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

[hit_girl_mindy]

"Ok, ignoring that shit about pubes, I have more than a few maiming and plenty of kills under my belt. What people don't seem to get is that I'm being forced to kill, so I just kill. If I wanted to, if I CHOSE to, it'd be a different story."

They would really be able to see what she could do then.

"And who are calling bitty baby you bitch?"

Oh god. Unwanted alliteration.

[revvinguptheharley]

Harley just laughed delightedly at the alliteration.

"So it's all about choice. Makes sense, we are both Americans after all and freedom is big deal. Freedom from oppression, freedom from laws, or freedom from sanity." She giggled.

[hit_girl_mindy]

Mindy snorted. "I guess that's a way of looking at it. I was talking about choice in general, as in, 'shouldn't have to kill these people that I know' kind of thing. It makes it so you never really should get close to anyone or else you run the risk of killing them because you have no choice."

[revvinguptheharley]

"Says who?" Harley challenged. "I'm still close to some of the people that I've killed or gotten killed. It all about being reasonable and open minded."

A pause and then she added "Also not being a bitch helps."

[hit_girl_mindy]

"Are you calling me a bitch?"

She was generally curious, actually.

[revvinguptheharley]

She snickered "Your words not mine. But even if I did you know you wouldn't argue with me."

She popped a cookie into her mouth from a passing snack trey.

"But you've never been particularly bitchy to me. A smug little brat sure, but that's to be expected. You're a teenager, you think you know everything even if you say that you don't. It's like...genetic."

[hit_girl_mindy]

"Maybe this place needs more bitches. They couldn't hurt."

She grinned. "Hey, I'll have you know I suffered long and hard for my fucked up world view. That's more than most stupid ass teenagers can say. At least my attitude pretty much stays the same."

[revvinguptheharley]

"Depends on the type of bitch." Harley teased "It's such a functional word."

"Yeah I suppose you're consistently bratty if nothing else." She stuck out her tongue playfully.

[hit_girl_mindy]

"I can think of a few people who embody it right now," Mindy said dryly.

[revvinguptheharley]

"The real question though," Harley continued with a giggle "Is how many of these people were bitches before the Capitol and how many were made that way?"

Both the strong and weak forms were on display in this room to be sure.

[hit_girl_mindy]

"I think people pretty much carry they way they were from their world to here. The Capitol just makes it so we can give less of a fuck, being surrounded by people we don't know. Then again, some people born here were probably made that way over time."

Azula came to mind.

[revvinguptheharley]

"Everyone changes." Harley countered "Even if they come from another world. It's just a matter of how much you let this world change who you are. Even I'm not the same lovable loon I was when I got here."

[hit_girl_mindy]

"Everyone changes how much they want to," Mindy pointed out. "You can be here and be as despondent as hell, but that'll be because its how bad you let shit affect you. In the end, that's what it comes down to. Always. Even that part of you from your world is always there, whether its latent or pronounced."

[revvinguptheharley]

"Is that what you think?" Harley mused coyly.

"So what part of your world have you carried with you this far, and what part has changed?"

[hit_girl_mindy]

"Wouldn't say it if I didn't think it as true."

She gave Harley a knowing look. "Isn't it obvious? I never killed people I didn't at least despise before. That, and I'm actually trying to keep a low profile."

[revvinguptheharley]

"Ah ah ah, but if that's what you've had to change, what have you clung to despite it all?" That was just as important as what had changed.

[hit_girl_mindy]

"That's exactly my point. Some things change, but only how much you actually let them. Most of what I am is still here. Hell, even doing what I've done was motivated by logic I always had anyway."

[revvinguptheharley]

Harley sighed clearly dissatisfied with the results.

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see then. After all you haven't been here for too long."

But already Harley was starting to see Mindy clearer.

[hit_girl_mindy]

"I'm not saying for sure what more this place will do to me. Who can tell? But I'm thinking that whatever it does, I'll still stay the same, mostly."

That was her hope, anyway.

[revvinguptheharley]

"Here's hoping." She crossed her fingers "It's a fine line between being true to yourself and refusing to evolve."

And the laws of chaos required she continue to change for each situation.

[hit_girl_mindy]

Mindy cast Harley a dubious look. "I think I'm the last person you need to say that to."

If anything, the idea of changing was all too certain.

[revvinguptheharley]

"No need to be aggressive." She smiled innocently. "I'm just speaking metaphorically. If you take it personally that may speak to your own concerns. Not mine."

[hit_girl_mindy]

"I wasn't being aggressive." Mindy shook her head. "Harley, you're awesome, but don't try to head shrink me, ok? You don't know me that well yet, and jumping to conclusions like that rubs me the wrong way."

[revvinguptheharley]

Harley looked offended and hurt folding her arms and pouting her lips.

"Who said anything about shrinking? Sheesh this is just typically I thought you'd be more open minded ya know? But it happens to all therapists and psych majors. Sooner or later everyone in their lives just stops talking to them about anything in great detail because their afraid all I'm gonna do is pick it apart for the psychology. Can't I have a normal conversation without being accused of some ulterior motive?" She ranted.

"It hurts that you of all people don't trust me. I'm one of your biggest fans you know!"

[hit_girl_mindy]

"There's being open minded, and then there's people who miss some things. I wish I could say I refused to evolve. The truth of the matter is I made the change the moment I picked up that fucking knife and slit the throat of someone who never did anything to me. I've gone on about Sandy, but that was the moment everything changed."

And here, just for a moment, Harley could see that regret: this was why she still fought with Sandy, why she pressed on killing, why the deaths of people who never hurt her couldn't matter. She's already stepped through the door and had to keep going, push herself, and then find a way to regret later.

She knew she was bloodthirsty, that she reveled in the fight. All of this though, right down to what she was wearing, mocked WHY. They took it and made it novelty, and what the fuck could she do but play the game and go down farther, to
find a way to undo it all?

How much of this would take her?

"No one in their right mind is a fan of me. Be a fan of Pruna. She's an awesome killer. Hell, back Ellie, she's been through the wire. Me, I'm just...I'm keeping afloat."