monthly mingle: PRIJATA

[riverviewmod]

who: everyone in Riverview!
what: monthly mingle: prijata
when: the month of june
where: anywhere around the city
warnings: please put any necessary warnings in the subject lines

prijata

In the days leading up to June 1st, residents new and old will notice preparations beginning, a flurry of activity getting the city ready for the upcoming celebration: Prijata. Riverview Quarantine has a strong culture of love, and they celebrate all types - Prijata is a special celebration of platonic love and building community through friendship. Prijata traditions include gift exchanges between friends, sharing meals cooked together by friend groups, and a variety of events and services aimed at making friends.

a celebration of platonic love

Prijata is a relatively relaxed holiday, focused mainly on friendship and platonic love - dedicated to appreciating the friends already in one's life, and opening oneself up to making new friends. Besides the private giving of gifts between friends, there is also a city-wide government-sponsored gift fountain that is open throughout the entire month. Included in the wide variety of events catered to finding new friends, are 'speed friending' and a large open exhibition where all the specialized clubs in Riverview can recruit for new members - and residents new or old can create a club and recruit.

i. gift fountain

While Prijata gift exchanges between friends are generally a quiet affair, done at friend-group dinners or parties, the element of gift giving does extend outward - community-wide, in fact. Throughout the course of the month, anyone living in Riverview Quarantine can drop by the huge fountain in the City Center, in front of the City Hall. They will find that the fountain is chock full of floating gift boxes in a wide variety of colors, patterns, and different shapes - though none larger than a shoe box. There are signs put up around the fountain stating that the boxes are magic and will only seek and open for their rightful owners. Characters will find that, upon touching the water, a box will float over to them, and when they pick it up, the top will unfurl like flower petals, displaying the gift inside. Sometimes, the box won't appear on the first try, since there's only so much space in the fountain at any given time, but if at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Every person in the city (including new arrivals) will receive one gift by the end of the month.

Gift fountain boxes will contain 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. If you can't think of an item like this that would work for your character, something of similar size and quality to what's described above that would make the character very happy can be substituted.

This prompt can also be used for gift exchanges and for characters to receive the Government-given gifts that were suggested in the Prijata Pregaming post on the meme community. Any newly apped character is welcome to post on the meme entry as soon as they're accepted, and will be linked to it in this month's acceptance notification, so to all you pre-existing players please keep looking at the Prijata Pregame meme throughout app week and afterward to help give new arrivals a warm friendly welcome!

ii. speed-friending

This is pretty much what it says on the tin! Much like speed-dating setups, many bars, coffee shops, and other places that people might gather are holding speed-friending! It's your standard setup - characters enter and fill out a quick questionnaire about themselves, and flit from table to table looking for someone with great friend chemistry. Not all of them are general and open to anyone who walks in, though, with many being specialized to people who are invested in certain hobbies, occupations, or with specific sets of interests. With specialized speed-friending setups ranging from horror movie buffs to members of the Perimeter Guard to fashionistas to sports or martial arts to video games, no matter what your character is into, they're likely to be able to sign up for a special event where they can go looking for a friend who's into the same things they are!

For this prompt, you can put up a list of hobbies or interests your character has, and compatible characters can hit them up for a speed-friending thread, like the IC equivalent of the CR meme!

iii. club exhibition

Speed-friending is all well and good, but not everyone is outgoing or open enough to know if they have friend chemistry in only a few minutes. For anyone looking to find groups of like-minded individuals they can spend more than a few minutes with before committing to something as daunting as a friendship, there is a month-long club exhibition happening in the Town Square in the City Center. Table after table and booth after booth are occupied by existing clubs in the city, with an incredibly broad scope of focus interests and hobbies - enough that any character should be able to find a club with their niche interest represented.

And if it isn't? Characters are welcome to start their own clubs - much like a business, a character-run club can have space set aside in the city for meetings and event mingles that are eligible for Activity Point Bonuses for the organizer.

iv. amusement park & waterfight

Remember the Amusement Park that citizens of the city were working together to clean up and power up a couple of months ago? Well, the endeavor has proven to be a success, and after a lot of hard work and technical expertise, the amusement park is up and running! For the first two weeks of June, admission will be free to honor those who helped make the park usable.

