riverviewlogs | introductory mingle: MEMORIA

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!

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I wouldn't want to get your cape dirty.

[steve watches him hang the lantern, offering him his hand by the time he's done.]

It's good to see you. [it's been a little while for steve, just over a year. so much has happened since then. too much.] You just get here?

( There, she can completely relate, and her expression softens. Lowering herself to one knee, she holds out her arms. )

C'mere. I don't know you, but you don't know me, either. I'd like to change that.

( She shakes her head, smiling a little. )

Nah, I don't see you that way. I felt that way, though. Especially when I had to go into middle school with Alex and her friends called me weird.

I'm not good with kids, really. So if I say or do something that doesn't seem cool, will you let me know? I'm flying by the hem of my cape here.

[ It's not like he hasn't gone out for drinks before with Alex and his other coworkers. But while everyone else was getting hammered he remained completely sober. It's a sad life indeed for some, but Shigeru didn't mind it.

Though Shigeru himself looks a bit anxious now. He'll fiddle with his phone as he tries to type something on it, fumbling once or twice as he does so, if he could speak this would be where he gets tongue tied. The 'fooling around' part in particular gets him to go beet red in his ears and on his face slightly. Well he really wasn't expecting that. ]

I can't do that. [ There's just no way! Fooling around, if it's what Dodger really meant, is totally out of the question for him. He's never even considered sex before. For him it was just sort of...gross, disgusting even, and with how he was right now he didn't want to chance it. ]

I'm not really...good for this sort of thing. You'd be much better off with someone that isn't like me.

[ He has a low opinion of himself when it comes to these thing. Knowing he can't help it doesn't seem to assuage his personal thoughts on he matter. ]

Well, cat videos, those are worth pondering. Really, what makes that grumpy one so...grumpy.

[steve tries not to wince. that sounded better in his head. but from her chatter, maybe they're both a little on the awkward side. steve doesn't mind that.]

It is. [he agrees, glancing down briefly.] But hopefully it's when the healing starts too. I heard what you said. It was beautiful.

[Their approach to secret organisations is markedly different, but Taako doesn't really care enough to push it for now and find out what that specific group is. He's more focused on the overall fact that a) this guy knows thieves' cant and b) he's a half-elf.]

Faerûn, which I'm gonna be so psyched if you know, cause most the folks here are from some shitty planet called Earth.

[That's not really true, but he's mostly counting from the arrivals that have come since he arrived, rather than the people who've been set up here for years.]

[That gets a noncommittal shrug out of him.]

Look, if we're being honest? Yeah, I could do better. And I've got a couple people I could try hitting up if you're not gonna budge. But no one got anywhere by saying what they can't do.

[And honestly, being told he can't have him just sort of makes him want Shigeru more. Watching him fidget with his phone like that is pretty adorable, and Dodger's always a sucker for clean and innocent people. He can always see the exact marks he leaves on them.

Without much conscious thought, he's ended up a little closer to Shigeru. Right on the edge of his personal space, aaand leaning into it a bit.] At least keep me in mind if you get in the mood for some decent... exposure therapy, yeah?

Uh, three, I guess they're monthly? The last one was a spring festival sorta deal, and the first one was kiiinda just about sex.

[He gives an awkward little shrug; he's not exactly adverse to being open about sex, but Kara is a) on the younger side and b) Clark's cousin, so that's a tiny bit weird.]

It's cool, I'm cool. [He's so fine!! About all of this shit!!] Sorry about your folks, though, and your aunt.

[He wonders if they died when Krypton was destroyed, but he's not going to ask that sort of thing.]

Is Rao your god?

Wow. I take it then that the people on this planet like a good party.

( Her cheeks turn beet red, and she glances away briefly. Nothing else about this place has reminded her of what she's heard of Daxam so far. But a festival about sex sounds right up their alley.

In the end, she's silent long enough for the subject to change, for which she's profoundly grateful. )

Okay. ( Whether he is or isn't, she doesn't know him well enough to warrant an 'are you sure?' ) Thank you. I appreciate that.

( Part of her is glad he doesn't pry, either. It lets her breathe, and change the subject altogether. )

one of them; the most important, God of the Sun. Ours was named for him.

What?

( This woman sounds thoughtful, though she's unsure why, or if she's pried by asking.

Looking over at her, she meets her eyes with a small smile. )

You chose a really pretty lantern there.

[ It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Noctis thinks of himself vs the people of Insomnia as an unfair trade, but it's because he doesn't understand. To some degree, Gladio even admires him for that genuine modesty that peeks out from under all the hair and sullen attitude. But he wasn't here to mollycoddle the future king, he was here to prepare him for the worst the world -- worlds, as it turns out -- has to offer, and protect him with his own life just as every Amicitia before him has.

His scoldings and harsh lessons sometimes bore fruit, especially in those rare moments when Noctis hissed quietly but took it, and for the whole day after he'd see him nearly transformed behind those eyes, revitalized in his desire to prove him wrong. He didn't get a chance to see it in Noctis' eyes today, so he's not sure if he's gone too far or not far enough.

I don't answer to you -- that kind of response doesn't sit well with Gladio, and it'll nag at the edge of his mind and his frayed nerves all night too. ]

O-oi! [ Gladio lifts his arm to try to stop his departure. But if Noctis removes himself from the situation, leaving the lanterns behind, Gladio won't know how else to stop him without hauling him back bodily and that's... not going to happen this time. ]

...Dammit.

