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]

[ He laughs extremely softly, watching her eyelids droop. He's wondering himself if skipping the speech shouldn't be worth letting her have a little rest... But he does have the rest of the party guests to think of, and she herself will likely feel bereft of a new year spent together if she doesn't at least make it to midnight. (The time, not the man, she's fine where she is otherwise.) ]

There's a phrase those who are engaged for marriage oft utter at their vows. "Until death do us part." Which tells me, as someone who has never been married, that there are certain commitments that, in spite of burden, in spite of difficulty, persist until death separates the two. In perpetuity, in the face of all.

[ Midnight lays his head on Miss Don's head. Not a kiss, a nuzzle. ]

While I haven't any idea what form Mr. Sinclair's devotion toward you takes, I rather think you deserve that sort of commitment, considering what you give without any thought of reciprocity. I would reflect on that, were I you.

[icanfixer]

[ she would be upset to miss it, celebrating the beginning of a new year with those she knows, but don is already planning on staying up so she can struggle and watch the first dawn with sinclair anyway. she'll do better about sleep in the new year. make it a resolution. ]

... It is a little embarrassing to hear thee call it so, my dear friend.

[ his devotion towards her....... that's romantic, even if it's not romantic, because don quixote is ever in love with the chivalrous sort, where devotion is one of the core tenants for love itself in any form. even if it's embarrassing, what skin shown flushing pink, there's still a kind of smile, a soft gratitude in her tone. ]

I shall reflect on it well, since thou hath asked me to. [ it reminds her a little of the conversation she had while dancing with kaveh. ] It is... perhaps unreasonable, to ask others to share their burdens with me, if I am not able to do the same to them. Maybe.

[ maybe. ]

[unrequite]

[ Good. If he knew she was comparing him to Kaveh, he'd honestly think that rather odd. Kaveh is the caring sort. Midnight just gives advice and listens. Hardly the same thing. ]

Mm. You must consider your own burdens, and let others consider them for you, my darling. You mustn't burn your candle down to nothing... If you burn out too quick, how then do you care for others?

[ ... Hypocritical? A bit! But even outside of being an outlier, Midnight is planning for a different fate. Miss Don should take advantage of kindness while she can. ]

Let others have the privilege of looking after you too. Just as you have for me, in waking me so tenderly before the final hour...

[ Midnight twists around, checks the time. Do they have time for just five more minutes? Maybe... ]

[icanfixer]

[ maybe... but the movement stirs don more, and she shakes the fluff from her head as she, as ever with others, gently takes the words to heart. whether she'll use them as intended or reframe them in a way that suits her best is yet to be seen, but don does always take those dear to her seriously. ]

And letting thee nearly miss it, too! I said that it would only be a small recharge, and yet we have gone on speaking so...

[ ... ]

I wish I could tend to thee further, my friend, but I must seek my companions from home and ensure that I see the new year's wake with them! I am certain Hong Lu must be letting his curiosity get the better of him, and Yi Sang shall not be far behind in that regard, and then of course Young Sinclair will be doing his best not to fall asleep standing up...

[ she trails off, biting her cheek a moment before swooping down to give midnight another hug. ]

Thou hath my gratitude as ever, dearest Midnight. I will endeavor to support thee and thine however I may, for I very much love the ones thee do as well.

[ in her own way, romantic, non-romantic. love is love. so she wants to make sure midnight knows that if ever he needs a hand, an ear, a second pair of eyes -- she's got them all, and they're his with no strings attached. ]

[unrequite]

A small recharge? What could possibly be small about what you've given me, mm?

[ He does feel much better, at that; when that hug comes, he gently carries her in it, pulling them both upright and cupping her face in his hands. Plenty enough energy for the rest of the night. ]

Thank you, my darling. If there's anything too great for me to bear, I will rest assured that I can call upon you to aid me.

[ He will rest assured, certainly. But... Miss Don isn't someone he'd trouble with anything so large. She has her own concerns to care for, her own sleep to manage. Something small, certainly. Perhaps another party, or some light construction... Things she can do well, opportunities to grow closer.

(But not too close. He's made that mistake too many times here. He can go farther on his own.) ]

Let's be off. We should find your compatriots, no?