The Crowning of Mindy McReady

[etcircenses]

Who| Everyone who's anyone.
What| The Crowning.
Where| A warehouse on the edge of town.
When| Starting from early evening till late into the night.
Warnings/Notes| Be sure to check the linked thread for plot purposes, even if you don't tag into it.

The party is brightly colored.

The theme, subtly, is super heroes. Boldly paints city scapes are splattered across the walls, and hallways are made to look like dingy, potentially crime ridden alleys. From the upper walkways of the warehouse, party goers can get hooked into harnesses and swing out over the dance floor. Above them, tributes and VIPS can find themselves on a clear plastic dance floor levitated above everything, looking like they're hanging in air.

Masks are passed out in plenty, and capes are easy to find, while brightly colored drinks themed around super powers are plentiful. None of them actually work, but many of the Capitol people are happy to pretend, mocking super strength or invisibility with each new beverage.

Under the dance floor a catacomb of tunnels and rooms full of obstacles is splashed with black light receptive colors. Party goers are given vests and laser guns, marked green for villains and red for heros, and set loose to hunt each other in the laser tags playground. The screens in the dance floor keep a running tally of which side is winning, displaying the players on the screens around the room, along with clips from the arenas.

About half way through the night, everyone is gathered to the main stage for a special announcement.

Comments

Reaping

[etcircenses]

A row of 12 bowls is set up across the stage, with their district numbers frosted on the glass in order, with a few slips of paper in each. Cruentus walks across the stage, dressed from head to toe for the occasion. She trails Mindy behind her, smiling back at the girl, obviously delighted. Mindy has an elaborate crown, a city in dazzling gemstones atop her hair.

Picking up the mike, she smiles gleefully over the crowd.

"Hello ladies and gentleman! Tonight we have a special surprise."

She waits for the noise to quiet down, before casting out another toothy grin.

"To show the Districts thanks for their gracious hosting of these tributes, and to give them a chance to thank their tributes, we are having a special event arena!"

The pause for the crowd to die down goes longer.

"We had each district choose their favorite tributes! Now some districts," She walks up to one of the colored bowls, running a finger along the rim. "Didn't like any of their tributes. And they didn't want the chance to ear a little food for their citizen."

She puts on an extravagant pout, the Capitolities in the audience booing on queue.

"But we didn't think that was fair! So we picked some of our newer tributes to compete for their districts. Hopefully these new ones will suit their districts a little better!"

Again, cheers on queue.

"So, let's begin!"

Turning to Mindy she smiles her toothy smile, waiting for Mindy. There are only two names in each bowl, and as Mindy hands the papers to Cruentus, she reads them one by one.

Re: Reaping

[hit_girl_mindy]

Ugh. This was so...so PUT ON. Granted, she couldn't help but like a little (jut a little) of this, but the whole spectacle was enough to make this a mockery of what she did in her world. Christ, these people were probably laughing themselves sick at it all. Mindy might have been laughing with them, right alongside HER, of all people, wearing a crown.

But there was the costume. She couldn't resist wearing it, LOOKING the part she'd been, a part of her she might never wear again considering this place. That was the kicker after all: it was too noticeable to even wear her costume in a place like the Capitol. That, and this whole business with the new reaping with a new game was suspect. Either way, she was just glad to have this moving, and finish it when it was over. Then she could at least get rid of the dread in her stomach.

Not that it was in display here. Hit Girl, after all, was cool, in control. She could DO that.

"Here are the tributes. District one: Iskierka. Rat."

So that's who Rat was. She gave him a cool look, then continued.

"Distict two. Sherlock. Nasir."

Didn't know them, but heard of Sherlock anyway. Wasn't there two or something?

"District three. Terezi. Eliot. District four. Sam. H-Hawkeye."

SHIT FUCK BALLS. Ignore. No more stumbling.

"District five. Venus. Prince Hans. District six. Perry. Guy."

SHIT.

"District Seven. Disciple. Bashir. District eight. Joel. Garrus. District Nine. Harley. Elsa."

She nodded to herself, affirming her support and beating down more dread. Joel, Elsa AND Harley. It just kept getting better. "District Ten. Wyatt Earp. Sussannah. District Eleven. Courf-shit. Cour-fay-rack. Kain Highwind. District Twelve. The Signess...Pruna."

Hit Girl put the sheet down, and nodded her head toward the selected tributes. "Good luck."

Harley Quinn

[revvinguptheharley]

It was almost like being at home.

Harley even broke out her costume, as a gift to Mindy since Mindy had confessed she was such a fan. The tight red and black material clung to her curves shamelessly, the white makeup on her face giving a sharp contrast to her lipstick and domino mask.

The balls on her jesters hat bounced delightedly as she danced and spun her way through the party. She would be all over tonight from drinking to lasertag to dancing. This was the closest she could come to being back in her own crazy super heroic world, so she was gonna indulge.

But god help if anyone had dressed up like her Puddin'

[president_evil]

Not the Joker, but close. So very close.

There, not far from Harley was a knot of people. Sponsors chatting up a man with his back to her. A man in grey; a man with a dark, glittering question mark stitched between his shoulder-blades.

Wesker, as the Riddler, an eerily glowing drink in hand, hanging at his side as he listened with half an ear. Just enough attention to follow the conversation, to make the couple and their breathless curiosity feel special.

Sandy Marko

[justoutrunyou]

Sandy couldn't help but wonder if this was what her world was like before the superheroes were outlawed.

Her outfit felt surprisingly comfortable given how much she had grown to dislike formal dresses. Instead tonight she was in yellow spandex with green shorts, thick green boots and gloves with a matching green goggles resting on her forehead. An elaborate S was stenciled on the front of her chest and she wished she had a cape to complete the ensemble but Portia had insisted on a jacket dark green leather jacket instead.

She held a glass in hand that at first glance appeared to be empty, but in reality it had a clear beverage in it called "Invisibility." a power that Sandy wished to somehow obtain. It would make these social events easier.

Maybe she and Pruna could vanish into the laser tag playground before she had to confront Mindy again and deal with the fall out of their last meeting...

[knifewithnoname]

"I can still be seeing you." Pruna said, "I do no be thinking those drinks do be working."

She guessed it was a bit too much to ask out here in the Capitol. "Do you be wanting to be going to do the shooting thing?"

She knew that Sandy was mad with Mandy still and thought it was probably best to keep it apart.

[the_marshal]

Wyatt might not have understand the reference his stylist was trying to make, but he certainly recognized the old stars and stripes when he saw it. Recognized a uniform.

Unconsciously, he stood even straighter, board shoulders squared. Bittersweet celebration that a crowning was, he was tall, confident, and... pleased.

Looking around, his getup was one of the better ones.

...Though he did miss his hat.

[justoutrunyou]

Sandy's jaw almost hit the floor when she saw him.

The red white and blue was never as recognizable as when it was on that suit. Even in her anti-superhero future the people who ran the world hadn't been able to re-write history without upsetting the people of New York.

"Captain America..." She heard someone say as he passed by. She realized all too late the person who had said that was her.

Her own outfit was a hot mess of yellow and green spandex with an S stenciled on the front, green goggles and a leather jacket.

Orc

[paidinbeer]

Superheroes huh?

Orc had never gotten into superheros that much. Sure everyone liked Batman even if those movies were kind of long, the one with Mr. Freeze was pretty good in Orc's opinion. But he'd always been more into wrestling.

Probably why his superhero outfit felt more like a professional wrestler's gear, complete with a luchadores mask. Orc pointed out he didn't really have a secret identity because of his size and rock skin but the stylist didn't seem to mind.

In a bright blue and red one piece swim suit, with shiny red boots and a matching cape, Orc stood off to the side and was working his way through the entire superhero spectrum of drinks. Currently he was slugging down something called "Heat vision" and boy did it burn going down.

He should be more productive, he should be looking for Howard or Eponine...

...he should try that drink called "Arctic Breath" to see how it felt after the Heat Vision.

[earthborn]

Hey, she knew that pile of rock and bad manners! Well, they'd met, anyways, after a fashion. His manners had been worse then, she probably wasn't in a good position to judge.

But she'll offer him a radiation-green toast, and a nod to go with it, by way of invitation to converse. Hey there, big guy.

