introductory mingle: carnivale

[riverviewmod]

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

Comments

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter blinks at him for a second.

Then, flatly, ]

A what-human.

[ what did you just say to him. ]

[spellslots]

Meta-human, like with superpowers? They call it different shit in different realities.

[Cisco goes for metahuman, Tony used "mutant", most comic books are just kinda vague.]

Usually it's genetic, or at least not something just any old dipshit can do, unlike magic.

[nostalgiabomb]

... Oh. Uh.

[ How does one delve into the intricacies of one's genealogy without straight up saying, "I used to be half-god. But I'm not anymore"?

Firstly, by avoiding the topic: ] That's kind of a personal question, don't you think?

[ And secondly, by switching the topic entirely: ] And are we talking magic-magic, or, like, "I just pulled a coin from your ear, tah-dah!"-magic?

'Cause I sure as hell can't do the first one.

[spellslots]

[Logically, he knows that it can be a sensitive topic for some people, because of the whole... secret identity thing, but Peter introduced himself as Star-Lord, so clearly that's not an issue at play here.

So: Taako casts a minor illusion, creating a small flame in the palm of his hand.]

The first kind. [show off] Is it really a personal question? Usually people are pretty upfront about this shit back home, no point having magic if you're gonna hide it.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ what the hell that’s cool. ]

What, that’s just normal for you guys? Like, “ho-hum, I think I’m gonna have fire-hands today”?

[ Because that’s rad as hell, and the slightly disbelieving and impressed look on Peter’s face gives him away. ]

[spellslots]

[Taako closes his hand over the flame with a little dramatic flair, as if snuffing it out.]

Normal for magic users, sure. I've been a wizard for a couple centuries now and fire hands at the real low end of the 'cool magic shit' spectrum.

[He can do so much more awesome shit but it's kind of wasteful and also there are quite a lot of people around.]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter starts to demand a demonstration, like, Okay, if fire hands is lame, show me something cooler, but the thought jerks to a stop before he can properly give voice to it.

Because— ]

“A couple centuries.”

[ Repeated back flatly. ]

Centuries.

[spellslots]

[The automatic response to that is for Taako to gesture at his ears.]

I'm an elf, my dude, we usually don't kick the bucket until we're like, eight hundred.

[nostalgiabomb]

... Huh.

[ Peter remembers elves from, like, Lord of the Rings and Legend and, you know, the poor little bastards who help assemble toys for Christmas. And he's met aliens who were vaguely elf-like, but none who actually called themselves elves.

So this is kind of a novelty. ]

Eight hundred years? [ A pause, then, ] And you guys don't get bored?

[spellslots]

Nah, elves are pretty good at finding our own fun. [D&D elves are chaotic by nature, a little more interesting than Tolkein elves.] I might change my tune in another few centuries, but if all goes according to plan I won't be stuck on one planet for the whole time.

[@ god: pls give their spaceship back]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ ... He frowns at that. ]

So you’re an elf. Who can do magic. And also has space travel capabilities?

[ It’s not impossible, of course, and he’s heard of alien with abilities that might as well be magic. When he was a kid, one of the older engineers on the ship he was raised on swore up, down, and sideways that it wasn’t magic, that it was really just all a complicated sort of science that paraded as magic.

Peter had just shrugged and said, “Still cool.” ]

Do you make julienne fries, too?

[spellslots]

[Taako makes a face like you caught me.]

I was, in fact, the chef on our spaceship. [Also one of the arcanists, but this is more amusing.] If it makes you feel any better, the spaceship was kinda magic, like... divine magic? And we only had the one, big enough for a crew of seven.

[They didn't exactly launch the Enterprise or anything.]

[nostalgiabomb]

Yeah, that does make me feel better, actually.

[ And Peter says it in that sort of way where it doesn’t make much of a difference at all, really. He sounds more amused than exasperated, at least. ]

And where’s the glitter-removal expertise kick in? The magical side or the culinary side?

[spellslots]

Oh, no, that's just cause I'm super fucking gay.

[It's hard to tell whether he's joking or not, especially considering the shit-eating grin he delivers that line with.]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Either way, Peter snorts out a laugh, brushing more glitter from his damp clothing. It really ends up moving it around from his sleeves and shoulders to his hands, more than anything. ]

Didn’t realize those two things came part and parcel.

Today has been highly informative. I appreciate all the valuable life lessons.

[spellslots]

[Don't encourage him.]

When you get your gay initiation letter there's a whole page on glitter alone. I'm actually gonna get in deep shit for sharing it with someone outside the circle, you know? I hope you appreciate the risks I'm taking.

[nostalgiabomb]

Didn't realize it was all top secret, handcuffed-to-a-briefcase, "This message will self-destruct," kinda junk.

[ A thoughtful pause, then, ]

So you're saying I shouldn't send out a mass message telling everyone these glitter-secrets?

[spellslots]

[Taako puts a hand on his chest, clearly horrified by this idea.]

Are you trying to get my gay card revoked? I can't go back to that life, my man.

[jks he literally never thought he was straight]

[nostalgiabomb]

I mean, these are life-changing secrets. I bet I could get a Nobel Peace Prize if I swing it right.

And it's not my fault if you're giving away trade secrets.

[spellslots]

[He doesn't know what a Nobel Peace Prize is but that's clearly not the important part here.]

Maybe you shouldn't have been hot, that's hardly my fault.

[It's said lightly, but if he's running with this joke he might as well go all in.]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter clicks his tongue, head tipped to one side, as if in sympathy. ]

It's a pretty common pitfall, I'll grant you that. Lots of folks get drawn in by the pretty face.

[ And he punctuates it by circling his face with a finger. ]

Show me some cool tricks some time, and maybe I'll be convinced to keep my trap shut.

[spellslots]

[Taako seems to consider this very reasonable option, tapping a finger thoughtfully against his chin.]

I mean... the third option is I just kill you? That would work.

[He's joking. Judging by the super threatening way he wiggles his fingers at Peter.]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ His nose wrinkles. He is, in fact, very used to casual death threats, which has done one hell of a number on his survival instincts.

Peter needs less violent friends. ]

You could? But I appreciate if you didn't, 'specially since they're likely to bury me in this junk. [ A gesture to the glitter still on his head, neck, and shoulders, like fabulous dandruff. ]

I don't wanna be a disco ball in my own coffin, is what I'm saying.

[spellslots]

How is that not more of a reason? Pretty sure I told my sister if I die first she's gotta dip me in glitter before burying me.

[Honestly that's probably a conversation they've had because they're both horrible and morbid.]

[nostalgiabomb]

I mean, I won't knock your personal preferences, but I'd rather go out dignified, you know? Only slightly burnt, missing only a minimal amount of appendages, and wholly without glitter.