riverviewlogs | introductory mingle: FLOWER FESTIVAL

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introductory mingle: FLOWER FESTIVAL

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!

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[ Well, maybe another day she'll tell Jim the whole truth about Romdeau City. Like how it's currently resting at the bottom of a lake, and by all technicalities, she and their little ragtag group re the only survivors of the fall of the dome. That they know of at least. Today was probably not the day that Jim would learn any of the gory details past her itchy trigger finger when it came to some kind of outburst regarding autoreivs and 'souls.' At the very least she seems to catch herself rather quickly. As much as the rules and expectation of constant control in Romdeau had always driven her to outbursts from time to time - the urge to bring herself back under reign was second nature and second skin -

A breath in and her shoulders drop, loosening in to relaxation, a slow breath out and, as she speaks again there's little to no sign of whatever earlier irritation there had been, hands dropping to her sides instead of defensively in front of her. ]

I don't know about deep space, but, those who could escape to space to avoid the devastation of Earth, did. We watched them drop back to Earth not long after we abandoned Romdeau, for the last time.

[ For all of her efforts to ring herself in, she can't resist a dismissive hand motion as he mentions jealousy as an emotion - ]

Iggy was programmed for my protection and preservation - to keep citizens from pawing at me to attempt to gain from it, essentially. The need to monitor and be at the center of all things, for me, was not a learned behavior.

[ With limited resources, honestly it wouldn't shock him much. Jim's fortunate that he comes from the universe he does, where the possibilities given to any human are nearly endless, provided they want them and work for them. And he hasn't even had to work particularly hard, himself. Were he from her world, he probably wouldn't have made it for that long, all things considered. The human race does have an impressive will to survive, but... no, her world doesn't seem like it would give them many options, as far as solutions go.

Jim nods at the explanation, figuring that whatever vessels they had were rudimentary at best, when compared to the Federation's starships. Weak and basic enough that they wouldn't even last long while on orbit, from what she's telling him. Something else that makes Jim realize that wherever she comes from, it really isn't a very hospitable place.

He does start to raise an eyebrow at the hand she waves dismissively, but manages to keep that reaction to himself. Instead he just smiles and shrugs, more nonchalant than dismissive, deciding it's for the best to just let the matter drop there. ]

You'd know better than me. It's your world. [ Tipping his head around them, ] So what brings you around here? Or are you part of the guard too?

[ She's almost thankful for the change in subject and, slightly, that he seems to have acquiesced the point for the moment. No doubt they might debate about it another day, but for the moment she's not really all that happy with the idea of already starting a debate when they'd just met.. again.

She shakes her head 'no' to his question about being in the guard, gesturing to the expanse beyond the walls. ]

Police force, actually. For now. I'm looking to be back to investigating before too long, but, naturally, I'm expected to work my way up. [ Which.. she actually doesn't seem to mind. That might seem natural to some, but for Re-L it's a step. ] Better than selling notebooks at any rate.

I wanted to see what this place looked like beyond the walls. Thought it might tie me over from going out to see it up close and personal a little longer.

[ He's not opposed to a debate, so long as it's a calm and reasonable discussion, not just arguing for the sake of it. That'll bring neither of them anything more than frustration and anger, and frankly he can go well without that. Besides, the way she approached him made it look like they got along before. If possible, he'd rather reestablish that same kind of relationship. ]

At least they'll let you work your way up. [ Much better than sticking her on some pointless dead-end job, indeed. ]

Well, when you decide to go out there, it's probably a good idea to take someone else along with you. There's a number of guards around who'd offer to join you— myself included, for the record. I have to go out there for my job anyway, so you can come along sometime.

True. I almost would've preferred some paltry test to make sure I'm not lying out my nose and move directly back in to it, but I can see the merits in moving up. Plus it prevents your already standing investigators from getting a chip on their shoulder about it. [ The complexities of people's emotions to do with some newcomer bursting in and coming straight to the job weren't something she particularly wanted to have to contend with. Not that it was a guarantee, but it was something to consider. Still better than a boring, dead end job surrounded by notebooks. ]

I have a distinct feeling I won't be going out on my own whether I want to or not, if Carolina has anything to say about it. [ The redhead was annoying at times, true, but she'd be happy to have her along in the end. Still, the offer to take her out there is pretty good - ]

I wouldn't mind that. Once I figure out my schedule I'll have a better idea of where my areas of free time are.

