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

Don't call me that.

[ Bones snaps, mostly a scoff. We always knew James Kirk was into dilfs. Bones is not amused, but he's also aware that Jim is a star student (outside of his classes, maybe) so he isn't in a rush to cause trouble for him. (Pulling shit like this in class would get him stabbed, tough.)

Damn if the brat doesn't ask for it sometimes. His stupid pulse is beating so loud Bones can hear it. It shouldn't be attractive—novices in their second season smell more like their makers than humans, but maybe Bones has a type too—annoying little twinks.]

Somehow I'm not surprised that you're practically rushin' to your death. Now buzz off.

[ You know what? He's gonna flick him on the neck. Unfortunately it just makes his veins stand out more. Dammit, being a doctor sucks sometimes. Yeah, touching him was a mistake. ]

Edited 2024-02-02 01:33 (UTC)

Aw, don't be like that. I bet you like it.

[He plays along, but he's going to keep using that nickname, you better believe it, because old Sawbones here is just that and Kirk can't help but not want to call him McCoy or Leonard. He could, obviously, but he doesn't want to.

The flick makes him flinch and give a startled little "ah" but other than reaching up to rub at it with his fingers, he doesn't seem to mind, more glad that the other man wanted to touch him.]

Come on, Bones, I can't leave you here alone. Let's dance, we can even step on the balcony right there and keep it private between the two of us. Hm?

[He tilts his head in that inviting way, his grin luminous.]

I don't.

[ Says Bones, who actually doesn't mind the nickname. It's a callback to him being a doctor, so he doesn't mind that part. It's the familiarity he's not big on—much as he might have a soft spot for novices, people aren't supposed to know that. ]

You think I don't wanna dance cause I don't want people seein' me?

[ He scoffs. OK, this is a challenge now. The balcony really does sound nice, but he's not going to let some kid show him up.

Bones reaches for him then, reaching a hand over to grab Jim by the neck and pull him towards the dance floor. ]

Let me show you a thing or two, kid.

[Kirk squints as if to say "you sure because I think you do" but chooses not to say it out loud, instead just giving the vampire a smile. It was too late, he was already going to be too familiar with you, Bones, that's a foregone conclusion. Might as well get used to it.

And then... Oh.

Oh.

Did Bones take that as a challenge? Is that how he's getting under the vampire's veneer of "leave me alone" by making him feel like he needed to prove something? Kirk here was just trying to get him to dance, trying to accommodate him if he didn't want to be seen dancing with Kirk (or anyone), but--

Then he's being grabbed by the neck and pulled to the dancefloor and Kirk is here for it. Senpai noticed him~]

I would love to learn a thing or two about how to move my body from you.

[Once on the dancefloor he takes the man's hand and puts himself in the follow position, gladly.]

You have my undivided attention.

[ It was a polite suggestion. Which is perhaps why Bones was especially ticked off. How does some kid who's barely been here for a season just act like he can show up and figure Bones out? It's annoying as all hell is what it is. Bad enough he's a pain in class, now this?

It'd be one thing if Jim actually followed up his kindness with... anything but that. But Bones knows a thing or two about hiding kindness. Doesn't mean he doesn't roll his eyes to high heaven when Jim says that terrible line. ]

You actually win anyone over with that big mouth of yours?

[ Bones takes the lead, easing them into whatever music is playing. ]

One thing you're gonna learn is that I hate dancing. I hate it almost as much as I hate bratty novices who don't take no for an answer.

[ Technically I think this means he actually likes dancing. ]

Sure do.

[It was a terrible line, but he gets a reaction from it and that's all he cares about. He's not sure why he wants Bones' attention so much, he's just so.. gravitationally pulled towards the vampire. Maybe also because he really wants to kiss that stupidly handsome mug. Yeah that.

Yeah, he really hates Kirk soooooo much that he's dancing with him now. Sure Bones, he sees you. But he knows better than to point that out and have this end prematurely. Nope, he's gonna bask in the attention of having Bones' hand on his waist as they dance together across the floor.

Right now he's winning and not about to lose out on his dance with one of his favorite guys.]

You know, for something you hate so much, you're pretty good at it. Did you use to dance a lot?

[ Bones meanwhile is pretty sure he hates Kirk more than he hates the sun. So why's he orbiting him now, huh?? Pretty gay to think a guy is like the sun when you're moon-coded, Leonard. ]

Unbelievable.

