riverviewlogs | introductory mingle: HARVEST FESTIVAL

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introductory mingle: HARVEST FESTIVAL

who: everyone in Riverview!
what: Introductory Log and Harvest Festival celebration
when: The month of November.
where: Anywhere around the city.
warnings: please put any necessary warnings in the subject lines

harvest festival

In the days leading up to November 1st, residents new and old will notice preparations beginning, a flurry of activity getting the city ready for the upcoming celebration: The Harvest Festival. This holiday is in celebration of the harvest season and autumn, as the moon transitions into its winter period, and is characterized by indulging in the plenty that comes with the harvest season with loved ones, cleaning house figuratively and literally, and making sure that those in need don't suffer during the winter. Celebrations tend to focus around food and charity, with citizens enjoying and sharing cultural meals and sharing stories, or participating in any of the wide range of charity projects and events going on during this season.

a celebration of sharing

The biggest traditions of the Harvest Festival are centered around giving and sharing. Charity is central, and the each year the city sets up a large open tent with warm places to rest for anyone who might be homeless and a table capable of sitting over 50 people at any given time, with a round-the-clock catered feast for anyone who wants to sit and have a meal with anyone else who's dropped by. Besides this, there are a wide variety of events benefiting charities in the city, including a karaoke concert, stray animal round up, and the annual "stuff swap" where residents clean their homes and donate anything they don't need to those who might be lacking. There is also a tradition of writing down repressed or bottled up thoughts, feelings, regrets, sins, and other troubles and tossing them into a bonfire to go into winter with a clean soul.

i. harvest feast & stuff swap

For the first few days of November, anyone dropping by the city center will notice a large tent structure being put into place - by November 3rd, as the last of October's ghosts fade into nonexistence, a veritable banquet hall will have been sent up. For a week following the setup, anyone who drops by the hall and steps inside will see a large table laden with food. Bread, stew, fruits and vegetables, soups, roasted meat, and almost anything else one can think of will be on the table, along with plates, silverware, and cups. Anyone is free to take a plate, settle down at the table, and help themselves to a meal.

The Feast is staffed entirely by volunteers, who do the cooking, cleaning, and tidy up the dishes and area afterwards, keeping the constant stream of food coming. Whether your character is heading in to sit beside a stranger and strike up a conversation, or volunteering their time, energy, or cooking skills to the hall, they're more than welcome.

One corner of the hall is entirely dedicated to the yearly "stuff swap." There's a long-standing tradition of fall cleaning in Riverview Quarantine, where residents will thoroughly clean their homes and rid themselves of excess in preparation for the winter. The extra things that aren't needed can be dropped off at the city center where the Feast is set up, and anyone who is in need of a particular item that has been donated can take it free of charge. This is an honor system, so please be kind to others! (Or don't.)

ii. charity karaoke

On the weekend of November 10th and 11th, while the Feast will be cleared away, the tent is being repurposed for a new event - a Karaoke Concert for the needy! Set up as a makeshift bar and lounge area, the space will be fronted by a large stage where singles or groups of people can choose a song and karaoke their hearts out to a crowd of spectators. There's a by-donation cover fee, and guests are encouraged to reward the best (or most hilariously bad) renditions of beloved songs from across the multiverse with digital "tips" that are transferred to the karaoke performer's charity of choice.

Whether you're a spectator tipping a performer, or a performer who's singing their heart out on the stage to benefit a variety of charities from the homeless to the animal shelter to children in need (and almost anything else you can think of), the Karaoke Concert is both hilarious and heartwarming.

iii. stray animal roundup

One of the main charity events that seems to happen every year is the stray roundup. As the seasons turn and it gets colder and colder at night, many residents who have a soft spot for animals band together to round up as many stray animals as possible and take them to shelters where they can be rehabilitated, given a warm bath, fed, and have a safe place to sleep. Volunteers take to the streets with crates and nets or restraining poles as well as generous bags of treats of food to entice the strays with, and capture them safely to be brought back to the various animal shelters around the Quarantine. Any animal who's caught is put up for adoption, and volunteers are encouraged to take home any strays that they bond particularly well with, or are invited to foster animals in their homes.

