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

[disharmonizes]

[...He's going to less gently shove him, now, and just move over to the other side of the table so he can lean over it and get in Salieri's face a little.]

Yes, it is. And you already know that.

[violentenvies]

[Okay, he leans back a bit at that, sitting up straight, posture going stiff, defensive.

His lips press into a thin line for the moment as his jaw works, tense--something in him banked, held back from bursting. His eyes narrow.]

You would think that, wouldn't you? That you're always right.

[snapped--and he doesn't know why. Discord's right, isn't he? But this thing--this specific thing he almost feels like he's itching for a fight over]

[disharmonizes]

Because I am and especially right now, because it seems everyone is on the self sacrifice train.

[He just leans down further.]

Please, tell me what the plan was. You were going to swing your sword against metal and, oh, see what happens?

1/3

[violentenvies]

[Discord's right. He's right and it makes Salieri feel helpless, powerless, just like he was then. It rankles, digs under his skin, aggitating, irritating, angering--and his temper snaps.

Salieri shoves to his feet, pushing back from the table now, tea left still untouched as he whirls on Discord, snarling at him across the table though he's on his feet now]

What else could I do?! [snapped, again, moving into shouting, raging] It was an accident! He didn't mean to do it, but metal monstrosity was going to take him anyway, and I--

[violentenvies]

[his voice breaks in his throat, his breathing rough and ragged] I--

3/3

[violentenvies]

I couldn't do anything!

1/2

[disharmonizes]

[Yes, there it is. And it's not fun, really, seeing Salieri's composure break like this. Not for this. All the same, Discord watches, not regretting poking at the issue.

It has to come out, sooner or later.

So he lets out a breath, pushing his own grief to the side a moment to focus on this.]

I know.

2/2

[disharmonizes]

[He reaches forward, taking Salieri's hand, just. holding it for a moment.]

I know. I'm sorry.

[violentenvies]

[that...takes the wind out of his sails so quickly, all the anger rushing out of him and he slumps a little, like a puppet on cut strings as Discord takes his hand, tells him he's sorry, of all things.

Salieri swallows, letting his hand be taken for a moment, just...processing. There's a beat of silence...two...before he sighs]

...come here, you absolute irritation. [he sounds tired, exasperated, and maybe a little bit fond. Salieri tightens his hand on Discord's and gives it a solid yank--enough to tug him into his arms. From there it's simply a matter of taking a handful of the fabric at Discord's side in his free hand, keeping him close.

Salieri leans his head forward onto around the area of Discord's collarbone with a small sigh]

...I won't do it again. I promise.

[disharmonizes]

[He sucks in a surprised breath when Salieri pulls him in, blinking, caught off guard. It's an awkward moment where he's just frozen, before he relaxes.

Right. Hugging.

...It's still new. So it's very carefully that he moves a hand to Salieri's shoulder, for some support.]

Now, was that so hard?

[violentenvies]

[he'll get a huff at that, almost a snort]

Is that a rhetorical question?

[he's quiet for a moment, though, just...enjoying that closeness. Before he has to bring up the next subject which he knows Discord is going to hate, but this is a two-way street here--]

And what about you?

[disharmonizes]

[.......]

What about me what?

[violentenvies]

Well. You couldn't do anything either, could you?

[Salieri leans back, slightly, so he can look up at Discord, watching him closely, releasing his hold on his side so he can hold up a hand. Salieri snaps his fingers]

No way to stop it.

[disharmonizes]

[And at that, Discord backs away, almost instinctive more than conscious.]

Yes, well...

[He had been trying. Trying to make anything happen, anything at all, but it just... wouldn't. Nothing useful.

As if being useful had ever been a concern before now.]

[violentenvies]

[he'll let Discord go as he backs away, just a step or two, before Salieri moves to follow]

Well, what? [he arches an eyebrow] Lord of Chaos, power to travel dimensions, stuck trying to do what little damage control you could because that's all you could do. And the end still didn't turn out right.

[disharmonizes]

[The words sting, much, much more than the sword cutting across his hand did. It almost feels like physical blows and he takes another step back, crossing his arms.

Defensive, of course.]

Hardly the first-- [No. Stop talking.

Divert.] You should really be taking this up with the Wizard, for taking my magic away in the first place.

[violentenvies]

[he ignores that diversion]

Hardly the first what? Hardly the first time that you couldn't stop something from happening? Hardly the first time you could have used your powers to save someone but their lack left you helpless?

[there's something in his gaze that sharpens, an anger, a deep seated rage--]

He took one of ours, Discord. Varian was ours. And you could do nothing to stop the Wizard from taking him from us.

[disharmonizes]

Hardly my first time being powerless, if you're that curious.

[It's all defensive, so it's lacking the bite it could have. He's trying to build up walls faster than Salieri can break them.

It isn't working.]

I'm Discord, disharmony, chaos itself, it isn't my job to save anyone. I shouldn't even care in the first place.

[violentenvies]

[Salieri notes that for later--but refocuses for now] That's the problem though, isn't it? Because you do care. [he steps into Discord's space again, on the offensive here]

You care quite a lot, in fact. More than you're willing to admit to anyone, muchless to yourself. Because it's not about saving just anyone--it's about saving Varian.

But not just that: it's about preventing the accident in the first place by none of us even having to be here. What did you say? That if you had your full strength, you'd turn this place to sand? If we weren't trapped, this never would have happened. We could be somewhere else, all of us, watching Rina give a concert. [it's the anger that keeps him going, that keeps him from breaking when he says her name. There's a deep-seated hatred of the Wizard, of this entire situation that's kept him pushing, and pushing--]

[disharmonizes]

[That last part almost feels like a slap and it's the adrenaline that lets him push past it, for now, leave that to fester for later.]

Yes, that is what I'd do. Or... turn it into something else, I don't know, I'll figure that out once my magic is back where it belongs!

[Not that... it's gone, exactly. It's there. In bits, pieces, nothing like it should be, but it's there and he really does not want to think about what would become of him without even that much--]

But right now it's not and I can't.

[violentenvies]

That's right, you can't. [it's almost sneered] And now they're gone, and they're not coming back, and you're stuck here, knowing that if you had just a little more of your magic, just a little more power, you maybe could have done something and they'd still be alive.

But instead, all you can do is damage control, to try and keep what's left of us here for just that little bit longer, knowing that there's something else coming and having no way to protect the people you care about from it. And just what can the Lord of Chaos do about that?

[disharmonizes]

Nothing.

[He deflates, now, fight leaving him. Because there's nothing else to say to that. There's nothing he can do and how frustrating is that? His own uselessness, reality refusing to bow to his every whim now, of all times, when it matters.]

...I can see what you're doing here, you know.

[violentenvies]

[As the fight goes out of Discord, it does from Salieri as well, and he huffs, his shoulders slumping a little as he just...observes Discord for a moment.]

...I suppose, in hindsight, I shouldn't have tried that on an expert.

[he'd thought perhaps Discord might need the same thing, and yet...maybe he doesn't. And Salieri's stomach flips over a bit, disappointed in himself. He's read the situation all wrong, again. What is happening to him?]

[disharmonizes]

It was a little amateurish in comparison. But that's alright.

[He doesn't take it personally. It isn't like it wasn't true, anyway. Every last part of it...]

The intent was kind enough.

[violentenvies]

[Salieri moves to sit again, quiet for a moment, thinking.

Then--]

Come sit?