citylogs | [open mingle: the sunlight at midnight gala]

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[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 (

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Much later into the gala, once his duties have run its course and he's enjoyed the event enough, he decides to check up on Altria. The biscuit golem has been left to wander freely while it's creator is relaxing somewhere along the far edge of the bottom tier, close to the dance floor.

He quietly sidles up next to her, following her line of sight to the dancers on the floor. ]

Not going to dance?

[He is right on the money with where she'll be, and what she's doing; as Altria got more comfortable with the gala, and as the anxieties over fitting in (and then over the biscuit golem) slowly faded away... she comes back time and time again to watching the people dance on the dance floor.

... There's something wistful about it, but something warm, too.

Everyone out there is enjoying themselves just to enjoy it, right? It's... so very different from home.

When he asks, her answer is simple and easy, for once.]

I don't know how to dance. And I don't want to get in anyone's way.

[And then, with sincere curiosity:]

What about you? Have you danced at all yet?

I haven't. I'm not interested in dancing.

[ He can't imagine wanting to dance with anyone anyways... the Harbinger's banquets had never involved dancing, because it had only been the eleven of them and the Jester attending, and not all of them every time either. He himself hardly showed up, as he didn't need to eat and hated associating with the rest of them, assuming he wasn't on a mission in the abyss or in another country. ]

Have you thought about learning?

[ Just an idle curiosity. She's so unfamiliar with everything that he wonders if she's ever had time for her own hobbies. ]

[... Oh. Right. Of course he's not interested in dancing. It's a silly thing to be so fixated on, right?]

Oh, yes, I've thought about it before.

[About what it might be like to be the sort of faerie who goes to a fancy dance and twirls the night away with a date. How lovely it might be to be one of those faeries who is so graceful and stunning, able to sway and step in time with the music.]

But... I probably wouldn't be very good at it. [Even if she did get the chance to learn.]

[ It's a trend, he's noticed, that she puts herself down immediately when it comes to herself. When it comes to things she shouldn't have, or comes to her own abilities. He frowns. ]

Everyone has to start somewhere. Are you going to give up before trying?

[ It's not a judging look he gives her. It's expectant. He doesn't think she's the type who really wants to give up. She might just be a little nervous. ]

[... Is she? Is she going to give up immediately? After he went through so much effort to help her find this dress, the sparkly jewelry she's wearing, and enough confidence to step into the gala to begin with?

(Sorry about the shoes.)

... She takes a deep breath in, brow furrowing, and for a moment, her fears of approaching the dance floor when she's never been worthy of standing in such a spotlight war with her spiteful need to prove people wrong, even if it's just herself.

And then she clenches both hands into fists before her.]

... I'm not! I'm not giving up! I probably won't be any good at it and I might bump into a lot of people, but if I'm honest, I still kind of want to try...!

[ There's a pleased look on his face for a moment before he masks it with his standard smirk. ]

Then there's nothing stopping you.

[ Plenty of people were just fooling around on the dance floor anyway. She would fit right in. ]

R-right...!

[Altria takes a deep breath, slaps her cheeks lightly with her hands, and steps out onto the dance floor.

And turns around immediately one step in to come back, face red.]

I--I can't go out there by myself...! [What does she do... oh, she just needs someone to come with her.

Oh, she knows.]

C-come with me! I can't go aloooone!

[ He watches her march onto the dance floor, turn around, and immediately march back. There's a small sigh of exasperation—one step at a time, but then she asks him to come with her, and his eyes widen in surprise. ]

What? I refuse. You can handle it by yourself.

Come oooonnnnn, I'm sure you know how to dance! You know how to do everything!

[This is what she's decided about him in the time she's known him, honestly.]

Just for a little while! Just so I'm not going out there alone!

[ What little he knows about dancing is limited to sword dances. He has never, ever danced at a gala. ]

I do not know everything, get that out of your mind! What makes you think a wanderer like me would ever learn how to dance at a gala??

[ There miiight be a little panic in his voice. He does not want to go out onto the dance floor like Altria. It seems like a good way to embarrass himself. ]

Edited 2023-12-10 17:12 (UTC)

Well, that's because you've known a little bit of everything!

[Every time something comes up...!!

She pauses though, and stops tugging at the panic, a faint frown on her face--which quickly melts into a smile.]

... You don't have to, though. I don't know how to dance either, so I'd probably make both of us look pretty silly.

[ There's a pattern to the way the drifter reacts to Altria's consideration. First, it's a sharp, displeased look, annoyance of her kindness. Then, it's his response: ]

Hmph. You give up too easily. Just observe what everyone else is doing and copy them.

[ and the way he quickly relents—especially because she demeaned herself in her response, and he's never liked that.

Fine. If he has to dance, then he might as well go all the way.

He tucks one hand behind himself and holds the other out in invitation, smirking. ]

May I have the honour of dancing with you?

[She makes a sound that is not unlike a very unattractive "b-bwah?", shocked as she is by the sudden turnaround. The look on his face before had convinced her that he truly didn't want to do this, and so she was ready to let it go, as much as she's pined to step out on the dance floor (with... him? Is it specifically with him? Oh, best not to think about that).

He smirks at her, holds out his hand like a proper upper class faerie--(wait, he's not a faerie)--and asks a question she's only dreamed of being asked before.]

