riverviewlogs | introductory mingle: MEMORIA

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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.

[So finding himself in a new world after Zacharie's own was turned OFF certainly was interesting. And they were helpful enough to provide an introduction to the plot so he wasn't completely in the dark either! That was always nice.

The merchant was merely wandering when someone handed him a bunch of lanterns. Hand them out? Ahaha, well why not. It was one way to begin the usual introductions.

So you may find yourself approached by a man in a mask that vaguely resembles a toad, who has both quite a number of lanterns on his person and a large backpack on his back. With a quiet chuckle, he holds one out.]

Buenos días, my friend. Fancy a lantern or two? While I cannot guarantee that they are any sort of helpful quest item or something that will unlock a cool ability, they are rather pretty. And I also happen to have some wonderful items on sale, if you wish to browse.

[So someone's a merchant apparently? And also sounds like he's played one too many video games. But that's no big deal, right?]

II.

[Zacharie's not one to share personal stories or the like about himself. So...he doesn't. He merely listens to those willing to speak tell their stories. It lets him paint a bit of a picture of those who live in this world.

And when it comes to it, he doesn't have to move around much to hear these stories. Suddenly there's a masked man - wearing a cat mask this time - in the circle of storytellers like he always was there.]

I believe it is your turn to tell a gripping tale of life and the trials and tribulations of said subject, yes? Maiou.

[Yeah, that's probably the worst impression of a cat you'll hear in your life. Zacharie's not to put out by it though. Got a story on hand?]

III.

[The NPC joins the people by the water for this activity, a bit more interested in the water itself rather than the lanterns. A quick dip with his hand confirmed that it wasn't anything like Plastic, couldn't be molded into shapes from the get-go.]

Ah ah ah. Certainly an interesting form of New Game Plus I have landed in! I think I will do well in this place.

[He meant that more to himself than anything, but those listening are free to comment. Meanwhile Zacharie has his own lantern to send out now that he's done examining the water.

It's pure white. There's nothing really for him to write for his world anymore. A gentle prod sends it out and Zacharie waves.]

I hope you enjoy your trip, my lantern friend. Bring back a postcard, ehehehe.

[The first thought in her mind is yes, this guy has played way too many games. Which isn't bad and the animated way he talks catches her attention. She's ready to play along for awhile because there's no way this guy is serious. ]

Maybe they need to be leveled up first. Lanterns only gain skills at level 5 you know. What else do you have?

[Iris is going to be in for a surprise. But either way Zacharie keeps going.]

Perhaps so! I am a new arrival so I am not yet accustomed to the leveling up system in this world. As for my own items...

[He has to shift around a few lanterns before pulling a piece of paper out from his right sleeve. On it are the items Zacharie sells - just the stuff under the General and Equipment section anyways.

...yes, some of those things are exactly how they sound.]

Feel free to give this a look over and I will be happy to help you with anything you need.

[And enjoy even more video game lingo while you're at it.]

[All it takes is a moment studying that paper that see how dedicated he is. To what, she isn't quite sure, but it's admirable in its own way. To her, it looks like a variation of potions, phoenix downs, lottery tickets and meat? No, that sounds like meat.]

Wow, you've got all kinds of stuff here. It's-

[Questionable? Weird?]

-a good variety. Didn't know you could put a price on inspiration.

[Sketchy. Very sketchy. He doesn't mind metaphorically setting up one of those free sample booths if Iris wants to take a closer look at anything. But for now answering her comments is easier.]

I suppose so! But at the same time it is rather inspiring to be able to do seventy-five damage to an opponent's HP without the need to spend CP or run the risk of damaging your hands if you are one who fights with their fists. And...

[He pulls one out from a pocket. It's a small ball that softly glows blue and green.]

Rather pretty to look at, in my opinion. What do you think?

[If Iris believed for even a second that any of this was real, then she likely would have agreed that a piece of inspiration is a pretty good deal. It's not like it could be true though.

Except, he pulls out something and it's shining right in front of her, like a weird glowing marble. It makes her eyes light up and she leans in to get a closer look.]

Woah, can't argue with that. It's really pretty. I think I'm inspired just looking at it.

