riverviewlogs | introductory mingle: MEMORIA

who: everyone in Riverview!
what: Introductory Log and Memoria Commemoration
when: May 1st - May 8th
where: Anywhere around the city.
warnings: please put any necessary warnings in the subject lines

memoria

In the days leading up to May 1st, residents new and old will notice preparations beginning, a flurry of activity getting the city ready for the upcoming celebration: Memoria. A more solemn celebration than Sampremi or the Flower Festival, Memoria is a week-long time of remembrance for those lost in the Great War and the epidemic that decimated Riverview Quarantine's population 10 years ago. Memoria traditions include lighting lanterns for the dead, telling stories about lost loved ones or lost homes, eating meals with loved ones, and a special gathering to send floating lanterns down the river in honor of those lost.

a solemn commemoration of those lost

While the main city-wide event associated with Memoria is the floating of lanterns down the river on the evening of May 8th, the holiday is generally seen as a time of reflection on and appreciation of things that have been lost - people, homes, cultures, and planets. It is also a celebration of the things that remain. Many locally-owned shops will host displays of culturally-significant food, and will hand out informational flyers sharing the unique customs of their own homeworlds. There is a heavy emphasis on sharing time with family, friends, and lovers, and anyone who is able to will cook meals or treats for loved ones, or at least purchase them something good to eat.

i. hanging lanterns

Throughout the entire week of Memoria, residents will be hanging lanterns around the city. Lanterns are generally placed in greater number in places of passage - streets, bridges, and all alongside the train lines are particularly well-decorated, as are any trees alongside paths, and most homes and businesses have a profusion of lanterns around their doors and windows. This tradition is twofold; some people believe that the lanterns are hung in these places in order to guide the spirits of the dead back to those who still love them, other people believe that the lanterns are to give light for living loved ones to find their doors in times of darkness...many people believe both.

No matter what your character might believe, you can be sure they will find themselves offered a lantern for free from various businesses or friendly citizens passing by, and invited to hang it before the sun sets, or they may be handed a bundle of lanterns and asked to help share them with others.

ii. sharing life

Throughout the city, characters will find groups of people gathering to share hot drinks and talk about their loved ones lost, their homes and planets, or their experiences during the Great War and the epidemic. Anyone who has lost someone, who has fought to survive, who is feeling cut off and homesick, is welcome to sit and share their story. If your character chooses to sit and to share their story, they will find that people will gather to listen, will generally be respectful of the telling, and may share their own similar experiences in return. This is an excellent time to air grief in an environment where most people understand and respect grief, and a good time to deepen the connections to others around you, to understand them better.

There is also a very large focus on cooking or purchasing meals or treats for loved ones during Memoria, with many people taking meals with everyone they care about during the week of the holiday. Some go the extra mile and will hand out baked goods (usually chocolate or cinnamon), packets of candy, or other little treats to acquaintances, especially if they would like to form a closer bond with them. This is a great time for characters to reach out to someone they would like to get to know better with a surprise treat!

iii. floating of the lanterns

On the evening of May 8th, just before sundown, many of the city's residents will head toward the banks of the river, where they will light lanterns in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, in honor of their dead loved ones. The types of lanterns vary wildly, based on personality (either of the person floating it or the person they are honoring), culture, and many other factors. Some lanterns are very simple, others are incredibly complex, but the one common feature they all have is that people write on the shades of them - they write about their feelings for their loved ones, their wishes for their relationships and friendships, a memory from childhood or home, or even just lines of poetry or lyrics from songs that express something they miss, or something that hurts them.

Once those emotions are written on the lanterns, the lanterns are set free, floating down the river in the darkening evening, in a cathartic gesture shared by most residents of the city. Waves of lantern floating will start around 7 pm and continue until the sun rises on the morning of May 9th.

iv. roommates or wildcard

Feel free to use this prompt to set up headers for a communal floor, or threads open to roommates for the purpose of getting to know each other. Or if you have an idea for a prompt that isn't in this list, set during Memoria, feel free to write it up!

visual inspiration

click on thumbnails for larger view

Credit: image i: glowconcepts, image ii: by trenchmaker, image iv: cherryorange; image iii: found uncredited on Pinterest - please let the mod know if you find credit!

navigation

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Jim has gotten a lot of lanterns handed to him over the past few weeks, much like everyone else, but in the end, he sticks to just the one. The rest he gave away or hanged them around the city at random. There's no point— he has too many lost lives he holds himself accountable for to be sending that many lanterns down the stream.

