thecapitol | Kevin's Crowning

Entry tags:

Kevin's Crowning

Who | Everyone.
What | Kevin's Crowning
Where | An outdoor plaza, sectioned off and well guarded.
When | Starting at noon and continuing on until sunset.
Warnings/Notes | This event is mandatory for all Tributes and Victors to attend. Even if you do not tag in, your character will attend this party.

Playful signs began to pop-up all over the Tribute center in the days leading up to the crowning, advertising the mandatory nature of the event itself while also promising an afternoon of delightful festivities. All attendees were loaded onto buses and driven to the location of the picnic, with colorful t-shirts distributed upon their arrival (D1- Navy, D2- Red, D3- Grey, D4- Light blue, D5- Orange, D6- Yellow, D7- Forest green, D8- Royal blue, D9- Purple, D10- Black, D11- Lime green, D12- Hot pink, and White for any Capitol officials in attendance.) Likewise, all the attendees were given name tag stickers and then dispersed out into the plaza. All except guest of honor, Kevin, who was escorted onto the grounds dressed entirely in white and was given a large and ornate golden crown to wear.

Balloons of every color decorated the entire area . Along with picnic tables and benches, a large main stage was erected in the middle of the plaza with a microphone and a DJ, who played the same six songs on repeat. At it's center, Kevin was given a throne to sit on, so that he could preside over the picnic and enjoy his freshly prepared hamburger and french fries.

There were several small tents that ringed the edge of the stage area. Inside a few of them, you might face painters available, but the only design they would do was paint your face to look like Kevin. Anyone who had their face painted was also given an adorable construction paper crown to wear.

In other tents, a few carnival games had been set up for entertainment. There was a shooting range game where the faces of the targets changed to look like you whenever you stepped up to play, as well as skeeball and a rope ladder climb game. All the prizes were stuffed plush dolls reminiscent of famed former victors. All with Kevin's smile.

A bouncy castle that looked a shocking bit like the city hall building found in the last arena was free for anyone to play on. (Complete with fog machine!) And almost directly across the way from the castle, a caged-in area set up to be a ball-pit was also open for all to enjoy. Upon further inspection of the pit filled with thousands of plastic balls, one could clearly see how they had each been painted to look like giant, vacant black eyes.

The only two food options available to attendees were cupcakes and hotdogs. The cupcakes came with sprinkles. The hotdogs also came with sprinkles. The only beverage option was orange juice. And everyone must have a glass of orange juice, otherwise no one can ever leave.

At 2pm, Peacekeepers erected a volleyball net and the Tributes were instructed to play. Anyone who touched the net would get a slight electrical shock. Clearly it was a best to avoid the net.

As the volleyball game came to a close, several officials took the stage with a special announcement. Public polls would be open to all Capitol citizens the following morning to begin casting their votes. Who will be the next tributes to go into the next arena?! Over the next few days, the public will pick their favorites to enter a special bonus arena! Stay tuned for details!

Once the festivities were over and the Tributes were loaded back onto the buses, they would come to notice something new in the lobby of the Tribute Center. On the ceiling above them was a massive crystal chandelier, seven feet across. And it was no ordinary chandelier. It was customized beautifully, in the shape of Kevin's jagged and ever-present smile.

Beneath it, a spread of fine wine and cheeses. A man in a cream yellow suit with cream yellow hair sat at a grand piano in the corner, playing calm and pleasant melodies that might seem almost familiar to some and yet unrecognizable to anyone. Escorts seem to be in no hurry to get tributes back to their towers, and the wine continues to flow late into the night for anyone who lingers around to drink it.

Until next time, tributes. Until next time.

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There was yet another man who could not suffer the indignity of shirts-- not just these but shirts in general. But other than taking off that particular article of clothing, Nasir did not act as Gannicus did. He avoided the food and he was not nearly so carefree.

Upon spotting Gannicus, he wasn't sure if he should leave him alone. He didn't entirely know what to expect. Either Gannicus would be furious or he would laugh off the incident. Now that Nasir knew more clearly what had happened, he didn't hold almost being choked to death against Gannicus. Nasir had tried to kill him. He'd reacted reasonably to that. At least, as reasonably as they could in their condition.

Finally, Nasir walked over to the gladiator.

"Gannicus."

This was a conversation that was long in the coming - not that Gannicus had been purposefully avoiding his brother-in-arms. He hadn't, really - but limited time and limited patience had kept him from seeking the other man out. When Nasir spoke up Gannicus only looked at him briefly - warily - as he slowly swallowed his mouthful. He took his time before answering.

"You are returned to form," He observed before turning his eyes back on the plate of decorated hot dogs in front of him. "A sight to lift heart."

Because if Gannicus had properly killed Nasir then there was a certain gladiator in 71 BC that really wouldn't be too happy with either of them.

It was an encouraging response from Gannicus but the time it took to be said gave Nasir pause, if only in his own thoughts.

"As is your return," Nasir answered. There was sincerity behind the words but still a level of detachment, one that Nasir held in moments of uncertainty. A mark of the slave he had once been-- and was now. Careful, precise. It was harder to let go of his defense than it had been in some time, haunted as he was by this place.

He took a step closer but there was still a fair distance between them.

"Apologies. You saved my life from a demon of the Capitol's making. My response held no gratitude."

Which was a rather understated way of saying he would have ripped Gannicus's face off if given the chance.

Gannicus could have remained toying absently with his hot dogs but as Nasir launches in to his apology he sits back, expression dire, and looks about him almost as if he wanted to escape.

"Save fucking words," He sighed - almost pleadingly, as if the unwarranted apology caused him physical hurt - before immediately realising it made him sound like an ungrateful child. Looking pained, he shook his head with a wince as he added: "They fall on undeserving ears."

He paused long enough to push the plate of unfinished hot dogs aside, finding his appetite was suddenly gone. Despairingly he muttered,

"Is there no fucking wine to be had?"

He definitely needed alcohol for this.

"Apology is well deserved." Nasir turned aside, as if looking for decent-- or any-- alcohol to be had but that was not the reason for casting his eyes away. Finally, he looked at Gannicus again. "You are not alone in wishing for wine. After celebration we may yet find it."

And then, without prompting or invitation, Nasir took a seat next to Gannicus. If he was unwelcome then Gannicus would tell him. If not, then any request to sit beside him would be laughed at.

"'May' is useless to me," Gannicus grouched as Nasir took a seat on the bench beside him. He had spent far too long inside the Arena without any kind of alcohol and had almost begun to feel better for it until the corpse-like effects had begun to take hold. Now, back in the Capitol and reverted to the same state he had been in when he had first arrived, the need for drink had started to burn all too brightly once again.

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the wood of the table before them, and crossed his arms along its length as he surveyed the carnival before them. It was time for a change of subject. He nodded to a stage across the crowd, where Kevin was making his speech.

"What make you of their new champion?"

Nasir followed Gannicus's gaze and took in Kevin, smiling and droning on.

"A man blinded in battle who yet survives to claim victory. He hides his ferocity behind jagged, monstrous smile. I would not have wished to meet him in the arena, nor do I care to meet him now."

It was an honest assessment. Though Kevin had been driven mad, as had Nasir and Gannicus from eating the tainted fruit, he had yet retained enough skill and luck to win.

Gannicus huffed a mirthless laugh as they watched Kevin entreat his stoic crowd with his smile bright enough to outshine the sun.

"Victory blinds many a man," Gannicus replied philosophically. He didn't hold anything against Kevin - in his time in the arena of Capua Gannicus had certainly witnessed many strange victories and even stranger victors.

"But the mark of a true champion is not in the moment of victory, but the days that follow." Gannicus's tone was bleak. Somehow he doubted Kevin would suffer the agony of shaken self-worth that had plagued Gannicus in the five years following his own victory.

"His smile may yet fade."

Nasir's gaze drifted to the citizens of Panem, mingling with the tributes. "His smile is not the one I would see fade," he said darkly.

He tried to push the thought from his mind. Here was not the place to give voice to his longings. So he looked back at Gannicus.

"Did victory blind you? You yet found purpose."

"I do not remember being presented with fucking choice!" Gannicus laughed wryly; it was easier to pretend that Spartacus had dragged him unwillingly in to his foolish plans than to admit that maybe - maybe - for once in his life Gannicus had made a good choice because he was actually a good man.

He laughed again, hollowly, and stared unseeingly at the victor in the limelight. When the laughter died on his lips, he added:

"Were it not for Spartacus and his mad fucking cause, my purpose would yet still be lost to me."

How to retain it in Panem - now that was the true challenge that faced him now.

A mad cause? Perhaps, but it was all Nasir had and he found it worthy. And in the end, they had won much if not all they had hoped to accomplish. Yet it cost them in equal amount.

"And mine would be nothing more than to please my dominus and gain favor. Spartacus opened both our eyes. He gave me sword and spear and you a reason to fight again. We both made choice to follow." He sounded more resigned at the next statement as his eyes moved off of Gannicus. "A choice not presented here."

"Of course it is not," Gannicus replied with theatrical resignation and a smile that was as far removed from amused as a smile could be.

"Choice is not expected of a slave."

Because that's what they were not, really. Slaves, once more. No freedom, no choice.

"I did not think to find myself in position again." Nasir grimaced. "If I could think of only myself I would seize choice from their fucking hands and claim it as own."

But he had more to think of than just his own life. He wondered if Gannicus did as well.

There was a part of Gannicus - an angry, ugly part - that had doubted all along that the rebel slaves would ever find true freedom. He had counted himself amongst their number, as an enemy of mother Rome - they were all destined for death (hopefully) or enslavement (less optimistically), but fighting the cause was at least a fairly decent way to die.

But being a gladiator once more was at least better than being a house slave. At least as a gladiator he again had that fleeting moment of selfish glee and singular intent.

"And in turn they would seize life from veins and claim it their own," Gannicus finished Nasir's sentence in a low, resigned voice. Then, remembering Agron and Melitta in the Arena, he added: "And that of those you hold close to heart."

If only Gannicus knew that some of them had escaped, but the knowledge would also bring with it Gannicus's future and Nasir would not inflict that on him.

"The only thought that stills hand against them," Nasir said quietly, hoping that if someone was listening to this dangerous conversation, his words would be overshadowed by the loud guests and Tributes.

"'The only thought'?" Gannicus repeated with a laugh of disbelief. "It if that is singular reason that stays fucking hand then you possess madness that towers far beyond my own."

He can feel it within himself; that wash of cynicism, flattening out any last possible idealistic tendrils of thought that Spartacus had once inspired within him.

"These men --" He jerks a head at a clutch of Peacekeeepers on the fringe of the crowd, "-- Do not stand Roman. They will not die so easily."

"A fact discovered before your arrival."

Madness, desperation, or both, Nasir had reached the point where he didn't care what happened to him. Gannicus had taken to this more readily than Nasir or he was more skilled at hiding it in his own way, behind a laugh and careless smile.

"I attempted to take a Peacekeeper's life but they struck me down before I could lay hands on him. Hands remain stayed against future attempt but not for concern of my life."

"You moved to attack one of their kind?" Gannicus twisted in his seat to face Nasir, food now lying forgotten on his gaudy little paper plate. This was certainly news - Gannicus knew the man to be as fierce as any gladiator, but what was really of interest was in the detail.

"Tell me all."

Nasir paused. He knew it was a necessity to tell Gannicus, if they were to ever make an attempt again-- something he found doubtful unless he could be convincing. And find something to balance the odds in their favor.

"There is little to tell. They announced the first arena at a crowning like this one only with more... indignities." Being dressed up in purple and green and thigh high boots was not something he cared to relive. "I had no weapon but mind was not present when I moved to wrap hands around neck of one. One shot me and I fell into darkness before I could reach him. I awoke in a room alone and absent opportunity to leave until reason took hold again."

"With what did they shoot you?" Gannicus asked quickly, eyes flickering only briefly to check the weapons that the nearest Peacekeeper was carrying No swords, at least.

"With arrow? Or--" He stumbled over his thoughts, frustrated momentarily as he tried to remember what Wyatt had said barely an hour ago. What was the word...?

"--Or 'bullet'?"

Nasir shook his head. "I don't know what it was, neither arrow nor bullet." It troubled him that he didn't understand the technology here, even as he struggled to learn more. It seemed there would always be something that escaped him.

"Apologies. That is all I know."

There are many things about the modern world here in Panem that Gannicus is completely willing to accept without explanation - the communicator technology, mainly, and most of the customs. Their weaponry, however, was a different matter. For someone whose entire survival depended on being able to best everyone else in the room in combat, the disadvantage was too much to swallow. He shared Nasir's frustration in not understanding it; it was one of the reasons why Gannicus knew it was completely mad to try and fight the Peacekeepers. They needed to know more about their weapons.

Thinking of which...

"What knowledge do you possess of the creatures that stole the form of those we love?" He murmured to Nasir with his eyes fixed on the Peacekeepers.

That was a tender subject. The memory of something that had taken Agron's shape being impaled was still fresh. It had not been Agron but it had his likeness, his face, and Nasir could recall perfectly what it had looked like in death. But he was not alone in having suffered because of those things.

"I do not know anything." And it bothered him no less that the means of how the Gamemakers had created such creatures was a mystery to him. "I only know that they were not the ones we know. One man was alive here while another-- creature bearing his likeness was in the Arena. The Capitol's power is... formidable." And frightening.

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Kevin's Crowning

I lied before

what a good lie

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