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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[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?

[ 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. ]

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?

[ 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. ]

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.

[ 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. ]

[People tend to look troubled when they lose their memory, but... in Dodger's experience, traumatic events like that tend to stick with people. Especially ones that leave physical traces like the two of them have.]

I bet you'd sound pretty fucked up if you got your voice back, then - no practice with the muscles and all. [He pulls a pack of cigarettes from his pocket... and then hesitates and glances at the other man, spinning the pack in his hand.] You're not gonna get all freaked out if I start smoking, are you?

[On the off chance that Shigeru's alright with it, he'll get offered a smoke. Dodger's polite like that.]

I do wonder what I would sound like sometimes though.

[ Dodger's probably right about his sounding weird however. The last time he ever spoke was when he was little. He's really not sure how he'd sound now. Still maybe one day he'd get it back.

He shakes his head 'no' at Dodger's question. ]

No thank you. I don't smoke. [ of course he doesn't, but at least the other was kind enough to ask. ]

[He takes that as a go-ahead to light up, and snaps his fingers as he places a cigarette in his mouth. A small flame appears over his fingertips, just enough to light the tip before he shakes the fire off.]

Seems like you could use some kinda fix - you've gotta be the second jumpiest guy I know. [And the first... well, Dodger's actually chuckling as he remembers the man. Kai was a frustrating son of a bitch, but just endearing enough to keep alive. And probably one of the two people Dodger would call friends back home.]

[ He wasn't expecting that?! But Shigeru might jump slightly at the sudden flame before he settles back down. You sure are full of surprises, Dodger. ]

Fix? [ His expression goes a bit somber. If only there was a fix for his illness. He's tried so many things and yet he always seems to relapse it seems. ]

I try to push myself as a way to...help. But it doesn't always go right. [ Exposure therapy is super hard and he doesn't have his normal support network here to really have confidence in himself to do it alone. ]

I wish I could fix it.

So get high. Always works for me.

[Dodger avoids sobriety like the plague; it's a rare sight for him to be without either a cigarette or a beer on hand, or some drug hidden in his pockets. Without those, well, he'd be a lot more like Shigeru. Clean and jumpy.]

Listen, I know memories are the whole point of this dumb holiday, but I bet running off with me and getting shit-faced would do you some good. Spend some time too fucked up to remember your issues.

[Or how to type, which might be its own issue.]

[ Shigeru looks momentarily surprised and sorta awkward. He doesn't really like doing those types of things honestly. Besides it would all be cleared out of his system in a matter of minutes away. A mysophobic phrobiest's body automatically removes all impurities on instinct. ]

I don't think that would work on me. My body heals at a rapid rate, so most phrobiests of my kind can't exactly do those things. And I'm not sure...I would want to.

[ He's really not someone that is used to using substances like that. Especially when he himself is a doctor of sorts and has dealt with cases in addiction before. ]

[He's a little surprised to hear the latter part - he expected Shigeru to be unwilling, but not incapable.]

Pretty sad life you lead. [After a pause, he adds:] Not sure I could make it this long without something to wipe my brain clear.

[He's silent for a bit, before glancing at Shigeru.] Offer's still open, if you wanna try it. I might have something that can make it through your system. Or we can just fool around.

[He tries to keep his tone level, but he's actually a little expectant - now that he thinks of it, it'd be useful to know just how potent his pet fireflies are. If they can stick around in a man who's built to resist traditional drugs, that'll tell him a lot.

Or he can just get Shigeru in bed, which is equally good.]

[ 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. ]

[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?

[ He might sort of...shy away from that and jump slightly realizing just how close Dodger is. After saying all that stuff it's no real surprise that he's blushing and sort of flustered still. Shigeru is way too pure for this! He's not really sure how to react or act now in front of Dodger now?! This is too complicated for him!! But he does nod and types another response on his phone. ]

You...would really help me with that?

[ He does need it, badly, if his reactions to things and people is any inclination. ]

I do want some help with it. I can't really...push myself on my own. [ It's so hard and he's really trying his best to get better. But having someone that might be willing to help him with therapy could be beneficial to his overall recovery. ]

Sure.

[Eventually Shigeru will learn a little quirk about Dodger - generally when he says 'sure', it means 'yeah, if you think that it'll make my plan easier'. And he may or may not...
be taking advantage of Shigeru's shying away to corner him against the wall of the building beside them, slowly moving closer to him.]

Long as you don't mind some ah... unorthodox methods. [Because sure, Dodger's methods of accomplishing his goals tend to work. And one of those goals, he's decided, is to make Shigeru capable of withstanding his touch. They just tend to ignore what's polite, healthy and safe.]

[ He doesn't realize that he's up against a wall until he feels it against his back. He'll go stiff and shrink in on himself a little when Dodger moves closer. Oh no. No, no this is not what he wanted right now?! Dodger you're too close too close for him. Shigeru will look frazzled and slightly more worried now as he averts his eyes and types something. ]

You're too close.

