[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]

[ That he might have misread Midnight's intentions just... augh, this man is frustrating to interact with. He exhales, trying to release the annoyance he holds. He shouldn't lose his temper at an inebriated man. He shouldn't lose his temper at Kaveh's friend. ]

Fine. Name a game, or whatever it is you want to do. You just want company, right?

[ He can deal with a drunk man, no problem. ]

[unrequite]

Mm. Very kind of you to offer.

[ The happiness bubbles right off of Midnight in a halo. He is either too drunk or too stupid to notice the young man's ire. (Or both.) (It's both.) ]

Have you been upstairs yet? To the third floor, with all of the food and the activities. I haven't. I've been borrowing drinks all night. Help me find my own drink, darling.

[ He shoos them both to the stairs. It is time for Adventure.]

[featheradrift]

[ It's so easy to please this guy, which is good, until he starts shooing him towards the stairs. Now is when he wants to explore?? When he's drunk and two steps away from tripping over his own feet? ]

If you fall, I'm not helping you up.

[ He lets himself be herded in the direction of the stairs anyway. ]

[unrequite]

Do not fret... My senses might be altered, but with it comes flexibility and an immunity to pain. Furthermore, I am beyond such petty concerns... The future awaits, and I, the fervid lover of possibility, must pursue it.

[ ... Oh, he is drunk drunk. He takes the railing, he's no fool, but off he goes, wobbling his way up the stairs, waiting like a hound with wagging tail every two steps to check if his nameless friend is following him. ]

You may share such glory, my friend, when I achieve it. You do me a great service, walking with me in such a state. I am very drunk.

[ He says it with the classic drunken sense of conspiracy. As though he's hidden it very well, and this is a revelation to everyone in earshot. ]

[featheradrift]

[ He's drunk enough to be amusing, actually, and the drifter relaxes slightly. If he gets to watch this guy stumble about making an idiot out of himself, well, he's not about to say no to free entertainment. ]

At least you're aware. Are you planning on drinking yourself into unconsciousness?

[unrequite]

Mm? Not yet. Still quite a bit of party to enjoy. Later, perhaps, when the festivities come to an end.

[ Midnight waves a hand, teetering up the stairs, waiting for his mystery friend at the landing. ]

Or perhaps not. I want to walk Miss Johanna home... Have you ever met her? Miss Johanna Constantine... Beautiful woman. My date. Very kind, even if she doesn't seem to think so.

[featheradrift]

And yet you insist on drinking more, despite your current state.

[ He follows the man up the stairs and arrives at the landing, where he waits for Midnight to continue forward. ]

Never heard of her.

[unrequite]

You should hear about her. I know so much about her... She's from Earth, you know. Odd place. Stationary. Most worlds seem to be...

[ Midnight waves a hand, sets out in the general direction of the photo booths. ]

I don't insist upon the bottle, you know. I happen to enjoy it, when it comes to me, but I must drink more during parties. Isn't any good drinking alone, is it?

[featheradrift]

Oh, am I meant to be drinking with you now?

[ He sure doesn't remember agreeing to that. But he has no issue with it anyway. It's been a while since he's had any alcohol. ]

[unrequite]

No, heavens no. I have drunk, and because of you, I am not alone. You are doing quite well, lad.

[ Completely forgetting that this friend is not a touching sort of friend, Midnight reaches out to pat him on the head. Then he pauses, a tad uncertain. ]

Say, are you old enough for the bottle? Forgive me, I can never tell one's maturity level, these days...

[featheradrift]

[ Of course, he shoves Midnight's hand off his head. No touchy, dude.

The question lands him a baleful glare. ]

Don't mistake my appearance as an indication of my age. I'm far older than you'd ever think to guess.

[ Ah, that's revealing too much. Oh well, what's said has been said. ]

[unrequite]

[ Midnight nods, placidly soaking that information in. ]

Like a Durin, then. Or a vampire, the decent sort. One of the ones from Earth... they're all quite nice, aren't they? Oh, but I shouldn't say, they seem quite shy about it.

[ Midnight clumsily mimes zipping his mouth up, then throwing the key away, smiling. ]

You don't seem the sort to be terribly stuck in your own ways. Wouldn't be here if you were, accompanying a drunk like me. Right kind of you, isn't it?

[featheradrift]

[ He has no idea what this guy is talking about. Well, no idea what a Durin is. He knows what a vampire is. The rest, he could just chalk it up to drunk rambling. ]

I just have nothing better to do right now. I'm not about to say no to free entertainment.

[unrequite]

Do I entertain you? Good.

[ Midnight laughs, peeking into the photo stations, studying them... Does he want a picture? He's rather philosophically opposed to them, but it might be fun for the novelty of it. ]

I'm assuming you didn't come here with Kaveh... Did you have a date?

[featheradrift]

[ Is he actually entertaining? The drifter doesn't know, but—he doesn't dislike being in this man's company either, so long as the man doesn't intrude on his personal bubble, which, after the first time, he hasn't. So he's alright, the drifter supposes. ]

No. I came because Kaveh asked me to handle food.

[unrequite]

[ Gonna be real, Midnight is at a level of intoxication where he may or may not forget about one's personal space bubble at least one more time tonight... That's not now, though. Now, he looks up from this photobooth and at his companion in inquiry. ]

"Handle food"...? Do you cook?

[featheradrift]

[ He's starting to get a reputation for being someone who knows how to cook, isn't he? It's not even a hobby for him, and yet now it's something he's doing often here, despite not needing any food. ]

It's just something I picked up a long time ago. He saw what I made and I guess he was impressed enough to ask me to help.

[unrequite]

[ Midnight tilts his head, absorbing that. He himself is not a food enjoyer, but he likes knowing these things about others. Comfortable, in a way. ]

Show me. I can't promise I'll try any, though... I may not have the proper balance for it.

[ ... What does being balanced have to do with eating? He's... he's probably afraid of faceplanting into a tray of appetizers, honestly. ]

[featheradrift]

[ He's certainly drunk enough that the drifter would be concerned about anything he consumes eventually coming back up, especially if he actually drinks more as he's said he would earlier. ]

This way.

[ The Wanderer will lead Midnight to the fourth station next to Lestat's setup. The table is covered with all sorts of food, savoury and sweet, but mostly sweet. Most of them are made into small bite-sized pieces—easy for any gala attendee to just pick up and go. ]

[unrequite]

[ Midnight looks at the display, eyes wide. ]

This was all you, then? Ah... What an incredible talent. It smells lovely. Do you have a favorite?

[ Midnight doesn't seem too keen on picking anything up, but he does hover, looking at each offering with tipsy amazement. He is very drunk, but he is also very impressed. ]

[featheradrift]

I don't like sweets.

[ Which is what a majority of his station consists of, so... he wanders over to the few savoury items on the table. He considers for a moment, but eventually ends up pointing out the egg salad sandwich. ]

This one is at least interesting in its texture profile. It can be surprisingly hard to make it correctly. Eggs are easy to overcook.

[unrequite]

Texture profile...? I confess, I don't know much about food. Tell me about the way you like it.

[ Midnight hunches down, looks at the little sandwich, hands very carefully to himself. He respects food, but has always been a bit apathetic to everything outside of the world of alcohol... ]

[featheradrift]

You don't need food?

[ Is Midnight another one of the non-human residents? Hm... ]

I don't necessarily like it. It's just one of the dishes I don't dislike on this table.

[unrequite]

No one needs food. People need to live, first...

[ Midnight shakes his head. That makes perfect sense to him. ]

Well, if you could make your favorite dish, what would it have been?

[featheradrift]

I'm fairly certain for humans, food is a requirement for living.

[ And it doesn't for him. ]

Chazuke. It's a dish where you pour tea over rice.