we wine, we dine, and everything is fine [open!]

[capitolprivilege]

Who| Everyone still in the Capitol. If the Hunger Games is a significant part of your life, or if you wield any influence at all in the Capitol, you've received an invitation. Unless you're Victory Hannibal.
What| Week 1 viewing party! It's horror-movie/monster themed, so break out your best sexy witch/vampire/mummy costumes! Also, feel free to use it for sponsor schmoozing.
Where| A ballroom, and some adjacent rooms.
When| Just before the Arena begins, and into the night.
Warnings/Notes| Watch this space for warnings. Also, feel free to make closed threads amongst yourselves, but Stephen will likely at some point come up to greet you personally. If you think your Capitol character would be familiar with the Reagan family, make an OOC note, and I'll give you a quick rundown on their sordid past.


There is a fog machine.

The fog hovers around the guests' knees and ankles, doing nothing to impede visibility or movement, but it creates a ~mysterious~ atmosphere. The ballroom is modest, by Capitol standards, able to comfortably hold about a hundred people. There's plenty of space. The room is dimly lit from concealed sources that nonetheless throw the guests' shadows into frightening shapes on the wall. There are tables laden with food along one wall, and plenty of comfortable seating, for projected onto the far wall is a live feed from the Games.

Through the doors are smaller, more intimate rooms, with cushy couches and a smaller screen apiece for watching the Games a little more privately. One pair of double-doors leads out onto a balcony with a beautiful view of the city.

Everyone who received the invitation was informed of the theme, of course: no pressure, but if you want your outfit to match (and he's sure you do), make sure it's a little bit -- spooky.

Stephen himself, tastefully attired in a shimmery black suit, cape, and vampire teeth, is moving about the guests, giving friendly greetings to those he knows, making polite conversation with those he does not, ensuring that everybody (or at least, everybody possible) is having a good time. So what if his smile looks a little fixed, every once in a while? It's a party. What could possibly be wrong?

Comments

[capitolprivilege]

"But if that's the case, why would the infection have spread to the Capitol?" The wheels in Stephen's head turned, and he decided on no. "Whatever you've got, I doubt the Tributes were meant to catch it."

[hit_girl_mindy]

"That's fortunate," Mindy said, fighting back the shudder that was coming for her. "And...I'm guessing this helped you win your run in the Arena?"

Besides making her have bad nightmares for the next few days.

[president_evil]

"I would have won either way," he said, that same low purr, smugly confident. Wholly believing of the things he said. "But it did speed the process, yes."

[confidentially]

"Wow. Dramatic much?" She inhaled sharply, sucking up the loosening snot back into her skull. "You can't die."

[hit_girl_mindy]

"That's some confidence." Mindy said this with an air of interest.It was like talking with Azula, when you got down to it: talking with traps. "The games are never that predictable. People, maybe."

[hanssome]

When he's spoken to, Hans meets Stephen's eyes with his own quickly, a warm smile forming on his face as he moves to take the offered hand and gives it an enthusiastic shake. "Yes, hello! The make up is very convincing, isn't it?" He chuckles, a little familiarity coming to his face when he mentions Anna. "Yes, of course. It's wonderful to finally meet you, you've taken such good care of her." And for that he tries to look genuinely appreciative. "She's told me so much about you."

[hanssome]

Somehow, Hans hadn't been able to keep tabs on his brothers the entire time they'd visited. He hadn't wanted to be around them for more than a second, but he didn't want them to wander about spouting mistruths and besmirching his honor. He had no idea that they'd gotten to Mindy, so there's no preconceptions of that when he smiles brightly at her.

"Oh! Err.." He gives the scissors a curious glance, but he tries to take her hand anyway, even if it's a little bit of an awkward shake. "Thank you! I could say the same about you, actually. It's a pleasure to finally meet you face to face."

[hanssome]

The prince's hands sort of hover near her as if anticipating a drop of a glass or a collapse at the rate she's jittering. His eyes lit with worry, but his mind is curious. It's not unusual to see Azula acting strangely, but her brand of strange is something he's gotten used to.

