- !mod post: holiday,
- !mod post: monthly mingle,
- degrassi: lola pacini,
- dragon age: dorian pavus,
- logan: laura,
- marvel (mcu): bucky barnes,
- marvel (mcu): mantis,
- marvel (mcu): thor,
- star wars: cassian andor,
- star wars: jyn erso,
- star wars: poe dameron,
- the adventure zone: taako taaco,
- voltron: keith,
- ✖ animorphs: marco,
- ✖ chb chronicles: nico di angelo,
- ✖ dc comics (rebirth): jason todd,
- ✖ dc comics (rebirth): jonathan kent,
- ✖ dctv (flash): cisco ramon,
- ✖ dctv (flash): eddie thawne,
- ✖ death race 2050: frankenstein,
- ✖ doctor who: bill potts,
- ✖ dragon age: anders,
- ✖ drakengard 3: one,
- ✖ ergo proxy: re-l mayer,
- ✖ fdtd: kate fuller,
- ✖ ffvii: vincent valentine,
- ✖ ffvii: yuffie kisaragi,
- ✖ fullmetal alchemist (03): alphonse elr,
- ✖ fullmetal alchemist (03): edward elric,
- ✖ gundam wing: duo maxwell,
- ✖ hero: thom creed,
- ✖ katekyo hitman reborn!: byakuran,
- ✖ kuroshitsuji: undertaker,
- ✖ legend of zelda (botw): link,
- ✖ mad max: the dag,
- ✖ marvel (616): stephen strange,
- ✖ marvel (616): victor von doom,
- ✖ marvel (mcu): sif,
- ✖ marvel (mcu): stephen strange,
- ✖ marvel: ava orlova,
- ✖ miraculous ladybug: marinette (ladybug,
- ✖ natsume yuujinchou: takashi natsume,
- ✖ nier gestalt: yonah,
- ✖ original: andrew warner,
- ✖ original: halbert,
- ✖ original: max kiesler,
- ✖ original: rin,
- ✖ original: tris clark,
- ✖ persona 5: yuuto kurohane,
- ✖ pokemon (xy/xyz): augustine sycamore,
- ✖ shadowhunter chronicles: magnus bane,
- ✖ the adventure zone: lucretia,
- ✖ the idolmaster (cg): arisu tachibana,
- ✖ the man from uncle: illya kuryakin,
- ✖ vikings: ivar ragnarsson
introductory mingle: RIVER FESTIVAL
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

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.

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!

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

no subject
He's smiling evenly though as Cisco shakes his hand.] That'd be great, I mean knowing what kinds of superheroes other worlds have. I wonder how I'd match up to them. [He says it with a grin, Thom had no intent on hiding his own status as a superhero back home, well, probationary super hero... exiled probationary superhero.
Maybe he just wouldn't go into the details.]
And hey you'd have a hard time getting me to shut up about my fellow heroes too, if I'm being honest. I was kind of obsessed before I even joined the League.
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[ When Thom starts talking about matching up with other heroes, Cisco's the one whose eyebrows are climbing in surprise. ]
Oh, you're a superhero? Probably shoulda guessed that, huh?
[ It goes some way to explaining why he was reciting the names of other heroes to calm himself while whatever was happening had been happening. They're probably the names of his friends, comrades, the people who support and inspire him. ]
Is that the Justice League, or a different one?
[ Cisco has met a few people from worlds that have such things - organized groups of superheroes. ]
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[Thom is grinning a little at the surprise on Cisco's face.] I know... I don't exactly look like it, right? I'm just your average ordinary gay teen superhero. [He ducks his head, both in amusement and a little bit of embarrassment at the self-referral; turns out coming out on national TV lead to a lot of courage taking about that kind of thing.]
The Justice League? I mean its the League of Heroes but I guess you could call it that, considering Justice is our leader? [He shrugs yet again, he wasn't too sure how that kind of thing worked and more so, was completely ignorant that the Justice League was an entirely different thing.]
no subject
There are rules? Like for real? Not just, I don't know, 'don't be evil', but like... rules about excluding people? That sounds kind of...
[ And he grimaces in a way that is pretty much the facial equivalent of the word 'yikes'. ]
It's not how you look or anything, you're just... young, compared to the other heroes I've met.
[ He smiles, though, when Thom calls himself an average ordinary gay teen superhero, in that way that makes it clear that none of those things are average or ordinary. Cisco wonders if this level of honesty is a personal trait, or if everyone is like this where Thom is from. Hopefully it's not a side-effect of how sick he'd been feeling - that would make Cisco feel pretty shitty, if he was taking advantage of the guy's defenses being down. ]
So that means you've got powers.
[ Only basic logic, figuring that one out. As for the Justice League thing, he's not sure it is the same. He's fairly certain Justice League had been the official title, and he also distinctly remembers Wally saying that the Flash was one of the founding members. If Thom's never heard of him, chances are, it's a different group and the league thing is just a coincidence. ]
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[Thom's eyebrows knit together though at the young comment.] Really? Heroes come in all shapes and sizes back home, I mean I'm the youngest on my squad, sure... but like Sidekicks? They can start even younger. It all depends when the League notices you, your first hero deed or whatever it is you can do.
[Thom nods enthusiastically at the powers comment, because he was proud of his powers despite what other people might think of them.] I do! I mean its probably kind of hard to believe right now... but I can't get sick, or get hurt... and I can heal other people too. This- [He waves to himself to encompass his current situation.] Its the only kind of sickness that's ever happened to me.
no subject
[ Cisco's actually surprised how strongly he feels about this; but then he thinks about Oliver, Roy, Thea, Laurel. Imagine some stuffy coalition telling any of them they couldn't help people, just because they use their skills and technology rather than metahuman powers? ]
Oh, we've got all shapes and sizes, too. And no rules about who can and can't sit at the hero table, so I guess there could be a teenage superhero, if someone stepped up to the plate, it's just nobody has.
[ Strange, though, imagining some kind of group keeping an eye out for young talent. Monitoring people who could be recruited. It actually creeps Cisco out pretty hard, but he isn't going to bring that up just now. He'd already harped on that rules thing enough and he doesn't want this kid getting defensive, especially when he's clearly not at his best, and not someone who set this system up.
He's glad, though, to discuss awesome superpowers instead of the politics of superheroing - much more fun. ]
You can't get hurt?! For real?!
[ Barry has accelerated healing, sure, but that's very different from just being invulnerable from the start. Cisco just kind of... stares at Thom for a bit, his wonder only momentarily put on hold when he asks: ]
Yeah how you doing by the way? You seem better - are you feeling a little better? Need me to get you more coffee or anything?
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[Thom decides to drop the conversation about the rules, because avoidance was one hell of a tactic. He should probably also avoid talking about the Wilson Tower disaster too, because he'd lived under the dark shadow of being a Creed for long enough. Maybe here, on this moon, he could finally escape that, finally stop living feeling like he had the world's eyes on him, waiting for him to create another disaster.
Between himself and his father they'd generated enough bad press and even if Thom's own bad reputation had been self inflicted as of late he had a fresh start here and was intent on keeping it that way.
At Cisco's excitement though Thom was left grinning, because his powers were often under-appreciated and it was strange for someone to be so enthused about them.] Well I guess I can get hurt, just not for very long- like you could cut off my arm and its just gonna grow back and it'll hurt for a second but start to feel really good when it starts to heal. [Except that it gave him the exact same sickness he was currently suffering, the young hero was just completely unaware about that aspect of his physiology. Though he was unaware about the extent to his powers either.] And like I could cut off your arm- I'm not going to though- and grow it back for you.
I'm doing better, yeah... sometimes it doesn't go all the way to a seizure, which is good. Those suck. [And he didn't want his introduction to a lot of people being through one of those.]
no subject
Much more fun to listen to Thom talking about his powers, seeming happy and bashful and pleased. And of course, the powers themselves are fascinating. Cisco finds most abilities to be intriguing, but some are always just going to be a bit more awesome than others. And this? Just about close to peak awesome. ]
Whoa, yeah, I'm gonna take a hard pass on the amputation, there, bud. Even if it is only temporary. Thanks. I'll definitely hit you up if I get in an argument with a woodchipper, though.