[Yeah he's definitely going to leave that alone when he sees the blush, normally he might rib someone a little over it, but he doesn't know Kara will enough and again, Clark's cousin and Clark would maybe kill him.]

Wait, back up, you named your sun?

[In his experience, which is a considerable amount, people just call the sun "the sun".]

[He's been thanked? A weird comment, but it doesn't mean that Eichi should understand anyone would clean up this man's trash without being paid for it. Come on, now. He laughs, covering his mouth with a hand politely as he does.]

It is nice to meet you, Scientia-kun. It's true that there's so much more mess to deal with and it's bad for my health, but the truth is this room was quite empty and lonely before Noct-kun arrived. I'm glad to have met him. ♪

( Now on firmer grown conversationally speaking, Kara can feel the corners of her mouth twitch, and then curve upward into a small grin. )

Yeah, we did. It's a red dwarf, and most definitely called 'Rao.'

( That'd been a weird one for her to get used to on Earth. Along with birds being a thing, and much, much more. Her amusement is palpable. )

God of light and life, and apparently the ancestor of my family.

A surprise? I don't know what I did to deserve something like that, which should be reserved for a celebration. You're too much, Iris-chan. How sweet.

[He's polite and humble like this, but he is eating it up, don't worry. A surprise... He's so curious.] Should I be meeting you somewhere for this surprise?

[ Hugs. Hugs, Jon can understand, being a tactile child so he immediately heads over, wrapping his small arms around her. ]

It's okay. We'll figure it out. We're cool.

( Kara does the same once he's closer, and holds on tight. Hugs are something she understands well, too.

And it's nice, once again, not to have to hold back so much of her strength. )

Good. You don't ever have to feel like a tagalong kid with me, okay? I get that.

I think I've hit my limit on feeling sad today. How's ice cream sound?

I still have no idea and I've watched so many of his videos. Is it weird that I've wanted to give him a hug? or maybe a big ball full of catnip, I don't know. Same difference, maybe.

( Kara smiles, not noticing that what he'd said might sound weird or awkward to anybody else. Awkward is a language she's fluent in. )

I hope so, too. ( His body language suggests he gets it, and her smile fades, her features softening. One step at a time. ) Thank you. Some of that was the traditional prayer for the dead of my people.

[ Ice-cream! . . . But Loki bought him some. And Steve. And his parents. . . . Maybe he should slow it down.

But ice-cream.

He bites on his lip before doing the right thing. ]

It sounds great but I've had a lot of ice-cream this week, so I should ask my dad or mom if it's okay to have more. I don't wanna lose my ice-cream privileges.

[ Being good is hard ]

( Well that's got Kara struggling not to chuckle under her breath. In the end she manages; it's just a good thing that she's capable of undertaking herculean efforts.

Tilting her head, she considers other options. )

Hmm okay. What's their policy regarding pizza, then?

( She can't be the only one in the family with either a sweet tooth or a massive appetite. Right? )

Noctis. [Naming themes abound.] Nice to meet you, too.

[Terra takes a right, mercifully steering them out of the shelves of women's clothing but past an aisle full of candy... which the little girl doesn't miss.

Sorry for your shoulder socket there, Noct.]

We're looking for something to protect you from the fireflies. I saw a man dressed in an unusual outfit and, when I asked him about it, he told me it was keeping the bugs off him and that he'd gotten the materials to make the outfit in one of these stores.

Huh, rad.

[Only having one sun was weird for him, the first new world they got to, but generally speaking it's the more common configuration, so they adjusted eventually.]

That's gotta give you some bragging rights, though. Related to a god and all that shit.

[Despite his lighter tone, there's no doubt in his voice, whether about the fact her god existed, or that he's an ancestor of hers.]

I am! Unless Alex and I've been doing it wrong for twelve years.

( Laughing a little, she sticks out her tongue at him and swings their arms between them.

And then she looks over at him impishly just before she takes off, not missing a beat. Taking to the air had been easy from her even in the beginning, and she's always wanted to share that with someone.

Who wouldn't complain about her sharp turns. If her laughter continues, it's lost in the rush of the wind. But her grin only grows wider. )

[ Found family is just as accepted among his kind as the type related by... well, whoopsie doopsie, that'd be another skeleton joke. He can't possibly bleed.

The next time Jon looks, there's a bite missing from the burger, though Sans didn't seem to open his jaw at all. Ketchup drips all over his phalanges. Gross. ]

Me? Heh, hard to say.

Pretty tough to feel alone with all these people. But I'm guessin' you mean having something familiar, or somebody who gets you, right?

[Jesus, this kid has a strong arm on her. Noctis makes a noise of discomfort tinged with surprise when they pass by the candy, all but dragging the poor girl away until he gives up and just stoops down to pick her up. As long as she doesn't kick him in the face trying to get to the candy, he'll live.

Buuuut hang on, hang on.]

How unusual? Like, suit of armor unusual...? No offense.

Uh- [He doesn't have to fish around in the water for it?? Noctis watches this in mild wonder, then looks between Yuuri and the pen a few times before gingerly accepting it back.

Yep, it's dripping...] You really shouldn't have.

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introductory mingle: MEMORIA

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