introductory mingle: FLOWER FESTIVAL

[riverviewmod]

who: everyone in Riverview!
what: Introductory Log and Flower Festival Celebration
when: April 2nd - April 15th
where: In several different locations in the downtown area of the Inhabited City.
warnings: please put any necessary warnings in the subject lines

flower festival

In the days leading up to April 2nd, residents new and old may notice advertising around the city, everywhere from digital screens to paper flyers pasted on blank walls, all advertising an upcoming holiday: The Flower Festival. Celebrating springtime, beauty, joy, and togetherness, the festival heavily features floral themes and dancing. The advertising mentions that on April 10th, a paid holiday, there will be a Blossom Picnic, as well as lists of various public dances at clubs or other open venues, and adult raves.

a celebration of spring

The Flower Festival's main event is the Blossom Picnic on April 10th, but it also features traditions of sharing food and drink, and dancing that span over the course of the whole two weeks. There are a large variety of events going on throughout the city, from dancing lessons in any wide variety of traditional dances, to old-fashioned sock hops, to adult raves complete with mild party drugs. Feel free to use the prompts below or create your own event at any point during the festival, and if your character creates an event and hosts it in a top-level, you can submit that thread for extra bonus points.

i. blossom picnic

The main event that kicks off the second week of the Flower Festival is the Blossom Picnic on April 10th. A relaxed and low-key event, it draws several thousand people every year to the spacious Riverview Central Park, where there is a generous lawn lined with various blossoming trees, and families, found families, lovers, and groups of friends are encouraged to lay out a picnic blanket and share food. There will be live bands playing (but not loudly enough to distract from conversation and peacefully watching the petals flutter in the wind), a variety of demonstrations of traditional cultural dances from many different realities and planets, and a ton of ice cream vendors. This is an excellent festival not only for celebrating togetherness with the people who are already important, but for mingling and making new friends.

Characters may either pack their own lunches or they can purchase pre-packed Blossom Festival lunches. Stores and street markets are carrying a wide variety of specialty food that is only available at this time of year - predominantly pastries, an assortment of types of candies, and ice cream treats all in various floral flavors, as well as a sort of ambrosia salad based around a sweet rose-flavored cream and a native fruit that is bright green and tastes like a combination of peach and citrus.

ii. dancing lessons

Starting on April 2nd, there will be dancing lessons offered almost everywhere you look! From partner dances to group dances to line dances; sexy and sensual or innocent and childlike - almost any type of dance you can imagine is represented, from any reality or planet that has people in Riverview Quarantine.

Additionally, the Riverview Central Community Center has multiple rooms blocked off so anyone who knows a dance from home can teach it to others in their community - sharing is caring, after all. Characters are welcome to block off one of these rooms and offer lessons in any dance they happen to know from home (and these sorts of thread starters would be eligible for the mingle AC Point bonus)!

iii. flower festival dancing

This is pretty simply what it says on the tin - in almost every club, community center, or other public space, there will be dancing at almost all hours of the day or night, formal and informal. Musicians bring out their instruments and play in the street for demonstrations of cultural dances and music at the same time as clubs are offering VIP cover charges for exclusive dances, and you can find anything in between.

There are also many low-cover-charge raves that allow under-18s so younger characters can stay up all night and dance like crazy. The legal drinking age in Riverview Quarantine is 14, and so anyone over 14 can enter and indulge in a few drinks, dancing, and playing tag with a non-intoxicating version of the colored powder featured at the adult raves. There is copious amounts of security on site to ensure that everyone is safe, as well as nurses and off-duty police officers to offer advice or care for anyone who overindulges out of lack of experience.

Grab a partner, a group of friends, or just cruise and mingle the various dancing events.

Characters may also notice that most of the street markets and clothing shops are offering clothing that features floral patterns, flowers as accessories, and that show a lot of skin - for men, women, and anyone in between!

iv. adult raves

Advertised on flyers and digital screens around the city, made to pop as if they were under blacklight, is a series of adult raves that are happening in various large empty warehouse spaces around the city, including one that is listed as the danger rave and hosted in an abandoned factory outside the inhabited city walls. With bouncers at the door to ensure that anyone entering is 18+, the raves are comfortably adult in nature. Clothing is optional, showing skin is encouraged, and there are a lot of neatly tucked away spaces for attendees to get some time alone with one or more than one person, as well as spaces intended for orgies. The atmosphere is sex-positive and non-judgemental, open to any orientation or preference, with various forms of protection available for free, however, to ensure that everyone plays safe there are sober security teams out en masse at all premises to oversee the events.

(CW: DRUG USE) In each location, there is one specific room where attendees can enter, and dance or play tag with brightly colored powder that contains small amounts of a legal party drug commonly available in Riverview, which is absorbed through the skin. Not much more intoxicating than having a few beers, the effects of the drug are a pleasant low-key buzzing euphoria, positive sensitivity to touch, a heightening of desires for intimacy, and a mild lowering of inhibitions. Once a character has been hit with the powder, the color lingers on the skin so other attendees can know who has partaken, but once the powder makes contact with a surface it deactivates, meaning that partakers can safely dance with non-partakers without sharing the intoxicating effects.

