First Trial

[stagemanagers]

[As the investigation ends, you'll hear Hester's voice inviting you to the auditorium. As this happens, the twin doors on either side of the concession stand, across from the gym, will click open. You can enter on either side; both go to the same place.

When you enter the auditorium, it's dark. There's only the small lights along the walkway behind all the seats, just enough to illuminate where you're going. There's a central path between the seats, down towards where you know the stage must be. That's where you must be going, right? As you pass each row of seats, the lights at their ends flick on, marking your procession and slowly making more and more of the room visible. Shortly, you can see your destination: a circle of podiums stationed in the orchestra pit, below the lip of the darkened, curtained stage. They're all identical, labeled with a cast member's name, save for Mumble's, which is draped in black crepe and has a framed monochrome photo of him - Elijah Wood him - on top.

When you reach the podiums, the lights above the stage finally come on. It's time to meet the Wizard.

The mechanical head, with glowing green eyes, is installed above the stage and the still-closed curtain. Even if you were standing on the stage, it'd be well out of reach. It peers down at all of you, its motions fluid, and speaks with a booming, artificial-sounding voice:]

Welcome to your first trial, everyone. I am the Wizard. It's time to determine who was responsible for the murder of Mumble. Feel free to talk amongst yourselves and work together - you'll have to show teamwork if you want to leave this room alive.

Comments

[tailor_made]

[She's here, she's got on her best floofy blue party dress and she's ready to get through this party!]

[mayavericks]

[Maybe just a little bitterly.]

Are you enjoying yourself?

[tailor_made]

[Hester looks down at Maya, pursing her lips but not saying anything, before looking away to stare out at the empty auditorium.]

[mayavericks]

[That's fine, she'll come yell at you later.

Y'know. If they live.]

[violentenvies]

[Salieri's going to look up at the stage, then, his eyes flicking from the Wizard to Hester, and lingering there--trying to make eye contact for a moment--before he glances away, attention back on the others]

[tailor_made]

[In that brief eye contact is he doing an insight check?]

[violentenvies]

[Of course, what do you take him for? A guy who doesn't want to be Kapellmeister???]

[tailor_made]

[Her make-up, while mostly pristine as usual, is smeared at the corners of her eyes like she'd been wiping her eyes. And based on her rigid posture she's very unsure about this particular circus.]

[violentenvies]

[He'll note that, and his expression softens minutely. He gives her a small nod, holding her gaze, before he turns away]

[howtheworldwas]

[ Eurydice looks Hester right in the eyes for several seconds, unblinking. Then, she purses her lips and turns her attention back to Orpheus. ]

[tailor_made]

[Hester does hold her gaze for those few seconds, her expression tight the whole time. When Eurydice looks away she visibly relaxes, just a fraction, and turns to watch the Wizard.]

[wanderlusttitania]

Mademoiselle Hester?!



Are...are you all right?

[tailor_made]

I'm-I'm fine, madame. [She does crack a smile for Sissi, albeit a weak one.] Just not really used to heights yet.

[yup, that's the only problem here.]

[wanderlusttitania]

[Yup, yup, totally, that's all that's wrong-]

Perhaps the Wizard might be willing to lowering that for you if you're worried? Surely he's not going to make you stay like that this whole time...

[Her eyes flicker over to the Wizard as she trails off.]

[stagemanagers]

[The Wizard does actually turn to look at Hester as well, as if waiting for her answer!]

[tailor_made]

[She looks from Sissi to the Wizard, pursing her lips while she mulls over an answer. She reaches up to touch her little 'H' pendant hanging from her neck before her eyes settle on the Wizard.]

Maybe...just a little bit? Until I can get used to fighting against gravity.

[stagemanagers]

Of course. Why don't you go find somewhere else to stand? Just not down there.

[The Wizard's voice is quieter when addressing Hester, though it doesn't seem like he's really capable of speaking at a level where everyone in the room can't hear it. The bubble starts to go back up and disappear into wherever it came from.]

[tailor_made]

Thank you. [She nods to the Wizard, a smile eases across her face as the bubble rises and vanishes.

A scant few minutes later a light on the balcony nearest to the stage flicks to life and Hester steps out, looking a bit less pressed than before.]

[brokeforgood]

[Farrah rolls her eyes, though there's a tiny part of her that's grateful poor Hester isn't so high up anymore. She does grumble though--]

Right, better keep her away from the riff-raf.

[stagemanagers]

You all did try to stab her.

[Like, he's being quiet throughout most of this because that's the point of the trial, but. That very much did happen.]

[employeeoftheyear]

I didn't!

[Smile smile.]

[comeandfindme]

No one cares what you have to say, Tin Man!

[sugarlumps]

Only once!