[ Bones rolls his eyes again, scoffing at Jim's obvious probing. Whatever, maybe it'll get the kid off his back. Even if, yes, he is enjoying this a little. ]

Yeah, well it turns out you can be good at a thing you used to like doin', but hate now! I used to dance with my wife, back when we were young. And now I hate it, because it's a stupid waste of time. [ He forces on the fakest smile, sarcasm dripping. ] Did that satisfy your curiosity, Jim?

[That's super gay, Leonard. Thinking Jim is like the sun, the one thing you have to keep away from not because you hate it but because you're scared of getting hurt by it.

He's curious to learn things about this man, so he listens intently, truly giving the vampire his undivided attention. It's not like the dance was all that complicated either, it was nice and smooth going, he just loved to listen to that drawl.]

A little, got to say it gives me more questions though. [The knowing smile he gives him is something.]

But it's not a waste of time when it's something to do while we chat. So what made you hate it so much?

[ Jim's stupidly intent attention should be annoying, but it isn't. The fact is he looks honestly interested, which is irritating, but it's not the worst thing in the world. Bones just has to act like it, or he'll never get rid of him. ]

I'll just bet.

[ Bones rolls his eyes again, leading them through the steps. He's actually quite careful in his movements, graceful in a way he clearly has to make an effort to be. A natural he ain't.

Still, Jim's question gives him a chance to be mean again—not in what he says, but how he says it. Like, aren't you an asshole for asking this, Jim? ]

Because my wife left me. She took the kid and kicked me out.

[ Again, the most belligerent tone you can imagine. ]

[Too late, Bones, you're never getting rid of him regardless. You're stuck with him for the rest of your unlife.]

What can I say, I want to know you, Bones.

[His voice is a little lower, his smile sincere, there's no bravado and humor there, just honest wish to get to know the man that he's dancing with. The dance is good and careful, it's obvious Bones isn't a natural, but he wasn't bad it and really, it was one hell of a way to get Bones all to himself for a bit.

Too bad for Bones that Kirk doesn't feel like an asshole for asking. Bones brought her up first really.]

Oh, well her loss, my gain. Maybe you can think of it as something you do with me now, huh? Maybe you'll grow to like it again.

[Kirk is fucking sunshine burning through a storm cloud.]

[ What is it about Jim that makes his sincerity hit right? Bones really can't figure him out. He almost believes that he really wants to know him. He has to ask. ]

...Why?

[ It makes him feel something, that Jim doesn't just pity him for the wife thing. That he just takes that in stride, or like he means what he says. Dammit. If Bones weren't so focused on dancing, he'd probably have harsher words for Jim, but mostly he's just... confused?

There's no part of Leonard that would want to forget the dancing he did with his ex-wife, but he doesn't hate this either. Which is why he has to grumble, and act like he truly hates this. ]

Don't push your luck, kid. If you really wanna talk, we don't gotta dance for that. Though playin' 20 questions ain't my idea of fun, either.

Because I like you.

[Simple and sincere, he means it exactly as he says it. He doesn't expect anything out of this other than a hope for the man's friendship. Well, and a hope to maybe have his flirting go somewhere because Bones is hot, but he doesn't actually expect anything.

And really, Bones was being nice to him now that he had more to do than just stand there and yell at him, so really, he was gonna take advantage of the situation. He wants to get to know this vampire and this was one way to do it, then so be it.]

Really? Well, then after this dance let's find a nice quiet place to talk, just us. [He can't stop the grin that makes it a little suggestive. He tried to resist, really he did.]

And you can ask me something back. I'm an open book.

Anyone ever tell you you got bad taste?

[ Bones is gonna choose to take that comment in a non-sexual way, if only because he thinks Kirk's a young little upstart and also clearly out of his league (I mean, what?) A washed up drunk doctor and the star novice that two makers are fighting over? Yeah, Bones does not want to touch that with a 10-foot pole.

He rolls his eyes and sighs. Something tells him it would be futile to keep fighting a guy like Jim. He doesn't know when to quit. And it's not like his offer isn't equitable, even if he is a little shit. ]

We'll just see about that. [ They are still dancing, though the music is winding down. But maybe Bones doesn't quite believe it. He still asks: ] You sure you wanna spend the rest of the evening talking to some old doctor? Ain't you got people to woo or hearts to break or something?

I'll have you know my tastes are impeccable.

