The Crowning of Mindy McReady

[etcircenses]

Who| Everyone who's anyone.
What| The Crowning.
Where| A warehouse on the edge of town.
When| Starting from early evening till late into the night.
Warnings/Notes| Be sure to check the linked thread for plot purposes, even if you don't tag into it.

The party is brightly colored.

The theme, subtly, is super heroes. Boldly paints city scapes are splattered across the walls, and hallways are made to look like dingy, potentially crime ridden alleys. From the upper walkways of the warehouse, party goers can get hooked into harnesses and swing out over the dance floor. Above them, tributes and VIPS can find themselves on a clear plastic dance floor levitated above everything, looking like they're hanging in air.

Masks are passed out in plenty, and capes are easy to find, while brightly colored drinks themed around super powers are plentiful. None of them actually work, but many of the Capitol people are happy to pretend, mocking super strength or invisibility with each new beverage.

Under the dance floor a catacomb of tunnels and rooms full of obstacles is splashed with black light receptive colors. Party goers are given vests and laser guns, marked green for villains and red for heros, and set loose to hunt each other in the laser tags playground. The screens in the dance floor keep a running tally of which side is winning, displaying the players on the screens around the room, along with clips from the arenas.

About half way through the night, everyone is gathered to the main stage for a special announcement.

Comments

[futilecycle]

Sigma finished his drink, soured on having any sort of happy conversation. The evening had taken too sharp a turn for the worse.

"That's what a real man would say," he says genuinely, sympathetic to Wyatt for perhaps the first time. "It must not mean much coming from me, but I do wish you the best of luck," he adds. "At the very least, the two of you may both be out." Wyatt and Maximus' relationship is none of his business, but Sigma was always one to reach for hope in the darkest of places.

[the_marshal]

There was a moment where Wyatt expected that to be a insult, some insinuation about the kind of man he was, as opposed to the real man Sigma spoke of... but the man carried on and Wyatt could parse no cruelty in his voice. No sharpness in his face.

Only weariness. Sympathy.

Taking a breath, he nodded. Swallowed hard.

"Takes a man equal to say so. ...Thank ya, Doc."

[futilecycle]

Finding Wyatt returning his compliment, Sigma raised his eyebrow. Lately he hadn't thought much of himself, but it was good to hear he might have said something that helped someone. Or, perhaps, it's a only a shock because he had just never expected to hear such a thing out of Wyatt.

Eventually Sigma nods and turns away, staring fuzzily into the crowd. This night has exhausted him completely.