happy new year! (party edition)

[unrequite]

WHO: Anyone who saw Midnight's network post about Seventh Hell's grand opening!
WHAT: Happy New Year! We survived! (At what cost!?)
WHERE: Seventh Hell
WHEN: New Year's Eve, starting at 6 pm.
WARNINGS: Alcohol! Maybe more, please mind individual thread warnings!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

SEVENTH HELL WELCOMES YOU!

It's been a rough half a year. Kidnappings, atmospheric horror, murder (technically), aesthetics, disappearances, reappearances, and the creeping sensation that you aren't alone...

Hey, at least there's drinks.

When you descend the stairs to the underground club, there's music playing, the lights are low, but boy, are there a lot of them. The bartender welcomes you in. Order something, make yourself comfortable! The booths along the mirrored walls, lined with chandeliers and discoballs, are decorated with a sprinkle of shining confetti and host a variety of simple party snacks. (In fact, if your character arrived with some food to share, a bartender will guide you to the tables to help you set it up. They'll get you a drink for your trouble. How thoughtful of them!)

Grab a snack and a drink! It's no planetarium, but there's a variety of party activities to engage in. (Or make up your own! Seriously, this is a pretty casual affair.)

Every guest will receive one ticket for a raffle. There will be three winners, and each winner can choose one out of 3 prizes:

1) One date with one participating host club staff member. (If your character is a current host club staff member who would volunteer for a blind date, please PM me so I can add their name to the list.) Current list of participants: Midnight, Don Quixote, Astarion, Armand
2) One specialty drink named in the winner's honor.
3) One 12 in x 12 in square on one of the mirrors of the Host Club to leave a permanent mark! The winner will be invited back at any time to take paint markers, paint, permanent markers, etc, to leave a short message, work of art, or anything that can fit in a square foot of mirror space in a discreet, aesthetically pleasing area of the host club. (Kaveh chooses where.)

Winners may choose prizes previously chosen by other winners. Winners may forfeit for others to have a chance at a prize, but may not give away their prize to someone else specifically. In the case that one chooses the third prize but lacks the requisite skill or confidence to create a permanent fixture, one can outsource the space to a willing artist or writer within reason.

!

OOC: RAFFLE DETAILS

I will be rolling the results of this raffle on January 2nd, before the start of Alba's player plot! Don't worry about keeping up with the results, I'll PM winners individually. The only requirement for entry is to participate in one thread on this post! If your character would forfeit their prize, please let me know via PM so I can remove their name from the pool! EDIT: All prizes have been claimed! Congratulations to Hob, Yi Sang, and Altria! 🎉

MAIN SEATING (PARTY GAMES)

The back booths of the establishment, along with the standard decorations, have been supplied with small cards. The rules of two different party games are written on each:

NEVER HAVE I EVER

A getting to know you game! For groups of 5 or fewer players, begin with 5 points. For any more than that, it is suggested to start with 10. The goal of the game is to be the last person with points remaining.
1) Everyone in the game starts with five points each. Keep track of your points with your fingers!
2) The first player describes a short scenario that they have never experienced.
3) The other players must put a finger down if they have experienced said scenario. If they, too, have never experienced the scenario, their points remain unaffected.
4) Move onto the next player and repeat steps 2 through 4. The last person with points remaining wins!
5) BONUS: Drinks may be substituted for points. Simply take a drink when you have experienced the scenario! (Please drink responsibly!)

KING'S GAME

This game requires straws, chopsticks or a deck of cards. Please ask a bartender for supplies!
1) For the amount of players in the game, arrange the same amount of straws or chopsticks. For the card version, please use one suit.
2) Assign one chopstick/straw as the "king". For the card version, use one King of your chosen suit. The rest of the cards, chopsticks, or straws should be numbered from 2 to 10 (or however players choose to play.)
3) All players choose a game marker at random. Do not show the other players your number.
4) The King must first reveal themselves. For that round, they must issue a dare to up to two numbered participants. (e.g. Numbers 2 and 5 must end their sentences with "meow" for the next two rounds. The King can choose themselves as one of the participants.)
5) Shuffle the game markers, choose a new King, and repeat!
6) For a challenge, add points for completed dares and drawing the King! The first player to 10 points wins the game. For this mode, it is suggested to add a punishment of a drink for anyone who refuses their dares.

