It's Curtains Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
stagemanagers) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
itscurtains2021-06-26 11:01 am
stagemanagers) wrote in itscurtains2021-06-26 11:01 am
third 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. Some of you have a detour to make beforehand- Hester lets you in to her office to drop off the precious cargo without incident. She then slips off to in the direction of the scene shop.
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. The SQUIP, the Balladeer and Rina now have 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. Either she was magicked up there or the catwalk repair had a very impressive turnaround time. The Dad Squad and Peregrine have already seen this week's look but those who haven't might notice the braid bun her hair is in has half-fallen out and her little white heels are covered in dirt.
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 third trial, everyone. It's time to determine who was responsible for the murder of Rina. Feel free to talk amongst yourselves and work together - you'll have to show teamwork if you want to leave this room alive.
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. The SQUIP, the Balladeer and Rina now have 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. Either she was magicked up there or the catwalk repair had a very impressive turnaround time. The Dad Squad and Peregrine have already seen this week's look but those who haven't might notice the braid bun her hair is in has half-fallen out and her little white heels are covered in dirt.
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 third trial, everyone. It's time to determine who was responsible for the murder of Rina. Feel free to talk amongst yourselves and work together - you'll have to show teamwork if you want to leave this room alive.
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[She's dealing.]
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By Rina's body? [He didn't even run out to see the body, please explain.]
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...well, guess he's going with Salieri over to the other side of the podium circle.]
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He'll go to his podium without a word, standing there surrounded by not just Farrah and Salieri, but Discord now here too. He's not shaking anymore, standing stiff and resolute with the intent of bringing the culprit to justice, but...he's still visibly unwell.]
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...Hey, so I made it to the concession stand before the announcement. Can I, like, offer you some Cookie Dough in these trial times or something.
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I don't have any actually-appropriate icons for this
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I found these, in the corn field. Near, um. All the blood, that her highness mentioned. This is definitely Rina's? [ he says, pointing at the board. ] And I think part of it still works, but I can't figure out how to use it. If someone who's more familiar with computers wants to take a look, that might be a good idea. I'm also not sure about the hairpin. It might be hers, too? But I don't remember seeing her wear it. That might just be because I wasn't... paying enough attention, though.
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She'll position herself between the Wizard and Orpheus, squeezing his hand back once he's laid out the evidence. ]
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[Varian speaks for the first time since they'd all entered the trial.]
I'm not...as familiar with computers as she was, but she-
[...]
She showed me a lot.
[He's not entirely sure what the blinking red light could mean, though. He's not that future-tech savvy yet, unfortunately.]
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Mods?
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May I see that? I've gotten hair decorations from the vending machine before.
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mods
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Shut up.]
So someone very deliberately brought Rina to the garden. She almost looked like she was sleeping. I would've called it peaceful, if not for... [...He's not exactly stoked to get to this part of his explanation, especially not when he's on this side of the podium circle, much too close to the kids. But, in for a penny.] Well, the fact that she'd been impaled. Although there weren't any other wounds, whatsoever.
cw: emeto mention
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[Spongebob was honestly pretty checked out up until this point (he was still in his pajamas and mostly staring at his podium), but that gets him to shoot up in horror.]
But she's just a child!
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It must've happened in the corn field. The scarecrow that her highness mentioned - the stake it was sitting on was broken and, um. Covered in blood.
[ A lot of blood. Orpheus's hands go white-knuckled on the podium in front of him again, and he stares at the ground between all of them. ]
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I found this stuff in the dance studio.
[She holds up the CD]
And someone was listening to this last night. It was in the CD player when I went to do yoga this morning.
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MODS again
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She was making these. Wish bracelets, it— ...When they fall apart, if they're well taken care of, the owner...gets a wish. They were... They were gonna be a surprise. [ She's staring at the one with the kitty head, her voice breaking as she adds: ] That one was hers. I...helped her finish it.
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Uh... well, whoever our killer is grabbed some bleach from the kitchen in a hurry. That's all I managed to find out.
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You Put Your Right Hand In, You Put Your Right Hand Out!
If each of you would not mind putting your hands in? I agree that the talk of chemicals is very important, but we should also work on eliminating the obvious signs as well.
[Maya holds her hands out! She clearly hasn't been keeping up with her french tips but... Other than that, she's clean!]
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BLEACH CHECK
[ She makes a show of cracking her knuckles and her neck. ]
So line up and I'm going to fucking smell you.
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MTB...
Varian looks up at the eyes of the people standing all around him. Those he calls his friends...his family.
He looks...
"In moments like this, when you feel like you're lost and that you might be the monster people think you are... that's when you most need people at your side."
Terrified.
"The people who see you for who you truly are, and who will help support you no matter what."]
He wouldn't hold a trial for a monster.
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[ She looks at him in horror. ]
What happened?
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VOTING
...you're not a monster, Varian. You're nothing like he was. But it's time for everyone to make your choice now. You should consider it carefully.
1/2
At Varian
Spongebob looks at the podium, tears once again welling up in his eyes.]
I... I...
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EXECUTION: Ready As You’ll Ever Be
Believe me it’s known, you've sunk pretty low
But whatever is done, it’s deserved
[The green curtains open and the tragic mess that transpired there just two days ago has been swept clean away. In its place looks to be some type of obstacle course made entirely of black stone that spreads horizontally across the whole stage. Varian stands at far stage right, slightly dazed and confused. Sticking out of his pocket, the white chloroform-soaked rag given to him by Benjamin is clearly visible.
On the opposite side of the stage, shrouded in shadow from the shoulders up, is a figure dressed in a buttoned-up flannel and jeans. In their hands is an acoustic guitar that they play along with the booming horns and strings from unseen other musicians that melds into a perfect melody.]
You’re the bad guy, that's fine
It's no fault of mine and some justice, it now will be served
[Behind Varian an amber-gold light fills the stage right wing and slowly begins creeping toward the stage. He looks behind him, his eyes widening, and starts to climb the wall in front of him. It’s not difficult persay, there are lumps of stone for him to grab and pull himself up while behind him the parts of the hardwood stage the light touches begin to ice over with smooth amber.]
Now it's time to step up or it's time to back down
And there's only one answer for you
And you'll stand up and fight 'cause you think that you're right
And you're ready, you’re ready, you’re ready
Ready as you’ll ever be
[Varian makes it over the wall just in time for the amber light to touch the base of the climbing wall. He scrambles over a solid stone hurdle, throwing all his weight gracelessly over the top and then crawling under a slightly raised slab. As he emerges from underneath it, the shadowed flannel figure steps into the light, revealing exactly what it looks like. It strums the guitar one last time before reaching into it’s pocket to produce a harmonica. The mannequin lifts it to it’s sealed plastic mouth and blows a flourishing note to go with the triumphant horn.]
Now it's time to rise up or it's time to stand down
And the answer is easy to see
And you swear by her sword now you can’t be ignored
Are you ready?
You’re ready
You're ready, you’re ready
Ready as you'll ever be
[On the course Varian meets the final structure: a slanted wall with a dangling rope and a flat top. He glances behind him again to watch the light slowly move across the stage, turning every inch of the black stone into glittering amber. He takes a breath and grabs the rope to start climbing. After several feet he heaves himself to the top of the obstacle, sitting on his knees as he looks down the other side. It’s a steep drop, steep enough to hurt him for sure but not enough to kill him. Either way, stay here or drop down, he’s stuck.
From her bubble Hester locks eyes with Varian, her face a mask of pained sympathy.]
We never wanted to do this
But we will if it guarantees...
[With nowhere else to go and the amber light creeping ever closer Varian’s shoulders slump in resignation to his fate. But at least...at least it doesn't have to hurt. He reaches into his pocket for the rag- and finds nothing but the two silver coins Orpheus had gifted him. He checks the other pocket- nothing. Panic starts welling in his chest and he looks back over the stage left edge at the hardwood floor. Then the song turns, for just a minute, and Hester’s voice is so soft it’s difficult to really hear her.]
I will make you proud
Get the answers and set things right
Don't you worry, whatever it might take, we’re finding a way
[The music swells again, switching back to the horns and strings. Behind him Varian feels a heavy land lay on his shoulder and he startles, nearly falling off the edge if that hand didn’t grip the back of his shirt to keep him steady. The mannequin has abandoned its guitar and now sits beside him, it’s blank expression giving away nothing of its intentions. Tears once start again welling in Varian’s eyes and he hiccups once before the mannequin extends it’s free hand to give him the rag that had fallen from his pocket in his haste across the stage.]
Now the line's in the sand
And the moment's at hand
[Varian hesitates, one hand raised and trembling, before he slowly reaches out and takes the rag. The mannequin nods solemnly, it’s grip loosening on Varian’s shirt. Varian takes one last gulp of fresh air before turning to look out at the audience, at his family, one last time before squeezing his eyes shut and lifting the rag to his face. He takes a few deep breaths, swooning a little, before he starts to slump off the edge again.]
And you're ready
You're ready
You’re ready
[The mannequin isn’t about to let that happen though. It holds him by the shoulders, gently pulling him back and laying him across the flat top of the climbing wall. It lays a light hand on top of his hair and Varian is fully and peacefully unconscious as the amber light washes over him, leaving behind a sleeping boy and mannequin encased in amber.]
Ready as you'll ever be
[The curtains close. The house lights come up. The auditorium doors softly click unlocked. You are now free to go.]
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Her head swims with the alcohol, and the sheer, raw emotion. She doesn’t know if she breathes during it—- but she does sway, and when she makes eye contact with Varian, she can’t even mask her terror.
She won’t be able to leave without help.]
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