if I make another move there'll be no more turning back

[stagemanagers]

[When the final piece of evidence is collected, there’s no announcement. Hester’s voice doesn’t ring over the PA system, inviting you all to come to the auditorium as it has these 6 weeks prior. There’s also no body to collect or anyone new to mourn, which feels like a small blessing.

As you all filter out of your respective areas, someone is waiting for you in the lobby, positioned right next to the open double doors to the auditorium. The dress she’s wearing is a red chiffon, accented with black satin belt and trim along the sweetheart neckline and the straps tying around the back of her neck. On her feet she has the sparkling ruby slippers from the vending machine she’s worn several times.

Hester looks up at them from the clipboard in her hands, her expression a vision of calm as if she hadn’t been lying motionless on a stage after throwing herself 50 feet in an attempt to save Maya. Through the doors you can hear very faint voices despite it looking completely empty.]

Oh good, you finished. Please follow me and we can start the final trial.

Comments

[fourbutts]

[ marina_and_the_diamonds_oh_no_bass_boosted.mp3

After feeling this poor girl's vibes for a while, suddenly seeing the real thing is. Both more and less of a shock than she feels like it would normally be. ]

... Hester?

[sugarlumps]

Oh, cool, she's not dead.

[mcfife]

She seems...surprisingly alright. [Angus hasn't talked to her much, but he was pretty sure she was not in the best place when they last saw her.]

[tailor_made]

[Hester gives Janis a soft smile, her expression gentle and a little dreamy.]

Hi, Janis.

[fourbutts]

[ well needless to say janis narratively doesn't trust this at all ]

I, uh... we missed you, the last few days.

[musacal]

[ Nana's here with everyone else, her swords at the ready, but when she sees Hester she pauses... before getting in front of the rest of the group protectively on reflex ]

Are you... really Hester-san?

[brokeforgood]

Oh, shit-- [FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT]

[tailor_made]

I'm the only Hester there is. [She pauses, glancing down at her clipboard for just a second before looking back at Nana with a soft, sort of dreamy smile.] It's nice to see you again, Nana.

[brokeforgood]

[OH SHIIIIIIIIIIT]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[....Cassandra steps forward. The unicorn stuffy tucked under her arm, now held out before her for Hester to see.]

I, uh, found this in your room.

[tailor_made]

[She stares at Cass then at the unicorn for a long few seconds before reaching out and gingerly taking it and hugging it to her chest.]

...Thank you, Cassandra.

1/2

[mayavericks]

Hester!

[Maya's shoving through the crowd, racing toward her. Injuries be damned. Stitches be damned. This is Hester, who for all intents and purposes, sacrificed herself for Maya just a few days prior. She can't help it, she has to make sure she's okay --]

2/2

[mayavericks]

[But she stops short. There's something that isn't right here -- ]

Hester, are you alright? Were you injured?

[employeeoftheyear]

HESTER, YOU’RE ALIVE!

[Spongebob doesn’t think about how weird it is that she’s suddenly here, or that she’s acting unusual.

He’s just gonna try to run up to her to scoop her into a hug.]

[tailor_made]

[He absolutely can! She's a whole ass physical person and she lets him pulls her into a hug. She doesn't respond right away, like it takes her a minute to process what's going on, but she does pat him on the back.]

I'm sorry I scared you, Spongebob. I hate to make you guys worry about me.

everything stays, right where you left it

[tailor_made]

[With most people in agreement, Hester turns and walks into the auditorium. From an outside perspective it looks like she's just walking down the aisle but once you walk through the threshold, you're not in the auditorium.

Let's go in the garden
You'll find something waiting
Right there where you left it lying upside down

The garden is beautiful as it ever was. The memorial benches are beautifully polished, the flowers are in full bloom, the gently scarred tree in the center of it all stands lush and green, the sun beams overhead- it's too nice of a day to have a final trial inside, don't you think? The only different seems to be that, instead of the gravel path leading to the school is gone. There's only the dense trees surrounding them.

Hester walks dreamily to the tree and takes a seat at the bench in front of it.]

The Wizard will be here shortly. Until then, you should go over what you've learned.

[mayavericks]

[Fuck off, everyone, she's sitting right beside Hester.]

We found... How would you describe it, Angus? A conspiracy board?

[musacal]

[ Nana waits until everyone else is through the door, intending to protect the rear and make sure there's no other surprises. Once the last person moves to step through she's in step right behind them-- ]

[employeeoftheyear]

[Spongebob gently sets the Roomba buddy down as he pulls the letters he found out from his backpack. As he leafs through them he goes to sit on Salieri’s bench.]

