undyingcourt | january tdm/event post

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january tdm/event post

JANUARY TDM - WINTER DREAMS

Welcome to the Undying Court's January Test Drive Meme! This post also functions as the January Event for existing characters, and continues the Winter Season, led by the Blue Court.

New characters may handwave or backdate the previous season's arrival prompt should they wish to, but you may otherwise assume they've been here the whole time! Additionally, all TDM threads can be taken as in-game canon if desired. And remember that apps open February 3-7, with invites opening on January 28, and reserves not long after!

Note that this post will contain: violence, enthrallment, torture, slavery, horror and potentially sexual content. Dreams come in many forms, after all.

This event also features another chance for characters to submit Regains, so make sure to submit after you've posted your top-level or reply to someone else's dream. For characters both new and old, feel free to brush up on the Premise, Vampire Powers, and head over to the FAQ/Game Info page if you have any questions!

Note that this event will be occurring throughout the month of January and into February, so characters are free to forward-date as desired!
For new characters please format your Top-level in this format: Character Name | Canon | Court | Youngblood/Novice | TDM
For existing characters please format your Top-level in this format: Character Name | Court | Youngblood/Novice
If you have any questions specific to the event, ask them in the Plotting Post Q&A section!

Top-Level Directory:

ONCE UPON A DREAM

A quiet falls over the Castle as a new day begins to break. As with every morning, this is a time when vampires must retreat to avoid the rays of the sun, pulling heavy curtains around their beds and windows to block out any light. However, this particular morning is abnormally quiet as the whole of the Castle seems to fall asleep all at once, and all together. After this enchanted sleep, and for the the next thirty days, the Castle's residents will start to experience strange phenomena within their dreams.

During this period, dreams become more vivid, so realistic it feels like the dreamer is awake. Dreamers can pass into each other's dreams without meaning to. Some of these dreams are in fact memories--either those from the lives the characters have lived in the Castle and the outlying lands, or the strange memories they've begun to gain back.

But be careful! For what starts as a regular memory might start to warp into something new. If you're lucky, it'll be something positive, like a dream of a home you've always wanted. But if you're unlucky, the memory might twist and turn into a nightmare, catching you in it and turning your worst fears against you.

Each nightfall, everyone will wake and return to normal. Or at least, most people will.

[Note: Any current characters who participate in the dream event by creating a top level or tagging someone else at least once in this prompt may be rewarded with a free impactful memory, which may be used in the dreamscape. Don't forget to submit for your Regains!]

A NIGHTMARISH CURSE

It turns out that not everyone wakes up. Those who stay in nightmares for too long may find themselves cursed, and unable to wake up. At first, the curse appears no different from regular sleep. But a few hours in the victim will start screaming uncontrollably. No touch will wake them, no amount of calling their name will break the spell. After too long, the victim will start to bleed, slowly at first, and then more and more as they remain afflicted. A victim left unattended will bleed out and die.

The Council works quickly to step in. Kashire (who is looking rather frayed this season) delivers the news that there's no need to panic, but everyone will need to do their part in locating and curing victims. In fact, the youngbloods seem to be taking this as the perfect opportunity for a teaching moment, and students are expected to try and find a cure with the skills that match their Court. Novices and youngbloods alike are encouraged to try and help lift the curse from anyone they can. (Get creative! Blood heals many wounds...) Any victims that have progressed too far will need to be seen to by Revar.

The nightmare curse, however, can spread quickly. Anyone who enters the nightmare of a victim will fall victim to the curse. Additionally, any attempt to reach out to the mind of a curse victim will also spread the curse. With the combined efforts of the students and teachers, the curse can be completely put out. But it will take time and care to ensure everyone is found in time, and cured safely.

ANYWAY, WINTER GAMES!

But a few curses aren't going to stop the Blue Court from making sure everyone has a good time. The days might be short, and weighed down by the threats of nightmares, but winter has hit Castle Courtsheart in full force, and the long nights and snow-covered grounds make for an excellent backdrop to the Inter-Court Winter Games!

There isn't really a reward for the winning house besides bragging rights and maybe a trophy that doubles as a chalice, but youngbloods and novices alike are invited to join in the festivities and compete against one another in the spirit of glory and the chance to lord over your Court's superiority. Even Council members and mature vampires of each court seem to enjoy cheering on their respective teams from the stands. Everything is fine! Forget your troubles and go play in the snow.

