(no subject)

[mannersmatter]

WHO| EVERYONE
WHAT| Effie is throwing a small scale party for just the tributes.
WHERE| The District 12 suite.
WHEN| Christmas
WARNINGS/NOTES| Secret Santa's are under the cut. Feel free to tag in whether you signed up for secret santa or not.

Effie had tried very hard to make this a party that was actually made for the tributes, not made to show them off.

She had tried very, very hard.

The food was what she had been able to investigate as “home” cooking for those she could track down, an odd arrangement of food that sometimes got close to the tributes home food, and sometimes was a terrible disaster. Blood pudding, for example, was a dish best avoided. But then it usually was.

The best hits reel had been her idea. It took a tense conversation with Haymitch and about 45 minutes to convince her that now, that wasn’t really what any Tribute wanted to see when they were trying to relax.

After that the party was much nicer, mellow music, holiday cheer and, for a holiday party, fairly low key. Lorne had karoke going in one room, while another had a large glittering Christmas tree and mellow music playing, with the District 12 windows wide open to show the snow covered city underneath.

Eliot-Neeshka
Kevin-Lottie
Valeria-Tony
Momoko-Draco
Alpha-Anna
Cinna-Momoko
Epoinine-Alpha
Alex-Jade
Jade-Ariadne
Neeshka-Eliot
Anna-Valeria
Lindsey-Glinda
Glinda-Annie
Ariadne-cinna
Elliot-Alex
Lottie- Eponine
Annie-Jade
Tony-Glinda
Shepard-Lindsey
Draco-Kevin

Comments

Karoke

[itsnoteasybeinggreen]

Lorne was honestly more excited than he should be. The music wasn't perfect but there was some decent stuff Effie had been sweet enough to find for him. There were spot light pointed at the small stage where there was a stool and a mic.

He milled around making sure everything was in it place. The song selection book was sitting on a table right by the stage as well as the sign up sheet. He would have to cue the music himself, but that was okay. He just hoped there were some singers in this place.

[tailforbrains]

Even though she didn't know a single one of the songs here, that didn't stop Neeshka from signing her name up. She even picked one that sounded pretty cool, "Memory" from... something called Cats. Since she knew what a cat was, as opposed to the song about "trucks" or the song about "Boston", she figured maybe that wouldn't be too bad.

She waited patiently to get called for it, grinning and quite happy to listen to other people mangle tunes she didn't recognize.

[big_badass_hero]

He was still far too sober for this, but the bubbly pink.... Chris couldn't tell if he should call her a woman or a girl yet so decided Lottie was just going to be 'Bubbly Pink' until he figured it out; but she had told him he was going to the party with her, and that he was to have fun. So here's Chris flipping through the book and grinning when he realized there was some stuff he knew.

Signing up for a slot he put 'Chris Redfield' followed by 'Sammy Hagar - I can't drive 55'

Hopefully he'd be on and off stage before Wesker showed his face. Last thing he needed was the monster that had his Captain's face to hear him, hell last time he had sung it was along with the radio tinkering with the death trap that was his jeep back home.

[warbles]

Blaine had the idea to do a planned, spontaneous public performance. In fact, he still might but he could hardly ever pass up karaoke. And what better way then to impress the Capitol then good karaoke. (Because hardly any karaoke was good.) He wanted to show that he shouldn't be messed with, that he had strength.

He stopped exuding his losses, his displeasure at everyone a few days before. And it being Christmas didn't help. But, he still plastered a smile as he signed up for Harder to Breathe by Maroon 5.

By the time he finishes, he's sweating. The song got intense - just how he wanted it to come off.

Re: Karoke

[makeflowersgrow]

Eponine wanders over, at least recognising Lorne as the man who had comforted her a bit when she had first got out of the arena.

She fingered the song book, leafing through and frowning as she tried to read the words on the top. It was hard work for her, but she could read, with nearly no mistakes.

"M'sieur, what is this?"

[itswhoyouare]

Anna was sick of the damn parties. As far as she was concerned, there was nothing that would merit a party in the place. However, this time it was only the Tributes and a select handful of stylists and escorts and that meant Anna could convince her stylist to just let her off the hook. Well, sort of. Dark skinny jeans and a black buttoned vest over an emerald green lace bra was the compromise. At least she was mostly covered this time. Oh, and don't forget the dramatic dark eye makeup.

