thecapitol | People In Glass Houses...

Who | Timaeus Nadir and guests
What | Timaeus is hosting a picnic get-together/catch-up.
Where | The picnic will be taking place in the Tropical Habitat Dome.
When| We'll be using a bit of wibbly time so that people who want to attend can.
Warnings/Notes| None as of yet.

(This is an opportunity for me to make some new CR as well as catch up with ongoing relationships, but I also want to encourage tagging around between characters! Feel free to do whatever you like in the setting with whoever you like! Also I will be backtagging this so don't feel you've missed the boat if you haven't tagged in immediately <3)

Timaeus certainly knew how to organise a gathering- even if it wasn't an outrageously opulent celebration to be held on one of his own yachts. This one was to be held under the expansive dome of the Tropical Habitat- the entire location rented out for the day to Timaeus and his guests, a loosely private affair- formal invitations as such hadn't been extended, but those welcome knew they were. Naturally, all tributes and victors were included in this group.

The Dome was a beautiful piece of architecture in itself, though antiquated when compared with the technology used for the Arenas. Rather than invisible forcefields, the climate of the interior was separated from the outside by elaborately curving steel and glass. Inside, tropical plants of all types thrived- there was a still, green pond and, deeper inside, a cascading waterfall. Butterflies in hundreds of colours, sizes and shapes flitted about, tropical birds swooped between the trees, brightly coloured fish darted in the water.
Blankets and cushions had been scattered in the main clearing with hampers of food, but there was plenty of space for the guests to break away from the gathering if they so desired- the dome was full of winding paths through the greenery- some even climbing around the trunks of the largest trees and leading to viewing platforms above. In a temporary gazebo in the clearing, a string quartet played music that wasn't quite the classical pieces Tributes were familiar with.

Timaeus himself seemed in a brighter mood than he had been for months, more than happy to make conversation with anyone who approached him- though he was certainly keeping an eye open for particular individuals. Some that he'd met, some that he'd lost and had returned to him, and others still that he had yet to meet.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Cuthbert is far too taken with the waterfall to look at anything else for a while. He's never seen anything quite like it and it's safe to say that if he wasn't there to make nice with Timaeus he would have stripped down and gone swimming with all the lovely fish by now.

He will have to settle for crouching at the edge and talking to the fish as they flit past.

"I think perhaps you have the safest life of all, here on display. Not having to kill one another to eat."

Timaeus chuckled warmly as he approached, an amicable smile spreading over his face. Cuthbert was, in his opinion, quite the sweet young man. He was glad to see him enjoying himself.
"Magnificent, isn't it?" he said, gesturing to their surroundings. "I thought it might be rather nice to spend a day soaking some warmth into our bodies, and I can't think of anywhere better for the purpose. It's good to see you, my friend."

"Not half as good as it is to see you." He bows a little stiffly for being crouched down so long.

"So far as I'm concerned you could not have picked a better place. 'Tis better than a fairy tale."

He stands up and stretches to take it all in.

"And did I hear there was food on top of it all? I fear you'll spoil me at this rate."

"You're flattering me again, but you mustn't feel obliged to stop," he laughed. "Yes, catering as provided by a wonderful little company a friend introduced me to at a Viewing Party a week or so ago- very natural delicacies, actually. I'm hoping it'll catch on, I've really never been very fond of the overly elaborate when it comes to things I'm only going to chew up and swallow-- but yes, you really must try some, and take full advantage of the Dome while you have the opportunity."

He smiled and leaned in as if to impart a secret.

"Usually, the place is open to the public and visitors are only permitted on the railed paths- far more pleasant, I think, to have it all to myself and share it freely with my friends."

Bert is still entranced by the dome itself, and he takes a minute to stare up at it in awe. He's not even trying to hide how wonderful this is for him.

"These are the sort of riches that are beyond imagining where I'm from. This is a heaven to me, and would that I never had to leave."

He takes a seat in the grass, not even bothering with one of the blankets. He gives Timaeus a bright smile.

"After all of this I feel I shouldn't ask for a favor, but I would like to ask it all the same..."

Timaeus sat beside him, a conspiratorial grin spreading across his face.

"You can but ask, my friend. If it's something I can do for you, I'd be delighted."

He wasn't expecting to actually be granted a favor and now he's just a little shy about asking.

"I know there are ways to capture a moment here and keep it forever. The ability is something I have not yet found for myself. But if you could capture a picture of me here amid all of this wonder, something I could keep for myself to remind an older me that this was no dream. If you could do that I would be grateful for all my days, however short they may be."

He laughed delightedly, slipping his hand into his pocket to retrieve a small gadget- a camera, actually.

"You mean a photograph, hm? It's my pleasure. Right here? A still, or a few moments of video?"

"Something still. That way I can take it with me wherever I end up."

He partially meant he wanted to take it home with him, but he wasn't naive enough to think he would be allowed to go home any time soon. But who was to say he would stay in the Capitol even if he didn't go home? A photograph was the safest way to go.

Cuthbert wasn't bothering to hide how much he genuinely wanted this, how much it meant to him. This was one time when being truthful was more likely to get him what he wanted than by concealing his true intentions.

"You know, Cuthbert, in my collection I have a very old machine that used to make physical photographs almost instantly- broken, now, of course, but isn't that a marvellous thing? Instant, perfect paintings of whatever moment you wanted."

He smiled broadly, showing Cuthbert the small object in his hand before continuing.

"The modern way of doing it is much more efficient- and the machine is smaller, too, but sometimes I do feel like something is lost when we move away from the physical, the mechanical. A painting on paper is so much more real than an image on a screen, isn't it? Tangible. You can hold it and really... own it. But I'm rambling-- here, look at this part, here- it's the lens, the ah- eye. Smile, and I'll press here, see? That captures the picture, and I'll have it printed for you. Ready?"

It sounds so elegant to Cuthbert, like some fairytale fantasy. But he's seen so much like it already he can't really judge one way or the other.

"'Tis all still magic to me, but so long as it is useful magic you won't hear me complain."

He sits up and puts on his best smile toward the camera. Bert is forever unaware or more likely unconcerned by how silly he looks.

"I was brought into this world ready!"

Timaeus couldn't help but laugh- fond, pleased, and undeniably charmed. He took the picture, calling up an immediate digital version to show Cuthbert- the physical, he would have delivered to his suite later.

"I'm quite sure you were," he assured him, smiling. "Here. How's that for you, hmm? Not a bad magic, all things considered."

"I have seen far worse, say true. Magic and faces, I do believe I look fair to passing here."

He's not narcissistic enough to want to stare at himself or brag, but he can toot his own horn from time to time. He is surprisingly genuine about the next thing he says.

"I'm not sure how to offer my thanks to thee for this. 'Tis a great gift and one I will treasure, but I have nothing half as good to offer in return."

Cuthbert. Ruby had seen him, now and again - she never quite knew what to make of him. He didn't seem... bad. Though he didn't exactly rank on Ruby's list of favorite people.

Since Snow had disappeared, Red wasn't actually sure she had a workable list....

Anyway. She shot him a smile when she saw him.

Always one to be polite to a lovely lady, Cuthbert smiled back and raised a glass to her in salute. He recognized her from that first arena he had been in, and from various activities around the Capitol, but he wasn't sure she was friendly enough to approach straight out. Still, if she was making an effort to be friendly he could at least say hello.

"Afternoon, miss. Good to see some familiar faces in an unfamiliar place."

People In Glass Houses...

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