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

[unrequite]

A rascal like that on security ops...? Well, the times do march on.

[ Midnight laughs. Hey, people take weird left turns in life. It's not on him to judge any of it. ]

I can see that, if I may be so bold. I daresay you still have a streak of mischief in you.

[astraphilia]

You would never have guessed it, lookin' at me back then. I guess you could say they were impressed by what I got away with.

[ getting taken in on a few light shoplifting charges was nothing, in the face of what the Company assessed that Reno would be willing to do for them. and they were damn right, as it turns out.

he grins wide, taking that as a compliment. ] You're damn right I do. A mile wide, if I do say so myself.

[ is that a good thing... who knows. ]

Never have I ever taken illegal drugs on purpose. —Or did you wanna ask me about my dating life first?

[unrequite]

Mmm. It does take a certain set of skills, at that.

[ Midnight takes a moment to look into Reno's eyes, studying them intently... Then shakes his head, chuckles. ]

Well, if you can say something like that to your employer, either I've nothing to fear, or you're in the process of duping me so hard that I deserve what's coming, mm?

[ He laughs even harder, then puts a finger down and takes a shot, placing the glass to the side. ]

No need, I'm quite satisfied by tales of one misadventure. Here's mine: I was young and terribly insecure, and I wanted to impress some new acquaintances at a party. Failed miserably, of course, spent the rest of the party in the bathroom trying not to look at the mirrors.

[ He shakes his head again. Ah, youth. ]

Well, it was certainly a learning experience. Taught me that I'm not much good at being alone at parties. Then again, who is?

[astraphilia]

Nah, I'm reformed now. [ Reno holds his gaze unflinchingly, then winks—whether that's reassuring or not is up to Midnight. ] I like you, bossman. I wouldn't dupe ya.

[ at least not that hard! maybe he'll rearrange some stuff in the stockroom so Midnight thinks he lost it, then put it back and pretend it was there the whole time. maybe he'll slap his snap bracelet on Midnight's wrist just to see how he responds. low-stakes mischief, for now.

Reno whistles low, shaking his head. ] Brutal. You're right, though—parties are a hard place to be alone at, sober or otherwise.

[ he waves vaguely, a gesture that encompasses the party going on around them. ]

'S one of the things I like about this place. You can go to any party and you ain't gonna be alone, not really. We're in it together.

[unrequite]

Ah, I'm sure you won't.

[ That being said, Midnight says it as though he wouldn't mind seeing what Reno has up his sleeve. The very placid sort of amusement that comes from being too Higashinese to say "no". ]

It's what I've always loved about a good party. And a good host, for that matter... If you've the right sort of people, parties coalesce into being from the ether. It's like clouds condensing into rain. An inevitable sort of unity.

[ ... Midnight claps his hands together. ]

Ah, right... Never have I ever attended a school of higher education.

[ Well, Reno seems to have been a mischief maker, but did he have to earn a degree for it? ]

[astraphilia]

[ Reno nods, but it's a nod more like he's learning something new than like he's confirming what Midnight is saying. ]

I guess that means you've got the right people, huh?

[ that doesn't surprise Reno, really. he and Midnight don't know each other well, yet, but the little bits that Reno has gathered about Midnight's personality all point to someone encompassingly kind, who cares deeply and without hesitation about the people close to him. it makes sense, therefore, that he would attract similar spirits in kind, and that they in turn would attract more, and onward and outward until you've got a real party crowd on your hands.

it's a nice thing to witness, Reno thinks. he doesn't know how to do any of that, but he likes to watch it happen.

anyway—he shakes his head and doesn't put a finger down either. ]

I didn't even go to a school of lower education. [ is that a thing? lucky for Reno he didn't need a degree to go into special ops. ] Huh... never have I ever been able to play an instrument?

[unrequite]

I dearly hope so. My eye for character tends to serve me well, at least.

[ All things come with time, charisma included. Midnight just leans on the counter, another finger down, shotglass between his fingers. ]

And then there were two. [ Fingers, that is, although it's true that they're both uneducated street goblins. He wiggles them. ] The guitar, of course, although I don't imagine myself the sort with much musical talent.

Ah, here's one I've been chewing on. [ Midnight drinks up, sets the glass down with a very decisive clack. ] Never have I ever traveled in an airborne vehicle of any sort.

