riverviewlogs | monthly mingle: SAMPREMI

Entry tags:

monthly mingle: SAMPREMI

who: everyone in Riverview!
what: monthly mingle: sampremi
when: The month of March.
where: Anywhere around the city.
warnings: there will likely be nsfw content; please put any necessary warnings in the subject lines

sampremi

In the days leading up to March 1st, residents new and old will notice preparations beginning, a flurry of activity getting the city ready for the upcoming celebration: Sampremi. This is one of Riverview's four yearly celebrations of love, this one focused on sexual love and lust, and sexual relationships that might bloom into more (or not). Traditions associated with Sampremi are a roving street market, raves where residents can seek out some free love and get a little crazy, a massive week-long kink convention, and a tech expo with all-ages and adult options.

a celebration of sexual love and lust

Riverview has always been a place focused on love and building connections in order to foster community, and for a lot of people, sex is part of that, which makes it something worth celebrating! For people who use sex as a way to connect with others, even if only for a short time, or those who use it as a way to connect on a deeper level with the ones they already love, Sampremi is the perfect holiday to get their freak on in a host of new and exciting or comfortable and familiar ways. The holiday features a large kink convention, where various entities in the city can show off their toys, explain their niche kinks, and share their insights with anyone who might be interested, a series of raves that are both all-ages and adult where residents can find someone(s) to share a night (or a week, a few months, or even a life) with. This year, there is a large tech expo where cutting edge tech companies in the city are sharing their newest toys, like improved virtual reality, robotics advances, and many other types of toys - all for work, play, or, in the spirit of the holiday, pleasure. And for those who don't want to connect through sex or who aren't old enough to, there are dances, games, and an entire market full of street food that's meant for sharing, so they can connect in other ways.

● OOC NOTE: Please be sure to warn in subject lines for any threads involving sexual content, drug use or other content that fellow players may wish to avoid, and do not use the prompt mechanics to circumvent consent in your threads, as non-consensual sex is not permitted on the game communities. Items such as aphrodisiacs, VR, or party drugs mentioned in the prompts are intended to facilitate consensual sex, not to encourage sexual assault, or to 'trick' characters into having sex that they would not normally have. ICly, please remember that there is always security to intervene and make sure everyone is safe.

i. color raves

Advertised on flyers and digital screens around the city, made to pop as if they were under blacklight, is a series of what's called "color raves" that are happening in various large empty warehouse spaces around the city. They are called color raves for the bright colorful lights, the preponderance of glowsticks that attendees wave around, and for the brightly colored powder for attendees to play with, some of which is spiked with a mild party drug and some of which is just for fun (with the difference clearly marked, of course). There are three types of color rave - adult, all-ages, and youth raves.

(CW: DRUG USE) At each adult rave and all-ages rave there is one specific room where attendees can enter (after proving themselves 18+), 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 (whether it is skin, clothing, or structural) it deactivates, meaning that partakers can safely dance with non-partakers without sharing the intoxicating effects.

Adult raves will have bouncers at the door to ensure that anyone entering is 18+, and there is no limit to when and where the debauchery happens. 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.

All-ages raves are open to anyone who wishes to attend, regardless of age. There are bouncers at the door who will check ID and stamp the hand of anyone who is 18+ with a special ink that shows up under blacklight for easy identification. At all-ages raves, 18+ and underage characters can mingle, but there are specific areas set aside for only 18+ characters where they can get down and dirty either in private or the open.

Adult and all-ages raves will have only spiked powder to avoid confusion.

Youth raves are intended only for younger characters under 18, so they can stay up all night and dance like crazy, and meet other young people in the city. 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 version of the colored powder featured at the adult raves that won't give you anything but a sugar high. 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. Youth raves will have only sugar powder, brightly colored and sweet to the taste, meant for fun and to play tag with rather than to cause intoxication.

ii. kink convention

For the week of March 4-10 there will be a massive kink convention on the top floor of one of the large exhibition centers downtown, limited to characters 18+. The exhibition is a sexy adult informational convention featuring various kinks and fetishes. Whether you're into leather, latex, lace, or anything else, you'll be able to find the clothes, toys, guides, books, erotica, fiction, and a wide variety of other interesting stuff to explore. While the atmosphere is sex-positive and there are private and public (for the voyeurs and exhibitionists in the room) venues for having sex, it's definitely focused on exploration and information about different stuff to try.

If someone has thought of it and figured it sounded sexy, it can be found here, and with Riverview's high level of tech advancement and widespread acceptance of magic, things can get pretty kinky. Whatever your kink is, there's probably a VR program, sex toy, potion, or spell that can make it happen, and someone who's got the downlow on how to make it great.

iii. tech expo

Riverview prides itself on its technological advancement, and so, running concurrently with the Kink Convention on March 4-10 and on the bottom floor of the same convention center, various cutting-edge tech companies in the city will be sponsoring a Tech Expo. The expo features demonstrations of all of the most advanced technology that's coming into use in the city, ranging from advancements in VR and holotech to robotics and gadgets, you can find the latest and greatest in almost any area of modern technology. Attendees will be able to come with a friend or a date or anything in between to play VR games, enjoy holoprojected escape rooms and puzzles, meet robot pets, try out the most recent music player or that new cell phone that can bend without breaking, and a wide variety of other gadgets.

