riverviewlogs | introductory mingle: FLOWER FESTIVAL

Entry tags:

introductory mingle: FLOWER FESTIVAL

who: everyone in Riverview!
what: Introductory Log and Flower Festival Celebration
when: April 2nd - April 15th
where: In several different locations in the downtown area of the Inhabited City.
warnings: please put any necessary warnings in the subject lines

flower festival

In the days leading up to April 2nd, residents new and old may notice advertising around the city, everywhere from digital screens to paper flyers pasted on blank walls, all advertising an upcoming holiday: The Flower Festival. Celebrating springtime, beauty, joy, and togetherness, the festival heavily features floral themes and dancing. The advertising mentions that on April 10th, a paid holiday, there will be a Blossom Picnic, as well as lists of various public dances at clubs or other open venues, and adult raves.

a celebration of spring

The Flower Festival's main event is the Blossom Picnic on April 10th, but it also features traditions of sharing food and drink, and dancing that span over the course of the whole two weeks. There are a large variety of events going on throughout the city, from dancing lessons in any wide variety of traditional dances, to old-fashioned sock hops, to adult raves complete with mild party drugs. Feel free to use the prompts below or create your own event at any point during the festival, and if your character creates an event and hosts it in a top-level, you can submit that thread for extra bonus points.

i. blossom picnic

The main event that kicks off the second week of the Flower Festival is the Blossom Picnic on April 10th. A relaxed and low-key event, it draws several thousand people every year to the spacious Riverview Central Park, where there is a generous lawn lined with various blossoming trees, and families, found families, lovers, and groups of friends are encouraged to lay out a picnic blanket and share food. There will be live bands playing (but not loudly enough to distract from conversation and peacefully watching the petals flutter in the wind), a variety of demonstrations of traditional cultural dances from many different realities and planets, and a ton of ice cream vendors. This is an excellent festival not only for celebrating togetherness with the people who are already important, but for mingling and making new friends.

Characters may either pack their own lunches or they can purchase pre-packed Blossom Festival lunches. Stores and street markets are carrying a wide variety of specialty food that is only available at this time of year - predominantly pastries, an assortment of types of candies, and ice cream treats all in various floral flavors, as well as a sort of ambrosia salad based around a sweet rose-flavored cream and a native fruit that is bright green and tastes like a combination of peach and citrus.

ii. dancing lessons

Starting on April 2nd, there will be dancing lessons offered almost everywhere you look! From partner dances to group dances to line dances; sexy and sensual or innocent and childlike - almost any type of dance you can imagine is represented, from any reality or planet that has people in Riverview Quarantine.

Additionally, the Riverview Central Community Center has multiple rooms blocked off so anyone who knows a dance from home can teach it to others in their community - sharing is caring, after all. Characters are welcome to block off one of these rooms and offer lessons in any dance they happen to know from home (and these sorts of thread starters would be eligible for the mingle AC Point bonus)!

iii. flower festival dancing

This is pretty simply what it says on the tin - in almost every club, community center, or other public space, there will be dancing at almost all hours of the day or night, formal and informal. Musicians bring out their instruments and play in the street for demonstrations of cultural dances and music at the same time as clubs are offering VIP cover charges for exclusive dances, and you can find anything in between.

There are also many low-cover-charge raves that allow under-18s so younger characters can stay up all night and dance like crazy. The legal drinking age in Riverview Quarantine is 14, and so anyone over 14 can enter and indulge in a few drinks, dancing, and playing tag with a non-intoxicating version of the colored powder featured at the adult raves. There is copious amounts of security on site to ensure that everyone is safe, as well as nurses and off-duty police officers to offer advice or care for anyone who overindulges out of lack of experience.

Grab a partner, a group of friends, or just cruise and mingle the various dancing events.

Characters may also notice that most of the street markets and clothing shops are offering clothing that features floral patterns, flowers as accessories, and that show a lot of skin - for men, women, and anyone in between!

iv. adult raves

Advertised on flyers and digital screens around the city, made to pop as if they were under blacklight, is a series of adult raves that are happening in various large empty warehouse spaces around the city, including one that is listed as the danger rave and hosted in an abandoned factory outside the inhabited city walls. With bouncers at the door to ensure that anyone entering is 18+, the raves are comfortably adult in nature. Clothing is optional, showing skin is encouraged, and there are a lot of neatly tucked away spaces for attendees to get some time alone with one or more than one person, as well as spaces intended for orgies. The atmosphere is sex-positive and non-judgemental, open to any orientation or preference, with various forms of protection available for free, however, to ensure that everyone plays safe there are sober security teams out en masse at all premises to oversee the events.

(CW: DRUG USE) In each location, there is one specific room where attendees can enter, and dance or play tag with brightly colored powder that contains small amounts of a legal party drug commonly available in Riverview, which is absorbed through the skin. Not much more intoxicating than having a few beers, the effects of the drug are a pleasant low-key buzzing euphoria, positive sensitivity to touch, a heightening of desires for intimacy, and a mild lowering of inhibitions. Once a character has been hit with the powder, the color lingers on the skin so other attendees can know who has partaken, but once the powder makes contact with a surface it deactivates, meaning that partakers can safely dance with non-partakers without sharing the intoxicating effects.

Please be sure to warn in subject lines for any threads involving drug use. And remember, there is always security to intervene and make sure everyone is safe.

v. 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 at the Flower Festival, feel free to write it up!

visual inspiration

click on thumbnails for larger view

Credit: third image by Steve Goad; other images found on uncredited on Pinterest or Google images - please let the mod know if you find credit!

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[They don't really have raves in Fearun, but Taako takes to them pretty easily, considering it mostly just involves dancing and having a good time, two things he can excel at when he puts his mind to it. Inviting Eddie along was on a bit of a whim, but he's pretty sure they're like, friends or something at this point, and it seems like Eddie could use the opportunity to chill out.

Which is why Taako has put himself in charge of ordering drinks, meaning they're very alcoholic and very colorful, and he's in the process of brandishing one in Eddie's direction when he notices that the powder room has caught his eye.]

If you wanna go in, my dude, just say so. I'm up for it.

[It looks fun, even if he hasn't tried it yet.]

[Eddie's also pretty sure he and Taako are friends now, so when Taako invites him to go to the rave, he finally gives in to the curiosity and agrees. When Taako is nudging his way back through the crowd toward Eddie, holding a couple of drinks, dressed in floral shorts and thigh-highs and a drapey shirt, he starts a little and offers a slightly tentative smile, cheeks a bit pink under the bright lights. It's still a little jarring to see a guy wearing clothes like that, but Eddie thinks it'll seem normal after a drink, and it's not like Taako can't pull it off with those legs of his.]

Have I mentioned that I can't decide if that outfit is amazing or just really surprising?

[Offering Taako a wicked little grin, he reaches out to take the drink, eyes flicking back toward the powder room. This time, Taako notices and calls him on it, and Eddie shrugs, taking a sip of the drink, sputtering a bit at how strong it is, then shrugging his shoulders a bit.]

Wow, that's strong. And uh. I don't know. It's drugs, isn't it?

Amazing, duh.

[He has no real concept of what is and isn't appropriate for dudes to wear; clothes aren't really gendered in Fearun, so he's used to picking what he likes and going for it, rather than worrying about what people will think.]

The bartender likes me. [Which means he charmed his way into getting a double shot for the vodka in the fruity martini, something that he's certainly not complaining about.] And she explained how that shit works, said it's just like being happy drunk.

[Rather than depressed-drunk, which is good, because no one needs to be depressed-drunk.]

[The truth is, Eddie doesn't really have anything against Taako wearing clothing meant for women, it's just...well, surprising. And Taako really really can pull it off.]

Why wouldn't she like you? [Eddie says it with a wide grin, taking another long pull from the drink - it's sweet and fruity and strong, usually the opposite of what Eddie drinks, but it seems appropriate right now.]

And it's legal too.

[For a moment, he hesitates, waffles back and forth on it, then takes a long, long pull from his drink.]

After we're done these. I mean, they're playing tag in there, I think.

[That makes Taako laugh, because god, he's been on his best behaviour here in the interest of not making enemies left and right, but he knows he's pretty fucking unlikeable when he stops caring. Half the Bureau would agree with him.]

What's wrong with tag, or are you waiting until the orgy starts?

[He's just joking to mess with Eddie, as evident by the way he tries to hide his smirk by taking a sip of his drink.]

[Well, there are a lot of things involving liking people that have to do with great legs and pretty hair, but Eddie isn't getting into that right now. He's too busy going bright red at Taako's comment about the orgy.]

No!

[It bursts out of him, immediate and a little too loud, and he drowns out his embarrassment with another sip of his drink.]

I just. You ever tried to play tag with an open drink in your hand? I don't know how well you can run in those shoes, but I am definitely the competitive type, and I take tag very seriously.

Of course you are.

[He's not even a little bit surprised to hear that Eddie is competitive, considering it fits with most of what Taako knows about him so far.]

Anyway, I'd totally beat you. I've got magic.

Isn't that cheating? Are you seriously going to cheat when you're playing tag with a cop?

[Eddie gives him a mischievous little grin, and then shakes his head, taking another sip from his drink. Longer this time, because now that the initial shock of how strong the drink is has worn off, it tastes pretty good, and Eddie has a feeling that he's gonna be able to deal with this place and present company a lot more easily once he's got the drink in him.]

And what do you mean, of course I am? Are you judging me, Taako Taaco?

