introductory mingle: RIVER FESTIVAL

[riverviewmod]

who: everyone in Riverview!
what: Introductory Log and River Festival
when: The month of August; the bulk of celebration will be in week 1, but there is a party and fireworks display on August 14th.
where: Anywhere around the city.
warnings: please put any necessary warnings in the subject lines

river festival

In the days leading up to August 1st, residents new and old will notice preparations beginning, a flurry of activity getting the city ready for the upcoming celebration: The River Festival. This holiday is in celebration of the river and the life that it gives to the city, as well as the heat of summer and forming bonds with friends, family, and romantic partners. The celebrations are marked by a community-wide cleanup of the docks and beaches along the river - particularly important considering the recent acid rain - as well as beachfront cookouts and parties (both private and city sponsored) and beach sports tournaments happening on either open stretches of beach or in special clothing-optional beaches, all capped off with fireworks displays on the evenings of August 7th and 14th.

a celebration of the river and togetherness

Following the hedonism of Carnivale, it's time for something a little more low-key and relaxing. The River Festival happens every year in August, and is geared toward community building through cleaning up the beaches and docks along the river and then using all that freshly cleaned beach to gather on. During the first week of August, there are various lightly-themed government-sponsored beach cookouts and parties geared toward family, romantic dates, or casual all-ages get-togethers for meeting new friends; there are also a few more racy parties at clothing-optional beaches around the city. Many private residents also take this time to gather together friends and family, and have cookouts on the beach with all the typical trappings of the beach barbecue. There are also various casual sports tournaments sponsored by community centers, gyms, and sports teams in the city, featuring prizes ranging from notoriety to sports equipment to big bucks. Finally, there are two fireworks displays, one on August 7th and one on August 14th, with free food, and various live performers beforehand.

i. cleaning up

The holiday starts off on a note that is just a bit more sombre than the rest of the season, with the cleanup efforts following late July's strange fog and acid rain blending into the usual tradition of cleaning up beaches and docks along the river. The cleanup is a group effort, with every citizen who is physically able pitching in to comb the beaches, where they pick up fallen tree limbs, garbage, and anything else that's accumulated during the winter and spring, and then raking the beaches to make them clean and ready to use. The cleanup of the docks is similar, with residents sweeping and hosing them down where necessary. This year, there are a lot of repairs to be made to beachfront structures that might've been damaged by the acid rain, so if anyone has some carpentry or building skills, those would definitely come in handy.

This is meant to be a community building effort, so many businesses in the area, more well-to-do private citizens, and the government have pitched in funding to provide lunches, cold drinks, coffee or tea, and snacks to anyone who's helping out with the cleanup efforts. All in all, the cleanup has a very friendly, welcoming vibe.

ii. cookouts and parties

The main traditions of the River Festival involve cookouts and beach parties. On August 7th and August 14th, the government as well as various corporations and businesses in the city, will be providing funds for large beach gatherings. On these days, there will be booths set up offering wares and freebies from various businesses around the city that have helped fund the party, large swaths of cleared beach where residents can don a swimsuit and catch some rays or swim in the river, massive barbecue setups to provide partygoers with all the standard barbecue fare, beach sports tournaments, dancing and musical performances, and fireworks displays (see prompts below).

The holiday isn't just about these big parties, though - many residents arrange their own barbecues, cookouts, beach camping trips, beach bonfires, and other riverside gatherings and outings. Many riverfront businesses offer discounts on services such as canoe or kayak rentals to go out paddling on the river, jetski or motorboat rentals for tubing, wakeboarding, or waterskiing, or mounts to take romantic rides in the surf. Additionally, there is an adults-only section of the beach where any of these activities can be done in the nude in a clothing-optional setting, including the big city-sponsored parties.

iii. sportsball tournaments

Is your character good at playing a particular sport that could, conceivably, be played on a beach? Chances are that during the month of August, a tournament will be set up for them to participate in. The tournaments are pretty standard, generally sponsored by community centers, sports clubs and teams, gyms, and other organizations and businesses in the city, with various levels of specialization, and levels of skill or competitiveness. The prizes also vary, with everything from plain old bragging rights to sports equipment or passes to gyms and community centers, to large lump sums of cash money. Definitely worth it, for characters with a love for sport.

