riverviewlogs | introductory mingle: HARVEST FESTIVAL

Entry tags:

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)

navigation

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Rey relaxes a little once the beast is under the control of the other person who looks familiar...oh right, they met in the most awkward of ways.]

But where? Are you planning on bringing her inside? [It's a question of the beast fitting through the door, but the floor itself isn't the biggest around...or is he planning on keeping it in his room?]

That's..that's fine. She didn't attack me, so no ill feelings.

[The dog continues to pout at both Billy and Rey...to which Rey ultimately gives in and slowly places her hand on the beast's head for a quick pat.]

[Billy will be grateful that they aren't in each other's heads this time, and he doesn't plan on bringing that up anytime soon. Thankfully, they have a dog to distract them right now, a dog that's looking very happy now that Rey's finally petting her. She lets her tongue loll out of her mouth and wags her tail before laying down on her side, exposing her belly.]

That's what I've been trying to figure out. [Because there's no way in hell his bed has enough room for both him and the massive dog. He likes her, but not enough to give her the bed while he takes the floor.]

She'd probably be cramped if I brought her inside, so I've thought of making a little hut for her just outside the building and leaving her a blanket with some food and water. If I could find something to tie her up with that'll keep her from running off again.

[So...did she break the beast? It now has her tongue hanging out and laying on her side, exposing her belly...her organs. So, was she supposed to keep petting it?]

She already ran off once. [Considering how big 'she' is, it wouldn't be long until she tried to run off again.

And a blanket wouldn't just cut it. It's been getting cold at night, well colder...so being outside wouldn't be the best option.]

You could try to put her in the lobby of the Housing building. Or..use one of the empty rooms on the floor. [Assuming, there were still empty rooms.]

[The dog suddenly closes its mouth when it notices that the petting has stopped. She lifts up her head at Rey, giving her the best puppy eyes she can (literally). Billy's been around enough dogs to know what that means, though. He bends down to rub the dog's belly, cracking a smile when she lays back down and starts lightly kicking a hind paw.]

Yeah, a rope wouldn't be strong enough, and a chain might bite into her neck.

[Now that she mentions it...]

I think one of the beds is unoccupied at the moment. [The empty fifth bed in their room to be exact.] Or last I checked, the room across from ours was completely devoid of people.

[Then again, she might break something in that empty room if left unsupervised.]

There's the dining room, too.

No, a chain wouldn't be good, the cold could rust it.. [And having a chain around it's neck would hurt it too.

Rey eyes the beast a little more, wondering hwy it continued to give her such a look. It was...adorable, and starting to work on her. At least Billy knew what to do, kneeling down to start rubbing it's middle and watching it's hind leg start to kick...]

...Does it always do that? [The whole 'pet my tummy' look and the hind kick?]

You could do that. It's not like there's much there to begin with. If she's there for a night, she should be fine.

[The dining room should be fine too, it did have enough space...assuming he'd want to keep her there.]

Seems like she likes you.

Every dog has their own personality, but yes, it's something they do when they feel safe around someone. As for the kicking, no one really knows why dogs do that, and it only happens when you rub their belly for some reason.

[The dog's charm is working on Billy as well. She's a little dirty, but it's not enough to hide her lovely coat, and even he finds the kicking adorable. He'd always wanted a dog as a little boy, but his family had barely been able to feed themselves.]

Hopefully no one has a problem with dogs then, but if they really have a problem, I'll just move her to the dining room for the night.

[Billy's smile remains small, but his eyes light up.]

She seems like a friendly dog in general. She must be used people since she ran right up to me without any hesitation. I was just coming out from the smoke shop when I found her digging through the garbage.

[Hence the dark smudges on her fur.]

Dog? Is that what she is? [Because, clearly they didn't have dogs on Jakku, or at least any that she's seen.]

I don't forsee it being an issue, since we're the only ones there right now.

[Eh, he can do whatever he wants with the dog. Rey wouldn't care. As long as it didn't try to go into her room, or try to pounce on her...really it was fine.]

If you like her...maybe you should keep her? [An honest question considering the dog seems attached to him already and he seems attached to it...so why not?]

[He can't stop the puzzled look that appears on his face, but other than that, he doesn't call her out on not knowing what a dog is. He already knew Rey was from a world that was different from his (what, with the flying machines and all), so they probably had different animals in that world, too.]

That's right. They were popular pets in my world, in many countries.

[Billy presses his lips into a thin line as he thinks, still rubbing the dog's belly.]

I was used to having constant company before coming here, but I haven't seen him here. [As far as he knew, he hadn't seen Goody or anyone else from Rose Creek show up yet.] It would be nice to have something like that again.

[Oh, it's clear to see the puzzled look on his face, but she doesn't comment on it. Nor does Billy comment on how everyone mostly knows what a dog is. There are a lot of differences between their worlds, but she is willing to learn.]

They are? [Why would someone want to keep a dog that size? For hunting? For companionship? Protection?] I mean, she is cute in her own way...she's not going to get bigger, is she?

[Because, how big will she get and can she still fit in the building? There are creatures from her world that can get to be pretty big...and eat everything. Like a rathtar. Nasty creatures.]

I wouldn't mind if you kept her, and if we're the only ones that's still on the floor...pretty sure it would be okay.

[And Billy is more than willing to teach Rey what a dog is. As much as he would like to keep petting the dog, though, his hand is getting tired, so he stops.]

I hope not, this is actually my first time seeing a dog of her breed, so I can't say for sure. [Not even the Master's prized hunting hounds had been this big.] Maybe the veterinarian can tell me how old she is when I take her in.

[He could buy a dog collar while he was at it, along with a proper bed for her. But did people even sell dog beds that big? He supposed he would have to find out.]

Guess I'd better start letting the other people on our floor know then. [At last, his smile grows. Billy thinks the dog might be too big (and too energetic) to take hunting, but at least he'd have something to keep his mind off of what happened to him at Rose Creek.]

You're welcome to see her anytime, Rey. Anyone is as long as she seems to be fine with them. They say dogs are good at reading people.

I hope she doesn't get too big. No bigger than the room. [Because then Billy might have to move her outside, and Rey can't imagine that would be any better for her. She crouched down to the dog, patting her head again and then moved to rub her tummy. The fur there was incredibly soft.

She assumes a 'veterinarian' is a doctor or animal care taker specialist. If that person can say the dog is healthy then that's fine. As for letting the other people on their floor know..]

Yes, you'll have so many people to inform. [A bit of a sarcastic reply, considering there were only what? Two, maybe three others on that floor besides them? Billy already told her, so she was fine with it.

The dog looked like she was in complete heaven, her hind leg kicking repeatedly.]

Thanks. I wouldn't mind seeing her from time to time. Assuming she's up and not asleep. [She assumes at some point dogs sleep...right?]

You and me both, or I might have to board her at the farm.

[He worked with the horses at the farm, so seeing the dog every day wouldn't be a hassle, and there would be lots of room for her to run around. But right now, she looked like she had everything made with him and Rey giving her their attention.

To the sarcastic remark, Billy lets out a wry chuckle in return, although it really is convenient that he won't have to tell several people the same story over and over. It left more time to make sure the dog would be comfortable with her new surroundings.]

Hopefully she doesn't snore. I've heard that some dogs do. [Not that Billy would be bothered by it. After having to listen to Goody snore for all the time they spent together, he could still fall asleep without any problems. He's more concerned about how the others on their floor might react, not knowing if they're used to it like he is.]

Now I need to come up with a name, something that can be easily pronounced.

[He remembers how difficult it was for the Master to pronounce his own Korean name, which was why the Master quickly gave up and started calling him Billy. Even Goody had a hard time with it.]

The farm?

[Rey hadn't exactly taken notice that there was a farm here. Her mind had been so focused on finding a way out of Quarantine, or finding something similar to her world that she didn't explore the rest of the city itself.]

Hopefully not. Hate to have her keep you or me up. [She already had enough trouble with falling asleep. Be it from the mattress being too soft, to having other thoughts run around in her head at ungodly hours.]

What name could you give a dog? [Really, she had no idea, and considering dogs weren't common from her world...she wouldn't know what to call it. Considering the dog's coloring...maybe Patches? Maybe spot? She didn't know.]

Yeah, I help care for the horses there.

[It's peaceful, too, which is what he needed after what happened at Rose Creek. Some time away from the battlefield to recollect his thoughts and come to grips with his death, which he was still working on.]

Anything, really. I've heard of dogs with simple names and others with real fancy ones. [He scratches at his own chin in thought.] For her, I want it to be something that sounds nice yet simple.

[He hums in thought before going silent for a moment. During the short time it takes Billy to come up with something, the dog sits up to scratch at an itch.]

I like Jina, that's a name for girls in my birth country.

Ah, I haven't been there yet. [But! She knew what a horse was, or had an idea of what a horse was, thanks to one of the pokemon Ivar had.

The name Jina though..it seemed nice. Nice enough for the dog to happily bark at the choice, making Rey chuckle.]

She seems to like it. [Rey pulled her hand back from rubbing the pup's tummy, standing up to her full height again.]

Does it mean anything or, is it just a name?

Well, if you're ever fixing to learn how to ride a horse, just come over and I'll teach you. I had one before arriving in the Quarantine.

[He can't help but wonder what will become of his horse now that he's dead and gone. Perhaps someone in Rose Creek would take it in.

Billy also stands straight, thighs burning from crouching for so long, but one hand reaches down to ruffle Jina's head.]

One meaning is "precious child." [A chuckle.] Even though she is a big one.

[Now that things have calmed down, though, Billy realizes something.]

What were you doing out this late anyway, Rey? Couldn't sleep?

[As Billy mentioned before, he had to make a quick run to the smoke shop to purchase more opium since his supply was getting low, and ever since he was released from the hospital, he's been craving it more to help quell his anxiety. (Still, it felt strange having a laced cigarette all to himself instead of passing it on to Goodnight.)]

[Interesting...learning how to ride a horse. A different beast, but maybe something she could take into consideration? If something happens to her speeder at least she had another form of transportation? Or was she looking too heavily into it?]

I'll think about it. I've never been around a horse before.

[So how one would ride them? She has no clue, but at least she's open to the idea.

The meaning of the name is enough to make a faint smile dance across her lips.] She's still precious, to you she will be. [So the name makes sense...it really fits the dog well.]

I was asleep, but then I heard something crying and came outside. [There's a small shrug of her shoulders then. She won't be able to fall back asleep, but that's okay.] But the crying's stopped, so I guess someone found that animal...or something.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

introductory mingle: HARVEST FESTIVAL

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

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject