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

[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.]

[disharmonizes]

[...After Salieri and all... that. After that. Discord walks over to Varian, kneeling down. Just... looking at him, a moment. Before putting a hand on the kid's shoulder.

Maybe bleeding slightly from the cut on his hand, but honestly it wouldn't be Discord if he wasn't screwing up this attempt at comfort.]

...Look at me a second.

[alchemistake]

[Varian looks up at Discord, and honestly...he'd been afraid of him. For most of this trial, he was afraid...because he knew he wanted justice for Rina. He wanted to make sure whoever hurt her suffered in due measure...

But right now he doesn't think any of that. He just looks at him, as he's asked.]

[disharmonizes]

[Discord swallows and just... breathes out. He keeps his expression even, for Varian's sake, because someone here needs to be keeping it together and

and, well, that shouldn't be him.

But here they are.]

Something is wrong, it's plain to see
This isn't how it's meant to be
And you can't see it like I do
It's not the life that's meant for you

[He squeezes Varian's shoulder, still looking him in the eye. Determined, but not angry. Not in the least. Not with Varian.]

I'll get him out. Whatever magic or substance or whatever took your father, it won't be any match for me.

I promise you.

[violentenvies]

[As soon as Discord's arm stops him, he's trying to wrench free, voice wretched, agony, a scream of pain]

Discord--They're going to take him away, I can't let them, we have to save him--

[It's a plea, begging, help me--and Discord'll get that sword out just as he's tackled]

[disharmonizes]

[All of this is already terrible, but Salieri begging him like that, screaming-- it's more than he can really take right now.

But other than picking up right where Salieri left off with the sword, which he knows is pointless, there's really... nothing to do. He can't--

He can't do anything here.

There are no good options.

All he can do is look up at the Wizard and send a very furious and absolutely ineffectual death glare his way.]

[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 — ]

[violentenvies]

[Salieri goes down, hard, with both of them tackling him to the ground, and he flails, writhes, tries to get away--]

Get off--get off me, damn you! [wretched, kicking, fighting, the sword already wrenched out of his hand by Discord but still trying to free himself]

He can't have him, he can't have my son--!

[sugarlumps]

YOU PROMISED YOU WOULDN'T LUMPING DO ANYTHING STUPID!

[themuseabandonsyou]

I can't lose you too. [ Orpheus half screams it, tears streaming fully down his face. ] Not you, not Benjamin, not Maya. You have to live. Varian is - we can't - I don't want to lose him, either, but this isn't going to fix anything!

[howtheworldwas]

[ Some of those kicks make contact and are definitely gonna bruise tomorrow, but Eurydice does not care. She wills herself not to feel — those can come later, but right now she has to be practical. ]

He already does. And if you do this — [ she swallows, hard. ] — you can’t leave your daughter.

1/3

[violentenvies]

[You can't leave your daughter--and that hits him like a punch, knocking the air from him on a heavy, full bodied sob--]

2/3

[violentenvies]

[Salieri stops fighting, going limp against the ground but still he shakes, shoulders wracked with hiccuping sobs as his fingers dig ineffectually into the floor--

Farrah. Farrah. He can't--How is he supposed to choose?]

3/3

[violentenvies]

[He takes one sobbing breath, and then another, and he forces himself to look up, to find Varian's eyes with his own, to hold them, even as tears stream down his face, and he's reaching out for him, voice ragged as he starts to sing]

Wait for me, I'm coming
Wait, I'll be there with you
Wait for me, I love you--

[alchemistake]

[Varian like...doesn't know if people are still holding Salieri down, but either way it doesn't matter. He trusts him, implicitly.

Salieri wouldn't hurt him.

So Varian makes his way over- somehow- and lets Salieri grip him with his arms wherever he will.

In contrast, Varian will reach up and cup Salieri's face in his hands, using his thumbs to wipe his tears away.]

Sure I've made lots of mistakes
I know that I've disappointed you...

[He grits his teeth, his expression tight and agonized.]

I love you, Dad. A-and I'm...I'm so sorry.

I'll be waiting. I promise.

[howtheworldwas]

[ as soon as Antonio begins to sing, most of the adrenaline she’s been riding leaves Eurydice’s body. she relaxes.

she lets him go. ]

[brokeforgood]

[Speaking of his daughter—- she’s wailing, gripping onto Varian like—- because —- if she lets go, he’ll be gone.]

No! No, No!!

[barberic]

[Benjamin has been dead inside all this week. But seeing Antonio so broken... A switch gently flips, and not the bright white anger that's lit him up intermittently during the trial.

Now that Varian has the rag, Benjamin moves over to the pile of flailing limbs, and he just.

Grabs Antonio's wrists, holding him fast.]

Antonio. My friend, look at me. I understand what you're feeling-

[violentenvies]

[Salieri tugs against that iron grip on his wrist, looking up at his friend, struggling]

Benjamin, Benjamin, I can't let them take my son--

[and then Eurydice speaks and he stills and goes limp in his friend's grasp, sobbing, still trembling]

[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. ]