AN:… HAPPY HALLOWEEEN! Because of this fine Hollows day of ancient Celtic lore, I have posted the next chapter. Hope you enjoy it.
I don't own RWBY, Call of Cthulhu, or the songs
Inside the Yankee Melody, late December 1924, five days to New Years Eve.
3rd POV
The scene was black, before a sudden spotlight appears on stage. There, on stage was Jaune before a microphone. Dressed in a fine silk tuxedo with a yellow Bowtie, over his right leg was a leg brace. To help him stand, he leaned heavily on a silver knob cane that was a gift from the Mayor Hylan. As he stands there, he hid his face by looking down with a fedora covering his face. After a few moments, music begins to play and he taps his right foot. Before looking up and speaking in a calm and charismatic tone.
Play New York, New York By Frank Sinatra.
Start spreadin' the news, I'm leavin' today
I want to be a part of it
New York, New York
As he sang, the view pulls back to reveal a number of girls dressed in armless legless Tuxedo showgirl outfit. Armed with cheap replica canes, used fishing net pantyhose's and matching top hats. They soon begin to stretch their legs as they did the can, can.
These vagabond shoes, are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it
New York, New York
It soon became clear that these girls were the same one's who worked in the cathouse upstairs. Despite the fact that they still turning tricks upstairs people have come from all over New York and the state for more than cheap hoodie wash. There new attraction has caught the attention of the city that never sleeps. Jaune Arc.
I wanna to wake up, in a city that doesn't sleep
And find I'm king of the hill
Top of the heap
Nobody knew where he came from. Or if that was his real name. But one thing is for certain. He can sing. And Sing like nobody has ever heard before. From his first song that hit the radio's April last year, he has been releasing hit's after hits. Causing a shanty house of ill repute to become a must-see destination for those who seek the best of the New York.
These little town blues
Are melting away
I'll make a brand new start of it
For Jaune, this was all temporary. Don't get him wrong, he enjoyed being on stage. Though the moans and groans from upstairs could a bit off-putting for him. He enjoyed his down time walking the streets of New York. Interacting with the Italians, Irish, Jewish, Chinese, and black communities. All finding him for the most part to be a good kid. Down to earth, and even charitable. While still knowing when to stand his ground and throw a punch.
In old New York
If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere
It's up to you, New York, New York
On weekends he would visit Columbia University. Researching way's to return to beacon, under the guise that he has an interested in astronomy and old folk lore. He became such a regular that last year he was asked to serenade the class of 1924. Pushing him further into the spotlight of the city.
New York, New York
I want to wake up in a city that never sleeps
And find I'm a number one, top of the list
King of the hill, a number one
This brought him some attention that he wouldn't mind. Course the fan mail he received was starting to get a little much. Girls from across the city and east coast had mailed him love letters. Even with a few sensitive pictures. Course that got him hate mail and threats. Course he could handle the odd jealous meat head.
These little town blues, are melting away
I'm gonna make a brand new start of it
In old New York
As the song comes to an end, Jaune walked back to girls before joining them in the can, can. Right in-between Trish and Marry. Two girls he got to know extensively. Trish has been at best an over caring mother, and at worst a drunk older sister. Still she kept Jaune down to the ground. Marry on the other hand… she was fun to hang out. Granted on Tuesdays Jaune had to give her a few sticks of gum to cover the smell of her work.
And
If I can make it there
I'm gonna make it anywhere
It's up to you, New York
New York
New York
The song comes to an end, and the crowed begins to cheer and applause. A few girls gave a few flirtatious kisses which Jaune had to politely decline. As the cheering dies down, Jaune walks over to podium and returned the microphone to it's position before speaking to the audience.
"Thank you, thank you. It's been a wonder evening to be before you. Special thanks to the girls of this… fine establishment." Jaune said sheepishly, only to get a cheer from above as the girls working had caught that last part. Giving a sheepish smile as they tossed a few flowers and panties. He nervously kicked it to the side before continuing. "And Mr. Lector Small band for tonight's amazing music. Now, enjoy the evening. Mr. Small, could you kindly take the stage?"
"Heh, though you never asked." Mr. Small said as he and his bandmates walked forward. The crowed soon begins to listen to Harlem jazz as Jaune leaves the stage to grab something for his parch throat. As he does a wealthy looking fellow walked forward.
"Mr. Arc, what a lovely show you put on." A man greeted as he walks up behind Jaune. Turning around to see none other than the mayor himself.
"Oh, Hey Mayor Hylan." Jaune greeted as he undoes his bowtie.
"Oh, please Mr. Arc. Call me John." Mayor Hylan said with a chuckle as he removes his top hat. "What a lovely performance you and girls placed on."
"Yeah, something I just put together with the help from Lector." Jaune said as he rubbed the back of his head nervously. To be honest, all he did was change a few lyrics from a popular Atlas Song. Hopefully Weiss doesn't hear it… if she is around.
"Yeah which is why I like to make an offer." Mayor Hylan said as he reaches into his inner pocket. Before he could pull out whatever he was reaching for, Jaune's manager and owner of the Yankee Melody; Terry Butts, slid right between the two.
"Oh, hold it. ("Um, Terry.") Nobody is stealing my golden boy here. Look mister, I ("Terry.") don't know what kind of record company ("Terry!") sent you, but I don't give a damn. This life took a lot from me. I ain't ("TERRY.") ready to go down, not without a fight. So take your cheap ticket and shove it up you're a… ("TERRY!")" Before Terry could even finish, Jaune shouted his name causing people to take notice.
"What!" Terry snapped back.
"He isn't from the record companies. He's the mayor." Jaune corrected.
Terry looked back at Mayer Hylan, who raised his eye brow. Amused that a fellow new yorker wouldn't know who their mayor was. A few people in crowed even gave a small chuckle. After a few moments Terry soon realize his mistake. With a nervous chuckle he pulls at his collar.
"Oh… Heh, sorry folks. Next round is on me." Terry said nervously causing the crowd to forget this outburst. Once the crowed moved on he turned back to Mayor Hylan and begin to apologies. "I'm so sorry about that. It's these record companies. They are trying to sweep the golden knight of hell's kitchen out from underneath the community. It's been happening way to often then I like to admit."
"Heh, it's fine. I know what's it like for outsiders to try and push us locals out. In any case I was about to make an offer for Mr. Arc here to perform live for the eighteenth times square ball drop. Pacifically the song about our wonderful city." Mayor Hylan explains before pulling out an envelope from his inner coat pocket. "I'll pay a thousand upfront and an another thousand after."
"Two thousand? A bit cheap ain't it?" Terry haggled much to Jaune's annoyance.
"I think it's fine price." Jaune cuts in but was shushed out by Terry.
"Kid, you have talent. But if you undersell yourself you won't make it long in this business." Terry hushed.
"Heh, alright. How about I toss in… thirty percent of add revenue when we broadcast this across the east coast." Mayor Hylan stated before pulling out two tickets. "And tickets to a Broadway show. Originally I was going to see it with my wife… but let's just say having a kid takes priority for now."
"Make it thirty-five and we will have a deal." Terry haggled.
"Thirty-one." Mayor Hylan said slightly annoyed.
"Thirty-four, final offer." Terry spat.
"… Thirty-three, but you can't go with Mr. Arc to see the show." Mayor Hylan counters.
The two stared each other down for a few moments before Terry extended his hand and said. "Deal."
Mayor Hylan extended his and shook on it. After that Terry called the Bartender for two bottles of champain. Though prohibition was in effect the bottle was brewed before it went into effect. Making it legal to drink. They then chatted up like old friends, leaving Jaune standing there wondering what just had happened.
The night continued on till the early parts of the morning. Jaune then left heading to Windermere on 57th street. It was a little bit expensive to live, but with the money and fame he was making he could easily afford the top-notch apartment for himself. A four-room apartment that had a main room, a master and guest room, private toilets, and a drawing room. All this with a decent look at Central Park, and this was under budget for him. He walked into the main room and hung up his trench coat. It had a few furniture pieces, with a bookshelf stuffed with books on multiple studies as well as a few dollar store books. Sadly, they don't have comic books. Which sucked since he was looking for something to replace his beloved X-Ray and Vav comic.
As he undid the suit vest, his eyes turn to the drawing room. Giving a small sigh he turned on the kettle and walked over to the room. Inside, was an unorganized mess of pictures and notes wrapped in twine. He thought that by connecting the dots like in those detective movies would help him find a way back. All it did was make confuse and annoyed him. He walked over to a board with six hand drawn figures on it. He had paid a man to sketch them from his scroll, an additional fee to forget that he had a scroll. For the past year he had no sound evidence of where his friends were. Only leads he had was from a small frontier town in Vermont. Some girl in red. But that trail went cold before he could branch out. Then there were rumors of strange lights outside of Houston and a white haired girl, however the story surrounding that was even more vague then the one from Vermont. For now, he will have to stare at this wall of notes.
As he does so with tired eyes, he couldn't help but notice something off about the papers. It was like they were moving, forming a strange shape as the symbol begin to glow a hit of yellow. As he stares on he begins to hear the voices. The sound of screams and bells tolling. Before long the room begins to fade away as he was standing on a blackish lake of sort, reflecting the night sky, and ruin kingdom stands before him. With that same yellow symbol hanging high over it. It was painful to look at, and the more he did the more that he couldn't look away. He begins to breath heavily as the sight of this foreboding land. It got more and mor painful that he felt that his eyes were about to rip themselves out when a sudden pressurize sound can be hear, causing him to look to the side.
There, by the open door; the kettle was blowing steam. He had to blink a few times before daring to look back. The wall was the same. The wall was back to normal. No physical changes to the wall or paper, like nothing had happened. He blinked a few times before rubbing his tired eyes.
"I really need to stop with these late-night gigs." Jaune muttered to himself as he rubbed his tired eyes. As he does, he felt something off about his hand. Looking over he had a little Knick of blood coming out of his thumb.
How he got it was beyond him. Probably a splinter or something. So he walked out, retrieving a Band-Aid and making himself a cup of Chamomile tea. As he does, the view never left the sight of the board. At the very center was a blood stain drawn symbol of the sign. A yellow sign he has recurring dreams about.
The next day
Jaune woke up around mid-day, something he did on nights where he singed into the early parts of the morning. Getting dress, he placed on a brown leather jacket over his white collared shirt and yellow tie. Placing on grey slacks and shoes to match he made himself breakfast before retrieving his sword and shield. Readying himself, he followed Pyrrha's recorded instructions with a little hardship from his crippled leg. After practicing for two hours he place his family sword away before retrieving his cane and heads out into New York. After walking the streets for a few hours, he returned to the Yankee Melody. He had two tickets to the Washington theater, a gift from the mayor thanks to his managers haggling. He had seen a few plays, but never on Broadway. The tickets would have cut into his funds and to be honest he didn't have the time. Seeing that he had no real excuse, he figures why not. First, he had to find someone to go with. So he heads to the Yankee Melody to asked Trish… who declined. Then he moved onto Marry… who also declined. He was tempted to ask some of the ladies but they were either busy or a little eager to jump in. To which he found someone to go with, but only begrudgingly. Mali.
Ever since he became a part of the Yankee Melody, Mali has treated Jaune with suspicion. 'Something wasn't right in his eyes', as she put it. Even her little dog Beau didn't trust him. She would growl and nip at his foot if not held by her owner. Despite it nearly being two years, she has yet learned to trust him. Only reason she is going with Jaune is because Trish insisted on it. She has enough problems to deal with, Mali malice suspicion ain't one she has the energy to deal with. The two were dressed in tuxedo and a formal dress with a wool fur coat over them.
Inside Jaune was easily recognized immediately. He was invited to multiple conversation with the city elites, all of which he kindly refuse. Though the crowed of people that formed around him sort of pushed Mali to the side. As she stumbles back from the crowd, she accidently bumps into someone.
"Oy, what you think you be doing here urchin!?" A gruff over-weighted man snapped at her. He was a Caucasian man, must be in his mid-thirties. His greasy brown hair had fallen out at the top, and his janitor clothes were in poor condition. Before she could respond he was about to swat her with his mop. Just before the old and filthy thing could touch her, a hand reaches out and grabs the stick.
