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!

navigation

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Steve has more or less adopted the kitchen for a quiet place when no one else is occupying it, but the amount of people that do use it make it hard to find quiet time. He's passing the entrance as he heads to his second choice spot, the roof, when he happens to glance in and see Tony sitting at the table. He stops mid-stride and detours into the room, placing a hand on Tony's shoulder.]

You should head to bed.

[ It is a testament to just how in his own head Tony is that he doesn't hear Steve come into the kitchen until his hand is on his shoulder and Tony is nearly jumping out of his own skin at the contact. The saving grace is that he doesn't fall out of the chair, or curse up a storm in multiple languages, so at least he is slightly better than he was just after the rave.

Slightly.

He still can't quite shake the guilt from his bones, or the cravings from beneath his skin, but he isn't dying and that-- yeah that is a bit of a positive in his books.

With a sigh, and the quirk of a smile, he tips his head back to look at Steve. It's clear sleep has not been a friend of his in a few nights.]

I should, but gotta admit Steve, sleep is probably less restful than just staying awake at this point. [ There is a pause, before his brows furrow a bit.] What are you doing up? Everything alright?

[Steve draws back when Tony jumps, momentarily reacting to the sharp surprise like he might have hurt the man. (And that is something that still weighs on him.) He frowns, watching as Tony seems to recover from the shock of contact, and waits until he's settled down.]

I'm fine. Better than you.

[Sorry, Tony, he's just being honest.]

I was going up to the roof. With all the excitement, I thought getting away might be nice. Did you want to come along?

[The question might be a little more than just an invitation. Steve is gently pushing him to agree. He looks like he needs it.]

[ As stupid as it sounds, Tony misses the hand on his shoulder as soon as it is gone. The lack of something physical to pull him from his thoughts, especially when it's Steve, is still, on occasions, like an ache in his chest. Of course, he tries to make sure that doesn't show, masks the loss with a huff and a wry smile as he stares at Steve.]

Better than me? Psh, I think I feel marginally hurt by that. Just marginally.

[ Not really, he probably looks like shit so, you're not wrong there Steve.

It doesn't take Tony more than a second to think on that, whether Steve was angling for less of an invitation and more of a hard request or not. The engineer had missed having quieter times with the blond, and sitting on the roof? That sounded mostly quiet in a place like this.

The smile that blooms on Tony face, while tired, is still bright as he stands.] I think I can enjoy some stargazing. As long as you regale me with ridiculous tales about the war or something.

[Tony could decline to join him, but Steve is as stubborn as always. He'll keep pestering Tony until he's satisfied that the other man is really okay, and he doesn't give up once he's made up his mind. However, Tony seems happy to accept his invitation, and Steve finds himself surprised by how that tired smile comforts him.

They've been on such bad terms lately. He's starting to realize just how much he regrets that.]

We can bring your coffee up and I'll tell you what I saw so far. Or you can tell me about what you're working on for the fences.

[It's a small thing. Just one moment doesn't bury everything else between them, but maybe Steve forgot some of what everything else means.]

[ It has been, in Tony's opinion, far too long since he and Steve have managed anything resembling 'normal' parameters in their relationship. From one disaster to the next, Tony has been clawing his way back into Steve's trust, and while when he is from, they are closer than they have been in a long while, there is still-- bitterness.

There are echoes of that here, but Steve has proven that he still has Tony's back no matter what. And that? Tony is forever grateful for. So some time to just exist with Steve? Tony will take it, guilt in his bones or not.]

I am appalled that you thought I would even think about leaving my coffee behind, wow Steve. I thought you wanted a conversation and not me napping on you.

[ Not that he would actually be able to sleep, not now. Still.

Fingers curling around the mug of coffee that he had been staring into (it's suspiciously full), Tony stands up and gestures for Steve to lead the way with a flourish of his hand.] I think we might have time for both, how's that?