"Hot?" He asks inquisitively. "I didn't think it was too hot, actually. I suppose I really am from the South." He lets out a soft laugh, but it's brief before he resumes his concerns. "Are you feeling feverish, miss? I don't mean to be rude, but you don't look well at all."

[hit_girl_mindy]

He seemed...ok, more or less. She was still getting the hang of all the small talk, and Hans was probably just starting to get used to being a mentor. Never mind that he was from the district of her top hated person, she wouldn't hold that against him.

"Happened to see you in the last Arena. You took on Rat pretty well. I say this as someone who practically had the guy try to rip my face off. Good job avoiding the scissors, by the way."

[capitolprivilege]

The handshake is firm, quick, and friendly. Stephen has, of course, heard of Hans' behavior in the mini-Arena, but he sees no reason to judge Hans based on that. He was desperate! Of course he was! No one knew what they would become under the pressures of the Arena.

And after all, Tributes were encouraged to be violent and self-serving. Those traits were valued by the Capitol.

So, Stephen is unbothered by Hans' conduct. "You must be worried about her," he says with sympathy, "going into the Arena by herself. I know I would be."

[revvinguptheharley]

"Well thank you for your support handsome!" Harley cooed with delight. "I've already encouraged them all to put on a good show you know? Some clever quips, maybe a flashy kill. Something to make it fun for you."

The flutter of her eyelashes, a pucker of her lips like a blown kiss.

"And with entertainment comes the gifts! The adoring fans who want to see the party go on just a few more days. Because lets face it no one likes to see someone die of starvation or infection right?"

[burnedbrighter]

Privately she's grateful he's noticed at all.

"I just need some fresh air." She argued refusing to admit she was ill. Turning around sharply some water spilled from her glass but she ignored it as her glazed over eyes desperately sought out a window or a balcony.

"It's just too warm...nothing sinister." she muttered to herself "There's no reason someone would...no. Not anymore."

Clearly she was having problems.

[capitolprivilege]

"Right," agreed Stephen wholeheartedly. Then, in a lower, more conspiratorial tone, he asked, "But that's all professional talk. Who do you, personally, have your eye on this round? Any particularly promising candidates from District 9?"

After all, while Stephen Reagan was technically part of the Games staff, he had enough disposable income to throw a fair bit of it away on the Games. Harley could score a Sponsor here, if she played her cards right.

[pepsi_cola]

"I think I'm dying," she says, using it as an excuse to dramatically slump on him. He wouldn't deny a poor sick lady, would he? No, Wyatt Earp (or the Wyatt Earp of her dreams) is a perfect gentleman, and will take her in his arms and up to bed.

"I have never been so ill as I have been lately."

[confidentially]

She coughed again, covering her mouth and nose. "But what'll happen if we're still sick when they start to come back?" She glanced around the room toward Chris Traeger, who quite honestly looked like a wreck. "I seriously hope this isn't fatal."

[president_evil]

"Particularly oneself," Wesker replied easily. "I know what I am, and what I am capable of. I would have won, that arena or another, because I would have it no other way."

He was the man with the plan. The man with goals, with plots.

And he always won. Even when he lost.

"And I see no reason to pretend otherwise."

[the_marshal]

Caught by surprise, he caught her out of instinct - helping, as was his nature without thought - and it wasn't until she was already in his arms that he wondered if maybe there hadn't been a better way.

"If ya aren't feelin' well, ya should be restin'," he replied lowly, shifting carefully as he worked to prop her back up. "Maybe ya aught'a think about headin' on home."

[revvinguptheharley]

"Ooo, trying to get the inside scoop eh?" She grinned wickedly and wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

"Well if you're looking for longevity you can't find better then our boy Donatello. Of course I don't need to tell you that, he's been in enough of these arenas now I bet there isn't a soul alive in the Capitol who hasn't seen him in action. He's always a safe bet if you wanna go round for round. But as for clearing the whole arena we've got some real potential from the newer kids." She explained cheerfully.

"Elsa for example, she doesn't seem like much at first. Scared of her own shadow practically, but I've seen the heart of a hero in her. She sacrificed her own life to save mine after all and that's how I won my arena." Leaving out the part where she used Susannah's alternate personality to do her dirty work. "Don't let her low score fool you, when she comes into her own she's going to be a force to be reckoned with."

