ready as we'll ever be

[tellthestory]

[The Balladeer is true to his word. So, before the dead's scheduled performance, still dressed in the outfit Salieri forced him to helped him choose, he takes his guitar and sneaks out to the garden one last time. He hasn't visited it yet today, and he always feels guilty when he doesn't manage. He told everyone he'd be here. Even if neither of them can hear each other, he intends to keep his promise.

So he's there to notice when the trees begin closing in. The Balladeer shoots to his feet. Oh, no. He knows this feeling.]

Everyone! Come out to the garden! Bring your stuff!

[He calls out aloud, but he can use that projection trick just as well as the Player - his voice is audible anywhere in the school.

When people arrive to join him, there will still be a path through the woods to lead them to the garden. He doesn't want to strain himself before the performance, but something as small as that shouldn't cause problems later. It's too important that everyone get out here - because when people arrive, they'll find that all of the living are visible. The Balladeer is watching them, but making no attempt to interact; he already knows how this is going to go. It isn't time for that yet. Still...]

It's the end.

[Have fun spectating the trial!]

Comments

[voicerights]

[Your SQUIP is putting the finishing touches on its nails when it hears the Balladeer's voice. It's in enough control of itself to not disturb the lines, but it certainly finishes up as quickly as it can before heading out. It waits, however, for the others to move as a group before it joins them, though, at the sight of the living-

-it pauses. Looks at B. Looks at LP. Looks at the others. Looks at the living.]

We should listen.

[tellthestory]

That's all we can do for now. I think -

[The Balladeer is hovering anxiously - he hasn't seen any of these people in ages. Did Benji always wear flannel? Did Farrah always - ?

He takes a seat next to her, invisible, and holds his arm up next to hers. They're wearing the same jacket. It's even bigger on her; she's practically swimming in it. The thought makes him want to smile, but instead there's just a familiar prickling behind his eyes.

Whatever he was about to say is thoroughly lost to distraction.]

[guardianofsplendor]

[LP doesn't have to run to the garden. She's there before he even finishes his sentence, decked out in her usual black garb with the addition of a glittering black sequined suit jacket.]

Never thought I'd be on this side of one of these.

[tellthestory]

Can't imagine you would.

[It's not really as hostile as the Balladeer's typical passive-aggressive jabs at her. The dress rehearsal - the knowledge that she was hit just as badly as him there, somehow - makes things feel a little more...equal, maybe. Though he's stood up to her in the past, he's not sure he's ever truly felt quite her equal.]

Can you even...die, really?

boyfriend brigade

[violentenvies]

[Salieri is just finishing fussing over Discord's outfit as the Balladeer's voice echos throughout the school--and his gaze goes immediately from Discords cravat that he was adjusting to his boyfriend's face and, after sharing a brief moment of Meaningful Eye Contact, is grabbing for the violin case he set aside and turning to run for the garden, making sure to stay by Discord's side pretty much all the way there, grabbing his hand on the way. Though the lopsided cravat does catch his eye as they go and he starts to slow just before he gets there--]

--hold on, your cravat-- [MAYBE REACHING TO FIX THAT]

[disharmonizes]

It's fine, it's more me this way, anyway!

[save him this has been his life the past hour]

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus runs out, guitar on his back and trying and failing to figure out his bowtie as he goes. Between being in motion and also not knowing how to tie one to begin with, it's not a terribly successful endeavor, so he gives up and just lets it hang around his neck for the moment, smoothing out his suit as he crosses the garden's threshold, eyes wide. ]

It's them! They're - they're not really here, are they? Not dead? It's just that we can see them now, right?

[voicerights]

I think...there is some level of crossover. But I do not think they are here, or we are there.

[howtheworldwas]

[ Eurydice is not much more successful at tying her bowtie, and ends up opting for a regular knot. Which is fine, really, because they've got much bigger things to worry about. ]

If they're all together like this... [ Eurydice swallows, stands up a little straighter. They've got a job to do. ] ...then maybe we can reach them.

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus is quiet for a while, just watching the proceedings, until Benjamin shows Hester a photo and he remembers -

Come home with me

It's you!

