monthly mingle: FLOWER FESTIVAL

[riverviewmod]

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

flower festival

In the days leading up to April 1st, residents new and old will notice preparations beginning, a flurry of activity getting the city ready for the upcoming celebration: The Flower Festival. Celebrating springtime, beauty, joy, and togetherness, the festival heavily features floral themes and dancing. The advertising mentions that on April 9th, a paid holiday, there will be a Blossom Picnic, as well as lists of various public dances at clubs or other open venues, the River Spirit Procession, and Flower Exchange.

a celebration of spring

The Flower Festival's main event is the Blossom Picnic on April 9th, but it also features traditions of sharing food and drink, and dancing that span over the course of the whole two weeks. There are a large variety of events going on throughout the city, from dancing lessons in any wide variety of traditional dances, to old-fashioned sock hops, to adult raves complete with mild party drugs. Feel free to use the prompts below or create your own event at any point during the festival, and if your character creates an event and hosts it in a top-level, you can submit that thread for extra bonus points.

i. blossom picnic

The main event that kicks off the second week of the Flower Festival is the Blossom Picnic on April 9th. A relaxed and low-key event, it draws several thousand people every year to the spacious Riverview Central Park, where there is a generous lawn lined with various blossoming trees, and families, found families, lovers, and groups of friends are encouraged to lay out a picnic blanket and share food. There will be live bands playing (but not loudly enough to distract from conversation and peacefully watching the petals flutter in the wind), a variety of demonstrations of traditional cultural dances from many different realities and planets, and a ton of ice cream vendors. This is an excellent festival not only for celebrating togetherness with the people who are already important, but for mingling and making new friends.

Characters may either pack their own lunches or they can purchase pre-packed Blossom Festival lunches. Stores and street markets are carrying a wide variety of specialty food that is only available at this time of year - predominantly pastries, an assortment of types of candies, and ice cream treats all in various floral flavors, as well as a sort of ambrosia salad based around a sweet rose-flavored cream and a native fruit that is bright green and tastes like a combination of peach and citrus.

ii. dancing lessons and dances

Starting on April 2nd, there will be dancing lessons offered almost everywhere you look! From partner dances to group dances to line dances; sexy and sensual or innocent and childlike - almost any type of dance you can imagine is represented, from any reality or planet that has people in Riverview Quarantine.

Additionally, the Riverview Central Community Center has multiple rooms blocked off so anyone who knows a dance from home can teach it to others in their community - sharing is caring, after all. Characters are welcome to block off one of these rooms and offer lessons in any dance they happen to know from home (and these sorts of thread starters would be eligible for the mingle AC Point bonus)!

As for the Flower Festival dances, they're pretty straightforward - in almost every club, community center, or other public space, there will be dancing at almost all hours of the day or night, formal and informal. Musicians bring out their instruments and play in the street for demonstrations of cultural dances and music at the same time as clubs are offering VIP cover charges for exclusive dances, and you can find anything in between.

Grab a partner, a group of friends, or just cruise and mingle the various dancing events.

Characters may also notice that most of the street markets and clothing shops are offering clothing that features floral patterns, flowers as accessories, and that show a lot of skin - for men, women, and anyone in between!

iii. flower exchange

During this year, there's been an influx of people from a dying reality consisting mostly of living plant people, and they've really taken the Flower Festival as a great opportunity to introduce one of their most honored traditions to the people of their new adopted world. The tradition involves sharing various types of flowers with strangers, with each type of flower having a different meaning and effect on both the giver and receiver - the bond of the exchange can spark emotion as well as physical responses that function in a unique way that affects almost everyone that participates, whether animal, plant, or even android.

Any characters exchanging the flowers with other characters, whether friends or strangers, will experience emotional/psychological effects, physical effects, or both once the exchange is complete. Effects can last for as short or long a time as the players involved want, and are as follows:

● Baby Blue Eyes - Trust/Healing the Inner Child
Emotional Effect: Either an inexplicable trust in the person the flower was exchanged with, or a generalized paranoia.
Physical Effect: De-aging. Characters can become a younger version of themselves, physically, mentally, or both. Whether or not their normal selves are of age, de-aged characters may not participate in adult prompts unless they're de-aged to something above 18.

● Chamomile - Peace & Harmony/Animal Support
Emotional Effect: A desire to make peace with one's enemies, or an inexplicable urge to push away loved ones.
Physical Effect: Both participants in the exchange will wake up the next morning with an animal companion that represents their soul/personality. Whether the companion can speak is up to player discretion.
NOTE: Animal companions from this event can be kept for a total of 300 Points. If you wish to keep them, just submit a request under your name on the Activity Bonus Rewards Page. For new players ONLY (players apping/reapping their first character in April) who wish to keep the animal companion but do not yet have points, feel free to submit and I will credit 300 points to be submitted once you have them.

● Rose - Friendship/Beauty
Emotional Effect: Openness and a desire to make new friends, or excessive competitiveness.
Physical Effect: A temporary glamor that makes both participants in the exchange appear as the most beautiful possible version of themselves, and improves their charisma.

● Crepe Myrtle: - Inspiration/Enduring Partnerships
Emotional Effect: New and creative ideas to solve life issues, or finding oneself averse to change.
Physical Effect: As soon as the exchange is complete, the two characters involved will be bound by an invisible tether that keeps them within three feet of each other. The tether won't affect anyone but the characters involved (no, you can't clothesline your enemies with it).

● Valerian: - Relaxation/Heart-Opening
Emotional Effect: A near-complete erasure of anxiety and stress, or a dramatic inexplicable increase in it.
Physical Effect: Forced honesty. Both affected characters become incapable of lying. Whether they're compelled to blurt the truth or if they can keep their mouths shut or talk around the truth is up to player discretion.

[Flower meanings used in this prompt come from this site.]

iv. river spirit procession

The River Spirit Procession is a yearly tradition in the Quarantine where a (usually small) contingent of people walk along the edges of the river carrying candles and dressed as river spirits, and offer sweets and blossoms or petals by tossing them into the river. The offerings are intended to appease the river spirits and guarantee safety from flooding, storms, and to ensure a good growing season. With the flooding that's still affecting the river, the turn out this year is much greater than usual, with a large number of residents entering the processions that happen throughout the month, usually on weekends.

During the processions, residents dress as river spirits, which is a relatively broad description and can be taken in a wide variety of ways and leaves a lot up to interpretation. They enter the procession at the place where the river enters the walls and follow the banks of it carrying candles, and often whispering or quietly speaking their gratitude for the river's plenty and their wishes for the year to come. Many residents also bring baskets of young blossoms or petals from flowers, and small sweets such as candy or tiny pastries and throw them into the river to appease the spirits. They carry along the river for as long as they wish to.

ACTION PROMPT: This year, with the flooding, the monsters, and the heavy turnout, the river spirit procession is a little more dangerous an undertaking than usual. After the first procession on April 1st resulted in several residents being swept away in the rising flood waters, and several others being attacked by a loose crocodile, the trouble becomes painfully evident. The Perimeter Guard will be sending out extra detachments and calling in reserve members to help keep the processions safe, and any extra hands to protect those who choose to participate will be more than welcome.

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 Flower Festival, feel free to write it up!

visual inspiration

click on thumbnails for larger view

Credit: image i: unknown, found on pinterest; image ii: Steven Kent Lomtong; iii: Ryan Talbot; iv: Toru Nishimura

navigation

Comments

Athelstan

[pietistic]

( A. Picnic )

[ The park is already one of Athelstan's favorite locations. So, while at times during the day he is there with his family (found family?), other times he can be found alone (the rest of the Viking brood not so content to be still as he) with a sketchbook. He sketches the entertainment that is around at times but more often you might see him drawing some of the mundane interactions between people who are happy and clearly care for each other.

Is he drawing you? Hopefully, you don't mind that much. ]

( B. Flower Exchange )

[ The story of what would happen with the flowers is intriguing and reminds him vaguely of uncomfortable memories of Uppsala and other things. A flower that can have an effect on one in such a way is...something but then again, medicines were mostly plant life as well so it is not all bad. ]

What one are you interested in?

( C. Wildcard )

[ I'll match tenses and styles! Feel free to hit me with your best shot or hit me up via PM or on plurk at poetanarchy if you want to plot something or want a specific starter. ]

A

[backwaterbelle]

[The weather was beautiful, so Rogue was able to don a sundress to the festival. Out of comfort and necessity, she's wearing long, yellow gloves that match the yellow of her flip flops and the daffodils in her hair.

Eventually, after she's tired herself of dancing to the live music, the mutant snags herself another ice cream in the shape of a flower and sits beneath a blossoming tree, toes curling in the grass and dirt.

Feeling as though she's being watched, her green eyes find Athelstan's and she watches him confidently, but also curiously.]

[pietistic]

[ The sight of Rogue was a pleasant one, between the flowing dress and the flowers. She reminds him of people he has fond memories of even if that time seems so far away now and unpleasantness has perhaps come since the nice memories.

He thinks she looks happy and that's one thing that always draws him into people. Of course, expressions are always a bit more complex but a moment of enjoyment is one he likes to capture when he can. So regardless of not knowing her at all he'd been sketching her. It'd been something new, to draw like this not just for the memory of people he cared for and/or missed.

