thecapitol | The Victor is...

The Victor is...

Who| EVERYONE. IC participation is mandatory (OOC is not, you may handwave)
What| Momoko's victory crowning
Where| The ball room
When| The Wednesday before the next arena.
Warnings/Notes| None atm.

The party was styled for Momoko.

The tables were covered in lace, delicate dishes and silverware, flowers that fell from vases covered in Victorian paintings. It was the most extravagant tea party to ever be thrown, with tiny, thin china cups and a too many tiny little finger foods being passed around to count. The ballroom has been styled in extravagant Baroque, as the Capitol was fairly liberal with their adaption of historical time periods.

The costumes were just as liberally chosen, from tall, powdered wigs holding birdcages with live birds, clearly hailing in the style of Marie Antoinette to regency gowns gathered under daringly (and occasionally outright) exposed busts to tight corsets and the skeletons of skirts exposed and decorated. A quarter played live music at one end of the room, before a wide dance floor.

At the head of the room there was a long table with a throne for Momoko, as elaborate as anything else in the room. And along the long table, group close to those who they seemed to enjoy, was a place for many of the Tributes, with a small place card that said "Special guest of The Capitol." This table was fed first, received drinks first, and was clearly favored.

Any Tributes not seated at the long table with their peers were dispersed among the the smaller table spread about the room, left to rub elbows with the guests invited from the Capitol, and the reporters covering the event. Security was, if anything, tighter than the last crowning.

These people have seats a the big kids table. You guys are free to decide who sits by who (And if three people sit by one person, don't worry too much about it) but they are, when possible set by their friends:

Atticus Bell
Draco Malfoy
Chibi-Usa
Dr. Grey
Adel
Tony Stark
Howard Bassem
Javert Neeshka
Vanessa Carlysle
Lindsey McDonald
R
Albert Wesker
K
Alpha
Diana
Katurian
Aunamee
Maximus
Blaine Anderson
Alex Rider
Glinda
Gaila
Parker
John Watson
Lottie LaBouff

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Cinna had done well with Draco's outfits - with everyone in District 12's outfits, really - making him fit the period but still remain comfortable. He felt nothing short of dapper, dressed to the nines in emerald green and silver, in a waistcoat and tails and cravat. So now, he's lingering at the side of the dance floor, waiting for someone to join him for a dance.

Stylists seemed to have a signature to them, just like any artist, and as Daniel toured the room, studying sponsors and tributes alike, it was becoming easier to pick out which District each Tribute belonged to. His stylists certainly had every right to feel some jealousy for Cinna's work; his work was excellent, pushing boundaries at times with a surprising elegance or having a flare to it that wasn't gaudy at all.

Take this guy here, waiting for a dance. The name came to him again; Draco Malfoy, the one who'd applied to get out of the Games), who had some of the most platinum hair (almost white, Daniel thought) he had ever seen, looked - in a word - stylish. In four words, dressed-to-kill stylish.

Daniel nursed the wine that his escort had pushed into his hands as he stood watching the other dancers. "Cinna's work, I take it?"

Edited ((sorry, fixed to take in the peer review)) 2013-03-13 03:22 (UTC)

Doubtless, Draco would have preened to hear that he could be described as 'dressed-to-kill'. It was the ultimate flattery in a place like this (or really anywhere). So though awaiting the results of his application was hell on his psyche, he seemed to be in a good enough mood for now.

Glancing over when he was greeted, Draco cracked a bit of a smirk - just in case Daniel was still judging him, and perhaps because he hadn't been too bad, as things went - and nodded. "Naturally. He likes to make sure we all look decent, if he can help it."

Color Daniel the slightest bit envious. Cinna's style was elegance and bold mixed together, and he did it in a way that seemed natural. Draco didn't look garish at all.

Daniel took a sip of his wine, just a little taste. It was surprisingly smooth, and not too sour or too sweet, and with a pleasant burn. "Well, if what I've seen of his work is anything to go by, you're all in good hands." Daniel then nodded to the Victor. "I have to say, she's not what I expected."

His smirk grew a little at that. Cinna did more than make up for the other Stylists, even when Effie made the decisions and things got a little bit ridiculous.

