itscurtains | second trial

[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. Elisabeth and Connor have joined Mumble in having theirs draped in black crepe and with a framed monochrome photo of them on top.

When you reach the podiums, the lights above the stage finally come on. the Wizard is once again waiting for you. Beside it Hester is slowly lowers in on her bubble. Her dress this week is a purple monstrosity, more akin to a voluminous prom dress than the simple outfits she usually wears.

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

But he would have to have known about the letters still, right? There'd be no reason to print out a letter and not just leave it up on the computer if they didn't know about the letters.

... Right?

[HE'S STILL NEW TO THIS.]

...suicides often come with a letter. It was logical.

[Spongebob looks like he's just been punched in the gut.]

...What?

It was logical for him to write a letter.

[Hey, anyone paying close attention to the SQUIP right now? Because there is the slightest of trembling in its hands]

And logical for him to address it to Evan.

B-but he said he didn't know Evan! He didn't tell me but a lot of his friends said that he didn't know him.

It wouldn't have been logical!

[Well Salieri is still holding it's hand so

His eyes narrow]

It was not. Which you would know, if you knew the full explanation of Evan Hansen.

A hasty and biased assumption.

How flawed of it.

Indeed.

Fuckin’ fake.

[..............]

[Angus grips the sides of his podium.] Humans are not predictable, SQUIP. You did not have to do this...

[He's looking down, avoiding the gazes of the others. If he could have only convinced it better. If only he could have explained the logic of holding back the temptation to murder to save a school. If only Angus had given a better speech, said something different-

Connor would still be alive.]

...someone did. We were out of time.

(no subject)

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[ ............ ]

You mean it was logical for you.

You said...

[.....]

It was too late.

[a nod]

[His stomach roils. After asking it to let him help it not an hour ago...it's honestly hard to summon the anger he knows he should feel. It's in there somewhere, he thinks...but he mostly just feels sick.]

But it didn't save the schoolyard,
and it didn't beat the Wizard,
and it didn't keep you alive,
and it didn't help Jeremy.

Yes.

It did.

[It takes a breath]

There are two scenarios; I am either a copy, or I am an original. If I am a copy, than my original self is still with Jeremy, and his school remaining intact will allow it to proceed with its program.

If I am the original...[and is that a hitch in its voice?] ...then he will have a chance to learn from what I have already taught him.

Edited 2021-06-19 19:34 (UTC)

Oh, I'm rather certain you've done him a favor, actually.

[He's not gunning for the SQUIP like some, but. He might just walks a little closer.]

I'm sure he's much better off without you.

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Humans. Aren’t. Logical.

[ Through her tears and her glare. ]

...No.

They are irrational, which is how I found him.

He was upset!! He needed someone to talk to! He needed— He…needed me to…

[ “Come and find me.” ]

[...]

There...was a pill. That came out of the machine.

You said you were extracted, didn't you?

[it nods]

You said...

[...]

"I am not what I am supposed to be. I am supposed to be in here. In Jeremy."

I didn't understand that at all at the time, and I don't...really fully understand it now. But you seemed...genuinely frantic in a way I've never seen before.

...What was your photo, again?

...His school.