wonder whose arms will hold you tight

[notahobby]

Who: EVERYONE'S INVITED
What: Maxxie's Super Amazing and Truly Spectacular New Year's Eve Party
When: Dec 31st - Jan 1st
Where: One of Vista City's most decadent night clubs, æther
Warnings: Mentions of alcohol, drugs, sex, all that good rock 'n roll stuff. If there's going to be anything else just throw it in the header or let me know and I'll add it!

The night club Maxxie rents out is in the heart of the downtown, sticking out like a sore thumb with its front entrance looking more like a museum than a club. There's a red carpet leading up the steps, with bodyguards littered about to keep the paparazzi and troublemakers at arm's length. No one with a recognizable face will be turned away from entering the club, and even through the giant, heavy doors there's a distinct baseline and a hint of flashing lights from the dance floor.

Said dance floor is the first step once you're inside. After an extravagant coat check and quick access to the downstairs bar, there's a wide open dance floor with the DJ on stage at the opposite end. There are bodyguards lining the walls, of course - after Naomi's stunt at the solstice party there's no losing them - but there's only one rule at this party: absolutely no one is to touch the mic except for the DJ and Maxxie. The music all night is a blend of genres, but every song is appropriate to dance to. Obviously there are some Flashstep songs thrown in for good measure, but rest assured that every band will probably hear their music in some form or another, whether it's the song itself or a remix to make it a bit more suitable for the mood of the party.

On the two upper levels there are balconies overlooking the dance floor, and it's a bit quieter up here due to some innovative architecture. One may actually be able to have a conversation in the comfortable lounge, and there's another bar here with a few more options for mixed drinks. It's a place to rest up, have a few drinks, and enjoy the music at a more reasonable volume before you head back out to the party. There's even waitstaff floating around making sure everyone has anything they want, and as always the bodyguards are hanging out at the edges of the space to make sure no one starts any trouble.

Finally, there's an entrance to an outdoor balcony on the top level, high enough up to get a nice view of downtown and still be sheltered from the nosy paparazzi down on the street. The temperature has dropped with the arrival of winter, but it's a calm, clear night in Vista city and the alcohol should be enough to keep you warm.

The bars are fully stocked with a few thousand dollars worth of alcohol to keep everyone properly buzzed, and there are a few dealers floating around upstairs ready to sell anything to anyone with a charming smile. The host himself will be bouncing around, enjoying himself as if it was all catered specifically to his idea of the perfect party (it was) and saying hi to anyone and everyone.

[OOC: This is party style! Throw up a toplevel and get tagging! You can get up to any shenanigans you want, but please keep in mind the bodyguards are plentiful and on high alert since the solstice party. Maxxie has, of course, tried and failed to get them to join in on the fun, but they don't seem too overbearing unless trouble starts brewing. The Countdown is here, but please continue making toplevels and threading pre- and post-countdown shenanigans!]

Comments

Nariko Lunae | ota.

[gunslingerqueen]

D A N C I N G

[Chances are you’re going to notice her through the course of the night but she throws herself onto the dance floor and just goes for it. The bodyguards are a stuffy distraction but a few shots and the awesome music (and one song is definitely a remixed track from her bands album and it sounds awesome) drown out their presence. There’s a part of her that’s still angry and raw but she doesn’t want a fight, she wants the new year and her friends, all of whom had survived some kind of total bullshit insanity in one form or another.

So for a girl that’s kept herself locked up in her room aside from mandated interviews, appearances, and band practice, Nariko looks just fine. She’s having a ball and if you mingle on the dance floor long enough chances are you are, or have been her dance partner, and repeat performances are completely acceptable.]

U P S T A I R S

[There’s a pile of limbs hanging around near the entrance to the balcony. Now, mind you, she’s not quite on the balcony yet and that’s mostly because she’s found a chair or some other applicable service to exist on. Nariko …. Is high as fuck. And she's lost her bear hat. The uninitiated might not catch it unless they’re stupid enough to wander near her, but she’s completely out out of it, eyes glazed over and head nodding to nothing but the swirl of mess in her own head. Judging by the glass in her hand she’s probably also a bit drunk, so double whammy on that one!

The good thing is that if you don’t poke her or even look her way too long you’ll be fine. She’s happy to stay near the balcony but not quite on it, squinting at the view from where she’s at. But if you do happen to edge a little too close then Nariko’s going to stumble up to get a hold of you, and:]

Who decides the color of chairs?!