While most of the tech expo is all-ages and non-sexual, there is a decently-sized adult area where characters must show ID proving they are 18+ in order to enter, where the technology is mostly related to sexual use. This area features advanced sex toys, VR systems intended to explore sex with other people in a virtual environment with no strings attached, sexy video games and holoprograms, and many other sensual technological.

iv. street market

One of the major draws of the festival is the special street food that can only be obtained this time of year. Almost everything you can buy at the Sampremi Festival is meant to be shared - whether it's one piece of meat on two or more sticks or desserts baked with a narrow part in the middle for convenient tearing, everything is built to be shared. The stalls sell everything from cups of soup, sandwiches, roasted or fried meat, deep-fried vegetables and cakes, dumplings, donuts, bagels, turnovers, and anything else you can think of.

Many of the savory dishes are based on the meat of a particular fowl native to the moon Riverview is situated on that has a taste and texture halfway between chicken and duck, cooked to be spicy (ranging from very mild to throat-burning). Many of the desserts are based around a fruit native to the moon that is spherical, red-orange, and has a light sweet taste that is similar to a combination of mango, pineapple, and strawberry. Both ingredients are considered to be aphrodisiacs. Of course, the foods aren't actually aphrodisiacs and any effect is purely placebo, though there are some booths (clearly marked and with someone to check ID) that sell actual aphrodisiac-laced foods and drinks to people who are 18+.

The festival features an entire row of fair games ranging from very high-tech games featuring virtual reality and neon holograms to extremely old-fashioned games with darts and balloons or balls and glasses. The games all have prizes in various shapes and sizes, with the standard stuffed animals, but also with goods and special items donated by any business in the city; ranging from tiny prizes to huge and expensive ones. Due to the nature of the holiday, many of the stalls are set up to cater to winning a prize for your partner(s), and due to the nature of the Quarantine, a lot of them involve aiming or other aspects of pretending to fight.

Originally, the part of the street festival that involved an actual market, with stalls and booths set up with goods, was aimed primarily at romantic trinkets like flowers or jewelry, gifts intended to be purchased for a loved one. As time has gone by, however, this aspect of the market has increased, with many businesses participating, though the emphasis is still on small businesses and anything relating to local culture rather than booths for any of the larger more corporate businesses. There is still plenty of jewelry to be found, for sure, mostly handmade and artisan, but the scope of the Market has widened immeasurably. The Sampremi Market is an excellent place to find specialty foods, clothing, jewelry, art, or other goods that were originally native to cultures on other planets in this reality, or other realities altogether. Many residents in the city use the market to share their unique cultural goods and traditional dress with others.

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 Sampremi, feel free to write it up!

visual inspiration

click on thumbnails for larger view

Credit: image i: saber XU; image ii: Jose Borges; image iii: Nicolas Sitbon; image iv: Andreas Rocha

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Are you working security?

[ John knows that, before long, he'll be doing the same; instead of attending these parties, he'll be making sure people stay safe. Especially if there are many of them, as Nico said. ]

You're welcome to stay, if you don't have anything more important to do. As I said, just... taking in some air, trying to clear my head. This whole atmosphere is a lot.

[Peter nods as he picks his way a bit closer, given the almost-invitation. Anything that's got someone sitting alone outside of a huge party and talking to themselves is probably something that wants to be shared.]

Is, a bit. I can't believe they do these sorts of things all the time here.

[At least that's what he hears. He can't really imagine it, though Peter can accept the idea that if people are getting stuck here, the powers that be might want to keep them entertained.]

But it's not always about - sex, right?

[ He's pretty sure it can't be. Putting his hands down on either side of him, John pushes up a little, sitting more comfortably on the edge of the building. ]

It's just really bad timing.

[ Sorry, Peter, you probably don't care about hearing any of that. ]

[He laughs softly as he gingerly settles himself down onto the roof edge next to John.]

Sorry mate, I haven't been here that long. I couldn't tell you.

[But Peter shrugs as he glances out over the tops of the buildings.]

It can't last that long. Easy enough to avoid, if it bothers you.

[ Even though John knows that Peter is British, the accent still makes him smile - man, but it's a pleasant one. He sighs anyway, running a hand through his hair. ]

It's not that it bothers me. Not really, I have no issues with it. It's just. I'm just trying not to think about it too much, lately, in the context of my own relationship, so this whole thing feels like I'm the butt of a cosmic joke.

[ He lets out a rumble of noise, wincing. ]

Sorry. Too much information.

[Peter flicks him a quick, amused grin.]

It's fine, I'm police. We like it when people tell us things.

[And John does seem to want to talk about it. Peter's not quite sure if they're technically friends yet, but he could probably do worse than lend an ear.]