Hanji Zoe

[observationalhazard]

Hanji's brand new to all of this, so it's still a little overwhelming. Especially when her 'stylists' decide to dress her up and mess with her hair and her face and - well, everything. She'd convinced them not to cut her hair (much), even if they'd clucked their tongues at what poor condition it was in. They'd trimmed it slightly, cleaned up the split ends (not that Hanji had cared much about that back home), pinned it up in some kind of austere-looking bun, and then added a bright streak of eye-catching electric white on one side (despite protests). Then put her in a rather strange outfit, probably because they were pushing her out the door into a party.

She'd been squeezed into a tight-fitting white lab coat, crimson blouse (complete with plunging neckline), a black pencil skirt, elbow-length black gloves and knee-high "lab boots" with heels on them. Really, it just made her feel a bit awkward. At least they'd let her keep her goggles. Still, she was trying to have a good time. Her eyes had popped a little at the spread of food they were provided with, so for most of the party she drifts around the food tables, nibbling on things and trying to understand it all.

She'll get proactive once she she better understands the place.

Re: Hanji Zoe

[celebrityskinned]

Venus, by contrast, looks completely at home in her tight little minidress and high heels. They don't put her quite at Hanji's height, but they close the gap to only a handful of inches. She winds up at a food table next to Hanji.

It's a relief to be at a Crowning where she has no feelings about the reigning winner. Other people can worry about the Victor. Venus cares for Mindy's well-being only in that Mindy's a young girl and seems close with Ellie, but other people are better suited to do the caring there.

"Oh, my God. I need to find whoever invented chocolate-covered strawberries and give them a bear hug." She takes her fondue skewer and jabs yet another piece of fruit into the fountain. Having tastebuds again, even after a year, still hasn't gotten old. "You're a new face, and you're all dressed up and looking not to happy about it, so let me guess - Tribute?"

Azula

[burnedbrighter]

Sometimes, Azula was very pleased that she took the time to work out every day and visited the spa at least once a week.

Today was one of those days as her body was on display in a tight black leotard that had a lightning bolt cut out of the front. Anywhere her skin was on display it was painted a pale shade of blue to contrast with the dark blue streaks in her hair.

By far her favorite part about the outfit was the thigh high shiny black boots that molded to her legs very nicely.

So what if one of her least favorite tributes had won? Things were going well over all. And she took comfort in knowing that the life of a mentor was not the sort of life that Mindy would enjoy. She was too action oriented and hated talking to people she didn't respect.

Which was at least part of the reason Azula continued to force herself on Mindy at times.

The announcement of the special arena had taken her by surprise, but she smiled through it with confidence. Hans was promising enough and Venus...while her taste in men was questionable, was still one of District Fives strongest.

So why bother being irritated at Mindy's victory? So far everything was coming along nicely.

[hanssome]

Azula had been one of the first people Hans went out of his way to approach. Unhinged as she may be, she has invaluable experience with this sort of thing. Most of all, he's curious to hear if she had any idea this would come to pass. He can't rightfully act as if he's glad to be headed into the Arena again, even if he's discreetly a little excited for the opportunity.

He looks incredibly displeased as he weaves his way through the crowds toward her, carrying himself with the dignity despite making himself a little imposing. His mouth is a thin line and his brows are furrowed, but he isn't about to lash out without some facts.

"Miss Azula." He can't help feeling inclined to duck his head politely. "Please tell me you weren't aware of this."

ota - before the reaping

[aintyourdad]

Ellie was a little bit right, about working with his stylists, though he really isn't sure about the hairstyle they'd insisted on. The jacket is okay, though. A nice, supple leather, vaguely reminiscent of what he'd been put in for the motorcycle race.

But Joel is not having a good time. He's started getting used to all the people in the streets of the city, every time he goes out. But that's outside, in broad daylight, and this? This is hundreds of people crowded into a space with loud music, yelling, laughter, all echoing off the walls, and so many dark corners. Joel is tense, coiled up like a snake, only twenty years of experience in keeping his cool holding him back from running and hiding somewhere.

It's kind of too much for him, so he's likely to be found mostly at the outskirts, keeping away from the worst of the noise and people. And especially avoiding the screens playing highlight reels from the arena.