[Taako, in the process of taking a sip of his drink, nearly loses it when Eddie says his "last name", though luckily he keeps his composure.]

Oh gods, don't say that, my surname is fake as shit, you can't try to sound serious if you're gonna use it.

[He wasn't really planning on admitting that to anyone but he's already a drink or two ahead of Eddie and really, it doesn't matter that much.

He'll deal with the rest of what Eddie said in a moment, too, he just wanted to clarify this point first.]

Edited (autocorrect pls) 2017-04-08 22:40 (UTC)

[Eddie's brows shoot up when Taako tells him that, and then he laughs, bright and abrupt.]

Oh my god. I'm not really surprised considering, but...wow. So what's your real last name, huh? How am I supposed to playfight with you if I can't call you out by your last name?

[His head tilted, Eddie grins at him a little crookedly.]

[So that's what this is, huh?]

It's a fucking mystery, my man, I'm pretty sure it was voidfish food.

[Which means that it's as much of a mystery to Taako as it is to anyone else.]

Everyone gets all hung up on it, so I just made it up, thought it'd be funny.

That sucks.

[It's a little empathetic, but mostly matter-of-fact, because Taako isn't really making a big deal of it, talking about how he made it up as a joke.]

It is pretty funny, though, even if it makes me crave tacos every time I hear it.

[Waving a hand, Eddie realizes that he probably wouldn't have said that if he hadn't finished at least half the drink Taako brought him. But instead of slowing down, he just takes another long drink from it, brows slightly raised as he looks at Taako over the rim of the glass.]

[By this point he's had tacos explained to him, so he gets where Eddie was theoretically going with that, but the raised eyebrows make it clear that they're just gonna roll with the other implications.

This is... not entirely unexpected, if he's being honest, but it is a little new. Still, he's nothing if not adaptable. So - Taako leans in a little, batting his eyelashes because he's cheesy as hell.]

We can absolutely do something about that problem, my man.

[It takes a few moments for it to sink in, exactly what Taako means, and Eddie mostly gets it only because of the expression Taako is wearing when he says it. The moment it sinks in, Eddie laughs, abrupt and loud and pleased.]

Oh man. I meant the food, you know? But...

[Leaning in, he raises his brows and smiles, crooked and teasing and suggestive.]

If we want to play that way, I'm into it.

[In all honesty, he didn't have an exact plan on this front, in part because he wasn't sure if he was barking up on the wrong tree, when it came to Eddie. He hadn't been entirely unresponsive to thinly veiled flirting, but he's also just really fucking nice and seems like the kind of person who's nice to everyone.

And then there's the whole... 'they admitted some heavy shit to each other' thing, which leaves Taako feeling a little on the back foot, because that's not really how he rolls. Flirting is a lot easier, even if there's a tiny part of him that realises this might just make things awkward in the future, depending on Eddie's motives.

That's a problem for future Taako.]

You are, huh? [Honestly, Eddie's response was probably a mistake, now Taako looks smug as hell.] I gotta say, I was starting to worry you weren't interested in that sorta thing.

[The fact is, Eddie definitely finds Taako attractive - he has since the first time he saw him and got over the elf ears. Eddie's also pretty comfortable with being attracted to guys, it's not like he hadn't noticed that particular inclination back sometime in college and got all the weirdness out of his system. The hot-and-cold responses to flirting are almost entirely down to Iris West and his recently broken and then repaired relationship that had been cut off by death.

After all, it's not like dying had made him stop loving her, but he also has no expectations that he'll ever be able to get back with her. So, with the strongest drink he's had in a while almost finished, feeling the buzz of it, it feels kind of good to flirt with someone else, put her out of his mind. It's a rebound thing, probably, except where he's actually fond of Taako, just not sure what kind of fond he is, and that...is also a problem for future Eddie.

Right now, he just steps in a bit closer, head tilted, mouth curved into a slightly crooked smile.]

Weren't interested in what sorta thing? The pretty elves in cute outfits with gorgeous hair kinda thing?

[Gods but this is definitely more familiar ground than talking about dying and caring about things and how fucked up either of them are. Eddie steps closer and Taako grins, reaching out to loosely tangle his fingers in the hem of Eddie's shirt, not quite fully closing the distance between them, but it's a start.]

I mean, I could write you a list. ['Dudes', 'flirting', 'casual flings', 'etc'] But I would much rather let you keep laying on the compliments.

[Eddie finishes his drink, sets the cup on a nearby table, and steps in just a little closer to Taako, looking down at him with his pale lashes half obscuring his eyes.]

And here I thought I might be laying it on a little thick.

[A slight smirk, and Eddie lifts a hand, heart thudding, to brush against the slight curve of Taako's waist, head tilted as he holds eye contact. He's close enough they could be dancing, though they're standing still, and Taako's drink is still in his hand.]

Can you drink and dance?

If there's such a thing I don't wanna hear it.

