stagemanagers: (Default)
It's Curtains Mods ([personal profile] stagemanagers) wrote in [community profile] itscurtains2021-07-02 11:58 pm
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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.
barberic: (pic#14925151)

[personal profile] barberic 2021-07-03 04:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[Benjamin's fury is cold and dark, like an endless abyss of storm-tossed sea. Perhaps that's more reason to be worried than a raging inferno of anger.

Fire will burn itself out eventually. But the sea never gives up her dead.

He takes his place at his podium, covered in Antonio's blood (both from holding Farrah and from his own investigating) and places the bloody dagger onto the podium in front of him. His shirt is tucked in, but on one side a slight frayed edge of torn fabric is visible, and one hand is wrapped in a blood-soaked cloth that's probably the same shade of blue as his shirt.

His voice is commanding, cold and threatening, and boy does it carry. Especially with their number cut so low.]


The killer doesn't care how angry we are, only that it weakens us and makes us less likely to find them out. They've already taken Antonio from us, likely knowing that he was the anchor that held us together, counting on us to fall apart without him.

It's up to us to not let that happen. To write a symphony for the damned in the blood of the son of a bitch who did this.

[Slightly terrifying rousing speech done and punctuated by slamming his good hand flat on the podium for the sound, he looks around. There's no more Mr. Nice Benji here today. Plenty of times he's been empty, he's been grief-stricken. But today, he's more menacing than anyone here has seen him before.]

Antonio was stabbed with his own dagger. Once, through the heart. But it was not the first blow the murderer attempted. I found a cut across his palm, likely from where he caught the blade in his hand the first time and was able to push it away. Other than that there was no sign of a struggle, so I can only assume the second blow was swift and true.

[The fact that he would have bled out in seconds, that he would not have suffered long in pain, is of little comfort. Lines of anguished exhaustion crease Benjamin's face, as he closes his eyes to recall the state of the body.]

He was carrying a corkscrew in his pocket. He also had a stain of wine on his right trouser leg and shoe. Did he tell anyone who he might have been planning on having drinks with last night?

[He asks, looking especially pointedly to his right at Discord.]
employeeoftheyear: (Then I can finally say I've done it)

[personal profile] employeeoftheyear 2021-07-03 04:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[Spongebob probably had to have been dragged into the auditorium to participate. He is silent, for a long time, before he quietly speaks up.]


...Please... if this was an accident please whoever did it speak up now. I promise I won’t be mad
sugarlumps: (wweh)

[personal profile] sugarlumps 2021-07-03 04:12 pm (UTC)(link)
I, uh- I brought. First aid stuff. In case [salieri] -anyone. Needs it, or something. I don't lumping know.

[LSP does indeed have an armful of slightly random items from the nurse's office. But no painkillers, THANKS CULPRIT-SAN.]
brokeforgood: (farrah29)

[personal profile] brokeforgood 2021-07-03 04:13 pm (UTC)(link)
I will.

But if you tell me now I might hurt you less.
mcfife: (🔨 face-to-face?)

[personal profile] mcfife 2021-07-03 04:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[Angus remains on his podium, near LSP and Orpheus. The Gods know this side needs support as well.]

I am well. But thank you for thinking of our safety.

[What was he doing during investigation, making sandwiches while everyone was sad, of course. It's about time they didn't go to trial on empty stomachs.]
themuseabandonsyou: (looking down)

[personal profile] themuseabandonsyou 2021-07-03 04:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Orpheus speaks up, hollow-eyed and clinging to Eurydice's hand like a lifeline. ]

He was laid out on a length of cloth from the costume room. Almost respectfully. I don't... I don't know if it was an accident, Spongebob. But whoever did this...

[ He can't finish the sentence. Was it respect, really? He doesn't know. ]
mayavericks: (I Have No Need)

[personal profile] mayavericks 2021-07-03 04:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Benjamin.

[Maya can't help but recall what happened a week prior, how he had grabbed hold of her almost violently. Perhaps it's just the circumstances -- two dead children, and now one of the best of them dead. Yet her heart races like it did then. There's something very wrong here.

But. She can figure that out later. First? They have to find answers. Find justice.]


There was a corkscrew missing from the kitchen. There were also four bottles out, sealed and unused. Perhaps there was a fifth, and that's where the stain came from?
comeandfindme: (dead reckoning)

[personal profile] comeandfindme 2021-07-03 04:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[ This is awful and uncomfortable. It's even more uncomfortable than last week. A menacing aura keeps coming from the people she should trust—trusts. But Peregrine pushes down any unease and fear. ]

There was— in the library. A broken bottle of wine, looked like it was dropped, and...awhile ago too. The wine soaked all the way into the carpet. It was near the entrance...and near some drops of blood. There wasn't a trail or anything, which was...kind of weird? But there was something else, on one of the study tables. Candles, ones that were mostly burned down into just wax. And...a bunch of pages from books that had cut out sections. It looked like all of 'em were from books on Mozart. From the glue next to it... I think someone made some freaky note from 'em? Like the kind you'd see from a kidnapper sending a ransom note of something.
disharmonizes: (138)

[personal profile] disharmonizes 2021-07-03 04:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[Discord just... stands at his podium, numbly, a little out of it. He might've managed some investigating with Farrah, but he had to push himself, hard. For a bit he just stares at the podium, before managing to at least... start sharing.]

