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

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

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

There will be a sound akin to a yell if Leo ever finds out about this particular culture the trolls have. Black Romance was something the coach did on a daily basis with Signless, and regardless of the title, he'd continue this song and dance. Why? Because he's bored and overworked. Capitolites are not what they used to be (China Sorrows excluded).

"Are you calling me an inferior date? My pride is wounded."

"I never said inferior. I merely said that you weren't my first choice."

Maybe he shouldn't be needling Leo quite this much. They haven't even got their food yet, after all. But if there's one thing Signless has learned about the Capitol and the culture he's now a part of, it's that 'go big or go home' is how he's expected to behave.

"You also weren't my last, so you don't need to waste any time feeling sorry for yourself."

"I feel my honor being restored by the second I'm in your presence." Leo should really not be this combative and friendly at the same time. But dammit, there is a chase to be had and Cora's competitive streak is comparable to a dog chasing a car: it doesn't stop until the item is obtained. The item in question is far more subjective, and it's Signless to be a Mentor that can go and be a proper rival in Sponsor chasing.

...Plus, there's a weird companionship here. Not that he'll ever admit that. "So drinks, shots or just water?"

He hmms as though he's giving this serious thought.

"Water would be boring, though some to balance the alcohol would probably be a good idea." That's something he's learned in the time since he really started drinking in the Capitol. There's only so foolish he's willing to make himself look in public.

"I'm not familiar with shots. I'm assuming it's a human thing that my primitive alien culture hasn't yet invented."

"I severely doubt your world hasn't developed a concept of small glasses full of strong alcohol," Leo said as he called for two for them, lemon included. "No world is that innocent."

The moment the two items and a bottle of tequila arrives, for them to enjoy, Leo shows Signless, "Swallow the shot, and suck on the lime. The trick with the salt is more for private places but good luck."

He considers asking what 'the trick with the salt' is, exactly, but decides against it. This is enough experimenting on public television to be getting on with for one night. At least for all Leo's needling he's fairly sure the coach isn't going to try to get him to do anything that's truly dangerous.

He probably only assumes this because nobody has yet warned him about tequila. But it's such a small glass... it can't be that bad.

He decides, after the first one, that it can be that bad and it is. The most alcoholic thing he's had in the Capitol is wine. Tequila, as it turns out, is nothing like wine. Tequila is like liquid hatred with a lime garnish.

"You're trying to kill me," he says. It's not a question.

Leonidas just laughs as he shook off the drink's effect, "Little bit...you seriously can't be that torn apart by ONE shot, are you?" Not everyone needs a refill of undying self-deprecation and loathing, Leo.

"Ugh, and here I thought we could bring the worm tequila for later in the evening, what a pity."

It's not supposed to be an assassination attempt, at least not a literal one. More like a dent in Signless's pristine image.

He perks up at the phrase 'worm tequila' -- his ears even flick forward.

"You mean to tell me you have alcohol with worms in it and nobody bothered to say anything about it? It's near-impossible to get decent insect food here."

The food at his crowning had been a godsend even if it wasn't quite authentic, but barring that he'd been reduced to buying crickets from the local pet store.

Leo arched an eyebrow at the sudden surprise, "All you had to do was ask and by the way you react just one shot, you're not ready." This is his way of caring about Signless, his way of showing some concern. If you can't tolerate the mere drink, how can you tolerate a worm soaked in it?

"Build your troll organs up and maybe I'll buy it for you." Friendship initiated?

As far as Signless is concerned they were already friends -- but the Alternian words for 'friend' and 'enemy' are the same, so perhaps that doesn't say much.

"I'll hold you to that. Panem has all the human delicacies anyone could want but even the popularity of my species hasn't prompted them to start serving grubloaf. Not that this doesn't look excellent," he adds, gesturing around to the many and sundry roasting beasts and the pots of stew.

"I've eaten plenty roast behemoth in my time. Have you ever hunted your own food?"

