riverviewlogs | introductory mingle: carnivale

Entry tags:

introductory mingle: carnivale

who: everyone in Riverview!
what: Introductory Log and Carnivale Celebration
when: July 1st - July 9th
where: Anywhere around the city.
warnings: please put any necessary warnings in the subject lines

carnivale

In the days leading up to July 1st, residents new and old will notice preparations beginning, a flurry of activity getting the city ready for the upcoming celebration: Carnivale. This holiday is in celebration of music, and the onset of summer and warmer weather. The celebrations are marked by street parties, an extensive program of live musical performances, with a large parade (and paid holiday!) capping it off on July 8th.

celebrating music, and summer

After a couple of months of low-key or even solemn celebrations, it's time for Riverview Quarantine to throw a good, old-fashioned party. Carnivale is a city-wide festival that pretty much everyone gets into, and many residents take the entire week off so they can enjoy all the festivities. With events ranging from impromptu street parties, free live musical performances, food stands, themed club nights, adult lounges with kink shows, and topped off with a massive party parade, the holiday has a lot to offer for anyone who likes to sing, dance, and show some skin!

i. street parties and food

One of the staples of the Carnivale festival is the spontaneous street parties and food trucks and carts. It's not unusual during the holiday to turn a corner and run into a group of people dressed in bright colors and sequins having an impromptu party with a few drinks, and then be invited to join right in! Carnivale is a celebration of music as well as summer, so most shops and stalls will be blasting danceable music into the streets to facilitate these little street parties - it's considered a sign of good luck for the owner of a business if an impromptu Carnivale celebration starts up in front of their door.

Considering the proliferation of street parties and people out and about to celebrate the warmer weather, local business owners also take to the streets. Food carts, stands, and trucks pop up on almost every street corner offering a wide variety of food from savory treats to sweet desserts. Many of the carts are offering one free item to anyone dressed up for Carnivale - anything shimmery, shiny, or brightly colored will do!

ii. live musical performances

One of the major roads in the city center has been completely roped off for the entire week, and all along this street, various temporary stages have been set up, each with a nice hefty sound system. Volunteers hand out printed flyers, and digital boards are set up here and there with schedules of various performances that are all free to attend, ranging from well-known popular music artists to new up-and-comers or independent artists who are looking to make a name for themselves. This event is very widely advertised around the city, and is accepting entries until the very last minute.

At couple of the acts might be familiar faces to some of the residents.

Eichi Tenshouin has signed up himself and his friend Tsumugi Aoba into the music festival as a first-time appearing idol unit called "Higanbana." Dressed in all white with splashes of color (blue, largely, with only their headsets being a red spider lily), they carry a very commanding and angelic image together. They'll have a routine that emphasizes their great harmony with each other, taking turns doing solo lines and joining together to show off each of their talents. Singing and dancing, they interact heavily with the audience and will encourage a lot of involvement with speaking between songs and gestures, winks, and so on. Basically, they intend to make this Riverview's very first prominent "idol performance".

For his performance, Otabek Altin will start with rock remixes of a few popular pop songs. He wants to make sure that it starts off with recognizable pieces for some people, and he certainly thinks it is something that could get people excited even if they don't know it. Then, it shifts into a few original songs. They are upbeat, rock songs that he put together with the intention to make people dance and move, since he is a DJ. He'll end his set with a slower piece he put together that is also an original. Through the entire performance, he's focused and quiet, though he may occasionally try and excite the crowd with a few words.

Any other player-characters who are musically inclined are more than welcome to assume their character was fit in for a performance, and can post up a top-level with a rundown of their performance to get bonus Activity Points for posting a mingle!

iii. carnivale parade

The other main attraction of Carnivale week comes on July 8th, which is a paid holiday for everyone in the city. The Carnivale Parade will be starting out by City Hall and winding through downtown in a lazy pattern so everyone in the city has a chance to see it. There will be all sorts of floats, dancers, marching bands, with all sorts of clubs, businesses, and other organizations represented. The theme is theatrical, big and showy, bright and colorful, sparkly and shiny, with loud music and lots of glitz and glamour. Observers can expect great music, excellent dancing and marching shows, neat vehicles provided by classic car clubs, the fire, police, and Perimeter Guard. They can also expect a lot of party favors, whether it's a sparkly plastic beaded necklace, a fan to take the edge off the heat, candy, popsicles, a temporary tattoo, or any number of other little treats or toys to be tossed into the crowd - some of them fit for kids and teens, others of a more 'adult' nature handed out a bit more discreetly to anyone who looks the part.