Hey Hester, do you know of another guy who was here? There was someone who was apparently trapped here awhile ago, and it seemed like he was really hurting.

I think one of the letters Angus found also mentions you.

[mcfife]

[Trepidation lies heavy in the air when Hester turns for the trial room, yet they all must enter if they are to uncover the truth and escape. Angus takes a deep breath to steady himself, steps forth, and enters the trial room--

--enters the garden. A land between realities. Already, the Wizard has tried to confused them with the layout of this world.

No more. Angus sits on the grass, letting Bruiser explore the area, and pulls out sheets of paper from his backpack.] We found a room hidden at the end of the dorm hallway. Someone has been living in squalor, counting days, loops possibly, while watching us.

[He looks up.]

They know about the people from the opera house. Who we are, which ones of us are friends.

[comeandfindme]

[ The second she starts to turn around and dead reckoning fails her, Peregrine stiffens. ]

What happened? Where's the trail?

[fourbutts]

So, uh. I went through Hester's desk and sort of. Tried to feel the tone of the area?

[ A sympathetic look towards Hester, who's certainly nearby. ]

I mostly just found Hester's things in the desk - some mead, which, mood, a uh. Instrument? And her makeup compact.

[ She swallows. ]

And I felt her feelings there. Not... for the first time, either. I think it was right before prom, she... was conflicted. On how much she could trust the Wizard versus how much she likes us. And she chose to come to prom.

[ Prom. Janis thinks back to what at this point might be Secret Endgame Evidence To Help Us Later, but. She's not going to air all of that out. Not right now.

But there is part she's going to have to air out, a little. ]

You're going to want to know how I know this, and I'm not saying it right now because it's not relevant, but Hester's room here is a replica of her childhood bedroom? And it's, uh. Something about her mirror made her upset. [ A beat. ] something about both her mirrors. And something else was off in there, but I couldn't tell what.

[ Janis takes a breath. ]

The office LSP was in was... sterile. But under that was... I don't know how to explain it. Like songs, overlapping in a way they super shouldn't. And I found something in there that uh. Well.

[ She produces a sad notebook. ]

You can read it yourself, but basically... our large-headed bff was going through some kind of two year loop before he broke out and found uh. An opera house? He's very upset at the idea of people not listening to their writers, and if he wins this he's going to reset this and the previous uh. "Murder Games" so they didn't even happen! So that's neat.

[sugarlumps]

[So she's already shown off the Pepe Silvia timeline board but she's got more evidence.]

I don't get, like, most of this board, but it's got something to do with Balladeer and his stupid-hot boss, and the SQUIP, and that dumb Evan Hansen wad.

[She also shifts the books she found around a little bit.]

There was also some kinda science book I don't get and a book about writing cause the Wizard's dumb and doesn't understand good plays, I guess. ...Also he's real bad at sewing.

[She's keeping the jacket folded and tucked under one arm.]

...Also there was a little fake plant and a calendar, they're mine now cause the Wizard doesn't deserve things.

SHOW YOURSELF WIZARD

[mcfife]

[If he's too afraid to show his face, then they must call him out. Each week, they cowed to his power and waited for him to speak. Today, they have to stand together. All eleven of them.

It's what he told Farrah - as a unit we stand - they must stick together. That's how they will stay alive. Separated, they fall prey to fear and the Wizard's manipulations. Together, they are stronger, more protected. Looking at one another's backs, ready to catch them if they fall.

With a mighty shout, Angus gets into the kneeling position with the Gloryhammer grippedin his rough hands and beats the ground. Not hard enough to damage the floor, but enough to resound throughout the garden. Again. Again.

The sound of a drum. The march to war. The beat of their song in memory of the fallen.]

You toy with us like we're your dolls
Like ants below you one and all

[defyingfrigidity]

[All this talk of Hester has been starting to drag Elsa down. She understands well the loneliness, the isolation, the confusing feelings for the one who was supposed to protect you possibly not having your best interests at heart. It hurts, and she's starting to feel the pain closing around her heart... but then Angus begins to sing. His words, and the steady thud of his hammer fills Elsa with warmth, and a strength she hasn't felt for more than a few fleeting moments these past few weeks. With a deep, steadying breath, the Fifth Spirit raises her head high, Bruni seated on shoulders squared with determination as Elsa's voice joins with Angus's.]

But we'll get out of here alive
These walls, these walls won't close us in!

[She's left behind her walls and her confinement when she finally embraced who she was. And now she'll fight to help everyone else escape as well.]