[Inspires her to ask more questions about it, at least.]

So how do you use it?

Simply throw it at your enemy to inflict non-elemental damage. I would offer a demonstration but the current location is likely less than optimal to attempt it, ahaha.

[This event was a fairly somber affair and Zacharie doubts that sudden explosions, although small, would be welcome. He does have some level of tact, 4th wall shenanigans aside.]

But if you wish to see it and have another place to test it out metaphorically on hand then I do not mind heading there. Or answering any other questions you may have too.

[Although this started off playful, she's beginning to realize this guy might be similar to an arms vendor. Inspiration must be the name of the weapon itself and she feels silly for not making the connection sooner. It would be interesting to see, but he's right to say this isn't the place for it.]

I don't know the area well yet.

[Maybe near the perimeter? She has no idea and will ask her brother, but one day she'll find a place to see inspiration explode.]

Maybe I could take you up another time. Is that okay? I'd still like to see it.

[Fairly close to an arms vendor, yes. You protagonists need to be armed to the teeth after all.]

Ah ah ah, of course! It is your choice after all and it seems I will be in this world for quite awhile. So whenever you come to a decision, feel free to let me know.

[Zacharie's not one of those merchants who get surly when you don't buy things from him. Whenever it happens, it happens.

Slipping the Inspiration back into his pocket, Zacharie offers a hand.]

I do not believe I have gone over the obligatory introductions yet. I'm Zacharie, the necessary items merchant found in every video game. Yourself?

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[ There's just one thing the monster likes about this 'celebration' called Memoria, and that's the fact that the people-watching is informative, if nothing else. Most here are sending off lanterns with at least some kind of mark made on their translucent screens, but there's only one that Sans sees that's entirely blank.

Maybe there's more of them like this, but hell if Sans can tell from where he's standing by the water, passively pushed along by the collective masses. Writing anything, saying goodbye? Heh, all of that feels like making a deliberate decision, a promise to take an action - to stay or go - and Sans, he isn't too keen on making promises or taking action.

Plenty of distractions abound, though. And the one that preoccupies his thoughts is what would make a guy wearing a mask dip his hand into the water like he's not so sure what to make of something nearly everyone else just takes for granted.

No real time spent ruminating over what a guy might mean by 'New Game Plus' when all it does it confirm for the skeleton that the stranger is a total nerd. ]

I mask ya, pal--

[ The crowds that have approached the edge of the water to set adrift their lanterns have begun to thin out, and a person standing at no more than five feet slouches here with his hands in his pockets and his head shaded by the hood of a rumpled and assuredly unwashed hoodie. With no other monsters around, Sans doesn't need a mass panic because someone saw a skeleton, but ain't nothing wrong with making small talk.

Smells like stale ketchup. ]

You just get off the portal?

[It's a combination of nothing left to write, promise or say good-bye to. Zacharie let go a long time ago and while it didn't affect his interactions with others, it meant it was easier when things came close to the end. Just another wait until the game started again.

But that's also treading into spoiler territory.

Sans is not wrong in his assessment of Zacharie being a total nerd. He did love himself some video games and being in a new one was both interesting and exciting. Where that love comes from is something entirely different, however

But aside from the cat mask Zacharie looks like an average twenty-something composed of nothing but black and whites. He offers a friendly wave and it sounds like the NPC is smiling when he speaks.

Smells like nothing but burnt sugar, meat and smoke. But that's the wrong game.]

Yes I did. It's certainly quite an engaging place I have found myself in and I am taking every bit of the delightful moments it has to offer so far. Yourself?

Delightful, yeah.

[ Gotta real weirdo here. Then again, to practically everyone else, the skeleton's the weird one. This guy could at least, uhhh, potentially? Pass as human?

Once you get past the fact that he looks like he's permanently locked in an encounter, but hey.

Different worlds, and all. ]

Couldn't help but notice you checkin' out the water. What, different from whatcha expected?

[One could say that his world was permanently locked in a one-sided encounter. Although that is getting into a level of meta Zacharie normally didn't bother with. Theories are a whole different ballpark than practical jokes.

