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.
no subject
[She's staring at that amber, though. She doesn't understand. But maybe if she'd tried harder, maybe if she'd been there for him instead of licking her own wounds. She's always been a good judge of character, surely she would have picked up on his intent if she had just been there.
Her hands are shaking against the podium. She grips it tighter, just to find a sense of calm. Discord had told her to keep them united. She has to do that now, and that includes Varian. If she asks the right answers, maybe it will all come together.]
Tell us what happened. Why did you -- Why were you in the corn field with her?
no subject
But the truth...might not quite be what everyone is expecting to hear. He's still crying, and struggling to ]
I...was upset. The memories I got Sunday...a-and with what...I showed you, Maya. I knew I'd done something terrible.
[He's trying to keep looking at everyone as he speaks, but it's...difficult.]
I knew...from what I remembered, I c-couldn't save him. Nothing I did worked. But...
[The motive. The wish.]
I was considering it. I was desperate. I had...to save my Dad, because nobody else would help me...
[He looks down at the stains on his pants.]
But that night, Rina....s-she knew something was wrong. That I was upset...and she...
[He lifts his hand up his own arm, looking at his wrist.]
She tied a bracelet around my wrist...a-and told me it would grant my wish without the Wizard. I got...upset...mad, but I didn't hurt her. I ran away.
She followed me into the corn field...I was- I was-
[He takes another step back, starting to like...really cry, now, his voice rising in pitch.]
She tried to grab me...a-and I pushed her away-
[He chokes on the words, his shoulders shaking.]
I didn't know it was there, It was- she- ....she wasn't even-
[Touching the ground.]
I tried to help her!! But the- she was in so much pain, every time I t-tried to move her, she'd cry- so I- ...
[He doubles over.]
I never would have d-done it if....if she wasn't suffering. She was suffering!
I didn't mean for this to happen!!!
no subject
[His voice is quiet at first, then he suddenly yells in angry tears.]
It wasn't your fault!
no subject
[God, he hates this.]
That's what the rag was, wasn't it?
no subject
[Varian nods, closing his eyes.]
It makes you sleep. I d-didn't know what I was going to do with it, if anything...I...
I thought...I was capable....o-of hurting people. That's why...
no subject
It was the chemicals that killed her, isn't it?
no subject
The rest is all an accident, but... That was the best thing you could have done for her, in that moment.
[He looks down, and then pauses, considering.
Then he crosses around the podium circle, to where Varian has been pulled into Antonio's arms, dropping to his knees next to them.
And pulls the rag out of his pocket, holding it to him.]
...You know what has to happen now. But you don't need to suffer, either. When it's time, just... breathe, and think of her.
no subject
[He knows. And with the way he looks grimly back at Benjamin, he understands.
Hell, he wants for this to happen, if only for Rina to have justice.
Not that he...wants to die.]
I...I'll be ready.
no subject
[When Varian takes the rag, Benjamin puts a hand on his shoulder.]
...I'm sorry that it has to end this way.
[And he might've said more but there goes your fucking music dad doing a goddamn suicide run-]
no subject
Varian - I - [ But what can he say to that? What can any of them say to that? ] I'm so sorry.
no subject
Everything hurts, every part of him, and he stumbles forward, whomever he has to push through enough to collapse onto his knees next to Varian, to try and pull him in, to curl around him as if that could protect him from this, from what'd happened, from what Varian accidentally did]
I know, it was an accident, Varian, you didn't mean to, you didn't--
no subject
It was all a... a fucking accident...
[Just like it always is.]