etcircenses: (Default)
Panem Events ([personal profile] etcircenses) wrote in [community profile] thecapitol2015-01-20 10:58 pm

The Crowning Of The Signless

Who| Everyone.
What| The Crowning of The Signless.
Where| An alcove in a nearby mountain.
When| From dusk to dawn, on Thursday.
Warnings/Notes| This event is mandatory for all Tributes to attend. Even if you do not tag in, your character will attend this party. Peacekeepers will be on high alert. There will be no chance to runaway.

Tributes are encouraged to sleep all during the day, before the crowning. The reason for this is revealed when they are roused at sundown and brought to the closest mountain to the city, where they are greeted by an alcove within the moutainside that has been carved into a temple to what may be an illicit faith. The stone alcove is dim-lit by candles arranged along walls and by what appears to be altars set before iron cancer signs, some plain, some inlet with intricate carvings. Bright red drapery hangs about the room, tapestries with the cancer sign and cirles of blending color spectrum. There are also some waist high leggings hung upon one wall. In the center of the room, shackles hang, glowing bright from some sort of internal heat and light. A hole in the ceiling is set on each side of it, to allow the smoke to escape from the great bonfire that roars beneath it. If one takes a seat upon any of large stones and logs aranged around it, they can see both the stars twinkling down and the way the smoke looks as though it is coming off the shackles.

The only windows otherwise are made from stained glass depicting images from the Signless's life, such as his rescue by "Alternia's First Mother" (so described on the metal plate below), "The Recording of His Teachings" depicting The Disciple writing the Signless's words into a book, "A New Follower" showing the Psiioniic joining the Signless, a boat deemed "The First Ship", and "The Execution" which features the death of the Signless before thousands of followers, a fifth troll- resembling Terezi- bearing the shackles as a necklace and another with great brown wings, a single window of Karkat and Kankri Vantas, as well as a sinister depiction of six indistinct shadowy figures of cerulean, blue, indigo, violet, tyrian, and maroon. Cave-style paintings cover the stone walls, styles ranging from simple scribbled etching to circles featuring twelve colors in circle, with bright red at the center, and yet more elaborate shadowy depictions of those in the stained glass, esepcially the Signless himself, both prior and following his execution.

But not all is dedicated to the Signless and his old posse of biblical age trolls. A shrine has been set up for redeemed and then so quickly lost victor, Matthew 'Punchy' O'Conner. Punchy has been painted upon a cave wall like he fits right into the theme. Upon his shrine lay all varieties of bling; Bling-jewelery, a bling goblet, bling boxing gloves, a hoodie, a nun habit, and a stone with a memorial rap engraved atop-- with bling, of course, all shimmering by the spotlights placed before the shrine. Refillable 40 oz bottles are lain out so that sorrowful guests, wishing to pay their respect to the boy so cruelly slain by rebels when he had turned from them, can pour one out in his honor.

Marius is also honored there with a tea light and small framed photograph set upon an empty table with an empty chair, along with souvenir versions of his and Cosette's wedding rings that guests can take home. Beneath all these rings is a photoshopped picture of javert with a single tear running down his manly face.

The only seating besides the stones and logs and Marius's single chair, are those that are sat at a table at the end of the room. Each is draped in a different color, six on each side for each district and each blood hue-- presumably of the Victor's choosing. Between these chairs sits yet one more with a tall back like a flogging jut that got the redesigned at the base to make a throne that some trolls might recognize as belonging to the Empress. The arms of the chair feature open shackles. The throne is decorated in chains of gold and jewels of all colors. The victor is given a crown of gilded flowers and thorns on chain.

Food can be found upon the altars or the victor's table, in surplus. Alternian delicacies are served, featuring insects, flavored or plain, and food made from insects. Guests may find a giant beetle being served upon a spit roast. Even the meats appear to be topped with bugs. The cakes, marshmallows (which can be roasted with stick by the fire!), and orange creamsicles may be the only things truly bug-free. Drink options are water, wine, and soda.

Stylists are encouraged to dress their tributes primarily in black, with a single bit of color put into the design matched according to district (with exception to trolls), or any manner of draping fabrics, cloaks, and costumery reminiscent of religious iconagraphy that one might expect of ancient aliens. Waist high pants and leggings are also in high regard, as well as fake horn, fangs, contacts, and anything to make guests look more trollish. The only rule is for the main colors to match to the blood assignment.

