fifth trial

[stagemanagers]

[As the investigation ends, you'll hear the Wizard'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. Discord, Elle, Orpheus and Eurydice now have theirs draped in black crepe and with a framed monochrome photo of them on top. At Maya's podium is a stool with a fresh amaryllis flower carefully set on it.

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. She's still in her pretty pink prom dress, her hair restyled and make-up freshened to not be so messy from sleep. It's also worth noting the blood on her skirt from when she assisted in helping Maya with her injury is gone.

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 fifth trial, everyone. It's time to determine who was responsible for the murder of Elle, Orpheus and Eurydice. 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]

[Angus enters the trial room alone, save for Bruiser in his arms. Without Elle to look after him, he has become Angus' responsibility. The prince brings in a few others things in his arms as well - two bloody changes of clothes that once belonged to Eurydice, a backpack, and a stack of paper notes.

He sets them on the podium and looks up. Right in front of him is Elle's portrait. It then hits him: she's not standing there, supporting him from a distance, a calming presence. She's gone, likely forever, and he has to accept that she may not ever return. To his left, Orpheus' and Eurydice's podiums are empty.

Now he is alone. For all the death he has seen, he was certain that when Zargothrax was dead and gone, he would never lose anyone else. This had never been the case.]

She...

[His mouth refuses to move. He wants to scream into the sky, throw his hammer at the Wizard, anything to get his rage out of his head. But the ability to speak has left him. Angus grips onto the sides of his podium, the only thing keeping him upright.]

She was...I found this...

[A prince must always be there for his people. He can't break down now, not when their number has fallen--]

Once we were numerous
But that's long ago
We are not more...

[It's just one sentence. You can do this. His voice cracks with the strain of fighting against his need to cry.]

Elle died from a fall.

[His throat tightens, his hands tremble. Someone has to pay for this.]

[barberic]

[Benjamin's throat tightens to see Angus struggling under the weight of their terrible loss.

Elle's portrait, Orpheus and Eurydice's, bring home their terrible loss today - even tempered as it is by their victory in saving Maya, as well.

Benjamin can't go to him - he has his girls to look after. But he meets his eyes.]

I'm sorry, Angus.

[With the quiet empathy of experience on his side.]

[employeeoftheyear]

Oh dear Neptune...

I guess that explains the blood on the roof

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine spent the time before the trial in the bathroom, washing Maya's blood off her hands. She's quite glad it didn't get on her cloak. She didn't...really have time to go back to her dorm room, so she enters the auditorium barefoot, with the cloak especially wrapped around her due to the fact that she's only wearing a long sleep shirt under it.

She's not sure if she got all the blood out of that either.

Once she can be, however, she's instantly at Maya's side. If the other girl is amenable, she'll lead her to her side of the podiums, so she can stand with her and Janis. ]

[barberic]

[He wasn't able to do this when she left to try and get washed up, because he had Maya in his lap at that moment, but when Peregrine comes close enough to fetch Maya, she'll find herself pulled into a tight, grateful hug.]

Thank you.

[fourbutts]

[ Janis walks into the room uh... not dressed as she last was! She has a jacket on and a towel around her waist, and otherwise she's just wearing a swimsuit, so like. Hot Girl Trial Real.

She lays another towel out on her podium, which she opens to reveal the hilt and broken blade of Maya's sword. She pulls her jacket tight around herself as she speaks, doing her best to cover up residual chill from uh. Basically jumping into ice water. ]

Someone... froze this into the pool. It was red around it, so... either there was blood on it or there was blood on wh-whoever did this.

[ A beat. ]

Also notable, whoever did do this, if you come forward now and say you were hallucinating and it was an accident I'll consider not breaking your kneecaps.

[barberic]

[When Benjamin sees the sword takes from his pocket a small wad of gauze, and unfolds it to reveal the tip of a blade, about an inch long.]

This was... Left behind, in Maya's wound. So at least some of the blood was likely hers, I'd imagine.

[He's not disagreeing with the kneecaps remark, either.]

Are you alright? Did something happen to your pajamas?

[mcfife]

They went after four people and...I know three were covered in cloth. How could they kill so many? How could they not stop after one?

[Not that he would condemn any one of them to die to save the others. But Elle did not have to die. None of them deserved to be killed.]

[defyingfrigidity]

[In all the trials previous, Elsa's done her best to at least look composed. But as soon as they all take their places, she just... sags, leaning hard on her elbows against her podium. She's not in tears or about to break down, but there's a look of such utter exhaustion on her face as she stares at the floor.]

Orpheus...

[So sweet and gentle. They'd bonded over magic, and flowers. He'd given her such good advice about love and showing your special person how you feel...]

It's not fair. He and Eurydice... [She knows the mythology. She'd known the moment they met, and she'd kept the truth from him. For his sake.] They're some of the ones who deserved to escape this hell the most...

