badfeyth: (πŸ“š and saying that's the way)
Ghost ([personal profile] badfeyth) wrote in [community profile] citylogs2023-12-02 12:30 am

[open mingle: the sunlight at midnight gala]

WHO: Anyone attending the Sunlight at Midnight gala!
WHAT: KISS PEOPLE AND DANCE IDK
WHERE: The freshly-renovated Planetarium in District 4!
WHEN: Saturday, December 2
WARNINGS: None for the log itself; please warn responsibly in individual top-levels!



THE VENUE
Upon entry to the newly-renovated venue space that was once a planetarium, guests will quickly notice that the space has been transformed into a three-layered affair, ranging from the very well-lit upper level down to the more romantic ambiance of the dance floor and performance space, with a comfortable tier of seating and standing tables in the middle.


Not intended by Ghost ([personal profile] badfeyth) and Kaveh ([personal profile] fussiest), yet still mysteriously appearing at random places throughout the venue, are sprigs of magical kissing mistletoe!

The mistletoe will cause characters to at least pause underneath it, and will give them a mild compulsion to kiss whoever they're with, but the compulsion will not be unavoidable and characters can easily break free of the "hold" the mistletoe has on them. Even so, partygoers will quickly learn to be mindful of what's overhead — or not!


UPPER TIER
On the well-lit upper tier, guests will find plenty of generalized mingle room, including two patios with casual seating on either side of the space. Throughout the center are a variety of stations and attractions, as well as some helpful resources for the discerning partygoer.

For the fashionably un-forward, you may wish to visit (or find yourselves forcibly dragged into) Lestat's on-site fashion consulting lair, which boasts a small and curtained-off space where partygoers in need can receive last-minute fashion advice, do wardrobe finishing touches, and address any other aesthetic concerns under the discerning eye of LESTAT DE LIONCOURT ([personal profile] perfectdevil). This is also where a selection of basic cosmetics and beauty supplies can be found, in case of a need for an emergency touch-up, safety pin, or spot removal!

Continuing onward, guests will find four individual food stations, each with their own set of color-coded disposable dishware! Perhaps they'd like to take a sampling of:

β€’ STATION #1 — TSURUNO ([personal profile] fanstheflames): Fried rice in the shape of Christmas trees, dumplings with carrot reindeer antlers and red pepper noses, and fortune cookies that tell you to go dance with somebody already!
β€’ STATION #2 — ROLAND ([personal profile] gradenine): Hotpot with mild and spicy soup bases plus a variety of vegetables and meats, and KBBQ with chicken, pork, and beef cuts, plus sides!
β€’ STATION #3 — RENO ([personal profile] astraphilia): Whipped goat cheese figs, brie and prosciutto stuffed dates, and sprouting cauliflower with brown butter and lemon — paired with a couple of simple cocktails (a negroni and a Bombay mule)!
β€’ STATION #4 — WANDERER ([personal profile] featheradrift): Samosas, panipuri, Japanese-style sandwiches, and a lot of sweets and desserts like chocolate truffles, pΓ’te de fruit, candied nuts, madeleines, and custards!

Champagne (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) is also circulating around the venue under the watchful eye of KANEKI ([personal profile] anthropophagite), and a small selection of coffee is available at a nearby station as well!

Finally, at the far end of the upper concourse, one can find a partitioned-off space for photo opportunities featuring a black-and-gold backdrop, an arch aglow with fairy lights, and a few idle props like chairs and small movable tables that partygoers can use to coordinate their souvenir photos. PROMPTO ([personal profile] burstmodes) will be around to do formal event photography, but there'll also be a Polaroid available so that people can take their own photos and develop them instantly!

VISUALS: AESTHETICS & ETC.
    
    


MIDDLE TIER
On the mid-tier halfway down the stairs that flank the venue on either side, partygoers will find a landing with an assortment of standing tables covered in black tablecloths and tied with gold bows, where guests can enjoy their refreshments, engage in conversation, and people-watch the goings-on taking place below them on the dance floor! To prevent any mischief or accidental spilling of food onto hapless dancers below, each landing is lined with a courtesy railing, and immediately below the railing is an arrangement of tasteful decor.

