riverviewlogs | introductory mingle: carnivale

Entry tags:

introductory mingle: carnivale

who: everyone in Riverview!
what: Introductory Log and Carnivale Celebration
when: July 1st - July 9th
where: Anywhere around the city.
warnings: please put any necessary warnings in the subject lines

carnivale

In the days leading up to July 1st, residents new and old will notice preparations beginning, a flurry of activity getting the city ready for the upcoming celebration: Carnivale. This holiday is in celebration of music, and the onset of summer and warmer weather. The celebrations are marked by street parties, an extensive program of live musical performances, with a large parade (and paid holiday!) capping it off on July 8th.

celebrating music, and summer

After a couple of months of low-key or even solemn celebrations, it's time for Riverview Quarantine to throw a good, old-fashioned party. Carnivale is a city-wide festival that pretty much everyone gets into, and many residents take the entire week off so they can enjoy all the festivities. With events ranging from impromptu street parties, free live musical performances, food stands, themed club nights, adult lounges with kink shows, and topped off with a massive party parade, the holiday has a lot to offer for anyone who likes to sing, dance, and show some skin!

i. street parties and food

One of the staples of the Carnivale festival is the spontaneous street parties and food trucks and carts. It's not unusual during the holiday to turn a corner and run into a group of people dressed in bright colors and sequins having an impromptu party with a few drinks, and then be invited to join right in! Carnivale is a celebration of music as well as summer, so most shops and stalls will be blasting danceable music into the streets to facilitate these little street parties - it's considered a sign of good luck for the owner of a business if an impromptu Carnivale celebration starts up in front of their door.

Considering the proliferation of street parties and people out and about to celebrate the warmer weather, local business owners also take to the streets. Food carts, stands, and trucks pop up on almost every street corner offering a wide variety of food from savory treats to sweet desserts. Many of the carts are offering one free item to anyone dressed up for Carnivale - anything shimmery, shiny, or brightly colored will do!

ii. live musical performances

One of the major roads in the city center has been completely roped off for the entire week, and all along this street, various temporary stages have been set up, each with a nice hefty sound system. Volunteers hand out printed flyers, and digital boards are set up here and there with schedules of various performances that are all free to attend, ranging from well-known popular music artists to new up-and-comers or independent artists who are looking to make a name for themselves. This event is very widely advertised around the city, and is accepting entries until the very last minute.

At couple of the acts might be familiar faces to some of the residents.

Eichi Tenshouin has signed up himself and his friend Tsumugi Aoba into the music festival as a first-time appearing idol unit called "Higanbana." Dressed in all white with splashes of color (blue, largely, with only their headsets being a red spider lily), they carry a very commanding and angelic image together. They'll have a routine that emphasizes their great harmony with each other, taking turns doing solo lines and joining together to show off each of their talents. Singing and dancing, they interact heavily with the audience and will encourage a lot of involvement with speaking between songs and gestures, winks, and so on. Basically, they intend to make this Riverview's very first prominent "idol performance".

For his performance, Otabek Altin will start with rock remixes of a few popular pop songs. He wants to make sure that it starts off with recognizable pieces for some people, and he certainly thinks it is something that could get people excited even if they don't know it. Then, it shifts into a few original songs. They are upbeat, rock songs that he put together with the intention to make people dance and move, since he is a DJ. He'll end his set with a slower piece he put together that is also an original. Through the entire performance, he's focused and quiet, though he may occasionally try and excite the crowd with a few words.

Any other player-characters who are musically inclined are more than welcome to assume their character was fit in for a performance, and can post up a top-level with a rundown of their performance to get bonus Activity Points for posting a mingle!

iii. carnivale parade

The other main attraction of Carnivale week comes on July 8th, which is a paid holiday for everyone in the city. The Carnivale Parade will be starting out by City Hall and winding through downtown in a lazy pattern so everyone in the city has a chance to see it. There will be all sorts of floats, dancers, marching bands, with all sorts of clubs, businesses, and other organizations represented. The theme is theatrical, big and showy, bright and colorful, sparkly and shiny, with loud music and lots of glitz and glamour. Observers can expect great music, excellent dancing and marching shows, neat vehicles provided by classic car clubs, the fire, police, and Perimeter Guard. They can also expect a lot of party favors, whether it's a sparkly plastic beaded necklace, a fan to take the edge off the heat, candy, popsicles, a temporary tattoo, or any number of other little treats or toys to be tossed into the crowd - some of them fit for kids and teens, others of a more 'adult' nature handed out a bit more discreetly to anyone who looks the part.

