The Crowning of Cullen Rutherford

[etcircenses]

Who| Everyone who's anyone.
What| The Crowning of Cullen Rutherford.
Where| The new Rutherford Castle.
When| Friday, late afternoon into the evening.
Notes| This event is mandatory for all Tributes to attend. Even if you do not tag in, your character will attend this party. Peacekeepers will be on high alert, so no funny business.
WARNINGS| Please warn appropriately in headers.

The crowning ceremony takes place in an approximation of Skyhold, a large fortress with a castle with a sweeping main hall, gardens, and two levels of courtyard. Flags and banners hang everywhere, some with heraldry of the Inquisition, some with the heraldry of the Templar Order, a nod to Cullen's old days as a Templar. And of course, just as prominent everywhere you look is the seal of the Capitol. Just in case anyone forgot where they were.

The medieval fashion (or as close of approximation to medieval as the Capitol as gotten) that had come in with the 13th arena is back in full swing. There's plenty of fake armor to be seen, and foam swords resting on Capitolite hips. Sweeping ballgowns can be spotted as well, and a few more savvy people seem to have come dressed in a strange red and gold uniform. The avoxes do their best to blend in to the environment with drab brown peasant outfits.

In the main hall, tables filled with medieval food have been set up on both sides of the walls, filled with approximations of medieval food--As far as the Capitolites are concerned, that means normal food, but with a tendency for venison and large turkey legs. There are even dainty little cakes for dessert. Along the walls, above the food tables, hang multiple pictures. Featuring in this galley are every native of Thedas that had come to Panem at one point or another, all of them dressed in dour blacks of funeral wear, save the four remaining Thedasians. But of course, there are plenty of pictures of the Victor, starting with Cullen has a chubby blond child, going into him as an awkward young Templar (there's even a picture of him talking to a woman that the title identifies as Warden Amell), going through unfortunate hair cuts, and of course, various pictures of him in Panem, capturing a variety of touching and painful moments.

It all culminates when you get to the end of the hall, where there rests a massive throne just for Cullen. And behind it, the largest picture of them all, a massive portrait of Cullen. Adella stands next to him, holding an infant in her arms. Maxwell and Tabris are, for some reason, also featured in this family portrait, and you have to wonder if the artist in question didn't perhaps ship the ever popular Maxullen, because Maxwell's hand was looking awfully chummy on Cullen's shoulder.

The bottom courtyard has been set up with stalls, where you can buy foam swords and shields, little mabari plushes, and even a lion helmet. There's also little wedding toppers, shaped just like Cullen and Adella, and framed pictures of most of the art that hangs in the main hall. The nearby stables have been stocked with a variety of mounts, from the standard horses to more exotic harts, a strange dragon-like creature, and...no one is really sure what this is, but it...looks interesting?

In the upper courtyard, there's the Herald's Rest, a real, rustic tavern, with a woman playing a guitar and singing various songs. All the songs seem to revolve around how great the Capitol is, which kind of offsets the mood, but it's the thought that counts, right? It doesn't help that the bar has been outfitted to serve all kinds of modern drinks, but who wants plain ale, anyway? Outside of the tavern is a practice ring, where people can put to use their fake swords and shields, either trying to maul each other, or a target. Several peacekeepers offset the aesthetic feel in uncompromising white, carefully watching all participants to make sure that everyone is playing nicely.

If everything is just a little too busy for you, the garden is left in quiet peace. A woman dressed in red and white robes will occasionally begin speaking, extolling the virtues of the Capitol, and President Snow in a lengthy monologue.

There are a few actors wandering around, appearing as various people who have made an impact on Cullen's life. There's the mysterious Warden Amell, a man in full armor, and a woman dressed similarly. These two will wander around, swords in hand, ready to smack anyone with foam swords and accuse them of being blood mages. One actress is dressed like a certain Marian Hawke who had at one time been a tribute. She darts around the fortress, stopping people and regaling them with highly exaggerated tales of things that Cullen has supposedly done. There's even a few creatures running around that people may recognize from the last arena, such as the tastefully almost-nude desire demon that will occasionally try to sidle up to people--usually to be driven off by one of the people in armor.

There's one more addition to the party--dogs! A very specific kind of dog. Several dogs simply wander around Skyhold, trying to steal people's food and begging for attention. Next to the throne are four particularly handsome ones, each one with a collar baring the name of one of the four Thedasians left.

If wandering around Skyhold and competing with swords leaves you dry-mouthed, you're in luck! Dotted around the area are fountains that all pour a strange, bright blue punch. Listen closely, because the fountain seems to be humming a strange tune. If you have a careful eye, you might even find the one that has red punch pouring out if it, humming an oddly sinister tune.

Well, what harm could there be in going ahead and trying it out anyway?

Comments

Leonidas Cora - OTA

[lionhearted_victor]

...To say that Leonidas is surprised that one, his District won, two, that it was Cullen who pulled through. Though he owed China Sorrows two thousand assi, he couldn't care less, the man was officially on cloud nine. His District finally, finally won an Arena and it felt so good. It felt like the old days, when District Two brought in the winners just as often as One and Four did.

Dressed in strange but intricate armor, made of lightweight steel and lined with the fur of a lion, Cora is receiving congratulatory words from sponsors and Capitolites alike. Sometimes he's humble enough to give credit where credit is due: Cullen survived on his own merits and District 2 is thankful for this win.

The rest of the time, he's admiring the Arena, watching his Tributes fight along and rack up the kills. It's a good day to be alive, and he might be found in the ring destroying a target or at the Herald's Rest.

[69problems]

"How is it we always seem to meet over alcohol?" Signless says, sliding into a seat next to Leo at the Herald's Rest. He has a glass of something deep amber and spicy looking in his hand, but it has that Capitol twist: there's a little (fake) sword in it on which are impaled two cherries.

"At least this time I can assume you're drinking to Celebrate. Congratulations, Leo. All that waiting finally paid off."

As is usual for crownings, he's dressed in some kind of robe, though this time it covers armor. His hands and head are bare save for two shining steel caps over his horns that match the armor peeking through the red fabric.

He feels overdressed, if that's even possible anymore.

[lionhearted_victor]

"All that waiting and then some," Leo smirked, truly enjoying the victory for what it was in his mind: a chance for District 2 to redeem itself in the eyes of the Capitol. Cullen may not have been his top pick but he pulled through and that was enough for Cora to be happy about. Times did change the Districter somewhat, as he doesn't readily jump at the chance to rub the event in. Instead, he raised his glass. "Yours managed to be contenders this time around, gotta drink to that."

But there's always that pride, tainting the well wishes into a taunt. "I still owe you that date, don't I?" Yep, he owed Signless a hunting date.

[69problems]

He raised his glass and took an abbreviated sip out of courtesy. It's nice, spicy and warm as it goes down: just the kind of drink he likes best.

"You do," he affirms. "Though I can't blame you for how long it's taken you to remember. Obviously you've been busy doing whatever it is you do as a coach."

Is that a jab? Oh no. Perish the thought. He knows very well what Leo does, and it's pretty much what he does himself.

"Which was clearly a good choice for you," he adds, to soften the sting a little. It really is something to be proud of; he knows that very acutely now that he's a Mentor himself.

[lionhearted_victor]

"Careful, talking like that won't get you a second date." It's the same humor as before, only this time, Leo's ego is extra inflated for good measure. About damn time a Career Victory took place though Signless isn't without his merits.

"You've proven to be much more than just a troll with a quick wit and a sense of honor," Cora shrugged it off, any comments about Signless's ass is best left to the imagination of Celebrus.

[revocation]

Cullen is avoiding the sparring, mostly, keeping to the sidelines with a slight grimace on his face as he watches the fighters. All wrong, all wrong. None of them have good technique, it's almost painful to watch.

At least someone is enjoying this, however, and he raises his eyebrows at Leo. "I hope you didn't lose too much money on this," he offers wryly. Never bet against your own people, Cora.

[lionhearted_victor]

"I might have lost some...Nothing like the raise I'm getting after this," Cora laughed heartily before turning his gaze to the newly crowned Victor, "You look like you're having a small stroke. Are you going to jump in and give them a lesson? " Cullen's victory didn't change Leonidas' perception of the man, but he did respect him more, if slightly. "Your first Mentor job."

Now let's get Batter and I can go home in peace, I produced a Victor in the new games....

