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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[The sudden, very familiar voice makes Tony twitch, but all his does is let out a long, slightly frustrated breath. And poke at the wall again as if it will suddenly start making sense this time.]

Sorry, I left all my James Bond gear in my other pants.

[He glances over his shoulder at Steve. The other Steve. Who is looking irritatingly calm about the whole thing.]

Couldn't you just punch it?

[ Steve looks around them at the nothing that apparently is keeping them contained. He doesn't feel anything, not really, no invisible bonds or even an energy that might be holding them in that place, but he can't move away from the light that is hovering above them. At Tony's suggestion, he straightens up and considers, shifting his weight. ]

Haven't tried yet.

[ He rears back and swings, fist contacting nothing but air, yet after a certain point stopping short and holding in place. It's not quite like connecting to an object, but he can't move his arm past that designated area. Steve shrugs and turns back to Tony. ]

I guess that means I can't.

[He might have been about to follow up on the clearly sarcastic suggestion, but Tony just finds himself staring as Steve actually tries it. Because of course he did. Why is he actually surprised?

So instead, Steve gets an impressively deadpan look and a slow clap.]

You did your best. Gold stars for everyone.

[There's a short pause before Tony's expression shifts into something more considering.]

Didn't hurt you hand or anything, did you?

Edited 2017-09-06 01:22 (UTC)

Not my best. I could try to blast through it, but I don't want anyone to get hurt trying to get us free.

[ He may be taking this situation less seriously than he could be. But no one is in danger as far as he can tell, and as long as it's a harmless spell, Steve will play along. He tilts his head slightly when Tony asks if he hurt himself. ]

I've hit harder. Not as solid as hitting a castle.

[ Okay, so he's teasing just a little bit. ]

Why? Did you want to try it?

[Tony gives him a dry look in return -- a castle, sure -- before he turns his attention back to whatever it is that's keeping them there.]

No, I think we've been sufficiently manly about our escape attempts. I'm not real eager to see how a projectile would ricochet off this stuff.

[Not that he has anything on him to throw at it, but it's the thought that counts.]

So now what?

[ Steve doesn't particularly seem to mind testing the potential of having something ricochet back at them, but he concedes to Tony's point anyway and nods. Time for a plan B. ]

Well, we could try to wait it out... [ Who knows if the spell would eventually fade? Steve thinks it might, but he's also more inclined to act than hold still. ]

Or we could try to appease it.

Appease it?

[He shoots Steve a look out of the corners of his eyes before what he means almost visibly clicks. And Tony huffs out a laugh, because what the hell.]

Why Captain I didn't know you cared. [He even adds an eyelash flutter, because why not. How much more ridiculous can this get.]

[ Steve isn't even sure they'll be able to get out by playing along with what the spell is prompting him to do, but having Tony laugh in response to the idea for some reason just makes him stand straighter, tilting his head almost as a dare in return for that cocky flutter of lashes that is certainly Tony trying to get under his skin. ]

Well, if I make you nervous, all you have to do was say so.

[ So maybe Tony is getting under his skin. A little. ]

Nervous?

[Well, okay, he does in a way. Mostly in that Tony still isn't completely sure what this Steve wants from him, and that makes him a little edgy.

Not that he's going to admit it. Tony's spine straightens in turn, which absolutely does not stop Steve from looming over him, but makes him feel better.]

What exactly did you have in mind?

[ Tony stands taller and that's actually somewhat satisfying to see. The man is meeting Steve equally, matching his challenge, and he appreciates the fearless way the genius takes on the challenge without really knowing what he's getting into. He goes for it like a hero should. Steve smirks. ]

I'm just saying there's probably a trick to this. It doesn't seem dangerous or it would have done something to us by now. We could just wait and see if it wears off. Although it does seem to want a reaction. At least, that's the impression I'm getting.

Maybe if you bat your eyes at it enough, it'll get embarrassed and turn away.

[Alright, so Tony can tell when he's being played. That smirk is a little hard to miss. But Tony's never been able to back down from a dare, so here they are.]

Maybe you should just take your shirt off.

[What, he's not blind.]

