riverviewlogs | introductory mingle: HYGGE

Entry tags:

introductory mingle: HYGGE

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

hygge

In the days leading up to December 1st, residents new and old will notice preparations beginning, a flurry of activity getting the city ready for the upcoming celebration: Hygge. This holiday is one of Riverview Quarantine's four yearly celebrations of love, this one focused on familial love and found family. The traditions associated with Hygge involve coziness and warmth with loved ones, as snow begins to blanket the Quarantine. Meals comprised of family favorites are shared together most nights of the month of December, and families both biological and found gather together by outdoor fires to drink hot cocoa and other warm drinks, roast marshmallows, and enjoy the beauty of the short-lived winter season on the moon, especially at night, when both the stars and almost unreal aurora borealis light the night sky.

a celebration of familial love and found family

Winter comes to the moon very quickly every year, as the orbit of the Capitol World crosses between its moon and the sun - the temperature drops to just below freezing in the span of only a couple of days, and the trees often don't even change from green to orange. During this short winter, the celebration of Hygge keeps all the residents warm. The main traditions involve comfort and warmth with those people you think of as family - platonic or romantic, though preferably mixed between the two - groups of people gather together to share meals and exchange gifts. The city sets up a series of cabins, each fronted with a fire pit, along the banks of the river, which has been lined with floating logs to interrupt the rushing water and allow the surface to freeze solid and form a series of skating rinks for the public to enjoy. Throughout the month, anyone can head down to the riverbank to make taffy candy in troughs of cold snow and share the various flavors with other families, or toboggan along winding, circuitous courses that range from easygoing to high-speed for the adrenaline junkies. The Town Square has a large, intricate ice sculpture set up, this year in the theme of a castle, that once entered proves to be a maze with a prize at the center for anyone who happens to make it through.

i. beach treats

The cabins that are set up all along both banks of the river are small and cozy, big enough to provide a comfortable lounging area with piles of pillows in front of a small fireplace where gift exchanges can happen, a kitchen to cook in, and a table for groups of people to share a meal at. Much like hotel rooms but without a fee, they're intended to be claimed at the start of the day and used for a while before being tidied and reset for the next group. Each cabin has a fire pit out front where a fire can be set up so groups of people can cook marshmallows for their hot chocolate and share stories or play music together.

Another major feature on the beach are the candy making areas, each big enough to accommodate a couple groups of people, featuring a bank of burners that keep various flavors of thick sugary syrup hot and ready. Once the syrup is at the right temperature, it can be drizzled into the snow packed in troughs to chill, and then rolled onto popsicle sticks to be eaten as a sweet chewy treat. Many families have their own particular flavor combos that are the go-to every year, and new families gather every year to start their own tradition.

ii. winter activities

After all that sugar, everyone's sure to be pepped up for a little activity! Every year, just before the big freeze, crews set up a grid of floating logs to calm the surface of the river along the banks, and when the temperature drops, those areas freeze into a thick layer of ice. As soon as they're safe to be skated on, booths pop up to fit residents with skates so they can skate around with loved ones, participate in ice dances, and play the ice skating version of almost any sport you can think of.

But skating isn't the only type of activity available! The sloping banks of the river have been set up with a variety of tobogganing courses, where people can share various types of sleds to slide down various set winding paths ranging from slow sloped ones to steeper, higher-speed ones that almost resemble bobsled courses.

Finally, for the more competitive, there is a less-gender-divided variation on a Lumberjack Competition, with various physical events that residents can compete in like sawing massive logs, logrolling, speed climbs, and boom runs.

iii. skygazing

After all that sugar and activity, lots of groups of family will settle down around fires either at the cabin or along the beach to enjoy a cup of spiked hot chocolate, coffee, or tea, and look up at the sky. Throughout the cold snap season in December, the sky is almost unnaturally clear and both the stars and the Capitol World are easy to see. Besides that, large swaths of the sky are bathed in beautiful aurora borealis, or Northern Lights, that paint large swaths of bright, beautiful color across the night sky. Curl up with a lover, a friend, a family member, or all of the above to keep warm and enjoy nature's fireworks show.

iv: ice maze

In the city center, residents can find a large, beautiful, intricately carved castle-themed ice sculpture. From the outside, it looks only about as big as a small house, but once residents enter they will find that the inside doesn't quite match the outside - courtesy of some of Gramarye Magic Research's top magic-users, the inside is massive, at least the size of a stadium. While cheery music plays, residents can traverse the complicated ice maze, each wall intricately carved and decorated with greenery, lights, and translucent watercolor paints. The walls are almost opaque, and the maze generally takes a couple of hours to get through for most residents.

