introductory mingle: MEMORIA

[riverviewmod]

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

Comments

Shigeru Miyata | ota!

[mysophobic]

2a

[ He doesn't wind up sharing his stories, because it's awkward to have to write or type something for people to read, but if your character is telling one or needs someone to listen Shigeru will definitely be there. He's more or less a bit off to the side however, away from any of the bigger crowds of people, as he just listens. ]

2b

[ He might not share his thoughts but he can share something else. Food seems to be a big thing for this so he'll be offering people his homemade cookies and other desserts, cupcakes and even some chocolates, to anyone who wants them. He'll smile and wave people over if they're not busy with anything and he'll just hold up a sign saying: "If you want some, please take some for yourself and friends and family!"

He's not the best salesperson but hopefully he gets some people's attention?! ]

3

[ He knew this time would come and he was bracing for it. He's lost a few good people in his time back home and he's missing others dearly now. His lantern is written in neat handwriting and a few names are mentioned like Alex and Klein also his mother and father's name are there as well. He looks pretty happy though as he sets his lantern down into the river and watches it for a second before letting it go. It's pretty cathartic he has to admit and he's feeling a bit better although the homesickness still remains. ]

2b

[smokedout]

[He'd noticed Shigeru getting a few stories from others... but he's not the type to join the gatherings, less because of a lack of speech and more because of a lack of trust.

But now he notices the mute man handing out snacks, and well. Food and shy guys are Dodger's two favorite things, so he's coming over to nab a small box of chocolates from Shigeru's hand. At least he's nice enough to make sure he does it without touching fingers.]

Hey there, stranger. [Lo and behold, Dodger's doing a good job of being serious. At the very least, he's not immediately teasing or putting himself in Shigeru's personal space. Yet.] Wanna take a walk with me?

[mysophobic]

[ He's mostly handing out things like this to try and push himself with his own phobia, so if he seems a bit shaky and pale that's why. But the question is received with a curt nod as he puts the remaining goodie bags filled with their assortments of treats on a nearby table that's acting like a stall for him. ]

If you don't mind my company.

[ He was thinking of taking a break anyway, and while Dodger isn't exactly his first pick, he doesn't mind the company right now. ]

[smokedout]

You look like you could use it.

[He can tell Shigeru was out of his element, and walks never hurt with that. He makes a point to lead Shigeru into less populated streets, half for privacy and half to avoid the man feeling crowded.]

Haven't seen you sharing any mushy stories about your past... don't want someone to have to sit there waiting for you to write 'em up, huh?

[mysophobic]

[ Totally out of his element and he really needs to stop pushing himself so hard with these things. But Shigeru has a thick head so of course he doesn't listen.

He looks a bit embarrassed by what Dodger says and just nods silently. It's far too much trouble and he knows people don't want to wait there for him to type out his life story. It's just easier this way, after all, his life wasn't nearly as bad as some other people's. ]

[smokedout]

Well, I'm not about to push you, your phone's a pain in the ass to read off.

[He lets out a little huff of laughter... just to try and make it clear that he's joking. His tone rarely gives much to go on.]

How'd you lose your voice, anyway.

[mysophobic]

[ He fidgets and sorta smiles at that. He does realize how much of a pain it is. If he had known there was going to be sharing of stories he would have brought his pad instead. ]

I don't remember. Something happened to me when I was little but I can't...really recall what it was.

[ Memory wiping will do that to you. But he looks troubled as he says it, as if he sort of knows what really happened, but his uncertainty is what keeps him from saying anymore. ]

2b

[generalginger]

[Hux didn't share his thoughts either, and has no intention to. He is, however, tempted by the desserts. Access to them is such a rarity, and there's nothing wrong in being indulgent, he figures, just this once.]

Thank you.

[He doesn't smile, but his tone is friendly enough--inasmuch as he's capable of. He helps himself to a cupcake.] What kind is this?

[mysophobic]

[ Shigeru smiles and nods. You are quite welcome, Hux, even if Shigeru can't say that right now because his hands are full. But he'll put down his wares and type up something. ]

They're chocolate and vanilla. I didn't want to make too crazy concoctions, because I'm not sure what people would like!

[generalginger]

[He's patient at least, and once he reads the response, he looks back up at Shigeru.]

I agree--they are safe flavors. Cakes are something of a novelty where I am from.

[mysophobic]

[ Shigeru looks at him curiously there and then. ]

Cake is hard to come by where you're from?

[ That's a sad prospect. Shigeru isn't much of a sweet person but even he can see the loss of not having cake. ]

Is it just because you don't have the ingredients, or something else?

[generalginger]

[He takes a moment to read the response, then looks back up again.]

All meals are rationed where I'm from. Sugar usually doesn't even make the list of accessible ingredients.