[ Okay, so he did ask for that one. Steve is still surprised by how casually Tony throws out the suggestion. It's not that he's particularly shy, but he didn't expect Tony to respond with a dare that openly.

And Steve can't back down from a challenge. That would just be cowardly. ]

You think that is going to get us out of here?

[ Steve looks Tony straight in the eyes, holding his gaze before reaching down and taking the hem of his shirt in his hands, pulling it over his head. ]

Doesn't seem to have worked. Any other genius theories?

[The shirt comes off and Tony opens his mouth before immediately closing it again. Note made, do not even joke about dares with this man.

Not that he minds the view, but Tony can't help but let out an amused huff.]

Yes, I'm sorry to say that the magic bubble doesn't seem impressed with your physique. Such a shame.

[There's a part of him, a small part, that really wants to see what else he can get Steve to take off. But they are technically in public, more's the pity. Tony does have some lines.]

You do actually know how we get out of here, right?

[ Steve looks unsurprised by the lack of response from the magic hold, but he does give Tony a calm, dryly amused look at his jokes. The teasing seems to be in good fun and it's actually the more comfortable Tony has been around him as far as he can tell, so it seems worth the little bit of shed dignity. ]

You don't sound too disappointed by that one.

[ And, really, he isn't either. ]

I was hoping it would just wear off. But it seems like it wants us to do tricks.

[ Or a trick. ]

You really want to just be stuck here for a while?

[Well. It's not the worst place he'd ever been. And the company is fine. But still, it's a little awkward. Shirtlessness aside.

When in doubt, go for dramatics. So Tony gives a long, sad-looking huff.]

I mean, if you don't want to kiss me.

[ What does he want? Steve doesn't want to be stuck under the strange light with or without his shirt, and while Tony's company so far has been fine -- nice, actually -- he doesn't really think they should both stand around hoping for a break. That's not his style.

The second question, now, that one Steve doesn't quite know how to answer. ]

I... don't want to force you into anything.

[Tony just stares at him for a moment. Steve has been nothing but pushy the entire time Tony has known him, though admittedly that's just be Steve's determined attempts to make friends. Strange, but not quite on the same level they're talking about now.

Which is why Tony just rolls his eyes and marches over to him, then ignores the fact that he has to lift up onto his toes to peck a kiss against Steve's cheek.]

There. Better?

[ For a moment, there is genuine shock and confusion on Steve's face. Then he registers what just happened and laughs, loudly and with warmth. The whole ridiculous situation hitting him at once. ]

Yeah. Yeah, that's better.

[ And to show he isn't going to make it awkward, Steve steps forward, placing one hand on Tony's shoulder. ]

Can I?

Uh. Why? The thing should be gone now, right?

[It's more confusion than anything defensive as he gestures vaguely at the invisible bubble. It just needed a kiss, right?

Though one side of Tony's mouth does curve into a slightly sly smirk.]

I mean, if you really want to kiss me, you don't exactly need an excuse.

[ Steve's return smile is almost innocent. He seems perfectly happy to hang with Tony even though they are free of the light's hold now, and when Tony asks him why he would want to kiss him; says he can go ahead, Steve's smile brightens. He reaches out and takes Tony's hand in his, catching the brown eyes with his gaze as he lifts the back of the man's hand to his lips and kisses him behind the knuckles.

Then he lets go with a smirk of his own. ]

All right, then I won't make excuses.

[And Tony finds himself staring for just a second, completely caught off guard, before all he can do is laugh. Alright, good reminder. Do not get into dares with Captain America.]

My hero.

[He's still going to be sarcastic, though.]

[ Tony isn't the only one that can be sarcastic and smug. As it turns out, Steve is pretty smug himself after pulling that little stunt on him. He's not as smooth as Tony is in his performance, but he's not that bothered by it. Tony can have the honor of being the showman. Steve pulls his shirt back on now that they're free and he's gotten his moment to tease the genius. ]

That was for me. If you want me to rescue you sometime, though, I'll be happy to oblige. I somehow doubt you'd need the help.

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introductory mingle: DRAGOSTA

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