So what's the problem?

[ Honestly, considering the one friend from back home John knows is the one he's talking about, it might be easier to talk to someone new. Someone that doesn't know the baggage John carries around. He rubs the heels of his hands against his knees, straightening his spine a little. ]

It's. Silly, really. I've started dating this girl, and I'm trying not to rush things. I want her to know I'm serious about her.

[ He feels like a teenager. ]

Fair enough.

[It's accompanied by an encouraging nod. It's a nice thought, anyway.]

And all this is what, trying your patience?

[ John lets out a humorless laugh, nodding hard, eyes unfocused as he stares at a spot on the ground. ]

Trying my resolve, for sure. Everything around is basically telling me 'why shouldn't you?'

[ John sighs, shaking his head. ]

I'm sorry. You don't have to indulge me, really. I'll get over myself, it's not like this festival is going to last forever anyway. Are you - having fun?

I don't mind.

[And it's true, but he also doesn't mind being a distraction, if that's what John would prefer. Peter exhales a sound that's not quite a laugh.]

Here, did you mean? Or the Quarantine in general? This sort of party isn't really my thing, but I'm happy to help out.

[Making sure everyone else is enjoying themselves. As much as he can, anyway.]

I meant here, at the party. To be honest it's not really my speed either, but I'm trying new things. I've been made to understand that, apparently, I'm a bit too serious, and I need to loosen up.

[ Which, excuse him, back home, it was pretty much impossible. But here and now, he can try, at least. ]

But then again, here I am, hiding away.

[ Chuckle. ]

Be honest with you, jumping straight into a rave might be overdoing it slightly.

[It's deadpan, but there's a hint of a smile under it.]

Nothing saying you can't take a break or two.

[ John laughs, nodding. ]

Can't say I disagree. I'm used to being thrown in the deep end, but maybe I should take it easy. It's just not what I'm used to. And I'm not used to taking breaks, either.

No? You do lots of training and all that?

[He's gotten a vague idea of what John does, but this sounds a lot more intense than just meditation.]

Back home? Not as much as I'd like to. When we gets lulls, yeah, but in recent months, we haven't got much of those. We've been dealing with a lot, so training's taken a back seat.

[ Sometimes, when John stops and thinks about it, he's surprised the Underground is still standing at all. ]

But throughout my life, you know, it was kinda sink or swim, always. I joined the Marines when I was 18. Then it was Afghanistan, which was... all kinds of hell. And then I come back home, only to be asked to head what's considered by the government borderline domestic terrorism. I don't think I've really stopped in 10 years.

That does sound like a lot.

[It's one hell of an understatement, but Peter sort of doubts that John is the sort who'd want a big deal made over it. Being English is good for things like that.]

And now it's kind of the other extreme, yeah? Too much time on your hands.

Basically, yeah. That's why I'm doing the training sessions, and I'm looking to go out and explore a bit. Trying to do more.

[ He knows he's supposed to slow his roll, take a break, but he doesn't really know how. He's never known how. This is how he functions, and he's liable to lose his mind if he doesn't keep busy. ]

I'm sure I'm not alone, feeling like this.

Probably not.

[Peter himself has spent a lot of time waffling between appreciating the downtime and wanting to keep too busy to think about why he could use the downtime. So far nether option has worked particularly well, but it's not stopping him from trying.]

Have you been out there, much? Beyond the wall.

Not yet, no. I'm starting to really feel the itch to go running around, though. Just to know what we're facing, outside of the community.

[ And because he doesn't play things safe all the time. Because it's not risking much, if it's risking him. ]

You?

Not much. Aside from that whole thing with the beetles.

[Peter's mouth tips into a slightly wry smile at that. It had made an impression.]

I've been meaning to take a look, though. See what all is out there.

I think it's hard not to want to, right? There's so much to see. I know if for our own protection that we're within the walls, but I'm curious.

[ There could be amazing, amazing things they don't have back home, and would have no idea, because they're hidden somewhere in the ruins. ]

Honestly, I struggle with thinking too often about the fact that I'm not on Earth anymore. It makes me panic a bit.

[Curiosity, Peter definitely understands. His smile widens a little as he nods.]

Yeah, exactly. Maybe we can go out for a bit.

[There are people who do that, right? Peter's pretty sure it's not impossible. And he flicks John a look out of the corners of his eyes.]

Might help with the panic if you saw more of it.

Yeah, maybe. I’d definitely be up for going exploring. Have a look around. Pretty sure there isn’t much out there that can hurt me.

[ Famous last words. ]

[Peter huffs out a laugh at that, but doesn't argue. Honestly, he has no idea. He just isn't willing to make the same wager about himself.]

I'll find out the next time I'm off shift for a while, look you up?

[ That’s the thing about being indestructible. That’s the kind of wager that doesn’t cost much. ]

Yes, please do. And if I come across anything, I’ll holler, too. We can have each other’s back.

(no subject)

thestarling - 2018-03-24 19:54 (UTC) - Expand

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