[mysophobic]

[ Shigeru tilts his head a little at that. ]

Are you in...an army then?

[ Meal rationing was often used for that sort of thing. Not in phrobiest armies but in normal people ones it was a thing. ]

2b

[anthropophagite]

[ 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?

[mysophobic]

[ How dare Kaneki, how dare?! No, but, he doesn't take offense at all. He does nod and smile happily at the question. ]

Yes! I cook everything myself! I don't really...like eating food that's been prepared by others. [ It's a strange thing to admit and he looks a bit embarrassed while showing Kaneki what he's typed. ]

So I've learned to be a really good cook.

[anthropophagite]

Oh- [ there is a small pause as Kaneki thinks it over ]

Why not? You don't trust it? [ Kaneki is NOT a good cook. he can prepare simple things, but he usually buys food already made or sold somewhere.

Well, used to. not anymore, of course. Now a lot is different ]

[mysophobic]

[ Shigeru looks all sorts of awkward at the question. ]

Something like that. I...just don't like people touching my things.

[ He kinda fiddles with his phone once Kaneki is done reading it and he's holding it in his hands again. ]

So it's easier to just make my own food.

[anthropophagite]

[ Kaneki does't quite understand, but he also can't really judge, can he? He has his own secrets and his own reasons too, and would prefer if others didn't notice that something is off as well. Specially when it comes to food.

So he nods, allowing Shigeru his privacy and decides to drop the "why"s ]

I guess it is. Plus, cooking is sort of fun. [ not that kaneki actually cooks, but- ]

[mysophobic]

[ He appreciates the lack of questioning, thank you Kaneki! ]

It really is fun! Especially learning new recipes from other worlds. Have oyu ever had something called mac n' cheese? It's really good!

2b

[leatherdaddy]

[ Gladio nearly passes the sign, pushing his way through the crowd as he tries (and often fails) to avoid being accosted by festival participants - the scars tell their own tale and paint a giant target, surely a guy who has seen battle has a few stories to share.

The problem is, Gladio isn't the sharing type - not about this anyway. But he does a double-take at the words and slows his pace, then redirects to walk towards the unassuming man in the glasses. ]

You're not gonna ask me to share a story, are you? This ain't exactly my idea of a fun time.

[ He looks at him expectantly, a challenge in his eyes doing a bit more than suggest a hint: Don't ask. ]

[mysophobic]

[ When the taller and more muscular man walks up to his stand he's kind of surprised at first. He wouldn't think someone in Gladio's shape would ever want to even touch sweets but here he is. He realizes he's staring and with a faint blush looks away and shakes his head, smiling a little as he types something on his phone. ]

No of course not! Not unless you wanted to.

[ Shigeru isn't the easiest person to talk to anyway and sharing stories like this is hard for him, so he wouldn't expect people to do so for him either.. He will motion for Gladio to come over to get a better look at his wares though. ]

If you want some you can take as much as you like!

[leatherdaddy]

[ At first Gladio thinks he's being ignored, tensing up when the man flushes and puts his nose straight into his phone. He gives a rough exhale, sounding irritated by the snub until he realizes the man is directing his screen for his review. Gladio blinks, his body relaxing in increments before he looks at the words written there.

What's with this guy? ] Uh, thanks.

...You can't talk?

[ It would make sense. Otherwise this guy's just on the 'extreme weirdo' side of that introverted scale. ]

You don't... have to write that down just nod yes or no.

[mysophobic]

[ Ugh he knows this is super awkward right now. Most people aren't used to meeting mutes, he knows, so he just looks a bit red in the face as he automatically goes to his phone to type an answer. Ah! Right! He's sorry it's a habit! But he does nod 'yes' in response to Gladio's question. ]

[leatherdaddy]

[ The response relaxes the tension in his body - it starts with his shoulders and fists, then in the smoothing of his brow and the corners of his mouth. Finally, after some consideration, Gladio nods to himself in understanding. ]

A-ah.

[ In his mind's eye he sees Ignis feeling around in the space behind them, trailing along, blind and trying with all his might to keep up with them. A hand - his hand, at his back or putting his cane into the well of his palm. This is the sort of memory Shigeru conjures. It tugs at his heart and Gladio finds himself instantly drawn by that thread of familiar sympathy. ]

...My name -- [ He starts out slowly, directing his voice to Shigeru before he meets his eyes. ] is Gladiolus Amicitia. [ A pause. ] Your name is...?

[mysophobic]

[ Shigeru smiles back at Gladio. He's really appreciated that the other is trying to accommodate him and is being helpful about it. More often than not people back home would give him this look and it never really sat well with him, honestly. ]

My name is Shigeru. It's nice to meet you, Gladio!