second 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. 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.

Comments

[alchemistake]

[It took me a hilariously long time to even formulate a response for this because I'm just over here making INCOHERENT NOISES LYNSEY FUCK YOU

Anyway though...Rina, sweet Rina. Varian was already trying to suck those tears back in when she let his hand go, worried he was spooking her, but...no, that doesn't seem to be the case. He isn't going to stop her from wiping his tears for him, even if he feels bad that she even has to.

He'll reach up and hold those sleeves for a minute, leaning against them. He doesn't say anything, just allowing himself to be grounded by her presence.]

[brokeforgood]

[Farrah holds onto them both for a bit, but after this—- yeah, Rina’s got him. She doesn’t need to third wheel around here, so she gives them both a quick squeeze, then in a hushed voice—]

I’m gonna make sure dad didn’t break his back when he got knocked down. [Did she just call—- yup. But she’ll release them both, moving not too far away to check on Salieri.]

[violentenvies]

[Salieri looks over as Farrah comes over, immediately, reaching out an arm, lifting it up for her to duck under for a hug if she wants]

[brokeforgood]

[Duck under it she does, tucking herself under his arm safely. They all know what comes next. She wants to be here when it happens—- even if The Squip has it coming.]

[violentenvies]

[he'll curl his arm around her, then, tucking her against his side. With his other hand, he reaches across the rail to Varian, offering his hand to hold]

[alchemistake]

[It takes Varian a moment to notice, but when he does he will be taking Salieri's hand readily. It also puts Rina back inbetween them all, but he doubts she minds that overmuch.

She's honorary- no. She's part of their little family, too.]

[samefacesyndrome]

[ O-OH. OKAY.

THIS IS FINE.

SHE IS OKAY WITH THIS. ]

[violentenvies]

Remember. [this is addressed to all three of them]

You don't have to look. The Wizard may be cruel, but in this, he cannot force you. There is no shame in choosing not to watch.

[samefacesyndrome]

[ She says nothing but she. Nods. ]

[tellthestory]

[The Balladeer looks sidelong at the little crowd forming next to him for a moment, as if contemplating going over there as well, but pretty quickly just turns back to focus on the top of his own podium. He needs to...maybe he just needs to figure out how to make himself useful.]

[brokeforgood]

[Farrah saw that. She clears her throat. Loudly. Multiple times, if need be.

And opens the arm that isn’t wrapped around Salieri.]

[tellthestory]

[It takes a few tries for him to look up, but...

He looks at her for a moment. That isn't really his place; it's not even like he's never overseen executions before. And he can't even be angry at the SQUIP, not the way everyone else is. Not when...well, it's the way it is because someone wrote its code that way. Isn't he the same?

But he knows how to take a cue. So he goes over to accept the hug.

(He's still shaking, faintly.)]

[violentenvies]

[Salieri's attention is mostly on the kids, but he catches that out of the corner of his eye and looks over at The Balladeer questioningly]

[tellthestory]

[Nope, not looking!]

[violentenvies]

[Frown...Salieri's going to note that, definitely to talk to him about later]

[samefacesyndrome]

[ Rina lets him do so for as long as he needs, feeling comforted and grounded herself by Farrah around them both. When Farrah speaks she looks at her and nods. ]

Okay. [ ...and then after a moment, ] Thank you, Farrah-san.