[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

[perfectdevil]

[ Lestat is more than thoroughly enjoying the evening, standing idly by the crowd, losing himself to the lights and sounds and feeling of a crowd around him after what feels like so long. He's swaying ever so slightly to the music, his eyes unfocused; so when Armand appears at his side it's more of a surprise to see him than it might typically be. That, and Lestat hasn't seen Armand outside the confines of his own apartment for over a month now. With good reason, of course, but nevertheless it's still good to see him approaching what Lestat would call normal. And doing it looking so good, too. ]

They certainly have. Quite a marvel. I find myself unable to look away from it.

[ He's looking at Armand in the same way, his smile warm. He's clearly glad to see him. ]

You look enchanting. Are you here alone, or have you bewitched some poor thing to attend with you?

[ Back to normal, indeed. ]

[rescinded_vow]

[ Armand's gaze settles on Lestat, taking in his appearance with a meaningful glance. ]

I could say the same of you. [ He could but he won't. Lestat already knows he looks stunning or he wouldn't have chosen the outfit. Yes, certainly back to normal.

He gestures to the upper level, even though his date for the evening is currently out of sight. ]

No 'poor thing' - Will agreed to accompany me.

[ Protective as ever and that thought still fills him with an affectionate warmth. The evening has been as sweet as their time at the fairground and all the little moments in between. Something about it briefly shows on his face, before Armand's expression smooths into idle enjoyment once more. ]

[perfectdevil]

[ Lestat takes Armand’s words as if they were the compliment he was alluding to, full smile as bright as the circling and shifting lights around them… and when he finally divulges the identity of the one he’s accompanying here tonight, a landslide of information clicks securely into place in Lestat’s mind, and his grin inches ever wider. ]

Oh, I see it now. You’re the mystery suitor who had young Will so terrified of showing himself up without a nice outfit to wear.

[ Lestat has to hand it to Will that his freak out kind of makes more sense now, given that their little vampire coven is somewhat well known, by this point, for dressing incredibly snappishly. Nevertheless, Lestat remains proud of his efforts and is certain Armand has undoubtably noticed his trademark flair by now, if Will hasn’t already told him. ]

I hope you’ll behave yourself with him, ange. Don’t scare him off too early, alright?

[ It’s as gentle a tease as Lestat is capable of; he saw that brief softness in Armand’s face for the second or two it shone through the placid mask he usually holds so steadfast. ]

[rescinded_vow]

Ah, so it is your handiwork then? Not that Will is a difficult canvas to work with...

[ His eyebrows raise and the look he gives Lestat is pleased, 'Good Work' implicit in the way he tilts his chin and turns his body to address his fellow Vampire directly. ]

Oh don't worry, that young man didn't even flinch when I revealed my nature to him - dancing and revelry is hardly going to send him running now is it?

[ And if there's mistletoe involved at some point, well... won't that just be the sweetest ending to an enjoyable evening. ]

[perfectdevil]

[ Lestat bristles under that silent praise, as close to the real thing as he’s certain he’ll ever get with Armand, and practically overjoyed by this limited pleasure alone. ]

He’s quite a bit braver than I would have previously given him credit for. It’s quite addictive, isn’t it?

[ Lestat likes being around Will as much as he’s sure Armand does, their tastes so similar, even if their motives often differ. Were he speaking to Armand the Coven Master he might have feared for Will’s safety, but this Armand with his tender heart and his treasured fledgling seems like the perfect companion to keep young Will safe and happy in these strange times, in this strange place.

Armand doesn’t need Lestat’s approval, of course, but he nods nonetheless as if bestowing it upon him.

Lestat lifts a hand to brush some of Armand’s stray curls off his shoulders, and then gazes out along the dance floor. ]

Speaking of revelry, my friend. [ He says it in Old French, his mind wandering back to that vision Armand had shown him when they’d been at the fairground, the one that had taken him so by surprise. ] Would you care to share a dance with me, before you’re snapped up for the rest of the night?

[rescinded_vow]

[ He doesn't startle at the brush, but he does watch Lestat's hand, his face, with that wide eyed unreadable look. He follows the gesture to the dance floor and it's certainly not a shared moment of their minds, but Armand's thoughts turn to the same vision. His instinct is to hesitate, to say no, but then so much has happened since even the faire ground hasn't it?

He lifts a gloved hand, offering it to Lestat and stepping towards the other dancers. ]

Yes, I would. Lead the way, brother.

[perfectdevil]

[ Perhaps it says more about Lestat's ridiculous self-confidence than it does anything else, but Lestat isn't expecting for even a moment that Armand might refuse him. That second or two of hesitation he takes as Armand dutifully weighing up whether or not he wants to let Lestat distract him for a dance when he clearly has responsibilities elsewhere, or perhaps as him wondering where Louis might be in the midst of all this, but knows that ultimately his selfish little companion won't be able to miss the opportunity to have Lestat's attention quite so firmly fixed upon him. So when he acquiesces and takes Lestat's hand, he's visibly pleased with his own prediction.

The music is some piano cover of a song he isn't familiar with, but he and Armand are surely capable of making it work — and they do, falling into an energetic but graceful little four-step dance, like a waltz in places and a farandole in others. Lestat quite completely takes the lead, his hand on Armand's waist before he's had time to argue, smiling down at him like the handsome prince at a party of paupers, dazzled by the stranger in their midst, dressed in white and gold brocade.

Idly, he allows Armand to see this dance from his view; the way the kaleidoscope above their heads casts a wonderful array of colour over the dance floor to catch in the twinkling lights of Armand's beautiful suit. How dazzling he looked. ]

Surely you understand now, don't you, why I reacted the way I did that night at the fairgroud?

[rescinded_vow]

[ Armand falls into step, obviously not rankled by Lestat choosing their roles, something about his expression saying that he most likely expected it - secretly he's pleased. Another knot slowly untangled between them in unlikely ways.

He considers the question. Yes, he can. After that damnable hallway and dormitory, a great many things have fallen into the scope of Armand's understanding. A part of him had known the vision had been premature, had been a moment of childish optimism blinding him to the reality - that they, the three of them, must learn each other anew. And so they are.

His relationship with Lestat, at least, has taken several steps to something functional. Privately Armand knows it will never been what he will always crave from the other, what he had wanted atop that tower - but then he has never wanted anything in halves. This, however, this moment, he can abide by and hope to turn his face towards many more. ]

I do. There was much to be understood.

[perfectdevil]

I think of it still, even now. It was never the vision that disturbed me.

[ Lestat holds Armand’s body close against his, as if proximity will make it easier for the elder vampire to know that what he says is the truth, to believe him without any of that stereotypical cynicism Armand is so well known for by now. ]

It was being somewhere else, away from what I knew to be true, on terms that weren’t my own. You know as well as Louis does, that I don’t react well to things out of my control.

[ Armand had seen how disturbed he’d been by Akasha’s words, and now he’d glimpsed into the time they’d spent together too, and with that context he must know that Lestat hadn’t feared the fantasy, he’d feared the loss of reality. But now? Could Lestat share that dream with Armand now?

Lestat brings one hand up, palm spread between Armand’s shoulder blades, encouraging his body closer still as his head leans down. Golden curls tumble over Armand’s auburn ones as Lestat whispers, so softly only a vampire could hear it: ]

Perfect.

[ A mirrored hall, candlelight, surrounded by the press of fragrant mortals. Armand taking up Lestat’s hand as he steps back, bows, lips to fine boned knuckles. Lestat shows Armand the vision he’d given to him, reflected back in perfect symmetry, only this time their dance isn’t crowded into a small space but given room to breathe. The mortals in the room turn to watch, and Louis smiles warmly from the sidelines as they go. No small corners for them, no tight and darkened alleys; they deserve the floor as much as anyone else, and this light is all for them. ]