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

[furgood]

It takes Meulin a moment to hide her surprise. A Victor, a woman, there were a few reasons to be surprised with Peggy, but when she thinks it over, it's not such a bad thing. She must certainly be like no one else Meulin has met here and she was always up for meeting new people.

Her smile is bright and genuine as she taps the notebook with her pen. She can't exactly parse what Peggy said, not with so much noise and without paying strict attention, but she knows she would be curious if a date showed up with a notebook.

"I brought this so we could talk. I can't hear very well, so it's much easier. I hope that's okay."

Some people preferred to muddle through with hand gestures or talking at her anyways.

[impaledqueen]

Peggy picks up on the surprise. She's good at reading people--always has been. But surprise isn't necessarily a bad reaction.

The notebook is quickly explained. Peggy nods to show that she understands and gestures for Meulin to give her the notebook. She doesn't mind writing to hold a conversation. It might actually be refreshing, since it will force them to go slowly.

[furgood]

Meulin beams, always pleased when people didn't make a huge fuss over it. So much easier to just accept it and move onto the important things. She almost hands over the notebook right away, but pauses and flips to the first page, writing down something before she passes them over.

My name is Meulin Leijon

[impaledqueen]

It's hard not to smile back at a grin like that, so it's lucky that Peggy doesn't try to resist. She waits patiently for the notebook before leaning down to read.

Then she writes herself--careful, neat script, to make sure her date could actually understand. I am Peggy Carter. It's a pleasure to meet you. Would you like us to start with some wine?

Peggy can pick a good wine for them, but she'd like to give Meulin a chance to pick if she'd like.

[furgood]

Having had much practice with writing conversations, she was very good at pretending they were just like real ones. She doesn't look away while Peggy writes and she reacts appropriately to the words written, another smile and a nod.

She's fairly sure most people know Peggy on sight, Meulin surely remembers her game. But she doesn't bring it up. Surely she knows she's a victor, she hardly needs the reminder.

It's still a little thrilling to be sitting with one of the old Victors though. She never thought she'd get the chance, not one from another district.

That would be lovely. Do you recommend anything? I'm afraid I haven't had much chance to get to know all the varieties and I have been told over and over that there is so much difference.

[impaledqueen]

Peggy appreciates that her date doesn't immediately jump onto the opportunity to talk to her about her games. Even ten years later, people liked to make her relive the whole thing and have her tell them the story. Of course, it wasn't the real story. It was the story they wanted to hear.

There's a difference, but I believe I can recommend something good. Do you prefer red or white?

Maybe this won't be as miserable as she thought it would be.

[furgood]

Meulin leans in to read, taking the little book back to write. At least Peggy seemed to know what she was doing with all this, it was such a learning curve for Meulin. Choices choices, how can she say she's only had a few glasses of each and never developed a preference. In the end, she picks at random.

Red would be nice. I've had more white wine so I'd like to try something new! New experiences are a thing tonight, after all.

[impaledqueen]

Peggy nods with a smile and signals the waiter before ordering what she thinks would be a good choice of red wine. She's been on a lot of fancy dinner dates with fancy wines, so she knows her way around the list.

I ordered something I think you might like. While we wait, tell me about yourself. What do you do?

[furgood]

I work for a magazine. Gossip columnist. I know it's not the most glamorous but I get to talk to all sorts of people.

Meulin almost hands it over, but at the last moment, she pulls it back to add a little note. She looks hopeful that Peggy will understand but also ready for awkwardness.

Don't worry, I don't plan to write about this! My personal life stays out of things. It's one of the nice things about writing them yourself.

[impaledqueen]

Peggy moves to take the page, then hesitates when Meulin takes it back and keeps scribbling. She waits patiently before she can look at it. After calmly reading it over, she gives a nod.

I like keeping my personal life out of my professional life as well. I'm glad you'll keep this out of the magazines.

Peggy doesn't like gossip magazines in general, since they make a mockery of her life when she's just struggling to lead it, but she'll be polite and not say so.

What sorts of people do you get to talk to?

[furgood]

She's already quite aware of what people think of her job, she wouldn't be offended. It's not something she's entirely fond of herself some days. Peggy's politeness doesn't go unappreciated though, if Meulin's relieved smile is an indication.

Oh all sorts. Mentors, Victors, Tributes, Escorts and Stylists! And of course, your usual sorts of Capitol citizens. A mixed bunch if efur there was one. I enjoy that part the most.

[impaledqueen]

Peggy is nothing if not polite. If she said what was on her mind all the time, then she probably would have been avoxed a long time ago. She is good about keeping her thoughts to herself when they wouldn't serve any purpose.

Then you must be having fun here, since it's crawling people from the Tribute Tower. Perhaps predictably, I'm very used to this sort of crowd.

Who was the most interesting person you've ever met during your work who doesn't work within the Hunger Games?

[furgood]

She smiles first and then her expression turns thoughtful. She taps her chin with her pen for a moment, as all the most interesting people that come to mind are definitely associated with the tower.

Purrobably my coworkers. I'm not used to them and they all have such interesting lives. And they all insist on having a signature color pen except it changes every few weeks. Capitol fashion I suppose?

Though if I had to pick someone I've spoken to for work, bartenders. Fascinating and full of stories. If you can get them to write them down.

[impaledqueen]

Coworkers? I didn't expect that. I suppose signature colors could move in and out of style, but I'm not sure how signature they are after the first few changes.

The waiter comes over with the wine. He pours out just a little for Peggy to taste, and after she gives it a sip and nods, he pours it out for both of them.

I've always found bartenders fun to speak with. What do you think the most interesting story you got from one was?

Let me know if you like the wine.

[furgood]

Meulin smiles at their waiter and curiously takes a sip. Interesting, on the lines with what she expected but quite nice. She would have to try a few more kinds in her time here.

I rather like it actually. Thank you!

And really, I think with my coworkers it's a novelty having to write to me. That and they never want to use the same color as each other and when one switches, they all want to.

As for the most interesting story, that's such a hard question. Perhaps the one who told me a long and probably fake story about how a patron carefully balanced a a few shots on his forehead and his friends started stacking things on top of it.

Wait this isn't nearly as interesting when I'm telling it. I wish I had that notebook to show you.

[impaledqueen]

Peggy smiles in satisfaction. It's always a victory if she picks the right wine for someone.

I'm glad. Wines can sometimes be a little hit or miss for certain people.

It sounds interesting enough. It would be more interesting to have pictures of. Did that story happen to end with alcohol and debris all over the floor?

[furgood]

Well consider this a hit.

And you would think so, but they spilled not a drop. Oh the floor was covered with all the things they had stacked but they managed to save the alcohol. The bartender foresaw the same future you did and tried to kick them out but I think in the end he was rather impressed.

It was either intensely memorable or fake since he remembered far too many details for something that happened several months ago, but he was quite the excellent story teller.

Meulin tries another sip after she hands over the notepad, finally giving the other patrons a glance.