What kind of sports do vampires play? Feel free to get creative, but here are some examples:

Thrall-Curling: Since vampiric strength proves to be a little too much for this sport otherwise, teams of novices (or youngbloods) of the same Court can team up to gently compel their thralls to play the thrilling sport of curling. Coax that stone across the ice with care, and take out the opposing team! Or, well, the thralls will do that, assuming they're guided well. Try not to break them. (The thralls, that is.)

Figure skating: Practicing your pirouettes? For a vampire, a quadruple-axel is hardly worth breaking a sweat over. Favored for its beauty and almost seductive grace, the figure skating competition will be scored and judged by a multi-court panel. Participants might get extra points for incorporating bladework and masking into their sets, so these performances are sure to wow the judges.

Ice Hockey: Yes, the high-contact sport transcends time and space, but vampires don't need silly things like helmets or padded safety gear. Don your court's colors and hit the ice to toss the puck around and score as many points against the opposing team as you can before the time runs out. Violence is encouraged! Everyone likes to see a bit of blood on the ice this time of year. (Shadowstepping is considered cheating, but only if you get caught.)

And more! Snowball fighting may not be a sport, but there's no better time to enjoy the outdoors and stretch those growing fangs and muscles than the dead of winter. So whether you're cheering on your Court or watching from the sidelines, there's something here for everyone. Just because the castle is full of the the undead doesn't mean they can't have a little winter fun.

CLASS NOTES

Other notable happenings for the early winter season include:

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and maybe it's time to find or make gifts for that special blood claim in your life. This season blood jewelry is the hot ticket item. These are pieces made from precious metal and glass, which hold the blood of a vampire in them. Carry a lover's blood to show how much you love them, or carry your own to force down the throat of your enemies so you can influence them.

Whispers around school start to say that Black Court lost a novice this month. Not murder this time! He simply unmade himself trying to mistwalk. Eh, these things happen.

As a result of a tie in last month's pumpkin carving contest, members of the Black and Red Courts will find small packages outside their doors. They are gifted silver letter openers, with the handle inlaid with pumpkins and leaves, and a note from Revar with a little drawing of a pumpkin and their signature. How nice!

Lady Whisperfangs is quiet for now, but her time is yet to come... This month's check-in will have a field to submit gossip about your characters! Vampires do so love their drama.

Once again, characters are free to talk to the NPCs as well: Revar & Kashire. For any questions regarding this month's prompts, please comment in the Plotting Post. For general game questions, please check the FAQ/Game Info. In the meantime, remember to submit your Regains for this month's free reward, and keep an eye out for our AC Check-in next week, starting on January 25-31.

The new year has brought us plenty of thirsty vampires, so we're glad you're here to share them with you!

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[ Fortunately, all of Norton's little grimaces and obvious displeasure only fuel the fire, the perceived pout turning into the upturning of the eyes as he makes the mistake of coming closer. He can snatch and grumble all he likes, but Ash, regrettably, finds it horribly endearing.

In the feral cat sort of way. ]

Not by my lonesome now, am I? After all, you've come to visit me. [ Sucker. ] All the better, as all that isolation and solitude will make you even more gloomy than usual, and we certainly can't have that can we?

[ Not enough revelry in this boy. Maybe he should start dragging him to parties, bodily. Still, he takes one of the many books, lazily thumbing through the page with far less enthusiasm. ]

Perhaps I'm vetting who's actually doing their research. It is a good exercise for all the young ones.

[Well, if the door is locked, it isn’t anymore because Hayato slams it open with such an urgency that it probably rips the lock apart. It’s more important to be efficient than cautious!! They can fix a door later.]

If there’s nothing in their room, we can make bandages out of one of their sheets.

[Again, these are things that can be replaced once the safety of the novice is secured.]

[The screaming is so much worse once the door is open. Hayato grits his teeth and storms over to their side. Ah, they are bleeding a little, but it’s not dire just yet. They need to try and get them to wake up.]

If you wouldn’t mine assessing the water and bandage situation, I’ll try and get them to snap out of it.

[He fishes in his coat for a few vials. Being Blue Court you would think he might have some …secret blue court method but no, he has a Silver Court best friend and he hooked him up with what are powerful vampire smelling salts. HOPEFULLY THEY WORK.]

Night terrors are quite advanced, you know. And you're fairly early on in your education... [Norton just gives a shrug.]

Who knows if you can handle it. Takes the special sort to stomach that sort of thing this early on.

[Now he's just dangling bait in front of Lamorak, to see how he'd react.]

If you actually were vetting their research, the library thrall would have taken down names and whatnot. [And that one definitely didn't take down Norton's. Whatever.]