Whether your character is a die-hard animal lover, looking for a new pet, or just wants some wacky hijinks trying to chase a wily critter around the streets, they'll be suited up with supplies by other volunteers and released into the fray. The most common animals to be found are cats, dogs, and small domesticated foxes, but feel free to assume that your character is rounding up a reptile, rodent, bird, or a domesticated alien critter. Playing a thread with this prompt is a great opportunity to get a cute alien pet for your character without spending AP.

iv. letting go

On the evening of November 15th, a series of large bonfires will be set up all along the beaches of the river, and as the night falls, people begin migrating to the beaches from all over the city carrying slips of paper in a wide variety of colors with words written on them in a wide variety of languages, and throwing them into the fires. This is a way of psychologically and emotionally cleaning house for the residents of the Quarantine, because the papers they bring contain the stories of their pain, poems written about the feelings they bottle up, a venting of their anger and fear and resentment, all to be eaten up by the flames and washed away by the river with the next rain.

No matter where a person comes from, they carry pain and suffering and hurts that they must hide. This is a welcome opportunity for characters to write out their thoughts and feelings and release them. And if the symbolism of burning them isn't enough, there are always other people around the fires who are willing to listen, to hear all those things that people keep locked up inside. Share a story willingly, listen to someone's story, or just get caught holding your deepest darkest secrets on a really vulnerable piece of paper...it's up to you.

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 the mod-posted prompt to create a Communal Housing floor mingle. Or, if you have an idea for a prompt that isn't in this list, set during the Harvest Festival, feel free to write it up!

visual inspiration

click on thumbnails for larger view

Credit: image i & iii: Bastien Grivet; image ii & iv: unknown (stock/hobbiton)

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[ Cassian Andor. Jyn. The names are familiar in a ghostly way, like a forgotten childhood memory. Then she says that next bit. And Poe gapes.

He remembers where he's heard those names. Except he hadn't heard them, he'd read them. They'd been engraved on a placard in the old Temple Base, now a New Republic museum. The rolls of the dead from Scarif, the heroes of Rogue One. He used to wonder about Jyn Erso as a kid. She was the only one up there without a rank. A naked name, in the middle of all those military titles.

And there's another revelation, even to him: ] I didn't know that either.

I don't think many people know that either.

[Because that's a huge revelation. To know that someone had made that design flaw intentional. That there was one engineer or architect in the Empire that wanted to bring them down. Rey wouldn't say how she knows that. That is for Jyn or Cassian to tell him. She doesn't want to tell their history and mess something up. But, their story would continue on.]

They're both nice and good people. You should contact them, or maybe we could all share a meal together at some point.

[All of them together, discussing the Empire and maybe giving Cassian and Jyn a chance to ask about the future...and maybe stay away from the topic of the First Order.]

I haven't told them about the First Order, not yet. Not after hearing how they lost their lives to defeat the Empire.

Finn is here, Rey. If they meet him they might find out pretty quick. [ And if they hurt Finn, he's pretty sure he and Rey would both have Words with the heroes of the past and basically that seems like a bad idea all around.

Poe runs a hand through his hair. ] Have you two found each other yet?

[ Because it doesn't seem right to say "seen" each other. The desperate look in Finn's eyes when he asked Poe for help on D'Qar made it pretty damn clear that Rey was one of those people that occupies the center of a person's heart. ]

[In that moment Rey stops in her tracks to star at Poe. What did he mean Finn was here? How could Finn be here when he was resting in med bay back at the Resistance base? ]

What do you mean he's here?

[And now her heart is thumping madly in her chest. She has to find him. She has to make sure he's okay and that nothing happens to him. He came back for her and she would damn well go and find him if he was here.]

When did you meet him? Why isn't he with you now? [Yes, could Poe tell that Finn meant a lot to Rey?]

Edited 2017-11-13 05:04 (UTC)

I mean he's here, awake and healthy.

[ Poe gives her shoulder a little squeeze. At some point he would need to get the story between the two of them, but at the moment it's enough to see how important they are to each other. ] I ran into him in the city.

[ ~~And this is where Poe would say that Finn is looking for her if that wouldn't twist the space-time continuum of these threads into even more knots BUT THERE WE ARE~~

screw it ] Pretty sure he's looking for you.

[ More than pretty sure, but that's clear from the smile on his face. ]

I should've been checking the network to see if anything popped up...

[Her mind is whirling, trying to figure out how she would find Finn. The squeeze to her shoulder helps ground her, and her heart is ready to jump out of her chest.

