capitolprivilege: (and everything is fine)
Stephanus "Stephen" Reagan ([personal profile] capitolprivilege) wrote in [community profile] thecapitol2015-04-27 11:04 pm

I get dizzy when I think of all the ways we try to hide our maladies [OPEN]

Who| Stephen and anyone who isn't actively participating in the break-in!
What| A big, big party to celebrate the soccer match, and also to celebrate Stephen being much less of a disgrace than he was. This is the party that made it into Celebrus, people. The Capitol elite is invited, and so is anyone involved with the Games! ...except for the people Cyrus crossed off the guest list behind Stephen's back.
Where| An event hall in the Capitol
When| Backdated to the Binding plot, the night of the break-in.
Warnings/Notes| Capitol gilding-over of atrocious things. Disney-ified portrayals of the Districts. Avoxes being used as furniture. And what you bring with you.

For having such a short time to plan it, Stephen and Porrim have really outdone themselves. The event hall is round, with a hallway leading to a large, circular, central room and smaller rooms ringing the outside. The main area is half ballroom, half dining area: the dance floor is off to one side, large enough to accommodate anyone who wants to dance, but with the lights low enough to make it feel intimate and un-intimidating even if only a few feel like dancing. The translucent mist that whirls around the area helps with the intimate atmosphere without impeding visibility badly enough to make dancing difficult. The other half of the room is round tables, kept clean and refreshed with food by wait staff who will bring the guests just about anything they ask for. The wait staff are all perfectly groomed, polite, and in possession of their tongues.

The decor is soccer-themed, but soccer as it would have been imagined by the ancient Greeks. Marble statues of athletes (clothed or half-clothed or with strategically carved folds of cloth) are tastefully placed around the low-lit room. The Greco-Roman aesthetic characterizes the whole room: carved pillars hold up the sound system and the tables, embossed vases whose figures are animated adorn the tables as centerpieces, and the wait staff is dressed in sporty chitons and peploses. It's Classically classy, but the sports imagery and the popular dance music that's muted enough in the dining area to allow people to talk make it informal enough to be comfortable.

At even intervals around the center room are twelve doors. Each one has a Roman numeral on it. Step through any one of them and it will take you to a recreation of the corresponding District that's both full of real props and holographic images. The technology isn't as good as Gamemaker illusions and certainly doesn't feel as real as the dream tech, but it can be interacted with, even if it doesn't "feel" real. You can "pick up" a dandelion in District 12 and blow its seeds away. You can run a hand through the water of a District 4 beach and pier and watch the ripples spread. Each District room has comfortable seating, themed food, and appropriately-dressed wait staff; there are even cast members re-enacting District life around the dining areas, giving each room a sense of authenticity. It looks, sounds, smells, and tastes like the District it's imitating, just -- better. Cleaner.

Oh, also, those who participated in the soccer game and won will be given laurel crowns made of solid gold.

District One is a balcony of a manor house, overlooking a perfect view of manicured gardens. You're not outdoors, but it sure feels like it. The tableware is sparkling gold, the chairs made of silky fabric that is a joy to touch but doesn't seem to stain, and being there will make you feel like a prince or princess.

District Two is clearly built into the inside of a mountain. There are broad, open windows, of course, letting in plenty of fresh air, and the walls and floor and ceiling are impeccably carved, but it's all made of natural stone. Outside, down in the valley, you can see Careers and Peacekeepers training.

District Three is a charred husk no, not at all, that would be tasteless. Three looks like Tron: Legacy. Glowing LED lines run through the walls and furniture, and it all looks so clean and spotless it can't be entirely real. The tables are angular, unnatural, and around the dining area are color-changing glow pools.

District Four is a broad pier that juts out from a beach into the ocean. The sand is real, but the water is not -- don't worry, you won't ruin your clothes if you fall in! The sun is setting, painting the sky beautiful colors, and there's no mistaking that sea-salt smell. Off to the side, attractive fishermen and fisherwomen work to bring in the seafood the Capitol enjoys so much. Rough-hewn but splinterless wooden tables and comfortable canvas chairs are on the pier, with an awning above to keep the sun off. Part of the pier is made of glass, so you can look down and watch the tiny fish as they swim around.

District Five is a power plant, but an elegant one. Lightning crackles across the walls and ceiling, leaping between metal rods in a dazzling display. But don't worry: it's not real. You can touch it if you want. It'll cling to your fingers for a few seconds before sparking out. The hum it makes is quiet and unobtrusive white noise.

District Six is lovely, if Stephen does say so himself. It's a series of luxuriously-furnished train cars, with realistic-looking, picturesque scenery rushing past that reflects the geography of all twelve Districts. The floor hums gently; it feels like you're really moving. In one of the train cars can be found one District 6 Mentor, Linden Lockhearst -- usually. He's been part of the party's marketing: he has promised to, at this party, disprove fortune-telling completely. Come talk to him! You'll be surprised at what he can tell you about you. ♥

District Seven is a tree house! It's about a hundred feet up in the crisp, pine-fresh air, affording a gorgeous view of the surrounding forest. Birds sing, deer frolic below, and stunningly attractive lumberjacks can be seen going past, hard at work. They're also very attractive. Look, Stephen and Porrim planned this party -- what did you expect? Go watch the lumberjacks. It's worth it.

District Eight is artistic. It's divided into sections, almost mazelike, with walls made of cloth, but it's kept from feeling claustrophobic by the fact that the ceiling -- also made of cloth -- looks like the sky. No, really. Clouds are scudding across it, blown in the same direction as the light breeze that flows through the room, keeping it from feeling stuffy. The cloth walls are similarly illusory: touch them and they feel real, but projected onto them are broad plains with great lakes not too far distant. The chairs and tables are all cloth and wooden frames.

District Nine is grain. It's hard to make grain interesting, but Stephen's given it his best shot. This is the room with the most open-air feel. Grain, amber waves of it, as far as the eye can see. There's a trick to this room: walk out into the grain, and you won't hit a wall. You're on a moving sidewalk that responds to you, and the holograms will bend to give the illusion of distance between you and the tables in the crop circle in the center of the room. D9's bigger on the inside.

District Ten doesn't have real farm animals. Goodness, no. Too unpredictable, and the smell would detract from the Old West charm of this room. The door leads out onto the expansive porch of a ranch house, where the tables are. It overlooks paddocks of horses and fields of gentle cows. Two or three playful but impeccably trained herding dogs are the only real animals here: they are impeccably clean and will only approach if you call them over. Their handlers in cowboy hats and jeans aren't far away, keeping a watchful eye. Somewhere, Wyatt Earp wants to die.

District Eleven is an idyllic orchard. The apples can be picked and eaten. You won't be punished for stealing food, because you're from the Capitol! Ha, ha. The wait staff is dressed as sexy farmers, with straw hats and coverall-shorts and plaid shirts artistically tied up, talking in easygoing drawls. It's all very charming, like it's right out of Song of the Goddamn South. This is some unfortunate fucking shit.

District Twelve is probably the most ordinary out of all the rooms. The feel is of small-town Appalachia. Coal miners with impressive arms can be seen going to and from work along dirt tracks that wind between the little houses, a man plays a banjo and sings a little ways off, and pine-covered mountains rise in the distance. The food is rustic but delicious: warm baked bread, goat cheese and strawberries, roast goose with herbs -- you wish you lived in this dystopia.

Oh, and one more thing... In the main room, there are statues that are dressed more classically. Togas, chitons, flowy robes, bangles, sandals -- they're holding trays of food, trays of drinks, baskets of bread and fruit, all classically beautiful, all with -- very realistic-looking hair and eyes, now that you're thinking about it -- oh god they're moving. Cyrus Reagan has been involved in the planning of this party from the start, and he's BUTTED IN put a few of his own touches on it without talking it over with Stephen. Hand-picking Avoxes for their looks, dressing them up, and commanding them to stand perfectly still so they can be the tables, he felt, fit the theme perfectly.
currupted: (that you claim to see)

[personal profile] currupted 2015-04-30 04:27 am (UTC)(link)
The switching out, Cyrus thinks, is particularly clever-- the handlers discreetly change them out on the half hour, so as not to tire them to the point that they can't perform. (That it's uncomfortable for the Avoxes doesn't matter at all. What matters is keeping up the illusion.)

...But clearly Stephen doesn't agree.

"Uncomfortable?" Cyrus repeats-- and it's clearly not the reply he expected. Though whether he's upset that Stephen's upset, or upset that Stephen doesn't find what he planned satisfactory, is unclear. "How so?"

He draws back a little, though he doesn't take his hand off Stephen's shoulder-- they better to look him in the face.
theflyingone: you put your hidden blade where? (sweatdrop)

[personal profile] theflyingone 2015-04-30 09:51 am (UTC)(link)
When Altaïr (reluctantly) let his stylist know he wanted to blend in at a particular party, he did not expect to end up in sandals, short cape, and a knee-length one-shoulder chiton, which showed off his musculature (his stylist was eager to point out). The Greek-ness of his costume was explained when he arrived, though he still didn't know what the light dusting of body glitter was supposed to accomplish.

Altaïr was initially shocked at the moving pictures. They were not the real thing, his observational skills assured him that, but he had never seen such a good imitation. It was akin to what people back home would superstitiously call magic, though the reactions of the natives (ranging from amused to blasé) told him that illusions like this were commonplace. It was merely artistry to them.

He smoothly dodged a few stunned Capitolites as he wandered hesitantly in, aware that the ground was vibrating and not liking it. But his curiosity got him here, so he may as well investigate. Whether or not the man inside the display was "psychic" had no bearing. Altaïr knew there was no such thing.

"The floor is.... supposed to shake like this?" He gingerly took another step, a fighter preparing to dodge or jump if the floor came crashing down. He leaped off towers and scaled buildings, and all his experience told him that moving platforms were things to be gotten off of quickly.
Edited (forgot about costumes whoops) 2015-04-30 10:12 (UTC)
reallynow: (pic#8225111)

[personal profile] reallynow 2015-04-30 01:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Jolie fluffs up to her full, heel-graced height and tilts her chin up at him in response. Her arms fold over her chest, just to add to the weird little scene.

"Look, me and the other Stylists were talking and there's a problem. Thing is, you look too good. And they, not me. Never me. Anyway, they were saying you're making them look bad." She covers her mouth with her hand, like this is truly a scandal and whispers. "It's a problem."
president_evil: (weskerDesk)

[personal profile] president_evil 2015-04-30 03:08 pm (UTC)(link)
"To carry on without them," Wesker replied. "Though one supposes I would find a way, taxing though it would be, if only for my tributes sake."

A mint-julep sat on the low, small table before him. Untouched, sweaty lightly in the faux humidity. The toe of one polished shoe lifted to miss it as he crossed his legs elegantly, one over the other, and shifted to see Quintus better.

He recognized the voice of course, but he'd seen little of the actual man himself. (Which was at once intriguing, as frustrating. He prided himself on details.)

"Mr. Falxvale, I presume?"


lex_paciferat: (smirk)

[personal profile] lex_paciferat 2015-04-30 08:44 pm (UTC)(link)
He smirks at the sarcasm, his scar pulling the expression into something more like a grimace.

"Mm-hm." He leans over to offer his hand to Wesker. "I don't think we've had the chance to meet. You work for the city peacekeeping forces, don't you? I was on city surveillance the past couple years."
fusshionable: (10)

[personal profile] fusshionable 2015-04-30 10:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Glad for the change in pace, Porrim laughs, stepping back with her hand still in his so he can better admire her outfit. "What can I say? I took the theme and ran with it. It's a nice change from skintight gowns, anyway."

Breathing is nice, every once in awhile. So is distracting herself from what's going on in another part of the Capitol by indulging in some nice conversation.
president_evil: (weskerVial)

[personal profile] president_evil 2015-04-30 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
He took the hand, his long-fingered grip firm, and unnaturally warm. Feverish.

(The virus, ever-churning, beneath his skin.)

