The Crowning of Tony Stark

[etcircenses]

Who| Everyone.
What| The Crowning of Tony Stark.
Where| The New Capitol Stark Expo!
When| Friday, late afternoon into the evening.
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, so no funny business.
WARNINGS| Alcoholism / References to Alcoholism.  

The Capitol might be known for its extravagance, but Stark Expos have never skimped on a show. Combining the two together could only be a recipe for the most wild indulgences. The center theater takes styling after a arc reactor, with glass ceiling and glowing blue lights set right within the metal and putting a glow to the sky. Lightshows go off on the main stage, the stark logo overhead and a massive screen displaying the Panem flag and Tony Stark's image just behind the dancing Ironettes. A circle plattform going off from the stage, clearly reserved for the guest of honor, features a design Panem's bird in red, gold, and glowing blue.

A globe is featured in the outside gardens, showing off a map of Panem, and the park is filled with artistic statues of destroyed Iron Man amror. But there's no quiet here, not with the fireworks going off all night and the consistent playing of music that is not but sounds an awful lot like that of Daft Punk, Eifel 65, ACDC, and one other song that breaks them up.

Various shows can be found about the gardens, including display models of some of Tony Stark's old weapons and Iron Man suits. Further along guests may find the Avengers display, featuring large portraits of the Avengers and their allies, large red x's going over greyed out portraits of those deemed dead, including Phill Coulson, Natasha Romanoff, and Thor. Along with these portraits can be found the Stark family tree, featuring the Victor Tony Stark and all his relations including apparent son Dave Strider, and Arya Stark, Ancestor of the Stark family, not to mention the great Howard Stark who's accomplishments (and tragic lack of care for Anthony) are lovingly illustrated. One such accomplishment being a "flying car" just a short walk over.

There's plenty for guests to do besides just ogle the brilliant sights however! A bar has been set up with a whole variety of drinking games available from Sink The Battleship and Drink Roulette to an extravagent variation of the classic game, Beer Pong, and an ongoing run of the Games with rules of drinking for each emotional scene, funny incident, or death. Those under the age of eighteen will be served fizzing juice or soda instead and can participate in junior versions of the very same games. All the cups are made from the finest glass with Tony Stark images over them. Avoxes are on scene to clean every spill and break of glass that might come.

A cave has been crafted of artificial and real material, designed to look like the Cave in which Tony Stark became a real hero, but with a twist; it's been made into a fun-for-all maze! Guests can attempt to navigate their way to the labyrinth and reach the core, avoiding those nasty pop-out rebels along the way. Those who make it to the fire-lit center may receive a limited edition "Tony Stark Heart" miniature arc reactor in a beautiful glass case.

An indoor sky diving station is also available, large enough that many guests may enter at once and still find it spacious. Here, guests can don Iron Man themed sky-diving suits and experience the sensation of flight, just as Tony Stark once did. Of course, the party doesn't start until the Victor comes in; he'll be appearing by Capitol-controlled suit to make his entrance at center stage. It is here that his Throne shall be raised up through the stage and his crown gifted to him. Following the official Crowning Ceremony will also come a speech from the Capitol's very own, Cyrus Reagan.

Tributes are dressed in formal wear with robotic accents. Such as a full mask or metal armor. Capitolites can be seen with Tony stark styled hair, bearing tattoos in his image, and even with surgically implanted lights, in honor of the new Victor. Available for purchase are handcrafted Tony Stark dolls, Iron Man action figures, and models of beloved robot-pet "Dum-E" in both small and life-sized. The Iron Man light gloves come completely free for all guests.

The Crowning ends off with a bang, as in the center of the sky, a massive "wormhole" opens up showing a vast darkness full of sinister creatures just on the other side, sure to inspire some screams from fans. Guests near to the Iron Man suit displays are asked by peacekeepers to step back-- far back-- but may be the first to witness the incredible scene of all those suits launching into the sky and exploding around and "in" the wormhole. The wormhole shifts to a message stating the show to have been brought to you by the Hunger Game's skilled Sky-Display Designers before going into advertising for the rest of the night as the party dies down.

Comments

ota!

[revocation]

This is Cullen's second Crowning. The first had been rather offensive to his sensibilities - making a mockery of religious practice isn't something he particularly approves of. This time, however, he's not angry, simply headachey. The outfit his stylist forced on him, a concoction of black and white that is apparently called a "tuxedo" is fitted precisely to his muscular figure, and the strange metal vambraces on his arms aren't his usual Templar ones, they're red and gold, matching much of the decor.

The bright lights and terrible, pounding music bring on a headache quite fast, though, and even if he was inclined to be sociable at such an event in the first place (he's not), Cullen very quickly removes himself to the sidelines as best he can. Those who approach him might get a growled, what, before he thinks better of it.

[cowcatcher]

Here comes Jane, hot in pursuit of the ping pong ball her much less sober opponent (some self-enamored Capitolite sponsor who couldn't go more than a couple minutes without mentioning that his arc reactor was actually a dermal implant-- just like the real thing!) managed to lob right into the crowd. Never mind that an Avox could have replaced it in seconds without ever interrupting their game, she was making a much-needed getaway with the ball's trajectory as her guide.

An ordinary ping pong ball wouldn't have stood a chance at a party this dark, which might be why these were made brightly luminescent, set to shift hypnotically between all the colors in the spectrum-- though they tend to linger on red and yellow. The ball rolls to a stop against Cullen's foot just as Jane breaks through the outer edge of party-goers, hefting her skirt along in a fistful. She eyes the ball first, then him, lips pulled haplessly into a line. Though his name escapes her, she recognizes him from the arena footage available for review, having watched enough to know that he travels with a group that is both sizable and competent. With that in mind, even she knows that a bad first impression with him could really come back around to bite her in the ass, so she minds herself for once.

"...You mind kicking that my way?" She says finally, gesturing down with a single finger.

[revocation]

Cullen is relatively oblivious to most scrutiny right now. It's probably a good thing that the Thedosian contingent is seen as competent, though at the moment he himself isn't really looking the part, despite the armor pieces and such. Mostly he just looks like he'd much rather be hiding under a rock than put up with yet another comment about how handsome he is or something. If anything, his eyes are scanning the crowd for Adella - hopefully she'll be back soon from wherever she's wandered off to - probably in search of food.

The ball catches his eye, and he bends over to pick it up - it's brightly lit, like so many things at this party, technology which is completely inexplicable to him, not to mention headache-inducing. The way the lights flash, he doesn't understand how anyone can handle it for more than a few minutes at a time.

The young woman who approaches him, in a lot of ways, is almost the last straw. For a moment, he looks downright offended. Is she naked? Almost. She looks nearly obscene, and he keeps his eyes firmly on her face, even as his ears go a little red at the sight of her.

"This?" he asks, holding out the ball to her. "Are you - that is - did you... tear your dress?"

[cowcatcher]

Shit, he's pissed. Jane stays where she is, stalling because she's trying to place the look on his face with a motive that corresponds. Was there already bad blood here that she didn't know about? Maybe drawn by someone she runs with, or even by something she'd done in the rush of the last arena. Releasing the hem of her gown, Jane sets a hand on her hip while the other juts out slightly. She would look poised if it weren't for the way her fingers drum restlessly against her side.

"Yeah, that." She sounds pained, reluctant to step further into an unwanted situation when there's an easy way out. Just take the stupid ball, turn around, and slip right back into the crowd, back to—

Wait, what?

Her first conclusion is that he's seen something she hasn't. Her expression contorts with surprise. It would just figure that she'd have a wardrobe malfunction. Honestly, why wouldn't it happen to her? Jane checks herself over quickly, but everything seems to be in place. Sure, the dress is revealing, but nothing that she doesn't want out is currently exposed. Even the scar on her chest is tucked behind a panel of thatched silver.

"Uh, no?" She gives a shrug before crossing her arms, adding helplessly, "This is what it's supposed to look like." She sounds pained again, and just a little defensive. She's out of her element dressed in something like this – hell, just being bathed and groomed has taken a lot of getting used to – and even she isn't immune to self-consciousness.

[revocation]

"Really?" Does your mother let you go out dressed like that, Jane? Cullen looks positively baffled, but he offers her the ball back, regardless, even as his eyes sweep down - just briefly - and then back up to her face, as he looks mortified.

"It's just - that is - there... doesn't seem to be much of it," he points out carefully. Obviously, a lady can wear whatever she likes on her own person, but some things are meant for the privacy of the bedroom.

"I'm sorry, I - shouldn't pry." He hates this place, he really does.

[cowcatcher]

"Yeah, well..." She'd be madder if he weren't so tongue-tied. Jane keeps her arms folded across herself, which makes that second glance Cullen gives her a little safer, but not by much. "It was either this or a glow-in-the-dark tin can, probably." She glances away, spying an Ironette working one of the many displays set up tonight in the Victor's honor. Her expression flattens shrewdly, fingers picking absently at the sheer fabric wrapping her elbow. Just how much of this was some glorified sex catalogue for the Capitol freaks?

"And I hate to break it to you, but I'm far from the most naked girl here." To her credit, she manages to sound just a little sympathetic. She accepts the ball back with a nod of thanks, shifting it restlessly in the palm of one hand. After a beat of uneasy silence in which she tells herself she should have broken off in another direction, Jane hazards a glance his way, eyes quickly scanning him from head to toe.

"Looks like you got off easy tonight. Some of the guys out here look like they're in tearaway suits." You know, like the ones strippers wear.

[revocation]

"Yes, I've... noticed." Cullen says vaguely, still with that almost-pained expression on his face. He's been spending a lot of time tonight studiously looking women in the eyes, or staring at the floor to avoid seeing something he shouldn't.

"It's not as fine as my own armor, though I've seen a few people wearing bits of it," he says, almost frustrated. "Why they can wear bits of my armor but I can't have it is beyond me."

[shenunigans]

Dave has spent the better half of the evening with video camera strapped to his hand. It isn't a particularly expensive one and he's only really getting away with it because he doesn't seem to be doing much more than bothering other Tributes.

He's sidled to the sidelines, accustomed to the loud volume of this particular kind of music. After weathering the sirens in the Mall Arena, he thinks he's even better equipped for dubstep at impossible volumes. As such, he's taken aback when the guy he's closest to growls at him.

"Calm down, Bruce Willis, I'm just here for the scenery." He holds up the camera as if that explains it all, ignoring him for the moment as he pans the camera around. "But little did they know, the night would end with yet another zany twist. Stay tuned for more." He mutters, mostly to himself before he flicks the camera shut and eyes Cullen curiously. "Die Hard or Pulp Fiction?"

[revocation]

The person appears to be another tribute, which lowers Cullen's hackles somewhat. This whole party has been putting him on edge - he expects something horrible to happen between the loud and terrible music and the flashing lights. An assassination attempt, or something. That's really all this party is missing to be fully up to Orlesian standards.

Still, though, the words out of the young man's mouth seem to be the common tongue - each individual word makes sense on its own, anyway, but put together, Cullen can't make heads or tails of them.

"I beg your pardon?" he says.

[shenunigans]

In five words, Dave has discerned that Cullen clearly isn't from the Earth he knows from the 90's onward. He isn't ruling out older times, but he's skeptical toward the idea of this guy being from the 1900's at this point.

"They're movies." He says curtly, searching Cullen's face for clarity. "You know? Picture films? Thematic, cinematic works of art? Anyway. There's an actor in both of them that looks just like you, it's uncanny." He's probably veering on being annoying, but he refuses to care.

[revocation]

Yep, he still might as well be speaking gibberish for all Cullen understands. Think way, way before the 20th century, Dave. Like, medieval. Except with magic and dragons.

"No, I don't know. I'm not terribly familiar with theatricals or the popular actors, if that's what you're talking about," he says, his voice cool.

[shenunigans]

"Alright, well. You're not Bruce Willis for sure, then. Sorry, I guess the longing mind makes fools of us all." He mimics a more dated cadence, just to see if it throws Cullen at all, then he sighs wistfully and clutches his camera close.

"Anyway.." He cuts his own theatrics off, tilting his head at Cullen. "If you don't know movies, are you from the past or are you from someplace that isn't Earth? --Like, Middle Earth, maybe? I say Orcs, you say..?"

[revocation]

"I'm from a place called Thedas," he says flatly, ignoring the strange young man's question. "Originally from the kingdom of Ferelden."

[shenunigans]

"Oh, okay." There's a brief moment of clarity, like it seems familiar, then it deflates. "Never heard of it. Like most Earthlings, I'm guessing." He lifts a brow for confirmation, then he just keeps talking. "What'd you do back there? Before all. This." He just gestures vaguely at the party, curious about whether Cullen is living the High-Fantasy fantasy or if he's reading into it too much.

[revocation]

"I was Commander of the Inquisition's troops," Cullen says - he's very familiar with the strange looks and blank expressions when he speaks of things from his home, by now. "And what did you do, ser ...?"

[shenunigans]

The blank expression is momentary for Dave, it lingers for a moment before something seems to dawn on him and he nods. "I bet nobody expected you." He says confidently, knowing full well the guy probably has no idea what a Spanish is.

"Me?" He asks, for the cliche and not because he's curious. "I was a Knight of Time. Was. They took all my powers, wouldn't want to do anything too flashy for the crowds, right?" This point is illustrated with jazz hands.

[revocation]

"They take everyone's powers," Cullen says, shaking his head with a grimace. "I can't fathom how. All the mages here have been stripped of their magic."

And he doesn't like it one bit.

[shenunigans]

"Trust me, I know. I've been a year. Long enough to know they come back sometimes- even if that's probably ruled out for now." Thanks, Thor.

He inclines his head to the side when he shrugs. "Are you a mage as well? Or do you just have a lot of mage friends?"

[revocation]

"No, I'm no mage. I have several friends here who are, though," he says quietly, a little of his anger showing through, though he keeps it well under control.

It's the principle of the thing, really. Even in Thedas, magic isn't stripped from someone lightly.