[barberic]

My lady...

[Life rarely is.

But they're here because they have a job to do.]

They're together. A cold comfort, but it will have to do, until we can see them again.

[Nana had said she wasn't sure if there was a way. But he thinks - no, prays - if there is any justice in the world at all, there has to be.

Watching Peregrine pull Maya from the jaws of death, perform a miracle right before his eyes, has given him the first trace of hope that he's felt in weeks.]

But I'm sure that they wouldn't like for that day to be today.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Cassandra isn't looking much better. She's tired, looking almost visibly weighed down by the blood that stained the sleeves of her shirt. But... she's here, nonetheless. And, at the sight of Elsa leaning hard against her podium, Cassandra is quickly at her side, and will likely be there for the rest of the day.]

...They deserved so much better than this

[She can't offer much beyond some scant words and a gentle hand on Elsa's back.]

[employeeoftheyear]

[Spongebob comes in bundled in the bedazzled coat Eurydice gave him this week. He holds it close to himself, pretending that Eurydice was hugging him still.

After a moment, he speaks up.]

So... does anyone know what “deadly nightshade” is?

[mcfife]

...That is a poisonous plant.

[He barely realized where people were during the investigation; was Spongebob on the roof?]

[fourbutts]

Uh... yeah, I had a goth phase. It's a super poisonous plant, why?

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Cassandra looks... tired. Every investigation had started early in the day, but this one felt just exhausting.

Add in the current state of her appearance; very noticeable blood stains the sleeves of her flannel shirt while she carries in something wrapped in an outfit out of the costume room. She sets it carefully on the podium in front of her and just... breathes out, visibly sagging a bit.]

I, uh... found Eurydice in the costume room. The place was a mess, and someone had cut out fabric from four bolts in the room. She had a jagged cut along her neck, probably from something bigger than a knife. The murder weapon might have been... well.

[She unfolds the outfit. Nestled inside is, well, a pickaxe.]

This was buried in the clothes there. Along with signs that someone was sick in there.

[What else...]

There were coins over her eyes.

[mcfife]

[He hadn't seen her body, but he can imagine the state of her body. That pickaxe would have given her a horrible wound...]

Elle and Orpheus had coins over their eyes, too. The the cloth, too.

[All of them, together in death...]

[mayavericks]

[Maya is here, though she’s likely leaning heavily on any number of people -- at least until she gets to the chair set up by Hester. She’ll have to be sure to thank... all of them, really.

Speaking of gratitude -- thanks to some nice crackers and a bit of juice, she at least looks a little more steady than she did earlier. Bundled up in Benjamin's flannel as she is, she isn't even as cold. Certainly, she's still pained and a little dazed, but there’s clarity and determination in those eyes.]

I know what you are all going to ask. You suspect I might have been a witness. [She closes her eyes.] But I do not know what happened last night. I… hardly remember the attack, honestly. It was late, and I was not feeling well.

[She glances down at the floor, before gripping the podium she’s at a little tighter.]

I’m sorry I failed you all. If I had done better, fought harder, perhaps I could have saved someone. All of them.

[comeandfindme]

[ yeah maya is in a girlfriend sandwich right now, they'll move her chair if need be ]

You're still alive, Maya. You didn't fail anyone. [ Peregrine holds her hand tightly. ] Do you... Do you remember anything else? ...Even...why you left bed?

[employeeoftheyear]

[When Spongebob hears Maya talking about how she failed everyone, he’s hit by flashbacks. Flashbacks to feeling like he was useless, despite everyone’s reassurance. Flashing back to his family dying around him despite all his best efforts to protect them.

Flashing back to the horrible mistake he did as a result of these feelings.

Silently, Spongebob goes to Mayas side and hugs her. Gently, so that he doesn’t put pressure on her wounds.]

Maya please don’t blame yourself. You were attacked!. The fact that you’re still alive right is more than enough.

[fourbutts]

[ oh. oh janis hasn't seen maya alive yet, uh. she at least has the prescience to not hug her torso, but she's absolutely grabbing onto her arm. ]

It's... you're...

[ There's too many things she wants to say, she's just going to cling for a bit. Peregrine can work on talking. ]

[brokeforgood]

…Orpheus was outside too. His—- throat. Someone cut it.

He set up a surprise for Eurydice last night. I helped him. All the decorations were still out there.

…And someone put coins on his eyes. These were out there too. [She sets his bag of coins on Benj’s podium (which is where she’s lingering)]

[mcfife]

...Why.

[That's a question for everything in general.]

Was he waiting for her outside this entire time? And the killer- did he think it was her?

CATHERD (cw: brief mention of emeto)

[barberic]

Alright, enough.

[Benjamin's voice is just... big, as he raises it over the off-topic conversation about entertainment venues.]