Besides, are you really hoarding in a situation like this? Someone's going to slap you for that.

[His brow furrows even more at the random page he lands on. Nothing relevant to their situation... well, maybe he'll keep reading anyway, just in case.]

Depends on what you call interesting. [What is this? Norton Campbell, the grump of the Blue Court, is willing to work with someone?

Honestly, yes. He has to. He's self-aware enough to know he doesn't have the smarts to find leads by himself. And he does have an interest in resolving this curse as quickly as possible, because it doesn't just affect a small group of people-- it'd affect him too, if he were to mess up somehow. He doesn't even know how to prevent it. Hence, he needs help and is looking to help.]

Also depends on what you've found out.

[It does seem like it should be a relief, not having someone that dangerous around (especially someone who has no compunction giving such nasty wounds). This is making Yuri realize something though, and he frowns a little.]

If she's not your Maker, who is?

[Yuri stares back, looking Lamorak up and down. His head might be killing him but that isn't going to be able to stop his tendency towards observation and analysis, even if the latter is going to be hampered due to the pain. It's a good distraction, it gives him something else to focus on.]

... Yuri.

[Yeesh, this guy's more androgynous than himself. That's impressive. And while he knows Blue Court is masking and night terrors it's the court he also knows the least about. Lamorak doesn't sound particularly enamoured with it, either, which is unusual. From what Yuri has seen, novices are generally set on a court once they've got one.]

Blue's not meeting your expectations?

Can't say I spend a lot of time there at all...

[ She did more in the beginning,while adjusting and trying to catch up on what seemed to be regular vocabulary for most people.

But there's a bit of a mix between confusion and curiosity towards the notebook. She can't imagine that they were questions for her specifically, and more she was a target of convenience. But this seemed to be one of the Youngbloods, and she wasn't exactly in a place to turn it down, right? ]

Sure, I suppose? I can't imagine what it'd be about, though.

[OOC: Thank you!! For this note, I sincerely appreciate it and knowing it's not pointless negative CR. I am always happy to talk on Plurk, my pPlurks are open if you want to hit me up, and I'm also happy to go a couple more tags and see how they progress? ]

[ Injuries sour the blood...

Well now. That was logic with which Lockwood could agree. He didn't recognize the young man. Kneejerk reaction was to read him as a novice, but as Elias came closer the pure silver of his eyes could only belong to a fellow young blood.

Just not one Lockwood with whom Lockwood was familiar. Not that that meant much. Lockwood spent more time away from the castle than in the castle, so he'd no doubt missed a number of recent (recent being the past twenty to thirty years) worth of graduates.

Youthful young blood or not, Elias' logic was at least enough to stop Lockwood from delivering any further cuts to the thrall. However, he did execute a graceful pirouette, which brought the tip of his rapier on target with the other vampire's throat.

Between vampires the posture wasn't really a threat; more a bit of political brinksmanship for the sake of the novices in the area. ]

You're not wrong about the blood. [ Is what he said aloud, acknowledgement that Elias had struck upon a good argument. ] Though I don't expect we'll miss two from the weekly supper rotation. Not given the amount of washouts I've read about from last season.

[ Near black, gold ringed irises studied Elias closely, before that megawatt, cold smile broke across his features. ] Anthony Lockwood, please feel free to call me Lockwood.

Edited 2024-01-25 02:07 (UTC)

[Elias closes his eyes, and his mind with it, letting the emotions in the air wash over and past him. He's convinced this is some sort of test- though it seems impossible that Xenk would stoop to acting this vulnerable in his mind, even to test his loyalty to Gold. Or something. Maybe it's someone else's interference? He doesn't know.

Either way, he has realised that he… honestly doesn't care about the things that Xenk does. He only cared because he “should”, because it helped him please his ex-Maker. (or at least that was the idea.)]

[Gently,] Take it easy. If something happens to you, he can always find someone else, so look out for yourself first, okay?

[That’s absolutely the worst thing to say??? But they are the worst at communication, so he says it. Elias stands up and turns to the door again, feeling that there's nothing else for him here.]

[ Marianne might have tried to participate in a sport for good measure, but she much rather spend her time with animals rather than people (or ... vampires?). She likes to sneak away and give the lovely creatures attention too, also having memorized their names and personalities.

But it seems she's beaten to the punch today, as another novice has set up camp in the stables ... and he's even brought them treats! He clearly knows what the horses like and is a friend to them.

She does not plan on revealing herself and even thinks to let this man have his peace and quiet, but she catches that last bit about the babies not knowing anything and she lets out a little giggle. Definitely too audible to pull back before it's too late. ]

Ah- S-sorry. I wasn't eavesdropping.

