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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Once Upon a Dream.

[It's dark. Pleasant, not too warm and not too cold, with a light breeze blowing. Wherever you are, it seems like the kind of calm place where you could just sit back and relax all aftern --

There's a voice. A little girl's voice. And a finger confidently pokes your forehead.]

Are you going to sleep all day?? Wake up! Wake up wake up waaaaake uuuup!

[The girl is roughly ten, with brown eyes and shoulder-length chestnut hair. A bit of hair at the top of her head persistently sticks upwards, sort of like an adorable cowlick. She isn't waiting for your response, proceeding to pinch your cheeks and smoosh your face obnoxiously.

... What an impatient brat.

If you bother to open your eyes (which you should, because who knows what lengths a bratty ten year old will go to to get attention?????), you'll find yourself on the ground, leaned up against the stone wall of a courtyard. In front of you is a large stone building. Those from the Silver Court lands, or who have at least traveled through, may recognize the large-ish-town-small-ish-city as being located there.

That girl in her plain dress will stop harassing you, instead choosing to point dramatically.

(There's a heavy, invisible, uncomfortable weight settling on your shoulders when you look at her.)]

We've got soooo much investigation to do today! So let's go! We haven't checked the spooky abandoned house up on the hill! Or or, there's that lady over on the east side by the river! People say she's a witch, so maybe she can help!

((A. The spooky house comes with CWs: dissection of a child (no eye, teeth, nail stuff), murder. B. The Witch is the cute fluffy option with CATS.))

Winter Games.

[Sports have never really been Yuri's thing, even before when he was somewhat healthy. Nowadays with his brain injury he has absolutely no hope in participating in most of the activities aside from thrall curling, but that's one activity he's pointedly avoiding. Instead, he's reluctantly parked himself in the stands of a hockey game instead, his crutch next to him.

He doesn't want to be here. It's cold, the frigid air is causing his head ache, the snow and ice make it hard to get around, and he's surrounded by people. It's a lot of his least favourite things all bundled together to make for one exceptionally miserable experience, but he isn't just up and leaving.

"This is a good opportunity to see how vampires combine physical strength and dexterity with strategy. Go observe and then we'll see how you can apply this data elsewhere."

Ugh. His Maker's an asshole.

So there he is, chin in one hand as he glares down at the rink, sounding fed up with everything as he grumbles under his breath.]

Those fuckers are playing too defensively. 1-2-2? What nonsense. If they want a chance at winning they're going to have to switch to an aggressive forecheck to get ahold of the puck.

Library.

((CW: symptoms of a traumatic brain injury.))

[Yuri can often be found in the library when he isn't attending classes or sleeping back in his room. In fact, those are basically the only three places he ever goes because being sociable is a ridiculous thing other people do, not him, so. The library it is.

He's commandeered one of the tables, crutch leaning against it, and filled it with books on the most boring subjects imaginable (math, vampiric philosophy, a bit of history), though he isn't actually reading the one that's open in front of him. No, he's got his head in one hand, a pained grimace on his face as he frantically scribbles something down in a book. Not a full-sized notebook for class, more like a little pocket book you'd keep on yourself for reminders and lists. This looks like a little more than someone bored with studying.]

Wildcard.

((Have something else in mind? I can be reached via PM or at

cryptophyta!))

Edited 2024-01-21 01:50 (UTC)

Yeah, in your fucking dreams.

[looks like that criticism wasn't as under your breath as you'd have hoped, Yuri! it's caught the notice of a girl sitting nearby, clad in the silver colors of your own court - someone who'd pledged themselves to a little ice hockey action, in fact, rather than a mere enthusiastic spectator. her own game is slated to start after the present one ends, but doomsday may come faster than her time in the rink if the present match keeps dragging every second out to a whole goddamn week god al-fucking-mighty.

ahem. it seems that the bitterness in her voice has good reason.]

Just fucking look at them. They're scared because they've got some first season idiots on their team and don't want somebody to get snapped in half. No way they're gonna do anything more than breathe really hard on the other team and hope maybe someone trips.

[He wasn't prepared to have a conversation about this so there's an awkward pause, but this is at least better than getting told off by a teacher. The scowl remains firmly on his face as he sighs.]

Then I guess either someone's making them do this, or they think they've got something ridiculous like their fucking pride on the line. [Both of which are dumb reasons, in his opinion.] If you can't go all out or keep up then you're just going to bring the rest of your team down.

[Hazel notes the pause, make no mistake, but Yuri picks up the thread of their mutual complaining again so it matters very little to her. take as much time as you need to fashion the best insults for these people neither of them know, she can respect that. it gives her time to glare down at the figures skating with such tepid ambitions below them.]

It's the whole fucking point of team sports, isn't it? You're supposed to teach that to the morons before they get in the rink.

