got up as she continued to sob softly.
"Pyrrha?! Pyrrha, you-you okay?" He asked desperately. She sniffled and smiled at him.
"I... I'm fine," she whispered. "Just, um..."
Say it.
"I..."
Say it...!
"I..."
I love you. I want to be everything to you. I can't say it. I just can't say it. What would Mother do? What would happen if she wanted to destroy you? What if you didn't feel the same way? I'm only one girl. You could have so many others, so many braver ones. Why would you want me?! The cowardly Invincible Doll who hides behind a plastic smile and even when she's singing her heart out she can't even be honest why why why-?!
Jaune hugged her tightly. She sank into his embrace, and sighed softly.
"I'm just... Tired," she murmured in defeat. "Sorry."
He stroked her back.
"It's been a long day," he agreed. He smiled. "Come on. Let's get you home, huh?"
"Yes," she nodded.
Coward, she thought to herself as they remounted Orleans, That was the perfect moment... The perfect moment...!
Jaune twisted around in the saddle and held her tightly.
"It's all right," he said softly, "When you wanna tell me? I'll listen. You never have to be afraid of bein' honest with me. I promise."
She melted. She leaned into his back and held him as he got Orleans galloping towards the school.
One day, she promised herself, one day... I'll find it in myself to be honest with him.
One day.
- - -
A bit of Arkos. It came out as a stream of consciousness and maybe not as well put together as I would like. But here it is.
Originally I thought this song would fit Weiss better, and I do intend to do a musical interlude with Weiss as well. Music has always been a key part of Westerns for me: See The Dollars Trilogy and that fantastic score. But ultimately I realized this would be better as Pyrrha's song to Jaune. Her trying desperately to express something she's just too afraid to through music rather than words.
- - -
Pyrrha knew many different kinds of smiles. Soft and warm smiles for television interviews, indulgent smiles for private meetings with bigwigs, politely uninterested smiles for pushy fans. They all came with a certain level of detachment, and so she always felt so very... Plastic. Like a hollow mannequin.
She exited out of the warm building into the crisp evening air, the sights and sounds of Vale's late afternoon filling her senses. She was in a classic incognito outfit: A long blue skirt, cream white blouse with a blue jacket, a blue and red headscarf and sunglasses. Her mother and agent flanked either side of her, and Pyrrha did her best to not look like she was tuning out their conversation.
"I just don't see the need for her to be a singer too," her agent Teucer Salamis said, "Sure it's a great look but she's not going to outsell Weiss Schnee any time soon-"
"Come now, she's wonderful at it!" Athena insisted with a smile, "She's raw clay, just needing to be molded!"
Yes. Molded. Like a plastic doll, into whatever form needed or required.
"She's got a great voice, Athena," Teucer sighed, scratching the back of his curly head of hair, "But you heard the recording guy: She's all technique, no passion. I just don't see a break out. Plus, crossing over from athletics into the arts is tough. And after that movie-"
"We're not bringing that up again," Athena growled. Pyrrha's smile was slightly more genuine. That movie had been utter hell and frankly? She was glad it had been a box office bomb so she didn't have to do it again. Getting yelled at by a director to manipulate her emotions and having to put up with her mother's manipulations at the same time for months on end...? Ugh.
She did feel bad for the cast and crew though. At the very least they did get paid before the movie premiered.
She heard a guitar strumming nearby. A song she recalled... One that Jaune liked to play... She wondered what he would think of her movie. Maybe he'd laugh at it with her...
Jaune! She needed to train with him again! She checked her watch: It was so late, she was late!
"Pyrrha? What's wrong?" Athena asked, concerned. "Do you need more rest?"
"Yes!" Pyrrha immediately said, a bit too loud. Athena's stare intensified. "I-I mean um... I do need to focus on the Vytal Tournament, Mother. Maybe we should keep side projects to a minimum until that is concluded?"
Athena and Teucer both stared at her as though she had grown a second head. Pyrrha's eyes widened in disbelief.
Did... Did I just say that out loud?
That song... It had reminded her of Jaune. It had reminded her of who she wanted to be.
Teucer recovered first, smiling wryly.
"She's got a good point, Athena," he pointed out, "She's got enough pressure on her as it is."
"I..." Athena hummed. "I suppose... That said, it's something to consider..."
The guitar music was getting louder. Pyrrha zeroed in on the source. Her green eyes widened again.
Jaune?!
Athena sniffed as she saw the young blond man in a poncho and Stetson, playing his guitar up against one of the columns of the building.
"I thought security cleared this place? I don't want a vagabond around my daughter!" She growled. She turned to Teucer. "You should call them to escort him away at once and-"
"N-No! No, I know him!" Pyrrha insisted. Athena gaped.
"What? You know him?!"
"Jaune!" She called out.
The cowboy looked over and smiled brightly. He walked over to her, tucking his guitar under his arm.
"Howdy Pyr! You were running a bit late so I decided I'd wait for you," he said, "Hope you don't mind? Oh, howdy ma'am." He took his hat off and smiled kindly, holding out his hand.
"Mrs. Nikos, right? Name's Jaune Arc, I'm Pyrrha's partner at Beacon."
Athena glared. She slowly held out her hand and took his. She shook it once before pulling her hand back with a hint of disdain.
"Charmed," she stated flatly. Anger swelled in Pyrrha's chest.
How dare you look down on him! Pyrrha raged. How dare you...!
"Do you make it a habit to wander around like a vagabond, Mister Arc?" Athena asked dryly. Jaune shrugged.
"There are my work clothes, ma'am. I'm just used to them," he said.
"R-Right, um, we need to get to our training," Pyrrha said urgently.
"Wait, you can't just-!" Athena insisted, but Pyrrha shot Jaune the most desperate look she could manage.
