[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

[fussiest]

[ electro-magnetic, reno says. if it channels an electric current, kaveh thinks, then it must be something that you can use to hit someone and have them be incapacitated for it. two feet long, but collapsible, which means it isn't drawn like a sword, but more like some of the segmented weapons kaveh had seen in liyue when he had gone there on exchange all those years ago, the kind that you can conceal on your person and draw out as needed. reno did mention he was a part of a security force; perhaps the weapon was non-lethal in nature?

kaveh considers this. ]

I'd appreciate a diagram; whatever it is sounds like might be complicated. If I understand the nature of it - it's supposed to administer a shock if applied to a person, correct? The weapon must have a high enough voltage output to stun those that it comes in contact with, but also insulated in such a way that it doesn't stun you in the process. This world has done a great job in excising anything obviously dangerous from their shelves, but I can think of a few things that could get a charge up that high - the flash of the hand-held kameras here, for example, since they have some awfully powerful capacitor chargers for what they do.

[ hm. ] I'll have to play around with a few prototypes and see. My main concern is making it light enough to be portable. How heavy would you say it was?

[astraphilia]

[ almost all correct, except that the weapon was most definitely lethal in nature. ]

Sure thing. [ the diagram, that is. Reno listens to the rest of it, considering. this isn't how he expected they'd be spending their time dancing, but it's actually turning out to be pretty fun for him too. ] Yep, exactly. Handle's rubber, metal's zappy.

[ one of the first things impressed upon him in training was to never let the metal end of the baton touch any part of his bare skin. Reno learned that lesson well, ingrained it into his soul, and then eventually started ignoring it once he understood it well enough. ]

It's not heavy, but it's a little heavier than you'd expect from lookin' at it, I guess. I could wield it one-handed but I'm also... [ he shrugs. ] Trained for that. Most people'd probably use two.

[fussiest]

[ metal's zappy, reno says. illustrative, kaveh thinks, but apparently only a little heavier than you'd expect from looking at it. it has him looking at reno carefully, the slow elevator crawl of his gaze this time less a gauge on the current crimes being committed on fashion, and more so the purported muscle mass that reno must be hiding beneath the line of his dress shirt.

well, kaveh thinks. there's only one way to find out. he tips his head back to where reno's table and kaveh's bolt cutters still sit. ]

I am sorry to interrupt this lovely dance of ours, but I'm suddenly struck with curiosity. Would you like to arm-wrestle me?

[astraphilia]

[ by this point they were barely dancing anyway, so Reno has no qualms about laughing and stepping back to make a gesture that ushers Kaveh off the dance floor and back toward the table currently holding his bolt cutters. ]

Oh, absolutely. After you.

[ he winks, but follows Kaveh out of the press of bodies and back out to the cooler and slightly quieter edges of the fray. an arm-wrestle is certainly not something one does in polite company, Reno is sure, and suddenly he's glad he didn't dress up extra fancy for this thing. it would only have gotten in the way. ]

[fussiest]

[ reno winks. the gesture is a playful one. kaveh grins in turn, leading them from the dance floor to the outer edges where the tables are. he takes a seat with his back to the wall, gesturing for reno to sit not so much across from him as a single chair over, just enough so that they can catch their elbows on the edge of the circular table.

it's been some time, kaveh thinks, since he's done any kind of tests of strength. he rolls up sleeves, pushing back the silken line of his blouse so he can plant his elbow onto the table proper. workman scars line his arm where lumber has scraped past skin, or a blade has cut in deep during a scuffle. ]

We used to as young men play like this all the time, especially in the Kshahrewar against our craftsmen peers, but it's been some time since I've had the impetus. Do you know the rules?

[astraphilia]

[ Reno takes the seat next to Kaveh and unbuttons his cuffs so he can roll his sleeves up too—that's more comfortable for him anyway, than the long sleeves and startched cuffs are around his wrists. his own forearms are scarred, too—not from lumber, but from blades and bullets and all the little hurts that come along with his profession, things that would have been a waste of a healing materia.

he props his right elbow on the table and clasps his hand in Kaveh's, then slightly adjusts his grip until it feels comfortable and steady. ]

I know Turk rules, I don't know if I know your rules. Lay 'em on me.

[fussiest]

[ kaveh counts the scars. it's impossible not to. he observes the shapes and divots of what looks to be healed punctures, the long gashes of sharp, knife's edge-wounds, gone pale from time. reno, kaveh thinks, has lived an adventurous life. it's a life where he likely never quite knows when he will lose his.

kaveh's thumb anchors itself against the edge of reno's hand. ]

At least one foot against the floor, and no digging in nails or somesuch. If our hands separate at anytime, it's a foul for the person whose hand slipped free. Three fouls and you're out. Given that the table is obviously only a portion of one, we'll gauge who wins from whose forearm touches the table surface first.

What are Turk rules?

[astraphilia]

Pretty much that, but also no bendin' your wrist. [ he demonstrates, flopping his wrist this way and that. ] Unfair leverage.

[ otherwise, Kaveh's rules sound perfectly reasonable, close enough to what Reno's used to that he's happy to play by them. no nails, feet on the floor, and he keeps his grip on Kaveh's hand firm but not too tight. ]

You wanna count us down?

[fussiest]

[ kaveh's eyes gleam. ]

On three, then. Three, two, one -

[ kaveh's shoulders bunch with the effort of it, the strain of that concentrated push. he's never considered himself a slouch, though kaveh has always understood his limits. reno measures to approximately five foot seven, but the cadence of his steps suggests the bulk of his mass is muscle. instead, kaveh takes a moment to measure for it, the weight of his strength. ]

[astraphilia]

[ technically, Reno wants to say, that was "on one"— but then Kaveh's arm bears down against him and his whole attention is focused on the arm wrestling.

it's no surprise that Kaveh is strong. anyone who messes around with lumber and stone and carries a pair of heavy-duty bolt cutters at a freaking gala is absolutely going to be strong. it makes Reno grin to feel it, and he drives his own strength to meet Kaveh's, their palms pressed together and elbows digging into the surface of the table.

to be fair, Kaveh really does make him work for it. Reno's sweating a little by the time the tide starts to turn and the immovable object starts to overcome the unstoppable force. Kaveh's arm starts to give, but it's clear he's fighting for every inch of ground he gives. ]

[fussiest]

[ reno is strong. reno is strong in the way that eremites mercenaries from the desert coming to the city for dice and drink are strong - they are strong with intention, with tried and tested whetting of fang and claw. you are strong in the desert because you need to be. the desert strips those without strength and brings them to kneel at its mercy. reno's strength reminds kaveh a little more of need and a little less of want, the kind of precise, steady movement of a spear or a sword towards its intended goal.

by the end of things, kaveh's arm gives. his lashes cast themselves into the crimson sea of his gaze as he concentrates, focusing his strength on maintaining that grip and momentum. he can hear alhaitham's voice in his head - why choose a contest of strength when you know you will lose, why expend strength on something whose conclusion you can see from the height of a cliff? in return, kaveh's response, ringing: because it makes me happy, these little vicissitudes. reno's grip presses kaveh neatly flush against the table, and kaveh is grinning in its aftermath, cheeks pink with exertion. ]

Oh, you are good. You've the strength of a man who actually does something for a living.

[astraphilia]

[ Reno laughs, at that. he does do something for a living, doesn't he? or at least he did once, although the title Turk was in truth dead long before Reno arrived in this city. it was both his job and his life that honed him in turns, that made him into what he is—he became strong because he had no other choice.

with a teasing grin, he lifts Kaveh's defeated hand to his lips to press a kiss to the knuckles, then releases his grip entirely and shakes his hand out. ]

And that wasn't even my dominant hand.

[ Reno is left-handed, although ambidextrous in many things, arm-wrestling included. he sits back in his chair, content and grinning, and leaves his sleeves rolled up for the time being, although they'll probably wrinkle. ]

[fussiest]

[ 'and that wasn't even my dominant hand', reno says. kaveh looks. there it is, kaveh thinks - the combination of light and sound, the vibrant dance of bodies and the weave of the lights above.

but more than that is the way reno leans in, all casual laughter, and leaves a kiss on kaveh's knuckles. this is the final showman's flourish. ]

Oh, Archons. [ kaveh begins to laugh, bright and helpless. ] We're a pair of right show-offs, aren't we. That wasn't mine either.

[astraphilia]

[ it earns a beat of silence from Reno as he just stares at Kaveh, bemused, and then he tilts his head back and laughs. of course it wasn't. of course he and Kaveh had both chosen to handicap themselves for the sake of the other. ]

Kinda makes me wonder if we should try again with our lefts then, eh?

[ although there may not be much of a difference in outcome. the reality is indeed that Reno has strength meant to dominate and Kaveh has strength meant to build. ]

That's funny. You must be more ambidextrous than me, I never noticed you're a lefty.

[fussiest]

[ reno laughs a little like rain beneath thunder. it's difficult to quantify why that's the imagery that comes to kaveh's mind, only it does as he observes the way the contours of reno's cheek curves, the way he tosses his head back to bare the long lien of his throat.

kaveh smiles. ]

Well, I don't know if I'm more or less than you are, but put it this way: if you sprain your left hand cleaning drafts for your Seniors the last twenty four hours, you might as well learn how to clean drafts with your right. Necessity makes the best teacher, as I'm sure you also know. [ the music plays on. those who dance sway. kaveh looks out onto the dance floor, then breathes out in the way of a satisfied sigh. ] But alright - I suppose my break is over. I can see a small cluster of people on the other side of the room, which usually means either trouble, or mistletoe trouble.

Will you be alright here, Reno?