[ Ravyn doesn't like this dreamsharing thing at all, though this one seems pleasant enough. It seems to strike home in a way, watching the young man and the lovely lady having what appears to be an innocent, carefree time together. Some part of his heart yearns for the same. Of course, in his reality, it wasn't a princess that he'd be taking walks with. Not that he remembers this.

He sees Phillip standing by and connects the dots, that it's his dream of a sort, and they're both just breaking the fourth wall here or something.

He's likely seen the other male around before, especially since he's also a Gold Court novice, but Ravyn isn't particularly extroverted unless he has to be. Too bad, cause they could have bonded earlier over being a little bitter. ]

It is nice.

[ He'll agree to that much. And while he absolutely also believes it will never become truth, he'll humor them both. ]

I'm sure some vampires are capable of love. Or something like it.

[ Marianne's had a harrowing time of the dreams, as most of hers are nightmares — either ones from memories she's not yet recovered or simply times she's let her family down or failed as a novice or let what she considers the "monster" inside of her run amuck (~~Hanapi just sucks at writing top levels and is slow~~).

So this ...? She doesn't know how she got here, but this is nice. She recognizes Edgin of course, even if he is a human. But the laughing child, the quaint but pleasant scene, it makes her heart (whatever's left of it) feel warm.

At the same time she almost feels guilty for intruding upon all this. Even the animals his daughter is taking care of seem to be happy and full of life. ]

You have a beautiful home.

[ Had... she supposes. Is this even real? She'll just pretend it is for a little while. ]

[ Ravyn is a novice in the Gold Court, but he has been trying to help where he can. He couldn't stand just not doing anything, especially since he hasn't been particularly plagued by the nightmares himself (rather ironic all things considered but that's another story).

He already had wavering faith in a lot of what goes on here in the Castle, but sometimes the faculty really drives it home.

Which is why there is a tiny crack in his almost always stony facade as he raises an eyebrow at Norton while they're looking over the same victim. Did he forget or is he simply that careless? Ravyn can't decide yet, he's just a little incredulous. ]

This is a Novice. Rather fresh one, from what I understand.

[ Raphael certainly isn't playing any of the sports games but he does so love to watch. And if someone's making a sport out of watching itself, well! Call him interested.

He'd chosen hockey because it seemed the most action-packed, though he mostly keeps to himself in the stands and doesn't get overly excited.

Still, a sly smile curls up on his features as he's joined by his fellow Youngblood. Raphael partly turns so he can regard Norton, wearing his own colors but insisting one needn't cheer for their own team. ]

Ah. Not the Blue, I'm afraid. [ He gestures briefly to the hockey field before them. ] What can I say? I am nothing if not loyal to my own.

[ Wyll will not be "Well Actually"'d today, as Ravyn doesn't know or care if this whole thing is a time honored tradition either. But he does like the normalcy of it, and he's always been good at athletics. Better at those than socializing, but who's paying attention? ]

Anything to get our minds off it, I suppose.

[ Not for the purpose of their wellbeing, mind you. Ravyn is completely convinced it's for the Higher Ups to save face. But anyway. ]

Are you going to skate?

Have an answer for everything, don't you?

[ That earns a low laugh. Alright, maybe he's been caught being a jackass....but he's not going to feel bad about it. Stirring the pot keeps things lively.

Another slow flip of a page. There's...well, not much in here Ash doesn't already know. He has been here for years, and has had more than enough time to pore over half the things in the library already. But he at least has to look busy.... ]

It's hardly hoarding, my dear. There was still plenty to peruse among the stacks when I left. [ A not-so-gentle toss of the book back on his desk. ] But once you're my age, don't we all need a refresher or two? Perhaps a slap might even wake me up a bit.

[ It certainly would not be the first time someone's had enough of his bullshittery. Hasn't stopped him before. ]

[ Honestly, Raphael would make a hobby of intruding on other people's dreams. This has all been a fun ride for him for the most part. Unfortunately it seems there are very few nightmares that can actually rattle him. Or perhaps he's just very lucky? Or perhaps he's just an expert pretender. Difficult to say.

But he's here now, observing the younger Lydia as she moves so gracefully about the stage and its poles. She has his full attention. Mind you that is not particularly difficult to do for very certain individuals but still.

As she sits down on the stage after her dance, he approaches, giving her a slow and quiet little round of applause. ]

In the dancer’s leap, a story told,
A graceful arc, bold and bold.
For the rhythm that moves like art,
In every step, a beating heart.

