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

[Kirk is fine taking the brunt of Kira's fighting, holding the girl around the middle as he holds her up off the ground. Sure, getting hit and picked and yelled at wasn't fun by any means, but in a way, he doesn't want to see where this nightmare was about to go if he lets her go... what if--

No, no Edgin would never.]

I believe you.

[And he does, Edgin was too honest of a person to have lied to him about what happened. He wants to reach out and touch Edgin, to comfort the man but his hands were full of an angry child.

Why were there so many children in these dreams lately?]

I know you would never hurt her like that.

I wouldn't.

[ It's your fault, Kira screams anyway, but then her choice of words changes, getting closer to the truth: she had to die because of what you did.

Edgin looks down at the body in his hands, life all but gone. The smell of blood is so overwhelming, it's so strong. But he wasn't a vampire when Zia died, he tries to remind himself, he wouldn't have felt this way about it.

He tries to focus on Kirk, instead. ]

What are you doing here?

I know.

[He holds Kira tightly but not too tight, trying to keep her firmly in his arms, but her fighting was getting more violent. He flinches at what she says, because it was like she was playing Edgin's guilty conscious out loud.

Edgin was just punishing himself through his daughter.]

Good question, you tell me. Because I'm pretty sure we're asleep and this is a nightmare... pretty sure.

[The expression on his face is one of honest perplexity.]

Yeah, it's gotta be. We just don't normally...share them.

[ It's strange, but lucidity is returning to him slowly. The realization this isn't real, the terror shaking off but only in slow waves. It threatens to come back every time he looks at Zia's body in his hands. ]

Just let Kira go. She can't hurt me.

[ Well. She can't hurt him with her tiny hands any more than she can hurt him with her cutting words. ]

I mean, you experience mine right? Or is that just emotionally experience them?

[When Edgin says to let her go, he does, setting her down on the ground easily enough. Part of him doesn't want to because he doesn't want Edgin to hurt himself through his daughter. But--

Well, it can't be helped if it happens. Jim knows he hurts himself a lot in his own nightmares.]

Yes she can.

A mix of both. Sometimes just emotions, sometimes it's like...snippets, the way you remember a dream when you wake up.

[ but not like this. Not clear and present and able to interfere.

Kira comes running over to him again, screaming at him once more, insisting that he fix the situation, if he's going to be a vampire, he should at least fix Zia.

There's nothing he can do. He reaches out to try and calm her down and all he manages to do is leave a trail of Zia's blood on the sleeve of her dress. ]

You have to run, kid. They'll be after you, next.

["They?" You did this. ]

[Kirk thinks about saying "Look, I'm even learning in dreams" to lighten the mood, but the man has his dead wife in his arms and his daughter screaming at him.. there was no lightening this mood.

Right now he feels like an intruder in a bad dream, like this isn't something he should be seeing or interacting with, he doesn't want to abandon Edgin to deal with this alone, yet.. part of him wants to wake up and not be privy to something that is obviously private.

Still, he's here regardless, so he moves over to kneel down by Kira, trying to ignore how his knees are in a puddle of gold blood. The small makes him feel sick.]

Hey kiddo.. look, you need to go. Your dad here is right, you need to run. If you can't do it for him, then do it for your mom.. she wouldn't want you to get hurt.

[ Edgin lets out a breath, glad to see at least one thing is going his way in this nightmare, that Kirk is helping.

He's still overwhelmed by the smell of blood in the air, sickened at the way he wants to drink it, and if not Zia's, then at least someone. He tries to focus on Kirk--reminds himself that's a desire it's okay for him to have. That he's not going to hurt him. That it would be better to hurt him than to hurt Kira. ]

Please.

[ It comes out choked and small. He tries to gently nudge her away, but Kira wants none of it. You always do this! You always ruin everything, and then you leave me you. ]

You're not...not not even making sense anymore.

[ it's punctuated with a broken laugh, tired and giving up . ]

[If it comes down to it, Edgin would be welcome to hurt him if it means not hurting Kira, he knows the vampire would suffer more hurting his daughter than him. He's okay with getting hurt if it means protecting Edgin.

Hearing that choked small voice claws at his chest.

Her words don't make sense.. maybe some part of Edgin felt guilty for not watching his daughter's death?]

Kira, come on kiddo, you can't be saying whatever you want to hurt your dad...

[ What do you know? She turns her attention back to Kirk, you're just going to leave, too. ]

That's enough.

[ Edgin gently lays Zia's body down on the ground so he can turn his full attention on Kira. ]

Look, you'd really like Jim, if you ever got the chance to meet him. But we both know you didn't, right? In the real world, after this...

[ He shakes his head. ]

I love you. I'd sit and say it as many times as I could, but we both know hos this ends.

[He flinches at the accusation, because both he and Edgin know this is true. There was no reason to deny what they both know, that he was going to leave, he was going to hurt Edgin, he was just putting it off at this point because he didn't want to hurt him.

Now he can't bring himself to look at Edgin, to acknowledge what was said and the truth of it. But right now was about Kira, which was more important obviously.

Watching them for a moment, it was plain to see how much Edgin loves his daughter, how much her loss hurt him. He can't help but frown and wish he could do something about it, help somehow..

There is nothing for him to say or add, just watch them for the moment, not get in the way of Edgin's time with his daughter, even if it's a strange and fleeting nightmare.

He can't help but wonder what it must be like to be loved this much.]

[ It was, of course, valiant to try and draw this out. But the longer the stay here, the longer they're just delaying the inevitable. Soon enough a night terror descends from the skies. It looks an awful lot like Edgin's form, of course, and before either of them can do anything, it swoops down and grabs Kira, clutching her in its talons (without hurting her) before flying off. ]

FUCK---

[ Edgin tries to transform, tries to chase after her, but he can't, he can only run after on foot, which does nothing for him. ]

Shit-!

