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

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ That concern gets a light smile. ]

It's fine. You just get used to something being one way for so long, other ways feel completely out of place. It's not you. Did you have any... requests? Like something you'd want to know you could heal before it came up?

Mm... Could you try a long-yet-deep one across your arm, or would that be too much? I'd like to be sure that I can use both hands at once and cover a larger area.

Sure. We'll avoid the artery, though.

[ That sounds like a great way to stain the floor and also traumatize someone if it doesn't get healed quickly enough. That said, he positions the knife at his wrist and trails it up to the crook of his elbow, brow quirked while he watches Eichi to see if it's enough — he's willing to go further up as necessary. He could do it along the underside but that's some different complications there. ]

Please.

[Don't hit the artery. That is plenty long, since he doesn't want to do too much at once. Both of his hands press over Cain's wound now, and it seems that the amount of time it takes to heal this probably has to do with both size and Eichi's own energy. At least it's still nothing slow. Even that slit throat had been healed in just moments.

But his shoulders definitely sink a little with this one.]

That seemed to work rather well.

[ Cain is watching Eichi more than the healing, his peripheral vision good enough to keep track of it while he practically sees the vitality drain. He smiles and reaches out to grip his shoulder briefly before sitting back. ]

It did. Keep going?

[ And his tone says he'll trust Eichi on this. Just until proven that he shouldn't otherwise. ]

Yes. I'll let you know when it's been too much. Let's do it a little bit more each time, but while avoiding anything vital.

[It doesn't help that Eichi is so used to lying, and that he can lie so well when his body isn't betraying him. Each time, he heals the wound, focuses, and keeps going. He might seem a little tired in the face or shoulders, but overall he doesn't seem all that bad.

At least not until he's completely healed one larger cut on Cain and then looks green in the face. He still lifts his hands and stares like he's ready, but he's swaying a bit...]

[ Eichi works on the wounds, and Cain focuses on Eichi. it doesn't take all too long for him to see the boy flagging and he sets the knife down, shakes his head. ]

That's enough. Why don't you sit down on the couch and... hm. Do you have anything to eat here? Or I can make something and bring it up.

Just once more.

[Eichi insists, despite him putting the knife down. He has to reach out to grab Cain's arms for support so he doesn't fall over right now, but willpower is keeping him up.] If I don't push myself at this point, then what is the purpose of this? How can I grow at all?

There's a fine line between stretching the muscle and tearing it apart.

[ Cain holds him up easily, arms turning to hold Eichi's back. He sighs. ]

I know you probably want a fast track for this, but doing it right means taking the time to make sure you don't set yourself back. Possibly permanently. Unless you want to cut me yourself, we're done for now.

[Eichi clearly isn't pleased by that, but he's not going to harm Cain himself. He can't even argue those words. Instead, he leans more of his weight against Cain. If he's not allowed to keep going, then he's going to get tired like this. He sighs.]

Then it seems I have no choice, Kane-kun. Am I still meant to call you that?

[But he's bringing this up, out of nowhere.]

Jacob's fine, with or without honorific.

[ After something like this, he's not fussed about their closeness. When Eichi leans, he shifts and moves an arm to invite him to lean against Cain. An incident comes to mind at the desperation and the lack of power and... it was so long ago, but there's something special about that painful memory now, because it's something Abel remembered, too.

As if to inject some humor, or maybe help Eichi change the subject, he adds: ] If you're asking about my birth name, that's too conspicuous to use.

Is that what it is? Conspicuous how?

[He does lean, and they can probably go over to the couch to sit down so they don't have to stay in this corner of the room. No more blood means it's okay.] It looked as though you have more than one alias, as well. Why is that?

Most people from Earth would call it... old fashioned.

[ Also famous? Yeah, also that. Cain lets him lean for a second before tilting his head over to the couch and giving a curious look. It would be more comfortable and maybe Eichi will rest. ]

I'm really old? I can't keep using the same name a hundred years in a row.

[He's distracted momentarily by that. Old fashioned... Wait— ah, but he follows his glance over to the couch and nods, taking a step that way.]

Do you mean to say that you might be the "Cain" from Cain and Abel? [He references the bible enough to know about this, despite the Tenshouin family having Buddhist funerals.]

[ Cain follows him, sits down and leans back, arm over the back of the couch. Continue to lean if you wish, Eichi. ]

Ah, no, that one's just finishing a reference. I do go by that for people I know over multiple aliases, though. Just, uh, I'm not that old.

No?

[He's teasing now, about the age thing, but he definitely still leans even as they sit down. Ah, he did push himself too much.] Then what is your real name?

[ That's okay. Good thing Cain called a stop to it, huh? He's very warm and solid in the meantime.

Despite the fact that the cat is more or less out of the bag after the Chalice incident, he glances over, brows quirked. ]

Can you keep a secret?

I keep secrets all the time.

[As long as he isn't forced to drink truth serums... Thankfully he avoids that much later.]

[ Well, it doesn't matter too much in the long run but... eh, most people expect different things from who he was when he was younger. ]

Excellent. Romulus.

[Eichi can't help but chuckle briefly at that.]

That name is a little less discrete, isn't it? [Romulus... He doesn't know if that or the story of Cain is more unbelievable. But he's already seen plenty that shouldn't exist that does.]

That only makes me more curious. If I weren't so tired, I'd ask quite a few questions right now. As you know, I am interested in history, after all. [Haha.]

Definitely less discrete.

[ He laughs, then shifts and sees about tugging Eichi closer. He kind of hates the growing cultural norm that physical touch and affection is weird, just let him have this!! ]

We can talk about it later. If you're tired, take a nap?

[Eichi doesn't initiate physical contact much, but he certainly appreciates it. He's always said that it was a way of showing love, no matter what kind, and so he doesn't need much convincing to settle close against Cain and lean there, eyes drifting closed.]

A small one, perhaps. [He's gonna knock out any minute now.]

[ That's okay. Cain shifts minute to fish out his phone and then settles. ]

Rest as much as you need.

[He falls asleep really easily, considering he's leaning against someone else like this. His exhaustion will be clear enough, because despite any slight shifting Cain might do during his napping, Eichi sleeps a good hour or two solidly before he stirs again.

He blinks a few times to try and remember where he is, and then moves to sit up a little more on the couch, silently. He's awake...]

[ Cain's awake, too, has hardly moved in that time. He's been absorbed in his phone and, really, two hours is hardly anything to an immortal when he's kept engaged. He checks the time when Eichi stirs and then glances to him directly. ]

Feel any better?

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