The Crowning Of Clara Murphy

[etcircenses]

Who| Everyone.
What| The Crowning of Clara Murphy
Where| A refurbished former-medical building within Capitol. 
When| Starting from late afternoon, going into the evening and late night.
Warnings/Notes| Don't forget, peacekeepers are on high alert and will notice any rebellious activity or odd behaviour. 

The theme of the ceremony is corruption and dystopia, with a distinct nod to futuristic aspects and, of course, robots. The room is stark, clean, and foreboding, all done in metallics, crisp whites, and the occasional bit of robotics set up as art. It speaks as an unholy cross between a medical office, a military base, and an extremely well kept prison.

The ceremony is both a chance for Capitolites to have fun and be grateful for the grand and glorious Panem which in no way exemplifies any attributes of dystopia, while also working as a not so subtle reminder to the troublemakers out there of what can happen when things get out of line. Which they surely won't, with all the peacekeepers around.

Tributes are dressed in all manner of thing incorporating chains, rope, caution tape, muzzles, bars and cages, prison stripes, and uniform orange-- all things reminiscent of imprisonment and restriction. Some tributes may be made to look scuffed up, like cartoon-ish depictions of hardened thugs. There are a few references to robotics, and that of evil and corrupt military men and police officers, but all tributes will be marked by some manner of cuff or chain that clearly denotes them as “criminals”.

They’ll also be given a “prison number” that is actually indicative of their district association and an arbitrary letter next to it, for example, someone from district six will have 06 and the first letter of their name. It will be temporarily tattooed somewhere visible on their skin. It can be washed off but it will take more scrubbing than would be done in a single day, let alone a crowning.

The only exceptions to these rules, are those who have been brought to the winner’s table; all those who can be deemed as cyborgs, scientists, and of course, the victor herself. Her throne sits at the head of the table, a robotic contraption that appears almost as though it might encase her. For a crown, Clara has been given one that seems to bear resemblance to a white picket fence, which, when made into a crown, looks far sharper than the idyllic home setting it’s meant to represent.

Avoxes are all dressed as members of the corrupt Detroit military police. The uniforms are naturally given a more sinister edge. None of them are comfortable. All of them are serving “Detriotto” staple foods.

Around the crowning, flat hologram projections of hockey games can be seen. They show the games of a team called “The Rouge Wings” and alternate that with the less spectacular showings of what appears to be a young boy’s hockey team. Commercials fill the times between promoting the work of Capitol’s peacekeepers, showing appreciation for them on an individual level, encouraging obedience in citizens with pleasant clips of peacekeepers speaking to children, and suggesting recruitment in the truly good and noble of Panem. Capitolites may nod along to these as they giggle at the sight of decorative signs, that are most certainly from Clara’s lesser world, about obeying, consuming, and so on, to a less than favourable government. A few posters feature Clara Murphy’s face in four colour palettes, all humorous jabs at dystopia proclaiming; “MOTHER MURPHY IS WATCHING YOU”.

But hockey games are not the only things that can be seen on the projection screens; if tributes take the time to look, they may see their own face projected above in profile and facing forward views like that of mug shots. Though, how the capitol has managed to get these pictures may be entirely a mystery. Besides these mugshots, criminal records are displayed, listing crimes from “lied to their parents” to petty theft to murder. Whether these records are true or not may be up for much debate.

In the mean time, there are plenty of things for party go-ers to do, such as take part in the David For A Day egg and spoon race, in which tributes will all have a chance to dress up (with wigs and matching clothing of all sizes!) as the mysterious David, compete against others, and should they win, be dubbed David For A Day, winning themselves a banner they can wear and a spot at the victor table.

There is also an obstacle course available dubbed the "Clarence Boddicker Memorial Prison Funhouse" designed to look, you guessed it, like a prison. Fun for all ages and demeanours!

For those looking for retreat, there’s a small section cut away from it all, designed to be a pleasant backyard patio setting opened to a starry night sky and small surrounding garden, in stark contrast to the rest of the place. There’s a small area for dancing in, that can really only accommodate one couple at a time, but is nevertheless perfect for a romantic scene. Only two songs play over speakers here, one perfectly fitting, the other a little more jarring. It’s also here that party go-ers can get their picture taken with a life sized ED-209. Many more much smaller ED-209’s can be seen around and within the crowning party. As well as the occasional roomba, which fans of the last arena will surely get a chuckle out of.

As the crowning nears it’s end, those at the victor’s table will be given paintball guns filled up with red paint. They will be ordered to bring the criminals to justice! The criminals being all the other tributes. Those hit with paint will be made to wait within the Memorial Prison Funhouse until all the criminals are apprehended and forced to do their time! No one will be allowed to go back to the tribute tower until all the criminals are caught.

Comments

A

[silberfuchs]

He's been trying not to watch her too much, feeling dirty with how young she is and how short the skirt they've wrestled her into, but once Albert notices Korra snatching a tablecloth to cover her legs, he relaxes a bit. Well, as much as anyone can relax with Peacekeepers breathing down their necks.

Sick of trying to make petty smalltalk at the victor's table and wondering why the tributes keep getting younger and younger, Albert makes his way over to commiserate with the poor girl over their respective stylists' terrible choices.

"Frankly, I think the tablecloth only helps the look."

[unjoined]

Mostly her own outfit bothered her because it's out of her comfort zone. Is it embarrassing? Yes, absolutely. Humiliating, more so. The Capitol has strange fashion ideas but an even worse sense of humor. Korra doesn't appreciate it at all.

At least now she has a little bit of control in the matter. Even if she looks almost more ridiculous, it's almost immediately better to her. She turns to the voice with a proud grin.

Oh. Oh the poor guy.

"Thanks. It's the latest trend," she says, adjusting it one last time and smiling sympathetically. "And still in stock, if you want to jump on the wagon."

[silberfuchs]

"I might take you up on that. We can both be trend setters." He takes a surreptitious look around, then snags a cloth of his own, draping the red and white checkered fabric over himself like a toga. It looks ridiculous, but at least more modest.

"I'm Albert Heinrich, District 3." He offers his hand to her. "You're new, aren't you? I haven't seen you before."

More kids. Whoever decides who to reap is first on Albert's list for people needing to be brought to justice.

[unjoined]

Korra gives him a thumbs up, laughing, when he's finished fashioning it. Standing next to each other, they really do look silly. But the kind of silly that looks like it's on purpose.

"Korra, District 10," she says, still grinning as she takes his hand. "Yeah, I just woke up here a few days ago. First thing they do is stick me in a party like this with half of my outfit."

It's a joke, but she doesn't bother to hide how bitter she still felt.

[silberfuchs]

He's surprised at how firm her handshake is. She can't be out of her teens, but she's already quite strong. Interesting.

"Count your blessings. My partner and I arrived in the middle of an arena without knowing we would be brought back when it was over." It's a terrible way to start a conversation but he wants to see how she'll react. That, and it's an unavoidable truth of this place anyway. He hopes at least his tone will soften the implications.

[unjoined]

Her grin falls a little and her eyebrows knit together. Since she's arrived, a lot of the tributes she's met have all been friendly and helpful. They're all in the same circumstances, so to her it's natural to think of them as allies first.

Though some of them have had it a lot worse than her so far.

"Oh. That must have been rough," she says, looking away. "I mean I've heard that I'm lucky I'd arrived now than later." She rubs her arm awkwardly. "But I guess I never thought that far."

[silberfuchs]

"It's something we all have to deal with, unfortunately. But it will be alright." Because it has to be. Maybe if he repeats it enough, to enough people, it will come true.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to ruin the mood after achieving such a triumph of fashion." He adjusts his tablecloth toga at the shoulder. "I'm just not sure what you've been told, or if you've been prepared."

They're young, they have to be prepared somehow or the fallout will be even worse for them. It's not as if the Capitol cares for their mental well being, just that they look pretty and smile for the camera, preferably while coated in blood.

[unjoined]

Luckily, Korra's been hearing bits of that for the last couple of days, so it doesn't surprise her so much anymore. Really she should expect any other tribute she meets to have gone through some awful things, if they've been here for very long. It's good to keep it in mind.

And this guy still follows up with some encouragement afterwards, she realizes. That's curious.

She waves it off. "It's fine. We still look good. And I want to know these things. ...kinda."

Korra winces before shrugging. "I mean I want to hear what the other tributes have to say. Since I've gotten here, a few people have tried to help, you know, make sure the new people understand as much as they can. It's nice."

[silberfuchs]

"I'm glad I'm not the only one." It's so easy to get wrapped up in your own misery here, to hold grudges and wall yourself off from everyone else in order to make it hurt less in the arena when, ultimately, it's kill or be killed. He's made a concerted effort to avoid doing that and while he's failed in certain cases - Kevin, Nasir, damn them - in general he prefers to try and hold by his belief that they are allies here against the Capitol, not opponents in the ring. It's nice to hear that others are holding the same standard.

"Is there anything you're curious about? I can try and clear anything up if you need it."

[unjoined]

That makes her smile. Since they all shared the same imprisonment, Korra had wanted to trust all of the other tributes by impulse. It wasn't until later that she found out that it might have been a mistake. Not everyone is like this. Some are killers.

But even if she sees now that she has to be more wary, Korra knows when to trust her gut. Albert seems genuine.

"Well," she had been wanting to ask for awhile now actually! "You're at the winner's table, right? I'm still trying to understand this Crowning stuff, but what's that all about?"

[silberfuchs]

"It's for the Victor of the most recent Arena. A big party in their honor so the Capitol can..." Can trot them out and torture them further with terrible digs at their personal lives and cultural appropriation. Only he can't say that, there are cameras and peacekeepers everywhere. "Celebrate their winning an Arena. That would be Clara Murphy this time."

He turns to point her out, but finds her gone from the table. Probably escaped somewhere for a moment. "I'm only sitting there as decoration for the theme. It's all cyborgs and scientists."

[unjoined]

She nods slowly, wondering just how Clara must be taking all this. She'd won something like the Arena, which is something else to think about, but... "I'd hate to be treated as a center piece."

Korra isn't so up to speed on when to watch her mouth just yet.

At that last part she arches an eyebrow. "I guess the scientists make sense a little but... what's a cyborg?"

[silberfuchs]

Oh. No, that makes sense that she wouldn't know. He'd forgotten for a moment that not everyone is from technologically advanced worlds or time periods. But before he explains, he needs to address the first little problem he's noticed.

"It's overwhelming, yes, but it's part of how things work here. The Capitol prefers that we be appreciative." He looks her in the eye as he says this, willing her to understand his meaning, to notice the Peacekeepers are not there to protect them, but to keep them corralled. He doesn't want her to speak out too rashly and have the consequences be torture to an innocent girl.

"A cyborg is a living being that's been fitted with non-living parts. Mechanical limbs, that sort of thing. It's something medical science developed to help the injured or disabled." Which doesn't mean it's always used that way, and in his own history it hadn't, but that's not exactly something he wants to get into, least of all with someone he's just met, and so young to boot. He's just glad he's not a cyborg any longer. He's full flesh and blood, something his outfit would clearly show if he weren't hiding it under the tablecloth toga. If she asks him if he is directly he probably won't lie, but he hopes she won't given his appearance.

[unjoined]

The way the other Tributes are so cautious and almost skillfully careful in how they act both amazes and irritates Korra. She can't blame them, of course, but the idea of so many people being pushed this far into keeping quiet makes her mad.

But they also warn her often, and for that she's grateful. She's not exactly known for keeping a cool head, but this is a pretty public event. With a small sigh, she nods in understanding.

"You're right, there's no helping it. I wouldn't want to let them down," she says with only a little bit of bitterness. She's getting better.

Korra's eyebrows shoot up and she blinks a few times. "I mean, I've seen some things like that since I've gotten here but, wow... That's incredible. I've been so freaked out by the technology here, you know? I didn't think I'd find something so useful. We don't have anything like that back home."

For now, she assumes he's one of the scientists, considering she can't see anything obvious that would tell her otherwise. Maybe he even knows a good bit about it.

[silberfuchs]

It's a calm enough reaction he thinks she got the message. His attention is a bit more on her reaction to the talk of cybernetics instead. Incredible, she calls it. Useful. And he supposes it is, when it's wanted. Clara had lost her hand before they gave her a new one, Susannah had been so pleased with her new legs, but all Albert can think of is how Black Ghost had mangled his body, turned him into a weapon, all against his will.

He has little taste for the way this conversation is going, even if he knows he lead it there. "What sort of technology is there where you come from?"

It's a safer subject.

[unjoined]

The distraction works. "Well, we've got radio. Telephones. Steam trains. Automobiles are getting more popular."

For a second Korra hums curiously to herself before smiling and shaking her head. "I was just thinking that, compared to this place, my world's technology might not look like much. But I shouldn't sell it short."

That is pride in her face. "One of my close friends back home makes some of the coolest stuff we've got. Her company makes Satomobiles, airships, and these walking tanks. It's all really cool."

[silberfuchs]

"Walking tanks?" Everything else he's heard of in general circulation for most worlds at a certain technology level. Automobiles 'getting more popular' makes him place her in a time mentally similar to Earth's turn of the twentieth century. Even 'airship' translates to 'dirigible' given what she's said. But walking tanks is a new one.

Well, sort of. He's aware of robots or robotic suits. They may not have been widely available, but Black Ghost had been developing things like that on the black market for decades, possibly even as early as the 1910s, testing them in smaller skirmishes of World War I. They never knew how old Skarl really was, what with his augmentations... But that had been all secret, Korra mentioned it as if it were common knowledge.

"Those sound dangerous to have readily available."