[Which isn't true. Sazed thought he hung the fucking moon and the way that turned out makes him wary of anyone who thinks too much of him, but there's a difference between that and flirting, and he's fairly certain it's the latter going on right now.

In answer to Eddie's question, Taako just knocks back his barely-touched drink in one go (it's only a martini, it'll be fine), then grins and waggles his eyebrows as he sets the glass down beside Eddie's.

He doesn't know if Eddie is thinking regular dancing or heading into the powder room, so Taako will let him lead.]

[Eddie laughs a little, a kind of throaty sound as Taako says that. It reminds him, for a moment, almost painfully, of Iris. She couldn't ever hear too many compliments either, and Eddie always enjoyed finding new and cheesy ways to compliment her.

It's a relief, when Taako tosses back his drink and waggles his brows at him, to be brought back into the moment, focused on the guy in front of him. And sure, he promised he'd go into the powder room after the drink was done, but he wants at least one dance first. So instead of heading for the room, he just releases that touch to Taako's waist and takes his hand instead, pulling him out onto the floor as the next song starts, a little slower, with a deep thrumming beat - it's a dirty dancing song, but Eddie doesn't start off that way. Instead, he just puts his hand back, loosely, on Taako's waist and steps in closer, moving smoothly to the beat.]

[This whole rave concept is a slightly new one to Taako; the music and the dancing isn't exactly the kind that he's used to in Fearun, but he'd spent the previous evening at one of the clubs getting acclimatised, so he doesn't falter when Eddie tugs him towards the press of bodies on the dancefloor.

And sure, he gave up some of his athleticism in Wonderland, but he can still dance, and so far it seems like Eddie can too, which is a fucking relief. Since he's the shorter one, here, he's happy to follow along with the general dancing convention of putting his arms around Eddie's neck, especially when that also serves the purpose of pulling him a little bit closer.]

[Eddie hasn't been to a rave in years, back home, but he's been to the ones here, and he'd been to clubs at home and the dancing isn't much different. This is something he's always enjoyed - a place where he can get some of his feelings out without needing to articulate the words, where his boxing footwork and natural grace come together to make him actually feel good and comfortable in his body.

There's something nice about being in the press of bodies with the bass thrumming through his core, and Taako pressing closer, graceful hands sliding around the back of his neck. He can feel Taako's wrist against the short hairs at the back of his neck, and he comfortably settles his own around Taako's waist, tugging him in close so their bodies are almost-but-not quite flush.

It's nice, losing himself in the music, sliding closer until he can smell Taako's hair and skin and whatever products he uses, can feel the heat of his body up close and personal. When the song ends, Eddie almost regrets it, wants to carry on for just one more, but he promised they'd go to the powder room. So he tugs lightly at Taako's waist, ducks his head toward the room.]

Do you wanna go. You know. To the powder room?

[He waggles his brows just a little when he says it, light-hearted.]

[When Taako told Kravitz that it had been a while, he was telling the truth. The whole wanted-for-killing-40-people thing didn't leave a whole lot of time for dancing, as it were, and then he'd joined up with Bureau which had eaten up even more of his free time. It hadn't been an issue, really, it's not like he'd been after a relationship and flings tend to get boring after a while.

This is pretty great, though, if he's being honest. The fact that he likes Eddie helps, he's a... friend, even if that word is a difficult one to put to anyone other than Magnus and Merle. But yeah, Eddie is a friend, not just some stranger, and he's pretty good at dancing and his hands are steady on Taako's waist. It's nice.

So the question – as much as it earns a sharp smile, as much as he lets himself be tugged –doesn't get an immediate answer, because he wants to make sure Eddie is genuinely up for it.]

Only if you wanna, this whole thing isn't exactly terrible either.

[There's an understatement, but his tone is teasing.]

I'd say 'not exactly terrible' is underselling it a little.

[Eddie smiles, and his voice is warm and a hint rough around the edges, belying some of the emotion underneath. Because there's no denying it felt good, in a way that wasn't purely physical. Eddie really enjoys Taako's company, he's funny and fun and attractive. He makes Eddie laugh. It feels good to be around him, dancing with him.

The thing is, Taako just said that he likes it too, so Eddie can smile at him, curl his fingers against the small of his back, and raise both brows at him, expression a bit flirtatious.]

There's nothing saying we can't come back out here afterwards, right? I hear that the powder makes touching a lot more enjoyable...

[Taako laughs, soft and delighted, and really, Eddie's response is all the encouragement he needs to take his hand and start weaving their way towards the powder room.

It isn't until they're inside, a packet of powder pressed into their hands that Taako speaks again.]

Not lacking in confidence, are ya? Who said anything about touching?

[Nevermind that they were literally just dancing, or that Taako still hasn't let go of Eddie's hand. He won't let that get in he way of being a shit.]

iv obviously

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