gamemakers: (Default)
The Gamemakers ([personal profile] gamemakers) wrote in [community profile] thecapitol2013-09-02 11:22 am

The Crowning of Maximus Decimus Meridius

Who| Everyone
What| Maximus' crowning
Where| Victory Hall
When| Today
Warnings| Violence.


Prior to the Crowning, the Stylists and Escorts were given information: the color scheme for the Crowning is brown and gold, the theme is fire, and for Tributes, Games Staff and Victors in the Capitol alike, attendance is mandatory. No exceptions.

The Victory Hall has been completely refitted to the theme. Great brownstone pillars reach up from the floor, now made of polished marble. Rose petals and dying embers flutter from the ceiling like confetti, and long panels of fabrics embroidered with Maximus' kills pour down the walls. Rather than tables, Tributes are given wooden chairs to sit around fire pits in groups of four, where pigs and sheep are roasting whole, tended by attentive Avoxes. The smell of charring flesh and rosemary wafts through the hall.

In the center of the hall is a pit, fifteen feet deep, ringed with brick and filled with sand. Torches line the inside wall, casting light in every direction. A circular screen up above lets those not close to the edge view the contents of the pit in real-time video.

Maximus' private table has a theme of anachronisms; Tributes from 'less-developed' timelines and worlds are seated around a long table, facing the gladiatorial ring where, at the moment, a full-grown, well-fed Bengal tiger paces. Compared to the muttations of the Arena, it may seem positively demure, up until it bares its fangs and reveals that it's been modified to have saber teeth gilded in gold. Occasionally an Avox will dangle something into the pit and jerk it away if the tiger looks bored and lays down.

Occasionally, with fanfare of music pumped in to announce it, a challenger enters the tiger ring - a hologram of one of the Tributes who were cuffed and marked by the Capitol. The hologram must be affixed with smell, too, as the tiger takes note and attacks like a kitten following a laser pointer, making dramatic roars as it does. The holograms put up valiant fights, and their deaths are brutal, illusory blood flying and the sounds of death rattles and bones cracking coming from speakers embedded in every table.

"A speech," Maximus' Escort says to Maximus. "The General must give a speech."

Tributes who attended Wesker's Crowning ceremony should notice a remarkable increase in security. Visibly armed Peacekeepers lurk behind the panels of fabric, and bulbous, obvious cameras dot the ceiling. Even the Avoxes seem shiftier than usual, and are equipped with discrete tape recorders pinned to their rough-hewn tunics.
shambler: (087)

[personal profile] shambler 2013-09-04 04:23 am (UTC)(link)
It's only a matter of time before R hunts down Timaeus. He's drawn to the familiar and the friendly and Timaeus is both. Surely he has to know what the deal is with that tiger (which still isn't bouncing. R checked just now).

R slouches his way around the pit until he's invading Timaeus' personal space, his cold breath close enough to tickle, his groan in the man's ear.

"Something...wrong...with the...tiger."

He's happy to say he got straight to the point. Go R. Give the zombie a cookie and a gold star and while you're at it, a pat on the back.
neclectus: (mild surprise)

[personal profile] neclectus 2013-09-09 06:12 am (UTC)(link)
"The tiger? It seems a little unhappy, perhaps, but I think it's quite well." Timaeus replied brightly, though the smile didn't quite reach his eyes as it usually did. He was outshone by the glittering gold leaf he was wearing at his temples.
"It's good to see you, my friend, and- yes, they have done a marvellous job with your outfit again, haven't they? Splendid."
shambler: (010)

[personal profile] shambler 2013-09-09 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
"Thanks. Escort said...not my...color, but..." R shrugs. If Timaeus likes it, then he likes it (he likes the red, anyway). R stares at the tiger. "Unhappy?"

He points a wobbly finger at it, asking the human to explain himself. So the bounceless part doesn't bother Timaeus? Where did R even pick that up? Now he's left wondering if it's another one of those ideas that aren't really his, memories that were some leftover from Pre-Death.
neclectus: (thinking)

[personal profile] neclectus 2013-09-09 06:32 am (UTC)(link)
"I imagine you might find it quite frustrating, having food without substance dangled in front of your face," he clarified, though he smiled thoughtfully as he watched R's face. "Though I suppose it can't be much better, constantly being surrounded by it but forbidden to eat. No, I think the two of you are, ah, probably in the same boat, as it were."
shambler: (007)

[personal profile] shambler 2013-09-09 11:09 am (UTC)(link)
It took R a moment to see where Timaeus was getting with this - he was busy burning the man's face to his memory, from stubble to pores to the arch of his eyebrows because if he didn't, he might forget that face tomorrow.

Oh. Ouch. True, but ouch. R dropped his eyes guiltily, focusing on a point on Timaeus's neck, unconsciously fixing on that point in his neck where he knews instinctively was one of the best places to kill a man and do it fast. It beat looking him in the eyes.

"I...gu-guess," R's groan sounded a little unhappy. Now he felt sorry for the tiger. "Not...cool," R paused. Not the word he wanted. He tried again. "Cruel?"
neclectus: (wistful look)

[personal profile] neclectus 2013-09-15 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
"Yes," Timaeus agreed, tilting his head slightly as he glanced back at the tiger. "Cruel. But I doubt there's much alternative- for you, anyway. I'm sorry."
shambler: (072)

[personal profile] shambler 2013-09-15 03:28 am (UTC)(link)
"But...for tiger...?" R shrugged and frowned. Yeah, yeah. The zombie was a lost cause, got it. At least it didn't sound as bad coming from Timaeus's voice.
neclectus: (sailing)

[personal profile] neclectus 2013-09-26 06:48 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm sure they can feed it on steaks as soon as it's finished performing," he assured him, a smile sliding back over his face. "I'm sorry, my friend, it's a party and here I am like a black cloud. It's really very selfish of me."
shambler: (115)

[personal profile] shambler 2013-09-26 09:14 am (UTC)(link)
Oh. R...guessed that was okay. He had a little weird feeling in the pit of his stomach as he stared at the tiger, but he also trusted Timaeus. If he said it'd be fed after this, then it'd be fed.

"Some...party," R grunted. He swung around to stare at Timaeus. "Don't...force...it?"
neclectus: (side smile)

[personal profile] neclectus 2013-09-26 06:59 pm (UTC)(link)
He chuckled, clapping the zombie boy affectionately on the shoulder. "Quite right, quite right. I suppose when you find it difficult to speak, you only ever say what matters. I find it delightful. Come now, tell me- your friend Julie- how is she?"
shambler: (116)

[personal profile] shambler 2013-09-27 09:01 am (UTC)(link)
Truer words couldn't be said. R was glad Timaeus could understand, the zombie leaning slightly into the touch because most Living instinctively shied away.

"Ugh...maybe..." Just tell him the truth. He's your buddy. R frowns and starts again. "...upset. Arena. Died...because...me."