[Even with the rift between them, Steve can't completely turn his back on Tony. And he will never ignore a real danger to one of his friends, no matter how tenuous their relationship might be. He owes Tony a lot. His life, if he really were to get right down to it. Steve smirks when Tony starts in with his typical banter, but he thinks the man could really use sleep.

Ah, well. It probably won't happen that easily.]

That sounds fine.

[He picks up the coffee pot, bringing it to Tony as he notes the way the genius holds his mug. Yeah, things are not great. He almost says more, but decides to just lead the way up to the roof before attempting to get Tony to talk. Once they get outside, though, he turns to his friend.]

How are you feeling? Really.

[ Sleep is a thing for those that don't have coffee. Or too much guilt. Clearly Tony is not one of those people.

The smirk that tugs at his lips, curls the corners of his mouth up ever so slightly, is at least an honest one. Tony doesn't feel the need to fake it with Steve, and while he might be a few steps from the edge that leads to the abyss, he doesn't feel like he is going to topple over it just yet. Maybe Steve might even be able to pull him back a little.]

Fine? The conversation or the napping? Because I gotta say, you are pretty comfy but not more comfy than a bed.

[ Which is... mostly true. He thinks.

There is an easy silence between them as the walk up to the roof and the engineer almost thinks that Steve will drop the questions, will let him drown in the guilt and his coffee while looking at stars and trading strange stories but--

How are you feeling.

Fuck, he sounds so honest and Tony doesn't really think as he exhales heavily, the truth of things in the noise, eyes seeking out the stars that are spread out above them in an attempt to not have to see that look on Steve's face that might just break him.]

I'm feeling human, how about that, huh?

[ An echo of a smile on his face as he tips his head to the side and takes Steve in.] How about you, how are you doing?

You can do whichever you feel like doing. Just as long as you come with me.

[The delivery is calm and relaxed, as if Steve were completely unaware of what he was saying. He was focused more on easing the tension in Tony's frame. As much as the engineer might pretend to be fine, Steve knew that he was still shaken after his night of losing control to the lure of pleasure and an unplanned high. He keeps going, lets Tony walk along with him, and at first doesn't really respond to the retort he gets. A dry, humorless joke and a question in return, because Tony has always been the master of deflection, he thinks.

Always a pretender. Sometimes Steve has resented the man for that.

But in the sidelong glance that he gets, with a faint smile that doesn't quite reach all the way, Steve still manages to find the warmth he was looking for. The reassurance that, under all the struggle and guarded regret and unease, he's going to be okay. He can still find Tony in that mess. He hasn't come apart completely just yet.]

I'm fine, Tony. You don't need to worry about anyone else but yourself right now. You can take the day off. We'll let you worry about us after you've had some time to rest, okay?

[Steve looks up at the strange stars that are both unfamiliar and beautiful against the dark sky. He'll probably wait up there even when Tony eventually goes to bed. There's a piece of him that wants to see the sun rise in this strange place and see if it looks as good on a foreign moon as it does when it's familiar to him. What he really wishes is that he knew the constellations.]

I was worried.

[He tells a star, because answering Tony directly is too much like telling him he shouldn't have gone, and that isn't what Steve wants to say. Or it isn't what he wants Tony to hear.]

Sir, yessir.

[ There is laughter in his voice though, however shaky, as he follows behind Steve. Like there was even a chance he wasn't going to follow him to the roof. Or anywhere else for that matter. Even after all the things that had been torn to pieces between them (because of them) there was still something rooted deep in the bones of Tony Stark that made him so sure about following Steve. Even when they were on opposite sides, even when they were at each other's throats, Tony always knew that he could trust Steve to do what he thought to be right.

Being thrown in this place, while his life back in their home universe was unstable and too full of death, reminded Tony just how much he missed having Steve close. Missed having someone that could read him, even with all his masks on and his smiles blinding.]

Uh huh, because that sounds like a great idea. How about I channel my energy and attention into making sure I can have a working enemy targeting system for this place. Maybe look into making you some new toys, anything you are wanting at all there, Steve?

