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

navigation

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Mm, would it? Well, if you say so.

[ There's a teasing glint in his eye. He can't quite help himself, sorry Loki. ]

Hey, I've seen how you look as a woman. I can't say I'd find it so strange if most people had the same reaction to that sight, especially in a nightie.

[ Jim has the honour of being one of only three men who can make pink blots appear on Loki's cheeks. Ignore those. ]

I do say so. I think I scare him a bit, if we're honest. Too much of the god thing, perhaps.

[ He will never ignore those. He'll commit them to memory, but at least he won't tease Loki about it. This time. ]

Maybe. It's not something most people are used to, you know.

You got used to it.

Habit. [ He shrugs. ] Besides, you're not really what I'd expect from a god. In a nice way, though. Helps that you're pretty.

Nice to look at even when you wish my mouth wasn't working?

[ Some self-deprecating humour and a gentle tease. ]

I like it when your mouth is working. With talking, by the way, before you twist that into a sex joke.

[ He knows you Loki, he knows you'd do it. ]

[ His lips quirk in acknowledgement, because he would make that into a joke if he were feeling more himself. Currently it's just a relief to hear such a bland compliment and he accepts it gratefully. ]

Well, you're a good listener.

And you know you can talk to me whenever.

[ Well, no harm in making sure that Loki he knows he can count on Jim, even if he only needs a listening ear. Their little moment is about to get interrupted, however, as one of the fairy lights floats closer to them, about to hover above both their heads to trap them there. ]

I ...

[ I know. I appreciate you. Both die on the tip of his tongue as a flash of light overhead effectively locks them in place, shortly to be followed by five more sparks excited to have finally trapped their evasive quarry.

Loki sighs, a quirk on his lips resigned to the situation. He shouldn't have stopped paying attention like that. ]

It looks like our new friends don't want us to do much talking or listening.

[ Jim's gaze flickers up when he realizes they're not alone anymore. It's not a new experience for him, so he doesn't look puzzled nor surprised, if anything there's a hint of amusement to his expression, and he lets out a soft chuckle. ]

You don't need to look so bummed about it. I'm a pretty good kisser, you know.

[ Instead of answering with a throwaway flirt, his gaze drops to Jim's collar. Unlike with Nico who was younger and gave Loki some sense of responsibility when it came to this sort of thing, Jim is his peer and it is harder to ignore his own emotions when he once crushed on the captain.

Having worked past that into what feels like an actual friendship, or the start of one, Loki wonders if he's making any sense when he asks, ]

Do you know Stark, the one from my universe? Not old, not alcoholic.

[ That's not something Jim is entirely aware of, of course. As far as he knows, Loki looks up to him, due to having known of him somehow in his own universe. They're friends, Jim likes to think, and he's at ease enough with Loki that the idea of sharing a kiss, any kind of kiss, doesn't bother him in the least.

The question seems to be apropos of nothing, but Jim gives it some thought nonetheless, nodding. ] I do, yes. I think he was the one I talked to about the research I recovered on my mission. Doesn't he have a workshop set up at the Perimeter Guard?

[ You know, the one he blew up. ]

He blew it up. [ Yeah, that guy. Loki bites his lip as if to keep silent but the words keep tumbling out, deflating him. ] He's in a coma.

[ Trying to stitch together his point as his insides twist, he adds, ]

We had a thing before that happened. [ And now Loki feels shitty because, ] Non-exclusive for a while but I think that may have bothered him, and now he's unconscious, and I'm ...

[ Kissing other people again, to put it one way. Cheating, to put it another, which is supremely awful considering Tony's current predicament. ]

[ The conversation takes an unexpected turn, but at least Loki's talking. Not that Jim takes any pleasure whatsoever from seeing Loki look and sound so miserable and broken up, but he genuinely believes that's better than putting on a smile and an act just so people won't worry.

Because some people might not care, but some do. Himself included.

He hums quietly, crossing his arms. ]

Did you ever make it exclusive? [ And also, just as importantly, ] Do you want to?

[ It's a technicality, really. It can hardly be called cheating if they weren't officially a couple, having agreed not to see anyone else. But Jim also knows very well that feelings sing and dance to their own tune, logic be damned. ]

It doesn't matter anymore, I broke it off.

[ In a festival celebrating romantic love, Loki threw his away. Going through the motions of it with kisses feels more tiring and dishonest than even the God of Lies can bear while there is one simple truth around which his thoughts revolve. ]

I want him to wake up.

Of course it matters.

[ A person's feelings always matter, regardless of someone still being around or not. One can't simply will themselves to stop caring— and even if they could, doesn't mean they'd want to. Jim can hardly bear the thought of Bones disappearing on him in this place, but he can bear the though of forgetting everything they've lived through here even less.

He steps closer and puts his arms around Loki, pulling him into a hug without asking or thinking about it. ] I know you do.

[ Who wouldn't, really? Who would want something meaningful to just end like that? Turning his head to the side, he presses a kiss near Loki's temple, which at least lifts the barrier from around them, even if that's not why he did it. ]

[ It registers that the magical ward dispels with the touch of Jim's lips to Loki's temple. He doesn't let go when it comes to tentatively curling his fingers in the small of Jim's shirt and resting their heads together, slumping into the embrace that he soaks up greedily. ]

You're a good friend, Jim.

So are you, Loki. Despite what you might think.

[ He thinks, maybe, Loki thinks too little of himself. That wanting love, tenderness or attention makes him greedy, and that somehow is a bad thing. But there's nothing wrong with wanting that kind of closeness, or any other kind of closeness, with someone. Jim can't possibly give Loki what he has (had) with Tony, but what he can give, he will. ]

Look, if you wanna hide in our place for a bit, we've got a pool, booze and an endless collection of books and movies. You can be miserable for as long as you want to there.

The offer is appreciated but I already went on a bender after we broke it off, before he was in the accident. I want to be lucid in case he wakes up.

[ A quiet laugh huffs against Jim's neck and Loki straightens to look him in the eye. ]

It's a good thing I met you today, I was starting to worry you'd had something happen too.

Mm, fair enough. We have sweets instead. [ Bones is good at those. ] Consider it an open offer.

[ Whenever Loki wants to pop by, and for however long, he can be sure neither he nor the doctor will turn him away. ]

And leave you down two handsome men in your life? Never. [ He smiles warmly, cupping Loki's face in his hands. ] I'm not going anywhere, promise.

[ He wishes it weren't a promise, those can only ever be broken. A peck of a kiss finds the tip of Jim's nose and Loki mutters, ] More lights.

[ A total lie. ]

[ Jim also happens to be horribly stubborn, and there's no promise he hasn't kept, so. Good luck with that, universe.

He looks a little surprised at the peck, then huffs out a chuckle, nodding and humming knowingly. ] Mm, I'm sure there were.

[ You can't just use that excuse forever, Loki. ]

[ He totally can. But, for now, he pats Jim on the arm in thanks and gives them some room. ]

Are you getting caught up with many people? You seem to be taking the enchantment of the lights in your stride.

[ Jim lets go of Loki and pulls back, ruffling the god's hair a little with a fond and playful smile. ]

A few, yes. It's been happening a little all over the place, but it's not much of a bother. Kind of sweet, actually, when you think of it.

introductory mingle: DRAGOSTA

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)