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.
the_marshal: (wyattThinking)

[personal profile] the_marshal 2013-09-08 05:39 pm (UTC)(link)
"...We can hope," he sighed.

His gaze returned to her, voice dropping a fraction. They were straying into dangerous territory, and the Crowning, while boisterous, was hardly the place for such talk. Not will all the Peacekeepers, not with the many mechanical eyes spinning from the ceiling, not with Snow mere yards away.

"We'll need 'em."

Numbers didn't win wars, but they certainly helped.
formersurgeon: (let her win)

[personal profile] formersurgeon 2013-09-09 04:55 am (UTC)(link)
She nods. Clearly this is something they will need to discuss more. Joan is only beginning to see the work of the resistance, and she wants to know how deep it goes. But now is not the time, nor the place.

"We should get together sometime. Before the next arena."
the_marshal: (wyattSmirk)

[personal profile] the_marshal 2013-09-09 11:28 am (UTC)(link)
"I'd like that, Miss Wa-" Catching himself, he broke off with a smile. "Joan."

He almost reached for his hat again, the urge to give it a friendly tip so ingrained it was almost instinct, but he held out his hand instead, offering a shake.

"I ain't hard find, ya jus' let me know."
formersurgeon: (angus helped)

[personal profile] formersurgeon 2013-09-09 06:11 pm (UTC)(link)
She accepts the hand and shakes it warmly, her smile fond.

"I will. And feel free to come find me, too, if there's ever something I can help you with."

They need to stick together, after all. Especially since it's clear this place is so full of dangers.
the_marshal: (wyattSmile4)

[personal profile] the_marshal 2013-09-09 06:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'll remember that," he nodded fondly, taking his hand back. "In the meantime, try to have a good right of yer evenin'."

He meant it sincerely, for as much as it was likely for any of them.

Then, slight smile still playing around his mouth, he turned into the crowd and headed away.