And if the NPC has picked up on the fact that he's been chatting with a skeleton, it doesn't show. Then again, he is wearing a mask. As far as anyone's concerned Zacharie could be making stupid faces at people and they'd be none the wiser.]

Exactly! This substance is far different than the malleable sea of Plastic that I am used to. It is quite a change in setting, although I should not be surprised given this is a different world after all and not a game. You called this water, dear friend?

[Yeah, he's skipping over the fact that he said this place wasn't a 'game'. Probably means something else...?]

[ The fact he rolls with it is appreciated. Not all of Sans's run-ins with people have gone as well, but that, too, is a vetting process that helps him assemble a list of the people worth keeping an eye socket on. So, eh. It works.

He says 'game' but the part that Sans actually addresses is: ]

Plastic?

[ Before the knee-jerk thought that this can't possibly happen gets a chance to kick in, Sans is already mentally correcting it. The multiverse is a confirmed thing. Technically, uh, anything's possible.

Not really worth the hassle getting worked up about it. ]

Yeah, water. A clear, mostly tasteless liquid everybody needs to live. Hope that ain't the case with you, pal.

[ There's a joke in there, lurking, about how acquiring malleable plastic might end up being sticky in the logistics department, but he'll SPARE the guy for now. ]

[Well one could say he has a unique perspective. And hey, Sans seems like a nice enough guy regardless of the whole talking skeleton thing so there's no reason to raise a fuss.]

Ah ah ah, not quite. There would be a certain amount of morbid humor to be had if that was the case, but Plastic is used as a foundation and a means to provide very safe barriers so people don't fall into the sea and thus off the map. It would be entertaining for the Player certainly but there are only so many times you can provide that sort of gag.

[It's logical and illogical at the same time. And probably brings the question of what everyone drinks in his world if there's no water.

Which is easily answered by "It's just a video game. You don't have to think so hard about it." Ahahah.]

So as you have likely guessed this is my first time experiencing it. It is quite fascinating, if I do say so myself. Although given the event that is going on, I doubt the locals would be pleased with me helping myself to some from here. Maiou.

[Worst impression of a cats meow or just the most half-assed? You decide!]

[ Sans, being what and who he is, has heard a lot of peculiar laughs in his life, would barely even be bothered to do more than take cursory note of Zacharie's if it wasn't lining up with a lot of other ones. Better to chalk it up to being as foreign to him as he probably is to... just about anybody else here.

But hell if that didn't almost sound like a laugh in reverse.

Funny little thing to get hung up on when there's so many other choice words here. Phrases like 'off the map', terms like 'the Player', a self-awareness of comedic tropes unique to... well.

Few people. ]

Heh heh heh, ok. You make a good point. Pretty sure the "locals" might have one or two reasons to stare if ya did.

[ Lapping at water from the river is just one of them. ]

So, what's up with the get-up? You a--uh-- [ What was the word Al used? Oh man, that's the one. ] Cosplayer, or somethin'?

[ Seriously. The meowing, the mask... not the weirdest things the guy's done or said so far, but pretty noteworthy. ]

[Quite the interesting interpretation of someone's laughter there Sans. But that's probably just the by-product of his laugh being a soundbite. Sounds the same each time.

Speaking of which, Zacharie does laugh again at Sans's cosplayer comment. In part because he's actually the first person here in Riverview to comment on the NPC's appearance and because the peanut gallery helpfully remarks he's totally right, you know.]

Perhaps so! It would be another way to explain my change in masks once the protagonist so helpfully points out that I am still myself and not the Judge. And besides it's rather cute.

[Yeah, a mask with an expression that can be taken as either a wide grin or grimace, too many teeth and based off a dead cat. Real cute.]

And speaking of which, I have also failed to introduce myself. My name is Zacharie and, to quote a friend of mine, I am aching to know your name, my friend.

I'll pass.

[ Gladio waves him off -- it's still early enough in the day that he hasn't run out of patience. He puts a half-gloved hand over the strange mask on his face by way of discouraging any persistence on his part, just like he might gently push away a certain sunny haired photographer named Prompto.

