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

I don't bring it up that often...

[Did she? She knows she's made plenty of cracks back in LA about his amount of exes and bantering with him about having STDs, and perhaps she's mentioned it a couple times since their relationship had progressed, but she didn't think it would make him concerned for her ability to be honest about sexual matters.

And while she doesn't necessarily think it's fair to compare their levels of experience when he's lived for literally billions of years longer than her, she understands it's from a place of concern. And there is that part of her that would be lying if she said his insistence at wanting her and not his old lifestyle didn't give her some relief.]

I'll remember that. But for the record, I'm not engaging in anything I don't want to with you, Lucifer. Aside from that earlier spectacle, which we've already discussed. If there's something I don't want to do, I'll let you know, okay? Just because I haven't tried something doesn't mean I'm not open to it, necessarily. But it goes both ways. Not all of my past partners have been interested in trying certain things.

Enough that I often wonder if it doesn't bother you more than you'd like to admit.

[But he figured that the only way to prove himself to her, to prove that it was her he wanted and not a play by play of his sexual history with her as the sole party, was just to be with her. To show her with actions and not words.]

For the record, love, there is nothing that I wouldn't want to try with you. If you're curious about anything and want to even talk about it, I'd love to clear any uncertainties up. If you never want to try anything other than what we already have, I'd still be happy. I just want you to enjoy being with me, Chloe. Not feel any sort of obligation to live up to what pales in comparison to a night with you.

[Oh. Well. That makes her feel a bit guilty in turn, because she's never meant to make him feel like she doesn't trust him or like she was... shaming him for his past. But she can understand why he would come to that conclusion, and she tells herself she'll have to be more open about what feelings she may be internalizing. They're partners, after all. Partners are honest with each other.]

It's not really an obligation, I just... there are some things I haven't tried before that I'm comfortable trying with you. Just because I know you do have experience with it, you know? I'm not forcing myself to do anything, though I do think saying 'never' is a little unrealistic on your part. Plenty of human relationships grow stale. And I know you're not... used to experiencing that part of it.

[He felt less shamed or that she didn't trust him and more just that perhaps she couldn't see him beyond his past. That his experience, or his past partners were this insurmountable wall between them when that was the furthest thing from the truth.]

Possibly... but possibly not. I've seen plenty of humans be content with singular partners over their short little lives. If all I get to have you for is the rest of your life, then how could I find that time boring?

Rest of my life, huh?

[That part's spoken quietly. And really, it puts this more into perspective for her, because even if they haven't directly told each other, she knows what he feels for her. He's literally put his life on the line for her more than once. Whatever insecurity she has suddenly seems petty in the wake of that. Life is short, as he could probably tell her.

She leans into him to press a kiss against his shoulder while reaching for his hand.]

I'm sorry. You're right. You know what you want and it's not fair of me to imply you don't.

I suppose I can understand your hesitance. I was rather active before you. But you do understand that none of them are you, yes? None of them have ever made me want the way you do. Not just sex, of course, but there's that as well.

[He twines his fingers with hers, drawing her hand up to press kisses over the back of it.]

You are singularly captivating. There has never been and will never be anyone like you, Chloe Jane Decker.

[And just like that, the tension drains from her shoulders and the mood between them has improved. A small flush appears on her cheeks as she grins at him.]

It's really not fair that you use my middle name during your stirring speeches and I can't return the favor.

[Does he even have a middle name? No matter. She's too busy with watching his lips pressing kisses over her hand.]

And I know. This isn't... we're not just some fling. I get that.

I don't have a middle name. We all were just given firsts until I had my little rebellion and stormed off.

[He murmured it as he kept kissing over her fingers, her knuckles, that little dip in between them as he looked up at her.]

No, Detective. We're not. Not to me, and I hope you feel the same.

Mm. So what you're saying is that you haven't made one for yourself. Yet.

[Well, isn't that giving her ideas? Though she probably won't be able to come up with anything clever while he's sitting there lavishing affection onto her. One of her fingers moved to catch his lip as he came back in for another, enjoying the soft scrape of his stubble against it.]

Of course I do. You've been special since the day I met you. A special pain in my ass, but special all the same. You're my partner. In more ways than one.

I don't need one. Middle names are for humans, love. There's so many of you, there's likely a hundred other Chloe Deckers all over the world. Maybe only one or two Chloe Jane Deckers.

[He was teasing her, nibbling at her fingers as she moved to touch his lips.]

Well, at least you noticed me. I knew there was something there. I just wasn't entirely sure of what it was. And here I thought it would just be an amazing shag.