[Kirk tries to run after too, but eventually it seems useless and all he can do is grab at Edgin to try and stop him too. It was pointless, a dream... yet it still felt real. It still felt..

But that Night Terror looked like Edgin and there was no blood... does--

No.]

Edgin, it's a nightmare... she's gone. I'm sorry, but she's gone.

[ Edgin wants to keep running, but Kirk stops him. He falls to his knees, crying now as he watches the night terror run off, as he watches his daughter be taken from him. Maybe some part of him hopes she's still alive, since he'd never seen her body, and that's what the dream suggests. Or maybe he just wanted to torment himself with the unknown--all the horrible things he could conjure up about what might happen next.

He slams his fist into the ground and the skin breaks, blood dripping down the side. But it dulls in comparison to the pain of his emotions; the breaking of his heart. They're so strong, maybe Kirk can feel them too, through their connection. ]

It shouldn't have been like this.

[Kirk can't help but wonder that very thing, if Edgin holds a hope that she might be alive because he didn't witness her death, but he keeps those thoughts to himself the best he can. Part of him doesn't want to sew hope until he can look into it... Because he was going to.

He kneels down by Edgin and pulls him against his chest and holds him tightly as he's overwhelmed by the broken emotions, like daggers against him, but he endures it while he holds him tightly like he might keep him from falling apart.]

No... No it shouldn't have.

[He pauses...]

Use me. Use me to get back at them for what they did to you... to them.

Edited 2024-01-28 03:02 (UTC)

[ Edgin lets himself be held, and it nearly breaks him. He hadn't let anyone care for him like this since his family died. He'd never let the wounds be healed, he'd never properly grieved. He hadn't been allowed to, since he'd gone to the Castle so soon. Instead, it was just a constant sadness.

But now he leans into Kirk, taking a comfort he doesn't think he deserves, when he's so much older than him and should have to keep it together. But it's too late now, it's like the floodgates have opened and all of the sadness normally trying to drown him find its way out.

Kirk's words pull him back, though, to the fact he's here and offering. Edgin shakes his head. ]

No, if I use you, I'll be just as bad as them.

[Kirk doesn't let go, holding him tightly and tenderly at the same time. Putting as much love and care into this moment as he can. Because Edgin deserves to be comforted in the face of everything that has gone wrong for the man, he deserves a chance to heal, a chance to be happy one day and if Kirk can give him even a small bit of that, he will.

Still, Edgin won't take what's being offered.]

Instead think of it as helping me help you. Because she wasn't wrong.. we both know it. But if I can help you find peace.. maybe--

[He pauses and takes a leap.]

Maybe I can help you find Kira.. or at least where she's [maybe] buried so you can visit her. You deserve the closure.

Edited 2024-01-28 19:39 (UTC)

[ For a moment, Edgin thinks maybe Kirk means about all the blame--but he knows Kirk wouldn't say that. Then it clicks that what he's talking about is him leaving. Funny, how they'd fought because Kirk was so sure that Edgin was going to leave him, but now it's turning out to be the opposite. He's already so overwhelmed with sadness, it feels like he can't hold any more of it.

But he does.

It's bad timing to have to come to terms with this too. ]

I don't...I don't want you to leave.

[ It's selfish, when Kirk is offering him such kindness, but he thinks maybe he deserves a little selfishness in this moment. ]

I... I don't want to either.

[It's honest, he doesn't want to leave but it feels like he has to, eventually. That the path he's on isn't one that ends with Edgin as his maker and as much as that hurts them both, as much as Kirk hopes otherwise.

He holds Edgin tighter, closer, buries his face in the man's shoulder.]

I'll stay as long as I can..

[The but eventually goes unsaid... they'll have a blood claim one day, they can still be with each other even if.. even if Edgin isn't his maker.

But right now that feels empty.]

[ Edgin holds onto him tight. But this is still a nightmare about hurting the people he loves, and so soon it isn't simply that he's holding him--his hands have claws, and those claws dig in to Kirk's skin and draw blood, holding him, forcing him to stay. ]

I can't lose another person I love, James. I can't do it.

[Kirk cries out against the pain, but doesn't let go of Edgin, arms crushingly tight around the man as he endures the agony with shuddering pants.

Purple blood pours from the wounds until it slowly starts to run more red, as if Edgin is bleeding himself from Kirk by forcing him to stay. Until Jim coughs from how his lungs are filling with fluid and it splatters on the vampire's shoulder, red... with specks of gold. ]

Edgin..

[ It's always gold court. In the nightmare, Zia's blood had run gold, too. A reminder of the court that haunted him. That took everything from him. He can't bring himself to let go, even as he can tell what's happening.

Even as purple turns to red and his hand becomes soaked with the last vestiges of the blood he'd given to Kirk. ]

Don't go.

[This wasn't the place for this conversation, not like this, not when he was in agony at the hands of his Maker. But he doesn't let go, even as he starts to feel weak.

Was he waking up?]

I want to stay but..

[He pulls away only enough to cup Edgin's face with his hands, holding his face where he can see it, where they can rest foreheads together.]

I'm sorry, I can't promise to.

But I...

[ The rest of it catches in his throat and he simply rests his head against Kirk's. He can feel him slipping away. He's trying to be good and hold himself back. But it's so much harder in this nightmare than it is in real life. ]

I know.. I--

[He's losing too much blood, he slumps over against Edgin. His grip on the vampire waning. Not because he isn't trying to hold on but the life was leaving him.

He was bleeding gold now as it slowly ebbed from him.]

All we can do is.. trust each other. You promised not to leave me if I changed... I'm doing my best to trust that. [another wet cough]

Trust me.. to be here even if I go.

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cw: self-harm

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