[futilecycle]

Sigma recognizes an aversion to socialization when he sees it. Finding himself a kindred spirit, Sigma slinks to the outskirts of the party and edges himself towards Joel nonthreateningly. He knew the dread of being approached by someone unfamiliar and being unable to escape a conversation all too well. But Sigma feels himself drawn to Joel, knowing they may have something in common that the other Tributes did not. Other than Eva, he supposed, but he thought rather grimly that what she had gone through was perhaps not the same as the peer he may find in Joel.

Hoping to find him in a mood to speak, Sigma stands a few feet away. "Joel, was it? I heard from Ellie that the two of you were reunited. Congratulations. Do you need something to drink?" he offers politely. If he was given a cue to leave, he knew better than to persist. There would be other times to speak.

[president_evil]

The suit was perfectly tailored. Slate gray, snug over his shoulders, nipping at the hips, falling along his legs with a sharp crease. When he moved, the lights flashed on the strands of gems, threaded like pinstriping - like cats' eyes, green and sharp.

Between his shoulder-blades was a symbol, silken, a deep, emerald green.

The Riddler.

Wesker might not have ever much use comics, but he recognized the significance.

Enjoyed it.

[gardienne]

"Monsieur!" Eponine, in Karma's black and yellow jumpsuit, came up behind Wesker, and tapped him on the shoulder. When she was sure of his attention, she bent her knees in an awkward curtsey.

"It is funny doing that without a skirt. Perhaps I ought to bow instead?" she laughed. "Monsieur, I have not seen you in an age."

open; pre-reaping

[confidentially]

Jessica's look for the crowning is toned down and classy (for her), a basic purple catsuit with thigh-high black boots, hair teased into a wild pile on top of her head. She looks fierce and she feels fierce, determined to flirt with and schmooze her way around the party. There is networking to be done and she has to promote her Tributes ahead of the next Arena cycle.

In the mean time, she's going to need a stiff drink or six to deal with the more boring people in the room.

[president_evil]

Wesker saw her only out of the corner of his eye, skin-tight leather in a familiar shade, pale hair... For a moment, before the details sank in, he thought perhaps--

He turned, no shame at all in the way he looked her over.

No, not Miss Valentine. And not the doppelganger from so long ago either.

The mentor, from three, rather, if he recalled correctly.

His nose twitched, and he started to turn away again.

Mindy and her Entourage

[hit_girl_mindy]

Well. THAT happened.

She was sitting down now, watching everyone. She wondered how much any of them were actually enjoying this. She at least liked it a lot better than the French dresses, sure, but really, this was more like a superhero themed rave or something. Worse still, she was the actual victor this time, so it wasn't as if she could just go and mingle wherever she felt like. Then there was, of course, the damper of having ANOTHER arena so soon after the current one.

It was a good thing she had people here with her, or she was sure she'd be glowering all day.

[OOC: feel free to tag, those of you who are Mindy's friends and would totally be in her circle right now! Acually, even if you're not, just feel free to drop by].

Re: Mindy and her Entourage

[justoutrunyou]

"Nice crown."

Sandy remarked this a little too loud, and her words hung together as she had somehow gotten her hands on an alcoholic beverage and it was having a good effect on her tiny body. She flopped down into a seat next to Mindy, feeling the cold hard seat against her spandex shorts clad bottom and almost remarking about it.

But her stomach was too busy twisting in knots over this. She'd been invited to sit in the winners circle, so she knew she'd have to face the music sooner or later.

Kili } open, before the reaping

[emptytrousers]

Honestly, Kili welcomes the relief of a buzzing party. There were far too few of these in the Capitol for his taste. Of course, Capitol parties are nothing like traditional dwarven gatherings and all of the garishly bright colors do nothing for the dwarf’s senses, though he knows he’s contributing to it in the garishly green costume he’s been put in. The stylists even shortened and widened it to properly fit what they said to be strange proportions. After that, it’d been difficult to sit still long enough to get his hair properly braided and the dark makeup around his eyes to be applied. The empty quiver on his back and the comically large bow in his hand didn’t exactly add to his lackluster enthusiasm.