Sporting just about any amusement park ride you can think of, from kiddie rides, merry-go-rounds, and ferris wheels to high-speed roller coasters and more extreme rides for the thrill-seekers, the park takes it a step further by adding in a lot of different high-tech attractions not available at conventional amusement parks. It has banks and banks of VR simulators that allow park-goers to enjoy a variety of adventures and scenarios, or join shared mutual worlds with other users to explore or take out their aggression with a VR first-person shooter. There are also rows and rows of typical carnival games, some heavily rigged and some not, with prizes ranging from dollar store trinkets to stuffed animals to bits of advanced tech.

For the month of grand opening, though, the amusement park is offering a couple interesting events - a naming contest for the park, and a park-wide water fight.

The water fight is opt-in, with participants signing up and being given a purple or orange flag, tank top, or cap to wear marking them as to which team they're part of. There are buckets of water balloons around the park that are constantly being refilled by staff, and water fighters can participate in special target practice games to win the use of a watergun for the duration of the day - how big your watergun is depends on how well you do in the game! Ultimately, there aren't any real winners or losers, because the point is to get wet in the brand new summer heat, but it's always more fun to cool off with a bit of competition involved, right?

The naming contest is another story. Anyone who visits the park is welcome to think up a name for the park, and all entries will be listed on a large LED board. Every customer who enters the park is invited to vote for their favorite name, and the name with the most votes wins! To submit either an in-character suggestion or a suggestion from yourself as a player, hit up the thread below with a new top-level; whether or not you have a neat idea, place a vote for your favorite! Votes are one per player; suggestions are one per character.

v. roommates or wildcard

Feel free to use this prompt to set up headers for a communal floor, or threads open to roommates for the purpose of getting to know each other. Or if you have an idea for a prompt that isn't in this list, set during Prijata, feel free to write it up!

visual inspiration

click on thumbnails for larger view

Credit: image i: Odysseas Stamoglou; image ii: Dave Arredondo; image iii: spainforpleasure.com; image iv: mit19237

navigation

Comments

Dorian Pavus | Dragon Age

[tevinteraltus]

i. gift fountain

[Honestly, who doesn't like receiving gifts? Well, Dorian really, if they're presented in person. This fountain, though, draws his curiosity. Floating, water-tight packages enchanted to find their intended recipient? How could he refuse? Once the sides have cleared, he approaches the water, smiling at the magnificence of the thing first, before touching the water gently. At first, nothing happens and he does his model best to hide his disappointment, but then a brilliant purple package forces itself through the throng of other boxes and makes it way to him, unfurling in a thoroughly necessary flourish he's momentarily jealous he didn't contrive.

His brow furrows in nostalgia at the reveal though, for within is a small carved wooden duck on wheels with brass accents and a leather thong at the front, made to be pulled behind an excited child, and with a lid so as to hold his little treasures. He picks up the duck and looks at it, mindless really of anyone who might be watching. And then he smiles.]

Serrah Anatis. What a surprise to find you here.


iii. club exhibition

[In the past few months, Dorian has tried to embrace the life of a Quarantine native, and so he's to be found perusing the stalls exhibiting the various clubs currently looking for new members at various points throughout the month. Most of them aren't attractive to him, but he does stop at one stall advertising a book club. Promising, right?

Wrong. He makes a disgusted sound as he turns to leave.]

If I wanted to sit around and discuss the latest bodice-ripper, I'd join a knitting club.

v. WILDCARD

(OOC: If you'd like to track Dorian down for gift-giving, he can be found on floor 10 of community housing, or at work, the library, at his favorite cafe down by the river, or wherever! Feel free to just start something, or hmu on plurk (vikael)

iii

[bardish]

[ Hobbies! Hobbies are a good way to keep from totally succumbing to panic, stress, existential dread, and the accompanying bad habits that tend to crop up with them. Thank god Jeff's life was totally upended just in time for Prijata, so that he could immediately go check out the club exhibition once he had a few days to stop (overtly) freaking out, settle down, and get acquainted with this place.

