thecapitol | The Crowning Of Tom Cassidy

The Crowning Of Tom Cassidy

Who| Everyone who's anyone. (Tributes, Staff, Capitolites, and anyone else in Capitol.)
What| The Crowning of Black Tom Cassidy.
Where| The New Cassidy Keep of the Capitol!
When| From noon to the late evening, Friday.
Notes| This event is mandatory for all Tributes to attend. Even if you do not tag in, your character will attend this party. Peacekeepers will be on high alert, so no funny business.
WARNINGS| Blatent irish stereotyping. Remember to put any relevant warnings in headers!

The dress code for this crowning is certainly a strange one. Greenery, burlap sacks, and "Irish" themed outfits which many a confused Capitolites has take as to simply be the color green. Among them can be found the sorts of ridiculous bright costumes as could be found in a 1970's comic book-- not that the 1970's are even a real time period. Spandex, V-necks, and popped collars are going to be a common sight tonight.

Guests are brought out to the stunning blue-green bay. There's a new feature there, a great big replica of Cassidy Keep. And it's been built upon a rock. How it stays up is a mystery, but it's no doubt a stunning site as guests are brought in on boats to a grand staircase that leads to even bigger doors.

Guests enter into a beautiful castle and garden both. Trees grow through the stones, vines climb over the stair railings, flowers bloom on the walls, and in some place the castle gives way purely to nature with small ponds set in. Like an internal rainforest (though the temperature is comfortable and cool) there's greenery everywhere soaking up the light that shines through the high windows. Statues stand tall of Black Tom Cassidy, Molotov Cocktease, and Arya Stark, sometimes all of them together. Then are more of an imposing man named Unstoppable Thuggernaut, a young girl named Theresa, the same girl older with the plaque deeming her to be "Siren", and statues of the the three of them together, both as a family and posing to fight. And of course, one can't forget that grand paintings of infamous arena scenes featuring Black Tom. Paths are set around to help guide guests, the main path leading into the biggest room of the keep.

Sponsored by Below Timberline, a temporary dining area has been set up within the castle-- high above the ground! All along the treetops that shoot up to the ceiling are the vine and wood woven nests for guests to be seated in. Waiters, waitresses, and Avoxes make their way along thick branches and rope bridges. But despite appearances, there's no chance of falling! Forcefields have been put up around the whole area to prevent such a tragedy from occurring to guests, waiters, and waitresses.

There are Avox operated lifts to help guests up to the tree tops, and though this might be an eyesore for some, they've all been dressed pleasant green, some with little hats. All the better to match the theme and blend into it!

That's not all that's gained the Irish theme. The menu consists all of foods that would be found in this mysterious off-world residence. Corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew, colcannon, black pudding, crubeens, shepherd's pie, champ, boxty, shelfish, Blaa, Goody, and Barmbrack despite it being out of season. There is even a cereal dish of what may very well be Lucky Charms. Drinks include "Irish" Whiskey, ales, porter, coffee and cream, and cider both alcoholic and not (for the kids). There is significantly more whiskey with Tom's face upon it than not and much of the drinks are served in large mug glasses.

Down below the dining area are two clear spaces for dancing, one for the professionals giving performance, and one for those seeking to try on their own. The show isn't just an entertaining watch, it's dancers bring more to the music as well, tapping out a beat. Mixed in to shake up the river dancing, Irish-styled folk songs play, generally regaling tales of Black Tom Cassidy and his exploits, but occasionally playing a song or two about other Tributes.

In between floors is a stand where cotton candy makers craft giant colorful flowers. On the far end of the room, set up high, sits Tom's throne. Torches crown the top of the wooden throne, vines woven over the arm rests, a strange metal meant to visually mirror that of vibranium, shines in elegant swirling detail over and around the whole chair. A soft black material is stretched over the back and seat of the throne, marked in red on the back with Tom's symbol. Tom's crown features flowers and shining rubies set in the wood.

Set up in another room is a shillelagh game of shooting water out of the staff at the targets and winning a prize. Prizes include real "authentic" Shillelaghs, and ones that light up and show fire at the end thanks to an internal projection mechanism. And it's perfectly harmless!

Another room winds and twists through a dark torch lit tunnel in a guided tour through a replica portion of Cassidy keep that's been filled with amazing info about Panem's new Victor! Pictures of his life, his youth, his loves, and his adventures. There are replica vibranium pieces, models featuring Tom's many outfits, a pretend prison for guests to have their picture taken inside of, and on-wall descriptions of his villainous escapades. Both those and the tour guide tend to loop back to how he's found redemption here in Panem, now a model citizen.

