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!]

[personal profile] meravas 2015-01-30 08:00 am (UTC)(link)
"How about a round of arm wrestling?" Bull suggested, shifting on the bench to reach over and give Maxwell's bicep a squeeze, testing the muscle.
dreadinquisitor: (smile)

[personal profile] dreadinquisitor 2015-01-30 12:03 pm (UTC)(link)
To his credit, Maxwell didn't wince. He actually gave his arm a little considering flex - which might have been impressive, if Bull's bicep weren't as big as Maxwell's head.

"Do I get to pick my second, and third?" he joked. "It might actually be a contest then."

[personal profile] meravas 2015-01-31 03:06 am (UTC)(link)
"Not bad not bad," Bull commented when he felt that flex, releasing the arm to give it a hearty pat.

"Oh, c'mon now. I'm sure you can handle this -" Now it was Bull's turn to flex, giving the hard muscle a sound slap. "You prefer I go easy on you instead?"
dreadinquisitor: (smile)

[personal profile] dreadinquisitor 2015-01-31 01:42 pm (UTC)(link)
He laughed.

"I prefer to keep my arm, Bull. I am going to need it, after all, when this arena comes along."

He shook Bull a teasing look. "Unless you're offering to tend to me while we're in there."

[personal profile] meravas 2015-02-03 03:30 am (UTC)(link)
"Hey, I have your back, you know this. It's what you paid me for, remember?" It was both serious and to join in on his teasing.

Bull would try his damnedest to be there for the Inquisitor, for his friends. He couldn't be there for his men.
dreadinquisitor: (smile2)

[personal profile] dreadinquisitor 2015-02-03 01:11 pm (UTC)(link)
"Across time and space, even?" he chuckled, slipping into the joke easily. Taking a sort of comfort in the humor. The familiarity of it. "I wish more of my investments turned around so well."

Clapping his knees with his palms, he moved to stand, decision apparently made.

"Shall I pick glasses at random, or did you have a specific poison in mind?"

One couldn't hurt - could it?

[personal profile] meravas 2015-02-03 01:56 pm (UTC)(link)
"You made a damn good investment that's for sure."

Bull leaned back and tipped his head to watch him stand.

"Let's take our chances, have a little fun. I say we go with random."
dreadinquisitor: (Default)

[personal profile] dreadinquisitor 2015-02-03 03:57 pm (UTC)(link)
His mouth curved, and he dipped his head in deference.

"Keep me a seat," he said, gesturing with one hand as he turned. "I'll be back..."

And he was, a few moments later, holding two of the goblets by their rims, minding party-goers as he squeezed between them. He stopped in front of Bull, holding them back where he couldn't see the contents, both dark, one bubbling disconcertingly.

"Left or right?"

[personal profile] meravas 2015-02-04 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
There had been someone who had come by to plant themselves down next to him but Bull had shooed them off. And in good timing.

"Since I'm missing my left eye, I'll take my chances with the left." He held up a hand for the left goblet, half grinning.

What could this be?
dreadinquisitor: (smile)

[personal profile] dreadinquisitor 2015-02-04 11:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Maxwell passed it over, glancing down into the inky depths of the remaining goblet, then he lifted it.

"Here's to living to regret this," he toasted wryly.

[personal profile] meravas 2015-02-05 08:59 am (UTC)(link)
"To another day of regret," Bull toasted with him, goblet lifting. He wasn't even going to bother sniffing the contents, he was going to toss it down and hope he didn't spit it back out into the fire.
dreadinquisitor: (what)

[personal profile] dreadinquisitor 2015-02-05 12:50 pm (UTC)(link)
He touched his goblet to Bull's with a soft clink, then tipped it back a mouthful in a hard, fast gulp. The wince was immediate, the drink bitter and sharp, but he managed to swallow and he didn't keel over after.

Victories, both.

"Wine," he coughed. "...If straining the term a bit."

[personal profile] meravas 2015-02-09 07:32 am (UTC)(link)
Bull's mouthful had gone down smooth. He licked his lips and had himself another, smaller sip. "Not bad. It's a little too sweet but... not bad."

Sweet and sharp on his tongue, the burn going down had been a calm almost minor one.

"What, not for you?"
dreadinquisitor: (smile)

[personal profile] dreadinquisitor 2015-02-09 01:32 pm (UTC)(link)
There was nobility running in his veins, however much he might behave otherwise. He knew what wine should have tasted like, what it should have been paired with.

And he imagined that yes, this vintage was perfectly suited for a meal of crickets and beetles. Tongue running over the insides of his cheeks, he glanced sideways - this way, then that - and turned and quickly tossed the remaining into the fire behind him.

"An acquired taste, I'm sure," he said, turning back with a boyish sort of grin as the flames roared up. He dipped slightly, a half-bow from just above the waist. "I concede, the mighty Iron Bull."

[personal profile] meravas 2015-02-09 11:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Bull laughter was loud and rich, pleased. It had to do with both the grin on Maxwell's face and the flames roaring up behind him. He tossed back the rest of the drink and let out a satisfied sigh.

That was good. Still not bad.

"Now we need to pick a game where you'll win," he said as he tapped the bottom of the empty goblet against the top of his thigh. "But what?"
dreadinquisitor: (Default)

[personal profile] dreadinquisitor 2015-02-10 01:25 am (UTC)(link)
"I'd suggest a round of Wicked Grace," he offered with a considering bob of his head. "But, alas, I have yet to see any actual cards."

And he'd have had nothing to bet with, besides.

"To be honest I'm not even sure they'd bother with such a benign form of entertainment."

[personal profile] meravas 2015-02-10 10:49 am (UTC)(link)
"But it turns out great. Like Cullen losing his clothes." His grin was a little lopsided. That had been a good time. "That's some damn fine entertainment right there."
dreadinquisitor: (smile)

[personal profile] dreadinquisitor 2015-02-10 12:32 pm (UTC)(link)
His head tipped back with a laugh, a full, honest sound. Delight still to be found, against everything.

"Now there's a comfort," he said. "That that moment transcends time and space."

And he meant it. The knowledge that something so - simple and good could be found again and again... It warmed in his chest.

Like hope.

"Was it Josie?" he asked a beat later because he had to, his smile only widening as the memory replayed in his mind.
Edited 2015-02-10 12:35 (UTC)

[personal profile] meravas 2015-02-11 08:50 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah!" His grin widened. "It was. I was impressed. Shouldn't be so surprised considering things but. Yeah, it was good ol' Josie."

Bull began to snicker then. "The look on Cullen's face - it was like absolute betrayal. At its best."
dreadinquisitor: (gentle)

[personal profile] dreadinquisitor 2015-02-11 12:37 pm (UTC)(link)
He laughed again, his smile turning a little wicked then. A little playful. As if, for at least a moment, he'd forgotten where they were. What he was.

"We should find her and ask, see if we can make it three for three. I'm sure she'd be delighted to know if she stands undefeated."

It was possible, of course, that in Josie's timeline there had been no game or that it had played out a different way, but what difference could asking about a card game make? He couldn't imagine losing the fight against Corypheus for a round of Wicked Grace.

[personal profile] meravas 2015-02-14 07:06 am (UTC)(link)
Bull is still grinning as he turns away to look around the crowds, trying to find the familiar dark-haired woman. It's always so easy to pick up on her accent when they're all in places like this.

"I bet she'd love the idea. Cullen, not so much. Where do you think she is?"
dreadinquisitor: (smile)

[personal profile] dreadinquisitor 2015-02-14 06:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"Even Cullen has to appreciate skill when he sees it," Maxwell chuckled, turning to look in the other direction. "...I'm sure she's here somewhere; as I understand it, our attendance to this is mandatory."

Which he could only imagine went over amazingly well. He had been here a few weeks and knew next to no one and he hadn't wanted to be here. Never-mind these poor souls had been here for the arena, had fought and died against one another.

[personal profile] meravas 2015-02-17 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
"He would, once he got over losing." His chuckling lingered and he let out a quiet hum in his throat, squinting his eye to look for her, trying to spot her.

"Hard to miss that one, wherever she is. Not like she can go far, either."
dreadinquisitor: (Default)

[personal profile] dreadinquisitor 2015-02-17 12:07 pm (UTC)(link)
"Divide and conquer?" Maxwell suggested, eyebrows lifting teasingly. "If you spot her first you can signal me with your eye-patch."

[personal profile] meravas 2015-02-17 11:12 pm (UTC)(link)
"The eye patch stays on." Some of the laughter from earlier faded. Bull was still irritated by the woman named Molotov antagonizing him about it and claiming that she could be the only one allowed to wear it, insisting he take it off or she take it off for him.

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