We know that Elle ate poison berries, and then fell from the roof. We know that Orpheus and Eurydice were in the courtyard, at some point after the dance, enjoying some time alone, and that Orpheus was killed by a slash to his throat, his bag of coins found on the ground next to him. Given that he was also found in the courtyard, and there's not anything to suggest he was carried or dragged from somewhere else, for now it's simplest to assume that he was killed there, as well.

Eurydice was found in the costume room, her throat not slashed, but... [He casts a glance at the pickaxe.] Well, not slashed in the same way as Orpheus'.

[Orpheus and Eurydice's causes of death - the fact they died at all, but at least partly the how - seems to make Benjamin uncomfortable.]

This may have been where the illness wore off, for whoever was responsible, since Miss Cassandra found evidence that someone was violently ill in the costume room, as well. There were four sheets of fabric, of four possibly randomly-chosen colors, all cut jaggedly, and at markedly different lengths. These were used to cover the three bodies, plus Maya.

We also know that at some point, Maya was attacked. Though she can't say for certain where she was or what time it was, her sword and a large volume of blood was found frozen in the room with the swimming pool. Her sword had been broken, with two pieces left in the swimming pool and the third found by Peregrine inside Maya's wound.

Maya was found collapsed in the hallway outside of the dormitory. Someone had arranged her on her back and placed coins over her eyes, all without noticing that she was still alive. I think we can all say we're quite grateful to Peregrine, for without her expertise we well may have lost one more of us. [He gives little team lesbian a warm smile.]

So I think the biggest question that we have remaining is... When did these events occur? We know that the fever would have begun to fade immediately when the first victim passed, but as Miss Hester so kindly informed us, if the attacker was seized by an especially powerful vision, it may have taken several minutes to disappear.

We may also want to consider:
Why each attack is so different in nature? All four victims were killed or nearly killed in different ways.
And why did the attacker go to the trouble of placing the sheets and coins over the victims, if they weren't going to shroud them for burial? And why choose the colors they did, if the colors were chosen purposefully at all.

We may want to go ahead and check again for injuries, in case Maya or Eurydice's attacker didn't come away unscathed.

[He looks thoughtful for a moment, going over the evidence in his mind.]

I think that may be everything. But of course we can discuss anything else that I missed.

INJURY CHECK

[barberic]

I'll go ahead and check over Angus and Spongebob for injuries.

Could one of you girls please check the rest? We may need a more thorough check than we've done in the past. Not just hands and arms, but chest as well.

2/2

[mayavericks]

[Even if she knows she's seated in a chair, right now all Maya can see is herself standing alone on the stage. Only this time, there will be no victory to claim. She stands up here to accept a loss. To face the most brutal defeat she could ever admit it.]

Do you think that I hurt them?
Believe that I didn't mean to
Wish that I’d had other choices
Than to harm the ones I loved


I know I'd better stop trying
You know that there's no denying
Please don't show mercy on me now


You know you should stop believing
We know there's no retrieving

It's over now, what have I done?


I, I'd been trying to save all of you
But now I am slipping away

Why, why did fate make us suffer?
There's no hope for me now, for me to leave

[employeeoftheyear]

[That

That’s his sister

His baby sister

Spongebob doesn’t think, he just runs to Maya’s side. He barely knows what happens but he doesn’t care. Maya is his sister and he will be there for her to his last breath.]

Maya, oh dear Neptune, Maya. This isn’t your fault, it was the Wizard who did all of this.

[He puts a hand on her shoulder, gripping it tightly.]

I won’t let the Wizard take you away from me. I can’t let him.

VOTING

[stagemanagers]

[Throughout this, the Wizard seems somewhat distracted. Those big green eyes keep flicking over to Hester. But that outburst at the end is certainly enough to get his attention.]

You're right. I had children, once.

[.....]

And that's part of why this has to happen. Cast your votes.

Re: VOTING

[employeeoftheyear]

[He glares at the Wizard, not moving.]

Lives aren't worth trading.

EXECUTION: Me, That Girl, or Yourself

[stagemanagers]

[When the final vote is cast, the lights in the auditorium drop to pure darkness. Anyone holding onto Maya will feel her vanish from their arms in the dark. The usual spotlight on Hester doesn’t brighten to illuminate her alone save for the glowing green eyes of the Wizard. Instead the entire stage lights up, the green curtains bright. The Wizard lifts his head high while Hester in her bubble sits looking haunted and silent, borderline nauseous, as she has since Maya’s confession. She doesn’t look at anyone in the orchestra pit- she can’t.

Especially not now.

The music’s intro begins and the Wizard begins to sing. Clearly he doesn’t want a repeat performance of last time- and Hester doesn’t deserve to sing the girl she likes to her death. He’ll shoulder that responsibility.]