(Please drink responsibly! For the sake of tonight's festivities, we ask that all time based dares end before midnight.)

!

OOC: THREAD SUGGESTIONS

For the purpose of these prompts, feel free to handwave other participants, or to use these prompts as jumping off points for any specific threads you want! For example, one might like to use the King's Game to get into a scenario where one's character has to hold hands with another character for a few minutes for a dare. Please be creative!

THE STAGE (PERFORMANCES)

Eddie Munson (thefreak) will be headlining, with Midnight as backup whenever he can wiggle free from his bartending duties. In between sets, anyone is free to pick up an instrument and a microphone and try their hand at ringing in the new year with a bit of song.

THE BACK ROOMS (NO, NOT LIKE THAT)

There are currently three rooms available for formal guest activities! The rest of the rooms are locked and will require permission for entry. (They're all empty!)

THE GREENHOUSE (featured host: Fearne)

You were... You were underground just a second ago, right? Pull up a seat, settle in, and enjoy being surrounded by plants, a mildly hydrated atmosphere, and light, friendly conversation between fellow guests. There are no activities here, but it does seem like people are free to start up their own round of party games in this somewhat quieter environment... It would be a nice place for a game where one might want to be heard over all that music. (Suggested games: Word Association, 2 Truths and a Lie, 20 Questions.)

THE COFFEE SHOP (featured host: Chesed)

For anyone who needs caffeination to start their new year right. Featuring nondescript coffee shop music, a mildly chill vibe, and comfortable seating, come grab an espresso and pretend you have some important project to deliver by some very specific deadline next year. For this occasion, board games and cards are available for those who want a little more involved with their gaming experience for the new year. (Suggested games: Poker, Uno, Jenga.)

THE PET STATION

Congrats, you printed yourself a dog! Or a cat! Or something! For the purposes of showing off one's pet and getting them some proper socialization, for one night only, there is a pet area monitored closely by one of the club's staff members where one can drop off their furry friend. Get that pet socialized! Get yourself socialized! Please, make a friend before the year ends. It's good for you.

code

[ ooc: If any part of this post is in error, PLEASE do let me know! I made this in like two days in between work and I barely know left from right. Also, host club members especially are encouraged to PM me with any details or updates about this event they'd like for me to add. Thank you, and please enjoy your IRL new year! ]

Comments

[onlythans]

Wise, yes. Attractive? His son and grandchildren might have my head off if I dared express such salacious interests aloud.

[For the duration while Midnight is going about his chores, Thancred slides the omikuji neatly out of the way and picks up the tarot deck instead, sifting idly through them before beginning to shuffle them facedown. This much, at least, comes easily; he's played more than enough hands of cards to manage it, regardless of the slightly larger shape and size than he's used to.

When Midnight returns, however, he goes on —]

Oh, not from the atmosphere alone. I also applaud your good taste in help.

[Sometimes you get dragged to a venue because the people you like work there. Go figure.]

Now then. Care to pick a few of these for me?

[unrequite]

Taken, then? Ah, the good ones always are...

[ Midnight shakes his head. At... at least he has boundaries. Some.

Midnight leans in, deeply interested in whatever might be occurring here. He's no expert, of course, but he does seem to have a certain dexterity that is quite pleasing to watch. Midnight selects his cards when they're offered to him, waiting patiently for further instructions. No peeking! ]

I like to think I have a good eye for character, at least... That they all happen to be characters themselves is a gift. Which friends of yours have I captured for my nefarious little club, mm?

[onlythans]

Taken in more ways than one, I'm afraid. Along with being attached, he's also deceased.

[I mean unless you consider Binding Coils of Bahamut but guess what! We're not going to!

Once Midnight has taken a selection of three cards, Thancred sets the rest of the deck aside and motions to the tabletop in front of them.]

Lay them out in whatever order you please — one to the left, one to the middle, and one to the center. Leave them face-down for the time being.

[That's...probably not how it works but hey, he did say he's not a fortune-teller.]

And now, now. That's privileged information, and I'm not certain you've proved your authorization.

[unrequite]

I see. Ah, the good ones always are...

[ Said with the exact same inflection. Well, considering he looks like an edgy nightclub goth, perhaps this is less surprising.

Hm... He fills them right, left, then center, then sets his hands politely in his lap. No matter how curious he is about these proceedings, Higashinese manners run deep. ]

My, to be barred access to information when I'm this establishment's highest authority...

[ Midnight looks mock-severe for a moment, but cracks after a moment. He's too sentimental to playact for that long. ]

These friends must be very dear to you. I'm glad. Such relationships must be treasured.

[onlythans]

My point precisely. I don't work for you, but they do; why shouldn't I safeguard my sources?

[He says, like he's even one whole iota subtle about who he's here to spend time with and what acquaintances he may have in Midnight's employ. Regardless, he frowns at the backs of the cards a minute, like he's unearthing an old memory from some cobwebby repository in the back of his mind somewhere, and finally points at the leftmost one.]

All right. Let's turn that one over and see how it turns out.

[And you are welcome to either feed me cards or I'll do a three-card draw and run with it myself!]

[unrequite]

Astute. Well, I'd best make a good impression, mmm?

[ The grin of a man who hasn't been concerned about making a good impression in at least a decade.

Sorry about the wait, I had to dig up my Rider-Waite! Midnight dutifully flips the leftmost card... ]

Hm... Ten, Wheel of Fortune?

[ He truly knows nothing of the tarot and is happy to be bullshat to, but studies the wheel in the center with great interest. ]

[onlythans]

[Welp, that one doesn't exist in Sharlayan astrology so clearly we just need to redraw i— yeah okay, no, it's not like Thancred really knows the difference anyway.]

Mmhmmm. I see. Indeed, very interesting...

[...]

Yes, the cards are beginning to speak to me now. I can sense their voices calling out on the aether...go on and turn over the next one, then.

[THANCRED YOU ARE THE LITERAL WORST ASTROLOGIAN WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU]

[unrequite]

[ PLEASE... Midnight just nods very seriously and flips the next card over. 7 of swords! (The last one is 9 of pentacles, by the way. Not that that will make much of a difference for both of them...) ]

... Can't make heads or tails of this, but the pictures certainly are very evocative. Hm. Do any of them mean "great misfortune", by any chance?

[ Well, it's the only other data point they have... ]

[onlythans]

Well, the fellow running off with the swords certainly seems to be up to some mischief. I daresay there's grave misfortune afoot for whatever seven people he happens to encounter.

[There literally are not words to express how hideous the entire prospect of this fortune telling is. There are none whatsoever.]

That said, with a starting place of a Wheel of Fortune, it seems likewise straightforward that your fortune begins with a gamble. Spin the wheel, take a risk, see what comes of it...

[He pauses, motioning to the Seven of Swords.]

...stab anyone who might get in your way...

[THANCRED.]

...and, whether by hook or by crook, I can only assume that it's Lady Luck who'll be waiting for you at the end of it, in all her lush and abundant glory. Or mayhap she'll just loan you her garden for hiding the bodies in.

[unrequite]

[ Midnight nods, brow furrowed in contemplation, following Thancred's interpretation to the letter. When he said he was committing to whatever Thancred decided to say, he really meant it. ]

Risks, huh... Well, at any rate, I shouldn't like to trouble a lady of such a tender and yielding disposition, to the point where she'd willingly give herself over as an accessory to a heinous crime. Lady Luck, your affection and kindness humble me... Nay, I mustn't take advantage of such benevolence. Not even if the cards demand it of me.

[ But Midnight snorts, then laughs. ]

I expected more metaphor, but this was far more entertaining as a literal exercise. If nothing else, your talents as a storyteller want for very little.