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

[the_marshal]

Wyatt could only nod, giving the armor a light pat as he struggled to speak. To find something, anything, to say that would get one, or both of them, hauled off the peacekeepers.

"...'Spose they thought we might get bored," he muttered - a joke, maybe, but it fell painfully flat.

The whole thing stunk of punishment. Something that'd been done or said, that the tributes as a whole were once again paying for.

"Yer escort'll be happy," he added after a pause, patting Max's shoulder again, before his hand fell again. "Won't be bitchin' about ya bein' gone."

[gluteus]

"It is none of my escort's business," Maximus snapped, much more harshly than he meant, and instantly felt bad for it. It wasn't Wyatt's fault, there was no reason to take it out on the man.

He let out a hard breath through his nose, unable to meet Wyatt's eye as he glared off to some vague point in the distance.

[the_marshal]

"I didn't mean it like that, Max," Wyatt sighed. "Ya know I don't care."

Just as Wyatt knew there was nothing to be done about Max's anger - at the Capitol, on his behalf, Wyatt supposed. Maybe even at him, for not winning the last round.

He studied Max's face for a moment, waiting for him to look at him, then relented.

"You've got some tributes in there, ya want me to go?"

[gluteus]

"No," Maximus said firmly, raising a hand to rub his face. He felt awful for treating Wyatt this way, and finally turned to face him.

"No. They can wait." He reached out to take Wyatt's shoulder, pull him close until he could press his forehead. "I can wait."

[the_marshal]

Wyatt leaned in to meet him, not even realizing how much he'd wanted it, just that small touch, until it was offered. Drinking it in like water, like a man dying of thirst.

"I'm sorry, Max," he rumbled softly, a rough murmur as their eyes finally met, blue to blue. "If I could stay--" He reached out, to hell with them, and wrapped his fingers over the elbow of the arm holding him. Squeezing firmly in return. "Ya know I would. There is noplace else I want to be, but here with you."

[gluteus]

"We are not the purveyors of our fates," Maximus rumbled darkly, his fingers tightening on Wyatt's shoulder until he forced himself to release it, hand sliding down the side of Wyatt's arm until it could grip his elbow in turn.

"All we can do is hold firm against the tide."

[the_marshal]

For a heartbeat, he allowed himself to simply stand there. As if they were wrapped up in a cocoon, as if there wasn't a single other soul around them. His fingers worked, a rhythmic squeeze and rub into the muscle inside Max's arm, and then he smiled. A small, wry curl to one side of his mouth.

"Ya know ya got me all spoiled now," he whispered - just for them. "I'll expect ya to be there now, when I get back."

The first thing he saw, when his eyes opened. (To match to the last thing he saw in his dreams.)

"...Wait for me."

[gluteus]

"As if I would be anywhere else," Maximus grumbled, his mood still utterly spoiled, the anger rippling under his skin, that is made it impossible to return Wyatt's smile.

"I will be here, Wyatt. You wouldn't be able to convince me otherwise if you tried."

[the_marshal]

"I'll be back."

So what if it was 'special.' It was still an arena, which meant there still had to be a winner. Maybe this time, with so few of them going in....

Pruna's face flashed before him. Then Venus', Joel's.

His forehead shifted against Max's, his head turning slightly as he breathed. A long inhale, dragging the scent of leather and soap and Max deep into his lungs.

"I love you."

[gluteus]

"I know," Maximus rumbled lowly, leaning up to press a kiss to Wyatt's forehead. He couldn't say it back, just then, not without it sounding like a plea. His fingers tightened on his hair, as if for a moment he considered simply not letting go. Eventually, however, he did so, stepping back and standing tall.

"Strength and Honour," He offered.

Good Luck.

[the_marshal]

Reluctantly, Wyatt followed. His grip slowly falling away, taking a deep breath to fill the void the loss left behind.

"An' the same to you, Max," he nodded.

He hesitated a moment longer, the moment feeling oddly formal, as if this was the goodbye now, rather than later...but then, maybe that was for the best.

The long they waited, the harder it would be.

Then with a last lingering look, he nodded again, and turned away, disappearing into the crowd.