Between the two landings, guests can find the remnants of the planetarium seating — fold-down auditorium chairs with comfortable cushions arranged in gently circular rows, giving the people relaxing there a perfect view of the dance floor and the spectacle of lights taking place below it.

VISUALS: AESTHETICS & ETC.
    


LOWER TIER
The lowest level of the venue, at the very bottom of the stairs, is the most dimly-lit of the three levels and is mostly comprised of the dance floor. Along the back wall and parts of the sides runs a slightly-raised platform stage upon which are arranged a piano, an electric guitar, a stereo system, and a few microphones for the convenience of any vocalists in the house. The stage is wide enough for one or two people to walk around comfortably, but generally is fairly modest to leave the majority of the room for the dance floor.

It's on the dance floor that the real "sunlight at midnight" theme takes its shape, as this is where the bulk of Kaveh's artificial lighting technology has been put into play. Along with standard party enhancements like a few spotlights and an overhead disco ball, the perimeter is also dotted with round arrays of stained glass with light fixtures behind them, causing panels of colored light to cast onto the hardwood of the dance floor. These arrays can also be rotated like kaleidoscopes, allowing for the patterns of light to change throughout the course of the evening — adding an element of renewable interest in the continuing aesthetic.

VISUALS: AESTHETICS & ETC.
    


ENTERTAINMENT
Throughout the course of the evening, music will be provided by a rotating set list of performers, interspersed with prearranged playlists courtesy of the new media store. Entertainers will be informed of their set lengths, obligations, and timeslots well in advance of the venue by Ghost, and any necessary instruments or microphone hookups will be ready and available at the time of the performance.

Performers on deck include:
β€’ HYTHLODAEUS ([personal profile] nomoresharks) and EMET-SELCH ([personal profile] recreator): Jazz piano bops along with some ragtime arrangements.
β€’ EDDIE ([personal profile] thefreak): A mix of slow rock ballads and hard rock dance numbers, on electric guitar!

In addition to the live performances, the venue will also be treated to some traditional mid-2000s party favorites such as:
β€’ BLORBOLICIOUS, by Gurgi (feat. Bill.i.was)
β€’ HIPS SOMETIMES LIE, by The Kira
β€’ SANDSQUALL, by DaNice
β€’ MAYBE GONNA GIVE YOU UP, by Rickard Dastley
β€’ MAMBO NO. 4 AND A HALF, by Stu Vega
β€’ THE CHA-CHA HUSTLE, by DJ FriendlyGhost
β€’ VIRUS, by Boo Boo Dolls

VISUALS: AESTHETICS & ETC.
    


LIVEBLOG
Looking to add some network spam to your gala experience? Check out our dedicated IC NETWORK POST!

credit.

keepgodwaiting: (good time gal)

[personal profile] keepgodwaiting 2023-12-21 01:56 am (UTC)(link)
[ Bless you, Eddie, she is a thirty-four-year-old Millennial and if you said you were nineteen she would crumble into dust. πŸ™ƒ ]

Hell, maybe, I could probably do with a hobby.

[ She offers a hand. ] Johanna Constantine.
excaliburden: (With footwork impeccable)

[personal profile] excaliburden 2023-12-21 02:04 am (UTC)(link)
[The WHOLE cookie. She's being a terrible influence. But she seems delighted by this. At least she's not doing some sort of terrible faux pas, right? He's willing to do it too!

So she chews and swallows, perking up.]


Mm, it's tasty! I'm not sure what I expected, but I've never had a biscuit quite like it.
excaliburden: (That are quite unsingable)

[personal profile] excaliburden 2023-12-21 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
I see... I was afraid of that...

[aw man... she just wants to learn new magecraft as much as possible--but if it isn't possible, then it isn't possible. It's still kind of him to demonstrate, and share it with her.