He at least smiles down at him when he takes his hand away. From some strange RPG logic, this guy seems to have a mercantile aura about him. ]

If you were peddlin' something other than those damn lanterns maybe I'd be interested.

[Hey Gladio, if you wanted to skip Zacharie's dialog just hit A rather than touching his mask please. The NPC steps back regardless of the fact Gladio pulls his hand away. He's not actually mad or anything though.]

But of course. I would make a poor merchant if I didn't have any items for the protagonists and I am thus far lucky enough not to experience an event where my stock disappears and I have to send someone on a fetch quest. Here you are, ah ah ah.

[He pulls a piece of paper out from his sleeve, where everything is listed. Everything under General and Equipment is on sale and...

...yeah there's more RPG lingo. Enjoy.]

[ Consider yourself lucky, Zacharie, face pushing is a sign of affection or... something. Just go with it. ]

Protagonist? [ O-oh okay, so this is happening. Gladio will just fold his arms over his chest and assume the protagonist position. ]

Alright, let's see what you've... got... uh --

[ When the list is produced, Gladio blinks, then untangles his arms from one another to silently take the paper slip for inspection. ]

...Just how big are these bats?

[ He's looking for big ones. Like... at least as big as him, if not bigger. ]

[Yes this is happening. Welcome to the 4th wall shenanigans zone.]

They are reasonably sized for someone human or human-like, I believe. Let's see...

[Zacharie has to adjust a few of the lanterns so he could slip his backpack off and pull out a bat. It...! Looks like a normal, if slightly bigger than usual baseball bat with the word 'Yoshihiro' stamped on the side in black. Nothing fancy like a big greatsword.]

This is the Yoshihiro Bat. It offers a twenty plus attack to your normal status and, like all my equipment, is effective against those wonderfully destructive specters.

[Cue Ghostbusters theme...? Probably not. But it's there.]

Hoooh... Yoshihiro? [ Now that's what he's talking about! Something he can get his oversized mitts on and send his opponents flying! Gladio's likes a little variety in his personal arsenal, but it's hard to break him away from those tried and true favorites of his - the greatsword and shield. Still. He's interested. ]

Sounds alright, I guess...

[ It's hard to scale power levels between RPGs, let's be real. He hasn't a clue what a specter is if it's anything different from his own mundane definition, but he can guess that it's got hit points okay. ]

Think I can take this baby on a test drive?

Edited (FOR CLARITY) 2017-05-10 11:48 (UTC)

I would be happy to rent it out to you for a little while at a reduced price, if that interests you.

[Everyone here wasn't the Batter, who rolled with whatever weaponry he got. So offering demonstrations and renting out his items to show that they worked was better for everyone involved.

Zacharie still wasn't one to give out freebies unless it was scripted, after all.]

( it's not exactly comforting, listening to other people air their grief and mourn loved ones lost. but it's relatable, especially to angela who in her thirty-seven years has lost too many people to count - there's certainly a range on how close she is to those people, but each of them weighs on her like a ton of bricks, as much as she tries not to show it.

so she doesn't intend to participate in the story-telling, happy to sit and listen instead, but it's when a curious man with an even more curious mask sits next to her and prompts her that she even spares it a fleeting thought. but she doesn't.

instead, she merely smiles and shakes her head. )

I have lost many people over my time, and I'm not particularly in the mood for sharing, merely listening. ( angela has always been better at giving advice, listening to others, than sharing her own thoughts and feelings. ) So if you have your own story to tell, feel free.

[It's fair to pass over his suggestion. There were likely those here who had passed when it came to their turn, due to sadness or more complicated matters. Sharing grief was far harder than one could expect, even if it's just dolling out character background.

And that comes slowly, always.

Zacharie's still not one to share, however. He's not really interested and the background of the merchant mattered little. So he'll offer this instead.]

Then let us shift this conversation to slightly more simpler topics and recount various tales meant for fantasy. I have a number of stories from my game that have enticed the Player into reading them multiple times. Are you interested in hearing one?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

introductory mingle: MEMORIA

Zacharie | OTA, will match format

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SORRY FOR DELAY, I had to graduate lol

no problem! congratulations on graduating :)

Thanks!

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