riverviewlogs | monthly mingle: THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHT

Entry tags:

monthly mingle: THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHT

who: everyone in Riverview!
what: monthly mingle: the festival of light
when: The month of January.
where: Anywhere around the city.
warnings: please put any necessary warnings in the subject lines

festival of light

In the days leading up to January 1st, residents new and old will notice preparations beginning, a flurry of activity getting the city ready for the upcoming celebration: The Festival of Light. This holiday is in celebration of the end of the Quarantine's short-lived winter and serves to welcome the new year. The traditions associated with The Festival of Light involve fireworks every weekend of the month, a days-long formal ball that with an open invitation to everyone in the city, and lighting magical candles and incense with loved ones and new friends alike.

a celebration of the end of winter and the new year

As the Capitol World stops blocking the path between the sun and its moon, the snow melts and the rains of early spring begin to fall and the residents of the Quarantine gather together to celebrate the new year. New beginnings are honored as the sky is lit with fireworks to banish the cold and dark of winter, and residents share the light and warmth of the new year with each other by sharing candles and incense with fellow residents. These traditions are steeped in magic, like many other things in Riverview, and have certain magical emotional effects on participants. Additionally, over the weekend of January 5th - 8th, the Government will be hosting a formal ball to welcome the New Year, which is open to all residents and offers food, drink, dancing, and other activities, as well as places to stay the night and relax or 'relax' with friends.

i. fireworks

One of the main traditions of the Festival of Light is to brighten the sky to welcome the new year, and as always, the Government of Riverview and various other city entities including businesses and various organizations and clubs, have gone all out to light up the sky. Each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the month of January, residents can gather outside on the beaches or park, or indoors at various observation lounges set up on city rooftops for the occasion, to watch elaborate, beautiful fireworks displays.

Outdoor observation is facilitated by use of rented forced-air umbrellas that make viewing the fireworks without having to squint into the rain or peer out from under a traditional umbrellas easy. Curl up with a friend or lover under an umbrella to watch the fireworks displays. Temporary indoor observation lounges have also been set up on most of the rooftops of buildings in the city, if the outdoors isn't your thing. The lounges can range from simple transparent-roofed spaces with rustic benches and hot cocoa to elaborate, fancy bars or restaurants with food service, music, and dancing. Some of the lounges may even have themes, whether they're 18+ adult or just quirky. Let your imagination run wild - if you can think of it, someone in the city's probably set one up.

ii. lighting up

Throughout the city, residents will find booths and special sections in their favorite stores set up with stands displaying magical incense and candles in a wide variety of colors. These are traditional trappings of the Festival of Light, the original and ancient tradition that's built up into the modern celebration as residents know it. Most prolific are the candles - ranging from tiny tea lights to large pillar candles, they are inscribed with the word 'glow' in a variety of different alien languages, including some that residents might recognize. The incense comes in small variety of dusky, earthen colors, each with a different scent and effect, all clearly labeled.

Candles are meant to be lit with one or more other people, and when this tradition is observed properly with a candle inscribed 'glow' - the wick lit by two or more people at the same time, and held together between them for a minimum of 30 seconds - every participant will feel and see certain magical effects. As the candle is held between the participants, they will start to see each other's skin glow, seemingly lit from inside, and as the glow increases, all participants will start to feel an emotional lightness. Stress and despair will slowly dissipate, giving the participants a temporary feeling of absolute contentment, warm and happy. The effects last from 5 minutes to a full 24 hours, depending on the number of people who participate and the length of time the candle is held between participants (more participants or longer timespans will increase the length of the effect), and effects are cumulative - lighting a large number of candles with different people will cause the effect to draw out for longer.