"Unfortunately a heroic heart also leads to self sacrifice so she's got some weaknesses in that field. If you want to cheer for someone a bit more interested in self preservation I'll draw your attention to Miss Rosalind Lutece. She's new this round but I had some time to sit down with her and she's brilliant. Not as physically capable as you might think a winner needs to be but I'd bet that girl could make a bomb out of a toaster if you gave her enough time."

Snagging a drink from a passing plate she shot it down in one gulp to wet her whistle for the final pitch.

"But we all know in the arena brains can only take you so far. At the end of the day you want killer instinct. Power and the skill to use that power. And Gannicus is all that and yummy eye candy to boot." She giggled. "He's got the highest score of anyone in our district, and for good reason. I get the feeling we're gonna see some real carnage from that walking female fantasy."

[hit_girl_mindy]

Mindy shrugged. Ok, can't really fault a guy for being sure about what they do, even if they did sort of give you the creeps.

"Now the million dollar question: why DID you want to win? Some people can't take the idea of killing someone or getting killed. I have a feeling you're not in that camp."

[reallynow]

"Not since we let these other clowns in, no. It's almost like kids generally don't stand a chance against adults. Crazy, right?" He takes a long draw of his drink to shut himself up.

"Instead we have to deal with assholes like french fry and the hunky, gladiator guy.. Alright so that wasn't so bad." He muses on that for a moment. "Savor it while it lasts, kid. Next thing you know they'll be wanting ice cream commercials. People are always gonna want you to promote something."

[reallynow]

"Hey, I'm not trying to rub it in or anything. Stylists are competitive, is all. I just think it was a wasted opportunity." He heaves his shoulders in a shrug, looking as sympathetic and mournful as possible.

..Until he gets a hand shake and he's shaking it as enthusiastically as possible, flashing his pearly whites when he does.

"Of course I do. So I think we can both safely say the pleasure is all mine."

[reallynow]

"Outcast from your own party, what is the world coming to..?" He murmurs dramatically, shaking his head before crinkling his noise in reflection. "They aren't the only ones who look like death warmed over- but I'm pretty sure some of those bitches are used to it." He gives Stephen a sidelong smirk. "You sure it's just that? I don't think I've ever seen you skip out on a party for anything." He muses on that for a moment. "You're getting old."

[hit_girl_mindy]

"Personally? I think they just played it safe with the kids. I mean, they're not wimps or anything: Riley would stab you if you were trouble, and Pruna would knife you in a hurry if she needed to. Nah, they need a kid who gets their hand dirty like the adults. Fucked if they know what to do with her after though. I think it's been too long. They needed the surprise."

She laughed. "Ok, see, now you're being vague. We have, what, at least five French fries and maybe three gladiators. Unless you mean that one fucker who won hiding around, and by Gladiator...uh, Max. Ice cream. Ha ha. God, they would totally do that wouldn't they?"

[reallynow]

"Ha." He lets out a laugh of agreement with a slight nod before he pulls an uncomfortable look. He does so enjoy gossiping, but the further they go with this, the worse it would be if it were overhead. "The less said about that the better, right? Cheers to the kid who showed 'em all whose boss." He raises his glass to her before taking yet another swig.

"The french fry who won, duh. The one who got sent back in for being a loud mouth." He tightens his mouth into a slight frown. "Yeah, Max. What a guy." And now that frown is a smile. "Listen kid, everyone is gonna want something from you. You're in the spotlight and, quite frankly, you're adorable. You gotta be careful who you give your face to."

[hit_girl_mindy]

She read the look, had to read the look. Hell, she had learned the hard way what happened when you weren't on the ball. Even saying something just as a theorist about the kids was asking for trouble. Then again, if she thought about it, maybe this was EXACTLY why she'd been chosen. They needed a kid who could kill like the old ways.

"I aim to please," she said, clinking glasses. "Well, forced to anyway. But don't remind me. I was lucky enough not to give a speech. I think I'm being punished for liking my anonymity in my other life by having to be noticed everywhere."