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

[reallynow]

Jolie prides himself on distracting comedy when there isn't a sewing machine to slave over or a drink to drown in. Sometimes, she can take it too far, but he'll grant him a serious moment of thought.

"They've tripled the number of tributes. That's six times the staff, a hundred times the merchandise and a thousand times the fans. They've got marketing down to an art, they can sell off clips of them farting and they'd go for thousands." He mouth twitches in slight disdain. "This time it's an unlimited resource. They can keep selling them off when they never die."

[capitolprivilege]

"But the Arenas are so extravagant," Stephen says, still uneasy. "And then there's the technology they use for bringing Tributes back to life. Snow only knows how much that procedure costs to perform."

This wasn't entirely true.

Stephen knew.

"What if the Games-related revenue isn't enough? What happens when it runs out?"

[reallynow]

There's not a lot Jolie can say to that, there's not a lot she can think of to say. There's an oppressive part of her mind weighing down on any suspicions, telling her to play the flippant part and not give weight to the considerations.

Her expression visibly strains, and she furrows her brow when she looks back at Stephen, eyes boring into him as if trying to figure out what this is all about from a single look.

"Do I look like a Government Official to you? They can puff us up all they like, it ain't like we know anymore than the tributes." That causes her to bite on her bottom lip with her false fangs. "Where is this coming from? ..Do you know something I don't?"

[capitolprivilege]

To his credit, Stephen doesn't miss a beat. He laughs, and it sounds natural, if a little drunk.

"Oh, no," he laughs. "No, I suppose it's just -- a sad buzz, this time. Bourbon, you know. Never fails to turn a good night into a weepy one."

Blame it on the booze. However, in all Jolie's memory, Stephen has never been a sad drunk. When Stephen cries at a party, it's because he loves everyone in the bar.

[reallynow]

The laugh is like a bucket of cold water over Jolie's head. There's a moment when he feels like he's the one stepping out of line, making assumptions and putting them in trouble, but he soon considers the fact that he's being fucking ridiculous. Nothing about this is right and putting the spin on Jolie is more likely to flare him up.

His eyebrows furrow for a moment, a telltale sign that he's about to unleash some fury on Stephen, but it fizzles fast. He gives him a long, skeptical look before shrugging and turning to look at the skyline. "If you're going to start spouting anti-government sentiments every time you get tipsy you might want to check yourself into the clinic." He gives his shoulders a heavy shrug. "Just sayin'."

With that, he's stepping back, but not before he gives Stephen's shoulder a tight squeeze. "Be careful."

[capitolprivilege]

Several different feelings wash over Stephen in that moment: worry, that Jolie wouldn't keep quiet about what they just discussed; fear, that Stephen was now someone who had to be told be careful; amazement, that Jolie was telling Stephen to watch himself; and fondness for Jolie personally. He nods.

"Right back at you."

And watches Jolie go.