STABBED THROUGH THE HEART

[nikkernoodle]

[It's late Thursday night, and the school is far darker than normal. The Band Room is now lit by candle light; far dimmer than electricity, but something that Salieri is fairly used to.

He's there now, seated at the piano, a candle resting in a dish on the edge of the lid as he works, plunking out chords and tinkering with melody and harmony, making notes on the paper, going back, trying again.]

Comments

[violentenvies]

[Salieri lets out a breath at that, shaky, grasping onto that maybe, onto the tiniest smidgen of hope--]

Then...in that case--[he reaches behind himself to pick up the dagger, grasping it by the handle, voice low and determined as he brings it to front again.] I'll show you where to use this, and then you're going to use it on me.

[disharmonizes]

[For a good six or so seconds, he just stares at Salieri, because



um.]

I'm going to what now--?

[HA HA HEY SO THIS IS ALL A FUN PRANK AND HE MISHEARD THAT RIGHT]

[violentenvies]

I said, [he takes a step towards Discord, advancing slowly, with purpose] that I'm going to show you were to use this, and you're going to use it on me so you can leave this place. Then you can get your magic back and find your way back here, and try and bring them back.

The other way, they're dead without question, you included. But this way, there's a chance that they could be revived.

[disharmonizes]

You--

[And he steps back, slightly, moving away from the bookcase. Just staring at Salieri still, though his eyes drift down a little to that dagger again.]

You want me. To stab you.

[Just reiterating it, as if saying it will make this feel more sensible, somehow. It does not.]

I said I'm not going to murder anyone, but I'm especially not going to stab you, Antonio.

[violentenvies]

Oh, so what? You're going to stab yourself instead? And who is going to believe that you killed yourself? [his voice is full of derision, even as he keeps advancing] They'll accuse someone else, and then they all die.

But if you kill me, it counts as murder. You get away with it, you survive--you can come back for them. For us. You said maybe and that's a chance, Discord--a chance where our only other option is no chance at all!

[disharmonizes]

[He feels his back hit a wall, but it feels numb, distant, unimportant right now. He's still looking Salieri in the eyes, hoping to find some measure of doubt in there, but...

He seems determined. And usually he actually enjoys Salieri's determination, that drive, it's... admirable, in a way he hasn't really appreciated enough before.

Right now, it's absolutely terrifying.]

You want me... You want me to kill you. And lie about it. Get away with--

[There's a sick feeling building somewhere he can't place right now.]

You know it's only a chance and if this... if it doesn't work...

[If, if, if, he says, thinking when--]

You'll just be gone.

1/2

[violentenvies]

At this rate, I'll be gone either way. I was close enough to it, myself, that I gave you this--[he glances down at the dagger, pointedly, before his attention goes back to Discord, perhaps less than a step away from him now. He doesn't close that distance yet.]

...my story is already over. In my world. [quietly] Here, with this, there's a chance that it could continue. That we could continue, together, all of us.

2/2

[violentenvies]

Our odds are either nothing, or a small something. It might be only a chance, but it is the only chance we have.

[disharmonizes]

[He says it so confidently, even while acknowledging the small odds of victory, that Discord almost believes it too. That this is the ticket out of here. That this would... could work.

It isn't a nice thought, but it'd be something.]

...You aren't about to back down from this, are you? You really believe this... this is the best shot we have.

[violentenvies]

[he meets his eyes, then, steady]

I do.

[disharmonizes]

[He looks at the knife again, stares at it. Doing... mental math. Risk, reward, all of that. The odds are slim. Monumentally slim.

He doesn't believe in this like Salieri does.

But what else is there to do? Nothing? Just wait, let time pass, clock ticking away until everyone dies anyway and... and then what? Let all of it be for nothing.

There are no good options.]

You say that, but... Even if I did--

I'm not sure I can...

[violentenvies]

You're not sure. But you don't know, one way or another. [his voice has gone a bit quieter, a little gentler, coaxing]

What's better? The certainty of losing them all? [he sets the dagger aside on top of a bookshelf as he finally closes that distance, reaching out to gently set a hand on Discord's elbow--I'm here--] Or having a chance, however slim, to save everyone?

[disharmonizes]

[The touch is almost worse. It's comforting and nice and everything that makes him want to put a stop to this right now.]

Not even just that, but... killing you.

Stabbing myself is one thing, but you...?

[violentenvies]

[Salieri's expression softens, at that. Determination turning into something that could even be called affectionate.]

...I'll help you. I'll show you exactly what to do; what will make it go the fastest. [he can hear the thunder rumble outside, and there's a flicker in the window of lightning, but his voice is quiet and steady as he sings, comforting:]

Don't you fret, mon cher Discorde,
I won't feel any pain.

[he steps close, other hand coming up to take Discord's, cradling it gently]

A little fall of rain
Could hardly hurt me now.
You're here...that's all I need to know.

[he looks down at their hands, a very small smile curling the corner of his mouth]

And you will keep me safe,
And you will keep me close--

[a flash of lightning, a boom of thunder, and Salieri closes his eyes, leaning forward to rest his head against Discord's chest, breathing him in]

And rain...will make the flowers grow.

[disharmonizes]

[The smile is worse. The touching, the small, affectionate little gestures. He freezes up, as Salieri rests his head against him, wishing maybe he could freeze time next.

If only.]

...

I'd say don't make me regret this, but I think it's too late for that.

[He's hardly feeling anything else.]

You're certain about this?

[violentenvies]

[Salieri takes in a slow breath, memorizing this feeling, what it feels like to be here next to him. Remembering it. Then he breathes out, steadying his resolve, and leans back, so he can look up at Discord, jaw set]

I'm certain.

[disharmonizes]

[He knew what the answer would be immediately, of course. Salieri's stubborn. They're alike in that way, horribly so in this situation. That doesn't mean some part of him wasn't hoping he'd change his mind anyway.]

...So how... would we do this?

[violentenvies]

[He takes a further step back, then, glancing around the Library]

...not here. I want...[he swallows] The stage. The one in the Cafeteria, where we premiered my opera. If I had to pick a place to die here, that's where I would chose.

[disharmonizes]

Ah, the stage.

[Despite himself, despite the situation, he chuckles a bit at that.]

Of course you would want it happening on a stage. Dramatic.

[violentenvies]

[that does draw a slight smirk out of him] As if I would accept anything less.

[disharmonizes]

Next you'll be asking me to put on music. We already have the dramatic lighting set...

[...He goes to gather up the cloth, the... assorted medicine bottles he took from the nurse's office, all of it.

So they can get... moving...]

[violentenvies]

[Salieri will pick up that dagger, then, and one of the candles]

Don't tempt me. [he throws another smirk Discord's way. It's...easier to talk about it, like this--teasing and jokes to cover up the horror of what they're actually planning.]

It would have to be something suitably minor. Certainly with a backing chorus as well to have the full effect.

[disharmonizes]

[Yes, we have fun here. They're just... bantering, like normal. It's their thing. Just... focus on that, even as they start to move to leave the library.]

So picky! The only CD I have to work with is Dancing Queen, so you'd best just take it.

[Not that they can really play it right now, but, y'know.]

[violentenvies]

I haven't the foggiest clue what that is, but simply from the title, it doesn't sound like the right atmosphere that I would like to create. [dryly, stepping out of the library and moving towards the Cafeteria]

[disharmonizes]

Are you telling me that you are not the dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen? And it's not the right vibe?

I'm shocked.