And make sure you wear your waterproof mascara - Carnivale floats have a tendency of spraying or spritzing water, both in an unspoken competition to see who can make the biggest water-refraction rainbow in the air, and to keep observers cool in the new summer heat.

iv. adult: lounges and kink exhibition

Thanks to the Carnivale tradition of showing as much skin as possible, some event organizers' minds have turned to topics of a more adult nature. In the evenings, residents may see clubs doing "lounge nights"; these adults-only events have bouncers IDing everyone at the door to ensure they're 18+. The themes may vary, from very specific niche themes like 'golden age superheroes' to broad themes like 'rainbows,' and each event is clearly marked as what it is - all-nude or clothing-optional, and can host events ranging from amateur to professional exotic dancing, food served off of nude bodies, anonymous masked hookups, or just provide a comfortable space where casual sex is encouraged with whoever happens to be around. Various legal substances can be found at these lounges, but nothing that would cause violation of consent, and every substance would be clearly labeled and have warnings to ensure that no one partakes unless they choose to. Please be sure to warn in the subject line for sexual content or drug use (since some mild party drugs are legal in Riverview).

For the weekend from July 7th-9th, there will be a kink exhibition in one of the large exhibition centers downtown, limited to characters 18+. The exhibition is a sexy adult informational convention featuring various kinks and fetishes. Whether you're into leather, latex, lace, or anything else, you'll be able to find the clothes, toys, guides, books, erotica, fiction, and a wide variety of other interesting stuff to explore. While the atmosphere is sex-positive and there are private and public (for the voyeurs and exhibitionists in the room) venues for having sex, it's definitely focused on exploration and information about different stuff to try.

v. roommates or wildcard

Feel free to use this prompt to meet new roommates, for the purpose of getting to know each other, or hit up one of the mod-posted prompts for each Communal Floor. Or if you have an idea for a prompt that isn't in this list, set during Carnivale, feel free to write it up!

visual inspiration

click on thumbnails for larger view

Credit: image i: Roger Patterson Jr.; image ii: Syd Mead; image iii: screencap from the movie Paprika; image iv: siamon89

navigation

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Peter Quill and giant parties kind of go hand in hand – or at least that's what he's likely to tell anyone who would care to listen.

(Which is, in all likelihood, exactly no one.)

He's wandering from one street party to another – not quite along the same path as the conga line that had just breezed past Mantis, but certainly close – when he pauses. Because— he recognizes that face.

... He shouldn't recognize that face. But he does, and he hurries over. ]

Mantis? [ His voice is caught somewhere between stunned and pleased, leaning more toward the former than the latter. ] What— what are you doing here?

[It's a small thing, but hearing a familiar voice sends a brief pang of relief through Mantis as she turns in its direction. She is just as shocked as Peter to see him, and after a moment's hesitation she is sure it really is Peter Quill standing in the rowdy throng of the street with her.

Her antennae give a surprised wriggle at the sight of him]

I... [what was it they had said exactly? Her voice reflects her own uncertainty] I have been selected? Because I was displaced... [Her expression brightens] I have been given a job!

[Mantis has never had a job before, besides perhaps helping her master to sleep, and keeping his secrets. The responsibilities she is being trusted with now are very exciting. But...] What are you doing here?

Uh. About the same? I guess.

[ And he says it just as uncertainly. Or at least, he was fed some BS about how he didn't feel at home where he was, and that's why the portal plucked him up. Which is frankly ridiculous, considering Peter feels at home wherever he goes.

Part of his charm. ]

Are you alright?

[Her brow furrows slightly as Mantis considers this question thoroughly]

I have not been harmed. [Or even bothered much really. The room she has been given is comfortable and there is a machine in which to wash her clothes every night. It is not so different from back home...

Aside from the freedom. Freedom Mantis still isn't quite sure what to do with]

They are having a party. [Just in case Peter missed the announcement.]

[ ... Okay. Yeah. She definitely seems alright, and the little reminder she offers makes him snort out a laugh. ]

I kind of see that, yeah.

[ His gaze drops to her hands, and he smirks a little. ]

The wand is a nice touch. Going for a fairy godmother kinda look?

[Mantis also looks down at the wand, having forgotten it was even in her hand. She holds it up for a moment, staring down the glints of glitter covering the cloth star on top. So odd. After a moment, she holds it out to Peter expectantly]

What is it for?

What, the wand? It's— well. They're for doing magic. Casting spells and junk. But that's definitely just a prop. Decoration.

