gamemakers: (Default)
The Gamemakers ([personal profile] gamemakers) wrote in [community profile] thecapitol2013-09-02 11:22 am

The Crowning of Maximus Decimus Meridius

Who| Everyone
What| Maximus' crowning
Where| Victory Hall
When| Today
Warnings| Violence.


Prior to the Crowning, the Stylists and Escorts were given information: the color scheme for the Crowning is brown and gold, the theme is fire, and for Tributes, Games Staff and Victors in the Capitol alike, attendance is mandatory. No exceptions.

The Victory Hall has been completely refitted to the theme. Great brownstone pillars reach up from the floor, now made of polished marble. Rose petals and dying embers flutter from the ceiling like confetti, and long panels of fabrics embroidered with Maximus' kills pour down the walls. Rather than tables, Tributes are given wooden chairs to sit around fire pits in groups of four, where pigs and sheep are roasting whole, tended by attentive Avoxes. The smell of charring flesh and rosemary wafts through the hall.

In the center of the hall is a pit, fifteen feet deep, ringed with brick and filled with sand. Torches line the inside wall, casting light in every direction. A circular screen up above lets those not close to the edge view the contents of the pit in real-time video.

Maximus' private table has a theme of anachronisms; Tributes from 'less-developed' timelines and worlds are seated around a long table, facing the gladiatorial ring where, at the moment, a full-grown, well-fed Bengal tiger paces. Compared to the muttations of the Arena, it may seem positively demure, up until it bares its fangs and reveals that it's been modified to have saber teeth gilded in gold. Occasionally an Avox will dangle something into the pit and jerk it away if the tiger looks bored and lays down.

Occasionally, with fanfare of music pumped in to announce it, a challenger enters the tiger ring - a hologram of one of the Tributes who were cuffed and marked by the Capitol. The hologram must be affixed with smell, too, as the tiger takes note and attacks like a kitten following a laser pointer, making dramatic roars as it does. The holograms put up valiant fights, and their deaths are brutal, illusory blood flying and the sounds of death rattles and bones cracking coming from speakers embedded in every table.

"A speech," Maximus' Escort says to Maximus. "The General must give a speech."

Tributes who attended Wesker's Crowning ceremony should notice a remarkable increase in security. Visibly armed Peacekeepers lurk behind the panels of fabric, and bulbous, obvious cameras dot the ceiling. Even the Avoxes seem shiftier than usual, and are equipped with discrete tape recorders pinned to their rough-hewn tunics.
justoutrunyou: (Pale scared)

[personal profile] justoutrunyou 2013-09-02 09:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Sandy was standing nearby in her own dress of leathery brown with sharp gold painted in swirls to resemble a wind flowing around her. The stylists had even gone as far as to give her matching beads around her ankles, so she and Pruna could continue to play up their closeness, but she had to wear golden open toed sandals as well.

She had learned to gravitate towards Pruna in any social situation but as the assassin's hologram was killed Sandy's eyes went wide, and when her own hologram was trotted out into the pit to die her face went pale and she felt like what little fluid she had drank since arriving was now ice in her belly.

Unconsciously she put a hand over the cuff she still bore on her wrist. She had painted it gold at her stylists insistence but now she wished she'd left it alone.

The holograms screams made her tremble.
knifewithnoname: (quiet fear)

[personal profile] knifewithnoname 2013-09-02 10:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Pruna kicked another bench and looked around for a weapon. "We can be killing it." She said, far too loud to be safe, "That will be showing them."
justoutrunyou: (Ho shit time to run!)

[personal profile] justoutrunyou 2013-09-02 10:57 pm (UTC)(link)
If anything could snap Sandy out of her fear response it was an even stronger fear response. Her head whipped to the side to look at Pruna and shook her head moving closer and stepping over the bench, "N-no no no, no no no...no. No we really...we can't. I mean you could totally...but if we did they'd hate us even worse. They might even take you away."

And then where would Sandy be without her Pruna?
knifewithnoname: (quiet fear)

[personal profile] knifewithnoname 2013-09-03 06:44 am (UTC)(link)
But Pruna stepped away from Sandy, towards the pit. Luckily there bench was quite a way back. But she began walking with determination. "I will be showing them, I do no be caring what they do be doing."
justoutrunyou: (D-d-do a barrel roll)

[personal profile] justoutrunyou 2013-09-04 09:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Sandy scrambled over the bench stumbling in her outfit and almost falling on her face as she grabbed for Pruna, "It's just a picture, it's not like it's real." She babbled desperately trying to calm Pruna down.
knifewithnoname: (quiet fear)

[personal profile] knifewithnoname 2013-09-05 05:03 am (UTC)(link)
"Exactly, the real us would be able to be killing it because it do be just being a stupid tiger." She tried to pull Sandy along with her.
justoutrunyou: (The jig is up)

[personal profile] justoutrunyou 2013-09-05 09:11 am (UTC)(link)
Sandy let out a startled sound and cursed her lack of grace or coordination as Pruna managed to drag her to the edge.

"You don't have any weapons, they're gonna kill us." Sandy pleaded, realizing with a sort of dark humor she was more afraid of the Capitol killing her later then a tiger killing her now.
knifewithnoname: (okay that's not good)

[personal profile] knifewithnoname 2013-09-06 07:10 am (UTC)(link)
Pruna seemed to realise that Sandy was scared and let go of her, "You do no be having to be doing it." She told her, "If you do be being scared." It wasn't going to stop Pruna though.
mannersmatter: (Are you fucking kidding me?)

[personal profile] mannersmatter 2013-09-07 04:56 am (UTC)(link)
Effie, between the moment she realized what was going on, and the moment when she grabbed on to Pruna with all her might, possibly set a record for the 100 yard dash, in heels, while dodging drunken partiers.

Luckily, Haymitch had given her lots of practice.

"What do you think you're doing?!" She asked, her voice pitched high out of feer, chest heaving as she dragged in air.
knifewithnoname: (quiet fear)

[personal profile] knifewithnoname 2013-09-07 01:17 pm (UTC)(link)
The moment she was grabbed Pruna lashed out, flailing with arms and legs, trying to break free, head whipping around as she tried to bite the hands that held her.

"You will be fucking letting go of me, and I will be killing that stupid tiger!"
justoutrunyou: (We gotta fight for our rights!)

[personal profile] justoutrunyou 2013-09-07 02:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Sandy went through the stages of relief and horror in a matter of seconds. For a moment she thought that Effie's timely arrival would be the end of it and she allowed herself some gratitude for the woman.

But that all crumbled the minute Pruna started lashing out.

"Ashley no!" A sudden sharpness came to her voice that surprised even her. She lunged forward to try and grab at the flailing limbs to protect Effie.
mannersmatter: (explaining things to idiots)

[personal profile] mannersmatter 2013-09-07 11:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"Pruna!"

Violence was not something Effie was fond of. Pruna would be hearing no end to this any time soon.

But it was something she was familiar with.

"Get ahold of yourself right now young lady! You are not going to kill that tiger."
knifewithnoname: (quiet fear)

[personal profile] knifewithnoname 2013-09-08 12:01 am (UTC)(link)
It was Sandy's tone that made her pause, to stop flailing for a moment, enough to realise she was attacking Effie and she liked Effie. Effie was nice to her, and she was making Sandy scared and she didn't want to do that, even if Sandy needed to toughen up.

So she stopped fighting, still glaring, "I do be wanting to though, it do be fucking stupid and those fake people do no even be fighting right."
justoutrunyou: (oh no what now?)

[personal profile] justoutrunyou 2013-09-08 03:34 am (UTC)(link)
Sandy let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

"You're one of the bravest strongest people I know, that's why I call you Ashley remember? But...it's not smart what you're doing. Even if you kill the tiger you'll just get in trouble..." Though she knew how Pruna felt about getting in trouble. She just couldn't figure out what else she could say. Didn't her friend realize what the Capitol could do to them?
mannersmatter: (Are you fucking kidding me?)