[ Don't pay attention to the man behind the curtain, please. He would rather crack under the guilt and the knowledge that, really, he was the only one responsible for himself. That he was fucking lucky that Steve was there for him the way he was.

Of course, Steve ruins it with his honesty. Simple honesty and three words.

Tony sighs heavily as he sits next to Steve, leaning against the blond a little as he looks up at the sky alongside him. He knows that Steve isn't judging him, oddly enough. Knows that the worry is genuine and honest and fuck if that doesn't hurt more than him falling off the wagon.]

... I would say sorry, but I know that isn't what you need to hear.

[ He is sorry, but there is so much more to it. ]

No, it isn't.

[The answer is simple and honest. Perhaps too direct, because Steve has a problem with stating things frankly and not really softening his words the way he should. He settles down next to Tony, letting him lean against him as they look up at the patterns made by the stars. He feels lost again. Like waking up in a different time.]

I don't need an apology. I'm not the one that's going to have to deal with this.

[A harsh truth, but Steve delivers it with frankness that doesn't reach to accusation. And, this time, he actually makes some effort to clarify himself.]

I don't know exactly what happened back there, but I'm glad you called me. I wish you would have called me sooner, but I'm glad you did.

[And if he were a better friend, maybe Tony would have called him right away. Or be in a better place to begin with. Maybe, Steve Rogers, possibly...

Maybe this is our fault, too.

He looks over the city. From the rooftop, it actually looks familiar.]

Did you want to look at the shield?

[ Tony didn't expect softness or platitudes when speaking with Steve. He expected the truth and he appreciated it as well because so many other people just tip-toed around the subject, treated him like he was somehow less than when it came to his issues rather than expecting him to own up to them. Except Steve.

The blunt answer pulls a smile from Tony, and a quiet laugh. He knows that apologies are kind of useless now, and really, he knows fairly well by this point that apologies are usually more for the people giving them than for the people who received them.]

No, no you're not. That will be me, and-- well, we'll see how it goes. It was-- [ He almost wants to say fun, wants to say an interesting experience being drunk without the bitter taste of liquor on his tongue. And it was, but Tony isn't sure that it was worth it, those fleeting moments in the dark.] It was interesting.

[There is a hum at what Steve says, the lingering feeling of tension between them; like both of them were tugging on a string almost half-heartedly not sure if they wanted to let go or use it to strangle the other with it. Tony nudges Steve's shoulder a little, honestly, he should have called Steve earlier. But-- but there was still so much that he was unsure about between them. An undercurrent that made him hesitant in a way that he usually wasn't. ]

I think-- I think part of me didn't want to disappoint you. Again.

[ And honestly, that is the truth.

He laughs at the comment about the shield, turning to face Steve with a grin on his face.]

That isn't just a euphemism, is it?

[Steve can only be what he is. That isn't always kind or soft. He can't coddle Tony or offer him forgiveness for issues that ultimately are up to Tony to accept or reject himself. He can only comment as an outside observer, and his feedback is honest because he won't lie, not about this.

He doesn't expect Tony to laugh. He knows how his stubborn, straightforward nature causes problems. It already has, and there is still that gap between them. But Steve would never abandon Tony in a situation like that.]

You were worried about disappointing me?

[That sounds strange to Steve. Not because he doesn't believe it--plenty of people have looked up to him in the past--but because it feels weird to hear Tony say that. He's so sincere, offering what almost sounds like a confession after he slipped from his well-guarded control. It's strange because it's so personal, so close to intimate.]

It's your health, Tony. I'm not going to walk away just because I'm disappointed by your choices. We can argue about it later, but only if you're safe.

[Steve gives Tony the slightest nudge back as he shifts his weight, pulling the wrist device off of his arm to hand over. He's sure Tony is already familiar with it since it's all basically born of his tech, but Tony wants another project and that is what Steve has to offer.]

Can you do anything with that?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

introductory mingle: FLOWER FESTIVAL

here it goes

w e l p

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject