second investigation

[stagemanagers]

[One week out from the first deaths in this place, now. When you wake up on Friday morning, everything seems pretty quiet. There's nothing immediately, obviously amiss when you leave your dorms - and if maybe not everybody is in their beds at the moment, well, that's not so strange, is it? Maybe the No Murder party worked! Nobody wants to shatter Spongebob's poor little heart, right?

But, you know. Maybe you should make sure.]

Comments

[brokeforgood]

[Oh Jesus. Varian doesn’t need to see this. There’s no helping Peregrine or Conner at this point, but Farrah still has a chance there. She whirls on Varian, a look of terror on her face. She puts both hands on his arms, and pushes with all her might, to shove him back, away from the door.]

We need to get out of here.

[violentenvies]

[Salieri, who'd been on his way to the Band Room, has been quite alerted by all the noise and has come running, slowing to a stop near the door, a frown of concern on his face]

Farrah? Varian? What's going on--

[brokeforgood]

[Oh. Thank God. Farrah staggers to him, trembling.]

Dad——- [She can’t correct herself.]

It’s. Conner.

[violentenvies]

[As Farrah comes staggering to him, he's immediately holding out his arms on instinct to catch a hold of her, gathering her up--not even having time to process what she's called him, but the tone of her voice makes something twist painfully in his chest]

It's--

[a moment, then it hits, and he sucks in a breath, going pale]

Oh. Oh Lord, again....

[brokeforgood]

He’s dead. He’s —- [Farrah sobs. By now, Maya’s rushed past— so Peregrine isn’t alone. She’s tried, unsuccessfully to protect the others from the scene. She can stop trying.

She buries her face against him, and uses his shirt to muffle the scream of agony she lets out.]

[violentenvies]

[As Farrah turns her face into his chest and wails, it feels like his heart breaks. She's already gone through enough, why now this? It isn't fair--and for that to happen to one of her close friends--

Salieri wraps his arms around her, holding her close and secure, one hand gently resting on the back of her head]

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Come on, now, let's step back--[and he'll just gently guide her back a little further from the door and into the hall, still doing his best to hold her close]

[disharmonizes]

[Yeah, while Salieri is going to be busy with his kids (bc that's what they are let's not kid ourselves), Discord will try to lean in just slightly.]

I think this is better as a no kids allowed zone, yes?

[aka pls get these children away from this room maestro and quick]

[violentenvies]

[Salieri glances over at Discord at that, making eye contact, before nodding once, one arm still around Farrah, and the other perhaps reaching to take Varian by the shoulder and gently trying to tug him back further than Farrah has pushed him]

Come now, let's step back, this way--

[alchemistake]

[Yeah...yeah.

By the time Rina comes up behind him, Varian has at least realized Farrah screamed as a reaction, not out of hurt.

Well. Not...physical hurt, anyway.

He can see directly into the room, this time. He can see his body, even as Peregrine is crying and trying to hold on to him. His heart leaps into his throat, and he doesn't allow himself to look more than a second.

Varian staggers back when Farrah pushes him, both him and Rina, and because he knows now why she's doing this, he'll turn halfway and gently reach for Rina's hand instead of like...doing the shoving.]

Okay- okay, okay-

[He's. Panicked. Shaking, stammering.]

[brokeforgood]

[She tried. She tried to be a good sister, and protect him.

She wants to be a good sister.]