Oh, this is the night and the heavens are right on this lovely Bella Notte

[etcircenses]

Who| Everyone who signed up for blind dating!
What| An evening of romance, or disaster, take your pick.
Where| The Swift Cut restaurant
When| 16th June
Warnings/Notes| The course of true love never did run smooth. Remember that if your character was not rolled in arena but you signed up for them to be here, you will need to mark their death on fatality reporting.

The atmosphere at the Swift Cut this evening is bustling. It's clear from the moment one enters the restaurant that they have pulled all the stops out for this televised extravaganza.

Every fire is lit and the air is filled with the scent of the roasting meat on spits over the flames; boar, beef, pork, venison and more. Pots bubble with the smell of hot stew, vegetables are being roasted in ovens and from giant casks around the room beer is being drawn. The staff are in full 'barbarian' getup, consisting of skimpy furs on both the male and the female servers but luckily for you they don't seem to expect a similar dress code from their guests.

Tribute's stylists may have had other ideas, of course.

The giant room has been clearly divided. Tribute's will find themselves directed to one side while trueborn citizens of Panem and petitioned out individuals are brought to the other. It is left up to them to find their table with the number they will be handed upon entering the restaurant. Whether they are the first to arrive at their table is a matter of chance but they can be sure that a cameraman will always be there to capture the moment of realisation on both participants faces when they realise who their date is.

Once everyone is seated the music will begin the play. Minstrels strum lutes and harps, their voices filling the air softly with traditional medieval ballads. There is a space set aside for dancing if anyone is in the mood.

Throughout the evening, and certainly at the end, Tribute's and Capitolites will find themselves sporadically approached by the show host to be asked questions about how they feel the evening is going. It's up to them how honestly they answer, though they should remember the camera's are always watching.

Comments

[whydoyoushine]

If Nick's going to act like a teenager, and Zed's going to default to his usual spoiled teenager behavior, then someone somewhere in the planning of this is probably getting a good laugh out of it all.

Zed's not too worried about the cameras. He's always done what he's wanted when he's wanted, everyone else's opinion be damned. Why should the Capitol make things any different? They already seem to like him and the way he appears to have embraced the Capitol's party life.

"Yeah?" There's a hard glint in Zed's eyes. "You're going to have to be more specific. A lot happened." Because he's not going to try to guess what Nick's getting at. That might mean admitting to a great many things, even if he'd already done so in the Arena itself at various points.

[fuckitall]

A lot has happened and Nick isn't sure if he even caught all of it before his eyes couldn't take it anymore. Watching his friends die once was more than enough, but there are going to be more opportunities and knowing that will never settle right for him. There are others he's still concerned for and he'll continue watching for them, but never without anxiety and fear of possibly seeing them for one last time. Zed may seem to take in on the Capitol style well (if the glitter says anything - Nick thinks he sees some sparkle getting on the bread) but this survivor hasn't embraced it himself. He probably never will and may die doing so, but at least he has had plenty of practice with dealing with the latter.

Probably best to not jump right into the 'seen you turn into a giant monster thing and killin' a little girl you messed up asshole' bit before they get the basics out of the way. Things seem more complicated than that when there's an obvious relationship (of some sort) between him and that...purple girl-thing sitting at one of the tables.

"'Emperor of Darkness' huh?" He begins as he takes one of the pieces of warm bread on the side...and shakes off some of the glitter. "You really don't look it, not even the first time we talked."

You're shiny as fuck, Zed.

[whydoyoushine]

Really, the Capitol lifestyle seems to agree with Zed. He doesn't seem to be expected to do anything other than go kill a few people every once in a while--children, adults, it makes no difference--and they have so far allowed him to do as he wishes in between. At least, no one's made any real efforts to stop him in his constant quest to investigate the phenomenon that is shining.

He bristles slightly at the title, but tries to brush it off like it doesn't bother him. "That's right." There's a bit of a shrug, and the idea that he doesn't look it just makes him grin. "You really think I don't look it?" Being superficially shiny is almost as good as having that inner light he's never been able to figure out.

[fuckitall]

'Not when you look like this, anyway.' Nick wants to say, vividly remembering that strange, monstrous form that Zed took in the arena.

He wasn't really expecting that grin, but if he has to ask himself...he doesn't know what to expect either. This is quite possibly one of the most confusing conversations Nick has ever had since his arrival here months ago. And that's saying a lot.

If the paparazzi are going to interpret this as actual flirting, he's going to want to punch somebody.

"Not really," he answers. And it's the truth...just a different degree. "When I think of darkness, glitter ain't exactly the first thing that comes to mind."

[whydoyoushine]

That the paparazzi might interpret this as flirting is the last thing on Zed's mind...and it probably wouldn't make much of a difference in his behavior, anyway. Zed does what he wants, regardless of how it affects anyone else. "What, I can't take a little shining for myself?"

[fuckitall]

"Wasn't saying that," Nick replies, not entirely sure what Zed meant there. He's taken more than his share of "shining" already. Nick glances over at the server as he pours them red wine. Not his drink of choice, but he takes it anyway and soon smacks his mouth at the taste. Real sweet. Too sweet, but he'll deal with it if it gets him to stop thinking about the arena. Even Zed is a welcomed distraction.

"They're just considered two opposin' things, at least where I'm from." Art and any form of creative media have played around with the idea a lot. Nick finds Zed's apparent obsession somewhat ironic, given his title and all.

"Is it just glitter or are you into pretty lights and shit too?"

[whydoyoushine]

"Of course they're opposing things." Zed laughs. It just might be tinged with a little bitterness. "That's what makes it fun." Sure is fun chasing after what you can't have. "Lights are great, too. I've got a disco ball, laser light system...you should see how I have my bedroom set up."

Does he realize how flirty that sounds? He doesn't seem to, but the media's going to have a field day with that.

[fuckitall]

"A disco ball?" He hasn't seen an actual one in person, now that he thinks about it. "Haven't seen one in person. Not even at prom," he admits. Granted, he hasn't gone to any sort of dances or parties that had one. Of course the Capitol would have those things. And of course Zed would be into it.

Nick looks up from his wine glass at the implication. If he hadn't already gotten the vibe that Zed is a light obsessed man-child possessed by who knows what that turns him into a...who knows fucking what, he might have thought the man was being serious.

...is he? Fuck if Nick knows. The Capitol plays mind games and he's aware most tributes aren't above to play along, whether they want to or not.

What the hell. If just talking to Zed gets him sponsorships that he could use in the arena, he'll talk. Christ, he's a sell out. He'll work his way towards finding out who or what Zed is ("Emperor of Darkness"? Come on) at least.

"So..." He licks the bit of wine from the bottom of his lip and leans over with a slight smirk. "That an invitation?" If there's one thing this zombie apocalypse survivor can claim, is that he has a decent poker face for the terrible liar he actually is. He's counting on the fact that Zed doesn't know him so much to notice. This facade can only be kept up for so long...but Nick's stubborn as a bull. And he's full of shit right now.

[whydoyoushine]

"Really? That's a shame. I even had one back home." And they'd tried to stop him at just one. Now? No one really cares what he brings to the room he calls home.

He gives Nick a flippant shrug and a smirk. "Sure, it's an invitation." There's still no indication as to how serious Zed means the invitation to be. He may very well intend only to show off his collection of disco balls and other assorted shiny Capitol things.

[fuckitall]

Christ, what a douchebag. But his smirk stays even as he rolls his eyes at him, and slowly disappears after. "Whatever you say, man."

By the time Nick finishes his glass of wine, the soup arrives. He doesn't start on it just yet though. Living in the Capitol has since taught him to be careful with the food given how rich it can be. The drinks are too. The wine he just downed tasted like he just ate an entire cake.

Back to the other matter of trying to figure this guy out. His eyes fall upon a few tables over, towards the purple...person that he recognizes from the arena broadcast he watched earlier, and the form Zed took on following her death. He lets his gaze linger there for a bit. It's not hard to spot her given how easily she stands out.

"That one sittin' over there," he begins, gesturing over to Gritta's table. He doesn't dare to attempt to describe her. "Your friend?"

[whydoyoushine]

Zed just smirks wider at Nick's eyeroll, and he doesn't seem at all bothered by the rich food. Far from it, he's digging in...though there's a certain sort of grace to it, like he's an old hand and overly fancy dinners.

"Who? Gritta?" There's actually a little suspicion out of Zed now. Why does Nick want to know? "Something like that."

[fuckitall]

These two have something in common: neither of them are particularly great at small talk. Closed off folks tend to not be. And Nick can barely bullshit his way through a conversation and that's only if the other was the instigator. Might as well go straight to the point.

"You were pretty pissed in the arena when you lost her." When that kid killed her and Zed returned the favor.

"I was just..." The other didn't out rightly admit his relationship with Gritta, so it might be too soon to offer his sympathies (not that Nick thinks it would matter to Zed, probably). He stirs his soup first, swallowing a spoonful before continuing, "...wonderin' what the hell was I watchin' when you found her."

