riverviewlogs | introductory mingle: DRAGOSTA

Entry tags:

introductory mingle: DRAGOSTA

who: everyone in Riverview!
what: Introductory Log and Dragosta celebration
when: The month of September.
where: Anywhere around the city.
warnings: please put any necessary warnings in the subject lines

dragosta

In the days leading up to September 1st, residents new and old will notice preparations beginning, a flurry of activity getting the city ready for the upcoming celebration: Dragosta. This holiday is in celebration of romantic love, and seen as a time of the year for Quarantine residents to try to find someone special to cuddle up with in preparation for the cold winter months. Romantic love is highly valued in Riverview Quarantine, as it can foster an incredible sense of wellness and belonging, and is often the cornerstone of found families as well as biological ones. While there are no official city-sponsored parties, there are various holiday traditions and a paid day off on September 8th so anyone who wants to indulge in them with their loved one can do so.

a celebration of romantic love

Rather than anything structured and organized by the city, Dragosta is a celebration usually left up to the citizens of the city to organize for themselves - there are a few traditions that many businesses (obviously) capitalize on, mainly the tradition of special date nights with small gifts exchanged for people who've already matched up or want to. There are also various singles dances intended to help people without partners find someone to share the special holiday with, and a tradition among the various magic users in the city of preparing soul mate potions and spells intended to help people find the person they're meant to be with.

i. soulmates

Almost as soon as it hits midnight on August 31st, booths and street corner vendors are popping up all around the city offering various magical potions and spells in little rows of bottles. The number of types are overwhelming, with a different concoction available for every type of magic that exists across thousands of different worlds. But the purpose of every single bottle and its contents is exactly the same: to help you find love. Specifically, these are the traditional magics that promise to give anyone who uses them the ability to find or identify their soulmate.

These little bits of magic can have various effects on the person using them (reminiscent of the soulmate trope in fiction), depending on the type of magic and the person who prepared them, and the options are almost endless. There are a few comfortable standbys, though, that pop up pretty much every year:

● Rainbow Potion: Tiny bottles of a soft rainbow-colored potion that affects the vision. Once drunk, the potion will remove the partaker's ability to see in color until the first time they meet their soulmate after ingestion, then all the colors will come flooding back.
● Time Spell: Purchasing a time spell will get you a little vial of liquid with a tiny hourglass inside. Pouring out the liquid and turning the tiny hourglass will result in the appearance of a timer counting down on the partaker's skin somewhere - like a moving tattoo, it will count down the days, hours, minutes, and even seconds until the person will meet their soulmate for the first time after the spell is initiated.
● Red Thread: Some residents might've heard of the legend of the red thread of fate, a red thread that is tied between the ankles or little fingers of two people destined to fall in love. Tiny jars with a delicate red thread attached to a note (the contents of which are unreadable) are sold to invoke this legend. Once opened, the user should tie the red thread around their smallest finger on the left side and a red thread only that person and their soulmate can see will appear, tying them together. It may stretch or tangle, but will never break.
● Ink Potion: Small vials of a mysterious black liquid are one of the more common offerings - this liquid, once carefully spread on a portion of the partaker's skin, will result in a tattoo-like marking in a particular shape, that matches the marking that magically appeared on their soulmate!

While these are the most common types, there are almost infinite numbers of other types of potions, spells, and magics intended to help people find their soulmates, of varying type and quality.

A Few OOC Guidelines:
● Soulmate potions/spells can be used multiple times with different partners, and the effect can last as long (or as briefly) as you want it to.
● Since there is a wide variation of different types of potions/spells, they can vary in effectiveness. Feel free to use this prompt for either serious shipping or silly pairings for comedic effect.
● There is no compulsion involved in this prompt. The potions/spells will only show the character who their supposed soulmate is, not compel them to fall in love with the other character.
● Because there is no compulsion or alteration of behavior involved, and all effects are temporary and mildly annoying at most, characters ARE allowed to use them on other characters without asking. If your character wouldn't take one of the potions/spells, one of their friends can definitely spike their drink with a potion or use a spell on their behalf. Also, only one party has to use the potion/spell in order for it to work, both parties do not have to partake, though it is up to player discretion how heavily affected the person who did not partake is.
● A long list of trope ideas and variations can be found here. I've only included specific potions/spells for the most common ones I've seen, but please go as wild as you'd like with the types of potions and effects they have, so long as everyone involved is on the same page.
● Mod questions and plotting regarding this prompt can be found here.

ii. singles dances

All around the city, various businesses are hosting and sponsoring singles dances. These dances are an ancient tradition of Dragosta, originating from the reality of a very early group of displaced arrivals. Observed since the founding of Riverview Quarantine, the events have grown and changed with the times, still serving the interests of the modern citizen. The dances will be advertised throughout the city and range in quality, size, and tone, but they will always have the same objective and methodology: to match people up based on chemistry on the dance floor.

All singles or polyamorous pairings/groups looking to add additional members will sign in at the dance of their choice, and attach nametags or stickers to their clothing - pink, blue, or purple to indicate their preferences in partner (female, male, or any), and a "P" or "D" for "poly" or "duo" to indicate their preference for a polyamorous match-up or only one partner. Once they've indicated these preferences, they head out onto the dance floor, where they can either seek out someone they're interested in or wait for someone to come to them. As the dance goes on, and one person approaches another (or a group or pair), the person (or people) approached can either accept or reject the advances, and after finding someone with chemistry, the happy couple (or triad, etc.) can leave the floor together.

Every person who attends and participates will receive vouchers for free dinners and discounts or gift cards for various places in the city to have a nice dinner and get a present for a new paramour, or two or three...!

iii. date nights

This one is pretty simple: restaurants, clubs, hotels, movie theatres, and anything else in the city that might even vaguely be construed as a date location will be offering romantic date night packages, discounts, and other promotions to the lovebirds of the city. There are a few highly-anticipated special events that crop up every year, though.

One of the most popular are the movies in the park, hosted on almost every night of the month, these are romantic comedies and other good date movies from dozens of realities featuring romantic stories in a multitude of different configurations. Lovers are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket and settle on the grass for a nice relaxed show, or tickets can be bought for special experiences such as the mini-deck, with romantic table settings, wine, and catering with a waiter, or the cuddlebug, where a comfortable couch is set up with popcorn and blankets for the lucky lovebirds to curl up on together. The variations are endless!

Another popular option is a retro-futuristic drive-in experience, where any type of vehicle can be driven up to a temporary drive-in diner for a meal, and then pull up to a temporary outdoor theatre. Once parked, the lovebirds can "park" - that is, cuddle and neck in the car to their hearts' content, probably instead of actually watching the movie.

For this prompt, any type of date night discount is cool to assume, or make a mingle top-level with a special event of your own imagining and earn bonus activity points!

iv. kiss and tell

Something a little different is happening during Dragosta this year - one of the magic researchers at Gramarye, who was recently married and only just returned from her honeymoon, got hit with a confusion spell by accident. A little muddled and love-drunk, she acted on her intense desire to make everyone in the city feel just as happy as her, and shared the love by whipping up a potent spell to do so. As a result, residents will see bright little glowing 'fairy lights' floating around the city throughout the entire month of September. What do the fairy lights do, though?

Two or more characters walking under one of these glowing, floating lights will get stuck for one hour, trapped inside an invisible enclosure with an approximate three foot radius. The only options are to either wait out the hour, or to kiss! Characters will know they're meant to kiss, because part of the magic spell is the sudden and intense knowledge that they should kiss in order to break free. There is no compulsion to kiss, just the knowledge that that's how to get free. What the characters won't immediately know is that any kind of kiss will work - a hand, forehead, cheek, or butterfly kiss will work just as well as a kiss on the mouth, but that will require some experimentation to find out.

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 the mod-posted prompt to create a Communal Housing floor mingle. Or, if you have an idea for a prompt that isn't in this list, set during Dragosta, feel free to write it up!

visual inspiration

click on thumbnails for larger view

Credit: image i: Anya Goo; image ii & iv: unknown; image iii: Raphael Grimm

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Now that's a childhood Genji understands, in a way. Although Shigeru is not the spoiled son of a criminal empire, most definitely. ] It was much the same for me. [ A snort. ] My brother and I would sneak out and get a massive crepe from this stand near our home. Every time we were determined to finish it but we always ended up just making ourselves sick. [ Lighthearted memories of his brother and himself acting like real children were few and far between.

