video; @The Seventh Crown of the Seventh Demon King;

[unrequite]

[ In media res: there's a video feed sharpening into focus, blobs of silver and pink and purple neon resolving into a staircase leading down to a metal door gleaming clean under the artificial lighting around it. Midnight's standing at the door, looking up at the camera and the person filming with his phone, grinning one of his worryingly unhinged grins. ]

How is it, Kaveh? I'd ask you for my best angle, if I had any bad angles.

[ This conversation does... persist... but as the video continues, it becomes perfectly clear that this terribly disorganized promotion is for a bar of some sort. Midnight makes it clear later when he reclaims the camera, hops onto the bar, and aligns himself in the frame in a way that lights both his face and the sign behind him, a rose-lit confection announcing the name of the bar: Seventh Hell Host Club. ]

That's where we are. Do you see that? My name is Midnight, and this is my host club, Seventh Hell. We're near the southernmost station on Line 1. Kaveh and I have been working terribly hard on this establishment, and all of you have his genius and design sense to thank for this momentous occasion. Please do thank him personally. Make a great fuss about it. Remind him that sleep is a temporary state that he should indulge in more often, preferably with me. Thank you.

[ Kaveh is definitely taking the phone at this point, but later on, Midnight will retrieve it and add a postscript. He is sitting in some sort of underground greenhouse this time, surrounded by mist, glass, flowers, and the glow of sun-tinted halogen lights. Regardless of the promo quality, the greenhouse itself is certainly an impressive feat of engineering. ]

Yes, this is one of several themed rooms here at Seventh Hell. You — yes, you — are personally invited to see it. When? Well, whenever you like, so long as the doors are open, but on the 31st of this month... Ahem.

[ He clears his throat, grins. ]

For the turn of the year, you are cordially invited to Seventh Hell's Grand Opening and New Year's Eve joint celebration. Or something like that, I'll come up with a grander name if necessary. There will be drinks, music, a tour of the premises, games, untold bliss, fantasies, beautiful women, beautiful men, myself among them, possibly fireworks if Kaveh can be convinced that I won't set the place ablaze... You won't want to miss out, I promise.

The doors will open at 6 pm, but come by anytime before then, from now until the New Year, if you'd like to enjoy the premises in relative solitude. Send a message to this account if you'd like to be assured of a bartender, or a friendly face to speak to. If I can't come personally, a host or hostess will be there, ready to welcome you to a night of merriment and pleasant conversation.

So, until then... Seventh Hell awaits you.

[ A wink, and the feed shuts off. ]

[ ooc: Along with normal network replies, current host club employees and staff are welcome and encouraged to reply to this post as though Midnight's included them in an impromptu promotion for the club! You can also use this post for post-promo, off camera conversations with him or anyone else in the host club. Go stupid, go wild, go crazy, threadjack, steal his phone and flush it down a toilet. Honestly, the sky is the limit. ]

Comments

audio; un: loveless

[limbical]

I shouldn't be surprised that you have something like this arranged. And yet.

audio;

[unrequite]

And yet you are thrilled, amazed, humbled by my ingenuity, my motivation. I know, darling, there's no need to be shy about it.

[limbical]

And yet I'm disinterested the more I have to hear words coming out of your mouth.

un: librarian ; video

[worldexecute]

Well, well, well. If it isn't the business poaching my employees.

( ......this is a joke! she is joking. she doesn't look or sound mad. granted, her expression is as placid as ever, but assuredly her employees who are also taking part in this will be able to tell...!!!

dimly wondering if she should mark midnight off the roster, if he has a whole business to deal with, but... well, she'll let him decide that on his own. )

I told Fearne I'd peek in already, but please don't expect me to stay long.

video;

[unrequite]

Oh, darling... You won't be losing me, I like you too much. And the books are quite nice, you know.

[ ... How is he going to balance two jobs on top of everything else he does? Well, if no one knows, no one can criticize him for it. 👍 ]

That she's acquired your attention is more gift than I could possibly hope for. If you should like a quieter experience, I'd recommend coming around before the grand opening. I can see if Fearne's free for your arrival, should you like to meet her there.

video, un: junpei

[coolerjunpei]

You sure a shorter account name wouldn't be easier for business?

[how can he wash dishes if visitors can't remember this mile long username, boss]

[unrequite]

My darling, the account name is the point. It's eyecatching, it's memorable. Not that I expect for anyone to remember the details, just the wonder, the delight of experiencing such a singular title. The particulars will take care of themselves.

[ Read: Kaveh will do damage control. (Unless Aerith is still around to do marketing in the future, in which case Midnight will actually shape up. Misogyn-ain't.) ]

action.

[fussiest]

[ in today's episode of midnight why are you LIKE this: kaveh swipes midnight's phone right out of his hand. he does not, in fact, break it in half, but it's a close thing. he's also sweeping over to the bar so he can examine what had caught the light with a frown. ]

Watch yourself, Midnight, or I'll begin having Netzach on duty to get you to sleep. He's rather good at it. I had that experience personally throughout the entire gala-preparation process, so I know that he's honed his skills well, and did you know that he's also merciless about it? [ kaveh's head bends over the countertop. ] And what was that, that just caught the light? I couldn't be a flaw in the material, I'd checked.

