stagemanagers: (Default)
It's Curtains Mods ([personal profile] stagemanagers) wrote in [community profile] itscurtains2021-06-26 11:01 am
Entry tags:

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.
employeeoftheyear: (But there is more to me)

[personal profile] employeeoftheyear 2021-06-26 05:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Then what? Then when the motive happened they decided we didn't matter anymore? We mattered less than a maybe?
comeandfindme: (barriers beware you're gonna shatter)

[personal profile] comeandfindme 2021-06-26 05:58 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't like it either, okay! [ don't yell at spongebob ] I don't like that...that someone killed Rina, would kill all of us, just— that's what happens sometimes! It's screwed up, and it sucks, but it happens!

[ ... ]

You can do fucked up things when you think you're alone.
employeeoftheyear: (Then I can finally say I've done it)

[personal profile] employeeoftheyear 2021-06-26 06:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[That makes Spongebob stop dead in his tracks. He looks away from everyone and starts hugging himself.]

I... I should have done a better job... I wasn't there enough for everyone this week.

[All the sudden, he felt like he was weighed down with guilt, and that this was once again his fault.

He wasn't there for SQUIP and now he wasn't there for....]
Edited 2021-06-26 18:03 (UTC)
disharmonizes: (117)

[personal profile] disharmonizes 2021-06-26 06:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[...Just reaching over and

gently flicking Spongebob in the arm.]


Ah-ah, none of that. There's a ranking of people responsible for this and, frankly, you didn't even make the list.
employeeoftheyear: (Then I can finally say I've done it)

[personal profile] employeeoftheyear 2021-06-26 06:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[He manages to look up at Discord, eyes puffy and red.]

Not even a little?
Edited 2021-06-26 18:13 (UTC)
disharmonizes: (013)

[personal profile] disharmonizes 2021-06-26 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
You're so far from the list, you're not even in the same galaxy.
employeeoftheyear: (But there is more to me)

[personal profile] employeeoftheyear 2021-06-26 06:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh.

[He pauses, then sheepishly.]

Hey Discord? Could I come over to you?
disharmonizes: (136)

[personal profile] disharmonizes 2021-06-26 06:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah...

...If you want to, of course.

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themuseabandonsyou: (shattered)

[personal profile] themuseabandonsyou 2021-06-26 06:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Spongebob, no, it's - you're not to blame, for this. We all did everything we could, to be there for each other, and this - still happened. I don't understand it either, but I know it's not your fault.
employeeoftheyear: (Then I can finally say I've done it)

[personal profile] employeeoftheyear 2021-06-26 06:20 pm (UTC)(link)
I just... I thought if I showed everyone that we were in this together that...

[He can't finish it, but Orpheus would probably know how he would end that thought.]
themuseabandonsyou: (looking down)

[personal profile] themuseabandonsyou 2021-06-26 06:25 pm (UTC)(link)
I know. I thought that, too. If we kept checking on each other, and talking to each other about what we're going through, then...

[ He swallows, hard. ]

But if you're to blame, then so am I. Do you blame me, Spongebob?
employeeoftheyear: (Give me a chance)

[personal profile] employeeoftheyear 2021-06-26 06:33 pm (UTC)(link)
O-of course not! You're a great friend and you've helped me through a lot!

[Spongebob... does not make the connection quite yet.]

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feudalladyshandmaid: (Concerned)

[personal profile] feudalladyshandmaid 2021-06-26 06:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh..... buddy....]

Look, Spongebob, you can't put all of this on yourself. It's... Peregrine's right. People do things when they think they're alone.
employeeoftheyear: (Then I can finally say I've done it)

[personal profile] employeeoftheyear 2021-06-26 06:24 pm (UTC)(link)
But... what if I told everyone they could come to me if they were alone... maybe Rina would still be...
mcfife: somber (☀️riding on the astral fire)

[personal profile] mcfife 2021-06-26 06:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Spongebob. I too have felt that way since arriving here. It is not entirely your responsibility to look after all of us.
feudalladyshandmaid: (Mad)

[personal profile] feudalladyshandmaid 2021-06-26 06:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[Cassandra's eyes are shut tight. For whatever reason, she can't look at this right now.]

You.... You just can't let yourself think about that. [Her chest stings.] If you keep thinking about how you could have changed things... It still won't make what happened any less real.
comeandfindme: (strike!)

[personal profile] comeandfindme 2021-06-26 06:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ... ]

What happened out there when we weren't looking back?
When we couldn't see her alone?
We could be prepared, but to be prepared for that?
When there is so much unknown...


[ Peregrine's lips are set thin. ]

Sometimes you coulda done something. But it doesn't mean— it doesn't mean it's all your fault.

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comeandfindme: (press the pain and make it numb)

[personal profile] comeandfindme 2021-06-26 06:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ... ]

You could be the most supportive friend in the world, but if someone refuses to see, or to listen, then...

Then there's nothing you can do.
mayavericks: (Please Look This Way)

[personal profile] mayavericks 2021-06-26 06:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Spongebob.

[Maya's been sort of caught in the feels this whole week but -- ]

I was in a very dark place this week. Knowing that any action could hurt you, or anyone else here for that matter, however? It stayed my hand. You kept this week from being far worse.

You have done so well.
employeeoftheyear: (Give me a chance)

[personal profile] employeeoftheyear 2021-06-26 06:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[Spongebob looks at Maya, the tiniest spark of hope washes over his face.]

You... you really mean that, Maya?
mayavericks: (Oh Fly Me to the Star)

[personal profile] mayavericks 2021-06-26 06:28 pm (UTC)(link)
I do. I could not imagine living in a world where you were disappointed in me.
employeeoftheyear: (And I could change the game)

[personal profile] employeeoftheyear 2021-06-26 06:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[He gives her a small smile.]

I would never be disappointed in you, Maya.

[If she's the culprit I'm gonna Lose It.]

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sugarlumps: (that sounds lame)

[personal profile] sugarlumps 2021-06-26 06:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Bob, it's not your fault you got turned into a snail this week.
employeeoftheyear: (But there is more to me)

[personal profile] employeeoftheyear 2021-06-26 06:43 pm (UTC)(link)
...

Wait how come I don't remember turning into a snail?

[Did he have snail amnesia??]
sugarlumps: (Default)

[personal profile] sugarlumps 2021-06-26 09:32 pm (UTC)(link)
I think snails only remember like five minutes of stuff.