introductory mingle: DRAGOSTA

[riverviewmod]

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

Comments

[scholiast]

Oh, good.

(She grins, sheepish.) I'm glad to have helped.

[dancingmd]

(The colors are almost all back now, but still Beverly is focused on Lucretia. Something more is going on and not because of the magic. Or not solely because of it anyway. So Beverly allows herself to finally sit down on the sofa.)

I'm glad you were here. Not just now but in general. (She stares down at her hands.) I don't feel quite so... homesick, with you.

[scholiast]

(There's something about the way Beverly is looking at her as she comes over to sit that makes Lucretia feel ridiculously happy; her expression softens in response to her admission.)

You too. (She rubs the back of her neck, fingers trailing through her short hair.) It's so easy to be around you, Beverly. (She can't say that about everybody she knows here, so it really does mean a lot to her.)

You're an amazing person, and I'm really glad to have met you.

[dancingmd]

(She's happy, so happy, yet there's that pit of fear growing as well, that this is too much, that she'll ruin the friendship, that something will happen to Lucretia. That her own fear will get in the way. Again.

It's too bad, she thinks, they don't have the psi-wave implants. Though that only adds another complication - she hasn't even figured out Jean-Luc and now there's this too. At least everything on Kesprytt taught her one thing: not to bottle these feelings up for so long. And when she looks back up at Lucretia, she's is hit once more with how beautiful she is.)

Do you... really think it's just a parlor trick?

[scholiast]

Maybe?

(It's almost comical, the way they're sitting there side by side on the couch, not saying so many things. Lucretia would like to think that the more timid side of her had been lost completely to the slow toil of the cycles but apparently it does come-backs specifically for Beverly; she's a little hesitant as Beverly meets her gaze, thinking carefully about what to say next.)

But I'd like it better if it wasn't. (Just the truth. She takes Beverly's hand, smoothing her thumb across her knuckles.)

[dancingmd]

(Beverly swallows and nods with a small smile. Isn't she too old to get this nervous?)

It can't be a complete coincidence that it chose you.

[scholiast]

I hope not.

(There's no chance that she's misreading the situation, right? Surely, surely. All the same, she's got a pretty bad case of butterflies as she squeezes Beverly's hand, and leans in to give her a gentle kiss on the mouth.)

[dancingmd]

(There's no reason the kiss should come as a surprise, yet it does, and she stiffens. But the kiss is soft and undemanding so after a moment, she yields, leaning into it. When Lucretia pulls away, Beverly sighs softly.)

Lucretia, I...

(She drifts off, uncertain what to say next.)

[scholiast]

(Oh, she hadn't been expecting that kind of reaction. She pulls back, letting go of Beverly's hand and linking hers together awkwardly in her lap. Beverly has this soft, uncertain look about her and for a moment, Lucretia doesn't know what to say either.)

Sorry, (she says, and pinches the bridge of her nose, embarrassed. Perhaps she did read everything wrongly after all.)

I– could we forget that I just did that?

[dancingmd]

No, no!

(Beverly hastens to reassure her, taking both of Lucretia's hands firmly in her own. Damn it, Beverly you're doing it again.)

You did nothing wrong!

(To emphasize this, she returns Lucretia's kiss with one of her own.)

I am just...a little frightened.

[scholiast]

(Okay, now she's a bit confused. Mixed signals. The kiss is nice though, and Beverly's hands warm over her own.)

What are you frightened of?

[dancingmd]

That I will ruin this. I'm not...it's been a long time, for me.

[scholiast]

(Her expression softens, and she gently links their fingers together.)

I think you should give yourself a little more credit than that. But all the same, Beverly, if it's too complicated that's okay. I value our friendship very much; I'd be foolish to jepordise that.

[dancingmd]

And I would be foolish for not giving us a chance.

[scholiast]

(Wow, smooth. Lucretia smiles, ducking her head a little.)

We can take it slow. Whatever you're comfortable with.

[dancingmd]

(She has her moments. She lifts one of Lucretia's hands to her lips and kisses her knuckles.)

Thank you.

[scholiast]

Of course.

(Lucretia's so happy and flustered all at once: she must be doing a really goofy smile right now, but she hardly cares. This whole moment has been pretty much perfect.)

[dancingmd]

(She does have a goofy grin, but it's cute. Even if Beverly was still seeing only in black and white, Lucretia's smile would still be beautiful and bright.

Beverly ducks her head and chuckles.)

I suppose I owe that shopkeeper an apology now.

[scholiast]

Why, what did you do?

(She can imagine it without having to be told, actually: Beverly probably said something heated to him when she realised the potion really did drain the colour from her surroundings. The thought makes her laugh.)

[dancingmd]

I sort of... yelled at him and demanded he fix it.

In my defense he didn't give me adequate preparation for what was going to happen.

[scholiast]

Surely the potion had a description?

Barring that– you're a doctor, Beverly. (God she's so fond, and it's awful.) Shouldn't you know not to drink something if you're not one-hundred percent sure of what it will do?

[dancingmd]

Whose side are you on here!?

(But she's laughing. Lucretia's right, of course.)

[scholiast]

Yours mostly, except when you're being silly.

(Surely that's reasonable!)

[dancingmd]

I did warn you I did something stupid.

[scholiast]

I wasn't fully prepared for the context behind the situation!

But it worked out, huh.