[open mingle: the sunlight at midnight gala]

[badfeyth]

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 (badfeyth) and Kaveh (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 (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:

• STATION #1 — TSURUNO (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!
• STATION #2 — ROLAND (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!
• STATION #3 — RENO (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)!
• STATION #4 — WANDERER (featheradrift): Samosas, panipuri, Japanese-style sandwiches, and a lot of sweets and desserts like chocolate truffles, pâte de fruit, candied nuts, madeleines, and custards!

Champagne (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) is also circulating around the venue under the watchful eye of KANEKI (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 (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:

• HYTHLODAEUS (nomoresharks) and EMET-SELCH (recreator): Jazz piano bops along with some ragtime arrangements.
• EDDIE (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:

• BLORBOLICIOUS, by Gurgi (feat. Bill.i.was)
• HIPS SOMETIMES LIE, by The Kira
• SANDSQUALL, by DaNice
• MAYBE GONNA GIVE YOU UP, by Rickard Dastley
• MAMBO NO. 4 AND A HALF, by Stu Vega
• THE CHA-CHA HUSTLE, by DJ FriendlyGhost
• 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.

Comments

iii

[hairsprayed]

[ Steve hadn't been sure about coming to the gala, not when it felt like there was so little worth celebrating or, hell, no right for him to party. It's been a miserable few months, and even after clearing the air with Eddie, it's hard not to feel like the invitation had been as much about pity as it had been an olive branch. Is Steve feeling sorry for himself? Yes, but he's at least doing it in a way where he's not making it everyone else's problem, either.

Still, maybe Eddie had been right about shaking things up and lifting his spirits with a bit of fun. The music was great, and Steve has to admit that seeing Eddie perform had definitely painted him in a new light—knowing him as a D&D nerd, the rumors of satanic practices, and the self-proclaimed cowardice all faded away when Eddie took the stage. He was confident and commanding, and Steve has to wonder if he'd looked that badass when performing Metallica on top of the Upside Down version of his trailer.

Steve himself feels a little out of place among all the black suits and tuxes, considering he'd gone for a maroon number instead. Still, he knows that he cleans up well, so he's not too nervous when he sees Eddie weaving towards him through the crowd. If anyone was going to notice Steve Harrington hanging back from the dance floor, it was of course going to be Eddie Munson. ]

Yeah? [ He snorts a little, glancing out to the crowds of people dancing before looking back to Eddie and focusing on him. ] What can I say? The king's been dead a while.

[ Feeling his cheeks heat at the combination of Eddie's comment and his damn smile, Steve clears his throat. ] I mean, I'm surprised you haven't been flocked by adoring fans. Your performance was great.

[fauned]

( the kiss is a little unexpected, but it stops her none from enjoying the brush of lip against skin for however chaste it lasts, watching with fixated quiet until his regard drifts to lestat to signal the moment's end. she has the decency to let go at least, after some appropriate amount of lingering. a slow draw, but she knows she can't hold on overlong.

the glint of fang is hard to miss, the intention even moreso. it's not a difficult leap to parse what he's thinking when his attention is set on argalia the way it is, done in that same unnatural attentiveness born of his own nature. the very same that rivals hers, mirrored in her eyes back when she'd naught but a reflection on lacquered wood and whittling control.

it strikes her that it bothers her less that his eyes are off of her than the mere fact that he's made argalia subject to it over any other. that despite his bold flirtations in kind, what makes her id bristle against her ego is that there's a distinct possibility that the vampire could lay a claim in ways she can't. it's an unreasonable thought, and most certainly unfounded. she knows damn well that she has no grounds here. she hasn't the right.

but possessiveness has ever suited her ilk more than it ever did mortals, not that she does more than giggle at the blown kiss. for now. lestat may have acquiesced, but argalia has a penchant for playing with fire. )

Should I be worried that Louis might hunt me for sport?

( that seems reasonable to ask, )

[excaliburden]

I don't think it's too much at all! Purple is such a pretty color, and so is your hair!

[Oh, right. Hmmm...]

Oh...! I know! Did you know that you can just... find chocolate on the shelves of the stores here? It's so plentiful and easily available!

[fauned]

( dodgy.. hm... )

Well, of course!

( with the unearned confidence of a woman who's definitely had her fair share of failures but is undaunted by them. not that she's against the idea of showing up by her lonesome.

back to him though.. )

Anyone I might know?

[deathoftheauthor]

( Complicated indeed. It's a thoughtful answer, and an interesting one, and it gives Louis pause when he finds he can relate to the sentiment behind it. Not the precise circumstances, but the difficulty of cultivating an identity around something he isn't comfortable with, can't take pride in... oh, he knows that all too well. )

It's a strange feeling, isn't it, having a talent for something that troubles one's morals?

