introductory mingle: MEMORIA

[riverviewmod]

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

Comments

iii.

[aeturnus]

I'm sure she appreciates it.

[ Whatever the guy says, it's pretty plain to see he's got something undefined tied up in this mother that passed. Not that anyone needs consolation right now, but something might help.

He isn't standing too close, and his attention is on the ball of light. It's a neat trick, definitely. But he definitely just spoke to Loki just now. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ For a moment, Loki feels only anger but it fades quickly. She is dead. Getting angry over an intrusion would serve no purpose. He huffs lightly, finally tearing his eyes away from the light. ]

Doubtful. I was not her prodigal son in any sense of the word.

[aeturnus]

[ Cain shifts his attention when he sees the young man doing the same. He gives a wan smile. ]

A son's a son. And being noteworthy enough for remembrance is the most a lot of people can hope for.

[dothelokimotion]

For those who lead short lives, perhaps.

[ His legacy is remembered, which is what matters. No one would forget him, even if his name is blackened with hatred. He'll take it. He'll take it all. ]

I am not anyone's son. And I think we are all glad for it.

[aeturnus]

I don't know about that. [ If Cain is ever gone, will anyone actually remember him? It's an interesting thought to bat around at any rate. ] How long a life you plan on living?

Not like I can convince you otherwise, we're strangers. Just figured I'd give my parental input.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Five thousand years, give or take. Though Thor thinks him dead. Loki shrugs gracelessly. ]

Are you a parent? You don't seem the type.

[aeturnus]

[ He grins at that, ducks his head only briefly. ]

Yeah. Appearances aren't everything. I've got kids.

[dothelokimotion]

You must feel quite lonesome without them.

[ He assumes. No one would miss Loki. ]

[aeturnus]

[ He shakes his head, giving Loki a more considering look. ]

No... they disowned me a while ago. The rest are no longer with us. That doesn't mean I hate them, no matter what they've done or will do.

[dothelokimotion]

Would it not be easier if they did?

[ Hate, Loki finds, is always easier. Safer. ]

[aeturnus]

No. Not to me. Hate... festers, consumes, and when you go on long enough — then it's just this aimless destruction that you can't even keep focus on. I'd say love is stronger, kinder, even if it can be just as much trouble overall.

I can't make that decision for my children, though, and how they feel... that's their choice. But just because they'd want me to hate them back doesn't mean it's so simple.

[dothelokimotion]

[ How poetic. Loki isn't interested in poetry. ]

Congratulations on your enlightenment.

[aeturnus]

[ That gets an honest laugh from him. ]

What I'm saying is you're probably insulting her by saying she couldn't have loved you. Just from a more enlightened perspective.

[dothelokimotion]

[ His smile is jagged and dangerous. ]

Is that what I said?

[aeturnus]

[ He sees that danger, and doesn't flinch at all. ]

You said you doubted she appreciates your remembrance of her.

[dothelokimotion]

She would have good reason.

[ Even if Frigga was the most forgiving. The ball of light finally winks out of existence and Loki felt his anger drain away. ]

[aeturnus]

[ He nods, a gentle motion. ]

Good reason. No way to know now.

[ After a small pause, he shifts and his hands go into the pockets of his jacket. ]

Jacob Kane, giver of unsolicited commentary and now easier to avoid if you want.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki considers brushing him off. It wouldn't do him any favors though. ]

Luka.

[aeturnus]

Luka. All right. Thanks for letting me talk, anyway.

[ He raises a hand, a quick goodbye, and turns to go. Unless there's any reason Luka might want the last word. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki lets him leave without further commentary. Normally, he would be angrier, sharper, but he was caught off guard by the stranger's presence and dwelling on his mother brings out complicated emotions in Loki. ]