And here I thought you'd just gotten done telling me there's no one out there like me.

[Oh, she knows he is, and she's not stopping him.]

Yeah, that would explain you flinging yourself at me at every opportunity. Which had mostly stopped after a certain point. Mostly.

There isn't. Oh, they might have your name, just as I've come across a few Lucifers before, but they're not you. They're never you.

[Another nibble, another waggle of his brows, but then he set her hand down and reached over for his shirt.]

Shall we continue with our little stroll? Maybe get somewhere I can fling myself at you again?

You're insatiable.

[But she's smiling and already sliding over and out of the booth, waiting for him to get his shirt back on.]

Knowing you, it won't take long to find that 'somewhere'.

I could drag you under the table for a new angle at an old somewhere, but I figure there might be more of the exhibition, outside of myself, that you want to see.

[He patted his pockets, making sure he still had the rolled joints he'd pilfered from earlier, tucking his shirt in before slipping on the waistcoat.]

Mm. Case in point.

[Muttered as a particularly striking dancer passed them by, his, ah, form accentuated by the bright neon pink... well, it covered what it had to cover. Barely.]

I'm sure there's plenty I'll be seeing without even meaning to. Especially if there's a clothing malfunction.

There's nothing wrong with admiring something attractive, love. You were bold enough to put yours out on display in a rather memorable moment. If they've no shame in sharing, why should there be shame in enjoying?

Who said anything about shame?

[She can admire perfectly well enough, thank you.]

I'm enjoying myself just fine. Hell, there's probably a literal god in here somewhere putting things on display. There was at the gym awhile ago. Not that he was dressed like that, but still.

You blush every time anything related to naughty bits comes near you. There, look over there. There's a lovely young man with his bits all painted up to look like a lion. He's even got a little fur collar on for a mane. Isn't that lovely?

[Look at the cock, Chloe. Look at it.]

...Oh? Which one was this, Loki one or Loki two?

[Oh, she's looking at it. Staring, even.]

Well, if the message is that he's a wild man, it certainly worked. I wonder how long it took him to get that paint on...

[Because honestly, who the hell has that kind of time? You've come and distracted her now, Lucifer, not quite processing his question right away.]

What? Oh. Neither.

Oh, I doubt he did the painting. Look, see? The underside's painted too. You know how hard that would be for him to see properly?

[He slides on his jacket and does up the button, sidling up to slip an arm around her waist.]

Come now, love. Which god was it? I haven't met them all here, I assume. Who were you ogling?

[She makes a face and holds a hand out.] Nope, I'm good. I don't need to see the unders--

[Ah, and there's the underside. Brilliant. Whoever painted that had one, a lot of time on their hands, and two, a lot of creativity? Something like that.

His comment makes her snort, perhaps a hint of embarrassment settling in on her cheeks.]

I wasn't ogling, but anyhow... he said he was Thor. He'd been offering to be a sparring partner and lessons on self-defense, so I took him up on it. Didn't realize he was who he was until I got there and he introduced himself.

Thor, mm? God of Thunder? Was he appropriately dreamy?

[Was that a prick of jealousy? ... Nah. Okay, maybe. But she was here, after all, with him, so what did he care if she enjoyed the view of a literal god?]

You're taking sparring lessons from a god? Well, love, if you wanted to learn to fight, I wouldn't have minded giving you a few up close and personal lessons...

Oh, come on, stop. He was nice. Shook my hand and didn't mind me babbling like an idiot after I realized who he was.

[Because honestly, she's never going to be used to actual, literal gods walking about and knowing they were the real deal. Ogling has nothing to do with it. Though his hair was admittedly pretty.]

Not lessons, just practicing. I haven't been as on top of my routines as I'd like lately. And we both know what kind of personal lesson you'd be trying to give.

[His hand slid down to give her backside a light pat before he took her arm and started to lead them on past the lion-painted penis.]

You're welcome to ogle. I'm sure he's ogle-worthy. I might join you in ogling. But, as for the type of lessons I'd want to give you... well. Fair play. Ruined my whole 'on top of me' bit. But I'd also be willing to practice with you, if you like. It's never really come up, has it?

[She slides her arm through his, eyes taking in the sights and sounds of people enjoying themselves as they walked.]

Mm, I usually see you have Maze handle the more physical parts of conflict, but I'd imagine the Devil would be able to hold his own too. [A purse of her lips, as if she's considering it.] Sure, let's do it. I wouldn't mind beating you.

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