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

[ This young form of Xenk's looks up at Kirk, his deep brown eyes filled with far more sadness than a child his age should bear. ]

It's alright. [ Xenk sniffs. He's saying this more for himself, that much is obvious. ] When I become a vampire, I'll be strong. I'll help you.

[ His parents both give him pained looks, their eyes glossy and blank. They can't speak on it. All they can do is take care of him. ]

"Back to bed, Master Xenk." [ It's his father who speaks up now, even if it's clear that calling his own son "Master" feels deeply wrong. ] "Szass Tam will be very cross if he finds out you've been awake."

[ Xenk grumbles, tugging for Kirk to follow him as he heads back inside. The house -- well, manor, is lavish and ornate, golden and sparkling even under the firelight that illuminates things inside. There are hardly any windows to be found however -- a staple of the home of a vampire. A long hallway stretches almost impossibly far, with a beautifully emblazoned door at the every end. It's a dream, after all. Things don't need to make a ton of sense. ]

Days are so long in the summer though... I don't want to sleep all day...

[Wow this was some kind of fucked up, that's for sure. Everything about this screams wrong to him, screams that this is too much sadness and trauma for one child to have to endure. To lose his parents like this? To have to see them like this everyday while a vampire raises him... It makes him want to bundle Xenk up and give him a hug.

Not something he ever thought he would be thinking about Xenk.

He gets tugged behind Xenk and follows the child without much thought.

And no, this was a dream and everything felt normal and logical, so the hallway stretching on forever doesn't even make him blink. What does make him blink is how... gaudy this place was. Definitely a Gold vampire, definitely one with bad taste.]

Yeah, you don't need that much sleep, that's too long, even Vampires probably spend some of that time awake in a windowless room... we could always play hide and seek just the two of us? Or play night terrors?

[ There is some truth to that. In the summer, Szass Tam doesn't just come out at night. That surely won't be a problem later in the dream, will it. Nah.

Xenk smiles, those beautiful brown eyes bright with childlike joy. It's clear from the way he's dressed that he doesn't really get much chances to just be a kid. ]

I've never played night terrors before!

[ He starts to tug Kirk down the hall, towards the door that doesn't seem to get any closer. ]

Uhm, those are from... the Blue Lands, right? [ He stares up at Kirk, eyes so full of excitement. ] Can you tell me how to play? What are the rules? Father always says you can't mess anything up if you stick to the rules!

You haven't? We have to fix that!

[Kirk follows where he is pulled, not minding that the door doesn't get closer. Doesn't even think about it, merely following behind Xenk best he can.]

Sure are, I come from there. And! It doesn't have many rules other than, don't get caught by the night terror, because then they get to tickle you silly.

[He played this with some of the other kids when he was young, Kevin especially. He would throw on a cloak of blanket and stuff his shirt with a pillow and chase the other kids until he caught them and then tickle them until they played dead.

Thinking about it now, it was kind of a morbid game, but it's how one coped with reality of night terrors.

What was more morbid is that Xenk wants to know the rules so he won't mess up... that suddenly explains a lot.]

[ Xenk nods along, finding nothing strange about Kirk's explanation. He's from Blue Lands? Great! Though there is one part of Kirk's words that doesn't sit right with him. ]

There's no rules? But how do I know if I'm good at it or not?

[ This is Very Important to him, see. Enough that Xenk stops where he is. Suddenly it seems like the hallway only has two doors -- the white one on the end they've been walking towards, and a dark one on the opposite, where the lights from the braziers barely reach. ]

How do we decide who gets to be the night terror? Your game needs rules or it won't make sense!

[Something about the black door makes him feel uncomfortable. He can't put his finger on it, but there has to be some significance to it... right?]

Well, not everything needs rules. You're good at it if you can hide from the night terror or can catch people as one. You know? It's similar to hide and seek like that.

[He scratches his cheek because he's not had to deal with a kid like Xenk before. Most kids want to escape rules but it makes sense that kid Xenk would thrive off rules.. right?]

But you make a good point, we need to have a way to figure out who would be the night terror. Maybe... we play boulder, parchment, sheers for it?

[ That black door remains closed at one side of the hallway. It's clearly only temporary for now. Darkness always finds a way.

Xenk scoffs, an adorable little pout that would be completely unheard of on his adult face. ]

Everything needs rules, James. Anyone who breaks them gets punished. That's how it works.