Still, he was here at the party and there were drinks and friends and he could hardly stay moody for long, especially with the energy radiating from nearly everyone there. Now, if he could stop being barely chest-height on every other citizen, that would be perfect.

Re: Kili } open, before the reaping

[splendid_roman]

Ian was convinced that the short man must be an alien, having never seen a human adult that short. Alien seemed the most likely explanation. Being used to them, it didn't stop Ian from smiling as he approached, drink in hand. "So you're dressed as an archer?" he guessed. He was dressed as Superman, which he didn't suppose the man recognised.

Donatello, before the Reaping - open!

[polyturtle]

He had absolutely no clue what exactly he was wearing. A superhero garb, obviously, but red wasn't his color - so he thought. But apparently, someone on the stylist team thought he looked good in red, so there he was, wearing a red superhero suit. He didn't know why. He didn't care. He was just glad that Mindy was the one in the Crowning chair. It was true, if he learned anything from Ariadne, that being a Mentor didn't necessarily mean that Mindy was out of danger. But, he trusted that perhaps, Mindy would make it, now that she was no longer in the vicious Arena cycle.

So, he admittedly looked much, much happier than he'd been the past few Arenas. He wasn't quite back to the level he'd been before he'd lost his mind. He didn't feel he had to be. Just enough to make it look like he was all better, to at least look like his breakdown was a mere hiccup to these superficial, material-hungry masses.

Even when he knew it wasn't true. But that wasn't the point.

Re: Donatello, before the Reaping - open!

[hit_girl_mindy]

Good. She didn't have to grandstand over anyone yet. She could just talk to people.

And gave Donatello a sideye. WOW.

"That looks...interesting," she said, amused.

sherlock holmes | ota | pre-reaping

[costing]

On the whole, he's not impressed. The suit he's been bullied into is bright and garish, but thankfully there's no one standing next to him and forcing him to wear the mask. It hangs around his neck and over one shoulder, the aesthetic obvious even if Sherlock isn't actively participating in carrying off his look. There's a comparison, or a joke, to be made about detectives, here. But he's not going to be the one to make it.

Instead, Sherlock views this as an opportunity. The ceremony itself fascinates him, and he keeps a particular eye on the Capitol citizens. It's them he walks up to, talks to in even tones and with something akin to charm. Anyone who knows him well will know it's a farce, but he seems to pull it off with at least a few of the citizens.

Fellow Tributes are another matter. Sherlock is openly calculating around them, stiff and methodological. He knows it's going to be virtually impossible not to see them as people, the next time he's in an arena. But knowing them now will only speed that along, and that's hardly a favorable outcome. He shakes his head at his own stupidity on that count.

Most often, he's standing in front of the laser tag scoreboard, examining the numbers far too closely for someone only interested in the outcome of the game.

[void_whereprohibited]

Cecil is clearly not a Tribute. He looks far too pleased to be there, in his skintight leather cat costume and mask, a colorful drink in his hand and a broad smile on his face. He recognizes Sherlock, in the distant way he recognizes many people here whom he has seen suffering on a screen in recent weeks; not enough to greet him by name, but more than well enough to step up beside him, to give him his brightest grin, to push his mask up and out of the way and share with him an opinion he has been seeking an excuse to give voice since he got here.

"What a Crowning!" he says, with gravity, lifting his glass briefly in the direction of the scoreboard, as though in salute. "How perfect, that our Tributes should mark their rebirth with a game in which they cannot die! What a perfect contrast to the high stakes and pervasive anxiety of the Arena! How wonderfully simple: Measure your success in numbers, and not in how little of yourself you leave for the Avoxes to clean up later."

He regards the scoreboard fondly for a moment, letting the silence hang; and then he turns his smile more directly on Sherlock. His voice is friendly - the slow, heavy tone of before is completely gone, replaced with bright interest. "Great party, huh?"

Venus Dee Milo | Closed

[celebrityskinned]

She excuses herself from Hanji and from the food table, feeling like the only Tribute Reaped who can properly force a smile at being her District's favorite. Everyone else is reacting with the horror and dread that is, if apt for the situation, less than camera-friendly.

Venus will save her fears - and they are growing, the more she tries to figure out what angle the Capitol's playing at, the more certain she is that they'll kill her to send a message - for when she's in private, and then she'll be neat and boring with them and no one will be the wiser. There is comfort in calculation. It's a hearty shield against vulnerability in the face of the predator taking the names from Mindy.

She slips through the crowd in a latex dress, on heels that bring her up to eye level with most of the men in the Arena, with a glass of alcohol she hasn't been drinking despite the lipstick she's left along the rim. Her eyes are sharp under the gold makeup on her face, looking for people like a hawk watches for the movement of mice.

She goes and she finds her people: Maximus, Ellie, Kankri, Wyatt, Courfeyrac, Guy. And Enjolras.

[orestes]

The reaping had come as a shock even to those the Capitol supposedly kept in the loop of the Games. Smaller things, he had heard whispers of, rumors circulating in the halls of the less trafficked areas of the Tribute Center, or half-mentioned by stylists. This, however, is completely new. The lump in his throat had reached critical mass as Venus was read off the list, only to seem like it may choke him by the time Courfeyrac's mispronounced name tumbled out of Mindy's mouth.

And so, after recovering himself, Enjolras spends the better part of five minutes peering through the crowd for either of them. The more upsetting thing will not be their reactions, he knows, it will be watching the ordeal play itself out. When he spots Venus, they're not far from a faux-dingy corridor. Wordlessly, he takes her hand and pulls her away from the spandex-covered crush of humanity around them. It's secluded enough to afford them at least the illusion of privacy for the moment. They still can't risk saying anything too personal, and a genuine reaction on any level may still end up televised for later analysis.

"What do you need from me?" He asks, tone gentle but urgent all the same. He squeezes her hand, then moves with difficulty to lace their fingers together. It's hard to stomach the idea of being useless to them again so quickly.

Gabriel

[casaerotica13]

This wasn't impressive. Not compared to the last Victor party or by any party he's been to since arriving in the city. Perhaps the star of the evening was supposed to be the arena announcement. Sam was drawn.

Maybe it wasn't the party. Maybe it was him. Maybe he was getting tired already. Humans, in reality, were so much more resilient than angels and they had no idea. They had experience. They weren't spoiled. The world was hard on them for good reason. Even Lucifer, despite his cruelty, was still a spoiled child crying for his Father. Humans were so much more guarded than they ever were.

So, Gabriel walked through the crowds in an outfit he didn't recognize and wasn't in the mood to appreciate, turning down offered masks feverishly like they would leap up and bite him. If anyone spoke to him, he'd grow a smile and be the usual asshole, but this place, these people, the games and society and power... He was just getting tired. He just wanted to go back home.

Re: Gabriel

[gardienne]

At last. Someone who looked as worn down and brow beaten and as utterly fed up with life as Eponine was sure she did. As she passed him, whisked this way and that by Capitol men who wanted to talk to her and pet her wig and offer 'comforting' words dripping with distain to her, and to and from the bar, she glanced over every now and again.

But eventually, brandy in hand, she went over to Gabriel.

"Drink, Monsieur. It will make you feel better."

Holiday

[doc_holi]

Out of all the stupid get ups they put her in, this one was by far the one she hated most. First of all, what soul thought that dreadlocks would look good on her? Second, she was very unappreciative of the loincloth. Third, the damn fake tattoos were itchy.

She felt like her mother had just dressed her up, except as a stripper who didn't own shoes.

Holiday huffed and tried readjusting her clothes a bit more again. If they just added a little more material to the thing, maybe she would feel more comfortable. All she wanted to do now was get very drunk, but that would just invite even more men than she was preparing for. She just made a quick bee line for the bar, trying very hard to not touch anyone or gain anyone's attention. They would have to do a double take to recognize her anyway.

... Who wouldn't do a double take after catching a flash of her, though?

Rebecca just settled on trying to not step on anything that might cut her foot open. They could have provided sandals, surely.

Re: Holiday

[revvinguptheharley]

"Oh come on!"

Harley trotted over in her red and black, form fitting jesters outfit and looked like she was torn between laughing and throwing something.

"Please tell me you picked that outfit yourself? Like you saw the loin cloth and suddenly had the urge to show off those lovely legs of yours?"