[astraphilia]

Damn, targeted.

[ Reno laughs easily and puts down a finger, then grabs a shot to knock it back. he's down to two now himself, putting them fairly neck and neck in this race—if Reno wins it'll probably only be because he went first. ]

Guitar's plenty impressive, though. I've never been the musical type myself, not even really listenin' to it... never had time. [ he taps his remaining fingertips against the table, his brow furrowing briefly as he considers what to say. three shots deep it's a little bit more difficult to come up with quickfire thoughts, but one does occur to him after a moment; it makes him lift an eyebrow and take a stab at, ]

Never have I ever been fluent or even semi-fluent in more than one language.

[unrequite]

Hardly. I was simply surprised by the concept when I first heard of it, and I've been wondering how common air travel is among the worlds since.

[ The concept still eludes him. Air travel is something that is solely the domain of top secret government facilities and military use. It's wild to him that it's available at a commercial level to other worlds at all.

Midnight shrugs at the compliment, though. It's far more impressive to him that others have traveled by air. He knows that his guitar playing is at hobby level, at best. ]

Ah. Two and a half.

[ Midnight laughs, picks up a shot, feels his joints go ever slightly liquid in a pleasant way as it goes down. One finger left. ]

Spoke Victorian with my parents, Higashinese with everyone else. Yanese is a recent hobby. Mmm.

[ Midnight sways in thought, and because he enjoys the movement. ]

Before coming here, never have I ever lived in a world with fewer with two moons.

[astraphilia]

Then you got lucky, 'cause I'm the resident chopper pilot.

[ resident of both the Turks and the City, at least to Reno's knowledge. not that it's a skill he's putting to use in a place like this.

he finds himself swaying to match Midnight's movements, an unconscious imitation made much easier by the liquor. it's sort of nice, though, weirdly soothing in its back and forth repetition. ]

What's with everybody and having a ton of moons? [ Reno grumbles, but it's good-natured, and he puts down his second to last finger before knocking back another shot. he's feeling it now, the warmth and pleasant numbness. ] I, uh...

[ he stares at Midnight for a moment, trying to come up with something. ]

Never have I ever planned a party? [ that's probably not playing fair, but hell, he's at a loss here. ]

[unrequite]

[ Chopper...? That's probably the name of some sort of aircraft in Reno's world. Midnight makes a note to ask someone about it later.

For now, Midnight sighs, shakes his head, but puts his finger down into a fist and scoops up one last shot for his drink. Bottoms up. ]

Speaking of targeted. Easiest way to get anything you want is to do it yourself...

[ He clacks that glass down, takes Reno by the hand, and starts swaying with him. He is tipsy, Reno looks like he's dancing. That's what they're doing now. ]

If you've met others with a similar cosmology to my Terra, I suppose I'd best be mindful when I leverage that tidbit. It's your win, however. Congratulations.

[ He leans in, pops his one visible eyebrow a couple of times. He is happy to lose a game, if only because he loves playing games more than winning. ]

[astraphilia]

Heyo, all's fair in love and war.

[ is this love or is this war? actually, what's the difference. Reno's not thinking about that. what he is thinking about is holding Midnight's hand and swaying with him, at least mostly to the rhythm of whatever music is playing, although he's drunk enough that things feel a little slower than they probably are. ]

I know a guy with two moons. I think he's the only one though. [ although technically his daughter is here so Reno does know two people with two moons, they're just the same two moons. is that worth clarifying? maybe not.

with his free hand, Reno knocks back his last shot in solidarity. ]

I like this.

[unrequite]

Mm. Is he still here? If so, I'd like to meet him.

[ If not, there's a fair chance Midnight knew him, but... Ah, well. The past is the past. In the present, Midnight puts a hand to Reno's waist, since they're dancing and all, and continues swaying, gently turning them in place, smiling to see that final shot go down. Solidarity, indeed. ]

The drinks? Good. They're a selling point of this establishment, you know.

[ Midnight isn't certain what Reno could like, specifically. There's a lot to like right now. The swirl of liquor, the way the light glows on everything around them, the way the music smooths and slows. The new year. Dancing. ]

[astraphilia]

Yeah, he's around here somewhere. [ Reno gestures vaguely. ] Taller than me, shorter than you. White hair, gold eyes, hot as sin. [ then he adds, in a somehwat posh-sounding British accent, ] Sounds like this when he talks.

