57th HG Victor Presentation Ceremony

57th HG Victor Presentation Ceremony Jun 12, 2011 20:44:53 GMT -5

Post by Lulu on Jun 12, 2011 20:44:53 GMT -5

The president of Panem stood on the magnificent stage in the City Circle, addressing his people as he had done numerous times before. Another of his prized Hunger Games had come to a close. As usual, they had been an enormous success; enough blood, death, and tragedy to satisfy the viewers, and also to subdue the thoughts of rebellion that the high government official knew were brewing in the minds of some of Panem's citizens.

It had looked as if the awful streak of District Twelve victors had been broken by Topaz Ross last year; her victory had been a huge relief for him, because it had seemed as if his prized Games were under his control again, favoring those that were meant to be favored. But now yet another District Twelve teenager had taken the crown - and another incapacitated one, at that. This one had one with no legs. It really looked as if the Gamemakers were losing control.

He supposed, had she not have been missing legs, it would have been acceptable to pass her off as a capable victor. She was built stocky and strong, and was definitely intelligent. But the fact that the past three out of four Hunger Games had produced a victor from the lowest, poorest district in the bunch did not bode well for the Capitol's image. This could not happen next year. It couldn't. He had to let it go, though - there was nothing he could do about it now, except maybe punish the Head Gamemaker who had allowed this to happen. But now? Now it was time for a ceremony.

He knew that Heron was waiting just below him right now, ready for the platforms to lift her up and out into the light for the first time since she'd left the arena three days ago. The usual upholstered throne was placed in the center of the stage, ready for the victor while she watched a recap of what had been her hell for the past two and a half weeks, including the preparations. It was perpetual torture for the tribute, but the president enjoyed it very much. He wouldn't deny the sadistic delight that he took in watching each victor witness their own atrocities from afar, powerless to change the course of Games, even if they wanted to. Many of them, it seemed, wanted to indeed.

President Snow quieted the crowd and prepared to speak. "Ladies and gentleman, I'm pleased to welcome you to the victor presentation ceremony of the Fifty-seventh annual Hunger Games!" As usual, there was the deafening roar of approval that followed. "Tonight we will show a recap video of this year's Games, so be sure to stay tuned!" Like they have a choice, the president thought. The recap video was required viewing for all of Panem.

Snow went on to announce the prep team, stylist, escort, and mentor of the victor; all were received with tremendous applause. But then, the moment they were all waiting for... Snow plastered a smile across his face before speaking once more. "And now, may I present the victor of the 57th Hunger Games... Heron Kimberling!"

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OOC- RPing is permitted in this thread by Capitol characters. This is the place to have your Capitol character react to viewing the recap video, if you planned on doing that. All characters from other districts can create their own threads in the districts, if they wish.

57th HG Victor Presentation Ceremony Jun 26, 2011 20:01:37 GMT -5

Post by Tsarashi 2.0 on Jun 26, 2011 20:01:37 GMT -5

You know those nightmares where you are running to catch something that is just out of reach, only to find out that they are getting further away every step you take? Heron didn’t, until today that is. Familiar faces waited for her at the end of the darkness and naturally she sprinted to catch up to them, to hold them, to tell herself that they were still alive. But fate was cruel and with her every lunge forward they began to disappear into the painfully bright background which she could never reach. But Heron didn’t want to give up just because her goal was out of sight, so she kept running. But then her legs gave out from beneath her and she fell to the darkness; searing pain soared up her legs and through her body until she could only see white.

That was when Heron woke up and found herself tangled within crisp, clean white bed sheets next to a bed on the floor of a strange room that smelt of antiseptic. She was covered in a cold sweat from head to toe and her heart was racing. It took her a few seconds to figure out where she was, but when everything inside her mind finally clicked she shot up into a sitting position and threw back the fabric to see the damages. Heron didn’t care that she was nude, or that the chill of the room had suddenly created Goosebumps over her body, her hands instantly made their way to her knees to confirm the worst. She still didn’t have any legs.

