The sky shines differently today than it did yesterday

[employeeoftheyear]

[Perhaps to the surprise of no one, there is no after party after that trial. Two children were dead. Two children were dead over a simple accident and the Wizard cared more about himself than anyone else. But they won't give up, they can't give up. They had to keep fighting until everything's been set right.

At the Lobby ofrenda later that night, there are six origami pieces accoupling the other memorials. A penguin, a rose, an octopus man, computer, a music note, and the last one are of a boy and girl holding hands. Along with that there is a plate of strawberry cupcakes with blueberry icing and a note that reads:]

There is still hope and love in the world

Never let The Wizard make you think otherwise 💗

Comments

[mayavericks]

I don't know either. For me... every time I step onto the stage, it's like being reborn. There is light and passion to be found each and every time.

As long as I have the stage, and those that are meant to be there with me, I know all will be well.

[violentenvies]

[he'll get a mildly arched eyebrow at that]

I didn't hear about that. But...[he huffs out a small sigh]...this music is mine.

[mcfife]

Really?

[The only reference he has is the opera, but when he thinks about it, he can see the similarities. Angus takes a seat next to Salieri.]

I ought to hear more of your pieces, if they are all this good.

[violentenvies]

[hmmm??? Salieri stands, then, turning to bend down and pick up that letter--and his expression softens when he recognizes the handwriting from his Father's Day card]

Spongebob?

[Salieri lifts his head, looking around for him--where is his sponge son???? Is he here??]

[violentenvies]

Thank you. But this one...[Angus will notice that the melody is a little discordant. After all, it's completely handmade.]

...it was made using some music that I had discarded.

[violentenvies]

[that'll garner a frown. And Salieri is quiet for a moment, thinking...before he pushes to his feet, coming over to put a hand on her shoulder]

Why don't we talk about this out in the hall? I wouldn't want to wake either of them up--[he inclines his head at the others still sleeping, indicating]--but I would like to talk further about this.

[brokeforgood]

[She about chokes on the cider once she’s realized what it is— but tries to keep her cool. At least he can get a little bit of a laugh there.

She lets out a tiny growl and swipes her hand at him, like the fierce beast she is.]

No, no, it’s a ti—- [She’s already extending her arm to show off her bracelets, all orange and white and black. She swallows, hard.

Then; she gestures to her phone, the screen full of a football stadium for the tigers.]

I’m a tiger.

[mayavericks]

[She gives a sharp nod, before quickly finishing up gathering her belongings. She carries them out to the hall and... Settles against the wall, a few feet down the hall. She won't... say anything until Salieri does.]

[mcfife]

Discarded? In this school? [Like garbage?] How could you toss this out? It's beautiful!

[employeeoftheyear]

[Luckily he won't be pondering that for long, because a familiar voice will soon call out from above him]

Open the letter!

[violentenvies]

[A---above him???

Salieri pauses, debating whether to look up just yet, but...]

Very well, if you insist. [and he'll open that, then. He'll see where he's decided to ensconce himself in a minute]

[employeeoftheyear]

[The first thing Salieri will see when he opens the letter is a note]

I know this could never bring him back, but I wanted to give you something to remind you of how happy Varian made you.

[And, under it, is a papercraft of Salieri and Varian holding hands. They both look happy.]

[themuseabandonsyou]

I can't. We can't. None of us can. It's not right and it's not fair and -

[ He shakes his head and breathes out, head down and shoulders shaking, bringing a hand up to cover his eyes. He doesn't have the words for how he's feeling, all fear and misery and grief and rage, and he has to take a second to try to compose himself. ]

I am good, I am grounded
I'll raise my head and stand up taller
But I can't get my head around it
I keep feeling smaller and smaller
I keep feeling smaller and smaller

[fourbutts]

[ It's true. They have each other. ]

Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney tops that's where
You'll find me, oh

[disharmonizes]

And now you've conquered gravity forever, yes, we're all very impressed.

What are you even going to do up there?

[disharmonizes]

[He blinks a little, when she rolls over.]

...Of course.

[Maybe just carefully reaching out to? put a hand on her shoulder? He's not so good at the comfort thing, he's doing his best here, but he's no Salieri.]

[disharmonizes]

You'll have to next time, so don't get too used to it.

[Same here, bud... same here... He just. Sits there for a bit.]

...About... in there.

[mcfife]

I need someplace to be alone. [Spongebob has been up there but-] I need to do something with my other, other than sit and moan!

[He slowly makes his way up the wall, his arms going through the practiced motions, grabbing the next length of rope as angrily as possible. It ends up shaking the rope a bit too much for to not scare certain onlookers.]

[howtheworldwas]

[ Honestly, Eurydice waits a little longer than she probably should to check up on Salieri. What do you stay to someone after you pin them down, so that they can't self-destruct as their son is condemned to death? What do you say after you help dig that son's grave?

Eurydice doesn't know. But she does know that it gets dark and lonely at night. So she'll come sit beside him later in the evening, her shirt and skirt still stained with dirt. She's not sure if Salieri is upset with her for holding him back -- but if it's obvious he isn't, she'll scooch a little closer, and gently press her shoulder up against his. ]

[violentenvies]

Noted.

[he pauses, however, at that, turning his head slightly to lean it back against the flat Discord's shoulder]

...what about it. [quietly]

garden

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Cassandra wasn't planning on heading to the garden... it just sort of happens.

But she's here now. And Benjamin is digging, and there's bodies, and shovels, and...

She just... kind of watches, as her shoulders tremble, and her breath hitches when her lips part to speak.]

He... he has a father back home he wanted to save...

[brokeforgood]

You don’t even know what I’m thanking you for. [She lays there and stares at him blankly. Then offers a facade of a smile as he touches her arm, and she sits up.]

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus doesn't really know what to say to that right away, because really, what is there to say, that hasn't already been said? They did their best, and it wasn't enough. ]

We all did. We let two children die on our watch, because we didn't notice Varian was suffering. [ He breathes out, and runs a hand through his hair. ] I got so much amber out of that machine. Maybe I should have asked whose it was, instead of just putting it away. Maybe that would've gotten him to come to me, when he remembered, or at least made him think about us for a moment longer. Any one thing we said could've prevented this, but we'll never know.

[howtheworldwas]

[ that's literally what a loophole is!!!!

whatever. no point in arguing about semantics.

gentler: ] I know. But you would have hurt a bunch of other people, you know.

[mayavericks]

It was... the only thing that made sense to do at the moment. At least then, the execution would have been for an intentional murder.