The music playing is the sort one might expect from a church, featuring mournful vocals, soft bells and melodies, and of course, organ music. But for one or two jarring differences. Where this music is coming from remains a mystery but since the space is open and clear, guests have plenty of room for dancing.

Those who don't wish to dance can talk and regale tales around the bonfire, or may instead seek out the book of "scripture" at one of the altars that features nothing more than various parables- with names that Tributes might recognize! Each Tribute has one parable contained within, telling a tale in flourished manner of a part of their life, featuring a pro-capitol moral at the end.

Elsewhere, are models of the flogging just, where guests can put their hands through the oversized cuffs and pretend to writhe in agony, an Alternian bioware helm where guests too can pretend to have their lifeforce and power used a battery for the sake of the Alternian empire, a dress-up station where guests can customize their appearance to match trolls sold into gruelling slavery to seadwellwers, and an area designed to look like a cave with extensive "Alternian" (gibberish) writings of the Signless's words, where guests too can pretend they've lost everyone they love and are carrying on their legacy by writing upon the walls and leaving their own messages of love and mourning. Not to mention, a life-sized drone with realistic piercing claws, for all your picture posing needs.

A sandpit lies just around a corner for children to make castles, dig trenches, and act out games of pretending they've trekked thousands of miles through zombie infested desert just to speak to a couple of people! Guests can also meet a "mutantblood lusus" a four-eyed crab creature with lizardlike structure-- only sized no bigger than the average dog and perhaps about as intelligent. Guests are warned not to put their hand too close, lest the claw pincers manage to pinch them.

Late into the crowning, everyone is brought out to the dark mountainside, well monitored by peacekeepers, and divided into teams. Everyone is given belts with velcro flags attached, colored according to the "blood" they were matched with by district. Those in the eighth, ninth, twelfth, third, tenth, and eleventh districts are deemed the "lowbloods. Those in the first, fourth, second, fifth, sixth, and seventh districts, are deemed the "highbloods". Each team is given a velcro board to attach the flags to. The first team to lose all their flags loses, winners getting tiny necklace copies of the shackles. The last one standing with a flag wins a larger necklace copy and the option to get it redesigned into a symbol of their choosing.

If you failed not to be "culled", fear not! All tributes receive a participation sticker at the end. This sticker features a number. It is not indicative of districts or of age, as will be announced shortly, but of the new scoring. These will be announced for everyone to hear- and pick out targets from.

The crowning officially ends with the coming dawn. And so begins, to everyone's surprise, preparation for the arena. Tributes will be going right from the crowning off to the Tribute launch tubes. Happy Hunger Games!

[Note: This is ICly on Thursday! Just before the arena on Friday!]
fusshionable: (05)

[personal profile] fusshionable 2015-01-25 05:31 am (UTC)(link)
"Fair enough," she agrees. "If it makes you feel any better, this wasn't remotely my idea. I prefer my parties to be held not in random caves."

She tosses her hair lightly at his assumption. "Escort, yes. District Five." Her nose wrinkles. "I'll try not to trigger any neurotic episodes on your part."
crabmunicator: (020)

[personal profile] crabmunicator 2015-01-31 05:59 am (UTC)(link)
"The cave is dumb yet thematic. It's the presentation I have a problem with," he argues back, lifting his gaze around the area. It wouldn't be that bad without all the lighthearted torture implements.

His attention returns with her clarification. "Then you have already won yourself some points. One of my friends is actually trying to market a fucking board game about pissing me off."
fusshionable: (08)

[personal profile] fusshionable 2015-02-01 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
Porrim's lips curl, without her permission, and something rings a bell. "Ah--Karkat Tantrum Bingo, correct?" She does keep a pretty keen eye on the network, even if she rarely replies to the things people post there. "I can imagine that would be rather...aggravating."
crabmunicator: (061)

[personal profile] crabmunicator 2015-02-07 12:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes," he says with a grumble to his voice. "Let's just market my temper tantrums to the world. It's not like my emotions got more than enough attention just from the arena; we have to make sure everyone knows the full spectrum and pays for the privilege. Behold, my lucrative anguish! Now hand over the boonbucks." He finishes with a roll of his eyes.

