Victor Presentation Ceremony

[Lulu]

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. Nothing had gone wrong.

Well, not really.

Something unprecedented had happened this time, though: a blind tribute had won the crown. Sure, there's been slightly disabled victors here and there, but before this the most prominent of them had only been a seventeen year old with a lame foot. Here, this was a blind victor. He couldn't see. So how had he won? It was a puzzle to Snow. And anything that was a puzzle, in his eyes, was dangerous. Even though the advanced surgeons of the Capitol had cured the child of his blindness, this Arbor Halt would have to be watched very closely. Because he could be opening his eyes in more way than one.

He knew that Arbor was waiting just below him right now, ready for the platforms to lift him up and out into the light, for the first time since he'd left the arena three days ago. The usual upholstered throne was placed in the center of the stage, ready to be sat in by the victor while he watched a recap of what had been his hell for the past two and a half weeks, including prep. Snow hated the thought of anyone loathing his beloved city while being pampered during Games preparation, but he was fairly certain that some of the tributes, Arbor included, did.

President Snow quieted the crowd and prepared to speak. "Ladies and gentleman, I'm pleased to welcome you to the presentation ceremony of the Fifty-fourth 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, and 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 54th Hunger Games...Arbor Halt!"

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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.

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[aya]

Halt, Arbor C.

The thing that Arbor had noticed with the Capitol was their irritating lack of capacity to just leave anything alone. They always needed to be meddling in places where they didn't belong. They could never let anything just be. And every time they changed something, every time they quote-unquote improved something, they always seemed to think they were doing the world a favor.

Arbor's eyes were an example of this. He was fine, fully functional--clearly, he was just as capable, if not more so, than any other person roughly his age--and content, more or less, as the blind kid. He didn't ask them to fix him; he wasn't a machine, and he wasn't broken. On the outside, at least.

But they'd given him--no, they'd forced sight upon Arbor Halt, and now, it seemed, he was worse off for it. Murdering, brutally murdering other people was one thing, one cross to bear until death. There was no denying Arbor's temporary insanity, his bloodthirsty rage that had overcome him through the middle portion of the Games, the degree of mental instability that had only been resolved as he'd defeated--no, as he'd killed some other tribute.

But to murder other teenagers--he'd contributed to eight of their deaths, one-third of the number that had been in the Arena with him--and then to be given a new sense to witness it. He had heard them fall, felt their blood, heard their corresponding cannon shots before. And now, in front of the entire nation, he was expected to take in the killings in a whole new way.

He'd never gotten the chance to see what he looked like. In fact, it was insisted upon. See yourself in as a champion first, they'd said. Yes. Fantastic. Arbor's first impression of himself--the image he drew back to for reference, Arbor's own mental image of Arbor Halt would be that of a killer.

It was fair. He was a killer. There was no denying it.

President Snow made his announcements and his introductions, voice as falsely cheerful as Arbor was truly ashamed of himself. But he had his mission. Taking down the Capitol as he had promised Anastasia, promised Jared would have to be done. He would absolve himself of his sins, atone for the monster he had become. It wouldn't be easy--they would be on to him. Because the Capitol likes control. Things must go according to plan.

This time around, something had gone horribly wrong. He was still alive, somehow. Even the most crippled among the citizens of Panem could stand up to the Capitol's will. Snow had to hate that. So, naturally, Arbor loved it. If he'd died, it would have been better for himself. But it would have been better for the Capitol, too, and worse for the nation, in a way.

And suddenly, it was Arbor's time to walk onto the stage, to be presented before the nation with the gift of sight bestowed upon him by the gracious Capitol. Their good will for all of Panem to see.

Let the defiance begin, he thought, a slim smile on his face. Arbor Halt clamped his eyes shut and walked onto the stage.

[cinder]

It was an amazing day to be alive and living in the Capitol, today. There were marvelous parties to attend after Arbor Halt watched himself, for the first time, on the big screen. Watched himself killing other human beings, nonetheless. Britt had to love that fact. She was a known sadist living in a world of easily controllable idiots who thought just because she had a doll-face and silky voice, she was just as much an idiot as all the rest of them. (Perhaps a flirty idiot at that.)

So the sadist was sitting as close as she could to the Victor, anxious to watch the expression on his murderous little face as young girls and boys screamed in pain because of him. Would he enjoy the vibrant red of blood trickling from open wounds? Would the dirty, hopeless faces of his fellow Tributes sadden or gladden him? (If those were even words) A sudden hush fell over the crowd, and then a deafening roar followed it as Arbor walked toward his throne.