The sentiment is what counts, he figures. He's not really planning on writing anything there, either. But he does spot Loki, immersed in his decorating endeavors, and he makes his way over, stopping a couple of feet away and watching him for a few seconds before he speaks up. ]

That's a lot of lanterns.

Very observant, Captain Obvious.

[ Humming as he finishes up a wing on Angela's lantern, he unfolds a leg and pats the grass with his heel. An invitation for Jim to sit down. ]

None of your own?

One of my many impressive talents.

[ Saying that in a light, humorous tone, he sits down next to Loki, holding out his own lantern. A small one but sort of cute, built on a base that looks like a boat, with a tiny fisherman sitting near the edge. ]

Just the one.

[ A smile quirks as he looks over the small lantern. ]

You really are quite the sailor, in space or otherwise. Have you thought about charting the rivers of this realm on an actual boat, Jim? [ He hums thoughtfully. ] I think you'd be pretty good at it.

[ Jim takes that suggestion with a raise of his brow, pursing his lips. ]

You know, that's actually a pretty good idea. I've been walking along the shores during some of my treks, but that thought hadn't occurred to me. [ Even if the thought of swimming on said river had. ] It'd be a fun ride, if nothing else.

Trekking around ...

[ He looks up from his work, tilting a crafty eye on Jim. ]

Just remember when you get that ship, it ought to have a First Mate position open.

Yeah. A lot of that, being a surveyor.

[ If Loki finds some other meaning to that particular expression, then Jim is clearly oblivious to it. ]

Wait— wasn't it a small boat just a few seconds ago? I'm not sure the river could handle anything bigger than that.

Why not both? A magical boat that runs bigger on the inside.

[ He'd be up for helping with that, hmm. ]

Ah, now that would be something. But probably more than I need, realistically speaking.

[ And Jim's never been one for those kinds of grandiosities. ]

You can do that too, can't you?

What, upgrade you a seafaring home? I could. But, O'Captain my Captain, what would I get in return? What kinda bargaining chips do you have up your sometimes-golden sleeve?

[ He sits back leaning on his hands, tilting a curious, faintly teasing look at Jim. There's a high chance Loki would help him just to win brownie points, yet it's worth seeing what sort of a reply is waiting. ]

I just told you I don't need it, nice though the idea is. Either way, I think I already owe you enough after you've lent me your dagger.

[ He borrows one of Loki's pens and picks up his own lantern, starting to scribble down on it without giving it much thought. ]

I need to give it back to you, by the way.

It's about want, not need, and now I kind of want one. Have you even used Laevateinn?

[ Arching a curious brow at Jim offering it back so soon, Loki peeks at what the captain is doodling. ]

Of course I did. I do spend a lot of time out there in the wild, so it's come in handy.

[ He's not doodling, actually, just writing down a poem. Well, most of it, anyway. His memory's pretty good but it's not flawless. ]

But... I've managed to get my hands on some weapons of my own, in the meantime. And I don't want to abuse the offer.

[ Noticing it's a poem, he peers in even further to silently read it as Jim writes. ]

You're making better use of Laevateinn than even I did, keep it awhile longer. Have you been out in the wild alone or with teams?

Mostly on my own so far. Sometimes one or two natives tag along, but I like being out there by myself. I like the quiet.

[ He knows it's not as safe, maybe not even smart of him, but he's managed well enough so far. He smiles at Loki, pausing in-between verses. ]

Thanks. I'll keep it for a little while longer, then, since you insist.

[ Nodding his assent to Jim holding onto the dagger a while longer, Loki goes on. ]

If you ever want company on one of your Indiana Jones-esque quests ...

Sure, that'd be fun. I'm sure you can hold your own out there, so— whenever you wanna join in, just hit me up. I go out there nearly every day, so.

[ Some days are a little more boring and fruitless than others, though, so no guarantees Loki won't be disappointed. ]

introductory mingle: MEMORIA

3

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject