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

[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.

[employeeoftheyear]

Maya

You're also a child. I-I don't care how much you want to save Varian, we can't lose more of our family.

[Tears well up in his eyes as he talks, but he speaks steadily, and as calmly as possible.]

1/2

[mayavericks]

[Maya tries to take another step forward.]

Please forgive me for doing what's best for you.

[disharmonizes]

I don't know if you've noticed, Maya, but you're a child too.

2/3 (gomen)

[mayavericks]

[She looks to Discord and --]

[barberic]

You are also a child!

[This time he snaps.

His fingers are white against the podium.]

I can't- Maya, don't... [Don't make me watch you die.]

If you're so insistent that it must be done, then let me do it.

3/3

[mayavericks]

[She drops her sword.]

Make this easier

[fourbutts]

[ Janis is quiet for a moment, then stands.

The loop of the-

She runs and hugs Maya. ]

Yeah we're angry
Really angry
But that does not make us wise
We're not special, we're not different
We don't choose who lives or dies.

[mayavericks]

[Maya Tendo doesn't cry. And as she turns herself to hide within Janis's shoulder, she's determined to keep it that way.

Or at least keep anyone from seeing it.]

[fourbutts]

[ Janis continues singing, quiet, stroking Maya's hair. ]

Let's be normal, see bad movies
I've got some you ought to see
We'll bake brownies, and go bowling
Don't you want a life with me?

[mayavericks]

[Weakly, Maya shakes her head. She doesn't want this to be about her.]

Can’t they be seventeen?
That’s all I want for them.

[fourbutts]

[ Janis takes the shift in direction in stride, at least partly. ]

"If we could turn back time"
Can't make that choice for them.

[employeeoftheyear]

[Spongebob walks up to Maya and gently hugs her. It's more tender than Spongebob's normal life grip hugs, like he's afraid he'll break her if holds onto her to hard.]

We've done all we could do
And whatever happens now
I'm glad I'm here with you

[disharmonizes]

[...He's just going to take that sword, if no one stops him, because boy that does not need to be there right now.

You kids can have sharp object privileges back later.]

[violentenvies]

[Salieri's hunched over Varian, clinging to him, as if he could protect him--and he watches as Discord picks up that sword--

--and it repeats on his head, like a loop, like a record, no, no, no, they can't--

And he's on his feet in an instant, immediately breaking out into a run, reaching out to snatch the sword out from Discord's hand, continuing that run towards the Wizard]

You can't have him! I won't let you have my son!

1/2

[disharmonizes]

[The sword is suddenly just gone from his hand and then there's the blur in front of him and--

Oh.]

2/2

[disharmonizes]

[Oh, absolutely not.

He's going to step forwards and use his reach to just grab Salieri by the arm to stop him, with however much force he needs for that. His other hand just reaching for that sword.

And listen if it cuts him a little, that's what happen.]

Stop.

[alchemistake]

[Varian is on the floor (at some point he got on the floor in a crying puddle with his like million dads okay), trembling as he watches Salieri suddenly jump up.

Snatching that...sword.

He doesn't say anything. He just draws back into himself, watching the chaos erupting in the trial room. Wishing...somehow, he could turn back time.

Prevent this.]

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus snaps to attention at that, running from his pedestal to try to tackle Salieri to the ground. ]

Antonio, stop.

[howtheworldwas]

[ guess who’s following orpheus! eurydice practically jumps, hoping that this does something, anything. she promised to look out for him, she promised — ]

[stagemanagers]

[The Wizard's head jerks violently at this, the light in his eyes briefly flickering in and out.

But there's nothing to say.]

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine will remember that. ]

[themuseabandonsyou]

Mister Barker - [ Orpheus barely chokes it out past the start of his tears, but he shakes his head vehemently and tries to fight past it. ] You can't. You can't. You could still find Johanna, you can't -

I can't watch anyone else die today. This doesn't solve anything. This isn't mercy. Please.

[barberic]

[It's okay, there's another option.]