fourth 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.

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. Varian and Salieri, side by side, 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. There's no flashy costume this time, just a plain black dress belted with green satin around her waist. She sits in her seat with her head down and her hands in her lap like she's trying to make herself as small as possible. As if, if she tried hard enough, she could just disappear despite the lights on her.

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 fourth trial, everyone. It's time to determine who was responsible for the murder of Salieri. Feel free to talk amongst yourselves and work together - you'll have to show teamwork if you want to leave this room alive.

Comments

[mcfife]

...Who was Mozart to Salieri?

[disharmonizes]

[wow look at that it's his LEAST FAVORITE QUESTION]

...Important.

[mcfife]

...Enough to cause him distress when seeing something that belonged to him.

[He didn't want to pry after witnessing his reaction to the opera script, but he can't- he hopes-]

[disharmonizes]

Wherever you think you're going with, I'm only going to give you this advice once.

Drop. It.

[mcfife]

[fine]

[brokeforgood]

[This is as pleased as Farrah will look just about all trial.

You tell him, step-dad.]

[themuseabandonsyou]

Someone he knew from back home. Another composer, and a, um. A really famous one, in my time, a long while later. I talked about him with Antonio a little bit, a few weeks back? It sounded like they didn't get along very well.

[brokeforgood]

Who cares? Do we need to fucking bring up Mozart now, of all times?

This is about dad. Not him.

[mcfife]

I'm just thinking-

[He shakes his head. He can't go blaming himself again.]

No. Surely it's irrelevant.

[barberic]

...A rival. A friend.

[A regret, he thinks, but that's a dead man's secret to tell.]

Mr. Mozart is dead.

[mcfife]

[Benji, you just made Angus worried again.]

[barberic]

[I'm sure it's fine. Dw about it.]

[sugarlumps]

It's pronounced Mozz-art.

[howtheworldwas]

Didn't he paint that really big roof?

[ Eurydice honey you're thinking of Michelangelo ]

[comeandfindme]

No, Mozart did music.

[brokeforgood]

Oh my god, just stop talking about him! Shut up about Mozfart—- he deserves to be forgotten! The one we’re remembering now is —-

[howtheworldwas]

[ eurydice looks kind of distressed SHE WAS JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND ]

[comeandfindme]

We are remembering Salieri— Farrah, we're not against you right now!

[mayavericks]

Enough, Farrah. We understand that you are hurt. We understand that this is hard for you. But you are not the only one that is hurting. I loved Sal-- I loved Antonio dearly. He... was willing to understand me, to meet me halfway when I would push myself too hard. He always wanted to help any of us.

I want to find out who did this. And if they hurt him intentionally, I want them to suffer. But to do that, we have to ask questions. We have to look at everything we knew, even the painful parts.

We're not trying to hurt him. We are not trying to disrespect him. We're looking for answers with the evidence we have. Stop taking it all as a personal affront!

[comeandfindme]

[ Despite saying something similar just now, Peregrine quietly tells murmurs to her: ] She's not gonna listen, Maya, we just have to keep this going.

[brokeforgood]

It fucking is personal! You have no idea— you—- [Farrah’s hands are shaking. She drops Benji’s hand, and in a flash, she’s yanked her prize out from the inside of the jacket, the kitchen knife so familiar to both her and Maya, she yanks it free in her rage and holds it up and…

She can’t do it. She can’t do anything. She can only wail.]

[comeandfindme]

[ oh she's never been happy to be between someone else and a knife before but uh??? ]

Farrah, fucking stop!

[disharmonizes]

[--oh. Oh, Farrah...

Discord, already close by, just... puts a hand on her shoulder, because what else is there to do?]

Farrah.

[It's... not harsh, exactly, or judging. He's just trying to get her attention here.]

[sugarlumps]

Oh my glob, drama bomb-!

[mayavericks]

[Well that's... Happening. Maya unsheathes her sword quickly, stepping away from any of the other she's stood with. She's not ready to attack, just defend herself if necessary.]

You have had a problem with me from day one, Farrah. When I have only ever looked after you. When I have held you while you cried. Why do you think I want to hurt you? Why do you think every question is so terrible. I have let you all think the worst of me because it's legitimate. Because I have been strong enough to lift a body, equipped enough with a weapon, and motivated enough more than once. Moreover, I struck down Claudine and spat in her face. Why would it be so surprising for me to turn my back on those that I have known for a matter of weeks?

I will take every question you offer, because at least you are fighting with your lives on the line. I want to know that you have pursued every angle. That's all this is about. It's following every thread so we can be sure we have made the right decision.