When he looks up at some point he finds her eyes on him and he smiles and ]

Hello. [ He figures he might be caught, he had been watching a bit too frequently for it have not to eventually aroused attention. Some people are too busy talking or doing things when he's sketching them and she hadn't really been he supposed. ]

[backwaterbelle]

[A smile easily widens over her features when he offers a greeting, and she throws him a wink as she licks her ice cream slowly. The movement's not quite erotic, but it's not exactly platonic either. Given the circumstances, Rogue end's up chuckling heartily towards the end of it, a gloved hand raising to cover her mouth like a proper lady.

Since she's clearly one of those.

Even as she's laughing to herself, Rogue motions him over to join her.] Ah hope you made me look real pretty in that drawin' of yours.

[pietistic]

[ Some of the nuance is a bit lost on Athelstan, or perhaps he's stubbornly ignoring the bits of that are peeking through. He smiles at her all the same and there's only a moment of hesitation before he's moving to join her. ]

Well, I still have plenty of room to grow in my drawings. [ He admits. He is actually better than he'd ever give himself credit for and the sketch that's now visible as he doesn't try to hide it is a realistic but simple style of art. He's been experimenting with all the art supplies available but time and time again he comes back to the simple basics. ]

There's a lot of the human beauty that's difficult to capture.

B

[storradr]

Hm? What do you mean 'what one'... [Ragnar turned away from another display he'd been looking at, gaze raking over the flowers before coming to rest on Athelstan, raising an eyebrow at him.] Flowers? What are they for?

[Without waiting for an answer, he picked up one of the white Valerians and promptly tucked it into Athelstan's hair with a smirk and then gave the flowers another look over.]

If I have to pick one.... the... blue. [He shrugged, already bored and ready to move on, but Athelstan had asked him which one he wanted... or something like that.]

Re: B

[pietistic]

It's something to do with their culture. [ Athelstan starts to explain and then there's a short laugh when Ragnar tucks a flower into his hair. He looks over the flowers again before reaching for a blue one. He hesitates a moment and then just tucks it behind Ragnar's ear. That draws more of a laugh from Athelstan because it looks a bit ridiculous there.

He would have kept going on about what he'd heard about the flowers and the culture but he's not sure if this is one of the few things that Ragnar might not find himself interested in knowing more about. ]

Picnic

[happiertimes]

[It doesn't take much for Cullen to spot the man sitting away from most groups, pencil traveling at a rate across paper that suggests he's either writing something or drawing. Considering he's watched Varric write in the Great Hall of Skyhold from time to time, he's not sure that that's what this man is doing, not if the way he keeps looking up is any indication.

Although, the way that he keeps staring at Cullen is what's snagged the former Templar's attention in the first place and he can't help but walk over to him.]

I'm not sure that I'm a very good subject for study.

[pietistic]

[ Athelstan isn't all that sheepish when it becomes apparent that his subject of study had noticed that they were being studied. It's happened quite enough that Athelstan hasn't particularly felt much shame about it any longer. He finds that most people don't tend to mind all that very much if they do find out what he's doing. It's not as if he puts out the results of his idle drawings for anyone to see. Sometimes, Ragnar looks at them but most of the time they are never seen by anyone other than the monk himself. ]

What would make you say that?

[ Athelstan asks with a simple curiousity and a smile. ]

[happiertimes]

[It's not as if Cullen minds that someone is drawing him, but after so long in Kirkwall, he's learned to pick up when people are staring at him for long periods of time.

At least, he's pretty sure that this man isn't going to sudden start making deals with demons or using blood magic to making his life miserable and short. Small mercies and all that.]

From what I understand from others, I'm not that interesting. Although, I guess the fact that I can stand still for hours at a time is more productive for your art form than that of the writer I know.

[Not that it stopped Varric.]

[pietistic]

I think most everyone is interesting in some way.

[ Athelstan says and then he laughs quietly. ]

I do not often come across someone who I draw standing still. [ More often than not he had sketched from memories, moments in time and here is when he had started to sketch what he saw as he saw it. People didn't find it nearly as odd as the Vikings had thought his drawings and writing were. ]

B

[ragnarsson]

[Ivar's not one much for flowers, but he's not about to be the downer, and not participate in the process. He looks over the flowers with only the barest interest, eventually just pointing to one at random.]

That one.

[It's the blue flower. Athelstan is probably soon going to regret this decision in a few minutes after he gives the baby blue eyes to Ivar.]

[pietistic]

[ Athelstan contemplates the other's choice for a moment. He does not know what they all are supposed to do and neither does he realize that they actually really work either. But he smiles when Ivar makes the choice. He thinks it's a lovely flower.