Oh, and a lot of these tournaments are happening on the adults-only clothing-optional beaches, for those grown-up sports fans who like a bit of an extra challenge.

iv. performances and fireworks

On August 7th and August 14th at the end of the large city-sponsored beach parties, there will be evening performances all along the beach. Not as extensive as the musical performances during Carnivale, there are two large-name performers per night, with various lesser-known groups performing at random off and on throughout the day and night. Areas of the beach are cleared for residents to watch and dance to the music, both on the regular and adults-only clothing-optional beaches (acts will switch off between the two areas so both areas get both performances).

Player-characters who are musical artists, DJs, or otherwise perform are free to set up shop around this party and panhandle or put on free performances for publicity.

After the sun goes down, boats will head out into the water carrying a variety of fireworks, and there will be a beautiful display of exploding color in the sky for residents to watch and enjoy. The fireworks are highly advanced, incorporating old-fashioned gunpowder as well as modern technology that result in really beautiful displays that can take the breath away!

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 the River Festival, feel free to write it up!

visual inspiration

click on thumbnails for larger view

Credit: image i: credit unknown; image ii: Albert Ramon Puig; image iii: Claudio Pilia; image iv: Alan Philips

navigation

Comments

the dag | ota

[foreseeding]

ii ; a → cookouts

[The idea of a party is baffling to her; she's aware of their existence as a concept, and she's heard echoes of celebrations from raids, the exuberant shouting of war boys carried up to the vault, but it's nothing like what she's seeing every day. She goes anyway, curiosity driving her out to see the world, still dressed in the white cloth from home, because though she wants to find something else, the choice is so overwhelming, and she's not quite sure how this whole money thing works. It's been a long time since she hasn't just had everything she wanted (aside from freedom) and it's been longer since her world used anything resembling currency.

The smell of the barbecues draw her attention, meat was a rarity even in the Citadel, since most animals are long gone and the ones that survive are too lean to eat, not when there's other ways to get protein and iron. She hasn't tried any yet, since arriving, because she can't quite decide if she likes the smell or not, let alone whether she wants to actually taste it. Everyone else seems to be enjoying themselves, though, so she watches with sharp eyes as people take offered burgers and steaks and hot dogs, trying to decide whether she wants to actually try it.]

ii ; b → beach

[On other days, it's the water that fascinates her, perhaps more than anything else in this strange world. The trees and rain and people are all completely foreign, but… seeing so much water is indescribable. For hours, she can just sit at the water's edge, fascinated by the way it moves, by the colour of it, by the sheer size of the river and the fact that everyone seems to treat this as perfectly normal. She watches children (healthy children, something she hasn’t seen for years) play in the water, she watches people in boats, a long forgotten remnant of the past, and wishes that she could swim.]

iii → sportsball

[Another new experience crammed into this already overwhelming week, but at least this one she can kind of make sense of, she can align it to her own world. She can imagine War Boys playing games like these to get themselves pumped up before a fight, but everyone here just seems to be enjoying themselves.

After about half an hour of just watching, she finally decides to approach someone when there's a lull in the game.]

How is this played?

ii a

[braidedwonder]

[ Duo could probably cook ribs on a hot plate if he really needed to, but a grill was just as good if not completely for the best. His long braid is carefully arranged over his shoulder so that he could be sure it wasn't on fire, minding a grill while someone else had wandered off to offer food to someone nearby.

He's seen the way she moves and watches everything - not unlike how he did when he wasn't sure of something. So, in the spirit of a fellow who knows what that's like, he'll nick a passing ear of what he assumes is something like corn, and a burger. ]

You want one? It's all good. I wouldn't steer ya wrong on a burger.

[foreseeding]

[She doesn't know if she'll ever stop being wary of men, but she's got a good sense of when someone is coming at her with bad intentions, and she doesn't feel anything like that from Duo, so she simply cocks her head to the side as she regards the food.]

I've never had one. [Her accent is very distinctly Australian, but her voice is soft.] Is it any good?

[braidedwonder]

I think they're pretty damn good. [ He laughs, though, knowing that his scale of what's edible is probably not all that comparable to most people's. After all, for a street kid that's grown up eating whatever he could get his hands on, he's got a bit of a steel stomach. Thankfully these days he can afford to be a little bit more picky. ]

Definitely not the worst burger I've ever had, but then again I've eaten out of the trash before, so.. You know. Scales and all.

