(no subject)

[etcircenses]

Who| Everyone, pretty much. Particularly Secret Santa people and those Creuntus is fucking with.
What| Holiday times!
Where| The Tribute Training center
When| The whole week, but Creuntus' gifts arrive today.
Warnings/Notes| none atm. Please add any in thread headers. Also, for secret santa, if you are the giver start a thread with your giftee's name (unless you two have worked something else out between you). You can use the District threads below, or choose a different setting of your own.

Every floor public space is dripping with holiday decorations.

The decorations are themed, ridiculously so. Every surface is covered, and a table sits proudly full of holiday treats and spirits, kept stocked constantly by the avoxes. Cheerful music plays softly throughout the whole building, though luckily for everyone the Capitol doesn't really know what Christmas carols are.

Those with secret santa's have a cheery, passive-aggressive note reminding them not to disappoint anyone and ruin their holiday.

Those that have expressed a want for some object from home will find a box on their bed sometime during the day, with a merry holiday greeting from Cruentus. Inside they will find the object of their desire, or something similar, crafted from their words.

In blown glass. Pretty, decorative, utterly useless.

Bert's guns, Punchy's goggles, Sigma's music box, Maximus' leg, Mindy's knife, Terezi's dragon cane...on and on, as many gifts as Creuntus could find out. Those that were with them when they were pulled are more perfect replicas, those that they have just described obviously have an artistic touch to them.

Comments

District One

[etcircenses]

One is dripping in opulent, sparkling gold and crystal snowflakes coming from the ceiling. Lots and lots of beautiful wrapped (empty) gifts sit everywhere.

For Iskierka

[the_marshal]

Wyatt was not an uncommon figure in the District One suite, but it was rather unusual for him to be loitering in the common room - blinking up at the snowflakes that never quite seemed to reach him, disappearing before they even brushed his hat - instead of heading straight for Howard.

Today, instead, he asked an Avox after Iskierka, explaining, a little awkwardly, that he was her Secret Santa and then waited by the tree for her to appear. Shifting his gift gently from hand to hand.

For Howard

[futilecycle]

The Doctor hesitantly wandered onto the floor, discouraged by the dozens of decorative boxes lining the common room. He was now certain package he had brought for Howard would be lost or overlooked in the sea of the Capitol's fake generosity. Sigma had not wished to give him the present in person, and had planned on leaving it on a table where the boy could eventually find it...

With no other choice, Sigma leaves Howard's gift at his door and quickly turns to leave. Inside is a hand-stitched velveteen rabbit that the Doctor had spent many painstaking nights on. It was a plush crafted with love, and so if it turned out that Howard hated his gift, Sigma had a heart that was easily broken and did not wish to know...

District Two

[etcircenses]

Two is transformed into a rural looking lodge, with stone walls and a big, crackling fire pit.

For Blaine

[and_my_pickaxe]

Unlike some of her fellow Tributes, Lin had met her gift's recipient. She had decided to kill him quickly while he was down two Cornucopias ago, only to discover her prey was already in his death throes and the woman could do nothing but watch him die, a situation that gave Lin nightmares for months to come. Still apologetic, she had purchased Blaine an expensive sweater set; not the sort one would find in any generic department store around Christmas, but fine, cashmere sweaters, the very best Lin could get her hands on. He seemed a kind young man with a handsome face, and Lin believed a prestigious look might suit him.

Lin wormed her way inside the District Two common rooms and stood awkwardly by the fire pit, shuffling around with her wrapped gift in hand.

open as heck

[xanthous]

The Psiioniic saw the box near his bed, and he didn't think much of it. He had left it alone for hours, because he didn't really see the point of it. It was just some weird Capitol bullshit, so why bother?

But he can't ignore it for long.

He carries the box into the common room, sitting down by the fire quietly. Slowly, he unwraps the box, using his claws to tear the tape and peel the paper apart, and just as slowly he opens it. When he sees the contents of the box, he goes completely still. It's several minutes before he pulls it out. It's very delicate, made of a vibrant, fuchsia glass, and it looks like a very bizarre headpiece. There's even glass over the eye-circles, and he can appreciate the artistry of it.

But...He would have never thought he'd see the rig again, even if it's only a small, small part. He stares at his gift for a very, very long time, and doesn't move from his spot on the couch.

(Someone particularly observant just might realize that the shapes of the rig match the scars on his face eerily well.)

For Neffa (animal death mention)

[carnagecarnival]

It had occurred to him that, his assigned tribute being from district too, he should've seen this person before. He's talked to very little of those in his Moirail's district but it was impossible to never see anyone, visiting it so often as he does. So he should be able to recognize the person he's delivering to.

Clean of feathers and meat-- even blood, Messiahs forbid he let it go to waste by not putting it to painting, and with that death he honored them justly-- the bird he caught out in capitol is just a pile of small bones now, with a beaked skull among it. He carries the bones cupped in his hands down to district two. He could leave it behind at the door, but he won't whined at by some ignorant capitolite that he did nothing because one of the tongue-cut carried it off.