Incense is something usually lit in private, at home or a small gathering at a friend's house, and in recent years as the celebration has become a bit more modernized and commercialized, at the Glow Ball. There are a few varieties of incense with different psychological effects, all of which are pleasant and take strongest effect when the incense is lit with one or more other people, and enjoyed long enough for the whole stick to burn down. Orange and yellow incense will increase feelings of affection and openness, sienna red incense will do the same but also induce arousal; blue-grey incense will make it easier to share and ease grief and sadness, while grey-purple will lull participants into an easy sleep with pleasant dreams.

iii. glow ball

Every year during the Festival of Light, the Government of Riverview hosts a formal ball called the Glow Ball on the first weekend of the month - this year, it spans from nightfall on Friday January 5th until dawn on Monday January 8th. The ball is a relatively new custom, but has quickly skyrocketed to one of the most anticipated events of many residents' year. Similar to the castle-themed maze during Hygge, the Glow Ball is hosted inside a beautiful golden palace erected in the City Center that is much larger on the inside than it appears to be on the outside. While there is no specific theme to the ball, many residents take it as an opportunity to really glow in a wide variety of ways, all up to each person's imagination.

The palace is magically-augmented to be lavish, comfortable, and fully-stocked at all times, and features a banquet hall with ample and frequently-replenished food, a bar and lounge area for attendees to get a drink and sit for a while, a beautiful grand ballroom as well as several smaller ballrooms with different styles of music, a swimming pool with hot tubs, a garden, and smaller private vestibules that feature a pillow lounge, incense selection, and a small bedroom where residents can rest or enjoy each others' company in private.

NOTE: New characters are welcome to join in with the party, even if they haven't had time to prepare. Any new arrivals who come to the party in the clothing they arrived in will be whisked up by a fussy light golem or attendant who will fit them with a nice set of clothing for the evening so they can enjoy the festivities.

dinner and dancing

The banquet hall is ringed with tables that offer a buffet food catered to the time of day - breakfast in the morning, light food in the afternoon, lavish dinners in the evening, and desserts, coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, and snacks available all night. With ample seating at group tables, residents can share a meal with friends new and old. The bar and lounge has several large free bars staffed by glowing, ethereal light golems that never tire and never get an order wrong, and offers seating at tables and in cozy dimly-lit booths. Riverview's drinking age is 14 years old.

The grand ballroom is themed golden this year, with the walls tiled in gold and featuring a dance floor of white marble veined with gold. The grand ballroom has classical, traditional dance music playing for those who want a classy formal dance. There are four wing ballrooms that feature different genres of music for residents who enjoy alternate types of dancing, with the genres consistently rotating - whether you like punk, country, rock, pop, or any other type of music from any planet or country, it's likely to be playing in a wing ballroom at some point. Schedules are posted outside of each door and there are four genres per wing ballroom per day.

swimming and gardens

Another feature of the Glow Ball is the beautiful swimming pool - warm enough to be comfortable but cool enough to be refreshing, the outdoor pool has both flower petals and the season's glow candles floating on it, a champagne service offered by light golems, and tables to sit and enjoy a drink and conversation while drying off. There are also small hot tubs ringing the swimming pool where residents can soak away the aches and pains of the day. The pool offers change rooms where speaking a magical incantation (helpfully posted on the door) will change the occupant's formal clothing into an equivalent swimsuit, and will change it back (and dry the occupant) after the dip has been taken.

The gardens are also available for any attendees who want to get a bit of fresh air. With beautiful flower-lined winding paths under a perpetually starry sky and ample candles hanging from the trees and edging the paths for visibility, the gardens are a scenic and relaxing place to take some time away from the light and get some air.

privacy

For residents who want a little private time or want to spend more than just an evening at the ball, there are small private vestibules scattered throughout the palace. Featuring a lounge area with pillows and lap tables for eating, and a comfortable queen-size bed, each room also has a vanity whose drawers hold both suitable pajamas for sleeping in and (in 18+ rooms only) supplies for intimacy ranging from massage oils to packaged toys. And most importantly, each room is fully stocked with a selection of the season's incenses for use in private.

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 Festival of Light, feel free to write it up!

visual inspiration

click on thumbnails for larger view

Credit: image i: Jakub Grygier; image ii: Shutterstock; image iii & iv: credit unknown

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Cassian might not plan to dance, but someone else has other ideas in mind. Which is exactly why Taako sort of just swans his way over to where Cassian is hovering by the food. He's maybe had a little bit to drink, but honestly, he doesn't need any excuse to be A Lot.]

Cassian, my man, you seem like the kinda dude who knows how to waltz. I put my boyfriend down somewhere and can't seem to find him, so I'm making do.

[Or maybe he just thinks a dance would be fun and Cassian is still learning how to have fun.]

[cassian is unsurprised about literally everything involving taako right now, from the clothes to the signs of alcohol. how strange it is to realize he's also just very used to it all by now too.]

[he raises an eyebrow.] Are you asking me to dance, Taako? You are usually much more forward than that.

[100% correct assumption though, he does know how to waltz!]

Yes, super sorry. [He gives Cassian a pat on the arm, as if somehow that is an apology.] I was trying to be funny, which I should've known was a waste of time with you.

[He grins, absolute shit-eating, because why be nice when he could tease Cassian instead.]

[he rolls his eyes in both a showy and honest way. rude af!! cassian has a sense of humor....! somewhere.]

[what if he doesn't though :( what if all the jokes he's ever attempted are just fake. what if cassian the person not cassian the spy doesn't really get funny!!!!]

[he doesn't dwell on it, he is not here to dwell.] I only dance if I can lead.

[smoke some weed, cassian.]

Oh, that's cool, I kinda picked you for a top, and I can be flexible.

[STOP]

[no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

[~~it's true but he shouldn't say it!~~ cassian stares for three long seconds, but he can't even complain. he set himself up for that. it's taako.]

[dryly:] I am versatile.

[Those three long seconds feel like some kind of victory, even more so when Cassian comes back with that response.]

See, I knew you had a sense of humor.

[As if he wasn't the one who said Cassian didn't.

Still, he holds out his hand, wiggles his fingers.]

Lead away, my fella.

[that. kind of makes him feel better? not entirely, but it's still nice.]

[he takes taako's hand and pulls him away from the food. he does not go far out into the dance floor at all, because he is still cassian and he refuses to center stage in any way.]

[it's been a while, but it's not like he's forgotten how to dance. he just takes a moment before he lifts their hands up and pulls them both into a waltzing position, himself in the lead spot. see, he knows how, taako was not wrong! cassian doesn't like to be touched, but it's easier when he can create a disconnect like he's doing now. dancing is socialization.]

[without waiting any longer, he just starts to dance.]

[Taako isn't any kind of brilliant dancer, but he's got a sense of rhythm and he knows how to follow when he's led well.]

How's your night been, darling?

[the music isn't anything cassian has heard or danced to before, but he's adaptable. he figures it out! he also keeps himself at a safe distance from taako, again because of the whole pls don't touch me thing.]

[he does not look over towards where he knows jyn must have come back with food by now when taako asks how his night is going.]

Not bad. One more party and maybe I will be used to attending them without ulterior motives. [maybe. probably. maybe not but he can have hopes.] You have been having fun, I assume.

[Taako, despite having asked for the dance, is happy to leave room for Jesus.]

I'm always having fun.

[This is a big old lie, but a harmless one, and right now he is having fun.]

If it helps, I think most people attend parties with ulterior motives. Usually the free alcohol.

I am not sure even you are in a state of constant fun.

[it is definitely a lie, but not one cassian is willing to poke any serious holes in right now.]

Can it be considered an ulterior motive when most parties come with free drinks regardless? It is more like a standard.

You don't know my life.

[He sticks his tongue out, because he's very mature.]

For sure, for sure, cause they're not here to socialise or whatever, you know? They just wanna get drunk and bail. Or eat a lot and bail.

[Looks @ Jyn, probably.]

I know enough lives to recognizes none of them are always made of fun.

[so there???]

[he also looks at jyn, because that is a call out he can be amused by, sry not sry jyn.] That still seems like a purpose to parties in general, not a secondary reason.

Though I suppose anything can be a good enough reason to attend a party if you logic it well.

[flatly, but with hidden amusement:] Some of us don't acknowledge our shitty days, Cassian.