[Good luck.]

W I L D C A R D

[Nariko’s just as likely to be found at the bar or mingling with any given group of people. You might also find her laid out somewhere upstairs or jumping around on any surface that allows it. She’s kinda high and drunk as fuck all, sometimes bothering the waitstaff for more food, but she’s altogether harmless besides that. Specify your level of comfort with her draping herself on your character, though!]

upstairs

[mildwildchild]

The chairman of the board.

[Jamie isn't high. He is, however, incredibly drunk.]

[gunslingerqueen]

Holy shit.

[She has found the answer to everything, Jamie has provided something invaluable.] Oh man. Of course! Goddamn, I didn't even think of that!

[Mind. Blown.]

Everything is okay now. [... She still hasn't let go of him.]

[mildwildchild]

You just need to be in the right frame of mind for these things.

[Jamie smiles benignly and gives her a pat....and then bursts out laughing.] What even made you think of asking that?

[He's grinning good-naturedly as he asks this, like this is some kind of brilliant joke they're both in on. He's not objecting to the clinginess for right now, either.]

[gunslingerqueen]

Because I was just - like, I'm tired! [Or she was a little while ago.] And I was in this chair and I was just so comfortable but then I looked at it and it's so ... Dull!

[She says all of this as if it's entirely relatable, clearly everyone should be kept from a mid-high-as-fuck nap because of the color of a chair.]

It would just look better if it was purple! It'd be so much more!

throws down a wildcard

[consocius]

[For some reason or another, Sora wakes up from his short nap on a comfy sectional upstairs, and finds his immediate view is of Nariko in a fuzzy white outfit (having apparently lost her bear hat), jumping around.

He laughs, sitting up and watching her and honestly trying to figure out what she's wearing. Then it hits him, and he reaches to his head to find his own bear-ear headband, askew from his sleeping position. He takes it off and waves it around, calling out to her.] Hey! Nari!! [Maybe a bit louder than needed there, actually, considering they're farther away from the music than he initially thought.] You're missin' somethin'!

[gunslingerqueen]

[When Sora calls her name she kind of tumbles onto her separate couch and looks his way.] Sora, you're awake!! [Only he could have slept through all of her bouncing and occasional questions to the universe, the air, or anyone relatively nearby.]

What? [She reaches up to her head and ... There's just her hair. Lustrously styled and still very pretty but definitely without her bear hat.] Oh no. Oh no, no, no! [She scrambles off the furniture to lurch and try to look behind it, on the sides.]

Where did it go!

[consocius]

[He's laughing again. He can't help it. The situation is unbearably funny. And this dumb pun entering his drunken head just makes him laugh harder.]

No, no, take mine! [He stumbles up off the couch and heads over to her. Still waving the headband.] I'm givin' 'em to you!

[gunslingerqueen]

Oh!! [Now she gets it!] You're such a sweet heart!

[She wobbles off the couch and almost falls right on the floor, her limbs are jelly and barely kept in their rightful sockets.] Thank you! But now you won't have ears!

[She actually reaches out to touch his ears, kind of rubbing them as if proving that these are not real ears at all, so giving up his true set is an incredibly huge deal!]

UPSTARIS

[notahobby]

[Maxxie nearly topples over when Nariko grabs hold of him on his way out to the balcony. He's a more functional mix of high and drunk, moving around enough to hide the swaying. His expression visibly shifts from shocked (from being grabbed), to excited (because hey Nariko), to confusion.]

Fuck, I dunno.

[He deposits himself onto the chair next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, perhaps a bit more familiar than would otherwise be appropriate, especially given the fact that he's lost his shirt.]

Probably some designer or some shit, right?

[His voice is a bit slurred. On top of the accent, it makes him a little hard to understand.]

I'm so sorry about her

[gunslingerqueen]

But what if there's a council. Why wouldn't you think about these things? We have a lot of beige chairs and not enough purple. I want a purple chair, that's all I'm saying.

[Just consider it. How many purple chairs have you seen lately, Maxxie? Purple is a good color.

Also she's not happy with just an arm, Nariko kind of awkwardly scrambles into Maxxie's lap, shirt or not. At least she isn't to heavy?]

Your voice is a good color too. [This is her way of saying his accent is nice. Or something.]

please don't be :')

[notahobby]

[Maxxie offers her a hesitant, confused smile, trying to parse just exactly how his voice has a colour. Either way he huffs a laugh.]

Thanks.

