Summer:Mother, I come to you as a humble student.
Weiss:What lessons do you seek, O stubborn one?
Summer:…I wanna elevate my performances.
Weiss:*eyes widening* Is my dear daughter asking me for musical help? Am I talking to the correct person?
Summer:Ha, Ha…get it all out. Lately i feel like I’ve lost my fire, and people have clearly noticed.
Weiss:Have you fallen out of love with it all?
Summer:No. I just….don’t feel the same, which is supposed to be good, but….
Weiss:For lack of a better term, you were fighting for your life on stage. Each song was a statement and a strike to yourself that thought it was over. Between that and your snowboarding, you’re an adrenaline junky.
Summer:…..I don’t like that cold read on me, but continue.
Weiss:I’m a bit the same. It’s okay. You just gotta find a new rhythm. Get high on life so to speak. There’s a ton you still want to say and express; do it even if it’s different from what the audience expects.
Summer:Okay but that doesn’t help with actual better presence.
Weiss:Ah. It’s all confidence and intent. You can’t get it wrong if you don’t care, haha! To the car! You’ve always been a visual learner.
Summer:Are you going to do something dramatic?
At the massive and busy Atlas Outlet Mall, hundreds of citizens go on about their day. In the center of it all is a stage used for ceremonies, events, etc; always ready to be used by someone. The mall is even grateful enough to have set up standard instruments as well as connecting to scrolls.
Summer:Why is everything a trail by fire with you?
Jaune:Your mother fought to get out of her own house. Anyways, you two want anything from the food court after this? I’ll just get it now.
Weiss:Focus! You’re here to watch a pro in her element. Now then, any requests before I go up there?
Summer:How about….a song from when you and dad broke up?
Weiss:I knew I should’ve burned those albums.
Summer:What? I’ve heard so many others outside of that time. Besides, a pro should be able to adapt, riiiight?
Weiss:No need to goad me. I was never going to refuse. Jaune, stay here and watch.
Jaune:Oh~ so you’re really going to recreate a concert?
Weiss:*cracking fingers* What’s a little public role playing between lovers?
As she looked at her mother, a noticeable shift in the air caused her to stand up a little straighter. It wasn’t dangerous or negative. The performance had already begun. Weiss strutted off towards the stage without a single word.
Perhaps Summer wasn’t crazy, because others slowly began to notice Atlas’s brilliant daughter take her first step onto the stage. One single clap hushed the surrounding public while her attention remained on a piano. Not once did she pay attention to the audience yet. Again, she clapped, and continued to do so in a simple and predictable rhythm. Others mimicked it soon after, even when she stopped, they understood not to.
Weiss pointed out towards a control panel before quickly raising the finger straight up towards the light above her. It was on within half a minute, lighting up a smirk and hidden eyes. The clapping grew louder as more people joining, making the singer’s body sway to the beat over to play a few keys on the piano. Her scroll picked up the tune and immediately connected to a long forgotten instrumental. No need for her to go all out with her classical talents; it was a lesson in stage presence after all. The stereos and automatic instruments played the recording just fine. Step by step, Weiss stood in front of the mic stand, her fingers slowly trailing up cold metal and barely holding the microphone itself.
All this time her eye remained hidden as her head bobbed gently to the rhythm while the music began. Just as Summer watched her mother’s lips barely open, the right hand left the microphone, combining beautifully well kept hair until it flowed freely out of its restraints with one shake. As it fell, icy blue eyes made contact with the crowd, yet Summer was positive she was only staring at her. That’s when she remembered who she was standing right next to.
🎶You can hide from the light
Turn your back on the sky
There's no sun like my star
See the world shining bright
Through the tears in your eyes
Oh, what a beautiful soul
I don’t believe you, you're a liar
Ruler of my heart, ruler of my heart, ruler of my heart
Ruler of my heart, ruler of my heart, ruler of my heart🎶
To say Jaune was blushing was an understatement. A much different reaction than before, but his heart raced all the same, and Weiss never broke eye contact. The luring grin of a siren briefly painted her face before her gaze softened like a beggar finding their faith, pleading , yet never failing to their needs. Summer never really knew which parent was wrapped around the other’s finger, but what she understood now was how so many could be captivated by Weiss Schnee. This wasn’t performing a song. This was casting a spell.
🎶The endless walls you’re building
In a single moment crushing down!
I could go blind and deaf
There is no beauty like yours~
Make me your God, I can give you everything!
Let me take you awaaaaaaay~
Ruler of my heart, ruler of my heart, ruler of my heart
Ruler of my heart, ruler of my heart, ruler of my heeeaaaart! 🎶
Fingers slipped away from the microphone as eyes seemingly managed to pry themselves off their target, falling onto Summer and many spectators with a burning yet frigid indifference that only conjured swooning and chills from the audience as they watched the women seemingly get lost in the music. If you watched closely, Weiss’s eyes would occasionally land on Jaune again before running away with the notes. What was once a siren on stage now felt more akin to a phantom longing for centuries gone by.
Ruler of my heart, ruler of my heart, ruler of my heart…
Ruler of my heart, ruler of my heart, ruler of my….heeeaaarrrrt…
With one lingering look towards the distant sky and a turn of the head to hide faux pain, the crowd erupted in applause upon hearing the final note. Summer remained captivated right up until her mother’s head whipped towards the crowd with a familiar bright and sunny grin. Weiss took a bow, then stepped off the stage causally.
Weiss:Hiiiiiiiii!!!! Pretty impressive, right?
Jaune:That certainly took me back.
Weiss:Right!? So embarrassing. If only you made that cute expression back then. It would’ve saved me half an album’s work. Anyways, learn anything?
Summer:H…How? You were so here, but…not? I just…you locked in so easily!
Weiss:Listen well, my beautiful and talented daughter. My precious little remix. *ties hair up* Never ask yourself how to give the audience more. They’ll never be satisfied. Instead, consider what value do they give you when you stand on stage. Who is it you are actually looking out and trying to reach. Are you trying to reach any at all? Sometimes, you just want to say something and whoever listens, listens. If you understand what you’re trying to say get out of your music and performance, the charm and confidence comes naturally. It’s the dance choreography that’s brutal, haha!
Summer:….So this is what it feels like when a genius in your field blows you out of the water? I should be a little nicer to people.
Weiss:Are you even listening!?
Jaune:Give her a minute. She’s having an Arc moment.
Summer:*internal panic* Uuughghh!
Weiss:Maybe I should’ve started with the verbal lesson? Ugh, this is why I refused to get into teaching. Summer! *holds her face*
Weisss:*grins* Mommy can’t wait to see you shine even brighter than ever! Give it your all!
