[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

[badfeyth]

Oh, what the hell am I, Vasilissa the Wise?

[Ghost has, quite notably, stolen one of the suit coats from out of Lestat's fashion haven at this point, and it is definitely not sized for her; the shoulder seams sit a quarter of the way down her upper arms, and she keeps having to push up the sleeves to keep the wrist hems from falling over her fingers altogether. (She'd roll them, but she knows better, she'd never hear the end of it.)

Anyway, speaking of never hearing the end of it, this is the kind of shit that goes on in the background when a formal event is being run by two type-A overachievers determined to keep this place cobbled together even if all they have are bubble gum and paperclips to do it.

Or in this case, two twigs and a serving cloth, probably.]

Just hang on. Do they have to be off a tree?

[fussiest]

I don't know, does Vasilissa the wise have twigs and a serving cloth?

[ says kaveh, right-quick, as he scales another three steps up the ladder.

it has to be a transformer issue, though kaveh has exactly two ideas as to what the problem might be, and one of his hypotheses is validated when he looks up and swears, rather colourfully, in sumeran. the translation goes off at a clip. there's something about donkeys in the mix, though there always is. ]

And it doesn't have to be from a tree, but the drier it is the less of a chance I'll accidentally shock myself. I refuse to turn off the power, it's going to affect too many things, and getting the contraption up there to reset when I've just got everything perfectly is not a viable solution.

[ kaveh reaches down blindly. he has not taken his eyes off of that fucking mistletoe that's grown into the transformer. he sees you there, buddy, you are going down. ] Do you have it? Twigs? Cloth?

[badfeyth]

I'm working on it!

[Fortunately, the Ghost and Kaveh of several weeks ago decided to add greenery to their venue plans, and Louis's deft management of the inventory means there are an abundance of serving cloths, so it isn't altogether difficult to zip around and collect what he needs. This is why she wore sensible dress shoes with a low heel and no straps that might cut into her feet.

As she makes her way back to the base of the ladder, she absently steps on the lowest rung to help keep it steady with her own weight while she hands up her stolen goods with the other.]

Two twigs, one cloth. I also brought extras in case you fuck it up, not that I think you're going to, but I'm just saying I came prepared.

[fussiest]

[ thank louis, really, because without him, there would be seventeen crates of lemons and not enough cranberries for the dressing.

kaveh feels, rather than sees, ghost's approach. it's in the way the ladder stabilisies itself beneath him as he double-checks the rest of the electrical up there to make sure more mistletoe haven't invaded while he hadn't been looking. kaveh reaches down for the cloth and the twigs. he makes a face. ]

Excuse you. That's the same as saying I am going to! Your disclaimer isn't accepted. Now take a step back, shoo, before the mistletoe does that thing where we have to kiss each other, and then it'll really get awkward.

[ kaveh reascends the ladder. he careful ties the serving cloth to a twig, does it the same to the other, and with his make-shift grabbing tool, reaches up and begins to sever the mistletoe from the transformer. it comes off with a snap of a twig. the thing is caught in the serving cloth as kaveh sighs, to the suddenly blinding refocusing of the lights around him.

at least everything's stopped strobing. ]

There. That ought to do it, until it regrows somewhere else, anyway. The lights seem back in order?

[badfeyth]

Why is everyone so determined not to catch me under the mistletoe? Honestly, it's like you people think I have the plague.

[But she steps back as bidden, hands resting absently on her hips as she watches — pardon, as she supervises Kaveh's work. It's clever, watching the way he gets up there and deals with the matter of the offending mistletoe; with the rate at which the damned plant is growing about lately, it's probably one she'll wind up using again, herself, before the night is out.]

Yup, they're back on. And correctly on, not just flashing on and off like a bad interrogation.

[fussiest]

Haven't you thought about the possibility that everyone's doing so so's to avoid stepping on your Ravekeeper's toes?

[ kaveh says, as he hops down from the ladder proper. he looks up. the lights are back, he thinks, with some measure of relief. there will be at least several other mishaps lined up by the end of the night, but kaveh supposes he'll deal with them as they come. there's something to be said about tenacity to see this through, and kaveh is nothing if not that.

he looks at ghost, and smiles. ] Ah, but perhaps I'm the only one thinking that way?

[badfeyth]

My wh— what?

[Give the man a prize, he has just managed what few people in any universe have ever succeeded at: getting Ghost to shut right the hell up even when she thinks she's right about something.]

Why would — what are you talking about?

[fussiest]

[ kaveh, who built his degree on shutting people up when they think they're right about something, merely looks. ]

Oh, so I am the only one who thinks that way? Poor man.