riverviewlogs | introductory mingle: RIVER FESTIVAL

Entry tags:

introductory mingle: RIVER FESTIVAL

who: everyone in Riverview!
what: Introductory Log and River Festival
when: The month of August; the bulk of celebration will be in week 1, but there is a party and fireworks display on August 14th.
where: Anywhere around the city.
warnings: please put any necessary warnings in the subject lines

river festival

In the days leading up to August 1st, residents new and old will notice preparations beginning, a flurry of activity getting the city ready for the upcoming celebration: The River Festival. This holiday is in celebration of the river and the life that it gives to the city, as well as the heat of summer and forming bonds with friends, family, and romantic partners. The celebrations are marked by a community-wide cleanup of the docks and beaches along the river - particularly important considering the recent acid rain - as well as beachfront cookouts and parties (both private and city sponsored) and beach sports tournaments happening on either open stretches of beach or in special clothing-optional beaches, all capped off with fireworks displays on the evenings of August 7th and 14th.

a celebration of the river and togetherness

Following the hedonism of Carnivale, it's time for something a little more low-key and relaxing. The River Festival happens every year in August, and is geared toward community building through cleaning up the beaches and docks along the river and then using all that freshly cleaned beach to gather on. During the first week of August, there are various lightly-themed government-sponsored beach cookouts and parties geared toward family, romantic dates, or casual all-ages get-togethers for meeting new friends; there are also a few more racy parties at clothing-optional beaches around the city. Many private residents also take this time to gather together friends and family, and have cookouts on the beach with all the typical trappings of the beach barbecue. There are also various casual sports tournaments sponsored by community centers, gyms, and sports teams in the city, featuring prizes ranging from notoriety to sports equipment to big bucks. Finally, there are two fireworks displays, one on August 7th and one on August 14th, with free food, and various live performers beforehand.

i. cleaning up

The holiday starts off on a note that is just a bit more sombre than the rest of the season, with the cleanup efforts following late July's strange fog and acid rain blending into the usual tradition of cleaning up beaches and docks along the river. The cleanup is a group effort, with every citizen who is physically able pitching in to comb the beaches, where they pick up fallen tree limbs, garbage, and anything else that's accumulated during the winter and spring, and then raking the beaches to make them clean and ready to use. The cleanup of the docks is similar, with residents sweeping and hosing them down where necessary. This year, there are a lot of repairs to be made to beachfront structures that might've been damaged by the acid rain, so if anyone has some carpentry or building skills, those would definitely come in handy.

This is meant to be a community building effort, so many businesses in the area, more well-to-do private citizens, and the government have pitched in funding to provide lunches, cold drinks, coffee or tea, and snacks to anyone who's helping out with the cleanup efforts. All in all, the cleanup has a very friendly, welcoming vibe.

ii. cookouts and parties

The main traditions of the River Festival involve cookouts and beach parties. On August 7th and August 14th, the government as well as various corporations and businesses in the city, will be providing funds for large beach gatherings. On these days, there will be booths set up offering wares and freebies from various businesses around the city that have helped fund the party, large swaths of cleared beach where residents can don a swimsuit and catch some rays or swim in the river, massive barbecue setups to provide partygoers with all the standard barbecue fare, beach sports tournaments, dancing and musical performances, and fireworks displays (see prompts below).

The holiday isn't just about these big parties, though - many residents arrange their own barbecues, cookouts, beach camping trips, beach bonfires, and other riverside gatherings and outings. Many riverfront businesses offer discounts on services such as canoe or kayak rentals to go out paddling on the river, jetski or motorboat rentals for tubing, wakeboarding, or waterskiing, or mounts to take romantic rides in the surf. Additionally, there is an adults-only section of the beach where any of these activities can be done in the nude in a clothing-optional setting, including the big city-sponsored parties.

iii. sportsball tournaments

Is your character good at playing a particular sport that could, conceivably, be played on a beach? Chances are that during the month of August, a tournament will be set up for them to participate in. The tournaments are pretty standard, generally sponsored by community centers, sports clubs and teams, gyms, and other organizations and businesses in the city, with various levels of specialization, and levels of skill or competitiveness. The prizes also vary, with everything from plain old bragging rights to sports equipment or passes to gyms and community centers, to large lump sums of cash money. Definitely worth it, for characters with a love for sport.

Oh, and a lot of these tournaments are happening on the adults-only clothing-optional beaches, for those grown-up sports fans who like a bit of an extra challenge.

iv. performances and fireworks

On August 7th and August 14th at the end of the large city-sponsored beach parties, there will be evening performances all along the beach. Not as extensive as the musical performances during Carnivale, there are two large-name performers per night, with various lesser-known groups performing at random off and on throughout the day and night. Areas of the beach are cleared for residents to watch and dance to the music, both on the regular and adults-only clothing-optional beaches (acts will switch off between the two areas so both areas get both performances).