[oh, look, they actually managed to get the puck! aaaaaand they've lost control of it again in an absolutely thrilling two second exchange. she sighs deeply, rubbing at a pained spot on her forehead that's definitely not from the temperature.]

Makes me wanna start throwing shit down onto the ice to watch them scatter.

Hmmm.

[She's got a good point. Whoever this team's teachers are are doing a poor job of teaching them the fundamentals of teamwork. Or whatever. He doesn't know, team sports are kind of beyond him outside of strategy.

His eyes are locked back on the game, and he clicks his tongue in irritation at how fast they lose the puck. As much as he'd like to see something a little more interesting happen, though....]

Chances are they'd go after you for interrupting the game.

[He's going to bluntly point that out.]

What, you don't think I could take them?

[she's joking - well, mostly - but the sarcasm may be lost on her companion with Yuri's attention back on the game. her own maker would snuff her out like a candle if she actually instigated chaos on that level, but the more Hazel thought about how badly it would enrage Edith the more appealing it became...

no, no! keep at least some common sense in you, Lockwood.]

The entire briefing was them emphasizing over and over how you should be as fucking violent on the ice as you can manage without losing. Bet you the crowd would cheer if I started a brawl in the middle of this snorefest.

[He's starting to get the sneaking suspicion he might be talking to a chaos gremlin. Seriously, who else would joke about riling up a bunch of vampires and almost-vampires for fun?

The possibility of her joking is there, but with his attention on memorizing the game the sarcasm's going over his head. Which leads to a question that's dead serious:]

Are you going to do it, then?

[um, people with great taste in entertainment? those who wish to liberate the masses from mind-numbing and uninspired athletic displays? there are so many other explanations than chaos gremlin, excuse you. she's a cherub.]

Depends. You gonna sweeten the pot a little first?

[...listen. cherubs have to eat too - or in this case, solicit a little outside help in tipping the scales in favor of rationally unwise decisions. there's nothing wrong with collaboration!]

Ah?

[She asks that question and it's enough to actually pull his gaze away from the hockey game, because what. Maybe he should've been paying a bit more attention to the conversation, sheesh.

His surprised expression settles into something vaguely annoyed (though given how annoyed he seems to have been this whole time, that might be his default expression).]

No. No way. I'm not going to sit here and watch some goddamn brat getting herself torn apart for no good reason. [Is he exaggerating? He doesn't know. That's probably the worst case scenario, but he'd rather work off the assumption of a worst case scenario than throw caution to the wind.] Just tolerate this shitty game with the rest of us.

[wow. seriously? he was putting all of that energy into bitching out these sluggish players, but the second an opportunity to really do something about it presented itself he was back right out. was it because he'd actually have to fork over some kind of 'payment'? what a skinflint! the look Hazel would be leveling her companion's way could have curdled milk off sheer disgust alone.]

...fucking fine, whatever.

[sour as she was, it seemed like she still possessed a tiny modicum of common sense. with a deeply put upon huff she concedes defeat, crossing her arms almost petulantly to turn her attention back to the IMMEASURABLY SHITTY game. all is well, if more than a little put out.

...for a while, at least.

at some point after Yuri's gone back to hatewatching she's leaning down for a moment, ostensibly to check the clasps on her boots - but in reality she's forming a snowball. it only takes a second after sitting back up before she's chucked it directly at the head of the worst offender down on the ice, and when the novice demands to know just who the fuck had done that??? she's calling out to the guy without a moment of hesitation.]

Over here, shitface! Fucking surprised you even noticed the goddamn thing through your fucking coma! Get a goddamn move on!

[the object of her derision barks back an equally irritated retort - or tries to before finding himself pummeled by a second snowball to the face halfway through a sentence. Hazel's on her feet now, clearly ready to draw this confrontation out until a fight starts or the team wakes the fuck up.]

You heard me the first time! Your whole team's a fucking disgrace! My buddy's been bitching about you since the puck hit the ice!

[...oh, Yuri, she's gesturing at you as she says that. this could be mildly problematic!]

[That's the end of it. At least, that should be the end of it. Yuri goes straight back to watching the game, keeping in mind why he's here in the first place. One conversation isn't about to deter him, which means he's staring down at the rink the entire time as Hazel fusses around.

He doesn't realize what's going on until it's far, far too late. The snowball is whipped at the back of the player's head, and then she's yelling, and for all of two seconds all Yuri does is look exasperated. Whatever, this is no longer his business, if she wants to pick a fight that's on her.

And then she keeps going.

What.

What what what.]

....................................................

[He looks over at her, completely bewildered. What is she doing, what is she doing?

Down on the rink the frustration from being on the losing side of the game is apparently too much for that player. He's cursing and storming off the ice, aaaand making his way up the stands.]

[Yuri's eyes dart over to him and his expression instantly cools into something hard. Fierce, even. He grabs his crutch and gets to his feet, all of five foot six, thin enough that he looks like a light breeze could break him in half. There is no way in hell he has any hope of winning a physical fight, but showing any kind of weakness (even that surprise from a few seconds ago) is, in his experience, only going to make things worse.

So facing down one pissed off novice it is.]

[his companion somehow manages to be even less intimidating on the appearance front: five foot fucking nothing and covered in scars from head to toe, like a porcelain doll someone had seen fit to reglue after an accident. it's not really what you want on your side in a fight, but no one's apparently told Hazel - even before the novice she'd been antagonizing decides to take this altercation to the stands she'd have met Yuri's incredulous gaze with a shitty grin. this is what happens when you don't pay off people asking for incentives, my friend!

the only saving grace is that Hazel's got no intentions of abandoning the guy to the aftermath of her actions all by himself. he really could have easily avoided this, in her opinion, but that didn't mean he needed to get fucking ground into a paste for it. hell, maybe by the end of this Yuri would even thank her for the only entertainment this match had given him.

(yeah, sure.)]

Like that's supposed fucking scare me after seeing your offense.

[is she continuing her trash talk to pump herself up, or Yuri? it's impossible to say. whatever the answer is she's not giving the novice much time to respond, swiftly moving from her spot in the stands soon after issuing her derisive comment. it looks as if she's trying to flee, unable to put her money where her mouth is; the very thought enrages her foe, who picks up the pace to try and intercept her. unfortunately she isn't running from the man, but towards him...to throw herself bodily at him in a tackle laced with a colorful array of obscenities. there's no fucking mental weakness here, that's for sure!]

[The two of them combined would not only look like the least intimidating duo ever, but some really pathetic excuses for Novices. That's probably the reason why the novice has decided to pause the entire game to come after them - it might be 2 on 1, but any reasonable person would be confident they could take these two noodles.

That's what's going through Yuri's head. That, and how the fuck he's going to get through this without getting the shit beat out of him, though that's looking less and less likely as Hazel refuses to shut up -- and backing up? Fucking hell, she's going to run isn't she -- at this rate he really is doomed --

Aaaand then, while Yuri is settling on some pretty poor options, she rushes and tackles that asshole. With them still being in the stands that'll send Hazel and the novice crashing down to some lower seats which, thankfully, were unoccupied.]

...............

[For a split second, Yuri just stands there. There's some snickering from the other people in the stands as they scoot away from the altercation, absolutely no intention of either stopping this or jumping in to help. Down on the rink the novice's teammates are cracking up at the sight, so clearly they're not planning on helping, either.

Well then.

His gaze flicks to the other players, then darts around to take in their surroundings. He could leave right now. He could, and chances are this dumbass would be too distracted by her to notice. There's a high probability he'd get away, though unless she can pull out some bullshit secret vampire power he'd be leaving her to get beaten to a pulp or worse.

(Which he thinks she kind of deserves for starting all of this, but anyways....)

He clicks his tongue softly as he quickly steps downwards towards Hazel and the novice. He isn't sure how strong she is physically, so he isn't going to waste any more time. Once he reaches them, a smile that looks more like a slash appears across his face. If she's going to go ahead with the whole psychotic novice angle, then he'll play along. Psychological warfare and all that.

He lifts his crutch, aiming casually as he waits another split second for Hazel's head to shift out of the way, then proceeds to drive the end of it straight into the novice's eye. There's a crunchy, popping noise.]

Learn to take criticism, you fucking third-string.

[........................ It's unclear the novice is even hearing that giving the horrific scream he's letting out, but whatever. The other attendees are certainly getting their fill of two very unhinged novices.]

makes the eye scream work...

deadtective - 2024-02-07 03:27 (UTC) - Expand

Hazel needs both a high five and a hug

levelshift - 2024-02-07 17:25 (UTC) - Expand

this is the essence of her character so i'm sorry to say that feeling doesn't go away

deadtective - 2024-02-08 04:45 (UTC) - Expand

poor girl!!

levelshift - 2024-02-09 03:19 (UTC) - Expand

it's fine, she's great at ~repression~

deadtective - 2024-02-09 04:09 (UTC) - Expand

excellent coping mechanism

levelshift - 2024-02-10 02:42 (UTC) - Expand

only the best for best girl

deadtective - 2024-02-11 02:02 (UTC) - Expand

Yuri (Accelerator) | A Certain Magical Index | Silver | Novice (first season) | TDM

games!

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1/2 RIP these two

2/2

and the award for 'dying before they ever leave the test drive' goes to...

#teamwork (cw: eye injury)

library

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