A Bloody Valentine: Dance Auction!

[etcircenses]

Who| Everyone in the Capitol!
What| Dance auction!
Where| The top of the Romulus Hotel in the Capitol
When| February 14th, in the evening
Warnings/Notes| None at the moment

It's the Valentines day gala come again, and moreover, it's been over two months since Capitolites have gotten to get up close and personal with their favorite Tributes. With all the curfews and restrictions and fear suddenly cropping up, everyone's due for a little time on the town. And you, the lucky soldiers (and hostages), get to take the briefest of breaks from the battlefield and get away from the Detainment Center for a few hours.

There is a catch however. Two. The first thing is that there can be no mention of war whatsoever to the Capitolites. None. Talk of war will result in talk of execution. Your execution. The second catch is that a number of you have been signed up for dancing auction! You will be expected to dance with your assigned partners (some people may buy dances for an offworlder to dance with another offworlder!), be respectful, and at least slightly enjoyable. Most of all, you are to be a distraction. These people cannot know there is a war going on.

Some years ago, a similar dance auction was held. On top of the tallest hotel in the center of the Capitol, there's just as much scuffle as back then to fit into the elevators, maybe even more so after the long absence of Tributes. Just as back then, the sky has been artificially cleared of clouds, with more stars projected upward in their place. It's chilly out here in the early month of February, but the very floor has been set up with a heating system, keeping the rooftop nice and cozy. The Games are aired and the narrators are nostalgic.

There's something tense about the party. Everyone is smiling too hard, trying their best not to seem nervous or cast too many side-glances over unspoken worries. Small talk is taken up with intense gusto, everyone more eager than ever to forget all worries and woes. What lies are told about what the Tributes have really been up to in their absences are swallowed entirely.

"Ladies and gentlemen," a booming female voice announces from nowhere, "Celebrus Magazine, in conjunction with The Romulus Hotel, are delighted to host the third annual Hunger Games Dance Auction for charity! As a matter of decorum, let us remind you of some ground rules. A guest's actions reflects on the hotel, and the Romulus reserves the right to remove anyone in any position of authority from the premises for any reason, including going beyond the boundaries of a dance auction. Any unseemly, fraudulent or presumptive action on the part of the guests will lead to their immediate dismissal. These Tributes volunteered for charity, and their wishes should be respected.

"You may bid as much as you like, on however many Tributes you like, but please don't promise more assi than you have on-hand. All donations will be taken at the time the winning bidder is announced. Get excited, but don't get too excited!

"And now… may the bidding begin!"

At no point does Celebrus Magazine indicate what sort of charity any of the money generated is going towards. It will be a good hour and a half before the bidding closes and the pairs are announced. In the mean time, everyone is welcome to mingle. And... should a few people slip away from the party for a little while, using the crowd to hide themselves, well, who would really notice? Be sharp and keep low and you may just get away with it. The rest of you may just have a new meaning to the job of being a distraction.

Comments

[revvinguptheharley]

Harleen was already on edge attending this party, but after her conversation with Wesker she's positively terrified.

Thankfully she hasn't blown her cover yet. There should be a thin window between when she can leave and when she must be back and it will be opening soon. Until then the logical part of her realizes she needs to establish some alibis. People who will recall spending time with her at the party. People she's not too afraid to talk to...

...and then the heavens opened up and presented her with the one woman who might be more nervous then she is.

"O-oh good evening Luna. I...didn't realize you'd been um..."rescued."

That seemed to be a fairly safe way to reference the fact they were both once again trapped in the capitol being watched like hawks.

Meanwhile Luna might notice how much Harleen has changed since their talk in District 13. The loud confident woman is now meek and timid. She looks paler then when she had been living underground and her eyes lack that twinkle of mischief they'd once had.

[didnothing]

It's been a while since Luna heard that voice, and it takes until Luna spots the source to place it. "Oh! You're...Harley, isn't it?" It's been a while since they last talked, a few months by now, but she remembers their first meeting well enough. It's a disappointment to see that Harley's here too; of the people Luna knows, more seem to be captured to the Capitol than not - if they ever left to begin with.

Something's off, though: Harley looks different, duller, and Luna realizes belatedly that one of the reasons her voice had been so hard to place was because her demeanor has changed since they last met. Less boisterous, more...well, Luna thinks that it might not be too different from how she once acted around Akane, one of her original superiors. What did they do to you, she wants to say - but she can't, because references to the war are forbidden and such talk would never get past her behavioral monitors. The words would never leave her mouth even if she tried.

She smiles politely instead, like she's been doing for everyone else. "Now isn't the time for that, don't you think? It's a nice evening tonight. But how have you been?" It's not as direct as she'd like to be, but it's the closest to Beware of the rules, but are you okay? that she can manage.

[revvinguptheharley]

"Harleen actually." She corrects Luna automatically and then looks ashamed by it casting her gaze downward again. "S-sorry...I've been told it's better to separate myself from...that person I used to be."

More like threatened within an inch of her life to forget about her and all she was capable of. Even her voice has changed with her thick Brooklyn accent smothered down by a gentle educated sounding voice wracked with anxiety and devoid of self confidence.

"You're right of course, even if it is a good thing." Mentioning that she had to be rescued from anything still implied there was a war on and we couldn't have that. So instead she followed Luna's lead into the conversation. How had she been?

Miserable, Lonely, I hate myself and everything I've done for the past ten years of my life. I can't sleep without medication, I have no appetite, I need help but I can't even think about it without my head hurting. But of course she can't say any of those things so the autopilot of conversations kicks on with "Fine."

Then she's forced to elaborate or else the conversation will skid to an awkward stop and while being awkward is pretty much all she has left these days she isn't allowed to stop being social. Plus she really likes Luna and would hate to be rude.

"I'm...doing a lot more reading now." She began digging with desperation for something worth discussing that wouldn't get them in trouble. "The nice librarian has been bringing books to the detention center. Books about dancing...and...and botany."

[didnothing]

Not very okay, then. Luna can read between the lines. She's seen drastic personality changes before, but time travel is probably out of the equation this time and the Capitol is in it instead. It only takes some downtime and technical work to tweak an AI, but she doesn't know what exactly goes into doing this to a human. Whatever it is it can't be good, though, and Luna's afraid for Harley (Harleen now, right, but still). Not to mention sad.

The rules laid down by the auction severely restrict the number of things they can really talk about, so although Luna can recognize how awkward things are right now it's either run with it or leave Harley alone. Awkwardness is kinder, or at least she hopes. "Do you like botany? I know a little about it. We used to have a botanical garden in the...where I used to live. It was a nice, quiet place. Peaceful. Sometimes I'd try to read about the species that were there, just to put a name to them. Did you know that paprika is made from dried chili peppers? We grew some bell peppers in the garden, so..."

She's rambling, but hopefully Harley won't mind too much. Anything to keep the conversation going.

[revvinguptheharley]

Harleen seems to relax, though slowly. Her lips pursed tight but hinting at the ghost of a smile.

"I like flowers, but I never really got into the science of them until after...well someone I cared about was much more in love with plant life and everything to do with them. But that is interesting about the uh...peppers. I always liked spicy food."

Was she allowed to like spicy food now? She cast a glance back at the table of snacks for a moment before looking back to Luna focusing on her eyes instead. Harley may have always been a bottomless pit for snacks but Harleen ate sparingly if at all.

"They had a nice garden in the tribute center, my mentor used to tend to it before..." Ack, roadblock. Talking about the public execution of her mentor would absolutely be a no go.

"Well after she was gone I would pop in and talk to the flowers. People already thought I was...strange. I didn't think it would hurt."

[didnothing]

"They say talking to flowers helps them grow, don't they?" Or so Luna understands it. Just a myth, probably, from some book she read or another. Even so, it's a very nice myth. "It doesn't seem so strange that way. And I'm sure the flowers would appreciate it if they could hear you."

She sees the way Harleen eyes the food for a second and makes a guess. "Say, are you thirsty? Hungry? I could use a light drink, and it's good to stay hydrated. We'll need to keep our energy up for the dancing later, won't we?" Truthfully Luna can't eat or drink any kind of food with her current body, but chances are nobody will look too closely if she pretends to sip at some water. Harleen needs to eat, though, and Luna's not about to discourage anyone from doing it. She means what she says about energy, too: better not to get run down before the auctioned dances, given the severe punishments being threatened over this night.

[revvinguptheharley]

She isn't terribly hungry or thirsty but Luna's earnest desire to be polite makes her nod and they move over so Harleen can get another cup of punch.

"You're right of course...we're here for a reason. To um...do our duty to our country." There's a pit in her stomach that just keeps yawning wider as she realizes that the old her would have laughed foolishly at that word. Duty. A silly concept with a stupid sounding name.

But Harleen wouldn't laugh at that, couldn't She sipped her drink and tried to sneak a look at the clock. Her window for escape would be opening soon and she couldn't miss it. Stand awkwardly with Luna for the next twenty minutes?

No...no she could do better then that couldn't she? Especially since over here on the sidelines people wouldn't remember her dancing. She needed people to remember her dancing.

Making a quick judgment call she slugged down the rest of her drink and set the cup down before turning to face Luna with trepidation in her eyes.

"A-actually...would you maybe...could we....dance?"

It had been more difficult then she thought to force out those words. Did the capitol not want her to have even that much fun? Well the words were out now and floating in the air waiting for dismissal or acceptance.

[didnothing]

Luna's surprised by the request. It's expected of all of them, naturally, but also it's not as if there's anything special about dancing with someone like herself either. Maybe Harley wants practice or a warm-up dance, with someone familiar? Without any knowledge of special opportunities outside the rooftop it's the best explanation she can think of. In that case she might be disappointed, because Luna's never danced in her life - though then again, that is a reason for her to try it out before she's auctioned off to dance.

She looks out to the dance floor for a second, and then back at Harley. "Um...yes, I'd like that! But I don't have very much practice. I never had anybody to dance with. Is that all right?" Fair warning, of course. Hopefully she ought to be able to avoid stepping on any toes (quite literally) but it only seems appropriate all the same.

[revvinguptheharley]

Harleen nodded and found herself offering her hand to Luna to lead her out onto the floor.

"Then I'll return with a warning...I haven't tried dancing since being...brought back." Which was to say, she didn't know how she would dance now that parts of her brain seemed to be under Capitol Lockdown.

As it so happened, Harleen was surprisingly coordinated once they began. She led Luna as if it were second nature managing to (Mostly) avoid any foot related accidents though there was definitely some wincing. Hopefully Luna wasn't too heavy hoofed.

Perhaps it was the books about dancing she'd been reading though those were mostly ballet related? Well not one to look a stroke of luck with more suspicion then necessary, Harley instead worked on her smile finding it easier to make an honest one with Luna. After all Luna had been nothing but kind and polite to her and she was easy to get along with. Who wouldn't like her?

[didnothing]

They're both lacking in practice, then, and Luna honestly feels a little relieved at that. "That's all right," she says with a nod, and really she thinks it might be better that way. It means that neither of them need to have high expectations, after all.

When they start dancing Luna stumbles a few times at the start, but as she gets a feel for the flow of things she's able to perform a little more gracefully. There are still a few missteps here and there when she anticipates something wrongly or when she loses the rhythm, but her dancing isn't too messy at least. And as time goes on, her practiced polite smile drops out in favor of something more genuinely happy.

"This is fun," she remarks to Harley when she thinks she's gotten the hang of things. "I never thought I'd get the chance to dance like this, so I'm glad we got to do this tonight."

[revvinguptheharley]

"Me too." Harleen agrees meeting Luna's eyes and feeling her stomach sink with guilt. This is where she should be not plotting to sneak out on some mysterious errand for who knows what.

And really...what's not to love about this moment right now? Someone she trusts enough to touch smiling at her, making her smile back though she can't look Luna in the eyes for fear of losing her will again. Instead she focuses on the steps and motions. Instinct guides her to avoid further misstep and her smile becomes more genuine as she allows herself to become distracted.

Denial has always been her friend when dealing with things she didn't want to think about. She might as well make use of it now while she's up to her elbows in danger.

"These parties, they've always been my favorite part about living here. Everyone having fun and trying to just...live." Or forget in most cases.

[didnothing]

"Do they happen often? I've only been to one before, and that was...eventful." That had been the most recent crowning. Luna had learned some serious truths about herself that day, to say nothing of the point where District Thirteen hijacked the broadcasts...but that's not a good topic for conversation at the moment. Better not to bring it up directly.

Thinking about it now, though, Luna's curious. It's a reminder that she hasn't gotten as much of a taste of Panem life as most other Tributes - over half the time she's been in this world has been spent at war now. She feels like she's missing some of what it was like before. "I've only been here a few months," she says for Harleen's benefit. "I haven't had the opportunity to attend many parties, either."

[revvinguptheharley]

"They used to." Harleen lamented. "Used to be there were multiple parties every night across the capitol." She was toeing the line on dangerous talk here and she could feel an ache in her skull threatening her but she tried to focus on the happy memories.

"Viewing parties were the most popular. People would gather together in ballrooms or fancy homes or restaurants and watch the arenas on big screens while they socialized, made bets and so on. But the crownings were the best. Big themed parties all meant to celebrate one person like it was their birthday only cranked up to eleven." Her voice shook a little and her Brooklyn accent began to slip out again before she caught herself and reverted to a more demure tone of voice.

"I used to be quite bitter about never getting a proper crowning myself. Obviously I see that was selfish of me now...but if I'm allowed a little bit of selfishness I wish we could go back to those parties."

[didnothing]

Luna notices the slippage, but isn't sure she ought to comment. Will it be bad for Harleen if she does? She doesn't know what the Capitol has done or will do to her, so Luna decides to play it safe and let it pass.

She smiles, in an attempt to be comforting. "I'm sure you must be allowed that much. Maybe..." Maybe one day we'll see another crowning doesn't quite sound appropriate. That would imply the continuation of the Hunger Games, and for all the Capitol has them both under their control Luna still doesn't agree with all that. "Maybe one day we'll have something else with such grandeur," she suggests instead. "It sounds like a lot of fun."