Please be sure to warn in subject lines for any threads involving drug use. And remember, there is always security to intervene and make sure everyone is safe.

v. roommates or wildcard

Feel free to use this prompt to set up headers for a communal floor, or threads open to roommates for the purpose of getting to know each other. Or if you have an idea for a prompt that isn't in this list, set at the Flower Festival, feel free to write it up!

visual inspiration

click on thumbnails for larger view

Credit: third image by Steve Goad; other images found on uncredited on Pinterest or Google images - please let the mod know if you find credit!

navigation

Comments

[mannerism]

That does seem to be a question that matters here, doesn't it? Most times one would ask where are you from. Never really had to subject ourselves to worry about times.

[ and in her case, it does matter. she places down her cup. ]

1946. Well-behind the majority of the city, I know.

[barksnark]

[ A blindfolded girl-shaped person taking a closer look? Will doesn't even blink; he couldn't begin to tell you all the weird(er) things he's seen in his short life. ]

They called it Uffxcelho? Yeah, that's what they called it.

[ Another thing about worldhopping: no word will ever sound made-up. ]

Wanna try some?

[supersweet]

I'm not just ten and I'm not just a kid. People can't know that.

[ Not that Jon has a clue who or what he's supposed to be. The Superboy identity are clothes he chose to wear, but it doesn't mean much to anyone.

Except maybe Damian. Which hurts to admit. ]

[mannerism]

[ if she were still at home, she'd suspect Fennhoff. The man's nutritious for making others see things that aren't really there, things that derive from regrets or fears or in Peggy's case, longing. There's nothing in this world that could have prepared her for stand in front of him again. She knows that if she touches him, he'd be solid and real and there and yet - she hesitates. ]

Well, then.

[ she doesn't look behind her, doesn't search for the source of the music. ]

I don't know the song but it seems like we'll have to make do, Captain.

[signifies]

That's the furthest behind in the 20th century that I know of.

[ Clark's asked everyone he's met. Flint takes the gold for 1717. ]

It's 2013.

wow r u d e

[mannerism]

Good God, man!

[ what a way to make an introduction. and to think she was just enjoying her morning-tea. She looks up at him before reluctantly removing her feet from the railing and standing up. ]

I've shared with more and in lesser conditions. Surely it isn't too bad? The cupboards are full and I've been told there's a coffee machine somewhere.

[ both hands meet hips, careful how you tread, suigetsu ]

Peggy Carter, bed two.

[winscenario]

You sound like you like him. [ There's a hint of teasing to the tone, one corner of his lips quirking upwards. ] My friends call me 'sometimes tolerable' all the time, too.

[ (He's probably a little better than Tony Stark, though.) ]

I already have a Lieutenant Commander here with me. Not that it matters, since I don't really have a ship, but... he takes precedence. Sorry.

[spellslots]

You sure look like that to me.

[He isn't trying to be condescending, he's just saying that on the surface, Jon looks exactly like both those things.]

It's really that big of a deal though, isn't it? What you're hiding?

[Clark told him it was a secret, that people would be afraid, but the fact that Jon's parents have instilled this paranoia in him says a lot more than Clark did with his words.]

[mannerism]

Glad to have at least earned myself some sort of a record.

[ all this modernity is odd. it will take time and not a small amount of it, for her to truly know her way around modern utensils, not to mention clothes and slang. ]

How is the world fairing in 2013, Mr. Kent?

[supersweet]

[ He nods. ]

It always is. No matter where we go. Even different worlds.

[ Not that Jon missed the luxury of ignorance. He preferred knowing the truth. About his father, about himself, about his mom as well. ]

[ikols]

[ Sniffing, he tosses his hair and lightly agrees, ] He hasn't fired his repulsors at me in a while.

[ And there was that weird, too-close moment at the rave where Loki didn't want to be a dead man walking and Tony, well, he felt so alive as only mortals can. Best not to think about it, it's part of the reason the godling is hungover and out buying pastries to stuff his face instead of at the apartment where Tony is suffering. ]

You're really breaking my heart here, a good captain would appoint me to whichever position I pleased and braid my hair while he was at it. [ Now he's teasing back, sliding into a slouch so he can stretch out long legs and smile up charmingly. ] What else do your friends call you? Are they mean or pleasant? I suppose everyone has to suck up to the captain at some point, hm?

[winscenario]

[ Jim follows, waiting for Clark to take a seat first before doing the same, turned slightly towards him so they can keep talking. ]

It's fine. I wouldn't ask you to, anyway— and getting one for myself does sound much better. [ Once he starts buying things he's never gonna stop, someone take his money from him. ]

Can I take a picture?

[spellslots]

[For five years, Taako hid who he was, scared that someone would recognize him and hold him accountable for Glamorsprings, but that's not the same as this. This is hiding who Jon is.

It's a lot to put on a kid.]