[ Cisco is obviously joking, teasing very lightly over the grim example that Thom had chosen to give. But the truth is, his powers sound wonderful, and Cisco isn't about to hide that opinion. ]
So have you always had them? Or did something happen? See, where I'm from, nobody's got superpowers from birth. Everyone who has them got them in a particle accelerator explosion almost two years ago. Released all kinds of exotic energy into the city, turned about 1% of the population into metas. That's what we call people with powers - metahumans. We haven't got any hero Leagues or anything like that, but we've also only had heros around for ... not even half a decade, so...
[ Cisco wonders if it will be different in the future, if institutions like the one Thom has been talking about will spring up, what will come of heroes if they do. ]
Gotta say, I've never had one so I can't really speak to that, but seizures definitely don't look like a super fun time to me.
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Thom actually laughs too, seeming less sick and more of an average teen when he does so.] I'll try be nearby if you do! [Except even if he wasn't there at the time, tying together the pieces and breathing life back into them would be something Thom was capable of, even if he just didn't know it yet. His powers were strange like that. Thom frowns a little at Cisco's description of powered people in his own home.] Only half a decade? Wow we've had heroes... well, since forever. My mom and dad joined the League when they were teens. [It had been established enough that the League was something Thom had grown up with, living under the blanket of their protection all his life, even when he knew little-to-nothing about them, long before he himself found out about his parents' acceptance into that group.]
We don't know how it works, not all the time. I mean I have powers, my mom has powers... my dad, he's normal. Some people are born with them, some people I don't know... get bitten by radioactive bugs, some people get their powers from magic or apparently gods. [He chews his lip, thinking about the different people he knew and their powers.] I know this one girl who apparently got hers from living under the radiation that comes off cell towers. [He wasn't too sure what degree of truth came out of Miss Scarlett's powers, after all. He wasn't sure how much of her was truth at all.]
They're not. But I've had them for as long as I remember too- sometimes its just worse than others, but I should've been expecting it. [There's a tone to his voice that says he's almost annoyed at himself for pushing too hard too. He still didn't have an intrinsic knowledge of how his sickness worked.]
no subject
Do your friend's powers involve free unlimited data? 'Cause that would be pretty sweet.
[ It is interesting the sheer variety of origins that Thom lists for superpowers. And not just quasi-scientific sources, either. Gods and magic and who knows what else.]
Why should you have expected it? Does being out in the sun too long bring it on - you need to get inside or something? Even if it wasn't bad this time, you probably still ought to sit down for a little while. I'll come with you, and we can keep talking, okay? Everybody's out here working on this, the world's not gonna end if we take a break.
[ And Cisco does his very best Concern Face, the one that even sometimes convinces Barry to take care of himself a little bit. He pulling out all the stops, here. ]
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I don't think the sun causes it? I guess its just... pushing myself, doing too much. [He frowns.] Maybe using my powers, too? I had to heal myself, with the rain... well... I didn't have to, I just didn't realise the rain was trying to burn its way through my skin either.
[Thom was smiling though, especially at Cisco's fussing.] Its okay! Honestly... I think its passed? [He did too, his fingertips hadn't so much as twitched since he started talking to the other man.]
no subject
[ That little slip in tense is quick, but painful. It's weird deciding which to use, when Ronnie is dead but Stein isn't. Cisco had gotten to used to speaking about the two of them as a unit. Hopefully Thom didn't notice. ]
Maybe. With the Flash, using his powers can make him pass out if he's not careful, 'cause running at thousands of miles an hour burns a whole lotta calories. And - other metas get headaches and stuff like that, when they use their stuff. So it makes sense to me, anyway.
[ By 'other metas', Cisco is absolutely talking about himself, but he isn't about to say that. He admires Thom for his openness, but that's just not where Cisco's at, when it comes to his powers. Most of the time he'd still rather pretend they don't even exist. ]
You sure?
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Yeah? I mean every hero has to have their limitations. [At least from the sounds of things though there was some logic behind the idea.] Maybe its something I should look into... if there's a doctor here or something they'd probably have a better idea than I do. [And probably a better idea than Thom's usual doctors considering he'd never come forward about his powers to one before. Or at least, hadn't been to see one since he started using his powers so actively.]
I'm sure! [He sounds earnest despite a faint wobble to his voice because the young hero wasn't always exactly sure about these things.]