[ blissfully unaware that Reno's just blown Thancred's cover re: who he's friends with at the host club, he eases in closer to Midnight so they can lean against each other and sway. despite the practice he got at the gala, Reno's still not much of a dancer—this kind of back and forth movement is exactly where he's most comfortable, not least of all because it makes it easy to keep talking. ]

Well, sure. The drinks too. But I meant just all of it.

[ the whole party. the music, the people, the drinks, the conversation. for the first time in a while he feels present in his body, not like he's lingering in the penumbra of the light someone else is casting. ]

It's nice.

[unrequite]

Ah. Think I might have seen him earlier. He is terribly attractive, at that.

[ Midnight chuckles. Cover blown, then. What a charming pair.

Midnight is the sort of person to do exactly what he wants regardless of what others might think, so when he shifts, putting Reno's head on his shoulder so he can rest properly, it's without the least bit self-consciousness or hesitation. He wraps his arms around Reno's waist and continues to sway, enjoying their shared body heat, the contact. There. Now they're both comfortable. ]

I'm glad. I like parties. If you like my party, then that's both of us happy. Objective achieved.

[astraphilia]

[ Reno lets his head come to rest on Midnight's shoulder, the gesture careful, like he's not entirely sure it's allowed. this is the kind of quiet, casual intimacy that always seems afforded to others, and which always seems to fracture in Reno's hands—a gentleness that always feels too fragile for someone like him.

but Reno is very drunk, and Midnight is very sturdy, so maybe just this once he can convince himself that it's not a bad idea to lean on someone for a second. ]

Mmhmm. [ one of his arms drapes over Midnight's shoulder, fingers threading absently through the hair at the nape of his neck; the other loops under one of Midnight's arms and curls upward, holding onto him by the shoulder. (it's possible that that many shots in that short a time wasn't the best idea Reno's ever had.) ] Objective achieved.

[ he's quiet for a minute, just breathing. his eyes are lidded enough to turn his view of Midnight's throat into a blur. ]

I told you before, right? 'Til the gala I never went to a party I wasn't workin' at.

[unrequite]

Mm. It's a shame that you haven't, but I do remember it.

[ Never mind that the mun doesn't, Midnight certainly does. Granted, the "when" is a bit hazy, but that's not at all the liquor's fault; Midnight's conception of the past has always been a bit vague.

It doesn't seem like his bartender needs a hug just yet, but Midnight's starting to get the suspicion that this is where this little swaying non-dance is going. No objection. Midnight is partial to a good hug.

(Wait, not even a birthday party? Oof.) ]

[astraphilia]

[ this mun also doesn't remember if it happened so both of them can just be drunkenly assuming that the conversation took place...

yes, not even a birthday party. Reno celebrated his own birthday for the first time a little less than two months ago. ]

Never had much worth celebratin', I guess.

[ it's the kind of admission he'd never make if he weren't intoxicated, but he rather is and also Midnight is so nice and so sturdy. what a good person to lean up against. (Reno has got to stop surrounding himself exclusively with tall-ass men.)

he straightens up a little bit, finally finding it in himself to stand on his own two feet, and reaches up to cup Midnight's face in both hands. ]

You're a good guy, bossman.

[unrequite]

[ Midnight's down to celebrate Reno's birthday. Or any birthday. Every day is someone's birthday, after all, but he knows Reno, so that takes priority. He grins, letting his face settle in Reno's hands. Aw. If he leaned down, he could give him a kiss. That would be nice. ]

What can I say? I am terribly handsome and cool, after all.

[ Midnight laughs. He is. ]

Lets get you more things to celebrate next year, mm? A resolution for us both.

[astraphilia]

[ it would be nice. Reno likes kissing in general, wouldn't object to being kissed by someone as nice and handsome as Midnight is. ]

Yeah, that's what I like to hear. Confidence for the new year, darlin'.

[ he grins as he studies Midnight's face. it's nice to be around good people. Reno isn't one, of course, but sometimes it feels like by being in Midnight's presence he might learn to be better somehow.

that's not really how it works but it's not going to stop Reno trying. ]

[unrequite]

Confidence, ah... Yes.

