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

[disharmonizes]

[He'll... let himself be pulled away, then, for now. Get some, uh, space. So he doesn't spiral like that again.]

[violentenvies]

[Once they're a good ways away, he'll just gently take both of Discord's hands in his, looking up at him]

...tell me what's wrong?

[disharmonizes]

[Salieri taking his hands prevents him from crossing his arms again, which he's a little put out by, but... it's probably better. Open. Communicating.]

...I know I'm not like him. [Now. Ever, he hopes. This sort of absolute fuckery is more Cosmos's area.] Not... like all this. But--

[Not like this. But not nothing like him. And that's uncomfortable.]

I was given a chance that I probably shouldn't have been. And now I want nothing more than to make sure this man doesn't get that.

I... might be a little too close to it all to tell if that's bad or not.

1/2

[violentenvies]

[Salieri considers that--and would for longer, but there's something he needs to make clear first]

You're right. You're not like him.

[and furthermore--]

I would also argue that you deserved that chance, but I also acknowledge that I am biased. Though, admittedly, I would also point out that, just because I'm biased, doesn't mean I'm wrong.

But that's neither here nor there.

2/2

[violentenvies]

[his tone gentles again] Do you...have an idea as to why you don't want him to have the same chance?

[disharmonizes]

Oh, I very much did not deserve it. There was absolutely no reason for Celestia to believe freeing me was the right call, other than having faith in Fluttershy.

[Which, fair, Fluttershy is pretty great. And they had a Plan B, but. Well. It was a gamble.]

...I could say something about feeling like he'll just hurt others again in the future, but I don't really care about that.

I just despise the man. That's why.

[It's... that simple, really.]

1/2

[violentenvies]

[...yeah, no that's not it.]

I can certainly agree that that is a factor, however...[he brushes his thumbs gently over Discord's knuckles as he keeps holding his hands]

...that's not it, is it. Not at the heart of it. ["Discord's going to try, try, try again--" He frowns, slightly, but it's more out of concern than anything]

...you are not the same. The two of you. But there's that one particular thing--what you said to the SQUIP, it was something about wanting to take someone so awful, so vile, and just hope that they can be used for good... [he trails off, lips pressing together slightly, and he's quiet for a moment]

2/2

[violentenvies]

...I don't think your desire for him to get what you consider his just desserts is wrong. This man has done so much harm. However...

I worry that somehow, some of how you feel about yourself and your own actions and abilities is getting mixed up in that.

[disharmonizes]

What's there to worry about there? I'm great, he's not.

[Just trying to hide behind that ego of his for a minute. As if it hasn't been dealt a lot of blows during all this.]

It's just... There are certain... similarities. I can't entirely ignore those.

[violentenvies]

So...in that case, is your only concern that you're not far enough removed to determine whether your own feelings on how he should be punished are good or bad?