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

[hevenly]

[ Angela had watched the woman carry an armful of lanterns to the river, wondering what it must be like, to have so many to care for, so many who are lost to you. Angela herself only has one lantern, decorated with the lyrics of Scarborough Fair in honor of Sera, though she had considered making one in honor of her lost mother Loriel. Not knowing where Loriel is makes it hard to mourn her, however, so she stuck to just the one lantern.

She steps up to the banks of the river beside the young woman and sets down her lantern. ]

It is.

[ A soft smile comes to her lips as she imagines Sera's reaction to the gesture. "You floated a lantern for me? You sentimental thing." ]

[clobbers]

( This is more for me than my people. In the depths of her heart, Kara can admit that truth. Ever since her world had blown to pieces at her back, she has striven to make sense of it all. Why so many are lost, and she continues on. She, who is neither the best nor the brightest of her race.

It's an ongoing quest, and thankfully one which Angela distracts her from when she joins her. Kara releases a deeper exhale than she'd meant to, causing small waves to carry her lanterns further downstream. Her blue eyes watch carefully, and then she smiles quietly. )

I don't know if the real comfort comes from thinking they'll get these messages or from us, realizing we are very much not alone.

( In this pain of loss which is universal. Transcending everything; when she tells others they are alike, it's in the heart, where emotion make them similar.

Where it counts most. Her gaze flickers over to Angela now, sorrow softening her features. )

Because we aren't.

[hevenly]

[ The thought of Sera knowing Angela was thinking of her, no matter how far apart they may be, pleases Angela. But then, when is she not thinking of Sera? Whether slaying beasts or languishing in a Badoon prison, her mind was always on her beloved.

No, they are not alone. Few people are, though circumstances may make them think so. Angela looks over the young woman next to her. Her keen eyes see the strength in her-- strength both of heart and of body. Is she a warrior? Perhaps, though not in this moment. In this moment, none of them are fighters. They are simply people, lamenting in the separation from their loved ones. ]

Hm.

[ Not a chatty one, Angela. ]

[clobbers]

What?

( This woman sounds thoughtful, though she's unsure why, or if she's pried by asking.

Looking over at her, she meets her eyes with a small smile. )

You chose a really pretty lantern there.

[hevenly]

[ Angela looks down at the lantern she'd set on the water, something close to a fond smile appearing on her lips. ]

I thought it would suit.

[ Sera is very pretty, after all. ]

[clobbers]

Can I ask who it's for?

( She'll ask, because she's completely averse to prying. )

[hevenly]

You may. [ Angela will answer, then pre-empt the next question by continuing, ] It is for my beloved Sera, who has been lost to me, and found again, and now I am lost to her.

[clobbers]

( Kara bows her head, watching the flickering light as the lantern floats further away. When she speaks again, it's softly: )

A friend of mine has a saying, and translated it to my native language. Tho-eh-lah, eh-voi-fah-zho. 'They have not left you, even in the face of death.'

Your memory of her is strong, so part of her is still with you. I think wherever she is, she knows she'll find you again.

And she'll be plenty happy to see you when she does.

[hevenly]

[ The saying brings a rueful yet knowing smile to Angela's face. ]

That is true. Even when she died, I did not give up on her. I conquered Hel to bring her back.