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]

[ 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.

[violentenvies]

[Salieri can't help the hitching sob that he cuts off in his chest as Varian's hands cup his cheeks, and his hands lift, covering Varian's, holding them there as if that would do something to keep him here, to freeze them all in this moment--]

I'll find you.

[his voice breaks, and he's reaching out now to cup Varian's face in his hands, to pull him in, press their foreheads together, ragged broken breaths heavy between them] I'll find you, Varian, I promise. I'll find you.

I love you so much, mon fils. I love you. Don't forget that--don't--[his hands tighten slightly, a desperate bid to keep him here, to keep him alive--]

[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. ]

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus will let him up, as well, sitting back and throwing an arm around Eurydice and hiding his face against her shoulder, wracked with full-body sobs. He can't watch this. He can't. ]

[howtheworldwas]

[ Eurydice remains sitting up, and holds Orpheus in turn. She’ll shield him; she’ll bear witness for them both.

She doesn’t sob, but as she watches, her eyes get glassy, and a few tears fall. ]

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ And he stays like that, for a good long while, the fear and grief consuming him like an ocean rising over his head, until he remembers -

He can't do this. He can't just hide like this. There's one thing left he has to do. Shaking, he pulls away from Eurydice, drying his eyes on his sleeve and getting to his feet, before walking over to Varian. ]

I - I have something for you. [ He'll be brave, for this. He'll keep it together. Long enough to explain. ]

[alchemistake]

[Varian looks over when he hears Orpheus speak, his brows raising a little.

Orpheus...]

You do...?

[brokeforgood]

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

No! No, No!!

[alchemistake]

[Oh Farrah...

Varian turns halfway and puts his arms around her, hugging her tight to him.]

I'm so sorry. I'm sorry...I w-wanted to be a good person, but I...

[brokeforgood]

You’re good. You’re so good—- [She grips him tighter, sobbing into his shirt.]

I love you. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I cant—— [She can’t let go.]

[alchemistake]

[Yeah. Yeah...he doesn't want to let go, either.

But if Farrah is to live, he'll have to.]

I love you too....I'll b-be okay. I promise I'll be okay.

[Wherever he ends up...wherever in the world spirits go.]

[brokeforgood]

You aren’t! How can I protect you when—— It’s not okay!

[alchemistake]

[Varian shakes his head, blinking hard as more tears roll down his cheeks.]

No. If...if I don't go...he'll take you instead.

[...]

I...I'd be all alone.

[violentenvies]

[His daughter. His Farrah.

He has to--has to--Nothing's gonna harm you--

Salieri reaches out, and gently but firmly starts to try and peel her hands away, face set into grim resolve despite the tear tracks on his cheeks]

[brokeforgood]

No! [Farrah screams again, just. increasing her grip on him. It’ll take at least another person to get her off. She’s fighting hard.]

[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]