Once they reach the center, they will find wrapped gifts arranged on a series of beautifully decorated tables, along with treats and warm drinks. The gifts are tailored to each individual in the maze, having been magically selected from a stockpile of items that have come through the portal, and consist of one small item from each character's home dimension (or, for CRAUs, from their previous game), similar to the "items from home" bonus reward, but without needing to spend points. The item should be small enough to fit in a shoebox, sentimental, and cannot be something intended for another person's character. Alternately, if there are no special items from home that a particular character would want or be attached to, an item of similar size and value that would make the character happy will be inside the box.

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 Hygge, feel free to write it up!

visual inspiration

click on thumbnails for larger view

Credit: image i: Ryan Woodhouse; image ii: Hjalmar Wåhlin; image iii: David Fortin; image iv: Tzuyu Kao

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[Chibita can't help but start slightly as someone sits down next to him--but he's relaxing immediately once he realizes it's Karamatsu, and huffs out a small laugh, reaching out to pick up a pair of chopsticks sitting near the burner so he can lean forward just a little and move some of the ingredients around]

Who else, eh?

[he grins a bit, cheeky, tilting his chin towards Karamatsu slightly, before setting the chopsticks aside again and leaning back a bit on his hands so he can tilt his head back better]

I saw.. that there was enough room for me.. and my heap of burning passion! _{[ does he mean his extra ego? ]} And I took the opportunity. Here I am-- reflect on it and admire it.

_{[ One thing Karamatsu enjoyed about Chibita was the fact he knew he was always welcome in his presence. After all, they lived together for awhile-- that's what Karamatsu last remembers of his world back home. He gets comfortable in his seat and finally reclines backwards as well. It's now that the coat opens up from him reclining, if Chibita even wants to even dare look over at him, he'll see that there are two perfect circles cut out of his shirt.. right over his nipples.. completely exposing just the nipple part.

Why. ]}

You know, I am thankful that you've also made your way here, Chibita.
_{[ DON'T TRY TO BE SENTIMENTAL WITH YOUR NIPS OUT, MAN. ]}

[He can't help but huff, rolling his eyes a little in amusement as Karamatsu settles back as well. He's about to look over and actually discover the horrible ruin of Karamatsu's outfit but first Karamatsu says that and that's.

That's.

It's really sappy and makes him feel like, well...like when he's eaten a really good stick of oden. That sort of warmth. Which is super embarrassing and it's a good thing he's wearing a beanie pulled down over his ears because he's pretty sure they're burning but he also can't help but smile a bit...except not looking away from the aurora yet because IT'S TOO EMBARRASSING FOR HIM TO LOOK KARAMATSU IN THE EYE WHEN HE SAYS THAT BECAUSE IT'S REALLY SAPPY AND CHIBITA DOESN'T DEAL WITH THOSE ON THE REGULAR but Karamatsu does and so he just...]

Yeah?

[his fingers drum on the blanket, staring upwards even as he feels the smile on his face widen a bit, helplessly. After a moment, he does admit:]

...me too.

Things were gloomy, full of despair! Ah, worry not, I concealed it with the clouds of my exterior. Heh. I concealed this black moon within my heart with sunshine! An eclipse!
_{[ He squirms, an indication he was uncomfortable with the topic of conversation.. that he just now brought up.. all on his own. You know. But his face is smiling and his voice is filled with vigor. ]}

Seeing somebody else from home.. it makes me feel more at home. Though, I do feel sorry for everyone back home. They will surely miss their oden cart and the person who makes the food!