Heron didn’t quite know why she expected it to be any different; perhaps she overestimated the Capitol’s medical abilities. But apparently restoring limbs was not a power that they had. ’They should have that power’ Heron thought grimly to herself ’It would have made my life much easier.’ After resigning herself to the fact that she may never walk again she took the time to inspect the rest of her body. Every other scar was gone and her skin looked pristine and soft for the first time in her life. It felt like being in another person’s body.

Right at the moment when Heron realized, much to her dismay, that her chest seemed larger, her stylist appeared in all of her small statured, green haired glory. Heron glanced up at Mima, briefly distracted from her altered attributes. The older woman had a fake smile on her face and a bundle of black plastic under her right arm. Behind her was the small company of her assistants.[/size] ”It’s nice to finally see you awake.” Mima said as if she hadn’t simply left her tribute alone on the platform the day she went into the arena. The tomboy simply scowled at the woman.

Without missing a beat the stylist strode up to her and dropped the two things beside Heron and kneeled, clicking her long red thorn-like nails impatiently. ”Let’s get you strapped in so you can get dressed.” To anyone else Mima was acting the same way she always had, but they couldn’t see the look in her eyes. They couldn’t see her flinch when Heron reached for the artificial legs. Mima had expected her to die, so she had treated her as such, but seeing as that didn’t happen Mima was expecting some sort of punishment for her actions. She was afraid of Heron.

Heron frowned thoughtfully before looking away and asking for assistance from one of her other people. The false limbs were made of a strange material that felt like a rubbery fabric and were supported internally by plastic and metal. They fit like a glove, meaning that they were probably made just for her, but somehow they still felt wrong. She couldn’t feel them, they were just there. After twenty minutes of trying to get into a standing position Heron was able to stand up with two people flanking her and holding onto her tightly for support. It was heart retching to learn that she wouldn’t be able to walk on her own for about six months as she relearned to walk. But in the end the tomboy decided that this outcome was better than never being able to walk again.

As her team was dressing her in a pair of long black pants and a billowy blue blouse that accentuated her eyes Heron finally realized that something was missing. ”Where are my things? My tokens?” She asked them as they were slowly lowering her into a wheelchair that was cold and smelt new. The new victor didn’t have to wait long because the next thing she felt was the sharp chill of the metal necklace as it was being placed around her neck. ”We’re only giving you this now since it matches your outfit darling.” Said one of her team members, a young woman with unnaturally curly hair and a purple jumper. ”You’ll get your other things after words.”

After what? Was the first thing that went through her mind, until she remembered about the victor’s ceremony. The color left her face as she thought about having to sit through the deaths of her friends over again. She frowned. No, they weren’t friends, they couldn’t be friends. Thinking of them in that light would only make this all the more difficult to her. Instead it was time for her to realize that it was over, that she was alive. All she needed to do was stay strong through this one more thing and she was home free. Home.

Being able to go home was the biggest prize of all. Heron thought about her home and all of the people that she would see again as trained her features and was wheeled out to the platform. Reflectively Heron grimaced. It was just another silver platform for her to ride to the world above, and hopefully her last. As everyone in her party left her to ascend to the stage the remaining tribute thought that she was going to be completely alone to try and figure out how to move by herself.

Thankfully that wasn’t the case as just in time a stage hand came running into her view. He looked completely normal to her compared to all of the other people of the Capitol since he was wearing jeans and a dark tee shirt that stated his name as Jared. He smiled and apologized for being a tad late before scooping her up from the chair and holding her upright. He was slightly taller than her, which made it easier for both of them to balance. ”I’m your escort to your seat. The wheelchair wouldn’t look good up on stage.” He told her. And he was right; it was a reminder to the people that she wasn’t whole.

Heron made a show of pretending to walk when her name was called, but her aid was actually lifting her and doing all the work, not that anyone noticed. The lights on the stage were too warm and it smelled stuffy, but she didn’t have much time to think about it as she was placed in her seat. Jared left without saying a word and Heron was now facing the cheering crowd. Her back straightened and she held her head high with no emotion in particular on her face as she kept her thoughts to herself. Her hands were trembling and she had to bite her lip in order to keep a straight face, now all she had to do was keep herself collected for the next three hours. Easier said than done, but Heron was already practiced in making herself look stronger than she felt. To make it easier on herself her eyes had zoned out, blurring the screen and focusing on her daydreams of reunions home.