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]

[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?

[disharmonizes]

[...he'll take a seat.]

I wasn't in a hurry to rush off yet, anyhow.

[violentenvies]

[and he'll just...gently lean his shoulder against Discord's]

...thank you.

[disharmonizes]

Whatever for? I've hardly done anything impressive in, oh, at least the last five minutes.

[violentenvies]

For several things, I suppose. [contemplative]

For stopping me, first of all.

[disharmonizes]

Well, of course. I wasn't about to let you do something that idiotic. I mean, it was certainly impressive to watch, but...

[But, well. It would've just ended badly for everyone.]

It wouldn't do to get hurt in front of everyone. That's about the last thing everyone here needs, hm?

[violentenvies]

No...no, I suppose it wouldn't have done anything but made everyone more upset. It was indeed an idiotic decision. [he can admit that much, at least. If Salieri has one thing, it's a distinct clarity of hindsight.]

And then for...now, as well. Thank you.

[disharmonizes]

I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about.

[yes he does he's just being a shit]

[violentenvies]

Of course you don't.

[liar, but there's a slight hint of exasperated amusement.

He's quiet a moment...then,]

Thank you. Again. For...being there for everyone. During the trial. [they're just gonna keep coming at this point, bud]

[disharmonizes]

Well, things got a little out of hand and... I do love chaos, of course, but this isn't my preferred kind. Too emotional, too messy, too...

[...malicious.]

Hm. I can't say things ended well, but at least it wasn't the worst disaster it could have been.

[There's still children dead.]

[violentenvies]

....no. [quietly...though admittedly it's so terribly hard to think of worse things at this juncture with everything so close to the surface, even if he knows they certainly exist.

A moment of quiet, then--]

Will you...stay with me tonight? [tentatively, not looking at Discord specifically but more how they're sitting next to each other, how their knees are pressed together] In Broadhurst?