[ He doesn't want to come off rude and maybe that's why he might look away when he holds up his phone, but it's really uncomfortable and he's trying really hard to keep calm. But his red face and awkward looking posture is telling enough at how embarrassed and unsure he is right now. Dodger this is going too fast for him, please slow down! ]

[It's another one of those cases. One of those 'it's not my business' cases, and it should stay that way. He wasn't watching Dodger and Shigeru from the beginning, more that their 'walk' had gone near where he was idling himself.

But upon seeing someone like Shigeru with Dodger--After being told that Dodger viewed the germaphobe as a 'possible ally'...

Well, it's easy to find an excuse to follow them. And Reaper being Reaper, he's a man who doesn't need to be seen when he doesn't want to. It's just a matter of lingering nearby in a shapeless, unseen cloud.

He's starting to get bored of the conversation soon enough, and he's honestly about to leave when Dodger starts... acting strange. And while, once again, it's a large case of none of his business, it becomes his business when Dodger starts threatening someone who he had named a 'possible Ally' not days before.

So it's a fluid movement, appearing from the shadows as if he had been there the entire time, his body flowing out of the ether and forming to something human-shaped--a hand reaching out to grab the back of dodger's hoodie and to give it a hard enough yank to throw the smaller man off the even more sheepish one.]

Don't tell me I have to start giving you fucking lectures on conduct around goddamn civilians. What the hell are you doing.

[He vaguely feels eyes on his back when Reaper appears behind him, but it still takes him by surprise when the larger man grabs him and yanks him back. His hand had been an inch from pushing Shigeru's phone aside, and now instead he's skidding to regain his balance a few feet away from him.

With a huff he pulls himself away from Reaper, dusting himself off moodily if only for show. He knows he was stepping out of line, he's only annoyed that he got caught.]

I was just fucking with him. [More than anything, he just sounds like a sullen teenager.] I woulda let him off the hook if he pushed me off.

[ Oh thank god Reaper came, even if Shigeru does jump slightly upon the masked man's sudden appearance out of the shadows. He really appreciates stopping Dodger's advances and Shigeru might let out a sigh as he slumps against the wall slightly. He looks slightly shaken but otherwise he's totally fine.

He does give Dodger a glare there and then though as he types something up on his device. ]

I told you not to do that! It would be bad if I lost control of my powers, you know!

[ Ah, well, he hadn't meant to really type out that last part but there it is. ]

And I'm sure I've given you the 'Don't fuck with civilians' shit before this, haven't I.

[The first talk they had, if he reflects properly. Picking fights with other combatants was fine in his books, but for someone like Shigeru...

It was dangerous for both of them. Dodger could hurt the guy if he was too afraid to use his power--and if Shigeru DID light up his odd ability, Dodger would be a pile of atoms right now.]

You have a brain. Use a bit more of it.

[His first instinct is to throw an insult at him, and just about the only thing that stops him is the fact that he'll have very little left to keep him sane if he loses Reaper's favor.

Still, the shock of being grabbed has excited the part of Dodger that's been itching since he got here. He wants a fight, particularly one he's got a good chance of losing. It's commendable that he's stopping himself from pushing Reaper's patience..]

I was just- [He bristles a bit.] I was just trying to sleep with him, alright? I get bored, is that a fuckin' crime?

[Yes, Dodger. It is. At least when you go about it like this.]

[ Oh my god Dodger?! And there goes Shigeru's face going beat red again he has a feeling that this'll become a common occurrence the more he hangs around Dodger. He fumbles with his phone as he types something out. ]

Don't just go and say things so casually like that!

[ Well he supposed the other could but it's just so... ]

It's embarrassing and personal! [ But anyway. He will turn to Reaper and give him a sheepish sort of smile. ]

Sorry to have bothered you...thank you for the help.

[ He does appreciate it cause you know if he accidentally had triggered his powers this could've been rather bad. Stress is one of the biggest causes for phrobiests losing control after all. ]

Don't thank me for something like that. I wasn't trying to do you any favours. [Because that's how you say 'you're welcome' in Reaper's terribly mean language or something like that. A hiss of smoke escapes out from under his mask, and pointed, clawed fingers of his gloves press against the shell of it as he tries to figure out Dodger's fucking weird train of thought.]

So you were trying to force yourself on him, in a place like this, because you're bored.

You do realise how shitty you sound right now.

It's not 'embarrassing and personal', it's downright disgusting. You want to shag someone? Try being indoors, for starters. Not somewhere anyone can pass by and witness your perversions.

[pointing a clawed finger at him now, still standing between the pair. He really does feel like socking dodger in the jaw right now.]

Second of all, if your aim really is to seduce someone, try doing it by not scaring the hell out of them in a way that can end with you getting killed.

introductory mingle: MEMORIA

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