Karaoke was not the plan until her escort nudged her toward the stage and she begrudgingly chose her pick. Inside Out by Sara Bareilles was the pick. And unlike the new kid before her, she chose to tone it down. The message of strength and will to fight was there, but on a much more subtle level. Anyone could assume she's singing about a boy or survival in the arena. But unless they could read under the surface and between the lines like she learned Eliot did, they would probably miss the message. After all, she had a rich and smooth sort of singing voice that made it easy to get lost in.

[hartless_cowboy]

Lindsey wasn't quite here to sing, but it did feel familiar to be in the same room as Lorne's karaoke bar. It brought back some old memories, back before his life got shot up, literally, and things were simplistic then.

Leaning against a wall, he watched as the latest tribute finished their number and moved off stage. Spying Neeshka in the mix of tributes dressed Capitol fashion, this set up really had a vague sense of Caritas.

[makeflowersgrow]

Eponine turned up in the most modest clothing she could find in her big wardrobe; an oversized white jumper and a long black skirt. Her hair was down, and tangled, though she had brushed it. Valeria was probably going to have a fit when she saw Eponine but Eponine couldn't care less.

For a while, she stood awkwardly in a corner, clutching the bottle of gin she had brought for her Secret Santa. She had NO idea who Alpha was, and didn't know what to buy a man anyway. Scratch that, she didn't know what'd make a good present at all; she had never had to either give or receive one before today. So she chose what she would like; the gin was cheap, but it would do the job just as well if it kept bad dreams away.

She tugged at the sleeve of her jumper with her bitten nails. She had no idea how to behave at a party - a party that she had actually been invited to (unlike the strange one after the arena that she had accidentally wandered into). She hoped someone she knew actually turned up soon.

[gruesome]

Trying to skirt a crowd, awkward and a head taller than absolutely everyone else, Some brushed past her, twitching away immediately to apologize. "Sorry, I'm sorry. There are just too many people in here..."

[needsaprince]

Lottie was looking for her secret santa. She was glad she had gotten a girl, it had been easy enough to shop for. And wrap up, with a huge, sparkling bow.

"Eponine?" She asked softly, approaching the girl.

[tailforbrains]

Neeshka had finally embraced her wardrobe. Well, not all of it, but she could at least be less picky about it, and she didn't mind so much showing off her belly. It was, after all, a cute sort of belly, right? With a long shimmery vest, a diagonal midriff shirt that went all the way down one arm, and pair of skinny pants, she might not be quite as beruffled and brightly colored as the natives, but she didn't seem entirely out of place and medieval as she used to, either.

The tail and horns still didn't go away, but hey, she liked being unique.

She snorted at the "greatest hits" screens, laughed at finding haggis, of all things, among the offered spoils, and found herself some bubbly champagne and mingled around cheerfully. She'd find Eliot eventually to give him his gift, but that could wait.

[the_marshal]

Suddenly, from behind, there was a gentle tug on her tail, warm and callused fingers there and then gone as quickly as they'd come.

When she turned, she'd find Wyatt, hat in hand, with his eyebrows lifted toward his shining, neatly styled hair and a small, uncertain sort of smile pulling at one corner of his mouth.

[hasacondition]

As these things go, Bruce was always at least a little prepared of the possibility of waking up in an unfamiliar bed with unfamiliar people all around him. There were a number of possible explanations, but it all came down to the other guy, and therefore it was never going to be a good thing.

This, right here, was most emphatically not a good thing.

Habit had him sneaking around and trying to test the waters, figure out as much as he can before they start paying too much attention to him, and sneaking around lead him eventually to this little shindig. He hesitated around the entrance, not sure if he's allowed to be in this area or who exactly he'll find inside.

After a few minutes of no evil security drones or whatever they have around here picking him up and taking him to reeducation, he'll cautiously head inside, though as soon as someone looks in his direction he'll turn around as if incredibly interested in whatever's behind him-- unless, of course, it's someone he recognizes from home.

[pursuitofcappiness]

So, things have gone from bad to worse. Woke up somewhere strange? Check. People not explaining what's going on and shoving him into crazy costumes and expecting him to peacock around? Check. Oh, and it turns out this isn't even Asgard, which is where Steve had hoped and prayed that he was. So all in all, this is shaping up pretty badly.

