thecapitol | The Crowning of Mindy McReady

Entry tags:

The Crowning of Mindy McReady

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sandy groaned at the idea that the Capitol knew more about them then she had originally suspected.

At the question though she looked thoughtful and pulled a face at the idea of some kind of Pruna worshiping.

"Hey I know that I'll never win without her but it's not like Pruna is the only thing about me anyone knows."

Mindy would totally join you in that groan, Sandy. She had enough bad suspicions about the Capitol and what they can do.

"I know, but come on, its definitely one of the more interesting things, don't you think?"

From the dry look on her face, no she did not think Pruna was one of the most interesting things anyone could know about her.

"Pruna is amazing, but Pruna isn't who I am. If there's gonna be giant banners of Pruna it should be at her party. She'd probably hate it but as long as there was honey ice cream cake she'll be happy."

"Then who are you?"

It wasn't meant to be rude or even insulting. Mindy was watching the girl, curious to her reply.

From the way Sandy looked away, clearly Mindy had asked the exact question she was trying to avoid.

"Not the girl I was when I got here, that's for damn sure."

And she sounded like she was still unsure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

Mindy snorted. "Well duh. I doubt anyone who's here long enough aren't the same. But that doesn't answer my question."

Hell, she hadn't been here long and she already wasn't the girl she was before.

"That's because I'm still figuring out who I am." She pouted at being called out for not answering. "Am I the girl who's gonna try and hold onto what I think is right? Or the girl that's gonna throw it all out and do whatever it takes to survive?"

She really didn't have that many other options right now.

Mindy smiled. "In that case, be the first one. Nobody likes the girl who does what it takes to survive, and one of your strengths is being a girl most people like. That can come in handy."

She took another drink, but seemed to stare at this one for the moment.

Sandy frowned and reached out to flick at Mindy's ear.

"Wasn't the point of your messing with me in the arena to teach me to give up on that stuff and do whatever it takes? Make up your mind already."

Mindy grinned at the flick. "Hey, I can teach you how to not die. Just make sure you don't lose your social skills. It helps to be that girl who's strong but can still be so damn lovable people still want to help you."

Seriously, how did Eponine do it?

"Well if I ever meet someone around here who's strong AND lovable I'll be sure to ask them how." Because she didn't think she qualified for either.

"Ellie." That answer was actually really simple. "I mean, she taps both easily. Do you SEE how many people want to protect her even though she can kick some serious ass?"

"Uh...not really. But I don't know her that well." Sandy shrugged. The first and last time she'd met Ellie had been in Mindy's stolen car.

"She really kicks ass? She didn't seem so tough."

"I said she was lovable, remember? That doesn't mean she's going to look like some world weary hardened bitch like me. She lived through one of those zombie apocalypse things. I've seen her training. Trust me, she's tough."

That was a shame, that they hadn't gotten to talk more.

"Anyway, she'd tell you."

Seemed reasonable enough "Alright, if I see her I'll talk to her." Seemed that if Sandy wanted to make any progress she was gonna have to pick up some new tricks from all these people.

"Not right now of course." There was more depressing things to pay attention to.

"Huh? Oh fuck no, not right now. Her dad-ish guy is in this bullshit new Arena. That can't be helpful for anyone."

That was the shitty part, of course: her friends still dealing with the Arena.

"We should totally get ice cream later."

It took Sandy a minute to think over. Ice cream had always been her and Pruna's thing.

"Only if Pruna's OK with it." She decided "If she's still mad at you then no. But I don't think she'll be mad other then not being able to beat you in the next arena."

"Pruna's not mad at me actually," Mindy said, looking amused. "I thought she might be, but I think she thins of the Arena like I do: its a place meant to force you to make and break alliances, and then, in the end, you can't escape the killing part."

She shrugged. "I've still offered the training room sessions with her, so she can try to kick my ass all she wants. I'm more than fine with that: she's an amazing opponent."

"Yeah that sounds like her." Sandy shook her head once again struck by just how strange her girlfriend was by the standards of how Sandy was raised.

"You two would make a stronger team then rivals anyway."

Honestly, Mindy found Pruna's attitude remarkable refreshing. Even when they were fighting, she respected the fact that she might lose at any time, and it had even thrilled her. For once, it wasn't about crippling her or destroying anyone: it was seeing, honestly, who was better.

"Yeah well, they don't have tag team fighting in the Arena. That might actually be interesting."

"Sure they do." Sandy countered looking puzzled "You just make your own team. It's not like they're stopping you from doing it that way."

Of course this was inching towards another argument about having friends and allies in the arena so Sandy really should know better.

"I mean an actually mandated tag team. So that you could actually have two winners instead of only one, you know? Then again, they might randomize it so well that I get paired off with someone I don't like, like Azula or some shit."

And that would just be unbearable.

Ah, two winners would make for a nice change of pace. She nodded approvingly. The name however came as a surprise, who did Mindy hate?

"Who's that?"

"The bitch that killed me in the first Arena. Gold eyes, black ha always kept tied in a top knot. She's a mentor. Loves putting herself higher than others all the time. She'll make you feel like shit in five words or less. Or try to, anyway."

"Oh." Sandy shuddered at the thought. "Glad she's not my problem. She sounds kind of awful."

Because Mindy she could forgive with time, but a woman like that sounded unbearable to a girl who grew up on off brand cereal and ramen noodles. Why would anyone like someone like that?

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