You wanna know a secret, Jon?

[supersweet]

Maybe . . . ? If you want to.

[ Jon doesn't need to hear Taako's secrets. Taako's been nice enough as it is and Jon's told him more than . . . anyone he's ever known. ]

[signifies]

[ He's amiable without being imposing. Clark appreciates this about him as soon as he notices. ]

Of me?

[ He's free to take a picture of the scenery. ]

[spellslots]

Everyone's hiding something.

[With that, Taako drops the spell that he's been keeping up since the day he arrived in Riverview, and his face... changes, just slightly. He figures the extent of it will be lost on a kid, but Taako goes from very pretty, to just plain; his cheekbones aren't as sharp, his eyes aren't as bright, there's not as much color in his cheeks. It's almost like a before and after make up shot, but in reverse.]

I'm not saying you don't gotta be careful, but most of the time, everyone's too busy hiding their own shit to start poking into someone else's.

[winscenario]

Ah. The basis of any real, solid relationship.

[ He may be teasing, or maybe not. Not like he's in a place to do so, anyway. Spock did Vulcan pinch him and drop him on a floating ice rock where he nearly died, and Jim used to have nightmares about Bones chasing him angrily across the ship with a hypospray in hand, so. ]

I'll agree to braiding your hair, if you're really into that. [ Jim grins, stretching his legs out and crossing them, arms propped behind him on the ground for leverage. ] It's not like that at all. My friends aren't the kind to suck up to me, and they know it won't change how I feel about them or my opinion on their abilities as officers. Besides, I'm pretty sure my first officer is entirely incapable of pointless flattery.

[ Pursing his lips, he glances at Loki. ] It's a good thing. I need them to keep my feet on solid ground every once in a while, not boost my ego. [ Which is already big enough on its own. ]

[signifies]

[ The more things change the more they stay the same. ]

If our worlds are alike, then you'll be happy to know we land on the moon in 1969.

[ Flint had been delighted with this information so Clark puts it forward at the first opportunity. ]

You might have aliens to look forward to.

[ He may be teasing. ]

[winscenario]

[ Damn it. That was what he was planning on but he wasn't gonna tell Clark. ]

Sure. You look nice from this angle. [ From every angle. Anyway. He lifts the camera up, looking all hopeful and puppy-eyed. ] Can I?

[signifies]

Er.

[ Is he being flirted with low-key???? He shifts in his chair, pushing up his glasses. It's a nervous tic. ]

Go ahead.

[ikols]

[ Being a friend to an Avenger sounds like voluntarily watching reruns of Cheers; a novel way to spend an afternoon now and then, maddening after a week.

He rolls onto his stomach next to Jim and plucks at the blanket. It's hard not to think of Verity keeping him on the straight(ish) and narrow(er) when Jim speaks of his friends, Loki misses her keenly. Still, he's determined not to mope. ]

You need some fun, Jim, that's my divine opinion. Which job were you given on this moon?

dat bike

[winscenario]

[ There's no shortage of things catching Jim's eye all over the city. It's a fascinating and altogether different and new place, full of things Jim's not all that used to seeing. Not because they're modern, but because they're ancient. Jim's always been too much of a fanboy not to stare in awe at things that most people here likely would call mundane.

But this is by no means mundane. He perks up the moment he spots the bike from afar, not paying much mind to the owner sitting on it as he makes his way over, grin wider the closer he gets, eyes positively glowing with wonder and excitement. ]

Oh my God, what a gorgeous babe! [ There's a bit more staring, then he looks up at the girl, still grinning as he lifts his hands apologetically. ] The bike— I meant the bike. Sorry.

[batbullets]

[He has to give it to her - she's ridiculously fast, whatever she is. He's impressed.]

Oh, I'm sorry, there were rules?

[He smirks again.]

I need a name to shout after you while I'm chasing you, you know. There's a lot of people who answer to "Hey you."

[This is his way of mostly showing her that he's doing this more for fun than anything else. He's really no threat. Not to Mae, anyway.]

[batbullets]

I meant the...you know. [He gestures helplessly at Loki for a second.] Body fluidity?

I mean, you could argue that this whole everything is an experiment. [Jason tries to relax a little as Loki sidles up to him, but it's only then that he notices how intensely green Loki's eyes are. Green and pretty, regardless of whichever form he's wearing.] Silvertongue, huh? Because, what, you're good at karaoke? [Okay, he's usually better at the witty repartee than that, but this is whole thing is maybe a little out of his wheelhouse.

He takes a small sip of his drink - no because he needs liquid courage, but because he finds his mouth parched, and gives Loki a short, charming smile.]

Jason. Not sure yet if it's going to be pleasure or pain meeting you.

[winscenario]

[ Yes, he is being flirted with low-key. Jim may have not stopped hitting on people over the years but he has at least learned the art of subtlety. Sometimes.

Perking up happily, he positions the camera, getting a good view of Clark and focusing the lens, then taking the picture. ]

I'm gonna want to see how that comes out later.