third 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. 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.

Comments

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine gasps. Every conversation they'd had, about parents, suddenly— ]

What did you remember?

[ She should've talked to him. She should've asked him. How was he on Sunday, did she even notice? ]

[alchemistake]

[Varian's backing away from his podium now, staring hard at the amber there. Like it's...

Like it might start to grow. Like it might do something to hurt them.]

M...m-my dad. He...

[He grips himself at the arms, shaking not unlike he had when Rina's death was announced.]

I will make you proud

Get the answers...and set you free.
Don't you worry, whatever it might take...I'm finding a way
And I swear right now, that no matter what comes of me...

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Cassandra tears away from her podium. She's circling around, towards Varian.]

Varian...

[alchemistake]

...you were right about me, Cass.

[Varian sniffs, but he can't look her in the eye.]

All along...you were right.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

No... No, Varian. What happened. It wasn't...

[Her chest aches. It burns for the first time in weeks, in months.

It doesn't matter if he doesn't look at her. She's here, and she's pulling him into a tight hug.]

...What happened, Varian?

[mayavericks]

It -- Doesn't matter what happened.

[Maya's grip on her sword tightens. She starts to move toward Varian.]

He did it, and he will suffer this execution. This torture. He will suffer something that no child should have to go through.

[disharmonizes]

[Yep, nope, stepping in front of the boy.]

Maya.

[mayavericks]

Don't make him go through this, Discord. Don't make us watch.

[employeeoftheyear]

[Spongebob gives Maya a grave look.]

... No, it's not Varian's fault.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Cassandra eyes turn to Maya.

They are ice cold.]

Stop. Talking.

[mayavericks]

I can make it quick. Quicker than that thing would.

[She's pointing at the Wizard.]

[sugarlumps]

Okay okay okay or- or-

[They can totally save this, maybe.]

[She might be missing the sword.]

We all vote wrong, and he wishes that none of this happened. Problem solved.

[comeandfindme]

The Wizard won't let that happen, all of us would just die!

[mayavericks]

We cannot change what happened here.

[comeandfindme]

[ She covers her mouth. She can't stop the tears from running down her face. ]

Varian... Varian, no. We- we could've done this together, we would've helped you—

[violentenvies]

Varian--[Salieri's trembling, eyes wide, so pale as he takes a step towards him, reaching out for him, hand loosening on Discord's so he can get to Varian]

Varian, mon fils, you're not--what did you--? [his voice shakes, denial, no, no, no please anything but this, not this--]

[alchemistake]

[Just gonna leave more context over here while I write up the other thing in another tab-]

My e-experimenting with the black rocks...it trapped my dad. He saved me, so...so I went to Rapunzel for help...but she didn't do anything. I came back, a-and he was...

[violentenvies]

[he takes another step, another, reaching out for Varian--as if, if Salieri could get his hands on his son--not by blood, but through love-- this horrible vision will stop and it will all be a dream, he'll wake up, in Broadhurst, and Varian will be on the bunk above him with Rina, and--]

...he was what, Varian?

[alchemistake]

He was trapped.

[Varian hisses thinly.]

In the amber, he was...m-my dad...!

[comeandfindme]

[ You just have to do something to show him you're serious.

"You gotta show him you're not just...a kid playing around."

Peregrine almost chokes on her tears. ]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

He... He is...

[Last she recalls.]

I am so sorry, Varian...

[mcfife]

Is that...what you spoke to me about? Is this what you wanted to do after she didn't help?

["...if it's the last thing I do."]

Varian, why? Rina trusted you!

[defyingfrigidity]

Varian.

[It's hard to sound very firm, with how broken her own voice is, but Elsa tries anyway. She's not far behind Cass as she rounds the podium, and although there are enough people crowding around that she can't get too close, she'll still try and talk to him.]

Please, remember earlier this week. Remember when we talked by the piano? The... the things you did, that doesn't make you a monster or a bad person. All you wanted was to help, right?

[alchemistake]

I...

[Hi hello Varian is sobbing uncontrollably but he's trying]

I t-tried everything...I tried...

[defyingfrigidity]

[Okay fuck it, Elsa's going to squeeze herself into the tangle of people surrounding him. It's an awkward fit, but she gets her arms around him, holding him with all the big sister strength she's got in her.

As she does, there's a flurry of magic around them. It weaves together into a thin necklace around Varian's neck; a simple chain, with a charm of dangling music notes.]

You're better than you think you are. You're good, and kind, and you deserve nothing but happiness. Not... not this.....