So, with that avenue explored, she finally takes a careful bite of the fig.

...!!!!]


Oooh--! It tastes so sweet!
astraphilia: (when i was 16 my senses fooled me)

[personal profile] astraphilia 2023-12-21 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
[ she truly is a merciful ruler!!!

industrial like mills and smiths. well, if there were any doubt about Daventry being basically like the place from the movie, that about quashes it. Reno considers the question, then nods, because... well, it's not exactly on the mark, but it's not exactly off it, either. ]


Somethin' like that. We got a lot of buildings, real tall. Lots of people livin' close together and not that much open space. Everybody's got jobs to do, and most of those jobs are about making stuff. Producing something.

[ truly a capitalist's wet dream, Midgar is. Reno shakes his head a little. ]

What's a horse?
astraphilia: (on all the ashes in my wake)

[personal profile] astraphilia 2023-12-21 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
[ for all that Reno isn't gentle by nature, he tries to be gentle in this moment. something about the way Ghost holds herself feels like she's waiting for another shoe to drop, for something to come and slap her in the face with something other than this reality. there's no shoe, and no other reality, but Reno still brings a hand up to cup Ghost's face as he kisses her—he'll be steady even if she's unsure.

it's not a deep kiss nor a searching one, but there's no hesitance in it either. it just lingers softly for a few long moments, their lips moving slowly together, and then Reno draws back on a breath, a grin spreading over his face as their eyes meet again. she really didn't punch him, after all. ]
culver: halare @ lj (she's got the rhythm)

[personal profile] culver 2023-12-21 02:43 am (UTC)(link)
[She lowers her hands when he doesn't seem about to push the issue, though a hint of her wariness returns when he pulls out his phone. She'd quickly gotten used to using her own, despite never having had one before; the texting function is very useful, especially if she needs to get a hold of Heine or Badou in a hurry.

But when he types something and hands it off to her, curiosity overwhelms her caution. It takes her a few moments to read what he's typed; she'd only been able to learn to read on the Bibles and hymnals in the church, and the text in those wasn't exactly in any modern vernacular.

Once she parses it out, her expression evens out into something neutral, perfect and practiced. It doesn't occur to her that she can tell him to just go away, even though he's put it right there in front of her. All things about her life considered, that doesn't feel like a good choice to make. But he isn't bothering her, not really, and he hasn't done anything to put her on edge. So she keeps her response short and to the point, and then carefully hands the phone back to him.]


I like watching the lights.

[A very diplomatic answer for a teenage girl.]
excaliburden: (likes his night life)

1/2

[personal profile] excaliburden 2023-12-21 02:48 am (UTC)(link)
[He tugs her even closer, and speaks lowly into her ear, and Altria swears her heart stops. He's... doing this on purpose again, isn't he! Isn't he?

(But what if he's just doing it because he wants to...?

No, those are dangerous paths for her thoughts to tread.)

She ducks her head a little, avoiding his eyes as he pulls back, knowing that he's trying to see how she reacted. She knows him well enough by now. Of course, she can't hide her flustered expression, so it's a futile effort.

Regardless, then he's starting to move, and she has to focus. Right. The dance. She doesn't know all of the steps, though she certainly was watching closely. But he leads, and that makes it a little easier; she can follow then, her own eyes on the ground as she focuses on not stepping on his toes.

And it's...]
excaliburden: (we're given rhymes)

2/2

[personal profile] excaliburden 2023-12-21 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
[... It's everything she'd hoped it would be.

The music is playing, and she's out on the dance floor, stepping in time with him as if she belongs out here. She's wearing a dress that's lovelier than anything she's ever owned, and even some jewelry.

And she's out here with someone she treasures, someone who treats her kindly but also teases her and races her in the park, someone who respects her and cares for her in equal measure.

And for just this moment, just for now--it's okay to be this happy, isn't it?