Player-characters who are musical artists, DJs, or otherwise perform are free to set up shop around this party and panhandle or put on free performances for publicity.

After the sun goes down, boats will head out into the water carrying a variety of fireworks, and there will be a beautiful display of exploding color in the sky for residents to watch and enjoy. The fireworks are highly advanced, incorporating old-fashioned gunpowder as well as modern technology that result in really beautiful displays that can take the breath away!

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 the River Festival, feel free to write it up!

visual inspiration

click on thumbnails for larger view

Credit: image i: credit unknown; image ii: Albert Ramon Puig; image iii: Claudio Pilia; image iv: Alan Philips

navigation

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I. Beach Clean-up (Bikini | Hair - Steel)

When Lola heard that it would be two weeks of Beach Parties and fun in the sun she could not be more thrilled... and then she found out the first part of this would be clean-up. That was not the sort of party she ever signed up for willingly. Still... it could be worse, her hair could still be screwed up from the acid rain. Instead it was proper and nice and she gave it a nice steel gray color to it. Something that wasn't too nice, but it was nice enough as she wandered the beach with a trash bag and a trash stick. Not the accessories she wanted, ever. But... she was cute and her bikini made her feel all nice about things.

Really, there are worst ways to spend a summer. She could be in class this week. If she's about and you're also working on the beach, or taking a quick break to appreciate the sun and sand, she'll be right there with anyone.

II. Lazy Summer Days (Parties - Bikini | Hair - Pink)

Naturally, weeks of beaches and parties were her time to shine, she found herself a few skirts and jackets to wear over her bikini that would look good in various states of removal, and prepared to make herself seen in all parts of the beach she was welcome. She'd happily offer to take charge of a grill, or bring food, or just generally be available to make whatever party all the cuter by her presence. Meaning mostly she'll happily sit around and bask in the sun like a cat, or a cute lil' lizard. The point is she's all about the lazy summer days in the sun.

Of course she won't be at any party she wasn't invited to, but the little networker had a knack for making herself invatable to all sorts of festivities. And Lola is all about saying hello and striking up a conversation with any pretty face she runs across. And during the summer this is doubly true.

III. Sportsball (Bikini | Hair - Mint)

While a little concerned, Lola hoped everyone playing volleyball was here for fun. She might not be the tallest, or the most athletic, but she'd been dragged into so many sports by her best friend at home she had spent several years learning to play at the high school level. And being Shay's training partner meant she a little more advanced than most high schoolers. Shay was brutal in her desires to win. Lola bore her intentions well.

Mostly because it meant when summer rolled around she cound dash around chasing a ball in a bikini, having fun and making friends. Maybe you're on the team with her, or watching from the stands at the end of a round, care to talk to the sporty little thing?

IV. Wildcard (Come at me with whatever!)

[ These types of things were not usually Re-L's time and place, honestly. Normally she'd be too busy working or just totally uninterested, but.. perhaps the sun and the lack of acid rain was getting to her. There'd been a lot of time spent indoors during all of that, after all, and she'd just begun to enjoy sunlight..

She recognizes Lola right away - change in hair color or not - from one of the raves when she'd first arrived and started working shifts like a typical beat cop. Not exactly anyone's shining moment, but as she adjusts the wide brimmed sunhat she's wearing (have to protect her paleness) she gives a little nod of recognition, and then, of course, a wise crack. ]

This time I'm not on baby sitting duty, so don't get dehydrated again.

*It takes Lola a little while to remember the strange zombie girl with the cool make-up under her eyes. That party was kinda foggy in that Lola had gotten drunk, and, well, dehydrated. Took her a little longer to remember what that woman was doing there. And then put it all together and react.*

I'm sticking with fruit juice, and this isn't a poorly ventilated rave, it's a beach, how would I get dehydrated.

*Lola's best grade in science is 'almost passing' so please don't mind how she completely missed the obvious there. She has a large umbrella to keep the sun off her directly, but it's still warm and bright enough for her, her sunglasses, and her bikini.*

How have you been? This doesn't really feel like your sort of activity.

*Since she's not babysitting, that means this is a social call. And as it's social, that means Lola can ask what a proper cold blooded goth girl is doing on a beach. It doesn't make sense.*

Please tell me you're enrolled in school, still. [ Preferably in science courses, if she thinks that's how dehydration works. Particularly under the sun like this, where she's constantly downing water and trying to dodge sunlight so that she's maintaining some semblance of of safety for her skin.

For once Re-L's not wrapped in neck to toe black, either, though.. a dark blue bikini and a black mesh cover up kind of keep her covered so far as not breaking her typical style rules. ]

For one, not doing beat cop work anymore. [ Which was more than enough to make life around Riverview better, even if there wasn't a lot of crime. ]

Sue me for attempting sunlight. Detective work isn't always round the clock, anyway, so I thought why not.

Oh, totally. I'm not good at it, but I'm still trying. I even took summer classes to make up for missed credits not having a full transcript.

*Lola was a ditzy goofball chef, but she knew she needed her education. Even if she didn't take what she knew and what she learned and ever put them together.*

Is that a good 'I got promoted to a better job' news or bad 'I got fired' news?

Well, I won't say anyone is wrong to spend time on the beach! Even if you've still sorta dressed for a beach funeral in that color.

Effort is a good part of that up hill climb. [ Not everyone can have a doctor coaching them to learn as intensely as Daedalus had for her, after all. Thankfully she'd been out of school age when she'd shown up here, lest she meet an entirely new way of schooling. ]

Promotion. [ As if she'd get fired, Lola. ]

I'm certainly not wearing half the things I've seen on this beach today, no matter how it might look. The bathing suit is navy, anyway.

It'd probably better if I was, you know, smart.

*Lola had great self-esteem... about everything that wasn't schoolwork. When it came to school she felt out of place. And she just took it in herself, she accepted it. It is what it is.*

I wouldn't think you would. Strings are too flimsy, and any more skin you show you'd need to be extra careful with moisturizers and sunblock. What I meant was- well, Navy isn't a fun color to wear. Not on its own.

I prefer to think it's a bad teacher, not a bad student. [ After all, if an educator couldn't make someone's understanding better through different representations of whatever they were teaching, what the hell kind of teacher were they anyways? Though.. she probably had higher standards than most. She'd been spoiled by private tutors and private doctors.. pretty much private everything. ]

Honestly, I think I'm bright enough just showing all this skin. [ Yes, that's a pale joke on herself. ]

And, really, not everyone can be about pastels and bright colors.

I've had a lot of teachers, but most of them couldn't really get me to learn anything. A few of my tutors could. I'm the only constant.

*If Lola put thought into it, or had someone describe what worked, and what didn't, there'd be an obvious pattern to work from. But Lola just assumed it was a fluke when she learned. And the standard was she was dumb.*

I suppose the contrast is good for you... dark clothes plus pale skin. It's part of why your make-up works. And if everyone dressed like me that'd be dull too. Something still feels off.

Maybe if you looked like you were having more fun!

Mmn.. but someone was able to. So my point stands. Find better teachers and it will be less of a struggle to learn. [ Granted, that was easier said than done, but of anything, Re-L does value a good education. Or perhaps it's just too mentally painful to hear Lola say she would stay hydrated because of things that held little to no bearing on it at all. ]

Oh, what, you'll have me grin like a fool and prance around? [ she takes a drink from her water bottle in the mean time, before, of course - ]

No. I'm perfectly content the way I am.

Hmm. I mean, I guess if they don't just tell me things that works better? Or if they tell me using stuff I get. Like cooking or money...

*Most lessons just felt so out of place for her that she couldn't make them make sense. It was always so dull and dead and boring she'd rather be looking at cat gifs.*

Well, maybe not that far, you'd probably look crazy... and evil. But... less stern? I guess?

*Lola knows exactly what she wants to say, but no idea how to say it.*

If they can't think of examples that work for you than they're not worth their salt as teachers anyway. [ Though... she'd definitely need to put in her part, too. For some reason she doesn't strike Re-L as the type to put in the extra work, but.. she could also be wrong. She doubts it, but there's a chance. ]

Stern. [ There's a look of slight disbelief there. ] Be glad you'll never meet my grandfather, if you think I look stern.

Well, some of my tutors weren't interested in getting to know me. But my teachers couldn't really do that, if they had to make a unique lesson for every student that'd make the school day way longer.

*The glories of public school. Her mom sending her tutors was just... her way of helping without having to come see Lola.*

Maybe I got the wrong word, I would have just used a no fun emoji if we were talking online.

*...Lola...*

I was never taught in a classroom like that. I suppose that was grandfather's doing.. or just a lack of other children. [ Considering, you know. Children were only made when there was a demand for them in Romdeau Dome. She had a feeling her creation hadn't really been necessity so much as a greedy want from Donov, but now wasn't the time to wax poetic on how she'd come to be. ]

Mmn.. how very teenage. [ Re-L you are literally twenty - ] Still, I think your version of 'fun' and mine are very different.

Oh... that kinda explains things.

*If she spent her time growing up around boring old people no wonder she didn't know the first thing about fun. At least, that's where Lola's little head has gotten to.*

Probably really different. But that's sorta the point, I'm not you. It'd be dull if I was.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

introductory mingle: RIVER FESTIVAL

Lola Pacini | OTA (Will match formats.)

II

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