riverviewlogs | introductory mingle: SAMPREMI

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introductory mingle: SAMPREMI

who: everyone in Riverview!
what: Introductory Log and Sampremi Celebration
when: March 8th - March 15th
where: In several different locations in the downtown area of the Inhabited City.
warnings: please put any necessary warnings in the subject lines

sampremi celebration

In the days leading up to March 8th, new residents may notice advertising around the city, everywhere from digital screens to paper flyers pasted on blank walls, featuring the name of the spring holiday in celebration of new beginnings, new love, and lust: Sampremi. The advertising mentions that there will be street festivals set up at various locations throughout the week and lists where the market will be set up on each day.

street market

The main draw of the holiday is a roaming street market that features special treats and street food that can only be found during Sampremi, a bustling bargain market with any kind of goods you can think of, and fair games that allow a person to win a prize for that special someone.

i. street food

One of the major draws of the festival is the special street food that can only be obtained this time of year. Almost everything you can buy at the Sampremi Festival is meant to be shared - whether it's one piece of meat on two sticks or desserts baked with a narrow part in the middle for convenient tearing, everything is built in twos. The stalls sell everything from cups of soup, sandwiches, roasted or fried meat, deep-fried vegetables and cakes, dumplings, donuts, bagels, turnovers, and anything else you can think of.

Many of the savory dishes are based on the meat of a particular fowl native to the moon Riverview is situated on that has a taste and texture halfway between chicken and duck, cooked to be spicy (ranging from very mild to throat-burning). Many of the desserts are based around a fruit native to the moon that is spherical, red-orange, and has a light sweet taste that is similar to a combination of mango, pineapple, and strawberry. Both ingredients are considered to be aphrodisiacs. Of course, the foods aren't actually aphrodisiacs and any effect is purely placebo.

ii. fair games

The festival features an entire row of fair games ranging from very high-tech games featuring virtual reality and neon holograms to extremely old-fashioned games with darts and balloons or balls and glasses. The games all have prizes in various shapes and sizes, with the standard stuffed animals, but also with goods and special items donated by any business in the city; ranging from tiny prizes to huge and expensive ones.

Due to the nature of the holiday, many of the stalls are set up to cater to winning a prize for your partner, and due to the nature of the Quarantine, a lot of them involve aiming or other aspects of pretending to fight.

iii. shopping

Originally, the part of the street festival that involved an actual market, with stalls and booths set up with goods, was aimed primarily at romantic trinkets like flowers or jewelry, gifts intended to be purchased for a loved one. As time has gone by, however, this aspect of the market has increased, with many businesses participating, though the emphasis is still on small businesses and anything relating to local culture rather than booths for any of the larger more corporate businesses.

There is still plenty of jewelry to be found, for sure, mostly handmade and artisan, but the scope of the Market has widened immeasurably. The Sampremi Market is an excellent place to find specialty foods, clothing, jewelry, art, or other goods that were originally native to cultures on other planets in this reality, or other realities altogether. Many residents in the city use the market to share their unique cultural goods and traditional dress with others.

iv. adult

In a side alley of the Sampremi Market on any day, one can find an area roped off with a red silken cord, attended by members of the Perimeter Guard in casual dress who will ID anyone entering to make sure they are 18+. Once characters are permitted entry, they will find all of the adult offerings that the market has to offer.

Since Sampremi is, historically, a celebration of lust and physical love, the adult offerings are all set up to cater to two or more people of any sex or gender configuration. One can find an adult or sexualized version of almost anything that's featured in the main market, from fair games to adult goods to street food laced with actual aphrodisiacs (there are always warnings for food spiked in this way to avoid accidental consumption).

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 Sampremi Festival, feel free to write it up!

visual inspiration

click on thumbnails for larger view

Credit (left to right): Theo Prins, andreasrocha @ tumblr, hrormir @ deviantart, nkabuto @ deviantart

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Yeah. [That was it. Well, almost it. He misses having everyone around, too. Knowing his friends were still at home in danger of walkers or Negan coming back to Alexandria at any time and they were on this bizarre vacation isn't sitting well with him.

It's something he is about to add when they're walking, but he leaves it when Rick goes reminding him to go easy on the food. Which is such a dad thing to do.]

I know, Dad. I'm being careful. Ate a little bit so far. [Enough to fill him up for sure. Though there is a part of him that doubts this when everyone around them eats like...they were expecting to die tomorrow. He isn't used to how it used to be for them.

His eye glances to the crowd than back when there was clearly more to hear out. And it's not what he was expecting.]

Wait. You want the others here? Not to go home. [He more than understands why, but it's something to process. Like how would they bring them here.] ... How do you do that?

[ Of course Carl knows these things, about not eating too much at once and saving some for a rainy day. It's how they've lived for a long, long time. Savor every bite. Save some cause you never know when you might not have food to eat. The bare minimum. That's life now.

At the same time, Rick can't help but to be a dad to Carl, even sometimes when his son might not need it. That's life too. Some things never change. ]

I do. [ He nods, thinking about the logistics of it, of getting everyone here. It's been on his mind since almost day one. He obsesses over it in a way, the same way he always obsesses over keeping his people, his little makeshift family (and more) alive.

Rick draws a deep breath and gives himself a moment to think before shaking his head. ] Not sure how to do it. But it's somethin' we can work towards. Better here than there if we can make it work. Just gotta figure out the logistics of it. How this place works, exactly. [ He puts a hand on Carl's shoulder. ] So be sure to ask questions, pay attention. We'll keep comparin' notes until we got somethin' to work with.

[Sometimes he can't help but wonder how his dad's mind works all the time and comes up with his ideas, but Carl doesn't overthink it. His way of understanding him usually comes down to the way he feels about an idea anyway. And this one doesn't seem so bad given the alternatives and picture of home. He nods after seeing the nod given to him, and listens to and thinks over what he's told.]

Can you just ask the people that we saw before? The ones that brought us here. [Said to ask questions, right? His eye glances between the hand on his shoulder and back before adding:] I'll keep trying to figure out this place, though. You can count on me.

[ Nearly every idea Rick comes up with is about the overall safety of his kids and his makeshift family from home. There's very few moments when those things aren't at the forefront of his mind. He isn't perfect and he's had his low points. Sometimes he doesn't always succeed in what he aims to do. But he tries and his reasons for doing what he does are sound. That's what's gotten him and Carl this far, truthfully. ]

Yeah, that's a good place to start. [ He says this with a nod because it's first on his list after they've settled and assured themselves that this place is stable, that what's given here can't be taken away. So far, that doesn't seem to be the case. Food, water, electricity, they get to keep their weapons. Yeah, so far this place is good. ]

There's gotta be even more technicians that upkeep the portal. We just need to ask and pay attention even after we've got answers.

[ His hand on Carl's shoulder squeezes and then lets go. ] And I know I can count on you. I know it. Today you just enjoy yourself. We can get after it tomorrow. You want me outta your hair so you can have some fun without me?

What else should we be paying attention to? [Of course he knows to question just about everything and not to assume he's safe even now, but more specifics would help. Is he supposed to be watching these people for any funny business or do what he's always done to be careful?

His head tilts slightly, shaking at the next part.] You don't have to go. Today can be fun for the both of us. [Because he can't really recall the last time they both did something fun. And besides he wasn't really having too much fun on his own.]

We need to map out all the exits, just in case. [ He hates to bring it up, really, when Carl could be having fun and being a kid, as much as he can be a kid anymore. But Carl knows him well enough to know that Rick already has a laundry list of things he's doing to ensure their safety or he wouldn't have asked. Rick isn't naive enough to think this place will remain as safe as it seems on the surface.

Truth be told he's almost relieved that Carl wants him to stick around. They lost that normal father-son relationship long ago when the world fell apart and there wasn't time for Carl to be embarrassed by his father anymore as most kids would have were they not entrenched in the end of the world. Petty things got swept aside in the name of survival and family and loyalty and all the thing that entails. Sometimes Rick loathes that for Carl... and then sometimes he appreciates it, like now. ]

They put me to work at the police station. I'm gonna see what else I can find out about this place through there, if maybe I get... access to places and information that others don't. [ Abuse of power? Maybe. Really it just boils down to a need to survive and protect, which is why the job really is perfect for him if he has to have a job. ]

[He nods since it makes sense.]

Yeah, 'course. We can do that right now, if you want.

[Because for one he isn't sure if his dad wants him to have fun today still or not. Though why he didn't think about this sooner escapes him. Or...maybe he just let himself get more distracted by the sights and all there is to take advantage of than he thought he'd be. He pauses a second to think about what he saw though. Mainly exits.

He finds that he can't really recall any he saw because of how crowded it is though. Not that he wants to. On any given day where there is or could be a crowd, it could be dangerous. He shakes out of this thought though when Rick tells him his job.]

Wait. They seriously made you a police officer. [Not counting the first time as it was his dad's choice, this counts as the second time someone has given him that role because they thought it fits him. Carl can't help but find a little amusement in the fact and smiles a little sheepishly between them. He also couldn't help but think of how it'd good for them too. Abuse of power aschmooze of power.]

I didn't think that would happen again.

[Anyway, there is something he feels like he needs to share now that jobs are brought up.]

Hey, Dad. They told me I can go to school and/or work as a farm hand. I didn't say yes to any of it 'cause I didn't know what you want me to do.

[ Right now? Oh no, Rick wants to plant a course of action out for his son, that's all. This event presents so many opportunities for Carl to be a (kind of) normal person, to experience normal things. And Rick wants Carl to experience that now since he's sure it won't last. Nothing lasts.

So he's quick to shake his head. ] No, don't think you're gettin' out of some cotton candy and one or two of those rigged games they got set up. Just stuff to think about is all. [ Because even when it might seem like he's not, Rick is always thinking about the big picture.

He smirks at Carl's exclamation and nods his head with a long, drawn out drawl of the word 'yeah'. ] Guess I got that kind of personality. [ Because no, it's not the first time. He'd been surprised too. Also, relieved in that it could be useful for them.

When Carl admits that he'd been given the option, Rick looks over at him. Sometimes he looks at Carl and sees a little boy. Sometimes he looks at him and sees a man. Rick wonders if there will always be moments when he sees that little kid smiling up at him from before the world went sideways. ]

What do you wanna do? [ Carl has missed out on so much. At the same time, he's done more adult things than most adults here probably ever have. Rick thinks it's best to leave the decision up to Carl. ]

[Oh.

He thought... He was not expecting that, or really sure what he was expecting. Cotton candy and games is still okay with him though. Mostly.]

Okay. I just wanted to be sure. I swear I'm not trying to get out of anything. [He glances briefly around at what's closest to them. Just so happens they aren't too far from balloon darts and for a fraction of a second his expression tips off that he's hesitant about the idea of trying to practice that more in public. He decides quickly he'll avoid it if he can.]

I think you really do. [He changes the subject over.] I don't think you ever really stopped being like that. [The only thing that changed were the rules. They made them now and for the most part he was confident his dad would make sure they were followed. Some times less than others but he wasn't thinking about that now. They didn't have Negan or anybody else to worry about other than themselves.

When he is asked what he wants to do, he honestly can't picture either. Going back to school makes him think how awkward and out of place he would be and then with farming he can't see himself liking that much either. His life up to this up has felt like nothing but chaos and action with dull points in between that the only answer he can think of is what one of the two would more beneficial to them since they still need to survive.]

Neither. But it makes more sense to work as a farm hand, right? Maybe we can take advantage of the food there it if things go wrong.

[That slightly bigger little kid Rick sometimes hopes to see again is still there inside him, but not when he has to think about things like this.]

[ It isn't easy for Rick either, to give in to the lighter side of things. This place and the people in it, they seem so normal-ish, not a threat. But it all still feels new enough to make any sort of relaxation difficult. Rick questions everything out of sheer survival.

Really, it's for Carl that he wants to find something fun to do. But then, most everything is for Carl. He vaguely wishes Michonne were here. She's always been better at making Carl relax a bit.

He can't really say Carl's wrong about him. He's always had a moral code, which is sometimes harder to maintain than others in a world gone wrong. The line that he's willing to cross is always moving depending on what it takes to keep his family alive. Rick has a weight on his shoulders that never really goes away. He has a lot of guilt over things he wasn't able to do, people he wasn't able to save. But he's still that guy sitting in a cop car joking with and confiding in his partner and best friend. ]

I guess there are worse things to be. [ He finally says.

Rick points to a ring toss game where it's possible some of the rings are too small to fit over the pegs. But it'll be fun anyway, he thinks. They get in line and he considers what would be best for Carl. ]

You're right. But also, right now we're good on food. We can start settin' aside some stockpiles in our rooms. School might be good for you too, seein' other people your age. And if you try it - I mean really give it a try - and you don't like it after that, you can always choose the alternative.

[He bobs his head in agreement to that. A cop was about as good as anything his dad could be in the situation since he honestly couldn't picture him in any other light than some sort of law figure.

In line, he's curious if it's possible to get the rings over the pegs and tilts his head sideways to watch people try. And, not surprisingly, fail. That makes him feel a little better about how he's probably not going to do well already.

He turns his head back to Rick when he speaks up about his thoughts about school for him. He still wasn't really behind the idea, but he sighs to himself, resigning himself to the fact it probably was always headed that direction since it makes sense.]

Okay. I'll try it. But if I don't like it or if we don't stay good on food, can I drop it?

[ Rick catches that sigh and can understand it. Again, Carl is more adult sometimes than many adults he comes across here. His son has grown up fast, made tough decisions, and had to learn right from wrong on an ever-changing curve that most people don't have to deal with. Sometimes it's so easy to forget that Carl is still a kid.

But at the end of the day, that's what he is. And if it's on the table, then Rick thinks they should take up the offer. However, he won't say no if it just doesn't work out. No one needs book smarts anymore. They need to know how to survive. Carl is set up for life on that front. ]

Yeah, you can drop it if it comes to that. [ He agrees, just happy that Carl is going to give it a try, if nothing else.

He shrugs lightly, thumbs hooked in his belted holster at his hips. ] Maybe they'll teach you some of the history of this place, more in depth. Give us a better handle on it. It'll be like research - helpful.

[The last thing he wants to do is disappoint or not try something his dad wants him to do so he is going to do it like he promised. He sighs again this time a lot more accepting of the fact and bobbing his head to agreement. He'll only drop school if he doesn't like it or trouble turns the corner again.]

Okay. I'll tell them that tomorrow and sign up. [It feels weird saying that because now he's thinking about about he'll need. He recalls the paper and pencils and even the little basic things provided to him in Alexandria his first short day in school there. Would it be the same as that?]

History. [He repeats, letting the world soak in. What was that even supposed to be like when up until now history was lost to them?] You think they would teach that here? [Yes, Carl. Why wouldn't thy?] ...I guess whatever it is like, it'd be like research.

[He is still doubtful he'll like it but he is starting to see how using it for research might help them.]

[ It's really sad all the little things they've lost. Lori used to take Carl school shopping every year. When Rick would get home from work, Carl would show him everything he got. Right now, it doesn't even occur to Rick that Carl might need something aside from basic necessities needed to survive. All of that feels several lifetimes and worlds away.

If Michonne were here, she could help. She thinks about things like that. He misses Michonne. She's only one of the reasons why he wants to get everyone here. But he'd be lying if he didn't say she was a big part of it.

Knowing more about this place through whatever means possible is a good thing. He's glad that Carl can see the pros of it. ] Usin' it in our favor don't mean you can't quit if it doesn't feel right though. That's still on the table whenever you feel like you need it. [ Honestly, he's just glad Carl is going to give it a try.

They're at the front of the line now and they're given six rings to toss. Rick nods at Carl, a small grin playing on his lips. ] Well, let's see what you've got.

[If Michonne were here, and Carl does wish she was here too, there would definitely be shopping involved. And snacks. Loads of snacks. She definitely would help him ease on up with the transition they were going to have to make being here. Help them both realize more of what they have to do.

But it was just them for now. They had to make do with each other. Something he was unfortunately used to just as well. But he'll mention the school supplies later.]

Okay. If it doesn't feel right, I'll tell you. [That pretty much goes without saying though.

Turning his attention to the six rings when they receive them, he places his hands over them and divides them, sliding three over for Rick to take.] You too, Dad. Show me what you got. [Because they always share, right? And he's not showing how bad he is at this by himself either.]

[ It's a loss that Rick feels deeply, one of his main reasons for wanting to get their group here, all of them, but mainly Michonne. She helps to steady him, helps him to set goals and keep to them, she's a safe place where he can sometimes actually sleep. Yeah, things would be easier with her here. But she isn't, and Rick is still trying. Hopefully that counts for something.

In any case, he's glad that Carl is here with him and willing to give the schooling a try at least. He wouldn't be so keen on staying and making it work if it weren't for that. Of course, in the end he won't be keen on staying if they can't get anyone or maybe everyone here either. ]

Well, alright. Let's see. [ There's everything going on in his mind, which is always busy, and then there's what's going on right now, something normal and potentially fun with his son. In a way, they're both out of practice for normal and fun.

Rick picks up one of the rings and aims a few times, swinging it forward and backward, before he tosses. The edge tops the peg and topples off the side. ] Yeah, close isn't a bullseye. Your turn.

[It counts for a lot. To be honest, Carl would feel lost if there was no one he knew here. That it happens just to be his dad though centers him more than he even knows. And whatever Rick decides, Carl will try his best to get behind it. Staying or going.

They are definitely a little out of practice for normal and fun. He breathes out feeling relief that he doesn't have to go first and perks up to watch Rick throw a ring. When it misses its mark, he even smiles a little almost like there is laughter in the lines. But when he's told it's his turn, his expression sobers up, eyeing his dad and then turning towards the rings.]

Okay. Yeah. [Picking up one, he follows the example set out for him: look at the target, take time to aim, swing to and fro, then toss it. But he overestimates how far he needs to throw and it flies further than the one he was aiming for and hits the backboard before disappearing out of sight. He clicks his tongue with disappoint, corners of his lips tugging down. Though now he looks determined to get it in his next two tries.] Didn't get a bullseye either. Go again?

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introductory mingle: SAMPREMI

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