And make sure you wear your waterproof mascara - Carnivale floats have a tendency of spraying or spritzing water, both in an unspoken competition to see who can make the biggest water-refraction rainbow in the air, and to keep observers cool in the new summer heat.

iv. adult: lounges and kink exhibition

Thanks to the Carnivale tradition of showing as much skin as possible, some event organizers' minds have turned to topics of a more adult nature. In the evenings, residents may see clubs doing "lounge nights"; these adults-only events have bouncers IDing everyone at the door to ensure they're 18+. The themes may vary, from very specific niche themes like 'golden age superheroes' to broad themes like 'rainbows,' and each event is clearly marked as what it is - all-nude or clothing-optional, and can host events ranging from amateur to professional exotic dancing, food served off of nude bodies, anonymous masked hookups, or just provide a comfortable space where casual sex is encouraged with whoever happens to be around. Various legal substances can be found at these lounges, but nothing that would cause violation of consent, and every substance would be clearly labeled and have warnings to ensure that no one partakes unless they choose to. Please be sure to warn in the subject line for sexual content or drug use (since some mild party drugs are legal in Riverview).

For the weekend from July 7th-9th, there will be a kink exhibition in one of the large exhibition centers downtown, limited to characters 18+. The exhibition is a sexy adult informational convention featuring various kinks and fetishes. Whether you're into leather, latex, lace, or anything else, you'll be able to find the clothes, toys, guides, books, erotica, fiction, and a wide variety of other interesting stuff to explore. While the atmosphere is sex-positive and there are private and public (for the voyeurs and exhibitionists in the room) venues for having sex, it's definitely focused on exploration and information about different stuff to try.

v. roommates or wildcard

Feel free to use this prompt to meet new roommates, for the purpose of getting to know each other, or hit up one of the mod-posted prompts for each Communal Floor. Or if you have an idea for a prompt that isn't in this list, set during Carnivale, feel free to write it up!

visual inspiration

click on thumbnails for larger view

Credit: image i: Roger Patterson Jr.; image ii: Syd Mead; image iii: screencap from the movie Paprika; image iv: siamon89

navigation

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Who was more nervous of who here! Marinette put her bag down, starting to reach into it, only to glance up (relieved he looked like .. less of a monster, to put it bluntly) in confusion. ]

What? I was just splitting the bag - I did say I'd give you some after all.

[ Finding out he was a vampire didn't change that. Now if he tried to eat her, that was a different matter entirely. ]

Oh.

[Right. Well. He was just going to puff on his cigarette like he'd known that all along.]

I knew that.

[See? He totally knew that all along.]

[ Of course he did. She hid a grin, occupying herself with making the contents of the bag lighter, before straightening again. ]

Okay. Here, this is sure to be uh..tastier than... than, you know... that.. other stuff.

[ Brownies were definitely better than Blood. Yep. Still she holds her arm out so he could take the snacks, the other bag still looped over her arm. She may have it together right now, but when she got home... yeah. VAMPIRES AREN'T REAL WHERE SHE'S FROM. THIS IS ... WEIRD. ]

Not really. Sort of part of being undead, yeah? Blood tastes delicious.

[So what if his eyes flick to her neck for a moment. He can't do anything about it. Not yet, anyway. Still, he reaches out and takes the little bag she's giving him, peeking inside and nodding.]

Not bad. You wind up with anything else you don't want and you know where to put it.

Um... [ She barely manages to suppress a small shudder and HEY, she saw that glance! She still has a popcorn ball with your name on it buddy boy! ]

Sure, I can do that. [ Although she doubted she'd run into him outside the carnival again - he's a vampire and don't they sleep all day in coffins and stuff? ]

I should get going though.. Oh! Uh.. Marinette. My name, I mean. [ That should cut off any 'Miss Goody goody' or 'Hey kid' or 'Hey you' greetings right? ]

[Save him from the terror of popcorn balls...]

You're named after a puppet?

[Nope. Spike didn't do names. He did nicknames. And he slept on a coffin, thank you. He also slept when he wanted. He was a rebel vampire, Marinette. He did what he wanted.]

[ They are clearly the greatest threat to vampires. You can't attack someone when popcorn kernels are stuck in your teeth. Or fangs. ]

Ahaha you're... the second person to say that. But no, no, you're thinking of marionette's. Marinette means 'the one who rises'.

...

[He threw his hands up, because come on, Marinette. He was a perverted vampire. You can't just say things like that and not have him be a filthy pig about it.]

Not fair at all, Little Miss Muffet.

[ Little Miss Muffet? Marinette gave him a strange look at that, that only doubled up at the gesture. ]

What?

[ Totally confused! ]

Never mind. I'd like to avoid whatever punishment this place would have for talking lewdly to a minor.

O..kaay... [ Again, WEIRD. Were all vampires like him? Actually that is a valid question. ]

Are there other ..vampires.. like you here?

There's no one like me, Pet.

[He grins, a little wickedly as he straightens up, because yes, Marinette. Look at the wonder that is Billy Idol's role model. Sort of.]