"I do." He released Quintus and shifted back into his chair. "...And you, are currently responsible for towing the line at Tribute Tower. Which explains why we haven't crossed paths before now."
currupted: (by the ones you think you love)

[personal profile] currupted 2015-05-01 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
Cyrus' smile stays on his face, but it turns... almost a little confused. He's not dismissing Stephen's concern out of hand - it's just clearly not what he was expecting to hear.

"Well," he says, slowly, I'm really trying to empathize with your problem, here-- "I did pick them myself." With a grin, and a conspiratorial roll of his eyes-- "Have you ever held auditions for Avoxes before, by the way? Don't. It's not thrilling." It's also a job usually left to someone else - he's pointing out, subtly, just how much trouble he went to to procure them.

"Anyway-- you're right. That would be unfortunate." A terrible fate for innocent, or near-innocent, citizens - seriousness enough to take his smile off his face for a moment. "But having looked over every one of them in painstaking detail - I can tell you, there's no way to tell which ones were taken in for actual treason, and which ones Hsiang just caught looking at her funny." He shrugs, rueful. "There's really no helping it now - it's not like we could reverse the conditioning even if it were possible to tell."
conifer: (008)

[personal profile] conifer 2015-05-01 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
"He's really outdone himself," Emily has to admit. Stephen had produced a first rate party and hadn't managed to disgrace himself at it so far - something for which Emily had kept him at arm's length in the past, as much as she liked him.

She gazes around the field, for the moment able to pretend to herself that it really does go on forever, watching the way the corn ripples as she brushes her hand along the stalks. "I've never seen anything like this."
conifer: (005)

[personal profile] conifer 2015-05-01 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
"In a way, it's probably a good thing." Even if her expression dictates that she's entirely less than thrilled. "We'd only have to deal with Capitolites swarming the District for their holidays if it looked like this."
contrarianlibrarian: (Judgey fudgey)

[personal profile] contrarianlibrarian 2015-05-02 03:09 pm (UTC)(link)
"I suppose you can't stray for long when you have Cyrus as a brother." Though they didn't keep much in touch, China's opinion of Cyrus has tended to be pretty high through the years.

"Neither have I. I don't believe I ever traveled to District Nine." She leans in a little closer and lowers her voice, smiling conspiratorially. "I doubt reality could impress after this."
dead_black_eyes: "Secret Agent Man" (I was the little Jew who wrote the Bible)

[personal profile] dead_black_eyes 2015-05-03 06:32 pm (UTC)(link)
"Past, present or future?" Linden asks, trying to decide whether it's better to work for another shockingly good reading or just get Zed out of his car as quickly as possible. It feels like a win-win situation; he stands to benefit either way, doesn't he?

He promised Stephen he'd be nice. Damn it.

whydoyoushine: (talking)

[personal profile] whydoyoushine 2015-05-03 11:38 pm (UTC)(link)
It would be easy to spitball something vague and impressive-sounding for the future. Easy to guess something in the present by watching TV. "How about the past?" Because there was something potentially entertaining. Time to see if he'd done a decent job of hiding things.

Or to be entertained. Either or.
dead_black_eyes: "Secret Agent Man" (You'd better let young Isaac go)

[personal profile] dead_black_eyes 2015-05-04 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
"The past?" Linden considers it, still seeming bored and unimpressed with Zed. "OK, past... past."

He tilts his head and gives it some thought.

"I'm 95% certain that you had a very privileged upbringing. Your parents were powerful, maybe even royalty. The kind of entitlement and cockiness you display rarely springs out of nothing and it's far too natural to be overcompensating for an early life spent wanting. It's also dangerous in a place like this, where you won't be given everything you want no matter how popular you manage to make yourself with sponsors."
dead_black_eyes: Ange et Démon (Crois-tu que je suis Ange ou Démon?)

[personal profile] dead_black_eyes 2015-05-04 03:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Occasionally, requesting specific things from stylists works out OK as long as the message gets through. More often, it backfires spectacularly, as in this case. Linden's decked out in his traditional, simple black that contrasts starkly with his cool-toned, pale skin, and he only stares at what the newer Tribute is wearing because he seems so out of place and uncomfortable in it. He might look like a Capitolite, but a Districter can tell at a glance that he's far from it, moreso than most offworlders.

"Yes, that's correct," Linden answers, tilting his head and taking careful note of the stranger's skittishness as he moves across the floor. "Between us, I don't like it either, but 6 is the transportation District, and this was the most obvious and appropriate gimmick for this attraction. I didn't choose it," he adds. "I'm from 6, and there's a lot more to my home than what comes out of it."
whydoyoushine: (seriousface)

[personal profile] whydoyoushine 2015-05-05 03:54 am (UTC)(link)
Spot on, Linden, spot on. There's an involuntary jerk and glare at the word royalty, though Zed tries to cover it by acting just as relaxed as he's always been. He's not quite pulling it off; he's much more tense now than he was when they started this conversation. "Who says I was ever given everything I want to begin with?" Not that he's going to deny being entitled or cocky...or to even touch that royalty thing if he can help it.
dead_black_eyes: "Secret Agent Man" (I just speak in future tense)

[personal profile] dead_black_eyes 2015-05-05 04:13 am (UTC)(link)
A person would have to be a complete fool to expect Linden not to notice that jerk, eve if Zed does recover quickly.

"Well... if you want to get really technical, you did, and I just picked up on it. I'm not a psychic, remember?" Linden asks, tone blase.
theflyingone: what are you looking at (look indirect)

[personal profile] theflyingone 2015-05-05 08:12 am (UTC)(link)
"Yes, most would say the same of their homelands," he conversed distractedly, eyeing the windows as he inched forward. Finally convincing his eyes that the passing landscape was also an illusion, he brought his arms back from where they'd hovered at his sides.

He chanced walking normally, an efficient bold stride, and slid into a seat. His instinct was to do what the other man was doing, in the hopes of not attracting too much attention.

"You are a guide? Tell me of this place. Is it far from here?"

Maps he could find and memorize, but firsthand accounts included details that were left out, like the ratio of guards to citizens or the best places to get water and horses.
conifer: (006)

[personal profile] conifer 2015-05-05 01:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Emily's never met Cyrus personally, but she finds anyone so high up in government rather intimidating, and sympathises with Stephen greatly.

"I saw it on my Victory Tour, but my memories of a lot of the Districts blend together." That was something she always felt bad about, especially given how strongly she felt about impressing her own District on people, but not bad enough to really rectify it. "The Capitol's brought out the very best of the Districts tonight," she replies diplomatically. "I doubt any of them could live up to this portrayal."
inrestlessdreams: (Theme of Laura)

inflicts this trainwreck on you

[personal profile] inrestlessdreams 2015-05-05 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
James was still reeling from the whole Avoxes as furniture or centerpieces, for reasons that were of his own, but mostly because they were so unnatural in their stillness. This was the first time he'd stepped out of his D3 suite and, if he were to think about it, had either the best or the worst timing to explore. "Awfully specific title for a performer, don't you think?" he asked, taking a sip from his water bottle. His mind was already repressing Mary's death...Maybe this could ease his mind a little about his loss.

What's a not-psychic going to tell about him that he doesn't know on a subconscious manner?
whydoyoushine: (skeptical)

[personal profile] whydoyoushine 2015-05-06 12:18 am (UTC)(link)
Though Zed wasn't surrounded by complete fools for most of his life, courtiers do have a way of making sure to pretend not to notice such outbursts from their lord. Zed's not as good as hiding things as he's been led to believe. "Not a psychic. Right." He sounds skeptical at this point. "Then tell me something else."
dead_black_eyes: Ange et Démon (Crois-tu que je suis Ange ou Démon?)

[personal profile] dead_black_eyes 2015-05-06 03:48 am (UTC)(link)
He chuffs a breath of humorless laughter at the observation as the other man watches the windows and carefully moves forward, inch by inch. Then, gradually, he straightens and approaches, taking a seat across from Linden.

"Of a sort," he replies, seeming gently amused by the word choice. "I'm a Mentor for my District, and it's south of here. Fairly far, a day or so of travel by train, several hours by hovercraft. You'll likely never see it. When did you arrive?" he asks. "You're clearly a new Tribute."

Page 2 of 11