A third room has been cleared for allowing a giant game of cops and robbers, which Tom has exemplified in present and past respectively. Those brought in to play are dressed in villain's outfits for the "robbers" and all Peacekeeper white for the "cops".

One door leads out to a bridge, connecting the island to the chasm edge across from it. There's a section of rolling hills there where guests are encouraged to seek out four leaf clovers and have them exchanged for engraved gold and bronze rings, flower bouquets, a free meal courtesy of Below Timberline, or even Limited Edition Black Tom Cassidy memorabilia. The white bridge across is lit underneath like that of the ha'penny bridge in the exotic offworld Ireland, but unlike ha'penny, the bridge's lights form beautiful moving pictures of various arena scenes, particularly the finale.

Saddened these scenes are out of sight? Fear not! The wide bridge has a second function: bungee jumping! Overseen by an attendant, with the proper equipment fitting, you too can take a dive into a chasm. Like Black Tom did, only on purpose and absolutely injury-free! The bungee is perfectly secure and safe with more attendants waiting below to pick up those... at the end of their rope. Boats waiting along the far edges pick up the guests again to bring them back around to the Cassidy Keep party. And what a party it is.

But it's not all fun and games at this crowning. Come evening, the dance floor is cleared and a stage and podium are swiftly set up. All the guests are sat. Tributes are sat up front, Capitolites and other guests in the back. Peacekeepers line in rows on the back and sides of the stage. Those still on duty situate between the Tributes and guests. Dead-center, with the rows of Tributes on either side, are two Peacekeepers that some might recognize as being one of the more heavily afflicted Peacekeepers on the day of the Medieval Games-watching Party. Though the offworld "sickness" vanished shortly after the first arrest was made, these two still don't look so hot, one nursing what might be a headache, and the other just plain looking ill.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Firo manages to shrug a shoulder even from their position. "I'm assumin' you're too busy to go until one of us can't move?" That, and Firo suddenly fears that that person would be him and that'd just be embarrassing.

It's not fair, of course, that the metal fingers can't keep up with the flesh and bone ones. But Firo's not much one for fair anyway, so he wrenches and twists in the direction of the loosened grip. If he can get out of the hold, he'll already be trying to roll away to get some space. If he's that lucky.

Roland grunts and all at once gives up on that particular battle, releasing his grip altogether and shoving at Firo, meaning to try and push the boy away, roll away himself, and roll right back onto his feet. "Or until one of us is pinned for a certain number of seconds," he says, once he's still enough one way or the other to say so. "What do you say? Is ten too long?"

This time, Firo's more than happy to go with the flow. He rolls with the shove, springing to his feet as soon as there's enough space between them. Rather than keeping his weight low as if he's braced to weather a hit, he stays light on his feet; his aim is going to be to stay away from the ground, if he can.

"Sounds fine to me." He nods, first serious, then grins just a little. It's difficult to keep his eager inner child from showing at times like this. "...You've gotta show me how you did that grab, too." Well, he doesn't have to. But saying please is overrated.

Roland's eyebrows rise. Will he? "You try it yourself," he invites, "and we'll see how well you've got it." He's taking the posture Firo hasn't - braced to keep his balance, at least, if not to weather a blow, because he doesn't really expect Firo to attack with force. And Roland does plan for Firo to attack. He'll be watching Firo, wary and circling away if he moves close, until that attack comes.

Firo grins and shrugs. "Works for me." The hands-on teaching approach is one he can appreciate.

First he feints high, then he whips around with his other hand to try to grab one of Roland's hands; if the man brings one up to block, that's what he'll go for. The first attempt with the grab is dexterous but untrained--if he even gets close enough, he'll fumble before he gets the finer points.

Roland's one hand is now in Firo's grasp. He does not attempt to distract Firo with his other hand, although he is ready to do it. He only moves his wrist much as Firo had earlier, testing the boy's grip.

At the resistance, Firo redoubles his grip, though he can feel that it won't take much more for Roland to break out. He considers using his other hand to hang on, but that would be dangerous--he doesn't want to leave himself open.

So, instead, he tries using his free hand to take a swing right at Roland's shoulder.

Roland's instinct - which he follows, to a point - is to shoot his other hand out and grip the wrist of the hand trying to punch him. Ordinarily he'd try to twist that wrist, maybe break it, but here he only tries to hold it. If he manages that he means to try and use it, move Firo's arm as if he's trying to twist it behind his back. He isn't, because he knows a little pain isn't going to make Firo call anything off, but if it works out right it may make a good distraction.

Whether he does or doesn't manage to grab Firo's wrist Roland will still move one side of himself forward, hoping Firo will react by moving his feet in a way that'll let Roland try and sweep one of those feet out from under him.

"Damn it," Firo's growl is good-natured as Roland catches his wrist; he should've been prepared for that, he thinks. While maintaining the grip with his other hand, he tries to angle his elbow into Roland's ribs. He has to work with what he has.

In an effort to put himself into a better position to strike back with a throw or a kick, Firo slides his back leg out. This has the unfortunate effect of giving Roland an opening for the sweep, if he chooses to go for it.

Roland grunts, trying not to move back too far in reaction to that elbow in his ribs. He has an opportunity now - two, actually - and he wants to be close enough to take them. He does in fact decide to try for the sweep and at the same time he tries to move the hand whose fingers Firo is holding. Because what that grip really requires is two hands, one to hold the fingers and another to hold the wrist still, and with his wrist free Roland may be able to take back a little control by moving his and Firo's hands close enough that his fingers are no longer bent backward. Trying this and the sweep at the same time may help - if one doesn't work, hopefully the other will do him some good.

Edited 2015-09-20 00:42 (UTC)

Seeing that he's in a pickle, Firo releases what remains of the lock when Roland pushes it. It's too late, though, to avoid the sweep, and down he goes. "Shit."

He brings both arms up to block, hoping that the prospect of another elbow will discourage Roland from coming down with him. If he has any space for it, he'll try to roll out of the way.

The elbow does discourage Roland, but not for long. When Firo rolls Roland tries to pin him, and if in the process he should put himself in a position where it might be easy for Firo to try that finger lock a second time? Well. That was silly of him, wasn't it?

That the opening is a teacher being considerate doesn't occur to Firo; his instinct upon seeing it is to wonder if it's a trap.

But, hell, he wanted to learn it, didn't he? If he's going to make Roland have any respect for the people the Martillos choose as capos, he has to go for it, doesn't he? Besides, he doesn't have a ton of options here.

Another frustrated growl when he's pinned, but now he's focused on getting this grab to work. Wary of occupying both of his hands, he doesn't yet go for the necessary wrist grab. Instead, he tries to bend Roland's fingers back, feeling for how he can adjust the grip.

Any position that leaves both Firo's arms free and leaves him room to use them isn't going to last long, although Roland does begin counting the seconds. He does not expect to make it to ten, but he counts. He only lets Firo begin to start manipulating his fingers, though, moving his wrist to compensate almost as soon as Firo tries it. Not going to let you get away with that, Firo; do it properly or it won't work at all.

Firo exhales sharply as Roland continues to move. Of course things are never easy, but at least that makes it interesting. All the same, he's fighting off the nagging worry of embarrassing his people. Again.

If he's going to make this work, it seems he has to grab for the wrist now, so that's what he does. He tries to clamp down with his free hand and anchor his elbow to his side to control the movement. If that even comes close to working, he'll jerk his weight upward as well to try to make an opening. His only hope is that something works.

Roland's got one less hand to brace himself with now and doesn't fight it, leaning in any direction Firo should choose to lead him through those bent back fingers. That one less hand, though, also means Roland is less able to brace against the floor, only has his feet to do it with since his one free arm is bent around Firo's neck to try and keep him in place. So the movement dislodges Roland from Firo a little, has Roland at least beginning to roll off Firo and moving one leg backward to keep him from completely flipping over.

Firo feels a little thrill of hope--did he get it? He doesn't want to get too excited just yet--and it's not like he's out of the woods--but a small grin appears on his face. He likes picking up new things and seeing how they pan out.

And he's hoping that this is maybe an opening. Feeling Roland move with him, he pushes the lock up and to the side as he jerks in the same direction, trying again to roll Roland off of him.

It's rougher than he should be in a friendly sparring match, probably, but his Family tended to go pretty close to all out with these. That and, as silly as he knows it probably is, he finds himself getting cagey when close to pinned, real fight or no.