And he just to happens to be checking out the book club in time to hear the man with the truly admirable mustache make his remark. ]

Aw. Don't count the bodice rippers out. Some of them are hidden gems! [ He's being alarmingly sincere. SOMEBODY HAS TO DEFEND THE BODICE RIPPERS. ]

[tevinteraltus]

[Dorian raised an eyebrow at the comment, mostly because his own hadn't been directed at anyone in particular, but also because you wouldn't look at this man and think he'd defend something that barely passes for literature.

Granted, he'd been burned by making assumptions about others before. He looks the man over for just a moment before making a flippant gesture and turning from the aforementioned booth to fully regard the man.]

I'll grant you, they aren't without merit, but honestly, they're an excuse to sit about sipping wine and giggling over ridiculous anatomical references, or to enjoy some much-needed "personal" time, neither of which require a club.

[bardish]

[ Jeff cants his head, consideriiiiiing... ]

Okay. Yeah. I can see that. But behind the ridiculous anatomical references, lies the beating heart of romance. [ It's optimistic. And sweet! In theory, anyway.

The truth is, it's not a genre he's particularly well-versed in. He just likes to defend these things on principle. ]

Though from what I hear, there's already a club for people to have 'personal' time together. [ There seems to be a club for everything here. Jeff makes a bit of a face at the thought, because that's just too much for him, but hey. Whatever makes people happy, he guesses. MORE IMPORTANTLY: ] What kind of books would you pick?

[tevinteraltus]

Clearly you haven't read many "romance" novels.

[He raises an eyebrow at the man, taking him in more fully as he does so and crossing his arms.]

Oh, I'm sure there are several, and more that require the deciphering of various clue in order to discern their locations. Rather exciting really, but such a bother to advertise.

[Ah! The Million credit question.] Well, if it were my organization, and we were being essentially required to read this book as a group, our inaugural meeting would most likely be used to determine what we as a group wished to read. I would recommend something lighter but not without substance, with a cast of characters diverse enough to intrigue those of various persuasions, perhaps with various motives that aren't easily categorized...so as to spark discussion. That is the point of a book club, isn't it?

i

[franciscoramon]

[ Cisco had been in the Quarantine already the last time this holiday rolled around, but he'd been very new and (in hindsight), not really in the best place, mental health-wise. This time, though, he intends to celebrate the holiday to the fullest. It's a celebration of friends, and he has so many of those, now. More than he's ever had in his whole life.

So he and Dorian meet up to check out the fountain of gifts, because it's a fountain of gifts and how cool is that? Besides, Cisco wants to check in and make sure Dorian is holding up okay. Not that he thinks he would be able to tell, necessarily, if Dorian wasn't. He seems like someone who has had a lot of time to perfect his mask. But Cisco figures, if they spend time together, there's more of a chance he'll get Dorian to crack a real smile, or laugh a real laugh, and he might need one.

He taps at the water, himself, but nothing comes. He makes a tch sound of disappointment, but is distracted right away when a box makes its way over to Dorian. Cisco watches as the container opens up to reveal... ]

Is that a duck?

[ Cisco leans in, peering at the strange... that's got to be a toy, right? That can't be some kind of Arcane Magick Relic or anything solemn, can it? No, it's got to be a toy. ]

I'm guessing you've seen this guy before?

[tevinteraltus]

[At first Dorian is almost protective of the wheeled duck, regal in visage. It wasn't, actually, but when he was a boy, he'd always imagined it that way. He does smile, and it's a fond one. He doesn't have many fond memories of home. Most of them are too colored by things that happened more recently, but to find this quaint little vehicle, here of all places...]

Why yes it is a duck, a wheeled duck, with a convenient storage hollow in his back for a mischievous young man's secret treasures.

[He holds the duck closer so that Cisco might see it.]

