[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

[featheradrift]

[ 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. ]

1/2

[excaliburden]

[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...]

2/2

[excaliburden]

[... 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.]

[featheradrift]

[ 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. ]

[excaliburden]

[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.]

[featheradrift]

[ 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. ]

[excaliburden]

[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?]

[featheradrift]

[ 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. ]

1/3

[excaliburden]

[He keeps refusing to let her put herself down--and in a way, it's working. His compliments are bolstering her confidence in this, and though she looks a little bashful, she smiles at him and doesn't try to deny it. It's true, after all. She's been working hard, just as it's true that he's been a good, patient teacher.



ANYWAY THEN HE SAYS THAT.

AND FOR A MOMENT, all Altria can hear is white noise. Hm? Huh? Hmmm?????]

2/3

[excaliburden]

[








W-w-w-w-wait, she wasn't ready--]

3/3

[excaliburden]

D-don't tease me like that! I'm going to mess up the dance!

[He's absolutely teasing her and she knows it; he's not the sort to give such overly flowery compliments sincerely, even if they're things that still make her heart skip a beat and her cheeks go red.

She's still onto him.]

[featheradrift]

[ Don't tease her? All he's hearing is to further tease her. So he does, as he suddenly leans forward and gently nudges her feet with his own to put her into a dip. It happens fast enough that she won't have a chance to react.

The hand on her back is as steady as ever, guaranteeing that she won't hit the floor. ]

Whoops. Don't fall now.

[ He says as if he wasn't the one who forced them into this position. But it's apparent that he's enjoying himself—or, rather, teasing Altria. ]

[excaliburden]

[... His face is too close. His hand is suddenly very, very noticeable against her back and his face is too close, and the way that he sweeps her into a dip is both far too sudden and far too smooth.

She stares at him, face bright red.

He's teasing her again, but for a brief moment, she really did feel weightless, like the prettier, higher class faeries who were swept along the dance floor as if they belonged there.


Anyway, then she flings herself forward to cling to him so that he isn't the one supporting her, arms around his neck, face red.]

A-a-a-anyway, I think--I think the dance is over now! Sorry! I almost fell but I won't fall now! Sorry! [Again. Oh. He broke her. She's so flustered. She lets go of him quickly, jumping back, face still red.]

[featheradrift]

[ She's so red, it's amusing, and he's about to make a teasing quip as usual, but she suddenly flings herself at him and he pulls them both up in surprise as she catches him off guard.

It's alarming, the way he doesn't dislike this turn of events, even if he's somewhat uncomfortable by her sudden proximity—but then she pulls away in a fluster and he finds himself mourning the loss of her presence.

She's so panicked his amusement shifts over to concern. Did he push her too far? He reaches out for her hand, clasping one gently as he tugs her towards the edge of the dance floor. ]

C'mon. Let's get off the dance floor.

[excaliburden]

[She's still stammering as he leads her off the dance floor, but she seems to start to simmer down as he gently tugs her along by her hand.]

S-sorry! I know it was going well and then I got distracted and flustered. And, um! I just, uh. It's really nothing at all I just wasn't prepared, especially someone like me, I was never expecting anything like that--

[BREATHE, Altria.



Which she does as they finally reach Wallflower Territory. She drags in a deep breath, and slowly lets it out, shoulders slumping. Whew...]

... Um. [That was embarrassing.]

[featheradrift]

[ He gives her the space she needs to calm down, feeling a little bad that he pushed her to far. She has a limit to that kind of teasing, he realizes. Hopefully he hasn't ruined the night for her. ]

You okay now?

[excaliburden]

I'm fine, I'm fine!

[She slaps her own cheeks lightly with her hands, but straightens after, taking a deeeeeep breath and smiling at him.]

Sorry for worrying you. And after I nagged you into coming with me, too!

But still... thanks. I had a lot of fun.

[featheradrift]

[ Okay, so he didn't ruin things. She still seems to be bright and cheerful. That's good. ]

You don't need to apologize. As long as you had fun... It's fine.

[ Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them, a certain plant has appeared above the pair... ]

[excaliburden]

I did, I definitely did!