[unrequite]

Oh, lovely. We'll all sleep together, then.

[ Unflappable! Just unbearable! Midnight curls up on the counter, enjoying Kaveh run off on his next mission. ]

It was me, darling. I am dazzling in the light of our accomplishment, don't you think?

[ WHY! CAN'T! HE! TAKE! ANYTHING! SERIOUSLY!?!?!?!?!? ]

text ; @thundaga

[astraphilia]

bossman, your username is absolutely fucking incredible, please never change

text ;

[unrequite]

I most certainly promise that I will only change to improve on myself... But yes, it would be very difficult to improve on an already exemplary username.

[ Finally, an enabler! (WHY) ]

On a tangent, though, would you happen to have any party tricks of the dextrous sort with regard to bartending, or is mixing your only passion?

[ he's asking if reno can do the spinny juggly things with the bottles. sorry he doesn't know if there's a word for it and neither do i ]

audio; un: mr. chandler

[lupusintus]

[ The amusement is audible. ]

Oh, I don't know, Midnight, I think you tripping over a champagne flute the other night would have been a bad angle.

audio;

[unrequite]

Oh, nonsense, Mr. Chandler, I fall with style. Although on that point, I do have you to thank for salvation from an untimely fall... Death becomes me, but I'm rather attached to life.

video; un: yesod

[wordchain]

[ He feels the need to acknowledge this, if not because he's seeking a night of merriment and pleasant conversation or anything else listed there, and so he does, giving Midnight a nod. ]

I'll keep it in mind.

video, @DONQUIXOT3

[icanfixer]

[ oh no you don't ]]

Thou shalt visit us, no?

video;

[unrequite]

Keep it in your heart as well. Netzach's promised to come visit; you should accompany him.

[ Not that Midnight's suggesting that he stays glued to Netzach's side, but having a familiar face in unfamiliar territory is always nice. ]

video. @kaveh

[fussiest]

Please do! [ kaveh grins. ] And come say hi, if I'm around. I'd be glad to have a drink or two with you.

video, un: astarion

[vampires_pawn]

[ Astarion’s first ever appearance on the network and it’s to promote a host club where he’s been employed as a professional flirt. Well, it’s as apt an introduction as any. ]

Hello, darlings! [ The video opens on a well-dressed man with curly silver hair and striking red eyes, lit in the gaudy purple glow of the club’s neon lights. He’s dressed a touch more modernly than he’s used to, though the ruched white shirt he’s wearing isn’t too far off from the frills he’d prefer back home. He smiles at the camera with practiced ease. ] One can hardly promote a new business without showing off a bit of what’s on offer, can they? I’m Astarion, one of the hosts of this illustrious new establishment and very much at your service. Should any of you lonely hearts need a diversion for the evening, you need only request the pleasure of my companionship... [ He waves a hand dismissively and the smile on his face grows a touch sardonic. ] Or simply show up and shop around, I suppose, but I assure you—you won’t find a more experienced companion than yours truly.

And besides— [ This time when he smiles, it’s with the briefest flash of too-sharp teeth,] A little flattery goes a long way when it comes to first impressions. Wouldn’t you agree?

-> [ action; ]

[unrequite]

Oh, certainly. Astarion here and the rest of our friendly staff are ready to welcome you. Do please give him and everyone else a chance at your hearts.

And... cut.

[ Midnight stops the recording with a finger, then turns the phone to Astarion comfortably, pressing play on the preview so he can take a look at it. ]

It's a lovely promotion. Are you satisfied with it?

text, un: netzach

[abstractart]

you really do know how to sell a place, huh?

seconding telling kaveh he did great on it.

[unrequite]

It's easy to sell a venue when everything about it is perfect. Kaveh's eye is perfect, my creative vision is perfect. You're perfect, and you'll be there. There is no end to the pleasures of my little slice of hell, naturally.

video

[aceslow]

You've been busy, haven't you?

[ You could say hello, Kimball. ]

It looks like quite the undertaking. I must ask: why did you decide to open this up?

video

[unrequite]

I do like keeping busy. I did have a certain vision for a drinking establishment — manned by people, mind you — and Kaveh, dear thing, has a fair bit of building experience and my appetite for work. So, once we completed said vision... Well, there wasn't much left to do but open it, was there?

[ Kind of blasè things to say, except Midnight seems genuinely surprised that he's in this position right now, looking over at his finished club. He's not working on building the place anymore, he's just... running it. What a wild thought. ]

video — un: munson (wow i'm so late with this)

[thefreak]

( When Eddie comes into focus, he looks positively energetic, almost bouncing in his seat, where he's perched on his bed in a somewhat awkward position. )

Whoa, this is cool. I'll definitely be there, with bells on, as they say. And, y'know, if you ever need entertainment of the musical variety, apparently I do parties now.

( He grins a wild, wolfish grin, preening dramatically for the camera. )

video; (but what if you are right on time 👀)

[unrequite]

Oh? Mr. Munson, would you happen to be available for a gig on the eve of the new year? I do think my stage is available for a variety of performers, should you be interested in the work.

[ Midnight does have a couple people he could ask, and does indeed plan on rotating performances throughout the night, but Midnight plans on making live music a regular part of his club, and Eddie is a part of that! ]