[... And really, she's weak. She knows he doesn't want to go out there. But--he's offering, and she can't deny herself this. Perhaps they can just stay out there briefly. Just one dance.

Just enough to make some of those long buried dreams come true.

She places her hand in his, and even though she still looks incredibly thrown and flustered, she beams at him.]

... Okay! Let's... let's dance! Just this one time!

[ He smiles—unusually sweet for the kind of expressions he normally makes, but there's still a hint of his usual condescension in it—as he leads her out to the dance floor.

He really doesn't know anything about dancing other than sword dances—which he's not going to think about right now, for all the baggage that carries with it—but he's observed other kinds of dances. And here, he's been watching what other people are doing on the dance floor. It doesn't look too hard, he thinks.

Once they've reached a spacious location on the floor, he turns to her, shifting their linked hands slightly so that they're properly clasped. His other hand settles on her back, bringing him in close proximity to her. ]

Know the proper pose?

[He smiles back at her, and that settles her. Because, after all, if he's smiling like that, then... she thinks this is probably okay. This dance--it isn't a great hardship on him either. He's too important to her for her to make his life difficult for her own selfish whims (more than she already accidentally does), but...

It's okay this time, she thinks.

So while Altria also doesn't know anything about dancing, she's been watching the people on the dance floor intently, pining to be out there herself. She's seen enough to know where to put her hands, though she can't quite help the way that her cheeks go bright red once again when he steps right up into her space, his palm at her back.

(Aaaaa. Aaaaa.)

She carefully puts her hand on his shoulder, eyes flicking to his face and then away again when she remembers how close they are.]

L-like this, I'm pretty sure!

[ If he could read her mind, he would tell her to stop being so considerate of him all the time. He does anyway, when she expresses it openly. It's not only because he hates receiving people's kindness—makes him feel like he's in debt to them—but, Altria needs to be more selfish. She's allowed to be selfish, with him at least. That's what it means to form a bond with someone else. How can he give back what she gives him if she never allows him to?

He smirks, and pulls her even closer to speak lowly into her ear. ]

Great. Now follow me closely.

[ And he pulls back to see her reaction, before looking down to start the dance steps. ]

[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...]

[... 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.]

[ It doesn't take long for him to adjust to the repetitive movements of the dance—he'd picked the easiest out of all the ones he'd seen on the floor tonight, because both of them were new to dancing and he wasn't looking to show off anyway. He just wants Altria to feel comfortable and have fun.

And it becomes apparent he picked correctly when the tension in her shoulders ease and she starts smiling. The delight shines brightly in her eyes, and under the diffused multi-colour light of the stained glass contraption, she looks radiant.

This suits her best, he thinks. He doesn't know what the faeries of her world are like, but he's always imagined such creatures to be playful, joyful and whimsical. She's not anything like that, but the joy fits her perfectly. As for the playfulness? Well, he can supply that.

Without warning, the hand on Altria's back lifts as he lets go and uses his other hand to direct her into a twirl. ]

[It's very sudden and very without warning, but he directs her into it before she can even begin to argue--and then he's twirling her, and she can't help the way that she lets out an embarrassing little squawk of surprise.

But--her dress flairs very satisfyingly with the twirl, and she feels very stable and safe with his hands guiding her, so even though she was take off-guard and very startled... the twirl is completed without incident, and her face is flushed when they come back together.

And then she laughs. She can't help herself--this really is fun.]

You really are good at this! I knew you would be. [No matter what he said... he's always seemed to know so much about anything that comes up between them. It's something she admires--something she'd like to aspire to herself.]

[ The dress flairs and she looks truly beautiful, luminescent in the reflected lights. If he had a breath to take away, or a heart that could skip, he's sure he would have felt it then.

But he doesn't, and all he's left with is the memory of her golden hair shimmering brightly under the stained glass lights, and the surprised but delighted expression on her face. ]

You make it sound like it's difficult.

[ He really is new to this. But having centuries of experience meant that he could adapt quickly in some circumstances. This was, apparently, one of them. ]

But you're doing well too.

[ For all her worry about messing up the dance, she's handled herself quite well. She hasn't even stepped on his feet. ]

[Shockingly, she hasn't. It's taken all of her concentration, but it's been worth it, she thinks--worth it to hear his praise, worth it to be able to move across the dance floor with him as smoothly as she possibly can. Worth it to make this whole thing that he's doing for her not be something he regrets.

Because she's having so much fun. She laughs when he praises her, and thinks that maybe, if she were a normal girl, this is the sort of thing she could've done earlier.

But maybe it's okay. It's kind of nice that it's him who's showing her how for the first time.]

I think that just means you're a good teacher! I've tried to dance before and it was a mess.

[But he guides her so well and easily.]

But... this is fun, right? [Not just for her?]

[ He can tell she's tried hard not to step on his toes for his sake, but honestly, he probably wouldn't have minded. Something like that wouldn't hurt him after all, and her clumsiness is already known to him. But that she didn't is also endearing as well. ]

You put in the hard work.

[ They're just going to keep trading compliments so he doesn't deny her any further.

Has it been fun? Surprisingly... yes. With Altria, dancing hasn't seemed like a chore or a task he had to begrudgingly complete. With her, he doesn't feel the need to put up a defense to hide his apprehensions or his enjoyment. ]

How could I not have fun with such a beautiful lady in front of me?

[ And an opportunity to further tease Altria? The peak of fun. ]

wildcard it's dance time

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