[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

[justscribing]

[Prove them wrong then, Hat Guy.]

You'll have to tell him that yourself. [Alhaitham shakes his head.] I'm not a messenger, nor am I going to mediate conflicts in his relationships.

[featheradrift]

[ He clicks his tongue in irritation. Useless man. ]

You're with him all the time, aren't you? Surely you can spare some energy for a few words. Just tell him to stop bothering me.

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham looks at Hat Guy with a raised brow.] You misunderstand. It's not my responsibility to. If you wish to be left alone you'll have to make that clear to Kaveh in your own words. No need to be scared of approaching him if it's only because he's annoyed you.

[featheradrift]

[ But that's the problem, isn't it? It's not just that Kaveh's annoyed him. He's... he doesn't want to approach Kaveh. At all. There's something truly terrifying about the way the architect keeps reaching out to him, no matter how many times he rejects it and throws it back in his face. There's something so heavy in the hand he offers that the drifter can't bear to carry.

Kaveh is a storm. He is a hurricane, drawing everything in his path into his force of movement. And, really? The Wanderer is afraid that he'll be drawn back in, if he speaks to Kaveh once more. He's not nearly strong enough to avoid being pulled in, as much as he hates to admit it. ]

...fine. Have it your way.

[ He'll just have to keep avoiding Kaveh. That's all. ]

[justscribing]

[Kaveh is a hurricane. Nobody knows that better than Alhaitham. Most people will get caught up in him. Fewer will be prepared to weather it.

Containing Kaveh is a fool's errand, and Alhaitham decided long ago he wasn't going to try.

The hum is non-committal. Hay Guy can't escape Kaveh forever. He's put himself in an especially difficult position to do so agreeing to serve food at this event.

But that's a problem for future Hat Guy. Present Hat Guy's problem is a slightly amused:] He's made a real impression on you.

[featheradrift]

[ He agreed before any of the fairy tale stuff happened, and, sure, he could have just blown Kaveh and Ghost off in the aftermath to run away and hide, but he has his pride, and he's not so weak that he can't handle something like this even after all that. He's not going to let his past control his future anymore.

But it's not his past controlling his desire to avoid Kaveh, really. Or perhaps it's the ghost of his past that has left an imprint on his personality, his attempts to keep people away.

Spoilers: He ends up running into Kaveh at the gala anyway. So much for avoiding him.

He gives Alhaitham a petulant glare. ]

So what if he has? I think anyone would have a strong impression of someone who's willingly given them his heart twice.

[justscribing]

That's true. [He shrugs. Still, the affirmation puts another piece into place. Now it's a certainty: Kaveh will corner Hat Guy. And Alhaitham will do nothing to stop it.

His gaze flickers over the crowd and stills on Kaveh, way at the other end of the room, for a moment before returning to the fixtures.]

There is one thing I'm curious about. You have fighting experience from before you received you Vision, don't you?

[featheradrift]

[ That's an interesting turn of conversation. Perhaps it was the Scribe's way of showing consideration, or, more likely, he's lost interest in their previous topic. Either way, the new topic is something he's far more comfortable talking about. ]

Why do you want to know? Looking for a fight?

[justscribing]

As I said, people have been turned against each other people. So it's good to know what each of us is capable of currently. I wouldn't want to underestimate you if the situation were dire.

[featheradrift]

[ Well. Alhaitham's read his mind, because he was thinking the exact same thing. It would be good to know how well he fared against the Scribe. He can remember some skirmishes with monsters and bandits in his travels as a nameless drifter, but those were just what Irminsul fabricated after he erased himself, so he doesn't trust those memories fully.

He's certainly not as strong as he used to be, but his experience as a Harbinger should make up for what he lacks in raw strength. His body is still the same, so it should remember, even after Irminsul's modifications. ]

When and where?

[justscribing]

[Alhaitham pauses, considering.]

I have nothing pressing tomorrow. I expect Kaveh will crash at the end of all of this, so we can use the training ground at his studio in the morning before he pulls himself together.

[featheradrift]

[ After everything that's happened, this will be a good way to let off some pent up energy. He grins sharply, eyes gleaming. ]

I'll be there.