"Billy! What in heavens name do you think you're doing!" A foreign accent snapped.
"This here girl snuck in with the lot. Was about to show her the door." The overweight man known as Billy remarks as he reaches into his back pocket and pulled out a tin of chewing tobacco.
"Really? Did she admit to it or did you jump to conclusions… again." The man said as he crosses his arms. Billy opens his mouth to respond, but fell silent. He stuffed his cheeks with chewing tobacco while the man who saved her stared at him with disgust. After a few moments, he speaks up. "Go, consider this your final warning Mr. Robert. I catch you harassing anyone I will see to it that you are removed from this building and stripped of your job. All without pay. Is that clear?"
"Crystal." Billy said sarcastically before spitting out a huge drizzle of tobacco onto the ground. In response, the man swatted Billy on the head, causing him to spit out the rest and trip over his bucket of filthy water. By then everyone had taken notice.
"Pick this up Mr. Billy. But first, apologies to the young lady. Properly." The man said in stern tone.
After a few moments Billy stands up and with a lowered head he then states the following in a begrudging tone. "I… apologies for my rotten behavior. It is… might uncivilized to presume others when it is… not my place to presume. I… hope, this does not effect… have, a negative effect… on my employer or the Washington theater."
"Good, now. Pick up this mess Mr. Robert." The man commanded.
The man responded with a begrudging grumble as he picks up his bucket and mop and walking away. After he left the man turned to the folks who all were staring at him. With a small sigh he spoke up. "I do apologies. Simple mind for simple work and all. Tell you what, on me for the next hour. Bubbly on me for the next thirty minutes."
This caused the crowd to disperse as they hurried to indulge in free champain. Stock piles of the legal stuff was hard to come by and nobody was going to turn that down. As they all crowed around the bar, Jaune made his way over to Mali.
"Hey, Mali. What just happened?" Jaune asked.
"Nothing." Mali said as she everted her eyes and gives a simple hmpth.
"I'm afraid our Janitor mistook your sister for a vagabond. I do apologies." The man said in with genuine sincerity.
"Oh, we aren't related. A friend asked me to bring her since we… well, guess got off on the wrong foot." Jaune corrected as he looked back at Mali. Who respond by flipping him off.
"Heh, I see." The man said with a chuckle before turning to the girl. "Mali was it? While I do apologies for the way Mr. Robert acted can I request that you keep the profanity to a minimal."
"Tsk, whatever." Mali said while rolling her eyes.
"Hmm, are all American girls so feisty?" The man said as he turned to Jaune.
"Heh, well I can't really say. I'm not American." Jaune replies getting a crooked eye.
"Huh, really? Your accent say's otherwise." The man said before remembering something. "Oh, where are my manners. My name is Jacque, Jacque Montblanc. I am a friend of the owners of the Washington theater."
As he finished that last line, he held out his hand that Jaune was somewhat hesitant. He had the same name as Weiss dad, and from the stories he heard. He was anything but pleasant. Still it was rude not to shake. So he mustered some nerve and shake his. "Jaune, Jaune Arc."
"Oh, a fellow Frenchman." The man known as Montblanc said with a smile. "C'est bon de voir un autre Français dans ce pays passionnant."
"Um, sorry. I don't speak French." Jaune said sheepishly. "I was born in France but my parents immigrated shortly after."
"Oh, huh. So your parents never taught you the beauty in our language?" Jacque asked.
"Um no. They… aren't around anymore." Jaune said half truthly. He knew they were alive back home on Remnant. Hell, even saw his older sister before finding himself here. Trish told him that if anyone ask keep the story close to the truth. Seems to be working so far by the way Jacque looked at him.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." Jacque said with his head down.
"It's alright. It happened a long time ago." Jaune said with a shrug. As he does, the lights begin to dim and light up again.
"Ah, seems we must take our leave. The play is about to begin." Jacque remarks as he pulls out his watch.
"Yeah, guess we should get going." Jaune remarked.
"Till we meet again I wish you adieu Monsieur. Arc" Jacque said as he tips his top hat.