He's told to show up to some holiday function, so he goes because these people are more powerful than he is and he needs to start playing along to start piecing things together. This involves a lot more false eyelashes and lipstick than he's used to, but it's a start. He wonders if anyone else here knows what's going on; everyone he's been able to talk to so far seems to be one of them.

But then he catches a glimpse of someone who looks familiar. He looks down.

He's wearing the least dignifying of suits, and that's really saying something.

He makes his way over, and taps Dr. Banner on the shoulder.

[mudbloodhater]

Not having far to go to get out to the main party, Draco decided that he would make himself as fashionably late as Effie would allow, and dress as much like he actually wanted to as he could. It felt like Christmas back home, or as much like it as it could, given that he'd arrived there just after Christmas back home; even so, there was still something about it all that made him feel more than a little bit homesick.

It even showed on his face as he mingled around the party now, looking a little bit wistful, his hands tucked into trouser pockets. It hadn't even bothered him that much that he had to buy something for someone he hated; he'd managed to find something easily enough, something basic, something that couldn't possibly be refused.

[setfires]

Cinna found himself sliding closer to Draco, as his eyes took in the clothes the boy had chosen for himself. He made some mental notes and tried to filter them into the mental image he had been crafting for his Tributes.

"Hello Draco," he said softly. "How are you feeling today?"

[setfires]

Cinna had helped where he could, seeing the party was a way to bring himself from the self-imposed work coma he had inflicted on himself. He wanted to be a presence in this dorm again, even if the lack of Katniss was painfully noticeable.

His gift was beautifully wrapped, though he didn't know a lot about the person he was buying for. He had gotten her official measurements from information he had gleamed from the network, though the hand crafted coat was seriously understated, as not to conflict with her Stylist. It would compliment her without clashing with what her Stylist was planning for him.

Cinna was in a corner of the room, sitting by the window, as he looked out over the snow covered city.

[warbles]

Blaine spotted Cinna from across the room. He contemplated whether or not to say something. But, Cinna had helped him a few days before. And it would be rude not to say hi, right? Besides, he wanted to assure Cinna he'd be alright - as alright as he could be.

"Cinna" he said, hands on the back of the empty chair nearby. "Merry Christmas." It seemed strange to say Merry Christmas at all, but it was what you did around the holidays.

[strangeasangels]

Castiel didn't have any idea how he ended up in this place. One moment he was fighting for his life in purgatory, the next he was being dressed up and pushed into some sort of gathering.

He scowled at the oddly dressed patrons, finding a place near the exit to stand. He was trouble by the thought that he could be brought into a place such as this and stripped of his power. There was something evil at work here, he just wasn't sure what kind of evil dressed like this.

[the_marshal]

Wyatt wasn't typically one for Capitol get-togethers, but this being put on by Effie - who, he was beginning to decide, didn't really deserve having her Capitolness held against her - meant he really aught to put in an apperance.

So, here he was, removing his hat as he entered (showing off neatly combed hair), sporting a freshly shaved face and trimmed mustache.

Coming up behind the stranger he paused, looking him and up curiously, and waiting a beat to see if he'd move on his own...

...then politely cleared his throat. "'Cuse me, friend."

[hartless_cowboy]

A Christmas party, tribute style. Lindsey had to be here even if it was just an excuse to get to know everyone else. Then there was the whole secret Santa thing that he was convinced into signing up for, although a slight issue occurred when he had no idea who Glinda was.

What he settled for was nicely wrapped in shining laser silver wrapping paper, something that he was assured by his district escort it would be representative of the power district. Uncaring of protests, he kept it bagged up in a paper bag and carried it in with him.

All in all he found the gathering reminded him of the office parties back home. Holding the bag on one arm, he took up a drink in the other and headed around to socialize at bit. Or whoever wanted to bump into him. He didn't really mind either way, he just made sure he plastered a friendly smile for the occasion.

[warbles]

After Blaine finished his number, he caught his breath, introduced himself to the crowd, waved, and made his way off the stage. Moving through the tributes, he didn't mean to bump into Lindsey who had a drink in his hand. Immediately, he apologize in case he made the guy spill some of it. And even if that didn't happen, it was rude to bump into people.

He may have been captured, but he still had manners.