She relaxes into the dance as the steps come more naturally with repetition, and as her fears of looking ridiculous out here fade away--and then she smiles, lifting her chin enough to look at him properly again.]
culver: goodjobself @ dw (oath)

[personal profile] culver 2023-12-21 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
[Nill's actual superpower is being an awkward adult man whisperer, it's just something that has gone largely undiscovered until now.

At the mention of Kaveh her expression brightens just a little, but falls immediately when he says Badou and Heine's names. Her brow creases with concern, and the corners of her lips tilt downward.]


Badou got hurt and Heine stayed with him.
They told me to come here even though I told them I would stay at the apartment too.


[She is... feeling guilty about that.]
culver: goodjobself @ dw (the way you love me)

[personal profile] culver 2023-12-21 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
[Nill's experience with music is pretty much limited to church hymns, so it's definitely not what she's used to hearing, either. But it's definitely rubbed off on her, and she's curious to hear what other kinds of music are out there, especially in other people's worlds.

Mistletoe? She knows what the tradition is, of course, but it's just growing around the venue? This city is weird, but this might be the weirdest thing she's heard about so far. Though not having encountered it herself, she doesn't know why it would be causing havoc, as he's said. It's just a plant.

Nill leans in just a little to read what's on the tool, and then bobs her head to show that she's read the words. She wonders if there's something special about this particular set of boltcutters, and points to each word before offering him a questioning look.]
justscribing: (❖ 53)

[personal profile] justscribing 2023-12-21 03:12 am (UTC)(link)
I see. [He'll find out the extent of "got hurt" from Kaveh later. For now, he assumes it wasn't anything too serious.] They probably wanted you to enjoy yourself instead of worrying about a situation that won't change overnight. I'm sure Badou and Heine can keep each other entertained, and you can tell them all about your experience after. Was there anything you wanted to try?
astraphilia: (don't you ever tame your demons)

[personal profile] astraphilia 2023-12-21 03:34 am (UTC)(link)
[ the movement of Louis' hand is obvious, and Reno isn't surprised by where it ends up: pressed against his throat, palm against the beat of his pulse. there's no sense of danger, though, not really—a thrill of anticipation, but no fear. he looks up at Louis without flinching, unconsciously leaning forward enough that their bodies press together. ]

My pleasure.

[ he lifts his own hand to rest at Louis' shoulder, then to slide upward, thumb tracing the line of Louis' jaw. his skin is cool beneath Reno's palm as Reno cups his cheek, drawing his thumb next over the curve of Louis' lower lip. he misses the fang, just barely, although it's not entirely even on purpose and after another moment it doesn't matter anyway.

he's leaning in to kiss Louis before he even realizes it, slow enough to give him time to pull away, but unhesitating in the way he leans up to seal their mouths together. ]
fullgauntlet: <user name=michrure> (pic#15640749)

[personal profile] fullgauntlet 2023-12-21 03:58 am (UTC)(link)
Eh-? I mean-

[Izuku flusters quietly, his cheeks getting impossibly more red.]

I want... to kiss...again.

[Please don't test him like that he's already so surprised and flustered.]

Because if you want to kiss me... It means you like me. Ne?
reaperrabbit: (TAK TAK 🐰 Gen-Z centenarian.)

[personal profile] reaperrabbit 2023-12-21 03:59 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, no problem. Here.

[He navigates back into gallery view and moves to Izuku's side so that he can see. Even next to Izuku, Brook is tiny.]

It's the only one I've taken of you. Everything else is other people, or the lights. Kind of hard to get a good picture of those, though.
savewell: true love ain't just gonna find itself don't you know (GLANCE β™˜ i am looking respectfully)

[personal profile] savewell 2023-12-21 04:01 am (UTC)(link)
[She smiles brightly, thoroughly charmed as though he's just made some sort of powerfully clever joke, and breaks away from their stance just long enough to do a pretty twirl and come back into position again, so effortlessly that you almost wouldn't realize that Reno didn't guide her into it, unless you were actually looking for it.]

Why, what's a horse, of course, of course?