It's me!

- the workers' faces, empty-eyed, the way Eurydice looked just the same for a terrifying moment before she recognized him. He clings to her hand and worries his lip, watching her expression carefully. ]

She's forgotten so many things. Why? It has to be the Wizard, right? Why would he take them from her?

[yourattention]

Peregrine...

[He's wearing something formal, but the rest of his stuff (which is really just the Amanda Komaeda coat) is in a janky bag he sewed. None of that really matters as he drops it, reaching out like he means to touch her but then dropping his hand. Looking around the rest of the circle:]

Shit, what happened to Maya?

[yourattention]

[He is, of course, consistently paying attention to Peregrine and mostly Peregrine so when this starts happening he actually goes over to look at the board.]

Oh, that's fucked up. It was 2018 when I died. [A beat.] I think? Wait—oh my god. Oh my god, she's the bear girl.

[prophetpriestandking]

[Mumble rushes out at the call, slipping down the halls for maximum efficiency. When he gets to the garden and sees everyone-]

Guys! Guys! Hello? I-it's us! The dead!

[He walks around them, and waves a flipper. He really tries to get their attention, to no reaction at all.]

...They can't hear us, can they?

[Ah. What a familiar feeling.]

[themuseabandonsyou]

I don't think so, but - we can hear them? But not touch them.

[ He waves a hand through Spongebob's shoulder again to demonstrate. ]

It sounds like they're talking about - Hester and the Wizard? And maybe someone else, too.

[wanderlusttitania]

[She'd been wearing black, for most of her time with the dead. Now, though, she wears whites.

She is prepared. She has everything she needs. Tissues, food, her zither, some extra clothing and food just in case. Whatever is needed, even a small, albeit half-finished piece of art that she's started. She's not sure what to expect.

She's not ready to see the living once more, after all this time. Her eyes widen, and her face pales.]

They're...they're all here-!?

[She rushes to try and speak to them.]

Everyone! We're here-!

[voicerights]

Elizabeth-

[It half reaches out for her]

They cannot hear us. This is- a mirror. They are still on the other side.

TOYSHIP BRIGADE

[samefacesyndrome]

[ Rina took Varian's hand and ran as soon as she heard Balladeer. She's also gotten dressed for the performance, in a cute idol outfit that's more on the formal side with a decorative metal cat ear headband in place for a crown (and her flower hairpin of course).

She is... not exactly stoked about being in the garden again and is holding Varian's hand to keep herself from shaking too hard. The sight of the living here though is almost enough to startle the fear out of her. ]

This is... really the end...?

[ She is full of Big Concern, not sure how this is actually... going to pan out. ]

[samefacesyndrome]

[ When she sees this with Peregrine though there's a moment where she actually lets go of Varian's hand and goes over to her. She tries to touch her out of instinct but her hand just goes through and, feeling saddened, she opts to instead try to pretend she's holding onto the hem of her clothes, like that first day where szhe tried to stop Peregrine from attacking Hester.

She hangs her head low. ]

When the light is running low
And the shadows start to grow
And the places that you know
Seem like fantasy...

[ She pauses though and decides to skip a little ahead. Peregrine may not be able to actually hear, but Rina doesn't want to bring up the cold around her anyway. ]

Don't forget
I'm with you in the dark.

[voicerights]

[...huh.]

A performance of their own. Impressive.

[disharmonizes]

Now this is familiar...

On and on and on and on-

[wanderlusttitania]

[Once the song finishes, suddenly-

Elisabeth's hand tightens around her zither as she stares at him, eyes narrowing, before turning to the others.]

...Does anyone know who he is?

[violentenvies]

[Salieri's eyes narrow, hand tightening on the violin]

I haven't a clue. [boy he does sound like he's not the guy's biggest fan tho]

[whatyouwant]

[Elle was just finishing the half-skirt of her outfit when Balladeer called for them. She rushes out, grabbing the first thing she could find that might be useful as a weapon: a big-ass wrench.

They get there and she gasps.]

Angus!

[No response.]