"At least you've got the easy job around here. Drag people around, make them earn sponsors, and whatever else."
fusshionable: (03)

[personal profile] fusshionable 2015-02-10 06:10 am (UTC)(link)
"Easy." Porrim repeats the word incredulously, and lets out a bark of a laugh. "Easy? Oh, child, if only you knew how hard my job actually is, you'd never associate that work with Escorting." It's the truth; she goes to sleep at night feeling bone-tired, overworked, and all the sleep in the world couldn't erase the bags under her eyes.

"But if you think it's so easy, I invite you to try wrangling Five's districts to their interviews every Arena."
crabmunicator: (077)

[personal profile] crabmunicator 2015-02-10 06:17 am (UTC)(link)
Karkat would laugh if he could find any humor in what she says, but he can't even summon up the half-hearted laugh of incredulity to that. Oh, how terrible: she has to make assholes cooperate. He's been there. It's a pain, but it's not what he meant.

He tosses his hands up. "Oh, woe is the poor Capitolite!" he snaps off. "Made to do a job and make people go places. How grueling, how brutal, how very unfair indeed. It must be a cakewalk for tributes like me to go play together in the arenas. I'm a whiny little grub for even daring to put myself above the struggle of dealing with fussy children, and I swear to my shriveled little blood pusher I will keep your plight in mind the next time I taste blood from my internal organs."

He might have kept his tongue if he had thought more, but as loose with the comments as he's been around her, the words are out before he can even start to regret.
Edited 2015-02-10 06:18 (UTC)
fusshionable: (02)

[personal profile] fusshionable 2015-02-10 06:28 am (UTC)(link)
Almost immediately, Porrim regrets what she's just said. It was insensitive, certainly; she hadn't been thinking. But on the other hand, she's pretty sure Karkat is overreacting. She hadn't said that her job was any better or worse than being a Tribute; she'd never do so.

"That's a very nice assumption you're making," she snips back haughtily, face a strange mixture of anger and regret. "I'm a bit offended that you'd think I would ever compare my job to your plight. All I said is that it was difficult, which it is."

The Escort lets out a huff, trying to compose herself. "Is there anything else you'd like to overreact at me for? I have some important matters to attend to, if not."
crabmunicator: (091)

[personal profile] crabmunicator 2015-02-10 06:39 am (UTC)(link)
His wiggles his fingers at her not-even-trying-to-be-an-apology, the most offended little jazz hands one could ask for.

"And what stakes are you at?" he adds, no less bold. "I only helped the dregs of my dying species make a universe!" He waves the bowl with the frog emphatically, as if she would know what that means. "Surely not a speck of dust in your eye compared to getting those assholes to their interviews on time. Phew, you must be beat. How about I pat your back over all the hard work you do?"

He conspicuously does not take a single step closer, let alone reach for her.
fusshionable: (05)

[personal profile] fusshionable 2015-02-11 05:35 am (UTC)(link)
At this point, Porrim's just staring down at Karkat with a flat look on her face. Really, she's not sure why she's still standing here, at this point. She breathes out hard through her nose, fighting to keep her voice low, not to attract attention.

"Listen," she says evenly. "You throwing a tantrum isn't helping further anyone's cause here. And you're certainly not helping either of us with your word vomit. So I," she points across the room, "am going to go over there. And you're going to be quiet so neither of us is hauled off for an interrogation as to any anti-Capitol sentiments. Alright?"

Porrim huffs, before stalking off. She needs a stiff drink if she's going to be having all these conversations tonight.
crabmunicator: (035)

[personal profile] crabmunicator 2015-02-13 12:40 am (UTC)(link)
He doesn't want to listen. She's given him something to be mad and offended about, something easier than the tactless party around them, one that's less immediate. To stamp down her whining is to take a piece of power for himself, instead of raging at the impotence imposed by this place. But she doesn't want to listen, and her reasoning...

Her reasoning is actually important.

Like missing a step, he's lurched out of the path he was on. Hauled off for an interrogation is something no one needs here, and as bitter as he is about the Capitol and all its people, he can't even wish her that much.

In the end, he neither says nor does anything to stop her as she leaves. He's not happy, but like her he turns and goes to find some other distraction. It's the only way to deal with this place.