[ At least, that's at a guess. Peter figures they wouldn't actually give out magic wands as party favors. When she offers it to him, he holds up a hand, shaking his head. ]

Nah, I'm good. [ He gestures to himself with his other hand – he's wearing his usual red jacket, shirt, and pants. Nothing festive or out of the ordinary. ] Won't go well with my outfit.

It's all yours.

Magic [Mantis repeats the word, which she has been hearing but still does not quite grasp the meaning. When Peter refuses the wand, she waves it uncertainly, before lowering it to offer the drink in her other hand instead]

I cannot identify this fruit. [She pulls it back, but only to smell it again, before offering it to him once more. She tries for a smile, though they're not always successful.]

[ Peter's more or less used to the awkward smiles Mantis offers, and usually he does her the favor of not pointing out when they're the stuff of nightmares. This time around, it's not so bad, and he flashes a small smile of his own in return.

He gives the cup a dubious sort of look before he takes it in hand, giving it a quick sniff.

—It's definitely got alcohol in it, that much he can tell. He peers at the cup's contents, frowning at it. ]

... Strawberry, maybe? It's a Terran fruit.

You sure you wanna drink that? It's got booze in it.

[Fruit identified, Mantis tilts her head at Peter's question, not in any hurry to take the drink back, but more drawn to a number of questions of her own that his line of questioning brings up.]

I have been told here that alcohol facilitates social intimacy. [Someone runs by with a sparkler behind Peter and it reflects briefly in the blackness of her eyes as she continues] But I have never had strawberry before... do you think it is safe?

[If Mantis is capable of trusting anyone's judgement, surely she could trust Peter's. Hopefully. At least, he has never given her any reason to suspect malicious intent.]

[ The noise of the sparkler draws his attention more than anything, along with the peal of laughter as they run past.

(It reminds Peter of celebrating the fourth of July as a kid, not old enough to help light the big fireworks, but someone would hand him a sparkler and let him go wild.

He feels himself smile a little.) ]

It's... probably okay. [ A little uncertainly. He remembers a kid in his elementary school who was allergic to strawberries, but that wasn't, like, a super common thing, if memory serves. ]

They're— good. The real stuff, anyway. Nice and sweet. You'd like it.

[Satisfied, Mantis takes the drink back, but she still gives it one last uncertain sniff before taking a swallow. It is sweet. Extremely sweet, but mixed up with the bite of alcohol that made her nose wrinkle.

Not the first drink she's had, but potentially the strongest. As yet, she has not experienced any of the side-effects she has heard so much about

For a moment there is a strange silence between them, brought on in part by the oddness of their meeting in the midst of all the celebration. Some part of Mantis did not really expect to ever see Peter again, and she does not know how to properly apologize for everything that has happened. He is smiling though and she does not want to bring up something unpleasant]

Are you alright? [she finds herself asking instead, as Peter had asked her]

[ Ah.

Well.

This is awkward.

Peter still doesn’t know a lot about Mantis – barely anything, really – except whatever strange role she served alongside Ego. (And that stings, sometimes, looking at her and just wondering what her role was, or wondering how many of Peter’s half-siblings she had met.) But she means well, he knows, and the others seemed happy enough folding her into the team, so he— rolls with it.

Like he usually does.

As the silence drags on, Peter observes the party around them, laughs a little as a couple of drunken revelers fall into a heap after a misguided attempt for one to bench press the other. Her question drags his attention back to her, and he offers a shrug and a carefree sort of smile. ]

I’m doin’ just fine. Or as fine as anyone can be, when they find themselves zapped into some weird reality junction without a quick way home.

[ So... “fine.” ]

[Nodding, Mantis must agree. Though, as unusual as the situation is, Mantis finds it all... very exciting. Away from the only home she had ever known, the galaxy had seemed such a massive and intimidating place, but no matter where she is now, she cannot help looking forward to all there is to see and learn]

Do you think we are all here? I have not seen Drax, or the grumpy puppy. I have not seen Gamora or the baby plant. Do you think they are alright?

[For better or worse, the Guardians have become the only family she has left, and she has worried over them in the days since tripping through the portal]

You might wanna start calling them Rocket and Groot, actually. [ Because he doubts Rocket will put up with the “puppy” treatment, even if there’s some novelty for Peter in anyone calling Rocket a puppy.

Puppies are nice and cute.

Rocket is an asshole and also a more giant asshole. Not exactly puppy material. ]

But— Yeah. Gamora’s here. I’m actually sharing a room with her. [ Which had been a stroke of luck. ] I, uh, lost track of her, though. I’m sure she’ll turn up again.

[ Probably. ]

Right! Rocket and Groot.

[and Mantis has learned their names, having heard them shouted around on several occasions, however, her brain remembers them differently. As such there are times she has called Groot Rocket, and Rocket Groot. That did not go over well either.]

I hope I will see her [She had at first been more than a little intimidated by her, but Mantis has since noticed, if nothing else, Gamora's kindness.] I must watch for everyone. There are so many people here...

[As if to illustrate her point a particularly intoxicated reveler crashed into her from behind, and Mantis let out a squeal of surprise]

[ Peter jerks back in surprise at her squeal, though he lets instinct take over soon after, moving forward to pull Mantis behind him. The drunk just seems to find it all hilarious, laughing uproariously. ]

Dude, come on. [ Irritation in Peter’s voice. ] Watch where you’re going.

[ The party-goer hardly seems to comprehend the warning, falling against Peter next. Peter shoves him off (and quickly checks that his wallet is still there – it is) and the drunkard goes on his way.

Under his breath, ] Dick.

[ Then, he turns to Mantis. ] You okay?

[Everything happens a little bit too quick for Mantis to follow, Peter whirls her around behind him and whoever it was that ran into her is laughing...

She peers over Peter's shoulder as the dude wanders away.]

I am okay. [her response is quiet and almost offhand, the gears busy turning away in her head.] I have been hit harder.

[It does not occur to her that might sound troubling.] What is a dude?

[ Peter lets out a sigh of relief. All things considered, the encounter was pretty tame. Hardly a fight, not even an altercation, so Peter may have overreacted a bit, there.

His lips part to answer her question, but then his brain catches up with his words, and— ]

Wait, what?

[ Dazedly, and Peter seriously hopes he's misunderstanding her, here. ]

[Mantis can't help but wonder, based on the speed of Peter's reaction, if he might be somewhat restless for a fight. She has noticed that is a thing that sometimes happens to all of them when things grow quiet. She is about to suggest so but then - ]

What? [at first Mantis only repeats his question. It takes her a second to catch up with what has caused that amusing expression on Peter's face. She blinks at him a moment.

He was there, after all]

The flying rock hit very hard! I was unconscious.

Oh. [ This, punched out of him, and he heaves out a relieved sigh. ]

Right. Yeah. That.

[ He scrubs at his face, peering at her. Then, carefully, ]

You— that's all you meant, right? Just the rock?

[Mantis is still not entirely sure why Peter looks so concerned but she answers his question anyway.]

I have never been hit harder than the rock hit.

[She ponders on this. On the progeny of Ego she had seen come and go before Peter’s arrival on the planet. There had been many opportunities for harm in her lifetime, however long that was, but Ego had always kept her out of harm’s way, though more likely for his sake than for her own. She saw how easy it had been for him to take life.

Without thinking, Mantis takes a swallow of the drink in her hand.] I am glad to be here instead of there.

[ That's not much of an answer, considering that rock had walloped her pretty badly, but it's something, at least.

It— didn't really seem to be Ego's style to hurt Mantis, from what he remembers, so Peter's probably just overreacting. But then again, about fifteen minutes before it all went down, Peter also didn't think his father was inclined to destroy the galaxy by sucking the life out of his own son, so maybe Peter isn't the best judge of character.

Mantis's words pull him out of his thoughts, though, and the corner of his mouth curls up in a small smile. ]

Yeah. I hear you.

[ Granted, he'd rather be back on the Quadrant than in the Quarantine, but this place isn't so terrible yet.

He glances around, nodding toward a quieter spot against the wall of a building. ]

C'mon. We can talk over there. Won't be as likely to get bowled over by some drunk dude with no concept of personal space.

[Mantis is glad to see Peter smile, it is better than the look of worry he had before.

She follows him when he directs them toward a less-crowded place, toward the edge of the busiest foot traffic and closer the tall brick wall. It is even a little quieter here. She sets the drink momentarily on a stack of wooden crates beside them, and fidgets with the flimsy wand, not sure what to do with it now. Mantis thinks she would like to keep it]

I have heard some say this place is like Earth. Do you think so?

[ He settles back against the wall, thumbs hooked onto his belt as he watches the crowd of party-goers. ]

It's got some similarities, sure. Lots of the same food and drinks. Even some of the same music. Not quite the same, though.

[ The buildings, the architecture, the huge mix of people from various worlds. Not exactly Earth-like, but close. ]

What do you think of it?

introductory mingle: carnivale

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