"Sorry," he said, turning to face Lindsey. "I uh, wasn't looking where I was going." Yeah, he was avoiding bumping into someone else but he wasn't going to make an excuse.

[warbles]

Blaine tried to ignore the tribute's "Best Hits" reel as best he could but he found himself engrossed in the footage at a point.

When they cut it off, he was more then grateful and went to find food and drink. He filled his plate and settled in at a small table.

After that, he looked out the window at District Twelve for a little bit.

And finally, he attempted to mingle. He was making a real effort to hide his disdain for everything, his fight. So, he plastered a smile most of the night.

[tailforbrains]

Here you go, Blaine, somebody a bit weird to throw at you. Neeshka, with her tail swishing behind her like a cat's as she walked, horns atop her head polished to perfection, and long ears perked, sidled right up to him with her glass of champagne. "I don't think I've met you yet," she mused cheerfully, apparently undisturbed by the party, the "best hits" reel, or even the wide variety of food. "And if they introduced you to the arena, I was either already dead or I missed it."

She shifted her glass to her left hand and stuck out her right, grinning. "I'm Neeshka."

[president_evil]

Infinitely interested in discovering more about his captors as well as his competition, this little gathering was, so far as Wesker was concerned, a neat way to kill two birds with one stone.

However, he hadn't been expecting the tax on his senses. The heavy smells of food, all mingled together in one disgusting cloud, the constant off-key caterwauling....

In the darkest corner he could find, he removed his sunglasses, pinching the bridge of his nose, his fore-finger and thumb moving in small circles.

[big_badass_hero]

Chris was half tempted to grab one of the knives from the buffet as soon as he spotted the beast that looked like his Captain. Only thing that stopped him was that this was a party, and it would be in bad taste to attack Wesker here, even though so tempting.

So instead he did the last thing he thought he would ever do, walked over after getting two glasses of scotch.

"Peace treaty between us for the night? Jus' sayin' cause of the kids around." He offered one of the glasses towards Wesker. His hand was perfectly steady, even though the thought of what the man's face had become was still fresh on his mind.

[itwasrhetorical]

It was nothing like Yuletide yet so like it that it hurt her heart a little. Glinda knew that this was the moment she was meant to be pouring over her yule speech to the nation and fighting with her nerves. Not sitting and sipping whatever this eggnog was and trying to keep out of everyone's way.

Her dress was suitably modest for her tastes, but tastefully bared her shoulders and arms, just the right amount of flesh for a party. She had a few neatly wrapped presents sitting beside her, waiting to be given to this Annie girl. Glinda hadn't the slightest clue whom she was but she'd gotten what she thought every woman should have, hair brushes and a beautiful jewelled comb not unlike the one keeping her blonde curls from her face.

The witch sat in the corner of one of the corner suites and simply people watched. What an interesting and eclecticiful group of people they were.

[needsaprince]

"Do you mind if I sit?"

Her Holiday cheer was starting to wear off. Her heels were hurting her feet, and all this gift giving and partying just made her miss home something awful.

[polyturtle]

Don - again left to his own devices by his Stylists he really hoped to catch Sheperd at this partyso he could talk to her about that whole thing soon - was staring at the pizza. The pizza. Dear god, what the shell had they done to it!? Caviar did not go there!!

The reel of him turning into a monster wasn't helping matters either. So, he did his best to ignore the replays of him viciously killing half the Tributes currently in the room. Good thing they didn't show him eating Momo--wait did he do that or was that just his nightmare? No no, need to ignore it- Instead, his mind replayed facts about the periodic table of elements as he stared at the carbonated fizz at the top of his cola, popping up and out and darting around like fish.

Hydrogen, atomic number 1, atomic weight 1.00794 daltons...

[itsananimalthing]

Riddick had watched the monster-reel with what looked like polite interest, and now he was wandering the food tables with slightly more interest. The cavier pizza actually got a poke-- mostly because Riddick was unfamiliar with both pizza and cavier, and it looked funny.

Since the talking turtle wasn't far off, he commented, as much to himself as Don, "Wonder who first decided bread should be round and have cheese on top of it?"

[itsananimalthing]

Since this was a party for them and not for the sake of the other capitol assholes, Riddick didn't mind too much going. He was even moderately interested in the proceedings, though he didn't really have a clue what Christmas was.

So he was here, in a nice-ish sort of suit, with his wrap-around sunglasses on the whole time, poking at the odd foods and trying most of them, privately laughing at the people doing karaoke, and generally just hanging around. Compared to his demeanor anywhere else in the capitol, he looked downright approachable. Not that he was smiling or being chatty, of course: he just wasn't brooding, glaring, or pointedly ignoring people, and compared to his usual attitude, that was downright approachable.

[makeflowersgrow]

Approachable or not, he was being watched by a curious teenager in oversized clothes. Most clothes were too big on Eponine, but she didn't mind; it stopped her feeling so much on display.
Anyway, she watched as he tried the foods, and laughed at the people - probably laughed at her when she had a go singing - and when he was stood, looking as awkward as she did, not really part of the action, more hovering. The uninvited flies to the dinner table.

Quite literally. Eponine had a full plate when she sat down next to Riddick. Who cares if the food was awful if it was free?

Still, she didn't say anything. Instead, she simply smiled a little, and nodded at Riddick.

[big_badass_hero]

Chris was still trying to get used to EVERYTHING. He had been around some of the high society circles in Raccoon, dragged in in monkey suits if the police needed more security, but well at least here it was just mostly the people he had been in the arena with.

Even though it was low key, knowing Wesker was about didn't really put the Raccoon City S.T.A.R.S. operative at ease, even though currently he was shaking his head wondering who he should talk to about how to make a burger, because the thing served in a bun that looked like a hamburger, really wasn't. At least the fries seemed about right, even though they were sweet potatoes and not the classic spud.

[the_marshal]

Nearby, his eyes closed as he slowly chewed, Wyatt almost appeared to be praying as he ate.

It wasn't so much that it tasted bad - the biscuits looked more like cow-chips than the fluffy, buttery ones he used too, but he'd eaten worse - as what it made him feel.

(He'd never thought there'd come a day when his food gave him feelings, but here he was.)

Sad, as it reminded him of home; angry that he couldn't be there; and strangely touched that anyone had even bothered to look into where he'd come from.

Fork slowly turning in his hand, he sat with his head bowed, his jaw working, the old tear in the side of his hat gaping across at Chris.

[luckofthedevil]

Alex had still not warmed to all of these parties, the watching and the wispering behind hands. But his stylist had said that this was 'just for the Tributes', so he'd allowed the woman to dress him in shiny black shoes, black trouseers, and a very Christmasy red and white striped shirt. He probably looked like a candycane.

A small box was clutched in one hand, his gift for the Secret Santa exchange he'd been informed would occur at the party. He knew nothing about the Tribute he was supposed to be gifting, even after looking her up in the database. So his gift was a blind stab in the dark. Hopefully not an unwittingly offensive one.

The food at this party was a bit better than at some of the previous ones, even if off the mark on a few things. After loading up a plate, Alex found a place to sit and eat where he could comfortably observe the other Tributes.

[peacekeeperavox]

Darius was one of only two Avoxes serving tonight, and if Alex looked like a candy cane, he looked like a Christmas tree, with green clothes and red shoes that made more than a hint of 'elf' to them, and a long pointed red hat that hid his hair. He had a tray of champagne glasses, and was making sure to offer them even to the people at the edges of the party.

[fire_punk]

Kevin was pretty much sulking. He wasn't a people person and hadn't wanted to come to the party and be around people again. The food was all right, though. Most of it was really different from what he was used to at home but it mostly tasted good. And there was alcohol, so maybe he could get away with getting drunk. He tucked the gift his escort insisted he bring for Lottie under his arm and stalked over to the open bar.

[needsaprince]

All done up in a bright pink party dress, and feeling much more at home, Lottie nibbled and sipped her way through the party, waiting for his secret santa. It was nice, a little taste of the Holiday's back home.

Except in the end it was just making her more homesick.

one day i will tag into a party in a timely manner; today is not that day

[overbite]

The last time Jade had gone to a party here it had just been too much—too much noise, too many colors, too much light. After that, the possibility of something so simple seemed like it belonged to another universe. This was different. This was very nice.

She was wandering about wearing one very festive Santa hat that jingled with each step, and holding a present box in one hand for the gift exchange she'd signed up for. Picking something for a stranger was tough, but Jade thought she'd done well enough! The food in particular was a subject of fascination and she kept lingering about the table—just what was up with that suspicious-seeming pudding, anyway?