Please...!
Jaune nodded, and whistled.
Moments later, Orleans galloped up, making Athena shriek and Teucer yelp as she landed right beside Jaune. Jaune mounted her, and held out his hand to Pyrrha. She leaped on with him, and Jaune grabbed the reins of his noble steed.
"Sorry Mother, Teucer. We'll have to meet again some other time!" Pyrrha cried out. Jaune pulled on the reins and Orleans neighed loudly before she galloped off like a shot. Pyrrha held onto Jaune's waist tightly, and didn't let go until the skyscrapers of Vale had receded into the distance.
Jaune brought Orleans to a halt on a plateau with a beautiful view of the city, the mountains, and Beacon gleaming like a giant pearl. Some old white ruins and trees were their own companions, as Pyrrha lit off Orleans and took some deep breaths.
Jaune slid off next, and after patting Orleans, walked up to the redhead.
"Pyr? You all right?" He asked softly.
"Y-Yeah, just..." She smiled at him in a mixture of worry and gratitude, "I just... My mother is... Difficult."
Jaune slowly nodded, letting out an uncomfortable grunt.
"I figured," he said quietly. "You want to talk about it?"
Pyrrha opened her mouth. She wanted to explain. She wanted to just spill everything. She wanted to bare her soul...
Yet still she hesitated. She looked away, clenching her fists.
"Hey," Jaune said softly, "If you don't want to, that's fine. Ain't gonna pry-"
"I-I wish you would!"
She grimaced. She hadn't meant to get that loud, that angry...
She turned back and bowed her head.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. Jaune stared back at her, and adjusted his hat.
"It's all right," he said softly. "Ain't nothing to be sorry for."
Pyrrha sniffled and nodded.
"... Thank you," she murmured.
Silence fell, save for Orleans munching on some grass. Jaune clearly searched for something, anything to say... He sighed.
"So uh... What was the meeting about?" He asked.
Pyrrha grimaced.
"They uh... My mother wanted me to try singing," she said, "Professionally."
"Oh?" Jaune smiled. "I reckon you'd be good at that."
"I..." Pyrrha shook her head. "I've been trained for it. But well... The recording man said I..."
"What?"
"... That I lacked passion," Pyrrha admitted quietly. How strange: She felt ashamed admitting it to Jaune.
He just smiled, pulled his guitar around, and sat down on a rock. He tuned his instrument up a bit.
"Well... Maybe you just need to find your passion," he said. "What were they having you sing?"
"Some pop standards," Pyrrha said with a shake of her head, "I... I mean, they're okay but not... Not the kind of music I like."
"Well, what would you like to sing?" Jaune asked with a soft smile. Pyrrha smiled back.
"... That... You were playing it while waiting for me," she said.
"Well then... Let's give it a try," he said. "I would hate it if you grew to hate music cause of all this."
Pyrrha smiled. All her negative feelings this entire day being in a recording studio, gawked at, directed to do whatever... And here was Jaune. A bright light in her life.
"If you could... Please...?"
Jaune's smile grew. He began to strum his guitar, and tap his boot on the ground in time. Pyrrha nodded along, letting the beautiful scenery, the music, and the young man she loved. She closed her eyes and sucked in a breath. Her voice was tired. She was tired. Yet... The music came as though from her very heart.
"Baby, now that I've found you
I won't let you go~
I build my world around you
I need you so, baby even though
You don't need me now~..."
"Baby, now that I've found you
I won't let you go~
I build my world around you
I need you so, baby even though
You don't need me
You don't need me no no~..."
Tears fell from her eyes as the song just filled her from head to toe. Because Jaune was seeing her. His smile burning with love and care. It was just... Just too much...!
"Baby, baby, when first we met
I knew in this heart of mine~
That you were someone I couldn't forget
I said right and abide my time..."
"Spent my life looking for that somebody
To make me feel like you~
Now you tell me that you want to leave me
But darling, I-I just can't... let you...!"
Jaune stopped and looked at her in concern. He got up as she continued to sob softly.
"Pyrrha?! Pyrrha, you-you okay?" He asked desperately. She sniffled and smiled at him.
"I... I'm fine," she whispered. "Just, um..."
Say it.
"I..."
Say it...!
"I..."
I love you. I want to be everything to you. I can't say it. I just can't say it. What would Mother do? What would happen if she wanted to destroy you? What if you didn't feel the same way? I'm only one girl. You could have so many others, so many braver ones. Why would you want me?! The cowardly Invincible Doll who hides behind a plastic smile and even when she's singing her heart out she can't even be honest why why why-?!
Jaune hugged her tightly. She sank into his embrace, and sighed softly.
"I'm just... Tired," she murmured in defeat. "Sorry."
He stroked her back.
"It's been a long day," he agreed. He smiled. "Come on. Let's get you home, huh?"
"Yes," she nodded.
Coward, she thought to herself as they remounted Orleans, That was the perfect moment... The perfect moment...!
Jaune twisted around in the saddle and held her tightly.
"It's all right," he said softly, "When you wanna tell me? I'll listen. You never have to be afraid of bein' honest with me. I promise."
She melted. She leaned into his back and held him as he got Orleans galloping towards the school.
One day, she promised herself, one day... I'll find it in myself to be honest with him.
One day.
- - -
A bit of Arkos. It came out as a stream of consciousness and maybe not as well put together as I would like. But here it is.
Originally I thought this song would fit Weiss better, and I do intend to do a musical interlude with Weiss as well. Music has always been a key part of Westerns for me: See The Dollars Trilogy and that fantastic score. But ultimately I realized this would be better as Pyrrha's song to Jaune. Her trying desperately to express something she's just too afraid to through music rather than words.