[ Of course, this being a dream Xenk doesn't realize he's called Jim by his name. That doesn't matter. He wants to play night terrors, so he happily holds his hand out for some rock-paper-scissors. ]

I know that one! Boulder, parchment, sheers!

[ He chooses rock. Of course he does! ]

[Getting called his name catches him off guard. Sure a lot of things here have been strange and he's chalked it up to dream logic. Which again.. he kind of does here. Maybe Xenk subconsciously recognizes him.]

Oh um, no.

[He puts up a finger as if to stop this where it's going because first of all: No. Second of all: Still No. Games are not about getting punished, even if baby Xenk was cute pouting at him like that.]

This is a no punishment game, that's why it has only the one.. well two rules, otherwise it's just about having fun and not getting tickled. Which that is punishment enough.

[Still, he can't resist doing rock-paper-scissors with Xenk when he's ready. Maybe he can get it through the kid's thick skull once they play a little.]

Boulder, parchment, sheers!

[He picked paper.]

I won, so I get to pick who's the night terror... hmmm.

Edited 2024-01-23 04:21 (UTC)

We must play very different games.

[ That much is very obvious, but Xenk doesn't seem bothered by Kirk's strange insistent. A mistake without punishment isn't much of a mistake, is it? ]

I guess getting tickled is kind of a punishment...

[ When was the last time Xenk actually got tickled? He says the words like they're a bit foreign to him. He frowns when he loses, but he takes his defeat with more grace than a child his age should show. ]

I don't want to get tickled. Can I be the night terror?

[ A candle flickers near the black door, the lights growing dim. This is not good. ]

Sure is.

[Kirk pretends to think about it for a long moment, tapping his finger to his lips, but eventually relents. Its obvious this kid doesn't get to play often or the right kind of play. He can't help but wonder what kind of fucked up childhood Xenk has, but he says nothing about it right now. It's not like child Xenk understands how fucked up this is.

Finally he nods.]

Okay, you can be the night terror. We're gonna need to get a blanket or something so you can pretend to have wings, got to make you look scary enough to be one.

[Why does it feel darker?]

Edited 2024-01-28 01:29 (UTC)

[ Young Xenk smiles proudly, happy to have deciphered the rules and indeed earned Kirk's approval to play the night terror. Around them, the hallway is definitely growing dimmer -- or perhaps the black door is getting closer? Strange. But you know how dreams are. ]

Maybe a cape! Uncle Szass has a big cape! He has lots of 'em!

[ Xenk seems excited by the prospect. ]

I wanna look big and scary just like Uncle Szass! I bet we can grab one from his room -- he's sleeping now, anyway.

[ No guesses as to which room is "Uncle Szass"s. Xenk turns around, the darkened end of the corridor suddenly only a few steps away. ]

[Good gods, why was that door suddenly so close!? It made him nearly jump out of his skin, but he reaches for Xenk's hand to stop him. He gets a bad feeling about this, his instincts telling him that whatever is behind that door is not to be fucked with and he's not sure he wants to meet this Uncle Szass.]

Maybe we just use a blanket, buddy, don't want to risk waking him up and him ruining the fun, right?

[He needs to make sure to appeal to a child, because as much as this is Xenk, right now he's a child.]

Because once he's up you have to start doing classes and stuff right? That's no fun.

[He looks back towards the White door and... why does it look so impossibly far away?]

[ It's right there! Don't worry about it. Xenk considers Kirk's words. He's not wrong that Szass Tam would demand he continue his studies, and stop acting so... human. Xenk shakes his head.

No, those aren't the thoughts of a child. This child just wants to play. Though he tugs at Kirk's sleeves, his eyes wide. ]

But night terrors are supposed to be scary, right? I... [ His lip quivers, looking away. Here's a truth you'll never hear Xenk admit later, Jim. ] Uncle Tam is scary.

[ He turns away from the door, staring down the long hallway. He'll never get there now. The lamps leading to that white door begin to go out, while the doorknob on the black door beside them begins to turn. ]

I have to be strong, but he-- my parents, they...

[He kneels down by Xenk, hand coming up to rest on the back of the kid's head. His heart breaks a little for Xenk. If this was real... he's had so much taken away from him, he's had so much stole from him, including his parents, his family.

In a way.. he realizes that Xenk might need him more than Edgin does.]

You are strong, Xenk, so strong.

[He can hear the doorknob turning and it makes him want to run, it makes him want to pick up Xenk and book it, the fear coiling in him like a snake ready to bite, but--]

You're gonna be the strongest, scariest vampire one day. Your Uncle Tam doesn't stand a chance, okay? But if I tell you to run, do it, okay?

[ Xenk looks up at Kirk, a mix of wonder and fear in his eyes. This kind of thing never happened. No one showed up to rescue Xenk -- had they have tried, they would have been killed. There's no question.

Being told he'll be the strongest, scariest vampire gives him some hope, though it's not worth much now, in the face of that suddenly large, looming door. ]

I can't leave you behind. [ Xenk shakes his head. ] I... if I am to become strong, then I'm supposed to take care of you.

[ Maybe that's what Xenk had forgotten, when he was "caring" for his other, failed thralls. He'd forgotten to be strong, simply assumed he already was. He'd forgotten his fear.

He won't be forgetting it now. The door opens, a dark figure emerging from within it. A shaved head with dark markings and skin more gray than pale, Szass Tam emerges from his room, eyes dark yet gold, watching with expressionless disdain. He wears gold and black, draping robes that are more in style with what was worn hundreds of years ago. His voice is deep and icy, his gaze falling on Jim and Xenk as he speaks. ]

I see you've disobeyed my orders, Xenk. You should know better, but I am kind. I will remind you why my rules are in place.

[ With a hand, he draws Kirk forward. Whether it's a compulsion or some manner of telekinesis, Kirk will soon find himself in the monster's grasp, held up by his neck, his feet off the ground. ]

You will take care of me one day, promise, but that's not today. Okay?

[But little else can escape his lips before a terrifying figure emerges from the looming door. He feels the very air stolen from his lungs as he looks at the man in front of him, because the very air around him was thick with danger.

Kirk might sometimes poppycock around like he's not scared of his teachers, but he was, he knows how scary vampires could be. There was no escaping that reality, that they were dangerous creatures that could kill him as soon as look at him.

But this vampire--]

Xenk! Run!

[But before he can say much else, he was in the vampire's grip, his hands coming up to claw at the vampire's, struggling against the iron grip around his neck.]

James, no!

[ Tiny Xenk can do little else but scream as his 'father' begins squeezing Kirk's windpipe shut without any effort at all. A vampire's full strength is nothing to scoff at, but Szass Tam is old, obviously from several centuries ago. Xenk may never have faced his wrath personally, but there's no doubt he saw this monster kill plenty of people like this.

People who displeased him. Boy, does he look displeased. ]

Do the weak truly draw your interest, boy? You know what you risk by disobeying me. They are the ones who will suffer for your weakness.

[ Xenk knows. His parents -- they suffered, if he ever disobeyed, if he ever missed a lesson. It was not Xenk who felt his father's ire. It never was. ]

Please, father! [ Xenk sounds older as he says this, even looks older now: his late teens? ] Stop! Please, I will -- I will do ask you ask! I will do better! Please, release him!

[Kirk hangs from the hand, clawing at the vampire's hand desperately, but there was no getting out of this. There was no surviving this, he can tell already. With the last of his breath he says run once more, but it's squeezed off and quiet.

Even with Xenk looking older, begging for him to be released, Jim knows that isn't likely to happen. Xenk can't save him from this nightmare, as much as he wishes to try.

Trying to gasp for breath, his face turns more red with time, suffocating.]

James!

[ Xenk draws a sword (from where? It's a dream,) and leaps forward, striking at Szass Tam to no avail. Again and again he strikes, but the monster seems to turn to mist when he's struck, the blade cutting through nothing at all. Xenk only grows more desperate. ]

Release him! He is mine!

[ The specter of Szass Tam keeps his hold on James until he's nearly unconscious, until the lack of air will surely kill him either way. Xenk feels a chasm of hopelessness burn in his chest, but he keeps striking, keeps trying in vain to do what he could never manage in life. ]

You are dead, Szass Tam! You can take no more from me! Let him go!

[Despite how everything is fuzzy, how his vision becoming spotted black, he still sees Xenk fighting for him, calling out for him. Claiming him as he speaks of this vampire as being dead as he tries to free Kirk from the vampire's grasp.

But as Kirk goes limp, he starts to fade away, his eyes looking at Xenk. He feels lightheaded as he tries to gasp for air but the life was leaving his eyes as fast as consciousness was. Was he just another thing to hurt Xenk. Another tool used by this vampire?

No this was a dream, still, it makes him feel a wash of sympathy for Xenk.

Xenk who had so much yet so little growing up, had everything taken away from him in many ways.]

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january tdm/event post

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