He can imagine Leo certainly was trained to, even if he maybe hasn't had the chance to put it into practice.

"I take it that even the Capitol has limits as to what they'll eat if grubloaf is what I think is," the trainer laughed at the thought, "Though I thought there would be some cult following in regards to your culture's popularity." Especially with the body modifications, ugh. That never sat well with Cora, turning the body into whatever the Victor's theme was, not healthy...Signless' question gave way to a pause.

"I have, though it was mostly for a retreat with my father and some of the fellow trainers in District 2," Leo responded, "Venison and the wandering bird mostly, the mountains aren't known for their luscious fauna." There's a very bitter twelve year old somewhere in there and those outings proved to be more effective in keeping his rage in check.

"Oh, believe me, we were quite the fad a while back. Now it's faded, but you still see Capitolites around with dyed skin and fake fangs. Fins, sometimes. Always horns. It's quite flattering." He diplomatically doesn't mention that the horns are almost always the wrong color (how hard is it to get some variation of dark orange, light orange, yellow?). Bless them, they try, in their shallow way.

At Leo's words, he gives a crooked grin.

"One day I'd like to take you hunting in the desert. You'll be glad for even the scrawniest antlerbeast -- deer, pardon -- after that."

"I still remember some of the fashion trends, don't worry," Leo assured Signless, "Not many can try to pull off the look...and not have to do the walk of shame to the plastic surgeon." In other words, he's seen the gossip magazines and all the socialites trying to reverse their spur of the moment decisions with their bodies. "I always wonder what will they come up with for the next Victor."

The invitation is strange enough but hey, any chance to stretch his legs is welcomed. "You make it sound like you're throwing a challenge, Vantas. Are you sure about that?" Because win or lose, Cora's going to enjoy it.

Of course he's throwing a challenge. He's decided to play this like a fake black date, and so far it's going swimmingly. If it were a real black date he'd have marked Leo as a keeper by this point.

"I don't say things I don't mean, Cora." He can say that in confidence, too. He never lies. He only ever omits, or carefully twists his words just so. "I'd never use a knife on a human, but a creature I intend to eat is another matter entirely."

Nevermind where that got him in Arena 10 -- delirious and violent on an overload of poison he'd ingested from the meat of the giant bugs he'd used as his main source of food. The important part is there is verifiable footage out there in the Capitol of him using a knife to great effect, and he wouldn't mind recreating it.

How dare you not keep this one, Signless? Leo is a spiteful little fucker who enjoys the sport of hunting almost as much as the Games themselves. Or at least as he used to. He's seen some Arenas and the splatter of insect blood and guts were truly a sight to behold.

"Now you're talking my language," he thrown in with a shit eating grin to boot, "Name the time and date and I will be there."

Yes, that's him being both his usual fightmongering self with some arrogance thrown in for good measure.

It really is a sight to behold, and Signless hopes the Capitolites watching their corner of the date night think so too. In an almost detached way he knows it will be good for both of them. In an equally detached way he notes how second-nature it's become for him to think of things in terms of how they'll impact his public image. It's all just an elaborate game, isn't it? The Games don't really stop when you win.

"I'll be sure to arrange it as soon as we both have the time for a vacation," he says. A member of the tower staff always has a full plate, don't they? Ha, ha. Laugh, Panem.

"In the meantime I expect you plan an excellent second date. I won't be the one doing all the work here."

Leonidas is unaware what brews in the distance but he can't help the grin as he asked for the tab on this most illuminating date. This had been a lot of fun, much more than any Capitolite date.

"So when we're both retired and way past our prime? Ah well, at least make sure you come along with your walker in that case," he teased, "But a second date? We can start there."

Who knows? Maybe it'll be beneficial to their Districts?

It really has been fun. For all Signless was worried tonight might be a bust, he's had a surprisingly good time. More and more he's willing to believe there's good in Leo Cora.

"I very much look forward to it."

At the very least they've put on a great show.

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

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alright! I'd call this more or less wrapped up, unless you have closing remarks