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!]
shenunigans: (Default)

[personal profile] shenunigans 2015-01-27 02:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Dave wants to admit that the Capitol is probably fucking with him, that this is the kind of sick parody that they like. He would tell her what funerals should be like, but he's already pissy and he doesn't want to imagine Punchy's real funeral on top of that.

His lips purse when she looks at him, twitching as he clearly holds back his words. He lets his eyes settle on her concerned face and something about it makes him ache a little. He reaches out, as if to brush her hair to the side, but opts to tweak her fin gently instead. "It's alright, he's dead." Harsh, but true. "Nothing here can get to him. Not without a seance." And somehow it's good to say that.

"Anywayyyy..." He trails off, glancing around and then back to her. "Do trolls just eat people when they die?" Why did he ask that..
fintastic: (that's all very nice)

[personal profile] fintastic 2015-02-02 05:18 am (UTC)(link)
Feferi stares at him for a few seconds more, then pulls him back close to her. "Fine, if you say so! But if that is ever me, I want you to empty an entire pool of water in my honor. Okay?"

She's not as good at jokes as he is; it's a little dark. His question isn't much better though, and she shakes her head as she leans it against his shoulder.

"No, that would be weird. We just leave dead trolls out for the beasts to take care of." As if that's any less weird. But why put dead bodies in a box just to bury them? Humans are so bizarre. "Maybe we should go sit down."

The shrine doesn't seem to be improving his mood any, so she gives him a tug, trying to lead him off somewhere that it's not in direct line of sight. Out of sight, out of mind, and all that. Maybe she can get him some marshmallows while she's at it-- they cheered her up just a little bit.
shenunigans: (pic#8115976)

[personal profile] shenunigans 2015-02-05 03:03 am (UTC)(link)
"Sea burials are a thing, you know. Usually we set people on fire first, though. I mean, after they're dead. Then we throw their ashes in the ocean." When did he become an expert on funeral methods? All he knows is he wants to be cremated because the dim reality of being a zombie is not one he wants to know.

"Yeah, you're right. That's not weird at all." He says, after having explained that humans burn dead people and threw their vacuum baggies of life dust into the watery abyss of the sea so they can mingle with fish shit and jizz.

He stumbles a little when she tugs him, but he steadies himself easily and follows suit. "Sitting sounds ideal, you're a genius." He scans around for chairs, but he isn't trying very hard. "Find me somewhere to rest my ass and I'll propose."
fintastic: (you'll take it and like it)

[personal profile] fintastic 2015-02-06 03:33 am (UTC)(link)
With Dave in tow, Feferi weaves through the crowd of people, still ignoring their egregious choice of costumes, to find a little bank of stump-chairs near the bonfire. She holds her hands out to help steady him, really meaning well. She understands his pain right now completely and fully.

"Do you need help? Don't fall, we cannot have you getting hurt, now can we?" Even if he is a big buoy, Feferi still hasn't gotten herself out of coddling mode. She never did get to the bottom of whatever it was that was bothering him, and while she likes to think she's pieced it together, she still doesn't have the whole story. But, she figures, he's resigned himself to this. She would stop coddling if he would just tell her.

Maybe.
shenunigans: (then squish it)

[personal profile] shenunigans 2015-02-11 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
Since Feferi clearly has experience with murder shoes, Dave trusts her judgment and her steady hands. It's probably the easiest trip across the room he's had all night. All the better because it lacks any actual tripping.

Still, he has his pride, so he looks indignant in the face of coddling despite letting her help him. "I'm not eighty, a bruised hip isn't gonna doom me." It's the bruised pride he's worried about more than anything, but they make it to the stumps eventually so he can sit his ass down. "See? I'm fine, you're fine. A couple of regular walk-gooders."

It seems like it should be her responsibility to fuss over his mental state right now, not after how that Arena went for her and how this crowning is probably rubbing it in. He fumbles awkwardly with the words for a moment before he finally says them out loud. "You wanna talk about it?"
fintastic: (i'll be okay)

[personal profile] fintastic 2015-02-16 06:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"Eighty? Do humans even live that long?" That's it, that's her takeaway from his snide remark, but she's glad to have him seated and less likely to topple over in an embarrassing way.

His question catches her off guard, probably for the same reason that he has trouble saying it in the first place. She doesn't really expect it from him, and her mouth hangs open for a second before she shakes her head.

"No. Not right now." Of course, this is Feferi, and she's always up for talking about feelings. That is her jam. It's just the fact that they're surrounded by Capitolites and Peacekeepers that has her biting her tongue. Even a crowd doesn't usually bother her, but not knowing who might be listening in... every part of her really does want to open up and vent, but this doesn't seem like the time or the place. "There is not a whole lot to say that is not totally obvious. I mean, just put yourself in my shoes!" A beat, before she adds, "But not literally. I like my shoes, you can keep yours."

Dave isn't the only one who can deflect with humor.
shenunigans: (pic#8585673)

[personal profile] shenunigans 2015-02-24 06:18 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah. Eighty is par for the course, Ninety is hard mode and a Hundred is our god mode." He takes the takeaway and uses it to educate her on his culture. He's happy to sit and happier to start wedging his shoes off his feet without noticing she's gaping at him.

He glances up suspiciously when she rebuffs him, narrowing his eyes behind his shades. It occurs to him that she might not want to talk here, though, so he lets it pass.

"My feet are too big for that. They'd start curling up like I got crushed by some stray house." He's 5'9 with growing left to do, after all. He crinkles his nose, letting her move on before he shifts a little closer on his seat. "Do you want a hug?" He pretty much blurts that out, holding his arms open for her just in case she's inclined to accept the invitation.

Offers like this are rare for a reason, he feels crippling amounts of awkward even asking her.
Edited 2015-02-24 06:19 (UTC)
fintastic: (calmly culling)

[personal profile] fintastic 2015-03-03 05:33 am (UTC)(link)
For a moment, Feferi's ready to laugh, really laugh, and then he makes an offer like that and throws her off all over again. It's not like she has anything against hugs, but Dave offering one without prompting-- now there's something new. She doesn't hesitate for too long not wanting to let the window of opportunity pass her by. Nodding eagerly, she leans in to put her arms around him, letting her head rest against his shoulder. She's still mostly sitting in her seat, so it's a little awkward, but soothing none the less. She really did need a hug.

Unfortunately for Dave, once Feferi gets going, it's hard to get her to stop, so even once she's gotten past the natural lifespan of a comforting hug, she doesn't make any move to let go; it doesn't even occur to her. She's too busy feeling vaguely uncomfortable but otherwise emotionally comforted. And they can't come and snatch her friends away if she's too busy clinging onto them like a barnacle on a boat.
shenunigans: (pic#8070490)

[personal profile] shenunigans 2015-03-08 06:02 am (UTC)(link)
Even the brief moment of hesitation is enough to make Dave wonder if he's embarrassed himself somehow in this, but he isn't too surprised when she moves into the offered embrace. If that's what she wants right now, he's happy to oblige. He lowers his arms around her back, giving her a pat with one arm and staying that way for some time before he decides to tilt his head down and rest it on the top of hers. It's a good hug, safe and enjoyable and not remotely weird. Dave likes it, he should do this more often.

Eventually, it comes to a point where the hug would probably end organically and Dave starts to move back. Only Feferi doesn't let go, as you would when a hug ends, so Dave winds up sitting up straighter but not actually pulling away.

"You alright there?" He asks carefully, with no judgement.
fintastic: (hmm~)

[personal profile] fintastic 2015-03-10 05:31 am (UTC)(link)
Dave's voice snaps her out of it; even then, she lingers for a second more, looking up at him awkwardly, before pulling away. She leaves an arm draped around his shoulders, and leans against him lightly.

"I'm okay. You're a good hugger, when you actually give it a try." And she's not even trying to butter him up. Just being next to him cheers her up a little, and she give him a little teasing nudge. "If I did not know any better, I would say you were actually fond of me!"
shenunigans: hamletmachine (or ant'-acid if you can)

[personal profile] shenunigans 2015-03-12 10:28 am (UTC)(link)
It's only when Feferi starts to pull away that Dave begins to realise he doesn't want her to. She might not be physically warm, but he still feels kind of chilly once she moves away. It probably has something to do with his bare chest and not the fact that he feels so weird that he could have kept hugging for hours.

"I've been practicing. Throwing down mad cuddles on myself at the crack of dawn, drinking warm milk and walking slowly so I feel appropriately comforting. Lifting weights to put some bulk on my cuddle arms." He babbles and gestures lifting weights as he does, pausing at her continued thought. "Of course I am." He blurts out before he can stop himself, the frown he makes indicating he didn't mean to be so sincere.

"Takes someone rad to know someone rad." Nice save.
fintastic: (heheh)

[personal profile] fintastic 2015-03-22 03:20 am (UTC)(link)
She expects to be rebuffed, but when he agrees, it surprises her. Thankfully underneath all the makeup, and the lighting, it's hard to see that she blushes a little; his save does very little to actually save him. No, it's too tacked on and too forced.

"I think I'm going to go find something to drink. Do you want me to bring you anything back?" She's already standing up, when she was practically attached to him a moment ago. Wordless cuddles are one thing, but sincerity from him jostles her a little, and she just needs to go for a little walk to get herself put together again. She doesn't want to spend the night dancing around that awkward comment.
shenunigans: (12)

[personal profile] shenunigans 2015-03-23 02:50 pm (UTC)(link)
True to form, Dave doesn't really notice anything strange about the way she's acting. Both because he's socially inept and because he's now in his own head, berating himself for saying it at all.

He peers up at her when she stands, in a daze for a moment before he realises he's being asked a question. "Uh, yeah. Whatever doesn't have bugs in it sounds good." He doesn't think much of it when she starts to walk off, but it doesn't mean he can't feel a strange, awkward sense of anxiety prickle up in him just because he cares.