[He acts affronted, but he grins so quickly afterwards that it's obviously taken in good humor. Part of him wonders how to make Bones laugh, wanting to see the man smile. It was part of what drove him to bother the vampire so much. That and Bones has a familiar feel to him. Like he's known the vampire before even meeting him.

And he knows that kind of eyeroll and sigh, that's the "I give up" kind. He was not above taking that as a win!]

Absolutely, I can't think of a better way to spend the evening than chatting with my favorite doctor. Besides, maybe the person I wanna woo is right in front of me.

[He gives him a charming smile.]

[ Bones huffs a laugh, more like a grumble as he shakes his head. "Impeccable," sure buddy. Sure. He's not buying that. ]

Unbelievable.

[ Something tells him this kid could give him gray hairs even though Leonard's done aging. Still, the songs ends far too quickly in Bones' opinion, like fate is conspiring to get them alone or something. But that's ridiculous. Maybe fate is taking pity on him, and wants to get this over with so that Bones doesn't have to hear more of these awful lines.

That damn smile really is charming, though Bones resists with full force. He starts to tug Jim towards one of the balconies, maybe a little roughly. Right, the sooner they talk, the sooner they can get this over with! ]

You gotta get better material, kid. Only 'wooing' I'm doing is a whoop of laughter after you get what you want from me and get gone.

[Getting even that much of a laugh feels like a victory, he was slowly wearing the vampire down. But his tastes were sublime when you take in people like Bones and Edgin being among them. But again... he has a type.

The song does end too quickly, because he doesn't want to put distance between them, he wants to stay close and intimate with McCoy, but also getting to be alone with the man sooner was also appealing. So he doesn't begrudge the song too much, especially when Bones takes him by the hand and pulls him roughly out onto the balcony.

Dang okay Bones, people gonna think you wanna make out with him with how quickly you're going from dancing to alone on the balcony.

At least Kirk knows better, even if he's grinning like he's won something.]

Then you'll be waiting a while, Bones. So, what's your favorite color?

[Is he joking? Maybe.]

[ Poor Bones isn't good at these social games, he really doesn't think about how it'll look for a youngblood to drag a ribbon-less novice off to a balcony. Oh, well. He'll bark anyone's head off who tries to get him involved in any gossip.

That stupid grin shouldn't be so damn endearing. It's annoying as hell is what it is. But at least away from the ballroom, Bones can breathe a little easier. Not that he needs to. ]

Blue. [ He crosses his arms, almost daring Kirk to make a joke about it. You don't have to like a court to like a color. ] You got 19 left, kid. Better make 'em count.

[What?! He gets to actually ask 20 questions? Hell yeah. Part of him isn't even mad that he kind of wasted one, but it's good, blue was good to know. Definitely. He didn't regret it at all. Still, he has to think hard about it. What all does he want to ask. Hm hm hm.]

Well your turn next, this game goes both ways, I did promise to be an open book.

[The grin stays as he hops up to sit on the railing of the balcony, right next to Bones.[

[ Bones has found that setting a hard limit works wonders for upstart brats like Jim Kirk. Or maybe he doesn't mind his attention that much, and 20 seems like a fair amount.

Nope, definitely the former. The thought of asking this kid 20 questions is exhausting, but he might as well get the easy ones out of the way. He throws up his hands. ]

Alright, fine. Where you from?

Edited (icon) 2024-02-05 05:30 (UTC)

[Excellent, Bones took the bait. If they both ask 20 questions then it will be a nice long conversation. He wanted to talk to him for a while, even if he might get stabbed with the scalpel that was likely hidden somewhere on the vampire.

Who knows, maybe his bare neck will eventually be too enticing for him to resist.]

The North. I lived in Riverside for most of my life. How about you?

[ It's definitely more likely to be the latter, as the night goes on. Bones hasn't been a vampire for too long—he keeps up and he has a flask with some bloodwine, but this kind of one-on-one time with a novice is weird.

Really, he just wants to shut Jim up. But he can't seem to get out of his orbit now that he's stuck here. Being from the North piques his interest. ]

Riverside... I know the place. I was a few hours south, but I saw patients from there sometimes. Usually bad ones.

[ He doesn't say it, but he knows that that far north, you saw a lot of night terrors. Does he feel bad for the kid? No way. Bones shrugs again, keeping his eyes away from Jim's neck. ]

Alright, that's 18. What's your favorite color?