Our memories will always be
Reflected beautifully
The same way in everyone's eyes

[The curtains open, revealing the set stage for this execution. Dozens of white ropes dangle from the ceiling, taking up a little over three quarters of the stage. Beneath the ropes are beds of swords, all different sizes and types but all sticking straight up and a deathly sharp.

Maya herself hangs precariously center stage, her limbs tangled like a marionette puppet who’s been caught in her own strings. In one hand she’s gripping Spongebob’s shed prop arm...and in the other one of Benjamin’s razors.]

Be that as it may
We know the truth
That isn't all
Please somehow don't forget
Me, that girl, or yourself

[Maya swings her razor high, slicing trying to slice at one of the ropes holding her wrist in place. She manages to cut through the fibers but visibly grits her teeth in pain with the sudden movement. She did still stab herself a few hours ago after all. She grips the end of the now severed rope, trying to pull herself up when she hears another snap and looks over her shoulder. A different rope has snapped and fallen onto the bed of swords. She swallows and forces herself into a sitting position using the rope for balance when a different rope snaps by her head.

She needs to work faster.]

We were not born to live
Just putting on appearances
And hiding our true faces
As if we were dead

[Maya grits her teeth and forces herself forward. She can’t give up. She knows how it will end but it doesn’t mean she isn’t going to try. She slices at the other ropes holding her, freeing her limbs at the cost of several of the other ropes around her. She tucks the prop arm around her neck and, leaving the razor out, pulls herself from rope to rope while more start to drop around her.]

We can look back on the past
Because we passed there
We stopped and stepped forward again

[In her bubble Hester sits, shoulders slumped in defeat, listening to the song continue on. On and on…

Her hands slowly grip the soft organza overskirt of her prom dress, her ruined nails snagging and tearing into the material. She lifts her head to finally look out at the orchestra pit, her eyes darting from one person to the next. Farrah, Benjamin, Spongebob, Angus, LSP, Cassandra, Elsa, Peregrine, Janis. These people she’s come to know, who care about her...who she cares about more than she was ever supposed to.

...if you feel you've lost your stride.
Principles can be your guide.
Concentrate on what's inside
Stay clear…

Hester locks eyes with Janis and stands up, gripping the thin metal edge of her bubble. Janis stares back, frowning a little, until she hears the sound of violins in the back of her mind. Janis steps away from her podium and takes a few hesitant steps toward the stage. She doesn’t know what Hester is thinking, if she has a plan...but she’s listening.]

Please somehow don't forget
Me, that girl, or yourself
We got hurt to the point
We lost sight of light
But no matter how many times we've given up
We are still here

[Maya, meanwhile, is still fighting to stay on the ropes. The ropes around her are becoming fewer and fewer but she fights forward through the pain searing through her torso. She’s very nearly to the end, where the swords end and the drop is just to flat stage. Her gaze set on the Wizard- until Hester stands up. The two girls lock eyes and Hester straightens her posture, her voice soft and barely registering under the Wizard’s booming tone.]

I'd sooner buy defying gravity

[She turns and reaches out to touch the mechanical Wizard head, standing on her toes to plant a kiss to the cold bronze.]

Kiss me goodbye, I'm defying gravity

[Hester settles back down onto her heels, looks back to Janis for just a moment before turning her attention back to Maya.]

And you can't pull me down

[She flings herself out of her bubble, sailing through the air toward the hanging execution ropes and, by extension, Maya. Maya shouts and reaches out to her, nearly losing her grip on the rope in the process. Janis starts to shout, starts to get closer to the stage, but stops when everything seems to slow down. Hester glances back at her, a mixture between a silent plea and instruction, and presses her thumb and first two fingers together. Janis mimics her, lifting her hand, ready to snap her fingers for...whatever reason.

But what if right now, with loved ones around
We decided to let some light in
We’d be stronger the next time a blizzard begins

The air sticks in Janis’s throat as that hits her, right as the Wizard abruptly ceases his song to shout out with a mixture of shock and fear:]

Hester!

[Hester snaps her fingers. Janis snaps her fingers. Maya reaches out as far as she can reach, her fingertips just touching Hester’s outreached hand.

The scene cuts.

Hester is lying flat on the stage, her face turned away from the audience. All the ropes have dropped from the ceiling but there is no body painfully impaled on any of the beds of swords. Just the prop arm, skewered right through the forearm and hand.

The scene cuts.

The students- the survivors of Gershwin High School Academy University find themselves standing in the lobby. The doors to the courtroom are locked again, preventing anyone from going back to get a second look, but congratulations.

You’ve survived your final player trial.]

[mcfife]

[Angus turns, Bruiser in one hand and the Gloryhammer in another. It couldn’t have ended like that. Maya can’t be dead, where is Hester, what happened—

He throws himself against the doors over and over, but the don’t budge under his command. He turns around to the others, silent, but asking the question that all must have on their minds.]