Now there are things Roland could have done to avoid this, but now that he is here there isn't much to stop it. So despite the fact that he could resist that lock a little more - might not try with a real enemy, takes the threat of broken fingers as seriously as any other gunslinger would, but here with Firo he could risk it - Roland chooses not to. Firo's got the lock right and Roland saw him realize it, saw that little grin and looks a little more satisfied on seeing it, and does not plan to get in the way of Firo's discover as to how it ought to be used.

So he rolls with the lock, moves himself in the only direction that's available to take a little pressure off his fingers. Which happens to do that last little bit to flip Roland right over onto his back. Once he sees how Firo's going to try and pin him, whether Firo's going to let go of that lock or not, Roland will decide how much chance he's got at getting up again. For now, he doesn't fight this part of things, either.

He moves eagerly to maintain his grip and tries to get on top of Roland to keep him down. What to do with the lock isn't the kind of thing he thinks over so much as feels out. To push Roland's hand down to the floor would jeopardize the pressure that the lock requires, he believes, so keeping Roland's arm up seems the better course. But then does he stay here and try to count to ten, or does he try to pull the guy up on his feet so that they can end in a more respectful position?

He hesitates, staring at Roland. Maybe he's not a Martillo, but there are some things about him--especially now, when they're wrestling like Firo would with Yaguruma--that remind Firo of his bosses, and that affords a certain level of respect, even if it risks allowing the tide of the match to turn.

Roland does wonder at the source of that hesitation, but only faintly. Hesitation is always something to be taken advantage of, even when the fight is only training. Or maybe especially then. Roland tries to use that hesitation to get some space between their bodies, space he would maybe be able to use to stand or even try and reverse their positions again. He bends his legs, trying to draw them up and twist his body in hopes that that'll get Firo's hips - and thus the whole lower half of Firo's body - a little further from his. At the same time the arm he'd had around Firo's neck draws in too, tries to drive his elbow against Firo's side with it. That, too, he's hoping to be able to work between their bodies, maybe pry himself out a little space.

That's answer enough, and Firo realizes too late that he's probably made an error. The shifting of Roland's legs forces him back, and at first he pulls the lock back with him, still trying to maintain it.

It occurs to him that it might be in vain, though; as much as he wants to prove that he can learn things, he's not going to win many points by letting himself get locked into one strategy. So he lets go completely and tries to scramble back, aiming to land and get to his feet.

Oh no he doesn't. At least, not if Roland can help it. Roland rolls after him, rolling up to his knees and reaching one hand out toward Firo's closest arm, wanting to get a grip there and slide it far enough up toward Firo's shoulder that he'll be able to shove that shoulder around, use the grip he's also hoping to get on Firo's other side - shoulder, arm, back, anything - to help him get Firo's back toward him, the ultimate goal here being to try and pin him a different way this time, face down. Of course, that lock Firo had Roland's fingers in did what it did, and any possible grip Roland might get may not be quite as tight as it maybe ought to be.

(ooc: since I don't remember if we specified which of Roland's hands Firo had, if you do end up having Firo take advantage of a weak grip it can be in either of Roland's hands, wherever you need it to be.)

Firo lets out a squeak of surprise when his shoulder is grabbed and he can feel himself spun around--foiled! He can't pull away to avoid the second grip, but he wonders if that hand isn't grasping as strongly--at least, that's the side he's going to test.

It's best to be bold at this point, he thinks, considering how close to being pinned he is. So he throws his whole weight at Roland's second hand, aiming to break out and keep on moving.

[ooc: Thanks! I was thinking the second hand Roland's grabbing him with, does that work?]

(ooc: yeah that works for me)

It works. Roland grunts, more with irritation at his own disobedient bodyparts than with any true annoyance, and in an instant gives up on any kind of considered tactics. Instead he gets a foot under him and launches himself toward Firo, trying to drive a shoulder into him and knock him back. If Firo didn't want a wrestling match he might have to do something about it now, because Roland grasps at whatever parts of Firo's shirt his hands may land on and tries to make this little tussle into exactly that.

[ooc: Thanks!]

Firo isn't expecting the change in tactic, especially something so head on. He can't avoid the shoulder or the grip, though he tries to move back with the force. When his shirt is grabbed, he tries to come up with a knee towards Roland's center.

Despite previously failed efforts to make conversation, Firo pipes up again, "You just don't quit, do you?" But he laughs as he says it, hardly as annoyed as the words would suggest. It's a good thing, in his book. Having someone who'll keep you on your toes while sparring could save your life when you went out to a real fight.

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He's such a good teacher :<

he really does enjoy it when he likes the student

:D

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