Also true. Probably not a good idea to show favoritism, especially with us people coming in through the portal.

[ Jim hasn't had any unpleasant situations so far, but he's pretty sure that'd change real quick if anyone treated them like they deserved any special kind of treatment. Jim, for one, is glad for the job he got. Plenty of vacancies in the Perimeter Guard, so it's not like he's stealing a spot from anyone else, and he feels like he'll be learning a whole lot about this place. He'd have wanted to explore the city and the areas outside the perimeter either way, this way it's like— hitting two birds with one stone. Kind of. ]

Can't say I've met her. She works with you, or... [ Perimeter Guard, maybe? Could be. Jim hasn't gotten the chance to introduce himself to everyone yet, so there are a few still unfamiliar faces. He nods at Re-L's answer, though. ] Great. Anytime, really. I get the feeling a lot of people here want to go take a look beyond the perimeter, so it seems like a good idea to offer to go along.

Honestly, I'd rather be back in my world than here picking at who is or isn't playing favorites, but.. I suppose that's why I wasn't asked for how I'd go about things. [ Either way she's happy enough with the police position - learning more about the inner workings of the city made her feel at least slightly more comfortable than on the Eluvio. Less mystery and less need for truth finding put her a bit more at ease, but.. if there was anything out there to find then she was definitely going to have to find it. It's one of the worse caveats to the way her personality was concocted -

Though it worked out in its own way nine times out of ten. ]

I knew her from the Eluvio. We met on a mission and as much as I begrudged her checking in on me, it appears people find it necessary to make sure that I'm taking care of myself as if I'm not already nineteen years old and independent and - she may have walked me home from a few bars on the last planet we visited... [ Right, about that comment on not needing baby sat - ] You'll know her if you see her. Generally wears the most obnoxiously aqua battle armor I've ever seen.

With these communicators I can't imagine it'll be hard to contact people to go, either. I'm not fussed about going out on my own, though, if I have to.

Gotta look for silver linings where there are any. [ Not that Jim would encourage anyone to settle too easily, but from what she's told him so far, this seems slightly better than being stuck on the Eluvio. And so far, the people running this place seem reasonable enough. Granted, they might be lying, but they haven't withheld any information, and that goes a long way to making Jim feel a little less uncomfortable.

Hopefully that'll be a trend that'll hold when he wants to look into the mechanics of the portal, and the science behind the process that brings them here, and supposedly can send them back. ]

Right, of course. Because all nineteen year-olds are perfectly responsible and mature. [ Not saying Re-L isn't, but— well, that thing about being brought home from a few bars speaks for itself, really. And the fact she thinks it's in any way smart to go out there on her own. ]

Maybe you're not, but it's safer that you don't. There are plenty of wild animals out there and not all of them are easy to handle on your own. Just saying— better to have someone else with you, if nothing else then just so no creature sneaks up on you unexpectedly.

I just remind myself that I could be stuck selling notebooks. [ Which had been about the most worthless job she'd ever been given. Sure, she'd been handed tiny cases and things that an autoreiv could solve on it's own, and she'd been insulted by them at the time, but - after that experience there wasn't a whole lot to bitch about, was there?

Not that she wouldn't find something, eventually, because she would. It was just a matter of time.

There's a slight brow raise about Jim's responsible and mature 19 year olds comment - and half a thought to say something snarky before she reminds herself she's been acerbic enough for one day. To be fair - the bars on Bajikan were literally the first experience she'd ever had with bars or.. even liquor. A bit of a learning curve was inevitably involved. ]

Just when I thought I could escape having a constant minder... [ Half sarcastic, half serious in that smart assed comment. The whole complete independence thing was actually starting to have a shine to it, though. ] The sooner I can go out, the better I think. Curiosity doesn't sit too well with me I'm afraid.

[ Jim does not, in fact, have anything against 19 year-olds doing 'grown up' work. As a matter of fact, one of his helmsmen was only seventeen when he was given that position, and Jim himself can't talk much, having gotten to the rank of Captain at only 25 years of age. So really, if anyone knows about young people proving that they're not only more than just capable, but also capable of exceptional brilliance, then that would be Jim himself.