Oi, oi, if th' moon was already black, was it really an eclipse? [there's that cheekiness again, peaking through, as he momentarily tilts his head down to check the oden again. That was definitely overdramatic but...somehow, at the same time, it's at least nice to be appreciated, kinda. He doesn't get that much. Don't get him wrong; Chibita loves oden and he loves his job and it's a good portion of his life, but he's not just an oden dispenser.

He hums a bit, though, in response to the comment about being missed. That, actually, he's a little more doubtful of. For two reasons. The first being the obvious: their crowd isn't always the best of people. And they don't always notice when one of them's gone missing. So the likelihood of any of them being that put out is, well...slim. As for the second reason...]

Eh...I dunno 'bout that. [he flips a couple of the sticks of oden around, moving them in the broth so they cook properly, before leaning backwards to flop onto his back on the blanket, staring up at the sky] I mean...I didn't know ya'd been gone eight months, because I just saw ya that mornin'. [he wrinkles his nose] So I dunno that they'll know I'm gone or anything, because'a that time thing.

[not that time moves normally in their world either, but....details.]

Edited (so many spelling mistakes) 2017-12-07 23:55 (UTC)

It's a mystery, isn't it? Ah, how mysterious.
_{[ Karamatsu exhales slowly, seeming distant for a moment as he falls into a pensive thought. He's been keeping a lot from Chibita lately, hasn't he? He should probably tell him.. everything. ]}

What is even more mysterious is the place I was before this. Ichimatsu and I were in space without explanation.. Osomatsu joined us later, but Osomatsu who is here now.. he doesn't seem to remember.

_{[ A pause. ]}

It's better he doesn't.

[Chibita can't help but roll his eyes a bit at the "mysterious" bit, though the corner of his mouth does quirk. But then Karamatsu goes oddly quiet, and especially after that exhale....but Chibita just waits. The momentary quiet feels like it wants to be filled, but knowing Karamatsu, he'll fill it when he's ready.

Which, as predicted, he does, this time with information about that spaceship. Chibita frowns slightly, watching the colors move overhead.]

Ah, that. Ichimatsu didn' wanna talk about that either.

_{[ Karamatsu folds his hands over his chest, wrinkling his nose. He knows he should tell Chibita— too much happened to him for him not to tell. ]}

I don't blame him. For awhile there, we could have died.
_{[ A beat. ]}

Like actually died.

[That's...not exactly what Chibita expects? So it honestly takes a moment to sink in and he blinks once--] Eh? [--twice...before sitting up with a jolt, actually turning to look at Karamatsu now, eyes wide] Ehhhh?! What? What kinda place was that spaceship?!

Edited 2017-12-13 08:58 (UTC)

We don't know. None of us do. To this day, nobody knows. Here, only Ichimatsu, Reaper and I know about the Eluvio. By the time we were brought here, something as aboard the ship.
Something.. malicious. It's a miracle we were even spared and brought here. There were.. things I had to do that I had never done before.

_{[ A pause. ]}

Things I never want to do again.

[There are a lot of times when Chibita might shrug off some of what Karamatsu says considering his general taste for the overdramatic. This...isn't one of those times. He's staring at Karamatsu, now, what of him he can see in the flickering firelight from the single burner. That's...all of that sounds serious. Really serious. Listen, death and any sort of harm at home is, well...it's strange. And usually doesn't make sense. Things are painful, sure, but for the most part, they aren't permanent. Death is only until the next episode, unless you're a minor character. And, considering that those NEETs (Karamatsu included) had done some pretty dumb or sketchy stuff in the past, the fact that Karamatsu is now addressing it so seriously...it's enough to send a chill down Chibita's spine.]

Like...like what?

_{[ Eluvio provided a lot of first-timers for Karamatsu. He got his first lap dance in space! That was awesome— one of his good friends ran the strip club. There was zero gravity, there were aliens, there was the black market. He went to the shooting range with a girl. There was the space opium, flying in a battle ship, almost getting laid. But one person manipulated him in a way he never thought was him.

He never thought he would be a person to take a life.

Nonchalantly, he speaks, as if it were nothing: ]}

I killed a person. It was for self-defense, so that makes it O.K., right?

[Of all the things that Chibita expected to come out of Karamatsu's mouth, that wasn't it. Granted, he wasn't sure what he was expecting. But it's the nonchalant way he says it that makes something in Chibita's skin prickle and gives him goosebumps and almost makes him wonder if he misheard]

You what? [for someone usually so boisterous, Chibita's voice is unusually quiet]

_{[ He's trying to speak this way so he doesn't completely freak out again, thanks. He does pinch the bridge of his nose and grimace, a twisting feeling of guilt bellowing up inside of him. ]}

Y-Yes, there was a planet. The air on this planet.. we could breathe it.. but it made us more aggressive.
I don't know.. I needed to defend myself.. and I was given a weapon just for that. But I cannot help and think about if that person.. no matter if they wanted to kill me.. if they had a family.. or loved ones.

And I took that person away from the world.

[It probably shouldn't be, but it's honestly almost partially a relief when Karamatsu's voice cracks and wavers, and that emotion spills through. It wouldn't have been like him to not care at all; he's too soft, too sensitive, too emotional. But they've been apart eight months (on Karamatsu's end, anyway,) and though usually those NEETs can be trusted to not change at all, a short amount of time had proven that different. They all had jobs now, after all, and not only had them but held them down. And there was the whole 'not wanting to talk about those months' part of the equation. All of that had gotten Chibita rather worried; not that he'd ever really acknowledged it, but even that hint of cold dismissal had been enough to increase that worry.

So, hence, the relief. Perhaps not entirely appropriate, but there all the same. However, it is swiftly replaced with a sinking feeling in his stomach as the rest of it comes out, slowly, and that sounds more like the Karamatsu he knows. Of course he's thinking of the person who tried to kill him, and he's thinking of their family. He's not thinking of that they tried to kill him, which definitely feels a lot more scary to Chibita. After all, he just said they could've died. Actually died. Not a main character kind of death where you come back the next episode but a minor character one where they're really gone for good. The thought makes his heart pound and his throat tight. It may not have happened, but it could have. And yet, even though it didn't, it clearly left its mark.]

Hey, I...[Chibita's voice dies in his throat, even as he reaches out to curl his fingers around Karamatsu's elbow, to get his attention. He tries again.] ...I know y'don't feel good about doin' that but...if it was you 'r him, I...[he squeezes his elbow, gently] ...I'm glad ya did it. Maybe I shouldn't be, but...I'd rather have you than 'im.

[he sucks in a small breath, contemplating his next words briefly] ...I'm also sorry, though. I'm sorry y'had to do that. [he glances down, then, though his hand stays where it is.] I wish I'a been there.

[it's a stupid sentiment, really, and he knows it. Maybe he could've changed the situation or been the one to do it or something; maybe Karamatsu wouldn't have had to, then, and he wouldn't be carrying around that obvious guilt. But the fact of the matter is that Chibita wasn't there and it happened and it's in the past but...it doesn't stop him from foolishly wishing for it. Karamatsu's softer than most, more sensitive than most. Certainly more sensitive than Chibita. Chibita's used to hurt; he could've handled it better than him, he thinks. Shouldered it easier. Because it's obviously really painful for Karamatsu, and as much as Chibita might wish he could take that burden from him, he can't. So it's a hopeless, useless wish. But there all the same.]

_{[ Memories of that place sting so much.. it's nothing like anything he had experienced before. It was survival of the fittest, and Karamatsu knows he's a weakling. It was through the support of others he made it through and made it to this place. This place.. it's a lot nicer than the Eluvio ever was, but it isn't home. Thankfully, people like Osomatsu, Ichimatsu and Chibita make it seem more like home.

The pressure on his elbow earns a surprised noise. Chibita has always been somebody that Karamatsu felt like he could be open with. He felt like he was somebody who actually listened and was genuinely apologetic— it all started with that whole tab incident which seemed like so long ago. His words are so touching, though.. Chibita is re-emphasizing his care for Karamatsu by saying things like that, and for Karamatsu, that goes such a long way.

He looks at Chibita, tears pooling over his eyes. ]}

Ah.. Chibita.. I'm—
_{[ He's usually selfish, but when it came to the Eluvio... ]}

—I'm thankful you weren't there.. for your own sake.

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introductory mingle: HYGGE

put that away alksdfs

no... whips it out

....Disgusting......

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