So without any hesitance, he offers it to Ivar, with no clue as to what will happen when he does. ]

It's a beautiful shade.

[ragnarsson]

[Ivar takes the flower and sticks it in a hole of his vest. It contrasts nicely with the bright icy blue of his eyes. He doesn't think anything of it, talking with Athelstan a little bit more, but within a few minutes, he's shrunken back down to the form of his six-year old self.

The child Ivar has become looks around. Where is he and what just happened? He'd just been in Kattegat a moment ago. He's not particularly frightened. Perhaps his parents had taken him on a journey and he didn't remember it for some reason. He's always wanted to go on one like his brothers have. He looks up at Athelstan with no recognition in his eyes whatsoever.]

Who are you? And where am I?

A

[mysophobic]

[ Don't worry Athelstan. Shigeru isn't preturbed at all. After all on this very same festival a year ago he was drawing his boyfriend because he thought he was a statue so this isn't as bad as it could be.

He'll notice the other man when he sees him drawing off in the distance and he has his own drawing utensils handy too. ]

What are you drawing?

[ He'll actually speak this time around as he curiously gives Athelstan a tilt of his head. ]

[pietistic]

[ Athelstan gives Shigeru a smile at the question. ]

People, different people. Today is a good day for finding people who are happy to draw.

[ Or at least people who are acting happy. ]

[mysophobic]

It is! I really like...drawing in this kind of atmosphere. It helps calm me down and it just makes you feel good to do so.

[ he smiles happily as he takes a seat next to Athelstan. ]

And I've been meaning to brush up on my portrait work. [ But who should he even draw... ]

[pietistic]

Yes.

[ Athelstan easily agrees as te other sits beside him. He's idly toying with the pencil without much thought or care at the moment. ]

There are plenty of opportunities for that.

Picnic

[like_quicksilver]

While Athelstan's in his sketch pad, a tiny, iridescent bird starts flitting around his head and sketch pad. All the while constantly speaking with a man's voice and asking what he was drawing.]

Not far behind, Gyda rushes over to lean forward against the bench. While their family could've packed a lunch, it was more to see what was available.] He must like you. Other people he tries to stab with his beak.

[Least she was certain that was his intention.]

[pietistic]

[ Athelstan's answers to the bird were slow in coming at first but eventually he gave him an answers that he was drawing someone nearby, though he wasn't sure of their name. They were cheerful and seemed to be having a good day which is what had drew his attention.

He smiles when Gyda comes to him, glancing at the bird and tilting his head. ]

It is yours?

[like_quicksilver]

[She nodded] He's my fylgja, he came this morning. Ivar's was revealed this morning too, his is a black swan named Vidgis.

[Her own bird fluttered from side to side of his work, only turning in answer to the man. Even for a creature as small as he was-or perhaps because of it-he seemed to puff up in pride, answering that his name was Greir

[pietistic]

[ Athelstan appraised them both and then gave a small smile. It's quite an interesting thing after all but at least here it is not the strangest thing that he has come across at this point. ]

Greir. It is a good name.

A.

[inafadingcrown]

[She doesn't mind in the least. Though if she had known she was going to be a model for a sketch, she probably would have picked a more dignified pose. There probably aren't many depictions of elven rulers sitting barefoot on the grass, idly weaving daisies into their hair.

After a moment, she pauses and, chuckling a little, turns to glance at Athelstan.]

Do you wish me to be more still? I do not mind, if it would help.

[pietistic]

[ Galadriel certainly has a bit of an otherworldly quality that had drawn his eye when he started to sketch her. He wouldn't have known better to know that it wouldn't have been normal, per se, for her to be in what is her current state. It all looks natural and it's making for what he thinks is a very happy looking sketch. It speaks of Spring and he's trying to capture some of that otherworldliness that he sees but he's not sure it actually translates on to the paper. ]

No, I like to draw people as they live. [ He smiles and is glad once again that he's found someone who catches him (not that he's trying to hide, really) and they do not mind. ]

Something changes when people try to be drawn.

[inafadingcrown]

[She gives a little hum of agreement.] They begin to think of how they wish to be seen. I have certainly sat for enough portraits to be conscious of it.

[Which is what makes this public informality a little unusual. But she has no people to rule here, no diplomats to persuade- she could afford to be a little frivolous.

But he said he did not wish her to still and so she doesn't. She continues weaving the flowers into her hair, slowly working them into an elaborate braid. Her hair is quite long, the furthest strands of it falling past her waist, so she's got a lot to work with.]

I would like to see it when you are finished, if it would not trouble you.