[personal profile] mannersmatter 2013-09-09 05:03 am (UTC)(link)
Effie sighed, glancing over to let the Peacekeeper who had moved closer know that she had it handled.

Carefully...very carefully, give her gown, she crouched down so she was eye to eye with the two young girls, trying to find the right wording.

"You are brave Pruna, but Sandy is right. That is stupid, and can get you hurt-unnecessarily. Please, just...stay in one piece for me."
knifewithnoname: (quiet fear)

[personal profile] knifewithnoname 2013-09-09 10:29 am (UTC)(link)
The fight went out of her but she screamed in frustration and clenched her hands into fists. She was angry and she knew she could fight the tiger, she was strong enough.

But they were right, it was stupid and everyone would be mad. But she couldn't let them get away with it. It was very frustrating.

Angry green eyes met Effie's, "They do no be scaring me."
justoutrunyou: (A moment of silence)

[personal profile] justoutrunyou 2013-09-09 06:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Sandy's shoulders slumped once she saw Pruna wasn't going to keep lashing out at them and she let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding.

Silently her eyes swept up to Effie in silent gratitude. It still felt so strange to be happy to see an adult after all this time.
mannersmatter: (Judging you. And drinking also.)

[personal profile] mannersmatter 2013-09-13 07:11 am (UTC)(link)
"Of course they don't scare you sweetheart."

The thought occurred quicker than Effie's mind could silence it. You don't know the scariest parts yet. She swallowed.

"Will you just behave? For me?"
knifewithnoname: (oh I see)

[personal profile] knifewithnoname 2013-09-13 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Pruna wrinkled her nose, still angry. But Effie was nice and answered her questions and wasn't stupid like most other people. So she nodded.

"Okay." Her voice was sulky. "For you."
Edited 2013-09-13 22:57 (UTC)
justoutrunyou: (I'm listening)

[personal profile] justoutrunyou 2013-09-14 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
"Thank you." She wasn't sure who she was thanking. Effie for talking sense into her, or Pruna for listening.

"What's that thing they say? Pick your battles?"
mannersmatter: (I am so happy I have no idea what's goin)

[personal profile] mannersmatter 2013-09-15 04:48 am (UTC)(link)
"it's very good advice..."

She absent mindedly patted both girls on the heads, before realizing one of the stylists were desperately waving for her.

"You two be good. Promise."

She would check in with them shortly. As soon as this next disaster was cared for.
knifewithnoname: (hmm)

[personal profile] knifewithnoname 2013-09-15 10:44 am (UTC)(link)
Pruna wrinkled her nose at the head patting and watched as she left to go talk to some of the stupid hair people. Once she was gong Pruna went over to the bench and sat down angrily, bringing her knees to her chest. Stupid tiger, stupid Capitol.
justoutrunyou: (A moment of silence)

[personal profile] justoutrunyou 2013-09-15 10:50 am (UTC)(link)
Sandy followed cautiously and took a seat next to Pruna. Looking around she grabbed someone's goblet full of...well she didn't know what and offered it to Pruna.

"Are you mad at me?" Her gut clenched up with worry that her best friend might blame her for the whole incident.
knifewithnoname: (thinking)

[personal profile] knifewithnoname 2013-09-15 04:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Pruna took the goblet and drank a mouthful, grimacing at the taste. It was... wine she thought but not sweet like the wine of Gauig. She wasn't sure if she liked it at all. She shook her head though, she wasn't mad at Sandy, she was just mad. In general.

She was silent for a long time, sipping the wine again, "I do no be being stupid."
justoutrunyou: (Sly)

[personal profile] justoutrunyou 2013-09-15 09:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Sandy's frowned deepened, that wasn't the answer she was hoping for.

"I know that. You don't get to be a great fighter like you by being stupid." She offered hoping to stroke Pruna's ego.

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Another good end? 83

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Yup :D

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