It's like a superbowl party but with more Effie and death.

[mannersmatter]

WHO| Everyone who's anyone in the Capitol.
WHAT| Effie is throwing a private party
WHEN| Towards the end of the Games
WHERE| A loft rented out towards the edge of town.
WARNING/NOTES| Treat like any party post, tag amongst yourselves!

They were down and out for this rounds, but with the new idea of the Games, Effie wasn't going to take a break. The Games would not be forgotten to the general public until next year like usual, and after getting out not one tribute but two Effie was not happy about being out so fast. She was determined they would do better next round.

So since they weren't worried about keeping tributes alive, Effie had made an effort to keep District 12 on people's radar in other ways. She had spare not expense for this party, and it looked like it. The whole pace was decked out in vivid reds, oranges and yellows. Vases of glowing coals sat in the middle of the tables, and Effie has designed the food and drink menus to contain as much spicy and outright flaming food as she could. She had no idea what they actually ate in 12, but she was running with this fire theme for all it was worth. She had invited as many interesting people as she could, and as many wealthy, and been pleased when the two overlapped.

And she, of course, matched the whole theme. As should the rest of her team when they showed up.

Comments

[peacekeeperavox]

He tilted his head respectfully, and got a slightly larger plate before beginning to make a series of selections for her. When he hesitated over a dish, as spicy as it was sweet, he offered her a taste on another little bronze spoon.

[cowardfacinghappiness]

Momoko took the spoon, still holding the other in her other hand, not sure what to do with it. Her suspicion eased by the nice--and silent, she liked people who didn't talk--servant she at the spoonful without a second's hesitation. For a moment all was well and then, horrified, she spit it out, spoon and all. Making something sweet and spicy? Why would someone do that?

[peacekeeperavox]

Startlement flashed across his face, and a flicker of fear too, but then it was gone, and he set the plate down, a cloth appearing from virtually nowhere as he hurried to clean up the dropped food. Noted, no more spicy of any kind.

[cowardfacinghappiness]

Momoko ignored the young man cleaning hurriedly for the moment, wiping her mouth. "I hate this place," she muttered spitefully, and at this point she wasn't sure if she was more angry at being groomed to die in front of a crowd of spectators, or at the way this place seemed to chip away at her prized self-control.

[peacekeeperavox]

He looked up at her from his knees, brows drawn together in sympathy. Rising, he left the plate where he'd set it for a moment, and stepped away to another table. He was only gone for a moment, and when he returned, he held out a delicate little cup of hot chocolate to her, piled high with hand-whipped cream and sprinkled with chocolate and sugar.

[cowardfacinghappiness]

Momoko stared, frozen for a split-second. She could swear she was tearing up, real tears--of something besides outrage--for the first time in years, as far as she could remember. But she was still Momoko Ryugasaki, famed cold-hearted girl who'd waved her own mother away to a new life with a dreamy smile on her face, so she blinked the tears back.

Still. She reached for the cup and took it gently. "Thank you," she said quietly, a rare real sincere smile on her face.

This was indeed a night for firsts.

[peacekeeperavox]

He tilted his head in acknowledgement, still utterly silent, and wished he could do more.

None of them should be here.