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

[perfectdevil]

[ His smile stays, but his eyes shift slightly as she highlights the lack of her usual choice companion; they don't sparkle like they do when he's hearing something he likes, nor do they glisten with the inspiration of an idea… instead, it's almost as if they shift a little deeper in colour, becoming more violet than blue, warmed through by her words. He's accustomed to the company of those who would much rather be reading a book in the quiet, so he doesn't have a preference either way, but he finds himself quite enchanted by her inspiration for something new.

But.. a message, she'd said. Lestat wonders what interpretation of the symbolism she paid the most attention to; the creature whisking innocence away to his own world, or the imagery of life and beauty eternal. His smile is more than a little self-satisfied at the thought. ]

Hmm, seeking out stories from the mouth of the characters themselves, are we? One of my favourite ways to pass the time. You know, I used to play a game in my younger years to keep myself occupied at grand balls and parties like this one. I would try to guess a person's title and profession just by looking at them, and then strike up a conversation to see whether or not I was right.

[ He glances around, but only for a brief moment before his attention rubber bands back to her. ]

It's a little more difficult now that we aren't all dressed in terms of our status, but it can still be fun. Especially if you eavesdrop a little first.

[badfeyth]

Well, now that you've said that, you have to know I'm going to ask how you'd guess me. What do I read as, Lestat? A duchess, a marchioness, a viscountess? The little girl in the catskins wishing she'd get to go to the ball at all?

[She moves a little closer, actually nudging against him a bit — and then letting her weight rest against him for a few moments longer, a little bit of a lean and a touch of a bid for support. It's a gesture that speaks of a level of trust that Ghost doesn't usually afford her surroundings; the willingness to expect someone to hold her up and trust that she won't be allowed to fall when she tries.]

Speaking of stories, you know what I always liked best about the pomegranates? The idea that she ate the seeds consciously. Because she chose the guy with the garden, rather than just trapping herself by accident.

[perfectdevil]

Oh, but I’ve cheated! [ He crows, in a way that should probably sound miserable, but is completely thrown off by the wide, sharp grin on his face. ] I have done a little more than eavesdrop on you, ma rousse.

[ Nevertheless, he clearly intends to give it some thought as he raises a hand, tapping a glittering nail lightly against his chin in consideration. His other hand falls to her shoulder, his arm around her in a manner that almost seems instinctive as she rests against him. To her, it’s trust, and it’s something similar for him too, but the physical contact comes so easily to him that it mostly just feels comfortable; being close with someone you care for, someone who doesn’t fear you despite having a good excuse. Lestat only hopes he never gives her a reason. ]

Ah, I don’t believe I’ve ever heard that iteration…

[ His heart feels slightly too large for his chest at her words, stalling his fantasy of her at a debutante ball and bringing him rather forcibly back to the present. ]

Does she still miss her home in this version of events?

[badfeyth]

I think what you've done could be classified as "extreme eavesdropping", really. From a certain point of view.

[Spoken like someone who's absolutely accustomed to redefining rules to suit whatever personal needs she might have at the time. The weight of his hand on her shoulder is reassuring, where coming from someone else it might feel oppressive. It's nice, and lends itself to her closing her eyes, content just to idle there against him.]

She always misses home, no matter what she does. It's more that she just has her eyes opened to the realization that there's more than just home in the world. That there's more she wants out of it. So she finds a way to make sure that home can't have exclusive claim to her.

[perfectdevil]

[ From a certain point of view, indeed. He smirks, thoroughly enjoying the little joke that only the two of them have context for. Well, the two of them and everyone else who could have seen them at the Gala, but who cares about what those people think. ]

Mm. I think I like the spin of that story better. In the myth I read, I was always so disappointed to hear her make do with the lot she had drawn.

[ A beat. ]

It reminded me of my mother a little too much, I think. I wanted her to buck against what people were telling her, to refuse the things that were happening to her, and to carve her own path; make her own story.

[ Another, and he looks down at Ghost. ]

I think that’s what I’d pin you as, had I spotted you at some fancy ball in a dress that felt like it was about to crush your ribs. An adventurer. Someone with a tale to tell.