undyingcourt | 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

Seeing this vampire help her, both with the healing and by informing her of her future, Yuri supposes this is the kinder side of the Silver Court. It's not a side he can say he's really seen, and it's uncomfortable, but at the same time, it's a hell of a lot better for her than what the alternative could have been.

He watches the dream continue, frowning a little at the fuzziness. It seems like there's a lot of uncertainty going on in her life... which, given what happened isn't surprising.

"Why not?" It's blunt of him to be asking that question, given how personal it is. How personal all of this is. But he can't ever imagine thanking the bastard that saved him, because that's the kind of person he is. He doesn't know what kind of person she is.

He exhales softly, considering that he adds another question. "How do you feel about surviving?"

This was the first act of kindness Snow had ever known, it had immediately made her have a positive view of Silver and Blue Court, and having found out her stepmother was a member of Gold made her subconsciously wary of them. At the question, she pressed her lips together.

"I..." she let out a breath. "I think some part of me was hoping, with time..." that her stepmother would love her... she smiled and shook her head. "It's a silly hope."

She turned to look at Yuri.

"I'm grateful to be alive. Honestly and truly. There is so much of the world I get to experience now."

"....."

Yuri is quiet for several moments, resisting the urge to agree with her. It does seem a bit silly, but she's already reliving what has to be one of the worst moments of her life. He doesn't need to pile on the negativity by saying her hopes aren't realistic. Besides, is it really so wrong for a kid to want their parent to give a single, solitary shit about them?

No, it isn't.

He sighs a little. That's an optimistic way of looking at things. "I guess this is a fucking second chance for you, huh?"

She doesn't correct him that it's actually her fourth, it doesn't matter. Technically it IS a second chance. The other times she survived but now she's getting to live, well, live so long as she meets the standards and approval of the vampire courts. But they must have seen... something in her, right? But she also knows she can't depend on the vampire court to find value in her. Her stepmother was a vampire, she certainly hadn't. She had to find value in herself.

"It is, yes, a second chance and my first time making friends and experiencing the world as a whole. My life was just the manor walls otherwise. A beautiful cage to clean, to be sure. I'm sorry you had to meet me like this, though."

Yuri frowns softly, not liking that she's the one apologizing. If he were a better person he would be telling her that, and apologizing himself for imposing on something so personal.

As it is, he's just awkwardly quiet for a few moments. "... There are worse ways to meet."

There's maybe like one or two worse ways, so that's technically true. It's also true that this is just a horrible way to meet, especially for her. No reasonable person wants their trauma on display, especially to a total stranger.

"I suppose there are," she smiled. "Like saving a 16-year-old from having her heart ripped out of her chest," she gestured to her maker and the Blue Court vampire ordering around some Thralls to get her some new clothing while taking off their cloak and wrapping it around her so she wasn't exposed.

"I'm Snow White, by the way, I don't think we got a chance to exchange names."

He's pointedly looking away from the memory at that point, so that her dream self still has a little bit of privacy. He's seen more than enough, anyways.

"We haven't," he replies, reaching up to scratch the back of his head. "I'm Yuri."

He's great at introductions.

"A lovely name. It's wonderful to meet you, Yuri. I hope we can become good friends," she was treating this like he hadn't just witnessed how she became a Novice, the abuse at her stepmother's hands. Perhaps for his sake, perhaps for her own.

"What court are you trying to join, Yuri?"

"...................."

The mention of friendship has Yuri pursing his lips. Under normal circumstances he wouldn't hesitate to say absolutely not. He doesn't do friendship, he isn't at the castle to make friends.

These aren't normal circumstances though, so he resists saying anything so crude and focuses on her question. "Silver," he replies with a little sigh. "The person who brought me to the Court is my Maker, and he's in Silver."

"We're in the same court! Or, rather, we're trying to be!" she giggled. "How lovely! I'm sure we'll have plenty of classes together, Yuri."

The dream, or rather, nightmare seemed to be shifting, especially as it seemed to be starting all over again, the music starting up once more. Snow closed her eyes. After all, she was still under the curse.

"Ah... it's time to start again. You don't have to stay for this, Yuri."

"Hm." Is knowing someone who's going to be in a lot of his classes a good thing? He isn't totally sure, he's never really taken classes with other people before.

It's... probably fine. He puts that thought in the back of his mind as the nightmare shifts, and he frowns. It's starting again? Yeesh, that's rough. He can feel his body fading, that kind of sensation you get when you're starting to wake up.

"... Guess I don't have much choice," he mutters, a little irritated about that before waking up.

january tdm/event post

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