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[ Not an issue, any longer. Cisco's chest aches for a moment, thinking how much better Ronnie would be at what he's trying to do right now - cheer this kid up, make him feel safe and happy. Ronnie had done that for him at S.T.A.R. Labs almost from the moment he arrived: just scooped Cisco up and been the big brother that his actual brother, Dante, had never been. ]
Your friend Scarlett sounds fun. [ From the sound of it she hasn't come through the portal, which is a shame. ] And I think you're onto something with that doctor thing. They must be used to some pretty exotic problems, here, treating people from all across the multiverse. Can't hurt to go check, right? Even if you feel like you're used to the side effects, and seizures and all...
[ Cisco trails off into a shrug, feeling a touch guilty for preaching something he definitely doesn't practice. His powers have a variety of distressing physiological side effects, and he would never dream of talking to a doctor about them. Maybe, MAYBE if Caitlin were here... but it's pointless to speculate. Because she isn't. ]
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Fun? She's... not a lot of fun. [Which mean of him to admit, considering Scarlett was the way she was because she had a lot of problems that weren't her fault to begin with, but in turn lead to an attitude that wasn't the most wholesome.] Maybe I should, check it out I mean. Or just ask around... like hey so I can heal any injury known to man but I can't heal the electrical storms going on in my head so can anyone check that out for me? [There's a tone to his voice that says it still wouldn't be the most ridiculous thing he's ever said out loud to an audience.]
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I mean, I know you're joking and all, but have you read some of the stuff people post? Definitely wouldn't be the weirdest question anyone's ever asked.
[ Cisco raises his eyebrows, a smile tugging at one corner of his mouth. And it's true, too - people post about god powers and being dead and doppelgangers and just about every single thing in between. Thom asking why his healing doesn't work on seizures would be pretty standard, in this place. ]
I mean, I still think seeing a real doctor at the hospital might be a better bet than this moon's equivalent of friggin' yahoo answers, but it's not such a bad place to start.
[ Carefully, leaving time in case Thom wants to move away, Cisco raises a hand and then rests it on the younger man's shoulder, both bracing and encouraging. ]
And you never know. There might be a way to make them stop. If you ask me, it's worth giving it a try.
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You're right, maybe I should check out the hospital too... see what kind of doctors they have here. [He frowns though, thinking about it.] Wait do we have like... insurance? [Because Thom's dad dealt with that kind of thing usually; he'd never had to think about his own medical bills before- he was still pretty young after all and had always been in the position of dependent rather than his own man.
He nods though at Cisco's encouragement though, the kind words and then the consoling hand earns a smile from the young hero.] Thanks, you're right... I'm glad you were here to talk to rather than me just panicking or whatever. [He seems sincere about it too.]
no subject
[ That's one thing their worlds have in common, at least - Thom's first thought when it came to seeking out medical care was if he could afford it and what kind of paperwork and nonsense might be involved. And it's why Cisco's so happy to give the answer he does. ]
Just go in and explain the situation, they'll get you sorted. And if anyone gives you any shit...
[ Cisco pulls a pen and a little notepad from his pocket (which he absolutely keeps there in case he has brilliant ideas for bits of tech while he's out and about, which happens a little too often. He quickly scratches out his network username, and also his phone number, with his name at the top, rips the sheet free, and hands it over to Thom.
He smiles, pleased and a bit bashful at Thom's gratitude. He gives a bit of a shrug, tucking his hair behind his ears, and admitting: ]
I've been the one panicking enough times before to know how much it sucks.
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Thom reaches out and takes the piece of paper with a wide smile, a look of genuine gratitude on his features.] Thanks Cisco, you've helped... like, a lot. [He reaches up to run a hand through his own hair.] I guess I maybe forgot that there were still friendly people out there in the world. [The way he says it comes with a certain degree of weariness. After all, he hadnt been shown a great degree of friendliness in recent times and it seemed that here, within this quarantine zone, that had changed significantly for the better.]
no subject
[ Cisco feels encouraged by the fact that Thom is smiling so much as he takes the contact info. Maybe he will actually use it; Cisco hopes so. ]
Seriously - text me whenever. Even if there's no trouble. If you just want somebody to go to a movie with or heard about a great new coffeeshop or whatever. Okay?