badfeyth: (📚 and saying that's the way)
Ghost ([personal profile] badfeyth) wrote in [community profile] citylogs2023-12-02 12:30 am

[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 ([personal profile] badfeyth) and Kaveh ([personal profile] 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 ([personal profile] 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 ([personal profile] 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 ([personal profile] 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 ([personal profile] 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 ([personal profile] 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 ([personal profile] 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 ([personal profile] 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 ([personal profile] nomoresharks) and EMET-SELCH ([personal profile] recreator): Jazz piano bops along with some ragtime arrangements.
• EDDIE ([personal profile] 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.

playing_human: (even though you've lost your mind)

[personal profile] playing_human 2023-12-11 06:25 am (UTC)(link)
['N then that city fell, he says, casually describing millions of people getting pancaked due to poor urban planning.

Dorian immediately decides he likes this guy.

He tilts his head, his stance becoming more relaxed as he leans on the table with both hands.]


I wonder what made them build the city like that. It makes me think a little of a city I used to live in--Paris. It was built partially atop a great many quarries. Therefore, the city has networks of tunnels beneath it. Midgar must have a fascinating history, to be built the way it was.
astraphilia: (all you have is your fire)

[personal profile] astraphilia 2023-12-11 06:41 am (UTC)(link)
[ whether it would make Dorian like him more or less to know that it was Reno who pancaked many of them is an interesting quandary for future Reno to consider. right now, though, he's got the full force of his attention turned on Dorian, head tilted a little. it's always interesting to hear about other worlds, the ones he'll likely never see. ]

Oh, Paris. [ even the name tastes exotic. ] Tunnels beneath a city sounds exciting. You ever go explorin' down there, see what people might've left behind?

[ no Reno haven't you ever seen As Above So Below

alas. he wrinkles his nose a little and shakes his head at the description of Midgar's history as interesting—although maybe it is, depending on your proximity to it. ]


Y'know, you'd think, but it really ain't all that. It was built to hold a fuckoff big mako reactor—source of energy for the whole city, that is. The city ain't even that old, I was born before it was. Just barely, but still. [ he winks. ]
playing_human: (ripe round forbidden)

[personal profile] playing_human 2023-12-12 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
[Dorian manages not to smile at the implication that Reno could be worried he might be too old for him.]

Of course I did. Unfortunately, it's not as interesting as it sounds, and anything left behind is found very quickly by the next wayfarer.
astraphilia: (when i was 16 my senses fooled me)

[personal profile] astraphilia 2023-12-12 06:26 am (UTC)(link)
Well, that's disappointing.

[ exploring the tunnels still sounds like it would be fun, but if they're popular enough to be a destination, then maybe they're not quite as exciting as Reno thought they might be. having a little underground secret is really only interesting if it's relatively exclusive. ]

You been around long, here? [ he tilts his head a little, curious, and then smiles. ] Feels like I'd remember seein' you.
playing_human: (breaking)

[personal profile] playing_human 2023-12-15 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
[Ah, that one's a classic.]

Only since September. Yourself?
astraphilia: (don't you ever tame your demons)

[personal profile] astraphilia 2023-12-15 04:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[ you can't win 'em all, but unfortunately for Dorian, Reno has never once let rejection stop him flirting. ]

No shit? August, for me. I guess I just ain't been out and about as much as I should be.

[ or he's been out and about too much. maybe it depends on who you ask. at any rate, Reno is at least moderately surprised that he and Dorian have never run across each other before.

he sits back, gives Dorian an opaque, considering look, then winks. ]


If you got somewhere better to be, don't let me keep ya. Otherwise I'll talk your ear off all night.
playing_human: (the ones she had lost)

[personal profile] playing_human 2023-12-16 12:28 am (UTC)(link)
[That's not rejection, that's playing it cool. He's Victorian, give him a break.

Dorian's eyebrows go up. His smile is amused.]
All night, you say? That's a bold claim.
astraphilia: (when i was 16 my senses fooled me)

[personal profile] astraphilia 2023-12-16 12:41 am (UTC)(link)
[ fair enough Reno just doesn't know any Victorians apparently...

he lifts his eyebrows in turn, then shrugs loosely. ]
What can I say? I'm a bold guy.

[ he winks conspiratorially. ]
playing_human: (but to do better than that)

[personal profile] playing_human 2023-12-16 02:09 am (UTC)(link)
I can see. [And Dorian likes bold flirters. He's unused to it from men, since that shit's illegal--usually, it's just something like taking a sip of one's drink without breaking eye contact--but it's lovely that it can happen in public here without anyone caring.] Have you any paper?
astraphilia: (on all the ashes in my wake)

[personal profile] astraphilia 2023-12-16 04:14 am (UTC)(link)
Paper? Uh—

[ that's a new one for Reno's little food stand. he looks around him, then leans down to rummage through a collection of personal belongings, and eventually emerges with a piece of notebook paper and a pen, both of which he hands over to Dorian. then, curious to see what he needs it for, Reno leans back on his stool and shamelessly peers over at him. ]
playing_human: imagination (I got a nonstop hole in my head)

[personal profile] playing_human 2023-12-16 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
[It's not that exciting. Dorian quickly jots down the word paphiopedilum.]

This is my username. [He slides the notebook back to Reno.] In case you come to the end of your duties here and find you haven't run out of things to say.
astraphilia: (all you have is your fire)

[personal profile] astraphilia 2023-12-16 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
[ wym not exciting, this is like the City equivalent of scoring a hot girl's phone number at the school dance.

Reno grins and plucks the paper up, folds it, and tucks it right into his breast pocket where it'll stay for safekeeping until he's done at his food station. ]


Mine's "thundaga." Keep an eye out for me, would ya?
playing_human: (break it down)

[personal profile] playing_human 2023-12-16 05:56 am (UTC)(link)
I most certainly will. [Dorian's gaze goes soft, drifting downward to take in as much of Reno as is visible from across the table, before giving him a polite nod and turning to go.]