The Victor is...

[gamemakers]

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

Comments

[teethofneedles]

Karis laughed at the empathetic shake of his head - well, as empathetic as he could really get, anyway. As much as she enjoyed tagging people with nicknames they hated, he was a fellow deader and the only one here. She raised a hand in a little, "Meh" gesture, "Fine, fine. Not Arty. R it is. Even if it is kinda short."

She was joking around with him. For the most part. Finding another deader (even a slow one) was a bit of a relief. Although they already had their first disagreement and wasn't that fun? When he spoke up on mayhem and murder not being fun she gave him an amused look, like he was saying something a bit quaint. After a moment, she wrapped an arm around his shoulders in a rather comradely fashion and gave his shoulder a pat, "Listen, R, I know it might not seem like that, but if you don't kill them, they're gonna kill you. Do you really think these breather scum actually like us? That they wanna be friends? Hell no! They wanna cut our heads off and burn us to ashes! They think we're monsters! Unholy blights!"

She pulled away and turned to tap him in the chest, "So kill them first. It's practically self-defense anyway. Besides, sometimes the way they scream is funny."

[shambler]

R gave an uneasy grunt as Karis showed him her world-view like it was a shiny new toy she wanted to share with the rest of the class. It was angry, self-righteous. Reactive. Almost human, the "you kill me, I kill you first" thing like it was somehow personal. Like they were out to get her specifically.

Somehow this wasn't the turn he thought the conversation would take.

He didn't flinch as she slung a bony arm around his hunched shoulders as if they were long-dead pals, his head hanging low as he tried to process this. All R knew was he didn't like it. When the Living took pot shots at him, he knew it was because that was life, that was the world now, and he could live with that, up until one day they got lucky and re-killed him. He didn't try to pull away as Karis steered him away from the counter and then poked him in the chest with that sharp finger of hers.

"Have...some breath...er friends," R said stiffly, thinking of Julie. Howard, too, even if they just met. "Not...scum. We...eat. Not....make scream. It's wrong."

Could he suck any more at getting his point across? Because he'd heard every scream under the sun during hunts, but he wasn't trying to get it out of his meals either. Personally he hated hearing them screaming and crying in his face and the idea of Dead like Karis searching that out on purpose made him feel...weird. Like not cool. Maybe she's been a zombie too long? Most of them seem to give up, either stop moving or go the Boney-route, but her, she was different, taking it to a whole new level with her full sentences and gravelly voice.

[teethofneedles]

To a certain degree, it was personal (not that she'd ever admit that). More than anything else, she resented the living. She hated them for having what she no longer had and wasn't going to get back. Framing it as a righteous act let her play the victim more often than not, even if she was the only one who believed it (and really, even she didn't believe that; she knew what she was). After all, if she had to be a zombie, why should everyone else get to go on with their lives?

R - R confused her. He didn't seem to have anywhere near the bitterness, anger, resentment she had. Nor did he seem to have the same attitude as most of the Forsaken she'd known. In fact, she kind of thought of it as amusing. After all, what kind of self-respecting deader was actually nice to the living? What was the point in that? They were going to hate the undead anyway (at least that was what she told herself). She grimaced at him and then shrugged her bony shoulders, "Not much use for 'em. You ever meet someone who'd wanna be friends with a zombie, anyway?"

Sure, she'd known one or two in her time. But they were the exceptions.

[shambler]

Somehow stuff like that hadn't crossed R's decayed mind...or maybe it had, he'd tossed it around, had it discarded when another day bled into the next like everything else turned to gray. He couldn't remember. Either way, R didn't feel that way now, today, and even if he'd driven Julie away, he knew it was his fault, not the Living's.

The zombie tried to draw himself up straight, even unhunch those shoulders, not wanting to offend Karis since they just met but also wanting to stand up for himself too, finding it's trickier than he expected.

"Yeah," R gasped out, trying to sound stronger, more challenging, and not confused that he can even speak. At least a human would be surprised (and downright impressed) he can talk: a dead girl like Karis, though, would have different expectations that he better back himself up. Being able to wave around four syllables around her face and too many pointed teeth wouldn't make much of a difference. R sucked in a breath, deciding he didn't need four syllables to make his point.

"Julie."

He said her name almost reverently. If there was a way to circle her name in gold, he'd do it, R's eyes focusing on Karis's face instead of past. For a moment he looked almost like the person he died as.

[teethofneedles]

Julie. Huh.

That was interesting. The kid (Karis thought of everyone as a kid, even if she'd only been about nineteen when she kicked the bucket) had a metaphorical spine, even if he did have some woefully delusional ideas about how humans and zombies interacted. Back home, he would've been easy fodder for the Crusaders. Or anyone else who wanted to kill free undead. Here, though, he was the only person who might begin to understand anything about being undead.

She scratched at a piece of flaking skin on her neck with a look irritation.

"Julie. Sweet on her or something?"

Not that she could blame him for being interested in the living to a certain extent, but how the Hell did he expect any of them to even begin to return any kind of feelings?

[shambler]

R was waiting to see if she'd peel off a larger chunk of her neck, preparing to wince inside because he'd been thinking she looked pretty good for a corpse. Carving out chunks of her remaining skin seemed like it'd be a shame.

Karis had him pinned when she suddenly remarked on his feelings about certain Living girls. Was he supposed to be ashamed? Going against the status quo, bringing girls back with him? R froze up, meaning to give a big, bold "so what? And?" and letting the other zombie take that however she wanted. He was horrified when he gave a stuttering wheeze out of his lungs like Karis suddenly stabbed him in the chest, right through the ribs.

"Muh-maybe," R would've been blushing madly if he had the blood for it.

He could feel his face trying to go even stiffer than normal, all the muscles tightening up in all the wrong ways, and he suspected maybe he had some stage fright way back in the day, because it was acting up now when he was put on the spot. R was the first to look away, break contact, dropping his eyes away from Karis's weirdly glowing ones and looking at his feet. Didn't she ever daydream? He couldn't be the only one still capable of crushes.

[teethofneedles]

Karis paused in her little picking motion, not quite tearing off a chunk. She left it as her thoughts drifted, half-listening to R's stuttered 'maybe'. Not to mention the way he looked away. She eyed him for a long moment and tried to decide how she really felt about that. She'd give a hand to get something like that back and she had to fight down a little spurt of jealousy.

Undead stick together. They had to. Her mouth twitched into a frown and then she got it under control again, jaw working back and forth. After one more long moment, she snorted and tossed her arm around him again with a sigh. Now she felt a little responsible for the kid.

"More power to you, I guess. But don't come crying to me if she cuts your head off, kiddo."

She paused and then elbowed him in the ribs, "Is she a looker, at least?"

[shambler]

(Was Karis seriously going to let it just...hang there?) Now it dangled off the back of her neck, jiggling when she moved and honestly, that was downright distracting. R did his best to ignore it. Make eye contact. Look people in the face when they're talking. Stop staring at their body-parts waiting for them to plop to the floor.

R thought he saw Karis frown but it was fast enough that he wasn't sure if he was seeing things. She was almost as animated as a "breather" - although he got the impression that if he wanted to keep things polite and those teeth where he could see them, he better keep that opinion to himself. R's mouth snapped shut once he realized he was gaping dumbly at her again.

"She...would-wouldn't," R moaned, trying not to think of that quietly hurt look the last time he saw Julie, the way she turned her back on him. He shot Karis a look as the elbow jabbed into his side, so pointy R wouldn't be surprised if she skewered an organ or two through his clothes. Instead of laughing or smiling or doing anything could-be-friends did, R hung his head. "She's...Julie. Per-fect."

Yeah, he was going to clam up at talking anymore about Julie. Karis, you had yourself a love-sick zombie on your claws. R tried to steer the conversation away from Julie by going for the next most awkward thing: Karis's love life. She was so with it, she had to have one, right?

"What...about you? Love?" R peered at his fellow Dead. He tried to imagine her pining after anyone or going on dates - married - but couldn't quite manage.

[teethofneedles]

It's just a bit of skin. It'll be fine, really. Fortunately, she seemed oblivious to any staring on his part. Probably because he was always staring. She clicked her tongue - well, let the kid think whatever he wanted. Wasn't like it hurt her any. He'd learn or he wouldn't and if she had to haul his rotting ass out of the fire, then so be it. His question surprised her and it showed on her face - eyes widened, but no blushing. No blood pumping in her veins, after all.

"What, me? Pfft. No. It'd be a waste of time," she waved a hand dismissively. That hurt a little though, if only because she believed herself. Who'd be interested in a zombie? Especially her? If she were one hundred percent honest with herself, she was an absolutely terrible person. Even if they got past the whole "undead" thing, there was still her... glowing personality and murderous tendencies to work around.

"I haven't had a crush or anything since I was a breather... No point talking about it."

[shambler]

R's face twitched, like he wanted to raise an eyebrow at Karis but his muscles weren't up to the task. Really? She could actually remember her crushes when she was alive? Remember what it was like Before? And she was still that jaded?

Maybe he felt sorry for her. He wasn't sure yet. But being angry and bitter for eternity struck R as sucking pretty hard, compared to, say, simply existing day to day like the majority of zombies who didn't have half the self-awareness someone amazing like Karis did.

"Huh," R said, trying to think of a way not to murder one of his few long-term conversations with another Dead. He was too greedy for words to stop now. "So...Living not...your type. Hobbies?"

That was safe, right? They could talk hobbies. It was either that or talk shop about eating people.

[teethofneedles]

Hey, if you asked Karis, being bitter and motivating yourself through hatred and anger was better than being a mindless shambler. Or mind-controlled. Mind-controlled sucked. Besides, part of the reason she was jaded was because she could remember.

"I wouldn't say they're not my type so much as they're not interested in a girl like me," Karis mused. Funny how that worked.

