etcircenses: (Default)
Panem Events ([personal profile] etcircenses) wrote in [community profile] thecapitol2015-11-20 11:32 am

The Crowning of Cullen Rutherford

Who| Everyone who's anyone.
What| The Crowning of Cullen Rutherford.
Where| The new Rutherford Castle.
When| Friday, late afternoon into the evening.
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| Please warn appropriately in headers.

The crowning ceremony takes place in an approximation of Skyhold, a large fortress with a castle with a sweeping main hall, gardens, and two levels of courtyard. Flags and banners hang everywhere, some with heraldry of the Inquisition, some with the heraldry of the Templar Order, a nod to Cullen's old days as a Templar. And of course, just as prominent everywhere you look is the seal of the Capitol. Just in case anyone forgot where they were.

The medieval fashion (or as close of approximation to medieval as the Capitol as gotten) that had come in with the 13th arena is back in full swing. There's plenty of fake armor to be seen, and foam swords resting on Capitolite hips. Sweeping ballgowns can be spotted as well, and a few more savvy people seem to have come dressed in a strange red and gold uniform. The avoxes do their best to blend in to the environment with drab brown peasant outfits.

In the main hall, tables filled with medieval food have been set up on both sides of the walls, filled with approximations of medieval food--As far as the Capitolites are concerned, that means normal food, but with a tendency for venison and large turkey legs. There are even dainty little cakes for dessert. Along the walls, above the food tables, hang multiple pictures. Featuring in this galley are every native of Thedas that had come to Panem at one point or another, all of them dressed in dour blacks of funeral wear, save the four remaining Thedasians. But of course, there are plenty of pictures of the Victor, starting with Cullen has a chubby blond child, going into him as an awkward young Templar (there's even a picture of him talking to a woman that the title identifies as Warden Amell), going through unfortunate hair cuts, and of course, various pictures of him in Panem, capturing a variety of touching and painful moments.

It all culminates when you get to the end of the hall, where there rests a massive throne just for Cullen. And behind it, the largest picture of them all, a massive portrait of Cullen. Adella stands next to him, holding an infant in her arms. Maxwell and Tabris are, for some reason, also featured in this family portrait, and you have to wonder if the artist in question didn't perhaps ship the ever popular Maxullen, because Maxwell's hand was looking awfully chummy on Cullen's shoulder.

The bottom courtyard has been set up with stalls, where you can buy foam swords and shields, little mabari plushes, and even a lion helmet. There's also little wedding toppers, shaped just like Cullen and Adella, and framed pictures of most of the art that hangs in the main hall. The nearby stables have been stocked with a variety of mounts, from the standard horses to more exotic harts, a strange dragon-like creature, and...no one is really sure what this is, but it...looks interesting?

In the upper courtyard, there's the Herald's Rest, a real, rustic tavern, with a woman playing a guitar and singing various songs. All the songs seem to revolve around how great the Capitol is, which kind of offsets the mood, but it's the thought that counts, right? It doesn't help that the bar has been outfitted to serve all kinds of modern drinks, but who wants plain ale, anyway? Outside of the tavern is a practice ring, where people can put to use their fake swords and shields, either trying to maul each other, or a target. Several peacekeepers offset the aesthetic feel in uncompromising white, carefully watching all participants to make sure that everyone is playing nicely.

If everything is just a little too busy for you, the garden is left in quiet peace. A woman dressed in red and white robes will occasionally begin speaking, extolling the virtues of the Capitol, and President Snow in a lengthy monologue.

There are a few actors wandering around, appearing as various people who have made an impact on Cullen's life. There's the mysterious Warden Amell, a man in full armor, and a woman dressed similarly. These two will wander around, swords in hand, ready to smack anyone with foam swords and accuse them of being blood mages. One actress is dressed like a certain Marian Hawke who had at one time been a tribute. She darts around the fortress, stopping people and regaling them with highly exaggerated tales of things that Cullen has supposedly done. There's even a few creatures running around that people may recognize from the last arena, such as the tastefully almost-nude desire demon that will occasionally try to sidle up to people--usually to be driven off by one of the people in armor.