[ His eyes flick down, his eyes flick up. You know what? He's very drunk, he is very happy, and Reno is very hot and has a very cute smile. Sure.

It's one of those kisses that lean in by themselves, sneaky without being sneaky, then land gently. It's basically a nice handhold, except with lips instead of fingers. It's kissing because Midnight, too, likes kissing, and he likes kissing people he feels very fond of in the spur of the moment.

It is, of course, a very light kiss, one that Midnight leans back from fairly quick, because he is being very rude and didn't tell Reno he was going to do that, but he's drunk. He's drunk! People forgive drunks. (People take care of drunks. He likes being cared for.) ]

... Apologies. You just look very nice.

[ ...? Nice is probably not the correct qualifier here, but it makes sense in Midnight's head. All right, guy. ]

[astraphilia]

[ Reno is also very drunk, and Midnight is also very hot and has a cute smile, so Reno has zero objections to the fact that Midnight leans down to kiss him. in fact, rather than saying he has zero objections, it might be more accurate to say he's very in favor of this activity—

except that Midnight pulls back far too quickly, so quickly that Reno's pretty sure it's not even just his drunk brain thinking time is passing faster than it is. he frowns, pushing his hands back off Midnight's face so one can curl through his hair and the other can cup the back of his neck. ]

For the crime of kissing me and then apologizing for it I'm gonna kiss you again.

[ and he does, immediately. this is also something that makes sense in Reno's head. kissing is nice, and it shouldn't be allowed that someone handsome and nice and good kisses him and then says he's sorry about kissing him. the punishment fits the offense: another kiss, this time with no apologies. ]

[unrequite]

[ Oh, good! No drinks for anyone for the time being, unless Netzach decides to show the rest of the guests some mercy.

Midnight is, frankly, shocked that Reno goes in for round two, but after a quick check-in to see if he wants to go (he does, in fact, want to go) he pins Reno to his body, turns his head, and kisses back, sloppy and drunk and warm. It only occurs to him to smile when he realizes how silly this all is, how he just wanted a kiss, that there is nothing illegal about a kiss, and that he will die in a few more years and really he should just enjoy these sorts of things while life is still being kind enough to let him live.

Which is why his kisses turn a bit hungry, a little cheeky; his hands travel up, he leans in, he pushes them both toward the line of bottles behind them, dimly hearing them clink and jostle around. That's nice too. 'Tis the season. He likes kissing so much. Reno is very warm and very nice and the liquor and the wet of his mouth taste amazing. He's right, this party is really good. ]

[astraphilia]

[ to be honest, by the time Reno's back makes contact with the shelves holding the liquor he's mostly forgotten they're even behind the bar. he's just having fun, is the thing—Midnight is a great kisser, and this is fun, he's so warm and his mouth tastes good and he knows exactly how to tilt his head so their lips fit together just right. when he smiles Reno can feel it against his mouth and he likes that a lot, enough to make him grin too, his body arching into Midnight's and his fingers still carding absently through his hair.

this is really nice. maybe this is what parties are for, actually, for games and dancing and kissing and making merry. as far as Reno's concerned, if the only two parties he ever goes to are the gala and this one then he's got it pretty much made. the hand that's not in Midnight's hair drops down to curl around his waist instead, but he has just enough of his sense about him not to try to get his hands up inside Midnight's clothes in full view of everybody at the bar. ]

[unrequite]

[ All nice things must come to an end, if only because Midnight cannot break the rules of his own host club by laying Reno out on the bartop and having his way with him there. But to his credit, he gets as close as possible without taking off Reno's clothing; he pins Reno to that wall, growls at the feeling of his hand in his hair, ends his next kiss with a bite to the lip, fangs smooth against his mouth. His hand comes up Reno's side, to his neck and cupping his head, fingers in his hair, as he continues to dive in for kisses. He breaks contact only to laugh, to sigh happily into Reno's mouth. His face is warm and the lights around them blush bright. The soft, yielding pressure of a body arching against his, someone who chose him. It's nice to be chosen. He pushes back in reply.

He ends up kissing over the corner of Reno's mouth, then snuggling his face into his neck, laughing. He's so nice. ]

Well. That was very nice. And flattering. My.