[ It's clear that he's trying to keep himself from caring, this is a filler question at best. ]

Edited (more transparent) 2024-02-05 16:52 (UTC)

[There are easier ways to shut him up Bones. Like kissing him. That's honestly the best way to shut him up. Biting him works too, you can bite him.

But his eyebrows go up at the mention of being close enough to Riverside to have treated people. He can't help but squint his eyes and look Bones over, trying to see if he recognizes the vampire, but surely Bones has been a vampire long enough that he wouldn't have treated a starving child.]

Maybe we've run into each other before, being so close to Riverside and all.

[There was something deeply familiar about him.]

And this will surprise you, but blue. [He grins.] What's your animal form?

[ Bones sighs, disbelieving. He can't imagine Jim was ever all that sick, with how well he looks now, all grown. But that's just his bias talking. If he looked closely, he might notice, but he's trying very hard not to look closely. ]

Would've had to be nine or ten years ago, at least. I ran my daddy's clinic from the day he died till the day I came to Courtsheart.

[ Not that Leonard expects Jim to have been a patient, but maybe he knows somebody who was? Hell, as long as it was someone Bones saved and not someone who died, he wouldn't mind hearing about it. He doesn't help people to get in their good graces, but he got into medicine to save lives, even if he's a vampire now. ]

Blue, huh? Guess you got the court for it.

[ He's still halfway from what Bones can tell, but there's an unmistakable amount of blue in his eyes. Second season. Guess his question isn't too much out of left field. ]

A vulture. Bearded vulture, technically. Real poetic with the creepy doctor vibe I got goin' on.

[ He's heard it all before, so he cuts it off at the pass. But he follows his answer with a harder question—mostly to see if he can throw Jim off his guard.
]

What do you want out of Courtsheart? You here to survive, or do you have some kinda plan?

Edited (timing) 2024-02-06 02:10 (UTC)

It's real possible then.

[Now that he really looks at Bones.. was he the doctor he saw that one time? It was a really fuzzy memory, trauma and starvation do that to you, but.. He leans a little closer, head tilted to the side to show off that neck unintentionally.

He thinks about asking but Bones is pushing forward, so for the moment he shelves it.]

Vulture, so you get to fly. I'm hoping for a bird form.. well I mean, getting to be Blue I guess I will get a lot of them, but I'm hoping I get something that flies as my natural form. I want that freedom under my wings.

[He leans back again, a little precariously over the edge of the railing he's on.]

Mix. To survive yeah, never had so much easy access to food before. But.. I also have goals I want to accomplish, things I need to do, I need to be strong enough to do them. [He looks up at the sky for a second, like the stars are saying something to him, before looking back at Bones.]

How about you? Why are you here?

[ Bones seriously doubts it. Destiny is bullshit, and most of the people he helped tended to die to other causes once they left his clinic. Death was something he just had to get used to. Doesn't mean he isn't scared to death about the chance of running into someone he helped save. What kind of life did he give them, if they just ended up turning undead?

Yeah, those are thoughts for another time. Or maybe never. ]

Yup. Birds aren't too common, but they're alright. Only thing is flying gets boring. 's not like we can go out during the day, so we just have the stars to guide us.

[ He looks up too. He didn't mean for that to sound poetic or anything, he just said what he was thinking. The stars have always comforted him, even before he became a vampire. Plus looking up at the stars is at least easier than looking down at Jim's neck. The man sure knows how to pull off "tempting" while making it look easy.

Though it's startling to hear Jim comment on food—had he really been starved before? It wasn't unheard of, but most kids who did didn't survive to Jim's age. Leonard had seen quite a few kids during his tenure, too. Was it possible...?

Nah, no way. And besides, it doesn't matter. They're here now, and he'll only drown if he thinks too hard on the past. ]

I wanted to be here.

[ It's a plain admission, one he knows is a rarity for most men like him—men who still hold some level of value in their own humanity. Well, arguably. He still thinks like a human, or so he would think so. He's doing a great job of holding himself back from biting Jim.

Instead he ends up being far too honest, and he nearly regrets speaking the moment the words come out. ]

I want to heal people—cure illnesses, find out what makes 'em spread and how to prevent 'em. I was done being powerless and stupid. I wanted to learn more, and this is the place to do it.

[ He sounds angry to admit it. It'd be too much to sound sincere like this. Maybe since Jim is still human, he won't judge him too much for it. ]

I know it's fucking corny, so get your laugh in before I ask my next question.

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