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]

[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.

[violentenvies]

I am none of those things, as I would hope you are well aware. [pointedly, but also like...maybe a little flirty. More than a little flirty. Who's to say????]

[disharmonizes]

I would make an argument for sweet, maybe, in your own way. But if you insist.

[This is almost nice, really. It's just the usual jabs and flirting...

...until they actually get to the cafeteria, of course.]

[violentenvies]

One could say the same for you, though I'm certain you would protest.

[ah, though...Salieri slows to a stop once he catches sight of that stage. There's a frisson of fear that goes through him, brief--can he really do this?

But then he thinks of the people they've lost--and the people he has yet to lose. His jaw sets, his determination returns, and he's singing one line, just under his breath--]

I'm ready as I'll ever be.

[and he steps deliberately towards that stage]

[disharmonizes]

[Discord follows, before walking ahead a little. putting out that cloth, because this... this will get... messy. Before moving to take... the candle, first, because he doesn't want to take anything else yet.]

Let me just... mhm...

[He stumbles a little as he goes to set it down, not quite as in control as he usually is. But, it's set down, lighting the stage enough for... well, for this.

And next...]

I, ah... I was trying to see if I could get anything for the pain, but I'll be honest, I really can't tell all these bottles apart. [The medicine he brought along.] I mean, one of these should make this easier-- Well, easy as this can be, which I'm sure isn't... very, for either of us--

[He's. rambling.]

[violentenvies]

[Salieri watches, quietly, as Discord lays out that cloth, stumbles a little, fusses, rambles, stalls. And then he walks over and sets the dagger down on the table, reaching out to still Discord's hands]

Leave them. It's fine.

I'll hardly feel a thing.

[disharmonizes]

Are you sure? I'd imagine stabbing would...

[...But then, what does he know about this? Nothing at all. It's why he needed Salieri's help to begin with.

He lets out a breath.

Alright. Alright, as you say.

[violentenvies]

[he'll pick that dagger back up, then, glancing at it. And then huffs out a bit of a chuckle, shaking his head slightly, as if pushing away a thought]

Come on, then. [and he's going to walk over to that stage, stepping up onto it]

[disharmonizes]

[He's following, of course, but... Well, he isn't exactly going to get another chance to ask this.]

...What was that look for?

[violentenvies]

[Salieri huffs a little, starting to shrug out of his jacket first, which gets tossed aside, and then setting down the dagger to start to undo his waistcoat]

...I was only thinking...it's a little bit funny, almost, where I'm going to tell you to stab me.