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

[fussiest]

[ SAYS THE TIDDY VAMPIRE ]

Oh, poor you. [ says kaveh, entirely insincerely, ] I suppose you have no choice but to suffer. How terrible it is, to swap the company of your mop and bucket for Netzach's embrace. I don't know what you'll do with yourself. You couldn't possibly go on.

[ but good, kaveh thinks. kaveh is under no illusions that midnight won't strive to do whatever he can before netzach drags him out of here kicking and screaming tonight, but he understands it, a job that's not quite finished. kaveh'll have to come in to the club early, then, to clean up the rest of this mess. if that means midnight will get some proper rest in the day after, that is no hardship at all.

with gentle hands, kaveh picks at the back of midnight's outfit. a quick glance shows that the paints are still holding. good, kaveh thinks, and leaves it at that. ]

All the more reason, however, for you to take a brief nap now. Netzach will want you awake for much of the night. Don't disappoint him in the coming new year.

[unrequite]

One love for another... Well, Netzach is a superior kisser, and he's much nicer to carry.

[ Midnight laughs though. He nestles against Kaveh's body this time, shifts his weight until his lips linger on Kaveh's, sinking into his warmth.

He wonders, sometimes, what Kaveh thinks of him and Netzach. Not necessarily like this, of course... Midnight thinks in systems in spite of himself, is better with matters of economics than he is with love. He wonders often if all is connected well, if the parts connected with the next are holding firm. He wonders if Kaveh, a locus in this system, the holder of his heart, is receiving his due share of love.

He sighs, sinks further. ]

I'll stay awake. He is good to me...

[fussiest]

How pleased would he be to hear such a thing given that you're comparing him to a mop and bucket?

[ but kaveh is smiling. midnight kisses him. the kiss lingers, the warmth lingers, and the way midnight's exhaustion weighs on him lingers. he really does, kaveh thinks, push himself to unreasonable ends. it is very much like looking in a distorted mirror that is just precise in its reflection enough to cut, and cut deeply.

but that's for another night think through. midnight sinks into the cot proper. kaveh runs his hand through his hair. it is already tangled again. of course it is. ]

That's because you are also good to him. [ because midnight is good, and is full of that goodness. this, kaveh has always known. but kaveh has known this as well: that it's netzach who brings out the best in midnight; that it's midnight who resonates best with netzach's love.

kaveh loves it, the shape of their love. this is what he is thinking about as he considers the night ahead, as he leaves midnight's phone, keys and hairtie in the small space between pillow and wall. ] Now, sleep, or try to. Shall I sing you that song?

[unrequite]

[ Midnight laughs into Kaveh's mouth, ducks his head. Netzach would forgive him, which is why he won't ever say it where he can hear.

At the offer, Midnight huffs a little, drawing back more comfortably to rest against him. ]

Speaking of being good... You still know it, then.

[ Midnight is quiet. He is wondering if that's his heart, and if it's too close to the pain. ]

Try it. Or... I ask for a hum. Just the melody. I know the words.

[ They would cut a bit too deep to count as a proper lullaby. Defeats the point. ]

[fussiest]

How could I forget it? It is not mine to forget.

[ when a memory becomes something shared between two people, how can one merely walk away from it? how could they bear it? kaveh keeps his memory the same way he keeps the memory of the river overhead, the sound of the waves like song, the same way he keeps the memory of that last, mouthful of stolen blood.

kaveh closes his eyes. ] Close your eyes, then. Keep them closed.

[ so kaveh begins to hum. ]

[unrequite]

[ Midnight closes his eyes, puts his head to Kaveh, his mouth to his hair, and breathes. Young soldier, young soldier, come home.

A letter, a message on his terminal, her voice. I'm sorry.

He breathes out, long and slow, pulling Kaveh closer, loving him as best as he is able. He imagines himself at home. ]

[fussiest]

[ the song comes; of course it does. kaveh knows it down to that rotting marrow of his. it is something low. it is something sad. all things that come for the sarkaz ever seems to be. kaveh will never truly understand it, he thinks, how song weaves into blood. but midnight breathes out, long and slow, and kaveh thinks - if pretending at it, this shared knowledge knowing and not knowing, the act of putting aside the fact that kaveh knows that midnight knows that kaveh's understand can only ever been a single drop of water to a parched well - the hierarchy holds, the fragility of it holds on three rotting legs until the pall of sleep carries them forward.

kaveh thinks of the sea. ]

Sleep, jigaram. [ he hums, ] Sleep.