Because really all this Deja Vu was freaking her out.

[gardienne]

Eponine let them dress her up. She sat passively whilst they painted colour into her cheeks and hid the bags beneath her eyes. She didn't flinch when they applied more of that horrible glue and fitted a wig made to look like her hair to her shaved head. She let them dress her in the tight black and yellow jumpsuit that emphasised her tiny waist, and clung to her hips. She was obedient in donning the yellow stiletto boots. She even repeated the name of the superhero she was supposed to be, over and over. "Karma. Karma, Karma, Karma."

Eponine didn't have a clue what it meant.

She stood quietly in a corner of the party, pressed as far back against the wall as possible, watching carefully. Who was talking to whom, who was wearing what. Meaningless, all pointless. But perhaps vital if she was going to help Ian or Howard get out of the arena next time. She hoped that she'd be able to escape this party unnoticed.

[iflipmyhair]

Her night was about to get more complicated. Even if the person in question had no clue about it. No clue that Eponine was next to her.

Homura had gotten tired. She needed a break; this was much more constricting than the dream had been. At least in the dream, she knew it was one. This was reality, and Homura needed a small break from talking to people. Sponsors. Vultures.

So she leaned against the wall, closing her eyes and taking a breath. She'd have to go back, eventually. But for now. Rest. Rest and pretend she was like the other wallflower nearby--

Wait. Wait.

"Eponine."

It was an exclamation of surprise, in spite of herself. It was clear, Homura had not expected her.

Terezi Pyrope | open | pre-reaping

[pythianjudgment]

Superheroes. Terezi wants to laugh. Even though she's a lot older now, Terezi still feels like she's gearing up for another FLARP campaign. She's honestly surprised--and thankful--that her stylist didn't just plop her into her Redglare costume. Maybe that would have been too cliche?

Either way, Terezi clutches a colorfully fruity drink in one hand and sniffs curiously at the laser tag game, all while decked out in a dashing outfit in her signature colors. The blindfold really takes the cake for her. She even willingly gave up her glasses for it--just for the night.

Now if she can just find some people to have some fun with her...

[alldeduction]

It's interesting, often, when he finally sees a tribute in person after seeing their face everywhere. In this particular instance, he'd even spoken to her, at length, without having met in person. But if he was forced to be at this party, then that was at least something that he could rectify.

"Seems a peculiar outfit in which to be guarding the law," He mused as he came up beside her. Then again, he was hardly one to talk.

Susannah (pre-reaping, open)

[dividedgirlofmine]

Mortifying. The sleeveless skintight green leather catsuit, with its plunging neckline, was one of the more embarrassing things Susannah's been forced to wear in her life and that was after she'd refused Zoolander's first few designs, none of which were things anyone who wasn't Eddie should be seeing her in.

This-- it wasn't as bad, but it wasn't much better either. And the fact that most of the women in the room are dressed like she is or worse---well, it isn't really helping.

At least she'd been able to persuade him out of the ridiculous red wig.

Re: Susannah (pre-reaping, open)

[revvinguptheharley]

"Well here's a bit of irony only I can appreciate." Harley remarked dryly as she approached Susannah with two green fizzing drinks known as "Gamma bombs"

"It works on you though girl, looks way better then it did on the first girl who wore it. Especially dem legs." She winked. She was in her actual super heroic (Villainous?) uniform of a red and black skin tight jesters costume that left only little to the imagination of her curves.

[tis_allgood]

Cuthbert wasn't completely pleased with his outfit but at least he stood out. He was intent on playing laser tag, even though he couldn't entirely tell what was going on with it. He just liked the idea of being able to shoot at people without blood.

"I wonder if we get prizes for this game." He asked no one in particular as he watched the laser battle below.

[splendid_roman]

"I hope not, given the capitol's idea of a prize," Ian, who was dressed as Superman said, coming up beside Cuthbert. "I think the game would be more fun if we didn't have to do it for real in the arenas."

Sigma Klim - OTA

[futilecycle]

For the first time, Sigma found himself rather thankful to be in attendance. Not far into the proceedings Sigma had secured himself some wine to sip while he silently observed the Tributes around him. At the very least, the Capitol had wonderful taste in alcohol.