[More than anything, she wants to convince him of that. It wasn't a waste of either of their time. Even though she got overly flustered, she had a wonderful time. And she's endlessly grateful that he humored her and went out onto the dance floor with her.

She peeks up at him to try to get a read on his expression (he doesn't seem bothered, and he had seemed legitimately concerned)--

--and for some reason, her heart skips in her chest. It's not the first time this has happened around him, of course. Altria's been using the tried and true method of coping of not acknowledging it at all.

--and for some reason, too, her eyes linger on his face for a moment, and she feels like she could just lean in and--

?!?!?!?!?!?!]

I--huh? [Oh no. Oh no!!! Oh no. The method of shoving her feelings in a box isn't working right now!!]

[featheradrift]

Good.

[ He can trust that she won't lie to him about this, so he relaxes a little. Hopefully she won't be so fearful of events like this in the future. It's one thing not to attend something because you don't like it, but it's another to stop yourself from going out of fear, even if you want to.

The little noise she makes has him looking back up at her. ]

What's wrong?

[ The alarmed expression on her face is... if he had to admit it to himself, kind of cute. There's a desire to lean over and—well, he's not going to think about it. Nope. He does not want to think about what this desire might mean for his feelings.

So he just. Keeps himself still, and waits for Altria's response. ]

[excaliburden]

[Altria has always had innate, built-in defenses against things like this. Back home, being a Faerie of Paradise meant that she wasn't impacted by things like being compelled or having her mind meddled with.

... That means that now, she doesn't really have much in the way of defenses against it, having very rarely had to deal with it at all back home.

It doesn't help, too, that even though she'd think she's much too embarrassed to go for something like a--a kiss on any normal day, this isn't a normal day, and he isn't a normal person. He helped her get here in every sense of the word. He helped her find a dress and jewelry, he encouraged her to show up at all, and he took her out there to dance. Without him, she wouldn't be nearly this giddy and happy, would she?

Without him...

...]

N-nothing! Nothing's... wrong. [... Is it? It feels a little... wrong. Not that she likes him to this extent--she's aware of that already. But... she's the Child of Prophecy. She's a Faerie of Paradise. Her fate isn't to enjoy something like this. And--she doesn't want him to suffer any more betrayals, not ever again.

... But--]

I just... um. Can you... stay still for a moment? --And close your eyes!

[featheradrift]

[ The drifter narrows his eyes as he thinks there's something a little off about the way she's behaving. Still, it's just a small request she's making. One that's easily fulfilled. ]

...sure.

[ He eventually does as she asks and closes his eyes. ]

1/2

[excaliburden]

[... Funnily enough, that's what eases the jitters, at least a little, in Altria's heart. For someone who is so concerned with betrayal, someone who seems so wary all the time, someone who claims that he never wanted to trust again--

He closes his eyes awfully easily, all because she asked him to.

She still doesn't understand the compulsion, not exactly. But she does know that her heart is warm, even as it thumps rapidly in her chest. She does know that Yuu's presence and friendship is a treasure to her, and that his kindness and honesty are precious to her.

And it's with that in mind that she locks her fingers together behind her back, takes a deep breath, and leans up.

It's feather-light, when she brushes her lips against his, barely perceptible. But it's there nonetheless, the lightest and shyest of kisses, before she steps back quickly, cheeks red but smiling brightly.

The compulsion fades then, but she finds she doesn't mind that it was there in the first place. Maybe, for her, it was more a burst of selfishness and bravery, rather than anything else.]

2/2

[excaliburden]

Okay! You can open your eyes again.

[Ahem! She beams, and tries to move on.]

Is there anything else you wanted to do while we're here? Have you gotten to see every part of the party?

1/2

[featheradrift]

[ He hadn't been sure what to expect when she asked him to close his eyes. Maybe she'd produce a gift out of nowhere, or she wanted to arrange something for him to see. What he does hear though, is the quiet rustling of her outfit and then something soft pressed against his lips, almost imperceptible.

His eyes snap open just as she tells him to, and there's a dumbfounded look on his face for all of about three seconds before he schools his expression into one more natural for him. ]