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

[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.

[fourbutts]

[ Janis, who's sort of been sitting over here, kind of stunned by everything, finally looks up at that. Her voice isn't angry, or accusatory. Just a little hurt. ]

... So we'd just watch you?

[mayavericks]

I would bear a thousand deaths, suffer for thousands of years, if it kept any of you from going through this.

[howtheworldwas]

[ Eurydice does not usually raise her voice. But she raises it now. ]

No. You don’t know what you think you’re doing, you can’t sacrifice yourself and hope the Wizard will play fair, it’s not worth it.

[mayavericks]

I don't expect fairness. I expect the rules. A child will be spared suffering, and I will go in his place.

[disharmonizes]

I'm not--

[He doesn't want that. But he doesn't like the alternative here, either, and--

...And there's no good options. There aren't any. Idly, he finds himself snapping his fingers at his side, trying to make something, anything happen, to stop all this.]

I'm not letting you participate, either.

[barberic]

That's enough, Maya.

[He's not on that side of the courtroom, but his voice is an intimidating growl that sure as fuck carries anyway.]

What do you think would happen if you did put him out of his misery? What would stop the Wizard from executing you in his place?

Let the boy tell us what happened. Let him go without secrets on his soul, anyway.

[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.]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

He...

He's just a kid.

[It's all she can say.]

[comeandfindme]

That's the point, Cass.

[ Because he's just a kid. Because otherwise... ]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

He's already been through so much.

[...]

If anyone should do it...

[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!

[sugarlumps]

He might! He's real stupid! And then NO one would be dead cause weird time stuff!

[comeandfindme]

Hester said we can't go back on Tuesday!!

[sugarlumps]

Hester's dumb too! This whole thing sucks!

[mayavericks]

We cannot change what happened here.

[sugarlumps]

We can lumping try.