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.
formersurgeon: (never letting you talk again)

[personal profile] formersurgeon 2013-09-10 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
She gives a half-smile in response to the sarcasm. "They do. Remind me to hire them for my next soiree."

As far as Joan can tell, the guy isn't doing at all well. When they first met, she was struck about how unhappy he seemed trying to learn to use that bow. Like he didn't want to kill people, but felt there was no other option, and the cognitive dissonance was eating him up inside. She gets some of the same from him now, like refusing to adapt will kill him, but adapting will only kill him more slowly.

"I'm doing great. I mean, bloody holographic death, whole animals on spits, celebrating someone who managed to not die in the arena... what could be better?"
showbizpanache: (I feel responsible)

[personal profile] showbizpanache 2013-09-12 07:05 am (UTC)(link)
That manages to get a laugh out of him, though it's an uncomfortable one. He supposes he ought to get something to eat or drink, but his surroundings are less than appetizing. It's somewhat of a comfort that Joan seems to be in the same boat.

He shifts around, looking very much like he wants to disappear. "It's less the decor and more...the individual we're celebrating." He swallows, and is sure to keep his voice low. "I don't believe it's because he just...managed not to die. Someone I knew had been killed by him once, so..."

Kurt trails off, shrugging. It really does seem like the only way to win the games is to kill as many people as possible, and that fact is sinking in more and more each day.
formersurgeon: (concerned)

[personal profile] formersurgeon 2013-09-12 04:56 pm (UTC)(link)
She nods, glancing up at the victor at the high table.

"You're right. That's worse than just surviving."

Of course, it's hard to completely condemn anyone for killing in a kill or be killed situation. Joan has no intention of ever killing anyone, with the possible exception of if someone directly threatened her life or the life of one of her friends. Even then, it's hard to justify the use of lethal force when everyone involved is just going to be brought back to life later.

Now doesn't seem to be the best time for talking the philosophy of murder, though.

"You've been to these things before, right? Are they all like this?"