Then everything stopped. Even the Capitolites as far away from Arbor as you could get had noticed that the boy had his eyes closed. Brie Dreamer watched him in interest, from an Anti-Uprising leader point of view, of course. There was something almost Career-like about him; she couldn't place her finger on it, just a feeling that this boy was off, this boy was meant to win the Games.

And then do what?

Just as she thought this, Britt suddenly found everybody around her clapping and cheering again as though nothing at all was strange about this lovely Victor having his eyes closed as he walked out onto stage. Perhaps they thought it was all to inspire such emotion and drama? Anyways, Arbor had given them something to talk about, the people were happy with just that. Britt glanced at President Snow, and immediately shivered. Thats who she wanted to be one day, a sadistic, evil intellectual who was capable of hiding his feelings behind a snaky, charismatic smile. Britt craned her neck to watch Arbor, hoping to see his eyes open to this world, taking it in.

An extra sense could help somebody who had already been so observant in his own way. Deadly, this Mr. Halt was deadly and Brittany Dreamer had to watch him carefully for the next year or two, for he might be of use to her, or end up being the Anti-Uprising's worst enemy. Only time would tell, and now it was showtime, let the Hunger Games begin all over again... except this time Britt doubted she would be watching the screen, not when Arbor was right in front of her, just waiting to be analyzed as he saw through his own eyes exactly what had gone on a short while ago. Now that was a Saddist-Dream-Date.

[-xXInverted FlyingJennyXx-]

Anneliese

I mentally clap my hands over my ears and try to focus on what's going on up front. President Snow finally stops talking--that man can be such a bore! Doesn't he ever know when to shut up?--and the crowd finally falls silent, all hung on the anticipation of seeing the boy come in.

"Do you see him?"

"He's kind of cute, now that he's all cleaned up and civilized looking."

"He's a District Twelve loser, are you kidding me?"

"All I meant was--"

Then, the mood shifts as everyone sees that he doesn't. The big screen showed it for a fraction of a moment before the people in charge realized it, too. In the arena, he kept his eyes open, even though everyone knew he was blind and it didn't make a difference. Why the change? Unless...

"Why's he walking with his eyes closed?"

"His eyes are closed."

"Weren't they supposed to fix his eyes?"

"Oh, they ruined his eyes? He's not cute anymore!"

"You silly, of course the Capitol wouldn't do something like that! He's just being a guy."

"He was a cute guy! Know what? Our relationship is over!"

I hate how I just 'gather grist' like that, but it just comes naturally. Conversations are generally boring to listen to, though, since this is the brainless Capitol. The one time I went to District 2 to visit my friend... Anyway.

The boy's eyes are closed, and I don't give a care. Why can't I just get out of here? I want to run and run and run until all of this is behind me.

Who does this kid think he is? So what if he closes his eyes? So what?

[Tori]

Farin Mako

As Arbor Halt walked unto the stage, I felt as if I was seeing him differently than those around me. The people I was standing by were of the Capitol, born and raised there. I was not. I once was scared of ending up in the reaping. I was afraid once too. If anything, becoming what I am now was lucky for me. Otherwise, it could have been me on that stage.

I felt a connection with the victor. We both have-- had-- disabilities. He won the games as a blind man, and came out not only as a victor, but as a man who could see. Yet, he chose to come onto the stage with his eyes closed. The crowd was cheering loudly, and if I had had a voice, I would have cheered as well. His defiance never left him. I felt pity for Arbor Halt. He had to kill his fellow tributes to come here. And he had to do it blind. But now, he had to watch the recap of it. Actually watch it, because now he would get to see the deaths he caused and the pain he inflicted. He would have to relive it again, and in a whole new way.

I wondered if I should be worried. Sitting this close to a killer and all. I was in the third row because Kylene’s family brought me along. They wanted to have me here in case they wanted food or something and didn’t want to leave their seats and miss anything. I was holding Kylene’s hand, because I didn’t want to see the recap feeling alone. We were trying not to let her mother see. My gaze returned to Arbor and I wondered if he would have any friends when he returned to his district.

It had been so long since I had been home to mine. After my mother was killed, I never wanted to go back. But since being an avox for so long, I’ve… found my mind wandering. The screen lit up and I knew it was about to start. Rather than watching the video, I turned my attention to Arbor. This would be the first time he would see what he had really done. Really be able to see it. I wondered how he would react when he saw himself attacking tributes. I know when he killed the district 10 tribute, I cried. It was really emotional. () Music started playing, and I sat all the way back in my seat, squeezing Kylene’s hand tighter.