riverviewmod: (Default)
Riverview Moderator ([personal profile] riverviewmod) wrote in [community profile] riverviewlogs2017-05-01 07:22 pm
Entry tags:

introductory mingle: MEMORIA

who: everyone in Riverview!
what: Introductory Log and Memoria Commemoration
when: May 1st - May 8th
where: Anywhere around the city.
warnings: please put any necessary warnings in the subject lines

memoria


In the days leading up to May 1st, residents new and old will notice preparations beginning, a flurry of activity getting the city ready for the upcoming celebration: Memoria. A more solemn celebration than Sampremi or the Flower Festival, Memoria is a week-long time of remembrance for those lost in the Great War and the epidemic that decimated Riverview Quarantine's population 10 years ago. Memoria traditions include lighting lanterns for the dead, telling stories about lost loved ones or lost homes, eating meals with loved ones, and a special gathering to send floating lanterns down the river in honor of those lost.

a solemn commemoration of those lost



While the main city-wide event associated with Memoria is the floating of lanterns down the river on the evening of May 8th, the holiday is generally seen as a time of reflection on and appreciation of things that have been lost - people, homes, cultures, and planets. It is also a celebration of the things that remain. Many locally-owned shops will host displays of culturally-significant food, and will hand out informational flyers sharing the unique customs of their own homeworlds. There is a heavy emphasis on sharing time with family, friends, and lovers, and anyone who is able to will cook meals or treats for loved ones, or at least purchase them something good to eat.


i. hanging lanterns


Throughout the entire week of Memoria, residents will be hanging lanterns around the city. Lanterns are generally placed in greater number in places of passage - streets, bridges, and all alongside the train lines are particularly well-decorated, as are any trees alongside paths, and most homes and businesses have a profusion of lanterns around their doors and windows. This tradition is twofold; some people believe that the lanterns are hung in these places in order to guide the spirits of the dead back to those who still love them, other people believe that the lanterns are to give light for living loved ones to find their doors in times of darkness...many people believe both.

No matter what your character might believe, you can be sure they will find themselves offered a lantern for free from various businesses or friendly citizens passing by, and invited to hang it before the sun sets, or they may be handed a bundle of lanterns and asked to help share them with others.


ii. sharing life


Throughout the city, characters will find groups of people gathering to share hot drinks and talk about their loved ones lost, their homes and planets, or their experiences during the Great War and the epidemic. Anyone who has lost someone, who has fought to survive, who is feeling cut off and homesick, is welcome to sit and share their story. If your character chooses to sit and to share their story, they will find that people will gather to listen, will generally be respectful of the telling, and may share their own similar experiences in return. This is an excellent time to air grief in an environment where most people understand and respect grief, and a good time to deepen the connections to others around you, to understand them better.

There is also a very large focus on cooking or purchasing meals or treats for loved ones during Memoria, with many people taking meals with everyone they care about during the week of the holiday. Some go the extra mile and will hand out baked goods (usually chocolate or cinnamon), packets of candy, or other little treats to acquaintances, especially if they would like to form a closer bond with them. This is a great time for characters to reach out to someone they would like to get to know better with a surprise treat!


iii. floating of the lanterns


On the evening of May 8th, just before sundown, many of the city's residents will head toward the banks of the river, where they will light lanterns in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, in honor of their dead loved ones. The types of lanterns vary wildly, based on personality (either of the person floating it or the person they are honoring), culture, and many other factors. Some lanterns are very simple, others are incredibly complex, but the one common feature they all have is that people write on the shades of them - they write about their feelings for their loved ones, their wishes for their relationships and friendships, a memory from childhood or home, or even just lines of poetry or lyrics from songs that express something they miss, or something that hurts them.

Once those emotions are written on the lanterns, the lanterns are set free, floating down the river in the darkening evening, in a cathartic gesture shared by most residents of the city. Waves of lantern floating will start around 7 pm and continue until the sun rises on the morning of May 9th.


iv. 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 Memoria, feel free to write it up!



visual inspiration


click on thumbnails for larger view


Credit: image i: glowconcepts, image ii: by trenchmaker, image iv: cherryorange; image iii: found uncredited on Pinterest - please let the mod know if you find credit!

navigation
heavyhead: (countdown til i buy that premium paid)

[personal profile] heavyhead 2017-05-10 09:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[what's it like to be happy go lucky, can he try]

No—no, it's Prompto. I'll talk to him. [How hard will it be to give him the no spoilers talk? Not very. And Noctis won't start literally shoving him around for speaking up. Just saying.]

That it?
leatherdaddy: (pic#11388247)

[personal profile] leatherdaddy 2017-05-10 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Gladio almost calls Noct out for that last bit, but decides to let it go. He did interrupt his own attempt at participating in this festival after all, but then again? Maybe a break from whatever writer's block is plaguing him is more welcome than he's willing to say.

So he lets it go. Switches gears. ]


...They rope you into a job yet?
heavyhead: (nice one prompto)

[personal profile] heavyhead 2017-05-10 10:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[He hasn't eagerly snatched up this pen to pour his heart out onto paper, no. Who knows what he'll eventually manage.

So, with the smallest hint of a grin:]
Petting zoo attendant. I think there's a uniform I'm supposed to pick up.

[Very regal.]
howlongiwonder: (contemplation)

[personal profile] howlongiwonder 2017-05-10 10:03 pm (UTC)(link)
It's an emotion. If you let it control you, it may become a weakness.

[She speaks with a sudden sadness in her voice, betraying first hand experience with similar matters. Apparently 2B came from one of those places Morgan just mentioned.]

But facing it isn't easy, either...
eyeforaneye: (021;)

[personal profile] eyeforaneye 2017-05-10 10:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Eat something sweet to get through these trying times. ]

... you do or you don't. "I guess" isn't a definitive response.
cookingmama: (and then I drank too much)

[personal profile] cookingmama 2017-05-10 10:08 pm (UTC)(link)
You're the one who made it heavy. [Ignis rolls his eyes, heaving the other bag over his shoulder. There the trash boys go.]

It's... an unexpected development, but it pays well. I'm taking care of a few valuables of a rather generous neighbor. Some have assumed I'm from a cleaning service.
ikols: that everyone hated me (thought i was a victim)

[personal profile] ikols 2017-05-10 10:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Best stay deep in the central Quarantine, Bright Eyes, or make nice with the wall's defense teams.
megabond: (Thinking)

[personal profile] megabond 2017-05-10 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[Now that question threw off his guard. He would answer the obvious, but considering that she has a personality, he can't able to know how will he reply to her question.]

If I would know, you might shut down like any other robots. But to me, I can't really say about you having a soul. No offense...
heavyhead: (try the morphogenetic field akane)

[personal profile] heavyhead 2017-05-10 10:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[But he doesn't waaaant these particular cookies.]

I do want you to get to the point. Do I look surprised to hear about him to you?
cookingmama: (my vibe is more like)

[personal profile] cookingmama 2017-05-10 10:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Prompto was in a less than stellar state when we arrived, if I remember correctly. I have not seen much of him since.

[At the very least, Gladio has the fact Ignis hasn't picked up much more than Noctis initially giving him an odd look. He still frowns, though, crossing his arms over his chest with a cursory glance back.]

I also recall you bearing significantly less scars. Is there something I should be worried about? Are you all running off before I can take care of you?
heavyhead: (nice one prompto)

[personal profile] heavyhead 2017-05-10 10:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[So heavy... he dies here.]

Guess you owe me for that paycheck, huh? [ha ha he's a brat. But anyway, neighbors... wait.] It's Eichi, isn't it?
cookingmama: (I did nothing at all!)

[personal profile] cookingmama 2017-05-10 10:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh, no. The bags Ignis carries is a result of both her brother and Noctis in the span of those few days, and he'd be lying if he said he weren't a little bitter about making the offer in the first place. They were so messy...

Still, Iris' company is enough to keep him from getting frown lines.]
I'm not so certain you weigh much more than these, but by all means.

[Here, Iris. Have your brother's bag of old food and empty bathroom products.] Gladio still snores. If you ever happen to miss that, I'm sure we could trade places.
cookingmama: (some people give off a vibe)

[personal profile] cookingmama 2017-05-10 10:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[His appreciative noises get a smile out of Ignis, so at least Poe is doing something right. He gingerly sets the tray down on a table for easier access, and to pull a notepad from his apron. Fried ice cream is going down with a rather large question mark.]

That seems like a bit of an oxymoron. I've never heard of it, but if you describe it to me... Well, I will do my best. [It seems like... the ice cream would melt... forgive him, he'll get it.]
anthropophagite: DEFAULT (Normal - pic#8286374)

[personal profile] anthropophagite 2017-05-10 10:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[ no, you totally should have some responsibility in this, reaper ]

It's not that, I just- [ he really doesn't want to do this. Why should he hdo this? ] I just don't think I'm the best person to help with the festival.

[ oh look at that, what a great excuse. Nailed it. But then again, he realizes Reaper probably isn't the best person to help out either ]
antietam: (pic#10376480)

[personal profile] antietam 2017-05-10 10:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[ There's a quiet huff that probably translates to I can take care of myself. ]

You don't have to keep making fun of my eyes. I get it.
ikols: forever asking more (in wonderment at you & yours)

[personal profile] ikols 2017-05-10 10:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Glancing sideways, he laughs under his breath. ]

Can't take a compliment, can you? Alright, never again. Was there anything else you wanted to ask this walking novelty?
cookingmama: (whoa! that tall child looks terrible!)

[personal profile] cookingmama 2017-05-10 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ugh, he's lucky Ignis is too busy trying not to laugh at his roommate. Which isn't working. At all.]

It-- It could-- He gave me thirty units, Noct. I didn't say anything to him.
heavyhead: (so could you please)

[personal profile] heavyhead 2017-05-10 10:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[Lord above?? By all accounts Noctis should at least be the bigger person here and spare his poor, completely un-worldly roommate the embarrassment and pocket change of paying people who are not a real cleaning service.

But in reality he nearly spills his own trash laughing. No, that's so bad...]


Just like that? Buy yourself some coffee, you earned it.
yokunaru: (45)

[personal profile] yokunaru 2017-05-10 10:48 pm (UTC)(link)
No...I don't think it would. [Yuuri agrees softly, eyes tracing the unfamiliar words written on the lanterns.

He follows Cain's lead when it looks like he's finally ready to send them off.]
Would you like to place them in the water together? [Considering how personal this whole gesture is, it's safer to ask, Yuuri thinks.]
antietam: (pic#10376488)

[personal profile] antietam 2017-05-10 10:51 pm (UTC)(link)
I take real compliments. Besides, wasn't I supposed to be treating you like a person? Or do you prefer the novelty angle?

[ He really just has no idea what to do with this guy. He can't get any sort of lead. ]
yokunaru: (25)

[personal profile] yokunaru 2017-05-10 10:51 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm fine. [Not even a stutter. Seeing the apologetic look on her face, Yuuri manages to pull up a hesitant smile.]

Ah, I heard someone calling out just now. Was that you?
anthropophagite: DEFAULT (Normal - pic#8540353)

2b

[personal profile] anthropophagite 2017-05-10 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Kaneki doesn't eat, naturally, but when he sees a familiar face among the crowd, he can't help but to get closer and try to read what the sign says. And eventually he realizes it's about food, oops ]

Oh- thank you. But I'm alright. [ yes, this is going well, let's just hope Shigeru doesn't insist so Kaneki doesn't have to lie about why he doesn't want the cookies ] You cook, Shigeru-san?
ikols: DANCE MAGIC DANCE (then baby said)

[personal profile] ikols 2017-05-10 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
You mistake my levity for insincerity. And I'm simply saying how I feel, Adam. As a person.

[ Twisting and turning perspective so ambivalence is always there but not quite rooted, enjoying keeping Adam on his toes. ]
yokunaru: (31)

[personal profile] yokunaru 2017-05-10 11:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah. [Yuuri turns back toward the water thoughtfully.]

We had a festival like this back home. Writing about anything that you're hurting over is new, though. I can't decide if I feel better after doing it or not.
cookingmama: (I used to drink)

[personal profile] cookingmama 2017-05-10 11:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[It was then Ignis knew he had royally fucked up.

On one hand, this provided the opportunity to fabricate some story that will keep him from looking like an insensitive prick at an event of mourning. On the other hand, he had no idea how to do that, and Ebony was too rich a drink to deprive anyone from knowing.

Better vague it.]
It was... something important, yes. Representative of better times that have come to pass, unable to be returned to.