He resumes stirring at his soup, looking down at it for a while before finally looking up to Zed. That weird form of his was something Nick has never seen before.

[whydoyoushine]

In addition to being closed off, Zed is really far too self-absorbed to care much about what other people might think or feel. It is indeed a bad combination as far as small talk goes.

Zed's expression darkens. "She doesn't need to be here. She's not suited for this." Which might be a weird thing to say about a giant marshmallowy monster, though he doesn't see her in any sort of weird, monstrous light. "You were just watching me do what we're supposed to do in these Games." Which is as bland and evasive an answer as Zed can manage, really.

[fuckitall]

None of them need to be here, he'd argue but knows that could easily be interpreted as treason. It's true in his eyes, but he just lets out a thoughtful hum before taking another sip of his wine. From watching her mannerisms from the arena footage, Gritta doesn't strike Nick as someone bad, even if she is one of the strangest looking people here.

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry that she is." It probably won't mean much to Zed, Nick thinks, but he'll keep it in mind if he comes across either one of them in the next arena. Whatever their relationship may be, it's clear that Zed's the one he needs to watch out for.

[whydoyoushine]

"Really?" The concept of Nick being sorry for anything like this confuses Zed. He looks a little suspicious, like he's trying to figure out some kind of hidden motive behind that.

[fuckitall]

When Nick apologizes, he means it - because when he feels he's at fault, he will own up to it no matter the consequences. Stuff like what he just offered condolences for isn't within his control, but neither it is for Zed or Gritta or most of the other tributes. They got that in common at least, even if some adjust better than others. He's sorry in that regard.

"Yeah," Nick answers simply, not blaming the other for being skeptical. Nick would be too if the situation was reversed. "I got friends I care about who I'd rather not see be part of this." He remembers his first conversation with Zed over the network, about not caring who dies in the arena. "It's different when you got someone you know here, isn't it?"

[whydoyoushine]

"I suppose so." Zed doesn't seem to know how to feel about this friends business. It makes him uncomfortable--it's not like actually not wanting people to die is a thing he's used to. "I don't like it."

[fuckitall]

"Don't like that she's here or the fact that you're upset about it to begin with?"

It's the most direct he's been and hopefully he won't regret it later, but the tone he uses isn't along the likes of patronizing as it is simply neutral. Maybe Zed's heart could grow three sizes because of her - Nick doesn't know.

[whydoyoushine]

Zed considers this, giving Nick a sidelong glare for even having asked the question. He's quiet for a bit before finally giving an answer. "Yes."

And then he flippantly starts eating his soup, because wow, feelings talk, nope.

[fuckitall]

Nick lets out a brief chuckle at that. It's not towards whatever levels of feelings Zed is probably going through, because Nick had expected one or the other, but that answer that seemed to agree with both things.

It's not funny in the way a normal person would laugh at.

"I know it sucks." The amusement goes away fast as he goes back to his soup also, giving the other some time to recover from that.

"Hey, I can't promise you anything in the next arena because shit happens when we don't want them to, but I'll make sure to keep clear from her. Think you could do the same for me and my folks?"

[whydoyoushine]

Well now, that's interesting. Zed hadn't been expecting to go into this with any sort of bargain coming out of it. And bargaining is most certainly something that is not making him focus on awkward feelings. "Alright," he says thoughtfully, "I might be able to swing that."

[fuckitall]

Nick hadn't expected himself to offer a bargain either, to be honest. Back at home, it usually had been others to do the talking when it came to meeting new people (Nick, being one to not always make good first impressions, usually opts to take the backseat to such things). His vote on those matters typically align with just ignoring strangers entirely, because trust is a difficult thing to come by. He still doesn't even trust Zed with most things, but at least knowing that the supposed "Emperor of Darkness" has a soft spot for someone else indicates that there's something more to this glitter bomb.

Or so he hopes, just so he wouldn't be found eating his own words in the form of blood loss in the next arena.

"S'all I ask. Thanks."

With that said, he holds up his wine for a toast, with the intention of chugging it down to at least forget the fact that this meeting was meant to be a date.

[whydoyoushine]

Zed supposes he owes Gritta that much, to try to see to it that no one else decides to try to kill a "monster." But he gives Nick a nod at that thanks. Will they stick to the bargain when the time comes? Who knows.

He'll hold up his own wine to return his toast with a bit more of a theatrical flourish than Nick's offering, and when he drinks it, he's sipping rather than chugging. He's used to being in the Shadow Line's court; he can put on a show of courtly table manners if he has to.