It's yours, if ya want it.

iii

[toopolite]

[It has almost been a month since Sif had found herself here. There are some aspects that she is still getting used to, and others that have taken no time at all. With no way to leave, there has been little to do but to adjust to this realm anyway. Of course it might help that she has some familiar faces here (although some of those familiar faces she could do without.

She is slightly more at ease this time, although she still bears the expression of one who tries not to let things get by her. Sif is aware of her approach, although it is not until she speaks that her focus does shift to the woman.]

I have not the foggiest idea.

[Which is the truth. A small apologetic shrug of her shoulders is given.]

Haphazardly, it seems.

[foreseeding]

Looks like it's for fun.

[That alone is an odd concept, people have the time and resources to worry about things like fun.]

You're a warrior.

[It isn't a question; Sif holds herself the way Furiosa does, the way the Valkyrie did. There's a strength there that's reassuring, in it's own way.]

[toopolite]

Aye, although I cannot proclaim that it is my type of fun.

[Her voice is light though and not serious in the least. So long as those playing are enjoying themselves, then that is what manners. Less chances of getting hurt, too, it seemed, with these games.

Her eyes flicker back, and the corner of her mouth curls ever so.]

I am. The Lady Sif of Asgard.

[ b ]

[supersweet]

[ Jon is making a sandcastle, fortifying it with wet sand. It would have been nice to take Annie out but Jon wasn't sure if she made the cut. A Kryptonian war kite isn't a normal animal and could feasibly blow their cover even if there are Pokemon running around. He sticks a flag on the top. ]

I dub thee Fort Kent, castle of Hamilton!

[foreseeding]

[She watches for a little while, knees curled up to her chest as Jon build his sandcastle, trying to figure out the purpose of it. Eventually, she decides it must just be for fun.

When he sticks the flag in, she finally gets up and walks over, then crouches down again.]

Should have a moat, to keep people out.

[Cheedo always liked fairy tales, and castles always had moats, in the stories that Miss Giddy would tell them.]

[supersweet]

[ Jon blinks before nodding enthusiastically. ]

Yeah, you're right. There's a shovel over there if you wanna help?

[ Meanwhile Jon digs his hands into the soft sand and starts making a trench. ]

iib

[maskerading]

[ If there's one thing for sure, it's hot—but that's nothing a brief dip in the water couldn't help with, right?

Right. Yuuto wanders over toward the shoreline, only stepping in deep enough for the water to reach his ankles, when he catches a glimpse of a woman sitting nearby; serene as she may seem, he can't help but notice the sense of wonder and awe in her expression as well.

He glances up in an attempt to catch what has such a hold on her attention, though it all seems normal to him so far. ]

... Nice view?

[foreseeding]

Never seen this much water.

[She knows there's a lot of water deep under the Citadel and has even seen some of it flowing out from the pipes near the top of the Citadel, but it still doesn't compare to this.]

[maskerading]

—Never?

[ The word slips out before he could think twice about it, mainly because it's hard to conceive. But he's used to living in a city where the ocean wasn't too far, either.

He shakes his head gently a moment after when he realizes how he's reacted. ]

... Er, sorry. That was rude of me.

iib (or not iib that is the question)

[potentialed]

[ Taking time to walk along the beach wasn't something Stephen allowed himself to do often back in his own world. He had acted like such activities were beneath his time or boring. Now? Now he appreciates the chance more than he ever did on Earth. He hopes he'll see it again some day.

Until then, he can at least appreciate the beauty of the moon. He briefly notices Dag near the water but then he's also keeping an eye out for new and familiar faces alike.

The only thing that stops him near her is the crab that seems to be having a hard time getting off its back. The clawed legs and pincers are flailing and it has Stephen looking for a stick or something because he doesn't want his fingers to end up on the receiving end of all that. He can't spot one so he ends up setting his shoes down on the sand as he crouches down near the crustation.

He mutters, ]

Easy, little guy.

[ He conjures a small golden mandala and moves it under the crab before using it to flip it back on the right side. He smirks as it scuttles back off into the water. ]

lmao pls

[foreseeding]

[Something changes in the air; she feels it before she sees it and her gaze snaps over, sharp and piercing as she watches the man make light in the air. It looks like magic, but then, there's so much here that looks impossible to her, and some of it has been explained as machinery.

She wraps the cotton cloth tighter around her shoulders and walks over to Stephen.]

What is that? What did you do?

i couldn't resist

[potentialed]

[ He looks up at her before resting his arms on his thighs as he stays where he's squatting. He nods to the ocean, ]

It needed some help and I didn't want to get my fingers pinched in the process of giving it.

[ He looks back up at her, ]

You've never seen that before, have you?

iib

[bookofyonah]

[ As she splashes about in the shallow edges of the water, Yonah might seem like she's part of the healthy children playing. It's until she breaks out into a fit of coughing that she finally stops, a warning and reminder that she shouldn't be pushing herself so much.

She moves to sit down at the edge of the water to rest, unaware that she'd seated herself nearby the woman, until she turns her head to look. ]

Oh, hi! [ She smiles, friendly but tired. ] Do you like the water?

[foreseeding]

It's cold.

[But she says it like it's a good thing; cold, fresh water isn't something to be scoffed at, and as the day warms up it's nice to occasionally wander in and cool off.]

You're sick.

[She's good at manners.]

[bookofyonah]

Yeah, it sure is!

[ She answers, cheerfully. It was cold, but she couldn't stop playing in it. She wishes she could tell her Dad. He mentioned beaches to her in his letters, but she never got to see one until now. ]

Oh. I've had this cough for awhile... don't worry! It's not contagious or anything.

ii

[suckstobestrange]

[While Dag might be mindng her own business, content to watch the water and those playing in it, the small Lillipup that came bounding up to her with a knotted rope toy in it's mouth seemed to have other ideas. It dropped the toy at her feet, yipping lightly to get her attention before dropping to a play bow, stubby tail wagging wildly behind it.

If she were to try and reach for the toy, Wong would be snatching it up again and darting back a couple steps, dropping the toy again to run an excited circle around both the toy and the woman.]

Honestly Wong, she can't very well throw it for you if you don't let her have it first. [Stephen was more than a little amused when he'd turned to see his companion trying to entice the stranger to play, a faint smile on his face.]

Don't mind him too much ma'am. He's a good pup just excited with all the people around.

[foreseeding]

[Dogs are weird, news at 11. But she's seen a few around by now, along with the foxes (which she kind of just assumes are pointy dogs) to realize what the Lilipup wants.

It doesn't seem aggressive, but she still watches it carefully as it runs around her, crouching down after a moment and offering her hand out, thinking that might convince it to drop the toy, so she can throw it for him.

And then looks back up, when Stephen speaks.]

Does he want to play?

[She's getting mixed signals.]

ii a

[ragnarsson]

[Ivar's going to go crazy if he spends one more minute surrounded by the smell of antiseptic walls and sick people. Letha's stable enough right now, so he's off taking a few minutes to get something to eat that's not just from a vending machine or the awful hospital cafeteria.

It's mainly the outfit that gets his attention. He's well-aware by now that women dress far differently from home, but generally, even the most provocative ones dressed in clothes that looked a little sturdier than the flimsy white ones that the Dag was sporting. He's staring, one part curiosity and one part lust. What can he say? He's a sixteen year old ten and he's hardly blind to such a striking looking woman, even if he is staunchly taken with Letha.]

Not hungry? [He asks, one of his own hands occupied with a hot dog. Ivar will never turn down food, and after several days of being with Letha at the hospital, he needs something substantial.]

[foreseeding]

[There are people in wheelchairs, after the world ends, but she hasn't seen a lot of them (she hasn't seen a lot of the world outside the vault, but Toast and Miss Giddy tell stories), so Ivar's chair draws her gaze for a moment, before her attention flicks to his face.]

There's no meat, none that isn't sick.

[There are lizards at least, and they get eaten if they can be caught, but not by the wives.]

I don't know if it will taste good.

ii b

[scholiast]

(Lucretia has been to the river a few times now; she's back today because she'd been working on a small landscape watercolour of the river edge, and finally the weather is similar enough to the day she started the painting that the lighting should be the same too.

For the better part of an hour she works away at it, and then forces herself to take a break even though she can feel herself getting into the zone. She meanders down to the water's edge, stretching her hands and fingers out as she does.

There's somebody sitting there. Lucretia realises dimly that she's been there the entire time, just staring out at the water, her long white-blonde hair trailing down her shoulders. She's standing just a couple feet away from her, now, and she casts a curious little glance at her as she bends over to start unlacing her shoes.)

Are you going in?

[foreseeding]

[The Dag doesn't seem to notice Lucretia until she speaks, but she also doesn't startle at the question.]

I can't swim.

[She's been in up to her shins, but she's been a little wary about going in deeper, just in case.]