It was just the way she said it. The kind of remark some say when they turn eighteen, as if age alone and the fact they're adults on paper somehow makes them magically responsible and mature. If only that were the case, then Jim wouldn't have been the massive screw up he was until Captain Pike helped him find a purpose in life, and plenty of people out there wouldn't have gotten the opportunities they did only because they'd be considered 'too young'.

She looks fairly capable so far, granted. A hint on the reckless side, if Jim's to wager a guess. Reminds him a little of himself when he was her age, honestly. ]

Curiosity's good. That's what drives you to want to go out there. The not knowing, though, that's what really gets to me.

[ Re-L is a bit like a moth to flame with danger - likes to flirt with the edge of what she's 'allowed' just because she's curious. Of course, it was exactly that which had landed her in a heap of trouble in her former home of Romdeau Dome, but there wasn't a bit of it that she could change now. And perhaps wouldn't, even if she had the chance to. After all, without knowing what she knew now, she'd end up right back where she started, which was restless and dissatisfied, a caged bird in a restrictive society and a high ivory tower.

Sure, it beat at her ego every once in a while when she'd come to realize all that she'd been brow-beaten with from a young age was a very elaborate scheme to keep people, and very much herself, in line. But.. well.. when your own grandfather tries to have you killed it puts a lot in to perspective. ]

My doctor would tell you that he made me too curious, now, I believe. Though I could argue that he should've known better than to let me go outside if he wanted to keep me in, too. [ Daedalus had always been keen on keeping her happy, trying to make her content - showing her a whole other world to explore was perhaps the worst option to take. ]

What's harder is reminding myself not to get too close to the sun, in the figurative sense.

[ As if the possibility of getting into trouble would ever stop Jim Kirk from jumping head first into something. He's the same as her, in that aspect. The more people try to pin him down or restrain him, the more he'll struggle for his freedom. He'd sooner leap into a cliff than spend the rest of his days in some safe cocoon from which he could never be freed from.

It's good, for the most part. That he has such a love and desire for freedom. On the other hand, it's taken time and maturity for him to learn and recognize when taking certain dangers is a necessity, and when it's downright idiotic to leap into something without thought, just because. ]

A good myth to keep in mind at all times— even when you have radiation shields. [ Like on starships. ] Anyway— anything I can help you with around here?

Surprisingly, not as much of a myth as one would think. [ That's a long and complicated story that she'd rather not dig much deeper in to, turning to take a look beyond the wall again. There's a certain call to the unknown, though, and as much as she thinks she ought to settle down with all of that exploration mess, there's also a part of her that's... still very restless. That still wants to know what is going on beyond the walls, what's happening out there and what she could possibly find - if anything. ]

Not that I know of at the moment, no. I'm more so learning the streets and the lot at the moment. But - If you get wind of any missions or explorations outside, then let me know. I want to go along.

[ Like burning, really, but she isn't going to go that full ham on letting him know that at the moment. ]

[ The same could be said about a great big number of things, really. Jim's met Loki here —the Loki, not just some guy whose parents were fans of Norse mythology, so at this point, he's just about ready to believe anything. Well, almost anything. Probably. ]

Alright then, you've got yourself a deal. [ Jim nods as he offers a hand to her for a parting shake. ] I'll get in touch when something comes up. Keep me in the loop if you find out something interesting, too?

[ Seems like a fair sort of trade. ]

[ Oh the things that they could talk about, if Jim got himself to a place where she thought he wouldn't think her to be totally insane or lying if she told it. If there's anything she's learning rather quickly here it's that clones, and the creation of human beings for specific purposes in a domed city were not subjects that she could just throw out without someone having to dig too deeply for her liking for a first meeting.

For her, though, these things were entirely common, and so to stop the mention of them was... well, sort of odd to be truthful. ]

Fair enough. I don't know what may be available to me, data wise, in my current position, but I intend to test that depth and breadth of it as soon as possible. If there's anything interesting I'll make sure to pass it your way.

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introductory mingle: FLOWER FESTIVAL

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