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

[employeeoftheyear]

[Then suddenly rage fills his entire being, and he slams his hands down on the podium, glaring at The Wizard with pure hatred.]

I AM SO FUCKING SICK OF THIS!

[He storms up to the Wizard, looking like he's about to punch him in the face if he could reach.]

I'm so sick of you sitting back here and making us kill our friends, our family for your sick enjoyment! And then you have the guts to not tell us a single thing about why in Neptune's name that you're doing this!

[He takes a deep breath.]

You know what I think?

You're the culprit! None of this wouldn't have happened if you kidnapped us and forced us to do this sick scheme you have going on? And for what? Not once have you even thought about telling us what you're doing this for!

I bet you don't even have the guts to tell us? Well you know what Mr. "I'm better than all of you"? I do have the guts! And I refuse to consider anyone but you the culprit of all of this until you tell us what this is all for! Because as far as I see it, the only person here with blood on their hands is you!

[alchemistake]

Spongebob...

[employeeoftheyear]

[Hearing Varian call out his name is enough to snap Spongebob out of his rage, at least for now. He gives him a tight, desperate hug.]

It was never your fault, Varian. I'm so sorry for saying that stuff earlier; you'll always be my family.

[alchemistake]

[Varian's breath catches, startled by the sudden hug...but of course he's going to hug him back. He's just surprised he even has more tears left to shed.]

N-no...I don't blame anyone. I would have been upset too.

[...]

I'm just...s-so sorry.

[employeeoftheyear]

[Spongebob feels tears running down his face as he strokes Varian's hair.]

Never be sorry. I would have done the same if I were you.

[He pauses contemplatively.]

I promise to continue that memorial for you.

[stagemanagers]

ENOUGH!

[The room shakes, all the lights in the house flickering green as the Wizard suddenly shouts - all except for the spotlight on Hester, who doesn't seem to be jostled in the least.

But the Wizard doesn't look at her.]

The path I'm on is a path paved in blood
I'm cleaning their mess, I did not cause the flood
My home and my family
Is gone, so I'll do what needs done.

Yes, it's true, this path is dark,
But I know where to go.
I'll erase it all and turn back the whole show.
Despise me, that's fine!
I'm doing what's right even so!

Not like them,
'Cause for them, this was all a game.
But they and I, we're not the same!
To put it all right, what else could I choose?

So I chose
To lose my doubts and lose my chains,
Lose each weakness that remains.
Now that I have nothing left to lose.
Nothing left to lose!

If you want to end this, then end it now. You know what you need to do.

[alchemistake]

[Varian's stopped crying by now.

He says nothing. ...at first.

He just looks............stunned. But eventually, under his breath:]

You've lost your grip, you've lost your mind...
All's not lost don't be so blind...

[brokeforgood]

Varian—— [When she looks up from where Salieri’s got her, when she’s wrestled her head from his grip just enough to turn it and look at him. She has to say it while she still can. ]

—- I love you. Don’t forget. You are not alone.

[violentenvies]

[Salieri's at least keeping a hand on Farrah, but he's reaching out to put a hand on Varian's shoulder, looking at him seriously--and he squares his shoulders, and despite the mess his appearance is, he's looking at Varian seriously, and there's a fire there in his eyes, fueled spite]

I love you. We will find you.

[It's a promise]

Wait for us.

[employeeoftheyear]

[Oh wow that's

Certainly enough to shake Spongebob from his blinding rage. But he keeps his glare.]

Do you think it's right?

To trade lives like this?

I lost my home and family too, you know. But the solution isn't to turn your back on the world, but to embrace it for what good there is.

So I just have one more question, Mr. Wizard.

At the end of the day, will all this make anything better?

[stagemanagers]

You didn't. And yes - if I succeed here, this will make everything better. Nothing like this will ever happen again.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[....What's this feeling?

Doubt? An understanding?

Varian's not the only one that's stunned by this.]

[fourbutts]

[ Janis listens to that. All of it. She's quiet for a long moment. She makes her vote.

> VARIAN

Then turns to Maya or Peregrine, whoever's closer and wants to respond. ]

Hey, do me a favor?

[mayavericks]

[Sorry, someone's dissociating over here. Please try your call again.]

[comeandfindme]

[ Voice shaky, Peregrine replies: ]

Yeah?

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine looks not at the Wizard, but at Hester. ]

...Nothing, huh?

[ ... ]

[mayavericks]

[Somewhere in Maya's head, something clicks. Something forgotten, something she was never meant to know. She can't put her finger on it, grabbing it feels like trying to catch hold of smoke. It's like deja vu, only it feels like it 50 times over. A role she'd played, lines she'd recited.

A record with a scratch, again and again.

So this ____ ability. _____ made you change? What made you go this far?!

Maya swallows hard.]

[barberic]

[Cool motive, bro, still murder.

And Benji doesn't have much left to live for anymore.]

You're insane. You're killing children! Does that mean nothing to you!?

[stagemanagers]

Of course it does! Let him win, and this will all end now!

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus looks up at that, eyes wide. He doesn't expect an answer, but, ]

How does any of this turn back what's been done to you?

[ His tone... isn't angry. Just confused. Almost gentle. ]

[stagemanagers]

Not just to me. To everyone.

[tailor_made]

[From her bubble all Hester can do is stare up at the Wizard. She looks, frankly, stunned silent while everyone in the orchestra pit has their say. It's not for a long stretch that she stands and reaches out, her fingertips just brushing the cold metal.

When she finally does speak it's so soft it'll be hard but not impossible to hear from down below:]

You have so much to hold onto...

[comeandfindme]

[ Softly, from where she's holding onto Janis, Peregrine murmurs: ]

...But will he still let go of you...?

[stagemanagers]

[At Hester's touch, the Wizard's head jerks. The lights in the room flicker again - not green this time, but just a regular flickering of lights. And then the Wizard head abruptly dies, its eyes going out and its face dropping into the same rest position as it was for most of Wednesday night.

The Wizard will not be addressing you further today.]

[defyingfrigidity]

[Elsa's felt terrible loss before. She lost her parents to the sea. She'd seen her sister freeze to death. She watched the memory of her parents' final moments and felt the indescribable weight of guilt on her shoulders, knowing that they died trying to find answers for her. She knows how much that sort of loss can crush you, can break you in irreparable ways.

But hearing his words, there's no sympathy. Only anger.]

Do you think those you lost would want you to spread this sort of pain and torment? You're spitting on the memories of everyone you cared about.