She gave him a curious look. He sure had a lot of questions. "Hobbies? Uh, I like to tinker. With machines. Give me the stuff and I can build you an engine. And fighting. I like fighting."

That was something she actually took a measure of joy from. Being able to put something together and use her hands and mind was fairly worthwhile. She rattled her finger-tips together thoughtfully and then carefully tried to steer R away from a bunch of Capitol fans who were apparently watching them like they were the worlds most interesting zoo exhibit.

[shambler]

Remind R to ask her about this whole new world of hers when they weren't surrounded by distractions, like, say, food everywhere. And strange new noises. An orchestra that even R was wincing at.

He thought about pursuing the idea of love with Karis, because really, it did sound to him like there was more there than she gave him, but maybe that was something for another time. If there was anything they both had plenty of, it was time. Too much time. Time bleeding out the ears. A corpse could die of boredom if they weren't careful, so yeah, he understood her need to keep busy.

At first R didn't notice he was being herded. When Karis nudged him, her arms around his shoulders, he went where he was being prodded automatically, his feet dragging next to hers. It felt almost like home to be wandering around with another Dead. He could almost believe that falling into that old routine would be easy.

The route took them to corner next to a pair of giant potted plants, their blooms sprinkled with fake dew to catch the light from overhead. R swung his head up to look at Karis.

"En..gine?" Engineer wasn't coming out, R pursing his blackened lips. "That's...cool. Really. How?"

R was totally impressed. She could actually get machines, too? Actually build new things? Suddenly his hobby of hoarding and listening to music didn't seem all that special.

[teethofneedles]

Karis settled into their new corner, back against the wall. She didn't trust the room. At all. Besides, it wasn't paranoia if someone really was out to get you.

"Whatta you mean, how? You just kinda learn..."

Sorry, R. Her particular brand of zombieism didn't leave quite as much brain damage.

[shambler]

"Not...usual," R insisted. Maybe Karis had been so self-aware for so long that she forgot what it was like? R had no idea, dogging on stubbornly. "You're...special. Able to...learn. Special."

There, he said it, got the elephant in the room squared away. Someone had to say it.

[teethofneedles]

Karis frowned and tugged at the lace on her dress. This line of quesitoning made her the teeniest bit uncomfortable. She shook her head, "I'm not that special. I'm just another deader, another Forsaken. There's tons of us back home. Sure, not all of us are that smart or... you know... put together, but we can all learn, kiddo."

[shambler]

Okay, now that part was more full-zombie to R; trying to fit in with the others, going with the flow, getting a little uneasy every time another Dead started anything new. Anything special.

"Not...like that. Back where...my home," R shook his head. He couldn't imagine a whole place full of Dead like Karis. It blew his mind. "So you're...special. In my opin...opinion."

He shrugged.

[teethofneedles]

Karis snorted. That was different. She shook her head again, "You come from somewhere strange, buddy. Because as far as I'm concerned, I'm pretty normal for a deader."

The whole conversation was weird, though. She cocked her head, "...so, they're all like you where you come from?"

[shambler]

"Most...ly," R said. "Most...can't talk. Shuffle. Stare?"

AKA he was probably considered the most forward thinking, talkative one there. R used to believe it to, until he met Karis. He eyed Karis, thought over what he learned about her, and decided she would probably hate the airport.

[teethofneedles]

"Really? Sounds like a buncha ghouls if you ask me," Karis frowned. Sounded like Hell on Earth. Undeath without any of the very few perks that came with it? No thank you.

"But hey, you're doing OK, all things considered. Right?"

[shambler]

"Ugh," R grunted at the word "ghouls", stiffening his shoulders and not looking like he was a big fan of that term.

He thought about the question. He was still dead, he'd blown it with Julie (but at least he finally came clean about eating Perry) and here he was. With another Dead who ran circles around him. Someone who knew what it felt like to die and still be there and could actually hold a conversation.

R wasn't sure if he was okay. He shrugged, torn between nodding and shaking his head.

"Liv...ing," R mumbled. "Your home? Big?"

[teethofneedles]

Karis' expression settled into one distaste, "Ugh. Yeah. There's still tons of 'em and they all hate us. They want us all purged..."

She dearly wished she'd brought her drink. She needed more alcohol for this.

[shambler]

Was he hearing that right? Because if she was talking about humans, then sure, he'd get that; he'd saw them mowing down other zombies, the Boneys had those Polaroids of them cleaning out Dead hives with flamethrowers. But Dead on Dead?

What was it with Karis throwing out these curveballs at him? R stared at her.

"Other...Dead? Why?" R sounded shocked, which was amazing in itself when you were stuck with a voice that sounded lifeless most of the time.

[teethofneedles]

Oh, right. They probably didn't have the Scourge where ever he came from. Karis ran her tongue over her teeth and considered before she replied.

"...long story. Really long story. Basically, there's these assholes called the Scourge, led by the Lich King - or there was, anyway, he's dead now - and they created all of the undead, including me. And for a long time, we were enslaved until a group of us broke off and became free. Naturally they didn't like us thinking for ourselves, so they tried to kill us."