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

[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.

[disharmonizes]

[THINGS YOU LOVE TO HEAR YOUR BF SAY AM I RIGHT]

What... about it?

[violentenvies]

The quickest way to kill a human is to stab them in the heart. [somehow, he says this with complete calm]

[disharmonizes]

I... vaguely knew that much, but... locating it is another matter--

[Usually he might pick up what Salieri is putting down, but he's a little uh

on edge

right now.]

[violentenvies]

[Salieri shrugs out of his waistcoat, tossing it on top of his jacket, before turning to look at Discord]

It's here. [he places his hand over his heart, indicating]

You might as well know where it is, in any case. It's yours, after all.

[disharmonizes]

Oh.

[And just like that, suddenly it feels like he's the one getting stabbed. He freezes, just, staring at Salieri numbly a moment, filled with an utterly chaotic blend of emotions.]

...Oh.