He finds the door and lifts his foot to kick at it. Then, he waits.

For Beck - SecretSanta gift

[pythianjudgment]

She doesn't really know the guy. She was only told some basic things about him--mostly highlighting deaths in the arena--and told that she was supposed to pick out a gift for him. She had no intention of basing a present off of those things.

Instead she manages to haphazardly wrap two gifts with way too much tape and drop them off outside of Beck's room. They are probably the best gifts that anyone could ever get, in her modest opinion.

She raps her knuckles on the door and waits.

For Psiionic - personal gift

[pythianjudgment]

Terezi wasn't quite sure what to get the Helmsman for this holiday thing. He liked the honey that she bought for him way back when they first met, but that didn't seem nearly fancy enough for a second time. Still, he doesn't seem to like much else, so this time she manages to find some in a fancier bottle. She's not sure what "vodka" is--probably a fancy brand of some kind--but it says it's honey, so that's all that really matters.

She knocks on the door, then holds the gift behind her back in both hands, wrapped in a funny shape with far too much tape.

for Blaine

[fire_punk]

Kevin held the awkwardly wrapped present in one hand as he knocked on his friend's door. He hoped it would be something he liked. His was pretty comfortable so far.

District Three

[etcircenses]

Three is covered in sparkling light displays, with a huge lit up Christmas tree in the middle.

Open

[gluteus]

Maximus frowned as he picked up the package at the end of his bed labelled with his name. From what Wyatt had told him about the holiday, he was only really expecting a Secret Santa gift and perhaps small ones from friends - not a nearly meter long package signed from Cruentus.

He was unwrapping it slowly as he wandered out into the suite's common room, coming to a stop as he finally revealed fine, glass blown toes from one end of the wrapping.

Open - minor warning for violence

[tis_allgood]

Cuthbert is delighted by the lights and gifts and all the celebration, it's definitely his kind of atmosphere. He's equally delighted to see a gift under the tree with his name on it and then utterly horrified by the contents.

Two delicately crafted guns made of hand blown glass. It was almost unbelievable, how the Capitol could take something he loved and twist it to the point where even Cuthbert couldn't see the humor in it. He turned almost as soon as he opened the box and realized what he was seeing and threw one of the glass guns against the wall as hard as he could.

For all the violence he just displayed, Cuthbert is utterly calm on the outside and doesn't even notice the few shards of glass that ended up in his arms and slice in his cheek.

For Marius

[fearisinthemind]

Penny loathes Christmas. Her employees are wise enough to always bring her gifts, but they can never quite remove all mentions of family in her presence, of requesting time off to travel or asking about shopping for their kids. The holidays are a constant reminder of the fact that the universe doesn't revolve around her.

As such, she has decided to grace Marius with a particularly unpleasant gift: a series of newspaper clippings detailing recent deaths associated with Christmas light fixtures and poisonous holiday plants. Just the sort of cheer for the groom-to-be.

She sits in the District Three lounge, scowling at her reflection in a Christmas ornament, plainly-wrapped gift in her clenched fist.

For Terezi

[sleeplessinalternia]

After Karkat (still wearing Iskierka's horn extensions) gives Cuthbert his present, he goes in search of Terezi to give her hers.

District Four

[etcircenses]

Four has become a tropical paradise, with a palm tree decorate with sea shells, and wreathes of palm fronds.

[savedbyasong]

Shion was a little confused by all this, but he was sat in the lounge looking at the palm trees and sea shells, picking one up to look at it more carefully. He was from a place where the only celebration was of the city, so this was different and new. And he was mostly content to watch and observe and learn about these customs from other worlds, for it seemed like this festival was one that other tributes new, and Rat had told him it had been celebrated in their world before things went wrong, it was in books.

District Five

[etcircenses]

Five is also light oriented, although it's lights are all white, and move gently through various patterns.

For Lindsey!

[savedbyasong]

Shion stood nervously in the lounge of district five, an Avox having let him in. He stared at the lights, his gift clutched in his hands. He was not really sure how this gift giving thing went, or if his gift was correct in honouring the man who he had only met once. Hopefully the facts gathered in that short time had been enough.

So here he was, waiting.

District Six

[etcircenses]

Six is set up with a flair for travel, with a vintage flavor to it. The tree and decorations are all themed to "destination spots" in the other districts.

For Perry

[knifewithnoname]

Pruna thought that this whole holiday was a bit stupid. First there was a man who didn't exist on a pole, and then presents to honour bravery, she would get that except the person she had been told to buy for did not seem that brave.

What about being eaten by a monster was honourable? Anyways, she had been told that was what you had to do so she had gone searching.

She banged on the door that apparently was this Perry's, a small box in her hand.

District Seven

[etcircenses]

Seven's common room has becomes a winter wooded wonderland, with wood accents, and a tall pine with snow and actual bird in the trees and accents pine around the room.