What a wonderful performance.

[In due time she'll grow into her own and know exactly how to keep herself guarded and who she can open up, somewhat, to. Be in control of what she does and how she does it, without any sort of threat of having to conceal herself and her actual attitude and actions. But, for now, she's merely a weary child that is letting out a small groan and laying her head on her folded arms on the table.]

Let's hope it stays that way, I don't know how many people would actually give me somewhere to sleep. [Given she'd now be considered a proper urchin, a proper street child, the type that supposedly only takes for their own amusement instead of survival. She'll teach them that error in due time, but for now she can't help the doubt that's bubbling up inside her in the wane of the anger of what had just happened.]

I had wanted to escape with him when he was healthy again, to leave that hag all alone and to die alone. [Little does she know that she will do just that.]

[He's not that surprised. Winter games aren't for everyone, and Norton has had enough of the snow, wandering around with wet clothes will be annoying. Though when he spots a familiar face in a room, he decides, fine, maybe a bit more socialization.

Norton slips into the room silently, and takes the liberty of claiming a chair to watch.]

Being anti-social, I see.

[He's one to talk, a grump in the Blue Court. He regularly avoids whatever festivities his Court throws, unless he absolutely must make an appearance. He's already made his appearance, so now Norton's retreated back inside.]

The snow too cold for you?

[Oh, that actually gets a nice laugh out of her and rocking somewhat in the silks now that she has a bit of control of her body back. It's a nice and comforting sort of thing.]

I already know what I taste like, darling. Part of my curiosity, you know. [Among other things she'd done in the past, but that hardly matters at the moment. The smug look doesn't even really bother her that much because she will actually cut a bitch if they talk about this to anyone else.]

Certainly you have more planned than just getting me off, as lovely as that was~ [Is she teasing and taunting him a bit? Of course.]

[In theory this dream should be playing out in the same way her memories do, but when the one intruding is someone that she is close to, it certainly does make things different and more interesting. Between a younger appearance and a very much human one and the mind of her current self...

She actually can't help but laugh, the sound far freer and more cheery that her sarcasm and lustful actions tend to get from her in the castle. But it doesn't change her from enjoying the attention, carefully preening and messing with the tie keeping her hair in a tight bun.]

You flatter me so, sir~ [It's clear by her tone that she's well aware of who he is and that while this is a dream, she can certainly bend it to her will.] I haven't been back to this stage in quite some time, you know. It's almost nostalgic.

[Anti-social. Maybe in a way she is, though she wouldn't ever admit to such a thing, being in the other disgustingly social of the four Courts. And, in fact, she can't help the grin as he moves to take a seat, shifting to pull herself to sit in the hoop much like a swing.]

Me? Anti-social? Darling, I am anything but. I just merely don't care about these games, they happen every year on the dot and after twenty years of it, it grows boring for me. [But she is curious as to why he decided to come intrude on her room, though, not that she hadn't left the doors wide open or anything.]

Vampires don't feel the cold like humans do. A blessing and a curse, you know~ Though I'm quite curious as to why you seem to have retreated and decided to be anti-social only to come talk to little ol' boring me~

Do you just have to be curious to want a taste?

[ Did Eden just learn that she did weird things even for Red Courts? At least they never have to worry about being cut, as they don't exactly brag or talk extensively about their experiences. ]

Didn't exactly have plans. I just saw some opportunity, and figured you could use a bit of recovery. If you get a little less tied up for a moment...

[ A finger will just trail down to snap the waistband of the shorts, figuring it'd be enough of a signal. ]

Of course not, that's merely how it happened the first time.

[Naaaaah, it's not weird in the slightest to her. Hell, it might explain a bit about why she probably tastes nicer than some people, experimentation and the like.

But she hums for a brief moment as they trail off, squeaking just a bit as the waistband is snapped. Okay, okay. Fine.]

I guess I can do that much~ [Give her a second, luckily she's used to untangling herself from the silks, even if she's still using them to keep herself balanced and upright on the floor even when she does get her legs free and feet back on the floor.]

Do you want me to just remove them, do a little show, or maybe you want to remove them with your teeth?~ [Is she being a bit of a brat again? Perhaps. Because she could just remove them and get what she wants, but what's the fun in that?]

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Page 17 of 67

january tdm/event post

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horsegirl club

once upon a dream - hello it's hanapi again

pleasant dreams

nightmarish curse

aaand a winter games (betting)

anyway. sports...

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Dreams 1

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wildcard

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