He was looking for her too? Why is it he always manages to go looking for her? To coming back to her? More questions than answers really, but now she wants to focus on trying to find him...]

Do you know where he is? Or...do you think he's well enough to see people? [Because considering his condition from the last time she saw him, he was in pretty bad shape.]

He's good. [ Poe grins, because seeing Finn hale and whole is almost enough to make up for where they are, at least for a little while.

After the way Finn talked about Rey on D'Qar, and after the reaction Rey had to finding out Finn is here? Poe wouldn't want to be in the crowd between these two when they find each other. ] He'll want to see you, I can guarantee that.

[If Poe told Rey that Finn talked about her on D'Qar, she would be surprised. She wasn't used to being talked about, expect maybe for work. It might be enough to get her to blush a tiny bit, but the world may never know.

Her heart starts to slow down hearing that Finn is good. He's alive...that's all that matters.]

I'll want to see him too. [Because, he's her best friend. Because he's saved her twice at least? Or rather, they keep saving each other...]

I'll see if I can find him tonight. I mean, there aren't too many places you can go, or hide. [At least that's what she's telling herself right now.]

You'll find him.

[ Poe says it with the same kind of confidence he says I can fly anything. The First Order itself couldn't come between these two. A bunch of strangers on a strange moon don't stand a chance. ] We should get together, all three of us, compare notes.

[ Make a metaphorical flight plan. ]

[The confidence in his tone is enough to make Rey give a tiny smile. Yes, they would find each other, and soon. She could figure a way to find him, maybe ask around..

But the idea to have all three of them together was a great one.] We need to, there's a lot that's happened here and things the two of you should know. [Like that Cassian and Jyn were here. That she hadn't told anyone about the First Order or that she was supposed to be a Jedi in training...or how she met Obi Wan..

A lot of things needed to be discussed.] Think your place would work?

Definitely. I've got the place to myself at the moment.

[ And it's big and empty and far more room than he's used to and he would much rather have it filled with people. ] Eleventh floor, room three. I could try cooking something.

[ He sounds a little skeptical at that last part. ] If I can find anything that looks familiar.

The food here.. [How could she exactly go about explaining it?] It's very colorful, and anything that's packaged has all the ingredients listed and in various percentages. It's a lot better than portion packets.

[Believe her, she knows from dealing with them for a fear years.] I could try to make something if you prefer or..

[She could ask someone for a recipe. Eddie, Cisco's boyfriend was a good cook, but would that be overstepping bounds just a little bit?]

Or, we could figure something out.

Why don't I pick something up?

[ Somethings, more likely. Enough food to stuff Finn and Rey and have leftovers of anything they like. A Stormtrooper and scavenger--Poe can't imagine either one of them grew up with enjoyment of food really being a priority. This, at least, is something he can fix. ] That way no one has to worry about it.

[Rey knitted her eyebrows at Poe, confused that he would offer and surprised that he would. If they were making something together, they could all pitch in. She had gone into survivor mode after realizing she wasn't going to be leaving any time soon. So the food she's been eating hasn't been the healthiest...but it's been the most cost effective!]

Are you sure? I don't mind cooking.

[If he presses on the issue then she'll go with it. They can pick something up, which opened a new can of worms....what could they get?]

You can cook next time, how's that?

[ Yeah, survivor mode is not going to cut it with Poe. ALL GOOD AND HEALTHFUL FOOD ALL THE TIME. If it's available it may as well be eaten, so prepare to be bullied into fresh fruit and vegetable consumption Rey. ] I want to see what this place has to offer.

[ It's not a lie, not really, and hopefully it'll make her feel better about him footing the bill. ]

That's fine, but can I help pay for some of the things for dinner?

[HEY, SHE DIDN'T GROW UP WITH HEALTHFUL FOOD. SHE GOT PORTIONS IF SHE WAS LUCKY. He'll have to nudge her a little and get her to not think about where her next meal was coming from. She does like some fruits, the sweeter ones, but vegetables were something she was starting to accept....very slowly.]

There's a big market that has all sorts of things. There's even candy, all sorts. [Ignore how she lights up a little at that.] One of my friends, Cisco, introduced me to some different things.

[ He gives her shoulder another little squeeze. ] Let me do this for the two of you. I can't do much else, not right now.

[ He can't ignore how she lights up okay, she's one of those people who doesn't just get happy, she brightens the world around her when she does it.

