[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

1

[coolerjunpei]

[Unfortunately for Vergilius trying to hate ye olde 2000s hits, Junpei is possessed by the ghost of middle school dances past, and cannot resist the siren call of off-brand Cha-Cha-ing in any location.

No tier is spared. He's definitely not keeping his One Hop This Time to the dance floor, so he's luckily nearby when somebody starts to complain about the music. He slides to the left. The shoes announce his presence. Sorry.]

It's party music— You're not gonna slide to the right?

flashbacking to 2000s from the shirt alone

[immortalpoet]

[His vibrant red gaze, coursing from the top all the way to those shoes, is more and more unamused in its travels. The appearances of this man does not invite confidence.]

No. Why would I do anything a song tells me to do?

good. that's the plan

[coolerjunpei]

[The shoes continue to blink happily, while Junpei continues to vaguely cha-cha real smooth. It's not smooth. He doesn't really know how to Reverse, so he skips that one.]

Well, it's more like a dance for people who can't dance... Unless you're a pro dancer, hanging out over here in the corner.

[immortalpoet]

Yes, that's me. The best dancer of all.

[He's so dry that some environmental agency somewhere is labeling him as a desert.]

So you're a poor dancer yourself.

[coolerjunpei]

Yeah, I am! [Is honesty the best policy in this circumstance? It is A Policy, definitely.] But I'm having a good time, you know?

[Please Cha Cha Real Smooth With Him]

Soooo, nothing? You're really gonna give us nothing?

[immortalpoet]

Nope. I'm giving you nothing.



[He's actually smirking with that.]

Do you have a problem with that?

[coolerjunpei]

Not really, but it's gotta get boring sooner or later, huh?

[He's just going to keep wobbling around here. Talentlessly.]

[immortalpoet]

I have all the patience in the world.

[As stubborn as a stone! Though he's just continuing to look vaguely bemused.]

Do you have any talents besides a lack of dancing talents?

[coolerjunpei]

[how long can junpei cha cha in place, let's find out]

I'm pretty good at building models. And math, I guess. And opening doors in stupidly complicated ways.

[immortalpoet]

[and he just kept on cha-chaing....a real pro]

...You can't just open doors like an average person?

[coolerjunpei]

Not when they're locked by a stupid puzzle with no key.

[It's a very specific skill!]

Plus it's just polite to tell people you're gonna open a door that might have fucked up stuff behind it.

[immortalpoet]

[Hm.]

So you're like a codebreaker, essentially. That is, admittedly, a sought after skill.

[coolerjunpei]

Sort of. I mean, I messed around with secret codes and stuff back in school, but it's not like I memorized any of the famous ones. Whatever that's called...

[give him a moment, he has to Reverse! Reverse!]

I'm talking about, uh... finding keys, tripping mechanisms, that sort of thing.

[immortalpoet]

So you're the guy they send ahead to possible disarm traps by getting caught up in them. You look like the type.

[coolerjunpei]

What's that supposed to mean? That's an important job.

[immortalpoet]

Well, if you think "disposable" looks good on a resume.