But besides the stomachache nostalgia, Shigeru's kind smile and this damn red string on his hand are doing a number on his poor scarred heart. Please stop fluttering?! ] Then I hope to not disappoint. Shall we head inside then?

[ He opens the door for him and everything, what a gentleman. ]

That sounds like fun. I'm glad that you...have fond memories with your brother. Since I know you said that your relationship was strained. [ He's glad he has some good memories at least.

But Shigeru will blink and then nod as he heads inside. This is sorta...ending up like a date isn't it? Oh my god. His face just turns red a little as he waits for Genji to enter as well. No. No. He must keep his cool. He's got this, this is just two friends going to a bakery together to get some food. Totally platonic, yes. ]

Lead the way!

[ That gets a genuine smile from behind the mask. ] I have learned that the more I look back, the more good things I am able to find.

[ But Genji has no interest in continuing to think of his troubled older brother for the moment (apologies, wherever he is right now) because he's... doing... whatever this is! With Shigeru! Oh, wow, he can't believe he was such a playboy once upon a time. It was easier when he didn't think he had anything to lose.

His hand absently brushes at Shigeru's back as he leads him in, but he quickly removes it. In a totally platonic way. ] So, ah, what kind of things do you prefer? Chocolate? Or fruit?

[ Yes, HUD display, he knows his average heart rate is a little higher than normal. Please stop reminding him. ]

[ It's a good outlook to have and one Shigeru can get behind. Shigeru's shoulder's might tense at the touch and there's a shiver that runs down his spine, but he's just going to pretend nothing happened, nope, nothing to see here.

Instead he'll turn around and type something on his phone hurriedly. ]

Both! I...I like both. Do they ever combine the two?

[ His face is just slightly red as he looks around, turning away from Genji as he goes over to one of the counters to look at the chocolates displayed. ]

[ Stop being so cute immediatly?! Genji's still very glad that he has his mask on, because he knows he's got a really dumb looking smile on his face right then.

He goes to stand next to him in front of the display case. ] They do. There might be some chocolate covered strawberries. [ Genji peruses the case and points. ] Do you like cheese? They have something with raspberries, brie and chocolate. [ He's never been the biggest cheese fan but it sounds pretty good.

Genji looks and notices a little sign with 'Discount for couples during celebration!' and— yes, HUD, he knows his internal temperature is rising thank you!! ]

[ He honestly isn't even trying to be?! Shigeru is just...too genuine and pure for his own good sometimes. ]

Those all seem delicious. [ But, hm, they could try the cheese one. It looks...interesting. ]

The one with the cheese sounds- [ He doesn't finish typing his sentence as he looks down at his hand. Ah. There's a string attached to his finger. There's a string attached to his finger?! Shigeru might almost drop his phone when it finally clicks. What...where-where did it come from?! He hadn't noticed anyone near them and he knows Genji wouldn't do it. But as he eyes the string he might see it trail behind Genji's back to the same hand he was hiding earlier. ]

Do you see that?

[ Ah! Ah. Genji can't decide if this makes him feel less awkward or more awkward. Well, at least the cat is out of the metaphorical bag.

He brings the hand with the thread attached to it up and nods. ] Yes, it... it's what lead me to you earlier. You didn't seem to see it before so that's why I was acting a bit odd.

[ Genji fiddles with it. ] It has to do with the... celebration going on, if I understand correctly. [ His voice is almost... shy sounding? The reverberation to his voice while under the mask almost muffles what he says. ]

[ Shigeru can feel and sense the awkward which is making him awkward now. He doesn't understand the significance of it, but he knows it has to do with this holiday to an extent. ]

I heard and saw some stalls advertising it. Red string of fate? Do you know what that means? My world doesn't have anything like this, so, I guess I just don't...understand really.

[ What does this have to do with anything?! But hearing Genji's voice sounding that way. Ah. It kinda makes his heart beat faster in his chest. ]

Ah— [ For some reason, he assumed Shigeru would know about it... he supposes because his name seemed familiar to his world. Well. That's what he gets for assuming.

He clears his throat. ] Yes it's— A folk tale in my world. It has to do with— [ Here it comes... ] Soul— Soulmates.

[ He's very pink right now. What is his life? ]

[ Soul...mates. Now that is something Shigeru knows about. It's a common folktale in his world, it just never had anything to do with red strings. He can feel his face burning up and he's probably so red right now it's not even funny.

He'll just advert his eyes from Genji as he fiddles with his phone, his eyes locked on the red string for a few moments. Soulmates... ]

But it's just a...a thing caused by the potions, right? [ Even as he types that he looks...disappointed a little, okay disappointed a lot but he tries to keep his composure for now. But then again...he hadn't taken any of those potions either. So what's the excuse for him having it too? ]

Do you...believe in it, Genji? [ God Shigeru. You can't just ask someone if they believe in soulmates! ]

[ Maybe the ground could just swallow him up right now? Please? ] It— It is. It's just for fun, I was just... surprised. I was given one of those potions and I was simply just curious about what would happen.

[ He finds himself fiddling with the string, averting his eyes a moment. ] I honestly.. never really thought about it much. [ He supposes it wasn't something he thought would be relevant to his life. And, well, it was always just a story in the first place... ]

It's nice to think about, for sure. [ A pause and he finally looks back at him. ] Do you, Shigeru?

[ Shigeru never really thought about it either. Given his track record of relationships, which was none, he thought he'd be alone forever. He wasn't exactly keen on the physical aspect of things either, and what person would want to stay with someone like him...who couldn't even be touched?

It's his turn to get flustered at the question proposed to him. ]

I don't know. I never really...thought about it before. I was so used to being alone back home, because of my phobia, that I never really thought I could be anyone's...soulmate.

[ It's kinda sad when he finally realizes what he's typing. Destined to be alone forever, he had sort of given up before he even tried. ]

[ All of Genji's 'relationships' in the past were purely physical and superficial... he never actually cared about anyone, only interested in how it could benefit him. And now the thought seemed far too strange and out of reach, not something he generally concerned himself with. His connections with people were deep and meaningful, and enough.

Still enough, but... the tugging on his finger matches a tug in his chest. Genji isn't sure what he should do with it. It's a warm little spot, like a small ember that he wants to cup his hands around and keep safe. It had been so long, it was like he was feeling it for the first time.

But what Shigeru says makes him frown. It's unfathomable to think, because he was such a kind and gentle person. Who wouldn't want to be around him, be his friend? Surely he'd be beating suitors off with a stick. Genji closes their distance a bit, about to reach out— before he suddenly remembers they are quite literally in public, in front of a register to a bakery and... they should probably get their food to go at this rate.

He drops his hand and puts it on his own neck a little awkwardly. ] Well, you aren't alone now. [ He clears his throat. ] But perhaps we should... order and then go find a nice park to sit in?

[ Ah. Yes Genji did have a point. His cheeks color slightly at the other's words. And he might tense slightly at the sudden closeness, but it's not a bad tense, since his eyes almost look eager. His breath might still for a second before he exhales at Genji's words. His eyes ticking towards the counter where a group of young girls might be giggling silently to each other. Oh my gosh, yes, please. They gotta leave. ]

Yes! Please! let's do that, it sounds nice.

[ He's usually so self aware but Shigeru makes his vision and focus tunnel... embarrassing. But that almost hopeful look in the other's eyes makes his heart jump a little and he turns away, clearing his throat. (Yes, people working there, he notices you...!) ] Just, ah— Pick what you want, I'll get the bill. Maybe some coffee too? Do you like lattes?

[ Is he rambling? A little, yes. ]

[ Shigeru will nod silently. ]

I don't mind them. And I guess we can try that pastry you mentioned before. It looks good!

[ He is trying to avoid eye contact with the workers here, all of whom put on professional faces when they get their order in. But it's very hard to keep his face neutral and not completely red with embarrassment. ]

Thank you, for paying for it.

[ Genji nods as well. ] You're welcome, it isn't a problem at all. [ With that, he orders. Two pastries, one latte and one extremely strong black coffee with a shot or two in it (because it's the only way Genji can taste it... the poor cashier looks vaguely horrified by it.) Once it's all ready and rung up, she mouths a quick 'Good luck!' with a wink and Genji has never been more thankful for his helmet.

They end up at a nearby park and find a nice bench under some shade to sit and eat. Once settled, Genji finally removes his helmet for the first time that day and sits it down next to him. He runs a hand through his hair and turns to him, smiling with a little chuckle. ] Much better without an audience.