He was my stalwart companion when I was very young. Serrah Anatis or... "Mister Duck." To be fair, I was four.

[franciscoramon]

[ Cisco might not know the context right away, but it's not hard to guess. There are some things that transcend differences between universes, and evidently, this is one of them. It's a toy, and Dorian is holding the thing so carefully, as if it is precious. Not precious as in pricey, but precious emotionally. Cisco can just tell.

So he doesn't crowd, or rush Dorian, but lets him have his moment. After all, it's rare that he is sure that Dorian is happy - not just performing happiness because it's the thing to do. And goodness knows Dorian deserves a bit of genuine happiness. ]

Serrah Anatis.

[ The way Dorian speaks about the toy is, Cisco can't deny, incredibly endearing. Like it is a live thing, rather than a possession. He can almost picture it: the younger Dorian, wheeling the little duck around whatever grand cold mansion he grew up in. ]

I think it's a dope name, at any age. Takes guts and panache to pull off a name like that.

[ Cisco grins - he isn't just humoring Dorian, but clearly means it. Names are his specialty, after all. He can recognize an iconic one when he hears it. ]

Is there anything inside?

[ Dorian said there was a storage hollow, and you never know... ]

[tevinteraltus]

[Dorian smiles at the assessment with a slight chuckle. When had he stopped bringing about his constant companion? Ah, yes. He'd had a nightmare, he was only six, the curtains had caught fire and it had rained indoors. Then, he was told, he didn't have time for toys. Training was his priority. He'd come into his magic, that year.]

Serrah Anatis has both in spades, it's true.

[To spite having been the one to mention it in the first place, Dorian's eyebrows rose at Cisco's question and he smiled.]

I hadn't thought to look.

[Setting Serrah Anatis on the side of the fountain, he unlatched the small flange beneath his beak and flipped him open. Within wasn't much, a small stone filled with blue irridescence, though naturally only, and a small, wooden whistle. When he produced the latter, his smile broadened as he turned, offering the crafted item to Cisco to take a closer look.]

This is a very special whistle. My mother and I used to spend hours in the garden, listening to the birds, you see. I loved their song. My mother had one of our house servants carve this for me for my birthday. When you fill the back with water...here.

[It didn't take much, a palm's full of water, to fill the small hollow in the tiny bird's back, and then he placed the whistle to his lips, blowing gently. The sound produced wounded much like the warbling cry of a swallow.]

Clever, isn't it, and without magic! Not everything in Tevinter is so extravagant.

III

[nobasisinfact]

[Richard was passing by, trying not to be too caught up in all the hoopla that was the event. This place seemed to have a lot of those. Things designed to bring people together when someone Richard was reasonably sure that he wasn't the only person who wanted to be a recluse.

He was almost lost in his thoughts when he just barely heard Dorian making his comment about bodice-rippers and knitting clubs, and he can't help but chuckle about it.]

At least someone has decent taste around here.

[tevinteraltus]

[Even as he's turning, it's clear that Dorian is a man of exeptional but individual tastes, making a flippant gesture in the direction of this book club before falling into step beside Strand.

Because when a man agrees on having a standard in literature, he deserves to be engaged in conversation.]

I can assure you I have exquisite taste, but a nug wrangler could do better than their trite "highly recommended" selection for this month's reading. Twenty Degrees of Kheul? Honestly? It's a native "novel", and I use the term sparingly, and I did read it because I'm not a man who judges before he experiences.

[He pauses in his rant momentarily to tap his chin thoughtfully as he looks Richard over.] Though you have piqued my curiosity. What does pass for decent in your opinion? [There's a beat, not quite enough time for Richard to respond before he clicks his tongue and shakes his head.] I'm getting ahead of myself again. [And he gives a slight bow at the shoulders.] Dorian Pavus, most recently of, well the Quarantine. Previously of Thedas by way of the Tevinter Imperium. And you are?

[nobasisinfact]

[Richard wasn't ready for the man to fall into step with him, and when he did there was a stare as if doing so would cause the man to flee in terror. But it didn't. Instead, he started rambling on about the 'book of the month being shit,' Which Richard couldn't help offering a chuckle about. The man, Dorian, reminded him of when he'd first really started doing investigations with Alex. How she'd sometimes fill the silence with noise, seemingly just so the silence wouldn't be there.

And now there were questions, Richard wasn't prepared for questioning. He wasn't ready to be anything except on his way, yet here he was, and it wasn't as if Dorian was blocking his way or keeping him from getting to the place he was going.]

Uh, Richard Strand.

[The words were almost like a question. Of course, Richard knew his name, but he wasn't generally one to just give it out (besides, most people seemed to know who he was anyway).]

And I prefer non-fiction, philosophy or religion.

[This was starting to feel more like an interview. At least the man hadn't started asking things about his personal life. Interviewers always seemed to try and pry into that (at least they had when he'd actually gone to them).

[tevinteraltus]

[Oh come now, Richard would need to do much better than that if he wanted to get rid of Dorian until Dorian decided he was finished talking. He didn't hide the arched eyebrow at Richard's introduction, either, or the slight smile it brought to his lips as he looked Richard over once more, with more intent.]

Ah, so you're Richard.

[And that is all he's going to say on the matter of knowledge of him. If Richard is curious, he's free to ask. Instead, Dorian is fine with moving on.]

Oh, now those are intriguing topics, though it should be noted religion studied without the accompanying history loses its point, doesn't it?

iii.

[sentence]

Bodice-ripper? C'mon, you'll have to explain to me whether that means some sort of lewd profession or a serial killer.

[ The term didn't exactly make it back to Terca Lumireis. Yuri definitely looks out-of-place with most people, considering his garb is a bit strange and his dialect a bit... off. Then again, people from everywhere end up here, right? ]

[tevinteraltus]

[You know, the man's outfit worked for him, and he had the body for it. Dorian wasn't going to judge him on that point. He did raise an eyebrow at the question, though, mostly because his comment hadn't been directed at anyone in particular.]

Trite "love" stories inadequately attempting to veil exceedingly passionate and sometimes violent sexual scenes. The term comes from the idea that a lover tearing off one's clothing is far more arousing than his simply removing it properly.

[Though he chuckles. If anyone were to base a serial killer on such a title, he can probably name the author responsible.]

Dorian Pavus. [And he extends a hand in way of greeting.]

[sentence]

That's an expensive way to show your love. Nice bodices are no joke. No one in the lower quarter can afford one-- though I did see one of the older women wearing one after she won it in a poker game with some dowdy rich girl. Best thing was she did it for the laughs.

[ He extends a hand back with a slight grin. The brief reminiscence of home lightens his day, a little bit, and he just learned something new. Two for two! ]

Nice to meet you, Dorian. Yuri Lowell. Pleasure's all mine.

i

[scholiast]

(Lucretia has attended this festival once before, exactly a year ago, which answers for how lost in thought she is as she weaves her way through the throng of people vying to get to the fountain and their individual gifts. She's holding her own in both hands: a carved wooden duck. She all but bumps into Dorian up at the edge, holding up his own treasure, which looks far more ostentatious. Lucretia echoes his smile momentarily.)

Hello, Dorian.

(She holds up her own duck towards his. Though they are both carved, hers is also painted. It has white hair, and a little red cloak, and round little glasses that rest over its bill.)

You got one too, huh.

[tevinteraltus]

[He jumps at the sound of her voice, mostly because he hadn't been expecting it. "Mister Duck" is safe, though, at least, as he moves him to a cradled position under one arm and turns.]

Lucretia. Hello.

[He inclines his head in greeting.]

And yes, it seems I have. [He looks to her own carved duck, and raises an eyebrow.] Was...this duck of yours made in your image?

[scholiast]

(She clinks her duck's bill against his like a false 'cheers', then takes it back safely into both hands. Perhaps she's being cavalier, but only because this stupid thing has given her a real whirlwind of emotions. She's coping with that by doing goofs.)