[revocation]

Cullen sniffs a little with derision at Leo's words. "Hardly. Sparring has its place. That -" he points at the fighters - "is not sparring."

It's two half-drunk idiots beating each other with foam swords. Whatever foam is.

[lionhearted_victor]

"It's like watching two...beginning dancers take their first steps," Leonidas was quick towards wordplay when it came to Capitolites. Deportation was always going to be a problem and that would spell trouble for the Cora name after being in some way vindicated by Cullen's victory.

"How's Adella?" he asked, showing concern towards Cullen. "Your worship room is ready, though it took a while to find the appropriate symbols or similar to them." A Districter's word was their law when it came to agreements, at least in the coach's world view.

[contrarianlibrarian]

China glides up to Leo's sides as he watches the Arena. Her generic princess dress is sleeveless, showing off tattoos designed to look like a medieval tapestry. "Allow me to congratulate you, Leonidas. You and yours put on an excellent show these past few weeks. And a victory at last."

"If you fetch me a drink, I'll toast to you."

He's no man or woman's servant, and that's precisely why she makes the joke. For it is a joke, and the absurdity relies on the fact that she finds him as near her equal as anyone.

That, and can't a lady rely on someone to do the work for her one in a while?

[lionhearted_victor]

Leo shared a laugh at the sheer audacity China displayed in her request. He brought along two drinks and immediately pointed out, "To the Victor, to the Districts and to my adaptability in the face of alcohol requests."

See? He even put in a toast while he was at it. This might be District 2's moment to shine, but it's also Leo's moment t revel in a victory by proxy. So long had he waited for a new crown to hang among the others in the Mountains, that he would've volunteered in Torin's place.

"Where are your Tributes?"

[contrarianlibrarian]

She took her glass with a smile and raised it for the toast. "I can't object to any of that."

With a veneer of self-deprecation, China peered at him, "Not on the throne, is that the answer you want?" He'd brought her the drink, so she could pretend to have some humility.

More seriously, she continued. "All in attendance, of course. I believe Altair was admiring the horses, and I'm not sure where Coach is. But he's a mature man--he doesn't require much watching." Much. With her reputation tied to theirs, China isn't ready to wholly trust her tributes.

[lionhearted_victor]

The Districter caught that snipe about the throne and shrugged slightly, "I suppose that means our wager is finalized for the time being."

His way of saying, We already owe each other plenty of assi with this win. He didn't doubt Sorrows could either honor her debt or find a way out of it. He trusted her to be distrusting, it was their game after all. Obviously, she didn't trust him back, they were competed for a crown through their Tributes.

"Your Tributes did flourish in this Arena as well."

Re: Leonidas Cora - OTA

[biiowiired]

He felt unbalanced, and it had nothing to do with being half-armored or half-plastered. He spent the last two weeks frothing at the mouth in a mask, but like hell was he going to let Leonidas know about any inner turmoil. He ambled towards him, accidentally invading his space and then deciding that wasn't worth apologizing for. He was too drunk for this.

"Here'th the deal: I want to know where you get thothe little alcohol wormth—yeth I know it'th you, don't play coy—but I don't want you to tell Signless that you told me. If he knowth I've been thtealing thome from him becauthe they're tho damn good, he'll lord it over me like the athhole he ith. What do you thay?"

[lionhearted_victor]

...SHIT. Well, that was one "kind" gesture that backfired on the proud Districter. He was pretty sure he covered his tracks fairly well when it came to getting the damn worm tequila. There were only two ways to approach this situation: like a calm rational human being, or a Capitolite and deny everything.

He chose both.

"You wouldn't be able to prove it but if I were to suggest a good place with worm tequila, I'd say the Speakeasy." That and he's edging towards being drunk himself.

[biiowiired]

Psii was by no means a professional spy, but he had an eye for detail and a tenaciousness to get things he wanted. One-upping Signless was one of those things, something Psii had become more and more invested in. Unfortunately for Leo, Psii didn't care too much about what Capitolites thought. He only concerned himself with protecting what little privacy he had.

"Thee? Wath that tho hard? I mean, being theen with SS ith a fucking embarrathment, I'll agree.... Hell, I've even been there before, how did I not notithe them.... Tho, you're with me on thith? Not gonna tell him?" he asked again.

[expurge]

In contrast, the Batter isn't having a grand old time in the slightest. He doesn't particularly enjoy parties and celebrations like this, even less so when it's not in his honour. Everyone else is having fun, wining and dining, the Batter is only here because he was told he had to be. But he plans on leaving as soon as possible, mostly because he's uncomfortable as hell in this ridiculous outfit.

The ceremony is all well and good, though the fellow who did win certainly doesn't seem like anything special. He could've easily defeated someone like that. But alas, it is what it is, and the Batter can only scowl for so long before leaving sounds more appealing. It's only when he spots his mentor heading into the tavern that he decides he should probably make amends. Leonidas is probably disappointed with him.

Not that the bar scene is his favourite place to be either, but one must swallow their pride and admit to their failures if they are to move on and be at peace with this world. But even then it's rather begrudgingly he makes his way to the counter where Leo is happily celebrating with others, taking a seat on a stool nearby within earshot.

"You must be proud," he says bluntly, tugging his ball cap down lower over his eyes.

[lionhearted_victor]

"I am," Leo calmed his revelry down just enough to settle into the seat beside the Batter, "But that doesn't mean I'm done with you. You were able to impress many sponsors in this streak and I must admit, I was favoring you by sheer kill count."

Spoken like a Career who knows another when he sees them. Batter had the stronger lead but the odds were not in the man's favor. He was damn proud of his Tribute. "Next Arena, you will pull through...though I wonder what would you do if you were taken from the battlefield."

Batter was a tenacious warrior, and Mentorship was an early retirement.

[expurge]

"Hmph."

If the victors were determined by kill count alone, perhaps the Batter would've performed better in the end. He had taken out plenty of other tributes, and he'd been under the impression that he was well on his way on the road to victory. He'd only made one costly mistake, but that was enough to take him out of the running, only days before the real victor was announced.

"I have no purpose if not on the battlefield," he answers firmly, disinterested. He's only here to fight, to kill, and prove himself. "I have failed twice. I can now only ensure that it will not happen a third time."

[bravelyplucked]

"It's a good feeling, isn't it?" Torin asks as he approaches Leo. "A victory like this was a long time coming."

...and he might have one of those roaming dogs trailing behind him, because he's been secretly slipping them food.

[lionhearted_victor]

"Like you wouldn't believe, sir," Leonidas let go of a breath that he had no idea he was holding in. It was as if he could finally make mistakes, if for the briefest of moments, when no one can blame him for it.

He did smile at the dog and he reached over to give the Mabari a good tussle or two while it trailed the Mentor.

"Seems some of the mutts have Classic tastes," he joked around.

[bravelyplucked]

"I know the feeling." Torin's got to smile at that release of breath. "It's a weight off our shoulders for a bit."

And he glances back at that dog. "I can't imagine why," he says innocently as he tosses it another scrap.

[talltaleteller]

If she was here to smile for District 2's good fortune, she'd smile as big and bright as she could for Leo's sake. It made her happy to see him so happy. (It made it easy to not think on how hard and scary it was to get to this victory.) She manages to catch him in the practice ring when he's going to town on a target dummy, and the cheering comes so, so easily.

"Woo! Kick it's butt! Knock it down! Leo! Leo! Leo! YAAAAAY!"

There's a definite flapping noise as she waves her arms about, given the broad sleeves on her outfit, but her shouting is mostly drowning it out.

[lionhearted_victor]

Felicity's cheering and flapping noises are a great way to distract the showy display and Leo finishes the dummy off with one hell of a kick with his good leg to knock it down. He grinned and took a bow for the spectating crowd, this is what District 2 is made of: pride and strength. He stepped down and crossed his arms in a humoring fashion.

"I take it you won't be join in the combat course for the evening?" he remarked with a slightly scolding tone.

[talltaleteller]

With that final display of dummy-decimating dominance, Felicity joins in with the crowd's applause. And when it looks like he's clearing the floor and stepping aside for a break, when it's plain that no one more important-looking is rushing to speak with him, she rushes in instead. Got to take these chances where you can get them.

"Aaah, I wouldn't be as good at is as you are!" She left your classes after all, Leo. And it wouldn't do to have her fumbling make District 2 look bad, would it?