Re: District Seven

[revvinguptheharley]

Harley was giddy with delight as she filled Homura's room with cat toys for Madoka. It was turning into a regular kitty cat wonderland with toys, catnip, bubbles with catnip scent, lasers, squishy beds and scratching posts.

And a doll of Homura she could cuddle with while Homura was in the arena.

As for Homura herself, a basket full of candies, sweets, chocolates and pop rocks (Because she'd blown herself up) rested on the bed.

Harley herself was clad in a sexy santa outfit as she lounged on the bed and waited for the return of Homura and furry little Madoka.

District Eight

[etcircenses]

Eight is full of draping, luxurious fabrics hanging from the ceiling, and large billows dotting the floor. All of the trees ornaments are clothes covered, in decadent patterns.

For Holiday

[polyturtle]

Don, despite everything, did not know much of Holiday. At least not at first. Soon, though, he learned she was a scientist of some kind. So, he got her the only present he could think of - and was technically allowed to give her - a microscope. He set it on her bed in a red box, with a green bow.

He doesn't leave a note, or any other indication of who its from.

District Nine

[etcircenses]

Nine's decorations are geared towards harvest, with wreathes of wheat, and gold accents around the room.

Open

[polyturtle]

Don was inwardly dreading opening the box when he alighted on it, upon returning from his own secret Santa endeavor. It was long, lean, and from Cruentus. Somehow, it didn't occur to Don that he might actually know what was in it, or at least figure it out. He long ago ceased to trust fully any gift from the Capitol, even for a festive occasion.

He certainly didn't recall getting anything last year, after all. So slowly, apprehensively, he undid the bow, giving only a cursory glance to the cheerfully biting greeting penned by the president's daughter. At last, he opened the box, and--

A blown glass bo.

A blown glass bo.

He nearly lost it then and there, was about to throw the darned thing right into a wall. However, Sheperd's words - fight to endure - bubbled up, and he stopped himself from doing such a stupid action. He could take out his anger later, somewhere else, where it would be more appropriate.

He propped it beside his dresser instead, before setting out to the district common room to sit, sullen among all the glitter and the gold.

District Ten

[etcircenses]

Is a western style Christmas, with a cow hide rug across the room, and various western accents around the room.

[futilecycle]

Immediately suspicious of the package he'd found on his bed, Sigma took the box into the common room where there could be witnesses - he was certain he was not alone in Cruentus' prank. Pulling the wrapping back carefully, the sort of person who would remove wrapping paper in a perfect rectangle, the Doctor delicately uncovered the box within. As he pulls the lid away, Sigma is so spooked he flinches and the gift slips from his lap - he is torn between diving to catch it and letting it shatter on the garish carpet, but the former impulse wins over. With robotic precision he plucks it from the air the instant before it hits the ground, freezing when he touches it as though an appendage of their keeper's artwork.

It's a cage. A small glass cage with a bird inside, no more than two inches tall. He can only stare at it, face nearly to the rug, the ornament small and delicate in his grasp. This should not be his any longer. It's too heavy a reminder of a time gone by.

District Eleven

[etcircenses]

The room is filled with berries and sugared fruits, both decorative and edible ones, and the center piece of the table in front of the tree is a tiny replica of the cornucopia, food pooling out from it.

For Joan

[gluteus]

His mood somewhat recovered from Cruentus' pointed present, he took the little box he had gotten from the jewelers and told an Avox to lead him up to Joan's suite. When he stepped off the elevator, he found an entirely different world to his eyes - this one filled with food, where his had been entirely made of light.

In the box in his hands lay a golden bracelet. Simple, curled into the shape of a snake. (It reminded him of home.)

"Joan?"

District Twelve

[etcircenses]

Twelve is set up to mirror a rustic cabin, with a warm fire crackling and plenty of coal to feed it. All the windows show snow falling into a woods outside, despite the actual weather, and the fact they are 12 stories up.

For Signless

[president_evil]

His gifter doesn't put in appearance himself, but the present arrives just the same. Appearing on Signless's dresser while he's out one afternoon, waiting for his return.

A box, taller than it was wide, tied with an neat bow. Resting next to it was snow white card, a note written in sharp black ink - small, elegant handwriting. Precise.

"I would advise against trying to ingest this one, as well." ~A.W.

Inside, was plant, with wide dark leaves and deceptively lovely purple flowers.

Common area

[etcircenses]

The common room is full of lights and trees, with a fake snow over the floor and snow flakes to match District 1's falling from the ceiling. The colors themes is silver, white and gold, with bright splashes of red here and there.

Much like in 12, the windows show a constant beautiful snowy landscape outside.

For Sigma

[onlyimmune]

She had no idea who Sigma was and Christmas really didn't have the same kind of feeling in the apocalypse, so she really had no idea what to get for the guy. She'd heard vaguely that he knew Howard, though, but she since it was supposed to be a surprise she hadn't asked him.

In the end, she bought a rather garish but well-meaning and warm sweater, wrapped it up with a bow, and tucked it under her arm as she went looking for him down in the common room.