There may be another vamp here or there, but haven't met any from where I'm from. Might want to be careful at night, little bit.

[ She smiles a little, though whether that's to the nickname, the bravado or the almost-possibly-if-you-squint warning she doesn't fess up to it. ]

I'll be careful. I'm ah.. not out late that much anyway. [ Liar, Marinette. She was always sneaking out. Just not as Marinette. ]

An event like this is the exception to the rule.

It's not too bad if you're out in public, but that won't keep you completely safe. Don't wander down any alleys.

[He'd left his fair share of bodies around alley corners or behind dumpsters. Trust him. He knew what he was talking about.]

[ Awww. She didn't know how she'd shape up against a vampire, but she didn't want to find out, either. Also she'll avoid commenting that her parents have given her the same warnings. She appreciated it, honest. ]

Got it. [ She should putter on for home, but... she was curious! ]

Is it true about the whole thing with the garlic and crosses? Or would you be breaking some kind of...vampirey..code to say?

... do Vampires have a code?

Code? Not that I'm aware of. Anyone that does is likely a poncy git too far up his own ass.

[Remembering that he's talking to a teenage girl, he clears his throat.]

Crosses, yeah. That'll keep you safe from my kind, anyway. Garlic... some like the taste. I don't mind it. Nice little kick to it, even if it burns a bit.

[ She's somehow become aware you, Spike, are a bit of a potty mouth. Even if she doesn't know that the words 'poncy git' MEAN, she can guess by context. ]

Huh. Well in small amounts I guess it doesn't really.. huh. You really aren't anything like that vampires I've read about.. um. Of course, those were all fictional stories.

[ She'll have to look into getting a cross. She could make the chain herself. Not necessarily for protection from _HIM_ but... well it was just smart for 'just in case' moments. ]

I swear, if you've read anything about bloody sparkling vampires or stupid books by whinging authors who romanticize them...

[His kingdom for the death of all vampire writers.]

Sparkling... vampires? [ Wha.. ]

No, can't say that I have. It sounds kind of... [ uh... should she say it? Yeah, she'll say it. ]

Dumb, to be honest... I mean.. [ Yeah there's no saving that one. ]

I think a lot of writers romanticize vampires, and write them to be tragic existences that just need to be saved or something. But I've never come across one like the one you mentioned.

It is. Sparkly little diamond weirdos. Not to mention the poncy ones that get stuck in whatever century they were sired. If you're going to live a few hundred years, keep up with the fashion. Honestly. It's not that hard.

[ It's strange she's stuck around this long, honestly - hes a dangerous character! And yet, she doesn't mind talking to him. It was really weird. ]

... yeeah I... I can't even picture someone walking around in 18th century clothing still. They'd stick out like a sore thumb, and I don't think attention is something they'd want.

[ She was tempted to ask when he was 'sired' but... was that like asking a woman her age? Was he gonna get offended? ... ]

And yet there's scads of vampires mucking about looking like Dracula rejects. Who, by the way, is an utter ass. Now there's the epitome of a poncy git.

[Go ahead, Marinette. Ask.]

... ... ... [ She's going to stare for a second or two, before that curiosity demands an answer. ]

You... you've met... Dracula...?

'Course I have. Thinks he's all that because he can do some of his gypsy tricks and plays the showman. He's a bloody wanker.

... [ SHE HAS SO MANY QUESTIONS. Everytime he says something she only has MORE questions. ]

... okay ......... okay. [ She holds up her hands in a cautious, 'hold on' gesture. ]

I... I'm gonna ... ask something that ..might..be a little. rude... so, I'm going to apologize in advance. Sorry.

Exactly.... HOW old... I mean, how LONG.. uh.. [ How does she phrase this without sounding like he's an old man? ]

I mean you knew DRACULA. Wasn't he alive.. um..kind of... ages ago?

introductory mingle: carnivale

Pffft XDD

Sorry. Couldn't help it. >>

Don't apologize ! XDD

Spike is such a loser

But he's a FUN loser XD

Fairplay

Re: Fairplay

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LOL omg Spike no XD

omg Spike yes

XD

Shh. This is your life now. Enjoy it.

HEE. I am okay with this :3

♥

<33 ngl this is weirdly adorable :D

Careful. He might find he has a pet puppet.

Or will she have a pet vampiah? >8D

... He only wore a leash once. And the activities involved are not for her ears. >|

:O LE GASP

SO SHOCKING....

IT IS

News @ 11

But that's past my bedtime :( .. if i had one.

=}

SO MANY QUESTIONS. Look what you did, Spike. n.n

Oh gosh. Save him from curious teenage girls.

Maybe be less interesting then Spike! n.n

... He can't help it. He's too sexy for his shirt.

So sexy it hurts?

Hurts so good.

XD

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