"And did you think this fool could never win. Well, look at me, I'm a-coming back again." – Elton John, I'm Still Standing.
"I really don't know what to say," I muttered quietly as I stared at an individual I hadn't expected to meet here and now of all places. I mean, yeah- I did expect people to come and visit just to meet me for what happened in Atlas but… I really wasn't sure how this issue tied up with my field of expertise.
Playful screams of children going around the park I was currently enjoying some time in with my own kids, I sure had not planned to meet someone like Sandy Scarlatina so abruptly. One moment I was chatting with Sienna through my phone, the other I was pulled aside by the awkward woman for a conversation on a topic I wasn't that much experienced in.
"Y-You could just offer me a chance, sir," The blond-haired woman replied with a tiny hint of cheek through her nervous posture. "I know this is asking much from you, but please, I really need to try everything I got to…"
"Your kid is young," I commented quietly, glancing away from her and to the little grass patch where both Nora, Ilia, and little Velvet were playing around by. "And from what you've told me, you don't have a stable income to sustain yourself and her."
"Y-Yes-"
"Is this why you're being this desperate? I want an honest answer."
"I..." She sighed, crossing her arms in an uneasy manner. "I- I really don't want to beg, sir. My 'husband' decided to leave when Velvet came by. He was 'no longer in love with me' when he found a young bartender that was without a child."
I blinked, my perplexity showing as I tried to calm her down a little.
"Understood, I didn't mean to dig that deep since I know how private that kind of stuff is," I said appeasingly. "Still, I'm not good with music. Especially making a song to begin with."
"W-Well, do you know someone that could help me through this?"
"None personally. I'm not… into that kind of topic."
"A-Ah."
I didn't have any solutions on that. I might have practiced music back in Elementary school, but I was too sure that wasn't the kind of stuff the woman was trying to research for a big hit. It was a tough ambition to get through with considering it would genuinely fix their economic issues and… it was doable.
It wasn't a mad shot for fame since the older Scarlatina did have the credentials to practice music and make songs… the real problem lied on the fact that inspiration wasn't something available when you're trying to keep your broken livelihood together for the sake of what's left of your family.
…
[Why not give her one of the songs you know about?]
What?
[While you can't precisely remember the tunes, I believe I can try to straighten the memories in a way that can allow us to recover the lyrics.]
That sounds… still difficult to believe. Can you do it?
[I can. It's… I would need a certain unwilling mindmate's assistance on this.]
It would be just songs?
[Yes.]
I… I suppose it can be done. I can also keep an eye in any tricks you might be trying to set up.
[Sure, sure. Still, do we have a song we could try to check first? Maybe one that could work on her style and-]
I have one. I think this one will work.
"I actually… could have an idea," I decided to offer, gaining her attention. "It's a song I heard a long time ago back home. The original singer wouldn't mind if someone else planned to sing this song since he had a situation similar to yours."
"H-He really wouldn't mind?"
"I'm quite certain he wouldn't. But I need to leave the park for an hour or two to get the proper lyrics. You can give it a look and decide if those can work."
"B-But-"
"Can you please watch over Nora and the others? I shouldn't be getting out of the park now but… I believe I can get the lyrics prepared for you to study them."
"I… I think I can. I will keep an eye out for them."
I nodded and, after explaining the situations to the kids, I swiftly marched back home while Sally and Ozma went through the process of getting all the words I needed to get the complete text of that powerful song out.
Just as promised, I made my return to the park in time to deliver the paper containing the correct lyrics. The woman seemed partly surprised that I was honest with that promise, but her jaws dropped even lower as she was given the chance to read the lines on the paper.
…
"I-Is it really fine if- this is so- so incredible."
"I believe he really wouldn't mind. Of course, he would expect you to make a brilliant performance with it."
"O-Of course!" The Rabbit Faunus agreed determinedly. "I will start to work on it quickly and… and I believe I should be able to have something ready for when we return to Vale."
I was sure she was going to make a big impact if she really played her cards correctly. I gave her something really good. Something from Elton John to be quite precise and… I was surprised when two weeks later I received a lengthy letter that profusely thanked me for my assistance.
At first I had forgotten about this odd situation, but thanks to the letter I would then learn that something incredible had really happened after I had given Sandy that support.
I provided the soft push, but Sandy swiftly managed to get herself propelled to world-wide acclaim when she made an outstanding concert based on the song I gave her. Just like the song suggested, she was still standing and rising from the ruins of her love life… so that her child could have a good life to live.
The fun bit was explaining to Sienna why we would receive a couple of free tickets to Sandy Velvetina's concerts for years to come.