[Like honestly don't call him out like this.]

I guess I can't argue that, considering like half the parties I throw are just to show off my cooking.

[Still, he thinks the Main Reason for attending a party should be to have fun and socialise.]

[honestly, #same. calling out himself too. ignore the shitty days, it's the most healthy strategy.] It does not mean they don't exist.

Well, you are a very good cook. [a brief little spin in their dance!] People do go to get drunk, I will not argue. Alcohol makes for looser lips. The only reason I had to attend parties like this one was to get people talking.

No it doesn't, shush.

[He even briefly moves his hand off Cassian's shoulder to hold it up in front of Cassian's lips, to reinforce the point. They're not going to talk about crappy days they may or may not have had, okay.

Compliments and spins are much better.]

That's how I kinda figured you'd be able to dance, you know? [Is he a little bit proud of himself? Maybe.] Lucky for me you're not working, I'd be way too fucking easy.

[A couple drinks? A pretty face? He'd be doomed.]

[he resists the urge to pull back when taako fakes silencing him. but that's fair, he doesn't want to talk about any crappy days right now either. there are too many!! it's a party!!]

[taako is 100% correct. he definitely got some dance lessons after basic training, the #spy life.] It was harder than learning how to shoot a blaster. [he is being serious? we just don't know.]

I don't have to do that kind of work at all here. [a pause.] But I would not disagree.

[cassian has definitely figured out the exact way to get answers from taako. he'd already gotten him talking in their first meeting.]

There's not a whole lotta steps when shooting someone.

[Unlike dancing; obviously aiming is a little different and could probably make one harder than the other, but he can kind of agree with the sentiment Cassian has, regardless of whether he's joking or not.]

Do you miss it?

[It's a light question, idle, but he noticed that Cassian said don't have to, and he's curious.]

Depends on who and where you are shooting. [he says it lightly, but it's definitely a Fake Light, however honest it is.]

[taako's question makes him frown though, no matter how idle he means it.] You are asking me if I miss manipulating people?

[casually gets...dare i say it...evasive??]

[You know what, that's fair.]

I mean like, all of it, I guess? I know it's probably not a lot of fun shit, but it's important shit?

[Maybe Taako misses it, a little bit, feeling like he was doing something big and world-changing, no matter how shitty and dangerous it could be.]

[he frowns. he doesn't miss killing people, but he never liked that part of the work. he was just good at it. he believed in the rebellion completely. the whole sense of purpose thing has been lacking here though.]

I don't know. [honesty??] Free time is still a strange adjustment.

[still evasive! just...a little less than before.]

[Points for honesty! Taako isn't digging for anything, or after a certain kind of answer, he's just asking for the sake of asking, because Cassian is his friend and he's curious.]

You know what gets me like, at least once a week? I wake up in a fucking apartment that I rent.

[Taako adapts to anything, that's kind of his thing but it doesn't mean he can't get it, feeling sort of lost with a life that's so normal.]

Free time was never hard to come by, gotta admit. The planets with no one but us were full of enough free time to drive like, even Lucretia crazy. We got pretty good at finding ways to entertain ourselves.

[cassian gets the sense it's not digging, which weirdly makes it easier to answer more openly than he might have a few months ago.]

I used to use free time to sleep. [he didn't like having nothing to do. he had breaks, of course, but nothing nearly as significant as being here.] Even when I had downtime on missions, it was impossible to relax, no matter the planet. Too risky.

[he huffs, the sound amused even if it's not quite a laugh. but, being weirded out by living space here, relatable.] We had quarters on base, but this apartment in quarantine is... different. I've probably spent more time here than in those quarters.

I gotta say, that right there is one of the reasons I'm real glad I'm an elf, a trance isn't as heavy as sleep.

[It made it a lot easier on the road to get the necessary rest without being so conked out they couldn't immediately respond to a threat.]

Based on the shit I know about quarters, they're not uh, the kinda place you wanna hang out, so that's not a big shock.

monthly mingle: THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHT

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