synflux | ( OPEN ) it's party season 🎉

WHO: Anyone and everyone.
WHAT: Rodion's (

axethrows) belated birthday party.
WHERE: One of the larger karaoke bars around Neo Tokyo.
WHEN: December 1st.
WARNINGS: Alcohol… Please mark your own content accordingly!

On November 29th, Outsiders will receive the following text:

「 < FROM @ HOTTIE >

Hey there! You're officially invited to celebrate the lovely Miss Rodion's birthday. Whether you're a close friend or just looking for a reason to party, (I'm looking at you, recently cured vampire friends!) you're welcome to join in with her blessing — so long as you bring in the good vibes.

Alcohol and finger foods will be provided, but feel free to bring something extra along if you'd like! No one has ever said no to more options.

Join us on December 1st at Sakura Serenade, starting officially at 8 PM. The venue is ours for the night, and there's no need to RVSP! See you there. ✨ 」

Reiterating that characters do not need to know the birthday girl herself and that this is just a casual party mingle for all those interested.

As for arrangements that have been made for the party specifically, with party games listed in the comments:

01. VENUE
Fitting its title as the largest karaoke venue on the block, Sakura Serenade offers a spacious, vibrant setting perfect for large gatherings. Dazzling with customisable LED lighting and cutting-edge projection technology, they work in tandem to sync with music to create a dynamic and immersive atmosphere.

Seating is luxurious, with plush wraparound couches providing ample space for everyone to lounge comfortably. A central open floor invites guests to dance, while barstools and cocktail tables along the perimeter offer spots for mingling and conversation.

The song library is seemingly infinite, featuring tracks from every genre imaginable with subtitles in countless languages. Have a song that "doesn't exist"? No problem. Guests can upload their custom tracks directly via their implants, ensuring no melody is left unheard.

For those seeking a quieter retreat, Sakura Serenade also features smaller, private rooms equipped with their own karaoke machines, ideal for more intimate and reflective moments as the night winds down.

02. "CHAMPAGNE" TOWER
Upon entering the venue, guests are greeted by an impressive "champagne" tower, sparkling under the glow of ambient lighting. A neatly designed placard stands prominently at the base, declaring in bold letters: "Take one!", with a smaller, playful note beneath: "Or as many as you'd like."

What sets these glasses apart from the usual drinks served at the bar is their origin. The "champagne" is actually a special regain from Yuwon's (yuwon) world, perfect for guests who typically can't get intoxicated by regular alcohol or those with an uncanny tolerance. Have fun!

03. THE GREAT WALL OF POCKY
As per the birthday girl's request (well, not quite, but a certain someone has chosen to interpret it this way), nearly every flavour of Pocky imaginable has been gathered here today, all neatly arranged in rows and columns on a table at the side.

Yes, they're from the batch you're thinking about. Whether your character has caught on to their effects by now or prefers to believe they're from a fixed batch, that's entirely up to you to decide. But what better time to partake in a round of a Pocky game or two? The robot staff seem to support it as one of the host-sanctioned activities, and will even offer an explanation on how to play.

04. AFTERMATH
Guests have the freedom to decide how they'd like to end their evening, whether that means stretching out on the floor for a spontaneous slumber party or taking advantage of the venue's connections with nearby hotels. The options range from luxurious accommodations to more colourful establishments, catering to a variety of budgets.

The night is yours to enjoy, and the journey home can be as adventurous as the party itself! With all the seasonal decorations now beautifully illuminated, there's plenty to marvel at along the way.

( much thanks to abbie, bijou, and chrissy for ideas !! )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[They hold up a hand, cloaked face wearing a rather sheepish expression]

Sorry, gonna have to turn that one down. No mouth.

[Even if they look like they have one right now.]

[ Alright. He's just going to take the cup he'd proffered Dante and casually down it himself instead then, all while maintaining eye contact.

… ]

You aren't solar-powered, are you?

[They stare back, wondering what caused this staring contest all the while.]

What? Why would I be solar-powered?

… You aren't a robot, yet you can't eat, and you're not solar-powered either… You can't blame a guy for being a little curious, can you?

[ Hm… ]

Well, Whatever. Details! I dare you to give the most genuine compliment you can think of to Señor Vergilius.

I can't blame you, but I don't have an answer for you either. Just a quirk of how prosthetics work back home, I guess.

[It's probably for the best they don't know how it works anyway...]

A compliment, huh? That doesn't sound too bad. And really should thank him more... All right, once I get the chance I'll do it.

Really? You guys are more wholesome than I would've thought, aw. Now I gotta see this.

[ A dare sparked by pure curiosity about the company's internal dynamics… Flashing a mischievous smile, it isn't long before he breaks into a bright, carefree laugh.

Is it really Ishmael and Vergilius' fault that they feel the urge to wrangle him almost every time they try to talk to him? Not a chance. But if you ask Elysium, you can bet he'll spin it like it's entirely on them. ]

For someone who seems so keen on running a tight, tense ship, it's starting to look a whole lot like that's not exactly the case. Heheh. I'd ask what you have in mind, but… I guess I'll just have to wait and see since that would probably count as another truth in of itself. Bummer!

[The single "tick" of confusion may be inaudible thanks to the cloaking, but it's certainly there.

Since when has the LCB ever been a tight ship? It's a lot tighter than it used to be, they guess?]

Technically I'm the one who's supposed to be "running the ship," er, bus. Not that Vergilius doesn't help--he makes sure we all stay on course.

I'm, uh, not sure what you mean by "wholesome," though.

Oh, you know.

[ A vague wave of his hand. ]

The fact that you didn't seem to mind the dare all that much. It just goes to show how much he really does look out for you guys.

[ That's the bar for "wholesome," apparently! Anyway, assuming at some point Dante goes off for their dare, finishes, and returns— ]

—Your turn!

[Mission successfully completed, they nod.]

All right... Truth or dare?

What can it be other than dare? Hit me with your best shot!

[ with a solid!! smack on dante's back!! ]

[They pitch forward a little bit, but manage to catch themself.]

Then I dare you to...

[Maybe they should pick something easy since he went easy on them ~~according to their perspective~~]

...sing the catchiest song you can think of?

[Seems easy enough for a karaoke place]

[ meanwhile, elysium, treating the game like a pseudo social experiment … what people don't know can't hurt them, even if there is good intent. ]

Ohhhhh?! You wanna get serenaded by yours truly? Now that's what I call a real opportunist!

[ it's all theatrical, the way he snaps his fingers as he connects to the karaoke systems through his implant. there's a brief minute as he's ostensibly rifling through the song libraries, but eventually… the room around them will darken in tandem with the selection of his song choice, brief flashes of light pulsating with the sound of heavy bass. mostly because

linkin park-esque music is all he listens to… enjoy… ]

"Serenaded" isn't what I'm going for, but--

[But he's already going through with it, and with flair.

Seriously, where is everyone here getting their confidence from? Is this what they're missing out on by not being able to drink?

They clap politely once he's done, the feeling of the bass still buzzing slightly in their head.]

You didn't even blink.

[ dante getting put through it… literally and figuratively… truly, sobriety is the root of all problems ]

Blinking isn't going to make dares go by any faster, bro! [ still in sing song, coming off the trail end of his number. ] Have you had a chance to sing any tunes yet? Bit of a waste of a dare to do something we're pretty much here for, I'd say.

Not yet.

[Though they did tell Rodya they would.]

I can't promise it'll be any good, though. I may have gotten this voice to sound more natural, but I haven't tried singing with it.

[Still better than their "real voice," they remind themself. And less awkward than trying to sing with that too.]

( OPEN ) it's party season 🎉

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