[ He takes a sip of his still very hot and very strong coffee, glad for the faint taste on his synthetic tongue. ] You know, I was rather foolish. I actually had assumed you would know the story of— [ He holds up his hand, with the string on it. ]

[ Shigeru is just releieved to get out of there. He was starting to get a bit...anxious, especially with all the attention they were getting. Shigeru isn't very good when things like that happen, so he's truly grateful for Genji taking the lead.

He lets out a sigh as he takes a seat, slumping a bit into the bench, and he might wince a little at the action. The injuries he's gotten flaring up with the action. But he doesn't dwindle on that and just looks at Genji with a smile. ]

Oh? No. I...I don't know many Earth folktales. I've read about some in books but...I'm still not too familiar with many of them.

[ But Shigeru does sip on his latte, looking rather pensive as he does so. ]

I'd love to learn more about Earth. The more I hear about it the more I wish I could go visit it.

[ Genji rubs under his nose with a little huff. ] The reason I did is actually because of your name, funnily enough. It is very similar to the names people have in my country and culture, so I suppose a part of me just assumed.

[ He shifts a little, looking back down at his cup. ] Well, maybe someday we'll be able to use the portal as we please and we could show each other...

[ The thought trails off, despite it being a bit of an intimate statement when he notices him wince. ] Are you in pain, Shigeru? What's wrong? [ What kind of friend is he to be so caught up in his own fluster that he doesn't even notice? ]

[ Oh, well, that makes Shigeru look at him in surprise. ]

I never knew that before. Is it really? [ He doesn't know much about Japan or family names of course, but this is pretty surprising. ]

You think so? I'd really like that. [ His smile is beaming when he thinks about being able to do that. Despite the intimate nature of their conversation, Shigeru will look away and shake his head. He didn't want to worry Genji with this, after all, what happened with Dodger was something he needed to figure out with the other man. Besides the atmosphere was nice and he rather not ruin it any with his own troubles. ]

I'm fine. It's really nothing to worry about. [ Another smile to mask the unease and slight worry. ]

[ Genji frowns, worry lines creasing around the scars on his forehead. ] If you're sure... if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. Okay? [ He knows how frustrating it can be to have someone endlessly ask questions but... Genji does worry because he cares. (A lot.)

Changing the subject, for now at least, Genji pulls out his device and fiddles with the keyboard settings for a moment. ] And about your name, it's true. I can write it in my language, see? [ He shows his screen which has 宮田茂 (Miyata Shigeru) on it.

He looks at it again and suddenly a flush rises up in his cheekbones. ] Oh it— has one of the same Kanji as my last name, doesn't it.

[ He really hates to make Genji worry like this, especially since he himself wouldn't like to be out of the loop either. But with the way Dodger and Genji got off on the wrong foot...he really doesn't want to escalate those tensions further. But he does nod and give Genji a smile. ]

Thank you for your concern. I'm sorry if I worried you. At least my powers have healed it to the point where it's just sore now. [ He's totally lying but...he really does appreciate Genji's thought. ]

Oh. Your right. It is the same... [ his face is totally red right now. He might just take a quick few sips of his latte again. ]

The way you write in your language is similar to a place in my world.

[ He won't pry, but please take care of yourself Shigeru. Genji just gives him a tender little look before going back to his drink, after his fluster leaves him. (It's probably for the best. Genji's wrath is incredibly rare, but it would make an appearance if he learned it was Dodger who hurt him...)

He puts his device away and clears his throat. ] Is it? That's fascinating. I suppose with some worlds being similar yet different enough, it would make sense.

[ He's gonna try. Honestly his body healing itself is a plus. Thankfully his breaks weren't bad and he can move around okay. ]

Even for my sign language...Earth has similar motions and signs for things. [ He does find is rather amazing to be honest. ]

I wonder if...I could teach people sign language.

[ Losing his phone the night he went to go see Dodger made it all the more imperative. Thankfully he got it back from the bar. But if he loses it again...communicating is so hard. ]

Would you mind learning it?

[ Genji brightens at that, leaning in a little with a smile. ] I'd love to. I have been considering it, actually. It would be easier for you, wouldn't it?

[ He realizes he might be crowding him so he leans back and goes to pull out his pastry. ] I'm already fluent in two languages, and bits of some others. I wouldn't mind learning it for you.

[ ...okay those last two words didn't mean to slip out. He stuffs pastry in his mouth inelegantly. ]

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