Yes. Uh– Magnus made it for me, actually.

(Perhaps this is a little... olive branch of sorts, if he wants to talk about that particular situation??)

i.

[luxurist]

[ It's curiosity as well that draws Keira to the fountain, after hearing the word of such an event. It hasn't quite ceased to astound her, that magic appears so prevalent in Riverview-- and that nobody seems to question the fact. It just is, and for someone fresh off circumstances where magic itself is demonized and anyone with a whiff of Power about them gets mercilessly persecuted, it all seems a bit too good to be true. It's why she lingers about the edges of the fountain, simply observing for the longest time. A rare instance of applying patience for her, really.

Keira notices Dorian by the edge of the fountain once the crowds thin out some. She enjoys the finer things in life, no matter what form they take-- and this is indeed an exceptionally delightful form. So, she allows her gaze to linger without much shame. What harm is there in looking, after all?

Contrary to popular belief, Keira does possess some sense of discretion. Enough at least to realize she might be intruding upon a private moment of nostalgic reflection were she to approach the man now, as he inspects the item in his hands with a smile. Alas, Keira's patience only lasts for so long even on good days, and curiosity soon wins over tact. With one arm folded across her waist, she fingers the chunky baubles around her neck with her free hand idly as she finally edges closer to the fountain-- and "coincidentally", Dorian. ]

I've stumbled upon a happy reunion, I take it?

[tevinteraltus]

[If Dorian had felt Kiera's eyes upon him as she watched him, he hadn't minded. He was a glittering peacock for a reason. He enjoyed attention and the approving gazes of onlookers. He was quite a sight, after all.

He arched a delicate eyebrow and offered her a full-lipped smirk when she finally came over, though, and tucked "Mister Duck" under his arm to better greet this woman who clearly had impeccable taste. She carried herself with a subtle air of one who knows what she likes, too and isn't afraid to take it.

A woman after his own heart, obviously.]

Happiness is overrated, but I never expected to see it again. [He inclines his head in greeting.] Dorian of House Pavus. I take it you've recently arrived? [her style of dress suggests this to him more than anything. He's adapted to the a more modern style of dress himself, but still stylish as ever.]

[luxurist]

[ Well, goodness. He's even more delightful to look upon up close like this. Suddenly, Keira thinks approaching him was the best decision she's made since arriving here, a charming smile spreading to her lips. ]

I sincerely hope you're asking that because you'd remember meeting someone such as I, [ A hand splays against her none-too-modestly covered chest in emphasis. ] And not because I look somehow dazed or confused. Please be a gentleman and allow me the kindness of a lie, in the latter case.

[ With a light laugh, she spreads her arms out a little. ] But, you do have the right of it. Keira Metz, at your service. Simply a pleasure, Dorian-- you have no idea.

iii

[phantomqueen]

Pretty disappointing, right?

[Makoto, equally, had held high hopes for finding a club that would suit her interests and had been less than thrilled to find out what the usual fare for this book club was. Not that she didn't have a broad range of interests where it came to reading, but talking to the people at the stall had made it clear that the usual discussion points of the club were not what she wanted to be part of.

She's pretty sure she has no interest in hearing which of several nigh-identical bodice-ripper 'heroes' would be to the tastes of people she does know, let alone with near strangers.]

Maybe they've just figured that people who already read don't need to belong to a club to do it?

[tevinteraltus]

Is the point of a book club to force one to read, or is it to bring together those of like mind in a forum in which they might discuss something of substance?

[He breathes a sigh, shaking his head.]

Or is it to bring together those who wish to live vicariously through the lurid ideas of some sex-starved author?

[phantomqueen]

I would have thought it would be from a shared love of books, but I think you've hit closer to the truth with that last one.

[At least she's not the only one disappointed, which she's not sure she should be entirely happy about.]

Which is too bad. Not that I even mind lighter reading now and again but it would be nice to have somewhere to discuss what we've read more meaningfully. And I'm pretty sure if we tried that with this club, we'd lose them two minutes in.