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.
tis_allgood: (He may not shame such tender love)

[personal profile] tis_allgood 2013-09-04 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
Sometimes words can mean two things, and Bert is an expert at it. But Karkat was right, it would just encourage him.


"A fanged beast who has a taste for me? I seem to gravitate toward that type, aye. But I think they only get close because we aren't afraid."

He reaches out to touch Karkat's face near where he has his eyes shut. He just wants his friend to open his eyes again, but it will probably feel like a pale gesture to Karkat.
sleeplessinalternia: (05 My heart's colder)

[personal profile] sleeplessinalternia 2013-09-04 02:13 am (UTC)(link)
It does feel like a pale gesture to Karkat and so he grabs Cuthbert by the arm and moves his hand back. "Wrong quadrant, dipshit," he says with an exasperated sigh, but then he does open his eyes, so that worked out all right for Cuthbert after all.
tis_allgood: (Default)

[personal profile] tis_allgood 2013-09-04 02:41 am (UTC)(link)
"Cry pardon. The last thing I want to do is flip on thee. Flip quadrants, at least."

Yeah, that was a real stretch of a metaphor, but he's smiling to see Karkat looking at him again. He has the count at 4 - 2 with him winning.

"Nice armor."
sleeplessinalternia: (26 This is a cold war)

[personal profile] sleeplessinalternia 2013-09-04 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
"Nice whatever," Karkat says, taking care to keep his eyes on Cuthbert's face and not on the skimpy outfit he's wearing.
tis_allgood: (Default)

[personal profile] tis_allgood 2013-09-04 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
He shifts his hips to the side.

"It's called a 'belt'. Mayhap you would call it a holder for lower limb coverings. I find belt a lot easier though, say true."