At his own request, tonight the Doctor wore a costume of gold and purple. Sigma had been in a dour, self-deprecating mood as of late and he felt nothing would best reflect that than imitating a villain who killed others in pursuit of the greater good. As a young man he had hated the character passionately - now he realized he had grown up to become everything he stood against. Sigma started on his second drink and felt himself suddenly craving company... there was nothing worse than being alone and drunk. Hopefully he looked around for someone to chat with about nothing in particular.

[pythianjudgment]

Terezi fortunately is also on the move for company. For her there was nothing worse than being alone and at a party, drunk or not. She catches the familiar scent of Fraysong's friend and makes her way over to him. She did promise to catch up with him later, after all.

"Hey Robo-gramps," she greets, catching a hold of his arm with her free hand while she clutches a fruity drink in the other. Somehow, she managed to snag one that doesn't reek of alcohol. "You smell like one of those fancy wine goblets. Gilded and grape."

Johanna - open

[nooneleft]

Johanna stalked straight into the Crowning, and into the middle of the dance floor, She was on a mission to get noticed that night, and reclaim her status as a feared Victor.

Johanna grabbed a drink from one of the Avoxes. She took a sip, grimaced, and looked around for the nearest potted plant to pour it into. Johanna hated Crownings. Every party meant another person to compete against to get her face noticed. And this one - just a kid. Was she the youngest Victor ever? Younger than Finnick?

Johanna smirked to herself. It looked like Pretty Boy was about to lose his shining status. Was she pleased?

Maybe just a bit more than she should be.

She grabbed another drink, and downed it in one. Sod it. She was going to enjoy herself if it killed her.

Re: Johanna - open

[hit_girl_mindy]

Mindy DID notice her. It was hard not to: she was one of the few people who was wearing something that was nothing close to what the theme was. It took balls: she liked that.

Plus, she was drinking, so that was bound to bring up some interesting conversation.

"So I gotta ask: whose YOUR dresser?"

Kevin | Open

[asmilinggod]

They had Kevin at ziplines, really.

He's wasted no time in getting strapped in, enthusiastically "soaring" over the party with his cape rippling behind him. Yes, he's wearing a cape...with a neat, tidy, crisp black suit. Underneath, he has a shirt sporting a big yellow triangle with an orange 'S' in it...the Strexcorp logo. On his face is a yellow domino mask.

He is Strexman.

But really, you can't argue with Kevin about these things.

At any rate, he's having a great time, smiling and winking to the crowd as he does little flips on the lines.

[youbarium]

Carlos happens to look up as Kevin makes a pass over the dance floor. Carlos himself isn't on it; he's doing that awkward wallflower thing that scientists do at parties where they nurse drinks and lean against walls and know better than to actually try to dance. Anyway, he looks up -- and sees a very familiar face.

His eyes go wide. But not as wide as Kevin's.

The drink he's holding falls out of his hand and shatters into a million glistening pieces on the ground. (It doesn't attract all that much attention, but the people around Carlos do murmur unhappily, shooting displeased looks at the nerveless scientist.)

The glass shards just make him think of the Arena, of dropping bits of glistening red glass into a parachute-tin, and of tiny Pluto, which is even smaller than Earth's moon--

For the moment, Carlos is frozen where he is, feeling like he's about to have a heart attack.

Karkat (Open)

[sleeplessinalternia]

Karkat isn't entirely sure what's up with the weird blue get-up that Victory's stuffed him in and he's not entirely sure he wants to know. At least she remembered to give him horn-holes in the cowl.

He's mostly hanging around the food tables, though he does take a turn at flying in the harness and the laser tag on the red team's side. At one point he even ascends to the dance floor.

After the announcement of the reaping, however, he's very obviously freaking the fuck out.

[knifewithnoname]

Pruna is in a pretty good mood, even though she hadn't expected to like Mindy's crowning it was pretty cool and she liked her costume, the cape was cool.

She was also pretty pleased that she was a favourite in district twelve, she had liked district twelve and it was where Katniss came from so people there obviously had good taste.

She see's Karkat freaking out and goes over to poke him in the side, "What do you be being stupid about now, tiny horns?"