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

[traumatizing]

[There's a bashful smile on his face as he leans in to give Maxxie a quick kiss on the lips.]

You'll be happy to know I can probably help with that.

[notahobby]

[Maxxie bites his lip, so utterly charmed. It's quiet out here, so he can drop his voice to that low, intimate murmur. It doesn't matter that Terry could have picked anyone else tonight, that he could have ended up sharing this with anyone else. It feels good to be here with Terry and the alcohol makes him overly familiar.]

What about you?

[traumatizing]

[Terry hums thoughtfully as he steps in a little closer and slips his arms around Maxxie. It's a tough question for him, Terry's not exactly someone known for thinking positively about the future.]

Not really. [He shakes his head.] I never stick to them.

[notahobby]

[Maxxie gets right up close, humming happily and drunkenly as he leans his forehead against Terry's.]

Maybe your resolution should be to stick to your resolutions

[Inside, the music fades back out again and the DJ says something - the countdown is about to start. Maxxie doesn't look around, but he listens closely as his hands find their way up Terry's back. He could kiss him right now, but he wants to wait, hear the clock change over and the excitement inside before he gets carried away.]

[traumatizing]

Isn't that a bit... [He trails off, looking for the right word, and shakes his head when it doesn't come to mind.] Am I sticking to it if I don't make any others?

[Terry meanwhile is still for a brief moment before he moves his head so he can press a few light kisses along Maxxie's jaw and down his neck.]

[notahobby]

Don't overthink it.

[He tilts his head to give Terry better access, grinning and biting his lip. People are counting down from ten inside, Maxxie knows the numbers are projected five feet tall on the wall behind the DJ, and he thought he'd be inside, counting down with everyone else. But this feels right. It feels better than that, because it's been non-stop all night and now he has a moment of quiet while the clocks change over.]

[The countdown hits two, then one, then there's a cheer inside and Maxxie noses at Terry's hair.]

Happy New Year.

[traumatizing]

Happy New Year.

[He murmurs against Maxxie's neck and lifts his head to kiss him, slow and gentle with a smile on his face. It's not like he puts a lot of stock in these kinds of traditions, but still. Something about sharing this moment with Maxxie feels kind of right. There's something hopeful about it, something that makes him feel a bit better about the future.]

[notahobby]

[Terry's warm and steady and the combination of that and the alcohol in his stomach leaves Maxxie melting against him, smiling as much as he can while he kisses Terry back. He slips an arm around Terry's neck and pulls him toward the wall, because if he's in this for a few minutes he's going to need an additional source of stability.]

[traumatizing]

[Terry goes with, putting a hand on the wall to lean some of his weight on it and the other one stays around Maxxie to hold him up close with a quiet hum.]

[cleartranquil]

[And from somewhere off to the left, a Ms.Yuffie Kisaragi seems to appear out of literally nowhere and leans on the wall. ]

Well, well, well.

[She's looking far too pleased with herself]

What do we have here?

[notahobby]

[Maxxie's drunk but he's aware enough to know that voice is nothing but bad news. He pulls out of the kiss abruptly, balling his fists in Terry's shirt in surprise. His face is smudged with Terry's lipstick, which makes his deer in the headlights expression all that more comical as he stares at Yuffie. Despite all these factors hindering his ability to reply intelligently, he manages to get out one concise syllable:]

Uh

[traumatizing]

[Terry's own reaction is a bit more like someone whose nemesis has just appeared out of nowhere at a particularly annoying moment. Which, isn't entirely untrue, to be honest. He sighs heavily, nose wrinkled in annoyance at the intruder on such a nice moment.]

Yuffie.

[Is all the acknowledgement she's getting, because his secondary reaction is to pull his sleeve over his hand and start trying to wipe all the evidence off Maxxie's face. As if that'll do anything here.]

[cleartranquil]

[Yuffies face is split into a grin, though for once, her phone is nowhere in sight. Imagine that.]

Terry.

[She has managed to hold it together but does start cackling because of the mix of their reactions.]

This somehow explains so much!

[notahobby]

[Maxxie flinches away from Terry's hand, but only because he's so focused on Yuffie and its unexpected.]

I dunno what you're talking about. This isn't even what it looks like.

[The picture of innocence here.]

[traumatizing]

[He's pretty focused on cleaning Maxxie's face here. Or trying to. Mostly he just seems to be succeeding at leaving black smudges smeared up his cheek and neck.]

Yeah. As you can see, I'm just-- [Wait.] What do you mean this explains "so much"?

[cleartranquil]

[Yuffie is not even a little bit able to hold onto her laughter and resorts to using the wall to hold her up, entirely because of Terry's last little outburst. It takes her a second of really ridiculous behavior before she finally composes herself. ]

Oh, Please. I mean I figured you both were getting some cause'a being in pretty decent moods and all.

[Yuffie is also observant and Terry, for all of his good points, forgets to hide things like hickeys when you have very obnoxious, observant, friends.]

And hey, it means it makes my life easier, I don't have to give the shovel speech and you already know what to expect if I have to murder one of you!

[She says that so nonchalantly she must already be on her way to inebriated, right? Also has jumped right on in to assuming full on dating is occurring judging by her shovel comment, but that's neither here nor there.]

[notahobby]

[Maxxie's just gently shaking his head at Yuffie.]

No, but we're not - why would you have to murder one of us -

[He finally lets go of Terry's shirt with one hand, trying to fend off Terry's cleaning.]

Terry, stop.

[traumatizing]

[Terry doesn't know what to be more offended by here, but he settles for looking briefly affronted at Maxxie as he withdraws his hand and shoves it in his pocket.]

We're not together, you don't need to pull out the shovel speech.

[Says the guy who still has an arm around Maxxie.]

[cleartranquil]

[Yuffie is just going to stand there, raising an eyebrow at both of them, and still using the wall to hold her up.

Though she does seem offended that they don't seem to want her shovel speech, and her first comment seems to be directly at Terry.]

Hey, my shovel speech is awesome and I get to use Xanxus and myself for threats. That's like the best threat anyone has ever had ever.

[And then she redirects herself back to Maxxie, because she's the best person ever.

And you've still got black on you.

[notahobby]

[Maxxie's response is put on hold for a moment as he furiously starts to wipe his face with the back of his hand.]

There's no speech, because we're not - how do you even know this isn't the first time?

[Said as if he's clearly trying to imply this absolutely could be the first time. She has no proof.]

[traumatizing]

[GOOD QUESTION. Terry frowns as he watches Maxxie try to ckean his face, but he doesn't say anything. This totally could be the first time snd Yuffie is still being rude and unfair.]

[cleartranquil]

[Rude and unfair are literally two of Yuffie's primary descriptors. ]

...Well, I dunno I mean I know I don't defensive when people ask me about stuff that's not totally somehow true.

[If it was possible to have more sarcasm in someone's voice, then Yuffie will have failed because she really is going for max sarcasm here]

[notahobby]

[That's a few too many words for Maxxie to understand in his inebriated state, so he frowns at her in confusion as he idly rubs his neck for any lipstick that happens to be there. He really can't tell where it is so he's just hoping he's in the right spot.]

Okay but it's not a thing, alright. Let's just be cool about it.

[Please, Yuffie. Please be cool.]

[traumatizing]

[He stares blankly at Yuffie for a moment, and then he sighs, finally taking his other arm from around Maxxie so he can rub his face with a sigh. He is too drunk for this whole situation.]

Yeah, it's nothing serious, so...

["so chill", essentially.]

[cleartranquil]

[Yuffie is almost impossibly offended boys. She rolls her eyes dramatically at the both of them.]

Whatever you say, lamers. Like I wasn't going to be cool.

[She's the chillest. What is wrong with you two. She's totally chill. Why would she be not chill. She's chill.]

Besides, I'm playing tabloid redirect tonight, cause between you two and Xan's little show with Luci...and like everybody, someone has to be the....mostly sober anti-paparazzi.

[She is mostly sober. Totally. She is the most sober Carnie here. That says nothing.]