[It's only after a minute — maybe a minute and then some — before it occurs to her that there are plenty of things about the city that she's never experienced before, and so as odd as it might sound...

...well, could it be he really doesn't know....?]


Oh. Well, they're animals used for travel, most often! One can ride on their backs with the help of a saddle and reins, or in a carriage or wagon pulled behind them. They can be of use on farms, as well, for plowing and such. But, er...I suppose they do need rather a lot of open space, so perhaps they wouldn't be very well suited to your Midgar, after all...
apshot: (236)

[personal profile] apshot 2023-12-21 04:12 am (UTC)(link)
You do, huh...

[ Don't be mistaken. Katsuki is still red, but the uncertainty that he had been feeling is quickly evaporating. And that means it is being quickly replaced by tenacity. Which means he is going to surge forward. This is the path he has set himself on so he will keep walking it.

"It means you like me." ]


You got it wrong. I don't like you.

[ Katsuki has to set it straight. Has to say it plain as day. Leave no room for Izuku to misinterpret. ]

What I feel is to strong for just "like," Izuku.
onlythans: (πŸ’” in my life again)

[personal profile] onlythans 2023-12-21 04:15 am (UTC)(link)
[And that's clear enough a refusal, for all that it comes written between the lines rather than expressed outright — anything short of enthusiastic agreement would have been more than sufficient to convince him to leave the subject alone without pursuing it further. She seems content enough as it is precisely where she is, positioned to be able to watch the lights from beneath the relative cover of darkness, and that's reassuring.]

And I think you've the perfect vantage to do it from, too.

[He smiles softly, clearing their written exchange from his phone before pocketing it again, and backs off a step or two before offering her a slight bow from the shoulders.]

I'll leave you to your evening.
deathoftheauthor: (;23)

[personal profile] deathoftheauthor 2023-12-21 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
( If anything, Louis' confusion only deepens. Forgive him? The idea is preposterous. Not meaningless, and Louis finds himself strangely moved by the gesture, but the thought that even one person could know what he actually is without condemning him seems more impossible than ever. )

It would be but a drop in the ocean. You are far from the first life I've claimed; you are merely the only one to return.
fullgauntlet: <user name=michrure> (pic#14849898)

[personal profile] fullgauntlet 2023-12-21 04:20 am (UTC)(link)
[Katsuki surges forward so quickly that Izuku almost loses his balance. But he clutches hard to Katsuki's shoulder with his one hand. And then his heart is racing even faster.]

T-Too strong...?

[He stares at Katsuki. He isn't sure if he should let his imagination run wild because... He's had these sorts of feelings deep inside of him for years. Desperately wanting to burst out. When he's pinned for Katsuki for nearly his whole life...!!]

Kacchan... What are you saying...

[He wasn't expecting this. At all.]

You more than just like me...? But I- ... I do too.
apshot: (25)

[personal profile] apshot 2023-12-21 04:39 am (UTC)(link)
[ The song is over. They're now just standing there, holding onto one another. Two awkward teens, blushing furiously and trying to finally come to terms with how they feel about one another.

Katsuki isn't sure that Izuku will believe it. Honestly... He had expected a much different response. ]


I dragged you to that carnival thing. Asked you to go to this dance thing. Just kissed you and you're asking me what I'm saying? Do I really need to do it again?

[ Because Katsuki will! And he already knows how Izuku feels about him. ]
fanstheflames: (One in every hundred years)

[personal profile] fanstheflames 2023-12-21 04:48 am (UTC)(link)
Definitely not, but I had a really good teacher growing up! I'm sure my grandpa would've been really happy to hear that!

[ THANKS, IZUKU. TRULY A BRO. ]
keepgodwaiting: (there you are)

[personal profile] keepgodwaiting 2023-12-21 04:56 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, you sure? I mean, you're allowed.
playing_human: (tis the last rose of summer)

[personal profile] playing_human 2023-12-21 05:15 am (UTC)(link)
The part about the horse sounding fun. Not that I'm one to judge what one does to cope with the boredom of eternal life.