etcircenses: (Default)
Panem Events ([personal profile] etcircenses) wrote in [community profile] thecapitol2013-12-15 06:36 am

The Crowning of Enjolras

WHO| All Tributes and Victor, plus a few Capitol guests
WHAT| The Crowning of Enjolras
WHERE| The Tribute Center
WHEN| A few weeks after the end of the Arena
WARNINGS| Forced medical experimentation, needles.

The atmosphere surrounding the Crowning is both tense and secretive. The style teams flutter around listlessly, having received no information from which to draft their designs. Newspapers take bets on when it will be announced where the Crowning is being held, descending into grousing when no press release is given. Peacekeepers pour in and out of the Tribute Center, accompanied by scientists who occasionally pull Tributes aside and look at the veins in their elbows. Even the Avoxes seem jumpier than usual.

Aside from the Tribute Center's new giant marble statute of a nude Enjolras, posed like the famed David, one could almost forget the party is supposed to be celebratory.

When the day arrives, the Escorts and their assistants don't lead the Tributes to their style teams to be gussied instead. Instead, they hush the Tributes and bring them to their bedrooms, where a Peacekeeper, a white-coated citizen and several Avoxes await them. The Escorts instruct the Tributes to lay down in their bed and close their eyes, and a needle is inserted into their arms that the Escorts insist will 'take them to the party'. It's soon followed by a series of sensors taped to the forehead.

Just relax, the Escorts say, and they do their very best to make sure their Tributes feel minimal anxiety. If the Tributes resist too much, more Peacekeepers are called in, and the Tributes are forced into submission.

The first effect is a sort of paralysis - not the terrifying inability to move, but a signal to the brain that says why move? Moving is so much effort. It's quickly followed by drowsiness, and then a chill that radiates from the needle into the body, and finally, unconsciousness.

And that is when the party begins. The Tributes, now dressed in luxurious 1830's French clothing of a quality beyond even what their Stylists could manage, wake up in the front row of a large stone theater setting reminiscent of, simultaneously, Greek and French architecture. The floor of the theater is filled with buffets of every imaginable sort of food. Rose petals fall from the sky, which displays a sunset worthy of award-winning photography.

For his part, Enjolras sits in a throne made of books on the ring of the amphitheater, flanked by Marius, Cosette, Eponine, and bizarrely enough Venus Dee Milo and Ellie, seated on lush pillows and carpets made of dinosaur skin (with the heads comically attached and eyes lolling).

"Welcome, welcome, our Tributes and Mentors, to the first ever somnofestival, sponsored by Hypnogogia!" Caesar Flickerman, noted talkshow host and Games presenter, appears in a fabulous sequined toga in the center of the amphitheater. He doesn't need a microphone; the acoustics here are flawless. "And congratulations to our Victor! Let us hear it for Enjolras!"

He awaits applause.

"As you may have noticed, you're inside a shared dream, due to the just fantastic technology from the Capitol and certain, ah, biological contributions from our dear favorite Aunamee." He holds a hand out and gestures to Aunamee, anticipating wild applause. "We thought that for our most philosophical Victor yet, we should celebrate in a way that's a little bit…cerebral."

Caesar laughs and gestures at all the food, then puts a cheeky finger to his lips. "By all means, enjoy yourselves. Even the most indulgent desserts here won't show up on your hips tomorrow. The party only last three hours, so you might as well get started!"

He vanishes into thin air, leaving the Tributes to celebrate. Occasionally, the Tributes will hear voices in their heads - chatter from the Peacekeeper and scientist and Escort still in their room, in the waking world. Otherwise, this is a party like any other, if somewhat surreal in nature.

-/-

The party begins the same way for all the Tributes. For an unlucky few, however, it soon diverges as they come under an unfortunate glitch in the system.

They'll look around and find only a handful of their fellow Tributes around them. The sky, rather than being a magnificent splay of color, is now blank white, and yet the lighting in the theater seems dim. A sense of panic, detached from any conscious thoughts, surges forth in them like the tide.

For them, this isn't a shared dream. This is a shared nightmare.
the_marshal: (wyattSideeye2)

[personal profile] the_marshal 2013-12-22 03:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"That ain't what I was afraid of losin', Max," Wyatt said, his eyes moving over Max's face, a low and painfully honest admission. "Even before, I couldn't..."

He paused, the words thick in his throat.

"I couldn't risk you."
gluteus: (sniff the ground)

[personal profile] gluteus 2013-12-22 04:03 pm (UTC)(link)
His lips thinned, and Maximus reached out, curling fingers behind Wyatt's neck and squeezing gently.

"We are already risked, you and I," He said very, very quietly. "As long as we are here, as long as the games continue, our lives are not our own. I cannot say as much, generally, it is not wise, but this is not the first time I have lost all control of my fate. Though I mean it to be the last."

He squeezed again, very gently, and leaned in close.

"You know I would not have risked your life, either. There is no shame, there. But we can work together, now."
the_marshal: (wyattHathide)

[personal profile] the_marshal 2013-12-22 04:51 pm (UTC)(link)
The tension under Max's fingers slowly released, the press of the man's fingers like keys in a lock. He exhaled, a long breath, the weight in his chest slipping away with it.

He leaned in, touched his forehead to Max's - to hell with the party and what anyone else thought.

"I don't know what's comin' next, an' to be honest, I don't much care so long as yer with me."

He could face anything with Max at his side.
gluteus: (over shoudler)

[personal profile] gluteus 2013-12-22 07:57 pm (UTC)(link)
He let out a breath, pressing his forehead back against Wyatt's for a moment before he pulled away.

(He couldn't risk Wyatt, even now.)

"Is there anyone else who knows? Do you know how much time we have left?"
the_marshal: (wyattUp2)

[personal profile] the_marshal 2013-12-22 08:07 pm (UTC)(link)
"Not long." He reached into his coat again, produced another pocketwatch - silver this time - the lid popping open with a press of his thumb. "Another fifteen minutes or so."

He glanced out at the crowd, the closest apparently still unaware. Laughing and talking just as they had before.

"Joan. Joan Watson. She's the one that told me they weren't listenin'. Apparently she can hear 'em talkin', back in her room." He turned back to Max. "If there's anybody ya trust, Max, ya should tell 'em."

Anyone Max trusted with his life. With Wyatt's own.
gluteus: (bloody neck)

[personal profile] gluteus 2013-12-22 08:17 pm (UTC)(link)
"You are who I trust, above all," Maximus said soundly. He could think of a few more but none that he would place his absolute trust in. Not yet.

"But if we are not able to speak of this again-- Surely there must be some way we can speak, later, without our intentions made obvious?"
the_marshal: (wyattWhat)

[personal profile] the_marshal 2013-12-22 08:24 pm (UTC)(link)
He thought silently for a moment, his thoughts racing along.

"The Speakeasy," he said finally. "I can't say for certain if they still it use it, but the rooms've still gotta be there."

He touched his wrist unconsciously, rubbing the fabric of his coat between his fingers. "They might let me back, now."

They'd taken the cuff off, as they'd promised, for fighting with them against the aliens.
gluteus: (over shoudler)

[personal profile] gluteus 2013-12-23 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Maximus nodded, serious and calm.

"Then we will meet there, when we need to. How will you let me know that you need to speak to me?"
the_marshal: (wyattUncomfortable)

[personal profile] the_marshal 2013-12-23 11:08 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'll tell ya," he said. "After all, ain't like there's anythin' strange 'bout us goin' there for a drink.

As often as they went, even after Wyatt had been cuffed, how would they know any one time was different from any of the others?

"If ya get there before me, give my name at the bar, and tell 'em we're lookin' for some privacy."
gluteus: (wait)

[personal profile] gluteus 2013-12-23 11:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Maximus nodded, and then offered a half smile. "It would be interesting, for the rumours to do us good, for once."

Even if the rumours had ceased being rumours a little while ago.

His lips parted - he wanted to say something more; an apology, perhaps, or a plea; but instead he simply closed them again and nodded once more.

"I will do what you ask, Wyatt." He raised his eyes to meet his, his gaze firm but not unkind. "Anything you ask."
the_marshal: (wyattStare2)

[personal profile] the_marshal 2013-12-23 11:22 pm (UTC)(link)
He might have kissed him then, wanting not just to say the words, but to show Max what that - what he - meant to him. Wanted to, would have, had they been anywhere else.

"I know ya would, Max," he said instead, forcing himself to be content with that. "An' I hope ya know I would do the same for you. Anythin' ya need. Whatever I can do--"
gluteus: (sniff the ground)

[personal profile] gluteus 2013-12-25 09:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"I know," Maximus said with the firm knowledge of truth. "I know, Wyatt. Do not be troubled by it."

He offered as reassuring a smile as he could manage. He did reach out, then, patting the side of Wyatt's neck in as fond a gesture as he was allowed in public, though his thumb skimmed over jaw in something dangerously close to a stroke.
the_marshal: (Default)

[personal profile] the_marshal 2013-12-25 09:27 pm (UTC)(link)
His pulse was strong - a beat faster than normal - beneath Max's fingers, but he nodded, accepting words easily. Believing in them just as he believed in the man.

"Ya still want me to be there, after they're done with us?" he asked.
gluteus: (wait)

[personal profile] gluteus 2013-12-25 09:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes." A simple word, with no hesitation.

"If you've other duties, then by all means, but--"
the_marshal: credit: <lj site="livejournal.com" user="open_the_blinds"> (wyattStare4)

[personal profile] the_marshal 2013-12-25 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'll be there."

Just as quick. The promise out before Max had even finished. His eyes steady on the other man's.

"I want - to be there."
gluteus: (amused)

[personal profile] gluteus 2013-12-25 09:48 pm (UTC)(link)
He heard the word that Wyatt had meant rather than said and the smile that rose his lips was warm and fond.

"Good." His voice dropped low enough that it was nearly inaudible. "I want you, to be there."
the_marshal: (wyattStar)

[personal profile] the_marshal 2013-12-25 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
They'd have to go back to pretending, to watching everything they said and did, but there with Max, it was easier to bear.

More than worth the wait.