"Momoko? I told her she could do it," Draco merely shrugged, tone holding at least a thin thread of pride. "And then she did. It's anyone's game out there, if you ask me. Even those who seem as though they wouldn't stand a chance might surprise you."

Draco must have sat out the previous game or something, Daniel thought. It was good of him to lend some support to Momoko, especially when it seemed it was everyone for themselves. Though he had to wonder at that pride trickling through. Was it that he was proud of her or proud he'd called it?

"She's lucky to have a friend like you. It's always the ones you least expect, isn't it?"

It was a combination of the two, really; he'd always be a little proud that he had called it, but a little bit more proud that she really had gotten out of there alive. The Capitol suited her.

"I like to think so. I'm sort of banking on it, actually." He shrugged. Just in case he had to go in for the next Arena. "She's one of the better people around here, though. We get on well." He was glad he met her, though that was leaning a bit too much towards the emotional for his tastes.

That could mean anything, Daniel wondered. Draco was betting on it to swing round again, on anyone else? And how? Banking on it that any of his other friends would have the same luck? Daniel winced a little, since it meant that Draco just told him to his face (in a roundabout way, granted), that included Daniel in the pile of Tributes they would have to step over.

...Well, it did make sense. Of course he'd want to see his friend or friends win.

Or he was talking about himself and the interview. He didn't think there was anything to worry about; he couldn't imagine any of the other people who had interviewed him would have condemned him to the Arenas.

"I'm glad for both of you that she was able to get out." Daniel waved slightly towards her. "No one deserves to be stuck in the Arena. And I hope the same goes for you; do you know when you'll hear back from the Capitol about your petition?"

Draco was good at keeping his statements appropriately vague, making sure anyone could read anything they wanted into them, if he wasn't making sure to be absolutely clear. But it was indeed the latter; he wasn't entirely certain that the Capitol didn't hate him just enough to put him back in, just on principle.

They had, after all, made fun of his application in that horrid magazine.

"Not a clue. They'll probably make me wait until the very last minute, and I'll only know if Cinna comes in with some kind of uniform for me," he wryly responded, giving Daniel a face that suggested that was the last thing he wanted to see.

When Momoko imagined spending her days in the full length dresses of Roccocco, the daydreams hadn't involved much walking. As much as it felt like a betrayal, she definitely preferred the shorter Lolita style.

But for a night, especially for a night like this, she could put up with it, even if it took her a good five minutes to make it to the edge of the dance floor without risking a fall flat on her face.

"Draco," she said when had her breath back. As an afterthought she yanked on the top of her dress a little, discreetly, trying to cover up her chest a little more. "Enjoying the party?"

He couldn't help the way his eyes flicked downwards - due to her movement, of course, and certainly not because he was eager to stare at her chest - though he salvaged it quickly by giving her dress an appreciative once-over. Draco didn't at all envy her for having to wander around in that thing; he'd have tripped and fallen more times over than he could count. Thank Merlin he wasn't a girl.

"I am," he greeted, shooting her a grin before fluttering a hand around. "It's fitting, don't you think? All of this. How're you finding it?"

"Very," Momoko agreed with a wide grin. "It's perfect, I could almost believe I really am in Rococo." She lifted her skirts and spread them out. "It makes more sense that the women sat around all the time doing embroidery or making love or whatever, if they had to wear these all the time." Momoko, of course, was far more interested embroidery than sex.

"I think it might be hard to make love in that dress," Draco replied, unable to keep the slightly inappropriate comment to himself. It really was a nice dress, though. "But I see your point. You're not too disinclined to do things though, are you?" His words held a hint of suggestion, like he had something better in mind for her than just standing around chatting. Not sex, though. That was inappropriate.

"I'm sure they figured out ways," said Momoko, shrugging. She tilted her head curiously at him, not sure what he could mean. Not sex, surely. That would be disappointing. "What sort of things?"

He sniggered at that, shrugging one shoulder as well, a mirror of her gesture. At her question, he stepped back a little, making sure he had enough room to offer her a flourish of a bow, bending at the waist as he offered her his hand. "A dance?"

Momoko stared at him, then looked down at her dress. She figured, well, how often do you attend a party of this magnitude all about you? Might as well go all the way, she decided, and gathered up the skirts in one hand as much as possible, putting her other in his.

"It'd be my pleasure."

His proper half-smile/half-smirk combination began to lean considerably towards the former at her acceptance, shifting only slightly to hold her hand properly, giving a nod towards the dance floor before leading her out there. "I think half the Capitol is going to be jealous of me for this. Do you waltz, out of curiosity? Might be easier than trying to figure out what in the hell they're doing out there," Draco grinned, making sure not to move too quickly. He imagined that dress would be horrendous to move in.

"In theory," she said, glad to be wearing flats for once. "I've read about and watched videos, but I've never had anyone to practice with." She'd tried, with both her father and grandmother, but quickly given up on them. "Jealous of what?" she asked almost as an afterthought, focused on staying upright.

"I'll go slow, then."

And so he did, first leading her into the proper position, and then steering her into the proper steps so they could begin winding their way around the dance floor. "Getting to dance with the latest Victor, of course. How often does that happen?"

Momoko clung to his hands a little more than necessary, doing her best to avoid knocking anyone down around them as she followed his lead, glancing at their feet often. Most of her injuries in physical education came about because she wasn't paying attention. So long as she stayed focused, they could come out of this with a minimum of painful incidents.

"That's right," she said, a brief smile flitting across her face. "I'm the guest of honor. Although I guess it happens more often now, with a new Victor every other month instead of every year. At least I won't have to go on that tour."

Not like he minded much. It had been a while since he could just enjoy himself to this extent, sharing a dance with someone he actually sort of wanted to dance with. And since they were actually going slowly, the fact that she was practically watching their feet was more endearing than it was anything else.

"Still. Look at the last lot. That Kevin prick? No one would want to dance with him. Nor the girl before him, not really." He inhaled, then shrugged. "Most of them haven't lent themselves towards dancing all that much, actually. You're a bit of a rarity that way. But I will admit, not going on that tour is probably worth being replaced after a little while. You've still had a bit of time in the limelight, at any rate."

"Is he bad?" asked Momoko, curious. "I don't pay much attention to the ones who aren't trying to kill me. Weren't, I mean." She hesitated, then added, "I like Ariadne, she's alright. And frankly I'll be glad when I'm done with the limelight and people start leaving me alone a little more. I think you'll like that part more." She remembered something from the foggy daze that was Valentine's Day.

"If you have to win to get out. Did you hear anything else about that?"

"Horrid. It'll be a wonder if anyone at all supports him." Draco shivered slightly, keeping the gesture small and contained, "He was trying to kill me, once upon a time. Otherwise, I'm of the same mind. What's the point in paying them any heed if they're nowhere near me?" He paused briefly, turning her about in time to the music before continuing, "I don't think I've ever met her. Seen her around, though. Victors are hard to miss."

"You're right, I probably will." A grin curved his mouth at the thought of that - of being hard to miss - and at her comment. But it faded soon after, as he shrugged, focusing more on her and the dance. "Haven't heard a thing. I expect they'll keep me in the dark as long as they can. For the drama of it, of course."

"Of course," she said, rolling her eyes. Complaining about the Capitol, one of her favorite activities, even if she was feeling mostly magnanimous towards them today. "They'll probably televise the...judgement or however they do it." And a rejection would be far more dramatic than acceptance, but this was a night for optimism, so rather than voice that thought, she said, "They should still have a party if they let you become a Citizen, even if it's not by winning. It happens even less often, after all. I'd come."

"Oh, Merlin-" He breathed, already looking concerned with that turn of events. A televised judgement? Just his luck - it would be plastered everywhere, if that's what they chose to do. Bad enough it was in Celebrus already; he wasn't sure his poor ego could do with the damage a televised event could do.

Draco opted for her optimism as well, though, choosing to let hers infect him easily instead of with the usual resistance, "I should hope so. There's not many of these Tributes I'd want around a party for me, but I think I'd be a little offended if you didn't come."

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