There's one more addition to the party--dogs! A very specific kind of dog. Several dogs simply wander around Skyhold, trying to steal people's food and begging for attention. Next to the throne are four particularly handsome ones, each one with a collar baring the name of one of the four Thedasians left.

If wandering around Skyhold and competing with swords leaves you dry-mouthed, you're in luck! Dotted around the area are fountains that all pour a strange, bright blue punch. Listen closely, because the fountain seems to be humming a strange tune. If you have a careful eye, you might even find the one that has red punch pouring out if it, humming an oddly sinister tune.

Well, what harm could there be in going ahead and trying it out anyway?
leiche: (090)

[personal profile] leiche 2015-12-24 10:02 am (UTC)(link)
Massive ... shoulder pads.

The image alone is enough to make Jeremy snort a little, but he tries not to be too audible about it. He clears his throat, rubs his nose with the back of his hand - were all Capitolites like that? Pretending to care, but really just making silly suggestions so they could laugh at all the offworlders?

"That's ... that's o-okay," he replies quietly. "Kn--Knowing me ... I'd just knock s-stuff over all d-day."
contrarianlibrarian: (Smile)

[personal profile] contrarianlibrarian 2015-12-27 03:58 pm (UTC)(link)
She's quiet, watching him intently as he replies, then sighs.

"Even that doesn't get a laugh? I really must work on my sense of humor."

People are funny with their little feelings, so she doesn't imagine that he'd be feeling fit to dance and carouse in this sort of situation. But a little less gloom might be nice.
leiche: (032)

[personal profile] leiche 2015-12-29 01:59 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, god, she was joking. She was making a joke to try and cheer him up and he took it seriously. This was the worst first impression ever.

"Fuck," Jeremy curses under his breath, stopping in his tracks and rubbing his scarred forehead. He's really bad at this. The world could open up and swallow him whole anytime now, and he'd grateful appreciate it.

"S-Sorry. I'm not-- I didn't m-mean to be rude. It just-- it's hard to con--control, sometimes."
contrarianlibrarian: (False modesty)

Poor Jeremy

[personal profile] contrarianlibrarian 2015-12-30 04:58 am (UTC)(link)
"Hmm?" She stops a few paces after and looks back at him.

She flips a few strands of hair over her shoulder. "The more people who find self control difficult, the more impressive it looks on the rest of us. So there's no need to apologize for your indiscretion." A bright smile--she'll let him decide if he wants to take that as a joke or not.
leiche: (016)

he's so awkwaaard

[personal profile] leiche 2016-01-01 01:15 pm (UTC)(link)
At least she acknowledges it's an indiscretion. It helps when he's not being pitied or babied, but Jeremy knows from plenty of experience that she's going to get tired of dealing with him eventually. And he can already feel his anxiety and panic levels start to rise the longer he stands around.

"... I-I should just go," he says after a pause, rubbing the back of his neck and taking a small step backwards. "I'm just-- it ... it's just going to get w-worse."

He almost apologizes again, but he remembers she said not to.
contrarianlibrarian: (Smile 2)

But adorably so!

[personal profile] contrarianlibrarian 2016-01-03 02:14 am (UTC)(link)
China rests one hand on her hip. "Worse? Didn't I just tell you that poor performance reflects well on me? Therefore saying that you'll worsen only means that your company will become more appealing, hm?"

Better move to avoid her manicured clutches, because they're coming straight for his arm in what is meant to be a comforting squeeze.
leiche: (090)

[personal profile] leiche 2016-01-03 07:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, so that's been her plan all along.

Jeremy decides that enough is enough, and he doesn't have to put up with her using him like that. He immediately flinches from her touch and steps back, shaking his head. He might be a total mess, sure, but that doesn't mean he's going to let himself be taken advantage of like that.

"Leave me a-alone," he says, trying to sound firm. "If that's all y-you want, go find-- go find s-someone else."
contrarianlibrarian: (Frazzlement)

[personal profile] contrarianlibrarian 2016-01-05 11:33 pm (UTC)(link)
The hand that had reached for Jeremy now flies to her face, covering her mouth as if to obscure a gasp. She advances to make up for the step he retreated, though her stride is cautious. Her eyes are wide and almost imploring. "Did I offend? I fear I must have misjudged your sense of humor once again."

He seems awfully sensitive, doesn't he? China might be tempted to drop even more of the sweetness and accept that she won't win this one over, but then what else is she going to do for the rest of this party?
leiche: (052)

[personal profile] leiche 2016-01-07 12:58 pm (UTC)(link)
The closer she moves, the more steps backward Jeremy takes, not at all keen on being within arms reach of her now. She could have good intentions, just trying to be nice and friendly in her own way, but something is off and uncomfortable about her. It's the way she speaks and carries herself, approaching him like he's nothing more than a toy for her amusement.

"It's n-not funny," he replies, taking yet another step back, and accidentally bumping into a table behind him. He'll run for it if he has to, if she gets angry at him. "Just-- ... just l-leave me alone."
contrarianlibrarian: (Nah brah)

[personal profile] contrarianlibrarian 2016-01-12 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
China finally stops, leaving him his space for now. She holds her arms out in a delicate shrug.

"And what are you going to do on your own? You realize that a sweet and cute Tribute all by himself is going to be crowded by his fans, don't you? And you didn't seem much one for crowds."
leiche: (028)

[personal profile] leiche 2016-01-17 05:37 am (UTC)(link)
Sweet and cute? The lady is clearly delusional.

"I don't h-have any fans," Jeremy retorts, confusion evident in his expression. He's a basket case and he died barely a week into his first arena, nobody's a fan of that. "I'll be f-fine."
contrarianlibrarian: (Smile)

[personal profile] contrarianlibrarian 2016-01-18 05:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"Will you?" Her question sounds genuinely surprised, no hint of the sarcasm yet to come. "Ah, yes, I see I must have forgotten that you, a recent arrival, have such extensive experience with the Games and the people of the Capitol. Truly, I should be the one taking tips and advice from you. My apologies."
leiche: (027)

[personal profile] leiche 2016-01-21 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay, true, she has him there. Jeremy isn't fully knowledgeable of how Panem and the Capitol works, aside from enjoying the art of gruesome battle and death from a comfortable spectator spot like the ancient gladiators of old. But-- well, he's hardly a gladiator. He's pitiful. Who would root for someone like him?

"I don't-- I don't care," Jeremy replies, trying not to sound agitated but his anxiety levels are definitely raising up higher. He should just go before he lashes out, and makes this a lot worse. So that's exactly what he starts to do, turn around and just go. "L-Leave me alone already."

He just barely refrains from any added profanity.
contrarianlibrarian: (Neutral 2)

[personal profile] contrarianlibrarian 2016-01-22 04:59 pm (UTC)(link)
“You don’t care? Then I’ve completely misread you once more.” Her tone is still calm as always, but the words may imply the hint of mocking that she intends.

This time she doesn’t reach out to stop him, instead folding her arms and adding, “I’ll do you the kindness of offering my advice again: take a deep breath, find yourself a few drinks, and smile. You’ll only be doing yourself a favor for the future.”
leiche: (029)

[personal profile] leiche 2016-01-24 01:49 pm (UTC)(link)
He knows he's not making much sense, but it's hard to really think before he says anything when his anxiety's already running high as it is. Jeremy only stops for a moment to look over his shoulder, in case her "advice" is anything actually important - unsurprisingly, it's not, and he barely refrains from rolling his eyes yet again.

"Y-Yeah. Sure. I-I'll do that," he replies, turning back around again. She's right about getting a few drinks in him, at least, but forget everything else. Getting absolutely plastered sounds like a far better idea.