There was... Antonio's work was still in the band room. He must have been in there late, composing.
mcfife: heroic (Now it's time to)

[personal profile] mcfife 2021-07-03 04:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Accident or not, Monsieur Salieri was highly regarded by all of us. As much as they desired him dead, they still had some sense of respect for him.

[As for the rest of the group, though...]
sugarlumps: (that sounds lame)

[personal profile] sugarlumps 2021-07-03 04:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Haaaaa, you're welcome, I am pretty great like that.

[There's not a lot of heart in it, but an attempt at ego has been made.]

[...She's just gonna reach over for a sammich, if Angus has, like, a platter of them or something.]
fourbutts: (05)

[personal profile] fourbutts 2021-07-03 04:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Janis is... nearby Peregrine, she's not a fan of standing like. Not next to a girlfriend right now! ]

I looked over by the door, there was... someone spilled some candle wax on the ground, though I couldn't tell much more than that. And...

[ She takes out a handkerchief. ]

Found this handkerchief? It's uh. It has blood on it, so be careful if you want to come by and look at it closer.
defyingfrigidity: (pic#13696047)

[personal profile] defyingfrigidity 2021-07-03 04:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[Mmmmmm.....]

Is it really fair to make those kinds of threats? Everyone was ready to condemn the person who killed Rina, but when we found out the truth, everyone's feelings changed. Maybe... this is the same situation?

[She'd wanted to bring that up to Benjamin, too, but... uh. He's honestly kind of scaring Elsa right now.]
howtheworldwas: (dark)

[personal profile] howtheworldwas 2021-07-03 04:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Eurydice keeps her head bowed low, not looking up from the ground. She's also clinging to Orpheus, although she seems more...distant. ]

Why would they do that. Why would they want us to find him like that.
sugarlumps: (wweh)

[personal profile] sugarlumps 2021-07-03 04:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Uuuugh, if this was another accident it'd be so fucked up.
mcfife: (🔨 Have you ever fought a wizard)

[personal profile] mcfife 2021-07-03 04:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[Go ahead, this is one of the few dishes he has been practicing over and over again while here.]

There's more than enough for everyone. Just make sure to leave some for the others.
mayavericks: <user name=fio_szm site=twitter> (Furious Sparks Fly)

[personal profile] mayavericks 2021-07-03 04:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[Maya didn't exactly want to be on murder island so... She's gonna head over and sit with him.]

We will figure this out, Onii-san. I promise.
themuseabandonsyou: (looking down)

[personal profile] themuseabandonsyou 2021-07-03 04:23 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't know. Better than - [ He chokes, swallows, and tries again. ] Better than leaving him where he fell? But not by much.
sugarlumps: (Default)

[personal profile] sugarlumps 2021-07-03 04:23 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm just taking one, jeez Angus.

[don't shame a lady's eating habits]

...these are real good. Thanks.
brokeforgood: (farrah48)

[personal profile] brokeforgood 2021-07-03 04:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[Farrah moves towards her podium, then stops— frozen, helplessly, gazing at the portraits surrounding it. The Balladeer, Varian, and—-

Her family is staring at her, through pictures. The only way she can see them now.

She doesn’t know how she ends up between Benji and Discord, if someone’s gently ushered her there, or if she’s moved there on her own, her body desperately seeking the comfort she had cling to the last three times she was here. It’s hopeless. It’s gone. But at least she isn’t alone.

She’s tried to clean herself up in the little bit of time they had. Her hands are clean, at least, and she uses them to gently place the music sheets with the sticky note on Discord’s podium. She’s back in the Balladeer’s jacket, which serves to cover up at least most of the blood on her torso—- and something silver glints just inside it.

Every now and then she’ll glance up at Hester. She looks fucking miserable.

Good. ]


He was writing this. Symphony of Hope.

One of you asked him to meet you in the library this morning. And because he’s—- was——

I’m going to fucking rip you apart.
comeandfindme: ((why did i trust her? i must have known))

[personal profile] comeandfindme 2021-07-03 04:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[ BIG MOOD ELSA. Please don't mind that Peregrine's maybe...standing at Connor's podium to be next to Janis. No real reason. ]
brokeforgood: (farrah23)

[personal profile] brokeforgood 2021-07-03 04:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes. Yes it’s fucking fair.

I don’t care which one of you did it. I’ll destroy you. [Shes scanning the room, making uncomfortable stares at literally every person there.]
mayavericks: (That is Pride)

[personal profile] mayavericks 2021-07-03 04:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[Maya is quiet for a long moment. Farrah will probably come at her for this but --]

What if we... Are misunderstanding the situation? What if it was not someone who asked Salieri-sensei to meet him, but Salieri-sensei that asked them? If he was the one carrying the corkscrew, he might have been the one to prepare the wine, and thus the whole meeting?
disharmonizes: (086)

[personal profile] disharmonizes 2021-07-03 04:27 pm (UTC)(link)
He didn't mention any plans like that to me, no.

[Sorry, Benji, that's all he's got for that question.]
themuseabandonsyou: (looking down)

[personal profile] themuseabandonsyou 2021-07-03 04:28 pm (UTC)(link)
I know. We've only been here a short time, but. He was a brother to us. A father. A friend. I can't - I can't imagine anyone would do this on purpose, but.

[ He shakes his head, biting down on his lip to fight back tears. ]

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