It's Curtains Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
stagemanagers) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
itscurtains2021-07-02 11:58 pm
stagemanagers) wrote in itscurtains2021-07-02 11:58 pm
fourth 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.
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.
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.
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She can’t do it. She can’t do anything. She can only wail.]
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Farrah, fucking stop!
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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.]
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She can't say all of that, though. Instead, Benji's helping her let go of the knife, and she's wailing.]
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[Because he does, he gets it, he knows. Salieri has certainly told him plenty of Mozart, Discord has seen him crack, break--
And seen the other part of it, too. The ways that complicate the matter--
He swallows. Lets Benjamin take care of her, for now.]
You have his symphony. Forget about... anyone else.
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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.
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The knife that had been covered in Farrah’s own blood just weeks ago. The knife that Maya had found, that had sent her into such a panic. Sent her running to Farrah. The relief in Maya’s eyes——-
She doesn’t reply to any of this. She just continues to wail.]
cw: suicidal imagery in the original lyrics
Farrah, Farrah, Farrah, come down
Won't you put down, put down the knife?
You're scaring us, and all of us
Yes, all of us love you
Farrah, it's not much but there's proof
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And normally it would. But right now-- music hurts. It's just another stab through the gut. She can only cry against Benji.
But hey, at least she dropped the knife.]
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[Maya steps forward. She doesn't drop her sword this time, because the last time she did that, Salieri had tried to do something terrible. She won't leave it unattended. Instead, she hands it to the one person she thinks she can trust.
So, uh, Spongebob! Enjoy your sword.
With open, raised hands, she steps forward. One step, then another, slow as can be so as not to alarm anyone, but especially not Farrah.]
I don't want to hurt you, Farrah. I am not your enemy.
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At least he's gotten her to drop the knife. She's barely aware of Maya's words. But she's not afraid of Maya hurting her. She's already died. She's already lost it all. What's left to happen to her?
She manages to speak, her voice quivering.]
J-just no more-- No Mozart. Please.
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This is too much power.]
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Farrah!
[He takes her wrist, then covers the hand holding the knife with his own, his touch gentling as soon as she begins to wail. His other arm wraps around her, pulls her close even as he holds her arm out to the side and carefully pries her fingers from the handle of the knife, letting it fall harmlessly to the floor.]
I've got you. I've got you, love...
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But it's easy, for the knife to clatter onto the floor. It's easy to lean into his embrace, and sob.]
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She's just a little girl.
He pets her hair gently, as she sobs into his chest.]
I know. I know, pet, I know... Let it out. I'm here, I've got you.
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It was he who decided
I could be so much more
Than they could see
If he didn't do it
What, what, what, what, what would I have done?
I would be no one--
Please forgive me for--- [She disolves into sobs again]
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[Spongebob has spent most of the trail silent, crying to himself. But when Farrah pulls a knife out it pulls him out of his state and stands in front of Maya as a shield.]
Please Farrah, it’s not worth this! I... I can’t lose more of you.
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