Mental note: Get candy. Second mental note: Do a super casual background check of this Cisco. ] You have any favorites?

But the two of you are the ones who got here.. [She was going to keep going in a circle with him on this. Could he tell she wasn't used to being cared for? But, she could see this wasn't going anywhere and let out a soft sigh.] Okay, okay.

[He could take care of it, and she would do dinner next time. Although, perhaps it would be a good idea to have them all on the same floor. Just to keep them together in case anything happened.

Rey doesn't know the effect she can have on people. Something so simple as candy or a good meal could really brighten her day.] I haven't tried everything, but there's a snack, a cookie? That has two dark discs and a creamy center, and there are gummy bears. Tiny little things that have different flavors.

[The two things she's discovered so far: oreos and gummy bears.]

You'd like Cisco, he's very nice. He invents things and I told him a little bit about our world, how we use different ships and vessels to travel from star system to the next, he got very excited.

[ GOOD. LET HIM DO THE THING, REY.

Yes, definitely going to get some candy. Dark discs, creamy center. Gummy bears. Weird name, but he's going to find them.

Poe laughs a little when she mentions Cisco's reaction to spacetravel. ] For a settled moon in a spaceflight-capable system, they seem to get a lot of people who've never heard of interstellar flight. What kind of things does he invent?

[If he got candy for her...it would be one of the most touching things ever. ~~What are you trying to do to her, Poe?~~]

I honestly don't know. He's done different things. He was one of the first people I met here, even offered me a job. I'm still scavenging but the conditions are much better.

[She's not judged on how much she brings in. He doesn't equate her work to how much she'll get. And Cisco was kind, he was there when she needed someone to talk to.]

But, for everything this place has, that's capable of..no one's heard of a droid either. I met this one man, Tony? He has something close to a droid, but it only has a basic function, some personality, but it doesn't speak at all.

[ ~~He's team mom it is known~~

Poe chews the corner of his lip thoughtfully, giving the stranger a few points for being decent at least.

That last part gets Rey a double-take though. ]

I noticed there weren't any around, not that I saw, but. Really, it doesn't talk at all? [ Even droids at their most basic could at least communicate in binary. ]

No, he can't! It doesn't have a port or vent to speak. It was the most curious thing. It seemed to understand human language, but communicating back, it just..looked at you in different ways.

[It blew her mind too.] He did have this colorful armor that made me think it was a droid, but it was just armor. It had more components to it than a Stormtroopers.

[And he wasn't a Stormtrooper so that was a good thing. But to go on about her friend Cisco...]

Cisco though, he's really nice he.. [She wasn't going to tell Poe that Cisco had powers similar to hers, but she needed to come clean about this one thing.] He knows I can use the Force. He isn't freaked out about it or anything. He's the only one that knows, Jyn and Cassian don't.

[ All right, clearly Poe needs to track this guy down and see what Rey is talking about for himself. He's envisioning a rainbow version of the Stormtroopers right now and it's weird. ]

Yeah? [ He'd heard rumors about what Rey could do, and of course he knew why she was going to find Luke, but it was one thing to hear about it and another to hear her say it. Poe rubs his lips thoughtfully. ] What have you told those two? Jyn and Cassian?

[That would be interesting to witness. Tony and Poe talking to one another, or better yet, Tony meeting BB-8. Rey hopes the little droid is doing okay.]

Yeah. I tried to tell him about the Jedi, but I didn't want to complicate things.. [Plus, there wasn't exactly much she could tell...and she would have the bring up the fact that Obi Wan was here at one point or another.

But! On the subject of Jyn and Cassian.]

That the Empire was defeated. I couldn't exactly tell them that there was another force that rose up after the Empire. They were part of the Rebellion for a long time, I didn't have the heart to let them know about the First Order--!

[And then it clicks in her mind that she needs to find Finn soon.]

We'll need to find Finn before he meets them.

Yeah, we really do.

[ Poe rubs his face, debating. He doesn't want to separate from Rey so soon after finding her, but the odds of one of them coming across Finn are definitely better if they can cover more ground. ]

Tell you what. Let's split up, see if we can't track him down. One way or another, we meet at the entrance of the communal housing building in four hours.

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talentedscavenger - 2017-11-18 23:33 (UTC) - Expand

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volitaunt - 2017-11-19 04:18 (UTC) - Expand

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