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

[gunslingerqueen]

[The huge occurs! And she squeezes him very tightly but after, she pulls away to hold his face in her hands and she whispers:]

I'm so fucking high!

[And it's great. It's nice to feel light again, though it's not a good idea to keep using drugs to get to that state. She'll figure things out later but right now she really did just want to have fun for the night.]

[traumatizing]

[He's still laughing, and there's a lot of affection in his eyes when he looks at Nariko. It's so, so good to see her smiling again, regardless of how inebriated she is.]

Enjoy it. [Terry nods, this is very serious. Very important advice.] Enjoy tonight.

[gunslingerqueen]

You too, though!

[And a hug goes here. She squeezes him tightly before looking up at him.] It's been a shitty month for both of us. We both have to enjoy it.

[A pause, and then:] So we should dance!

[traumatizing]

Oh no. [He puts his hands up defensively, shaking his head for emphasis. Dancing is one of his ultimate nopes, almost to the point of real horror.] You know how I feel about dancing.

[gunslingerqueen]

Terry!!! [There's so much disappointment in her tone! He has to get over this kind of thing in his lifetime! It's such an impractical fear.] Come on, no one will even see us! And we don't have to, like, really dance! We can just dance-dance!

[....

What the means in Normal People speak is that they don't have to party dance with all the hip shaking and shit. They could just sway, she'd be happy with that, too.]

[traumatizing]

"Dance-dance."

[Terry raises an eyebrow, but he gets her meaning. And he gets up off Nariko's lap to offer her a hand with a sigh. He's not getting out of this one, he can already feel it.]

[gunslingerqueen]

[For as troublesome as it might be her eyes light up as if imitating the sun and in her attempt to get up she scrambles awkwardly - the pot makes her limbs feel comfortingly not-there. She laughs through it while taking his hand before she stands (sways) upright and straightens her dress. When she puts her hands on him, though, one takes his hand and the other is on his waist.]

I can lead, if you want!

[To her currently addled brain that'll help with his dance anxiety!!]

[traumatizing]

[Terry laughs softly and slips an arm around Nariko and steps in a little closer to her. Lacing their fingers together as he sways gently; judging by how much of a tangle of limbs she is, he doesn't get the feeling she's up to a whole lot more. Thank god.]

Are you planning to make me tango or something?

[gunslingerqueen]

Nah, that's next week!

[She winks at him which may or may not lend an extra bit of believability to that claim! But at least she's together enough to accept that, yes, trying too much would probably result in a cracked skull.] Right now, just ... This. This is good.

[Swaying and leaning on him a little more than she should.]

Who're you gonna kiss at midnight?

[traumatizing]

Mmm... [He hums thoughtfully and rests his cheek on Nariko's head, giving the question some consideration as if he even cares about the midnight kiss.]

Well I have a lot of options, but I think I've narrowed it down to either Mr. Beer or Lady Tequila Sunrise.

[gunslingerqueen]

Come on, there has to be someone!

[Terry's her brother, sure, but he's cute! And his sarcasm is perfectly endearing and sure maybe he doesn't talk about his feelings enough but he has them just fine! As far as she's concerned he should be drowning in romantic endeavors.]

But do you even want a kiss? Do you accept them as a reality?

[traumatizing]

This might shock you, but I've kissed upwards of three whole people.

[He smiles at his own dumb joke, even if part of him is also thinking boy is he gonna be in for it if/when she finds out just how much he doesn't talk about.]

[~Secret trysts~ aside though.] If I meet someone and we both think "yeah, sure, I wanna put my mouth on your mouth" and then we do it then that's great. [He shrugs.] It's just not something I really care about that much.

[gunslingerqueen]

[He won't be in for anything except a whole lot of silence and being ignored.]

You say that. [And it's not that she doesn't believe him it's that ... Well, even in her addled state Nariko won't get into that particular intricacy. Better to just move on.]

Not that I can say too much!! I'll be all by myself too, the only difference being that for me it sucks. I'm getting too old for this business! I'm just not cute anymore!

[traumatizing]

What? [He pulls back a little so he can look at Nariko's face.] Who says you're not cute anymore? I'll fight them.

[gunslingerqueen]

I'm saying it.

[Are you going to fight her, Terry? Don't fight Nariko, she's barely 5'3 and despite the curves she isn't hiding muscle under any of it! Also: your sister.]

[traumatizing]

[HM.]

Alright, Nariko. Put 'em up.

[He says, but he's not actually letting go of her so she can.]

[gunslingerqueen]

You could look at me the wrong way and I'd just cry, Terry.

[... But he's being funny, or trying to, she thinks, so she smiles.] I'm serious, though! Yosuke was a disaster, and I haven't been able to find an actual date since then.

[In part because she hasn't left her room or made too much of an effort to begin with, though.]

[traumatizing]

It's been, what? A month? It's a little soon to start picking out your spinster clothes.

[gunslingerqueen]

I guess.

[God Terry why are you so reasonable and adult-like!!!] I wasn't picking the clothes, though, just cat shopping.

[traumatizing]

... Do you reckon we could convince them to let us keep a cat?

[Totally distracted by the prospect of cats? Yes he is.]

[gunslingerqueen]

Maybe if we hit platinum?

[Look, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a cat around! Fits them better then a dog, anyway.]

[traumatizing]

[Uggghhhhhh] We're way too weird to hit platinum.

[gunslingerqueen]

What?! [POUTING AT YOU TERRY.]

We can do it because we're weird!

[traumatizing]

Okay, okay. [He laughs] Band goals: hit platinum, get a cat, never force Terry to dance again.

[gunslingerqueen]

If we got a cat I really wouldn't ever make you dance. Not even if I got married.

[It can't get more serious than that, Terry. Maybe you should just get her the cat.]