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

[megabond]

[At first, Sycamore is very speechless at this revelation and 2B's explanation about her programmings as an android. But now that takes a closer look at her, she is human in terms of her emotions and her personality.]

Well, even though you're not a human being, you're still like us.

[howlongiwonder]

We're rather alike in most aspects at least. I don't feel bad about not being human.

[She sighs quietly. It's about something else. Something she can't stop thinking about because of this celebration.]

As an artificial, mechanical being - what happens to me after death?

Unlike humans, who are flesh and blood... do I even have a soul?

[megabond]

[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...

[howlongiwonder]

No, your answer is logical. Biologically speaking, androids like me aren't even really alive. It's very unlikely they have souls.

But...

[She lets that sentence hang for a moment.]

But if they do, wherever they are now - I hope they're at peace.

[megabond]

[Judging by her words, he realizes that she is somehow a survivor and that her android companions are deceased for some reason. All the more reasons to sympathize her despite that she's not even human.]

I'm sorry to hear about that, but I can say the same.

If you want, they are also organizing the floating of the lanterns at the river on Monday.

[howlongiwonder]

I understand.

[So many people have lost those close to them. Even in a different world, that doesn't change. 2B doesn't press further, but there's a tone of sympathy in her voice.]

Floating lanterns, you say?

[Augustine's offer sparks 2B's interest. She looks down at the one she's holding. It doesn't look very floatable.]

A different type than this, I assume.

[megabond]

Yes. They should have those kinds of lanterns on Monday before the event. They even said that you can customize it based on what you remembered about your lost loved ones and your feelings with them.

[While he's not like 2B, he still wants to go there to honor the residents who lost their lives in the Great War.]

[howlongiwonder]

I understand.

[She repeats herself, but this time she sounds more... could it be, grateful? Hard to say with 2B's usual reserved demeanor.]

It's safe to assume everyone else floating a lantern will be there for the exact same purpose, isn't it.

[megabond]

[Sycamore was a little surprised that she sounds very grateful after he explained about the upcoming event. Then again, he can guess that she might be there to reflect her feelings to her lost loved ones.]

Judging by most of the residents I overheard so far, yes.

I don't know most of the Great War's history, but I have a feeling that most of them are affected by those events that took place in that war.

[howlongiwonder]

May this help them, then.

[She lifts up the hanging lantern. If androids have souls, 2B knows she won't find them here.

But human souls are a different thing altogether.]

I'll find a location to hang this at.

[megabond]

That's good to hear. But if you still feel lonely regarding about your loved ones, just remember that you're not alone. Even if they're gone doesn't mean you can't forget them.

And if you're still troubled about it, try to share your feelings with the people you know and trust, alright?

[That includes himself, of course. Besides, he doesn't want to ignore anyone in need, especially during this melancholy and solemn event]

[howlongiwonder]

No, of course I can't forget.

[And forget she won't. Sharing your feelings with others, on the other hand... saying it like that makes it sound so straightforward and simple.]

Mmm. We'll see about that.

[She doesn't sound very committed, her head already moving around as 2B glances for places to hang the lantern at. Unfortunately, the nearby area is already crawling with those.]

[megabond]

[When he notices her moving and looking around, he can guess that she is looking for somewhere to hang the lantern she got from him.]

Oh yeah, if you like, you can hang it at your own home. That's what I'm planning to do with my lanterns at the community housing and my office at the university.

[howlongiwonder]

At my home?

[2B looks genuinely surprise. The thought didn't occur to her until now.]

I... suppose. I recall some other androids adding detail like that to their rooms. Yes, I can do that, I think.

[megabond]

[Guess that helps her find a location to put the lanterns for the event. Speaking of which...]

By the way, where do you live exactly?

[howlongiwonder]

Communal housing building, floor 10.

[It's not classified, she can share it with others.]

There are several humans living in the same place, but I don't mind.

[megabond]

So you're living in the communal housing as well?

Well, I'm living on the first floor of the building. Guess we might miss each other sometimes, huh?

[howlongiwonder]

I don't go in or out that much. It's possible.

I will know where to find you if we need to talk.

[She stands at ease, the lantern held with both hands. 2B seems relaxed, so apparently this kind of stiff talk counts as casual conversation for her.]

[megabond]

Alright. I should probably go now.

I hope that lantern should be enough for you.

[Although he is still have some more lanterns in his hands, he is relieved that he gave one to 2B for her sake.]