( OPEN ) it's party season 🎉

[transmit]

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 !! )

Comments

[ignoreher]

[ but he's... ugh. malkuth's giving him a somewhat unreadable look as the count comes down to five in her sways, sliding her arms down to hold his hands. ]

Okay. Don't get stage fright. It's just a bunch of our friends, after all.

[ and she's been training for this moment...!!!!!! theoretically, in her head. malkuth'll drag him onto stage, flipping through the machine before finding a rather popular one that's been playing recently across the various advertisements they're forced to see (and she, at least, has gotten used to by now in neo tokyo).

one microphone for him, one for her. ]

I wish I had more alcohol in me for this, but I don't wanna puke on Rodya's special day...

[ her stomach flipping sure feels like it. regardless, when yesod's ready she'll hit on the music and they can sing a poppy song together!!!!!!! ]

[penaltypoints]

[ The embrace is brief, already ending as Yesod stirs to respond in some way instead of keeping his arms crossed while Malkuth's are wrapped around him. Her hands clasp his, and he lets his fingers squeeze hers, at least. When they first arrived, none of this would have been possible, he thinks. Malkuth would have avoided him out of her desire to protect him and Netzach, at the time.

The changes since then are an improvement to continue to keep in mind. Regardless of Malkuth's reasons, he is pleased, too, that she didn't hesitate to approach him here. And so, he stands at the ready, taking up his microphone. Malkuth's remark earns her a look in turn, moments before the music begins to play, the song's lyrics appearing soon after that.

Rather than examining whether he feels self-conscious, Yesod focuses intently on following each line of the chosen song and matching its melody — and on listening to Malkuth's singing, curious to hear her voice then. ]

[ignoreher]

[ it's nothing special. just an average voice, but no one sings at karaoke because they're good at it -- or so she's learned, listening in and laughing at the conversations she's overheard when she worked more full-time at her job prior to her current contract work. but you do sing at karaoke because it's fun, so at the very least she's having fun.

at least it's. evident she's got experience now, more than likely with march or classmates in her "age range". more comfortable than she might've been over half a year ago... too bad malkuth'll have to return to dante and be complimented on her social chops after this, but for now her time is his. ]

[penaltypoints]

[ What Yesod is interested in paying attention to is Malkuth's voice specifically in these moments — not to determine whether she sings well or not, but to commit the shared experience to memory. It's different, after all, from listening to her singing with someone else. It's different compared to simply speaking with each other, not to mention his memories of Lobotomy Corporation.

No matter how strange it is to hear himself singing, this is enjoyable. The ability to be a part of it is, and Yesod has a parting comment for Malkuth before she reports to Dante. ]

I had fun.

[ignoreher]

Me too. Don't be shy in asking others either, okay? Everyone likes a good song they can belt out.

[ with a gentle pat to his shoulder... it really was fun, though she wonders if it's something they could've all done back home, too. in their first lives or in their current. maybe after all was said and done in both lifetimes. ]

I'd pay good money to see Hod or Netzach on stage, nevermind Gebura... But let's do this again sometime.

[penaltypoints]

[ Others... Would Elysium enjoy singing the song that he seared into Yesod's mind with his unintentional sleep paralysis demon ways shared some time ago? Yesod doesn't glance around for Elysium and his flitting from place to place as much as Malkuth does, at any rate. His gaze rests on Malkuth, serious. ]

It isn't a matter of shyness.

[ If there are others who might derive some enjoyment from creating such memories with him, something unique because of each specific combination, perhaps it would be worthwhile.

Pausing, he tries to imagine their colleagues here. Gebura would refuse, he's certain. He gives Malkuth a nod, however. ]

...Thank you, Malkuth.

[ignoreher]

[ he always takes the shy thing so seriously... maybe she should just start saying he oughta target wallflowers and get other people in a party mood.

...

pfft. yeah, that'd be a fun sight. but she knows, she knows, he wanted to do it with her because it's her, not because he's shy of asking others. ]

No thanks needed. We're friends, after all.

[ no matter what, that won't change. at least, it can't be broken. but she'll flitter off with a wave of her hand, gotta get complimented on her social skills...♡ ]