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]

[Oh, well then, Finnick! He just goes right for it and it's difficult to not fall into the guy a little. He's tall and he's cute and he's kissing her, which she can appreciate on multiple levels right about now. There's some kind of approving noise that occurs before that's over and done with, and when they do part she's a little more breathless than she'd like to be - but it's a good problem to have right now.]

That's a good start, I'll admit. But also consider this.

[And again! Except this time she isn't so starstruck, she's a little more aggressive, and she lets her tongue play at his lips, but she won't force anything. This is far more passionate and involved and clearly more scandalous as a result.]

[thelittlemerman]

[It's a bit of a surprise, but only because he's so drunk and a little slower on the uptake. His arm tightens around her and he kisses her back just as aggressively. When they part from that, he looks a little speechless, but he recovers quickly.]

You make an excellent argument.

[He looks around the balcony, still with enough wits about him to realize that there are people who could easily see them if they looked.]

You know, I don't think we have quite enough privacy out here, do you?

[gunslingerqueen]

[Right about now Finnick is the only one of them to have any sense, Nariko just wants to kiss a whole lot more and if there are other people in this building they might as well not exist.]

I guess not! So what would you suggest?

[They're at an incredibly packed party, so for as much fun as she's having with this whole back and forth verbal play it's also a genuine question. She can't imagine where they might go.

But then again Nariko would dive off the balcony for a pretzel right about now.] Just this one time I'll follow the leader, in part because he's tall and cute and has a gorgeous voice.

[thelittlemerman]

[He grins at the compliment, and then continues on thoughtfully.]

Well, I'm not entirely above bathroom trysts, but I would much rather we leave this party behind all together. There are hotels all along this street.

[gunslingerqueen]

[ ... It's not like she hasn't gone to hotels with guys before. It's usually a lot better than trying to go back to the Pride HQ which, in this case, would be impossible anyway.]

That's an awful lot of risk, Finnick. [Well, it's probably not all for her, though, she doesn't doubt how effective the ~scandalous angle is for him.]

Let's make it worthwhile.

[thelittlemerman]

I like to live on the edge.

[He steals one more brief kiss and then looks toward the door back inside.]

Shall we?

[gunslingerqueen]

Okay.

[One more kiss, and then ... Well, it's about time to be as good as her word, and that doesn't require talking, which is really just a stroke of irony. She pulls away but takes his hand so that she can almost lead the way, they'll have to make it downstairs and then through the party itself and ... They'll still be followed by bodyguards, won't they?

But he's right that there are hotels all over the place, so they only need to make it that far.]

[thelittlemerman]

[A couple suits follow them, one from each label, and Finnick tosses them a grin over his shoulder as he follows Nariko out onto the sidewalk.]

[gunslingerqueen]

[She mostly just raises a brow, surprised that they're really following and ... How much of the conversation did they hear? Not that their destination won't be immediately clear.]

Hey, can I ask you something? [This is a trick question because she'll ask anyway.] Why are you going to a room with a girl you hardly know?

[This might be a safer question to ask when they're already half-naked, and yet.]

[thelittlemerman]

[Finnick finds this question puzzling. As someone who's engaged in many a casual hook-up, it's always just been naturally assumed.]

For fun. Isn't that why you're going to a room with a man you hardly know?

[gunslingerqueen]

That's one of the reasons.

[But whatever she hoped to gain from his answer was had, so she just grins, and grips his hand a little tighter. Where they go probably doesn't matter but dive places are terrible, so slightly upper scale hotel they come!]

[thelittlemerman]

[He smiles smoothly at her.]

And the others?

[And he's gonna find the most upscale hotel for them to go to.]

[gunslingerqueen]

You're cute, you seem sweet, and I want to get over a particularly nasty rejection.

[Could it even be called that? It's hard to put a name to that, but at the end of the day she really had liked Yosuke, and he really had told her it wasn't going to happen. So it works.] That, and it's nice to be with someone who doesn't make you feel bad for having easy 'fun'.

[As they're calling it, apparently.]

[thelittlemerman]

Ah, so I am your rebound for tonight am I?

[His grin indicates that he has no problem with that whatsoever.] Don't worry, I actually think that's a particularly enticing brand of 'fun.' Though, in reality I'm amenable to fun in all its forms.

[gunslingerqueen]

That's good, because you're much cuter, I don't think I'll even remember his name after you!

[No, seriously, it's good that Finnick isn't bothered by the situation! Mostly because she hadn't thought to worry about his feelings in the first place! Talk about good luck.] It's almost a shame I can't return the favor.

[thelittlemerman]

Oh, don't worry about that.

[His smile is more tempered now, but he leans in like it's a private joke.]

We're all trying to forget something.