They can't hear us, can they?

[alchemistake]

[So Varian has totally been present ever since the start and has just been too focused on being there for Rina to say much.

But at least NOW he has plenty of reason to be saying something because holy shit, there he is. The mother fucker.]

...so I'm not the only one who thinks this guy just looks evil, right?

[Because, uh, holy shit

He's getting flashbacks to another Big Evil he's been in close proximity with and he doesn't like it fam]

[disharmonizes]

Oh, extremely.

[disharmonizes]

[Discord's listening to this man go on and on and blah blah blah-- It's all a lot of garbage. But then... Farrah.]

...If he's actually intending to rewind everything, I will rip him apart, magic or no magic.

[If anything happens to Farrah -- AGAIN or otherwise, he swears to god]

[alchemistake]

That bastard-!

[tellthestory]

[Far be it from the Balladeer to say anything about any of the dragging going on. The suit does look awful, and this guy just seems...well, god. He almost wishes he'd be more like one of the assassins, this is kind of creepy.

Still. At that, he turns to look at the Player.]

Is that...

[But it is true, isn't it? We covered all these theories a few weeks ago; the ones about how this might be because of what they did.]

...it really is our fault, isn't it.

[guardianofsplendor]

[The Leading Player is watching Will like a hawk, watching his every movement even though she knows, logically and narratively, there's nothing she can do to him. Or about him right now.

But when B speaks she looks at him with concern instead of tense anger.]

I knew what we did had some effect, that's why Nana and I have been running around for a year and a half. But destroying an entire show, making it into Groundhog Day...I can't say I saw that one coming.

[wanderlusttitania]

[The more Will talks, the more Sissi becomes silent. Very, very silent.

If one looks close enough they will see here hands balled into fists to tightly they are turning white.]

[voicerights]

...Elizabeth?

[violentenvies]

[Well. Alright, then. Salieri's quiet for a moment.]

...so. Clearly a grand-scale issue to be solved, however...I don't think either of those options are viable. There has to be another way than to reset everything.

[wanderlusttitania]

...

No. He-he's not even looking at other options, is he? It's either-

This is wrong. This is all wrong.

[voicerights]

[As the song ends, as they speak, sing and scream their songs they once lost to legends- as what the SQUIP can only describe as synchronization holds for a final few seconds as they send themselves through the barriers that block them, as they cry

WE ARE WITH YOU

it holds for just long enough to end, a note vibrating in to silence - and when the silence hits?

The SQUIP collapses. Again, like strings have been cut, but this time, it's not a perfect kneel. It's an awkward heap as it pants for breath, feeling more drained than it ever has. After all, before, it passed out, but here it's still conscious, aware of the bone-deep weariness as it struggles to try and observe any result of their performance, any sign that they connected-

-and when it sees the living react?

The SQUIP smiles.]

...You're welcome.

[whatyouwant]

[Elle is in tears, but their happy tears this time. Seeing their friends bolstered by their song, seeing the hope it brings.

She catches SQUIP. She can't fully support his weight, but someone else will help.]

We did it.

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ But even Orpheus, wrapped up in the tremendous high of their success and dancing with his wife, can't ignore what's happening entirely. He catches a glimpse of the Wizard out of the corner of his eye as he spins Eurydice around again, and slows to a stop, blinking owlishly at him. He's - he's crying. He's loosening his tie, he's saying something.

"Let's end this."

And there's an almost imperceptible change in the air. Frowning, Orpheus looks around at everyone else, then at the living.

Something's about to happen. Something big. ]

[voicerights]

[...regardless of whether they can use the energy or not, it appears to have made an impact. The SQUIP did not anticipate the Wizard stepping down, willingly, but then - a lot of things about humans still don't make sense to it. Less so than before, but...

It watches Benjamin. It watches the Wizard. But it doesn't even realize it's singing, however softly.]

No man or machine
Is more than their mistakes
Does that mean no man or machine
Can learn from their mistakes?

[disharmonizes]

[. . .]

...Oh god they're digging.

[violentenvies]

....of course they are. [KIDS PLEASE????]