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]

[He moves the dagger along as Salieri guides him, keeping it steady and in place once he's done. And he nods.]

...Alright.

Ready?

[violentenvies]

[Salieri takes a breath and lets it out, slow, steadying himself]

Ready.

[disharmonizes]

[He steadies himself as much as he can, gaze focused on Salieri. Feeling the weight of that dagger, the photo, these past several weeks... taking a deep breath, and...

...pushing that dagger in.]

[violentenvies]

[It hurts.

Really, he expected as much, but somehow even the expectation didn't prepare him for the shock of the way the dagger slides between his ribs. He can't help but instinctively take a gasping breath, going rigid in response to the sharp stab (ha) of pain that lights up his rib cage. Salieri's hand tightens on Discord's arm, trembling as he starts to go limp against him.

The breath he takes is ragged, the movement sending a jolt of pain through him, and he shudders. But...he told Discord, didn't he? He wouldn't feel any pain. So he swallows, hard, trying to gather himself. It's nothing, isn't it?]

[disharmonizes]

[Discord is wincing himself at that tightening on his arm, the shuddering, all of it. It's too late to turn back now, though. That knife is all the way in and that's not something you can just undo.

Not like he is now, anyway. And that's the whole crux of this.]

Are you-- [No, he's not alright, Discord, he's dying, what sort of stupid question--] ...I'm here, it's alright.

[It's not, it's not--

He just tightens his hold around Salieri, even with one hand still shaky on that dagger. He won't be letting go, not for a little while yet.]

[violentenvies]

[oh. Discord sounds upset.

Well, yes, that does make sense, he supposes. The situation does warrant it. And yet...he wants to do something, to make this easier--so, quietly, a little shakily, head resting on his shoulder]

Don't you fret, mon cher Discord,
I don't feel any pain...

[disharmonizes]

[You know what, it's time to just put his other arm around Salieri too and just... hold him. Because what else can he do, now?

"And just what can the Lord of Chaos do about that?"

Nothing. Nothing nothing nothing--

Nothing but stay here with him.]

[violentenvies]

You're here...that's all I need to know.

[Discord holds him, and Salieri tries to lean into him a bit further, trying to breathe in, but it hurts, it still hurts and he suppresses a wince. He's starting to feel cold a bit, and his hand grasps weakly at Discord's arm, curling closer to him. He doesn't dare close his eyes, not yet, not yet, just give him another moment in his arms--]

And you will keep me safe...

[disharmonizes]

[He swallows, hard, even now a part of him wanting to fight against such a show of affection directed at him. As if he isn't trying to remember every last bit of it, remember it forever.

He just keeps his arms around Salieri.

Safe... What a cruel joke that seems, now.]

[violentenvies]

And you will...keep me close...

[it feels quiet, now, the thunder seeming distant. It's cold, but Discord is warm. It's...nice.

Salieri closes his eyes.]

And rain...will make the flowers.....

[his voice trails off, having no more breath in his lungs. He can't seem to find the energy to breathe in again, but maybe that's alright. Maybe his music will be forgotten now; maybe he'll fade into obscurity. But right now he's resting in the arms of someone he loves very much, for people he loves very much, and somehow, for the first time...that is enough.

A moment passes...two...and if Discord cares to look, he will find that Antonio Salieri is dead.]