He then followed the crowed down a hall as Jaune collects Mali and the two head to their private booth. Originally for the mayor they had this luxury to themselves. They then sit down and waited as the lights slowly dimmed. After a few moments a man dressed in a renaissance costume. With a thrill in his cap and his face hidden he replies, the opening line.
"Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; Whose misadventured piteous overthrows, Do with their death bury their parents' strife. The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, And the continuance of their parents' rage, Which, but their children's end, nought could remove, Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend." The actor said before walking off stage. The light darkens and the curtain rises. A light shine down at the center stage, where a man laid back in a chair with a woman in his arms. It took the audience a few moments before realizing something. The two people on stage. They were dead. Not just that but they must have died horrible.
The man's jaw was unhinged, stuffed with a purple plant. So much that it must have forced the jaw to break off, and caused the eyes to be on the verge of pop out of his skull. The woman in his arms had her entire chest cage open wide, revealing her organs. Only thing missing was her heart, that was in her hand, with a dull letter opener in it. By the way the blood flowed from her mouth, it looks like she was still alive when this had happened. As people gasp in utter horror, an ominous sign written in blood drops down from above. Written in blood, it says.
"Truly, there has never was there a tale of more woe than of Juliet and her Romeo." The message read. Seeing it, people begins to panic. Screams erupted from the crowed as they ran for the exit. All while a low maniacal laugh can be heard from the raptors above.
Mali was horrified by what she saw. She has seen bodies, but none more gruesome then this. And worse was the message hanging high above. Many things went through the little girls mind. But the most president one was a simple yet disturbing question. 'Who could have done such a thing.' Jaune on the other hand, he notices something. He was equally disturbed by the sight of such an atrocious act. But on the sign, he notices something familiar. A symbol at the very end of the quote. Written in blood, it looked like three question marks had been pushed together. It was the same symbol he saw on his wall in his apartment, and just like last time the symbol got bigger as the world around him disappeared.
The Stage was ripped apart as the roof came off, letting in blood rain fall from the storm clouds. There a massive figure cloaked in yellow and wearing a disturbing Pallid mask made up of frozen faces of horror. As it looks down, Jaune can see in its hands was old and broken crosses with strings made from human organs lowering down to the poor victims, who were somehow still alive. He was shuffling around the crosses, causing the two too continued to dance in agony to its whims; like they were puppets. As it does so, it soon takes notices Jaune. It then let's go of the two crosses before reaching down with its cloaked fingers. Jaune can see up its sleeve and what he sees caused his eyes to widen in horror. It was, profusely disturbing, so much that he was about to rip his eyes from their sockets when he felt something pull on his arm.
He quickly looks down to see Mali tugging on him. The stage had return to normal and what he had witness disappeared. Even the symbol was missing. Mali motions for him to follow, and after taking one last glance, he follows her, unaware that far above the raptors, someone was eying him, someone in a Pallid mask and yellow cloak.
*The scene ends and opens with Wombag dressed as Dr. Flug while on a cushion seat looking at a skull as he sits sideways.
Thou know'st 'tis commone; all that lives must die, Passing though nature to eternity… oh, hello everybody. Wombag1786 here. Just quoting Hamlet, heh never was one for these epic lines of dialogue but neither were the Calhoun's.
Speaking of them it seems Jaune is doing somewhat well for himself. A rising star in New York, now thrust once more into the limelight as the call of Hastur's servant wreak havoc behind the curtains. Can Jaune stop this fiendish apparition or will this be curtains for him in, the phantom of Broadway. Heh, maybe I should do this at the beginning of every arc.
So, with that said let's go over the question and comments.
From Black cross0: Heh, trust me you have no idea what I have in store for poor Jaune.
Thanks for writing Black Cross0, Happy Halloween
From FEV Grim: Yes… (Sigh) Shame how the city in recent months went belly up. It's like the 70's all over again. Still, no matter on with the show!
Thanks for writing FEV Grim, Happy Halloween
From Combine117: Heh think this will make you cry, wait till the next arc. (Yang, can't remember how to pun. *Que evil laughter!)
Thanks for writing Combin117, Happy Halloween!
With that said I wish you all a happy Halloween. Please fav and Fol the story. Leave a comment or question will help. See you all in two weeks. And again for the third time. Happy Halloween.