( Louis wishes he had a glass to hold, or something to do with his hands; he's conscious of his unnatural stillness when speaking to mortals, but at least this one already knows he isn't human. )

We vampires are natural predators, whether we wish to be or not.

ii....

[wordchain]

[ This certainly isn't any outcome that Yesod anticipated, either, when he approached Midnight. He'd simply been preoccupied with Midnight's unexpected decision not to attend the gala as Netzach's other date — and admittedly with distracting glimpses of Netzach around the venue as well, something else that he and Midnight appear to have in common. The colors of the flowers decorating Netzach's hair are no coincidence, for one.

After a stretch of silence spanning several moments, Yesod finally replies. ]

...It wasn't an intervention to rescue me from myself this time, I take it.

[fullgauntlet]

[Izuku is a little clumsy-footed but he does his best to follow Katsuki's lead. His cheeks are warm and he watches their feet so he doesn't crunch on Katsuki's toe and break it or something. He's a bundle of nerves. But it's a good kind of nerves. He's excited and a little giddy about it.]

Oh, I... I think. Okay. I'll try not to step on you, Kacchan.

[He's muttering quickly to himself. And he slides his hand to Katsuki's shoulder to steady himself. Relying on him for support and to be closer...

Close. They're so close.]

ii-ish

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham stands, dressed in suit and mismatches boutonniere, and in fact unaware of the sprig of mistletoe high up. Was it even there a minute ago?

Well, it's there now. Midnight approaches. Of course Midnight approaches. Midnight is also looking tipsy at minimum, so Alhaitham stays rooted in spot and makes Midnight have to make the full executive decision to approach for conversation, cradling his own cocktail in hand. Alhaitham notices the moment that Midnight steps in conversation range: something pricks at the edges of his mind. The series of compulsions from October continue to linger in his instincts and he tenses up at the realization. It is a second where he almost, almost doesn't realize Midnight's leaning in.

But he does. Just before Midnight's lips connect Alhaitham manages to push his free hand up between their faces so he gets a mouthful of suede and cologne instead.] Is it about to come over you again?

[fullgauntlet]

[He lets out a sigh of relief. As tempting as it is to show Katsuki who's who- he really doesn't think he could purposefully step on his feet. Or on anyone's feet for that matter.]

Y-Yeah. That's right... I'll try! Are you the one who made the fortune cookies?

[limbical]

I really have no idea who you socialize with, Fearne. No offense in that department, so how am I to know if it's someone you're familiar with?

[yeah he's being dodgy af]

In any case, it's something of a private affair.

[justscribing]

That seems unlikely. [HARSH.] But I'm not interested in testing that either.

[The flavor of biscuit golem will have to continue to be a mystery... anyway, since it doesn't seem to be a problem, Alhaitham takes a few steps away and watches it to make sure it's not going to decide to follow him around.]

[limbical]

Yeah.

[It's not to say that he hasn't had his own difficulties in this place, but he genuinely still prefers it over his own world, honestly. Not that it's much of a comparison.]

My world was already a shitty place to live in. But everything that happened in Prehevil was some of the worst of it.

[featheradrift]

[ For someone he's never seen before, and who's clearly drunk, he pronounces Kshahrewar with startling accuracy. It's not hard to figure out why though—the man must know Kaveh or Alhaitham somehow. Given the number of people that have off-handedly mentioned Kaveh in today's gala as if they were his friend, the architect must be a popular man around here, he thinks. ]

It's Kaveh's moniker. He's a famous architect back in my world, and a shining beacon of his Darshan, Kshahrewar, hence the title.

[ He eyes Midnight with curiosity and slight disgust at the man's drunkenness. ]

Yet another one of his friends from here, aren't you?

[unrequite]

An intervention...? What do you mean by that?

[ Midnight asks this rather distantly, looking at his fingertips as though they hold the answer to why he suddenly, temporarily lost his mind. He'd like to return the conversation to Netzach, or whatever pleasant nonsense he wanted Yesod to witness, but kissing someone he knew was devoted to someone else is... certainly is out of character for him. ]

i. come to me limco :D

[featheradrift]

[ The man Don waves at happens to be the one running the food station they're next to—the Wanderer's table. For the most part, he's been happy to keep to himself and focus on replenishing the food on his table from time to time, but he stills for a moment and glances over to see that Don's looking straight at him, and he sighs. He's had to talk to so many people today, and he's been on his best behaviour so as to not ruin Kaveh's hard work, so he will begrudgingly answer Don. ]

I'm still working. If we're going to talk, you'll have to deal with it.

Re: ii-ish

[unrequite]

[ Ah... That's something he and Kaveh have in common. Midnight leans back into his own space, expression tipsy but more puzzled than pleased with himself. How inebriated is he, exactly, for him to do something like this...? ]

"It"? Bless you, love. I'm as mystified as you are with regard to what came over me just now.

[ He shakes his head and the room spins, bringing no clarity with it. He pauses, then sets his champagne flute down... somewhere. Maybe on the floor. Safety first? ]

[apshot]

I mean... You probably will.

[ Because the nerd is so nervous. But Katsuki is starting to understand where that is coming from too. After all, there's a tightness in his chest too. A fluttering about in his stomach. He's actually pretty pumped about this too, even if his face is borderline passive-scowling.

Though there'll be no stepping. Because honestly they are just that in-sync with one another. They've fought by one another's side for too long not to know exactly how the other person moves. ]

KICKS FEET!!!!

[icanfixer]

[ mr grumpy hat guy... it doesn't deter her, and she knows sinclair's more likely to apologize and pass on conversation if she lets him have the first word, so-- ]

That is perfectly alright, my friend!!! [ it isn't, they really shouldn't bother him, ] I do not mind whatsoever, for I confess, I have been eyeing thy selection for some time now -- they look delicious...!

[ she's a sweets girl at heart. sorry sinclair, they're now bothering the merchants. ]

[unrequite]

He has a monocle? A monocle. A moniker, there we are.

[ He laughs, taking his inability to say words correctly with drunken grace. If he notices his new acquaintance's ire, he appears unaffected by it. ]

A friend... Oh, I do hope so. I'm going to tell him to wear one, he'll listen if he's fond of me. A monocle, you know. I'm thinking about it now. He'd look very distinguished.

[ He puts his fingers in a ring over his eye in demonstration, thinks about it for a moment, and bursts into laughter. It would be so handsome, Kaveh would hate it. (Sorry, Wanderer. Welcome to the Midnight experience.) ]

[wordchain]

I was referring to our first meeting, during Don Quixote's party. I meant it as a joke.

[ Since Midnight seems unusually troubled by whatever came over him. Yesod studies him closely for another moment, glancing at Midnight's fingers himself, before continuing. ]

...Will you be alright? What is the matter, exactly?

[ Knowing this place, its reach can affect anything — that would be explanation enough. ]

[justscribing]

[That's right, once you've seen them both it's hard to miss their extremely married boutonnieres. Kaveh didn't even realize they were going together as a date until the night before.]

So you aren't still feeling a compulsion. [Alhaitham pauses, considering. He is, so it must be by the gesture rather than a proper meeting of the kiss. He holds it down by taking a slow sip of his drink.] No, it probably wasn't just you.

[But then what was it? It can't be intentional to the gala.]

[unrequite]

[ Kaveh and Alhaitham have plenty of things in common, in several senses... ]

That... wasn't of my own volition. Ah.

[ Midnight shakes his head again, but the second attempt does nothing. ]

Don't want that happening again. Don't like that. I...

[ He suddenly grows very quiet and still. After a moment, he pushes away from a nearby wall and staggers to a stairwell. He's looking for an exit. ]

[astraphilia]

[ there truly is a first time for everything, and for Reno, this is absolutely his first time being called "babe" by—what he's pretty sure is a robot. or at least someone (something? what's the protocol here?) with robotic parts. he lifts his eyebrows a little, but that's his only expression of surprise before he obligingly repeats himself: ]

I asked why you ain't dancin'.

[ he gestures with his drink out toward the dance floor, where it appears that half the city population is getting their groove on. (okay, that's not strictly true. there are a lot of people, sure, but there are just as many on the fringes or still sitting around the tables on the next tier up. ] ]

[astraphilia]

No rule says you can't dance again, though, eh?

[ but fair enough, fair enough. Reno hasn't danced at all, so he has no judgment to offer if at least Yesod has been out on the dance floor—even once is more than he's done. ]

I ain't much of a dancer, truth be told. [ he takes a sip, an amused smile playing at the corners of his mouth. ] And it'd be lonely dancin' by myself, don't you think?

[ if Reno doesn't strike Yesod as the type to be embarrassed over something like that... well, that's a very astute observation indeed. ]

[justscribing]

[... All right, Midnight is drunk off his ass and Alhaitham should probably make sure he doesn't fall over the railing or something, at least. That would probably count as "ruining things for Ghost".

Champagne glass left on the floor where Midnight put it, Alhaitham turns to follow after Midnight. His own compulsion, at least, seems to wane as he escapes the spot he was standing on.]

How much have you had to drink?