itscurtains | third trial

[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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Her hand grips the podium tightly enough to shake. But the moment Elsa's slides into it... she stills, but continues to have that glossy, far-away look in her eyes - a sure sign that she isn't looking at the voting system. She might not be even watching the trial play out at this point.

But Cass accepts Elsa's hand, the comforting squeeze draws up a slight reaction: her hand squeezing Elsa's back.]

...One for one, right?

[Her lips twitch, but she doesn't smile.]

I-I... I can't do this. Not for him.

... Yeah. You were looking out for me. I have to look out for you, now.

[Her voice cracks as she talks. God, it hurts so bad to see Cass like this, so empty and broken. She just wants to gather her in her arms and let her go, to whisper happy things until she can come back to herself. She wants Cass to stop hurting.

So Elsa turns away from Cass briefly, only long enough to put her vote in for Not A Wizard, He Swears, before turning back and pulling the other woman into a tight, lasting hug. One hand moves to the back of Cass's head, tangling in that dark hair; Elsa nudges gently, as if trying to encourage Cass to press her forehead to Elsa's shoulder.]

You don't have to watch. Just... Just stay like this.

[Cassandra is not weak. She's honestly quite strong, she's had to be, living in her position, practically fighting for the chance to get somewhere in her life, anywhere she wanted to be. Putting up with the demands of her workplace, friends, and family takes its toll. But for the most part, she's held firm.

Not now. Not as Elsa selects Varian to be sentenced to death for the accidental murder of the girl he loved. Not when, finished with that, Elsa pulls her into a hug. There's no give; Cassandra is near-listless as Elsa's hand nudges her into the crook of Elsa's shoulder, into the warmth of a hug and the darkness. No Varian's. No Wizards. Nobody she can fail to protect.

For the first time this trial, the first time ever, Cassandra breaks into a shuddering sob and can't stop herself.]

[It's Cass's sob that finally breaks Elsa, and she lets out a strangled sob as she buries her face in Cass's hair. The rest of the theatre seems to fall away, the sound of the others talking fades, and it's just the two of them. Elsa rocks back and forth, on her heels, rocking Cass with her, and humming softly in her ear. Anything to get her to focus just on Elsa's arms around her, the feeling of warmth and a comforting dark, so that she doesn't have to see what's next.]

so if you find that you're in darkness or despair
darling just turn to me, please know I'll be right there
name any sacrifice, I'll pay the price that's due...

[In here, this little space, it can just be them. The trial slips away into the dark, only Elsa is left for her to cling too. Cass hangs on, like she might fall if she were to let go.

Words flow. The deeper meaning of them is lost on her in this moment, but they sooth Cassandra just as much as they twist at her insides. There's another sob against Elsa's shoulder. You've got her focused now, Elsa.]

[The rest is more just nonsense humming, soft and soothing sounds to try and calm Cass's hurricane of emotions. But she still holds tight, still rocks in that calming motion. The hand at the back of Cass's head drops a little, to the back of her neck so Elsa can knead gentle circles into it.

She doesn't cool her hands like she did with Salieri after the first trial. She knows what Cass needs right now is warmth, so she avoids tapping into her magic as much as she can.]

I'm here, Cass. I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay right by your side, for as long as you need me to.

[It's nonsense, but it soothes the waves of emotions that are threatening to tear Cass apart. Elsa had a talent for that. The calming effect she carried around had helped Cass from the first week on. Steady as a lighthouse, guiding her to shore.

...It's funny. She's never thought of Elsa as cold, even with the powers she's displayed. The ice and frost was nothing compared to the warmth Elsa carried.]

Elsa.... [She gasps out that much, not much more. But Elsa will feel the other woman shifting against her shoulder - a nod.]

Stay close, don't leave me, please.

[If Elsa's heart wasn't already in pieces, that right there would shatter it. Cass sounds so... small. So desperate. How could she even think of saying no to that?]

Never. I'll be with you, always.

third trial

cw: slight disassociation

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