[And he accommodates her in his lap, shifting his legs to keep them from getting uncomfortable.]

You know you could probably buy a purple chair. Got enough money, I'd imagine.

[gunslingerqueen]

Sure, sure [There's a wavy hand motion that goes here.] but they'd never let me keep it.

[Here she tries to snap her fingers excitedly but the coordination isn't there, not that it bothers her.]

I could have a community purple chair!

Upstairs

[traumatizing]

[Terry pretty much falls on Nariko when she grabs him, and he looks pretty mad about it for a moment until he realises it's her. Now he's here, he shimmies a little to sit side-on on her, a contemplative look on his face at the question.]

How high are you?

[That's the answer.]

[gunslingerqueen]

[When he falls on her she just busts out laughing. Nothing really hurts, per se, and something about the laws of gravity are just absolutely hilarious in that moment.] Whoops! Limbs!! [And then she sees his face.]

TERRY! [She doesn't need to shout or throw her arms up in apparent (wobbling) joy, but:]

It's been eighty-five years!

[traumatizing]

[He laughs, charmed by her enthusiasm.]

I'm so old now, Nariko. So old and wrinkles.

[gunslingerqueen]

No! [She reaches out to lovingly ... Pat his face? But she switches to stroking it gently with the weirdest doe-eyed look on her face, as if she's both hurt and fascinated that he might ever say such a terrible thing.]

You're gorgeous! You will always be pretty, Terry. The prettiest prince. Totally worth the wait.

wildcard hope this is okay?

[punchesyu]

[Upstairs, where there are plenty of chairs and places to relax, he finds Nariko. Jumping, as you might say, onto some of the furniture. He has a glass in his hand- one that he made sure doesn't have any poison in it this time- and drinks from it before he catches her looking like she's having fun. He's a little worried.

How drunk is she?

Hopefully she'll talk to him.]

Uh, heeeey, Nariko... [He starts out sheepishly, trying to get her attention and down from that couch.]

Perfectly okay!

[gunslingerqueen]

[There was some reason or another she started hopping around, it's most likely that she hit some burst of energy and the only way to get it out of her without going back down for another round of dancing was to just .. Hop from one piece of furniture to another. But then he says her name and she pauses, barely recognizing his voice-]

Yosuke. [She apparently forgets how to make the 'o' sound in there, so his name comes out a little funny.]

... Man your hair is kind of orange, isn't it.

[At least she's talking to him.]

haha good christ nari lol

[punchesyu]

[Well, he can't say he's damned yet but that's a little weird for her to say. He's going to approach this a little cautiously.]

Don't...tell me that's the first time you've noticed.

[So much for cautious.]

She's a fun mess rn have fun yosuke

[gunslingerqueen]

Of course not didn't I stare enough to know? I totally did.

[She tries to lie out on the couch - if she's spread out on everything he can't sit near her, right? Nevermind that she isn't nearly big enough to take up even one piece of furniture. - but ends up falling on the floor instead.

... For whatever reason it makes her giggle a little bit.] Ah, man. Great party, right? Maxxie's the best.

Dancing

[iitrebel]

[It's highly probable that Artolo came to the party high, but that wouldn't explain his horrendous dancing ability. That's just how it is anyway, but now he's on something good enough to not give a shit. In fact, he could almost be likeable as he grins over to Nariko. Drugs make everything so much nicer.]

Wow- your feet are magic, I want your fairy grandma, can I have her? I want magic feet too, this is bullshit.

[But he's laughing as he says it.]

[gunslingerqueen]

You're fine!!

[Everything is fine, even if he did bump into her a little awkwardly at times she laughed it all off and kept going! Artolo was a fun dancer! And she didn't have a lot of trouble attempting to arrange herself around him.]

I don't know about a fairy grandmother, but there's tequila!

[And that's just as good.]

[iitrebel]

Tequila!

[As celebration of what is clearly an amazing idea, he tries to spin her around. Spins as rewards, A+ idea, he knows.]

That is the best idea!

[gunslingerqueen]

[The spinning throws her off but she goes with it, mostly keeping her balance, though at the end she snakes an arm around his waist and awkwardly pulls them both towards the bar.]

The fairy grandmother would approve! [So it's what they're going to do!! It's a good thing she lets go of him before sort of flopping on the bar itself, and slamming a fist down - not that it's too dramatic when compared to the music.]

Alcohol!! [She's kind of hoping it'l just appear without any effort on her part.