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

That's an excellent question.

[The humor is a little forced as he moves to sit on his bed, sitting cross legged on the covers as he watches Edgin. He looks away after a moment unsure where or how to start this conversation, but they had to have it. There was no more putting it off when so much came out in the dreams. He should have kept his mouth shut but...

He had been trying to offer comfort, a way to exact revenge, not... But in the end it was the way it was and there was no going back. There wasn't room for regret.]

I don't know how much of that was honest or the nightmare, but I dont want to lose you either. I mean, I had a whole breakdown on you about it, but.. you promised you wouldn't leave me even if I changed and I need to trust that.. trust you. [Because he does... somehow, some way he does.]

And the best I can do is promise the same: even if I change courts, you'll still have me. You're stuck with me.

I know.

[ He knows and trusts Kirk wants that to be true, at least. He knows it isn't personal, on some level. But he also knows that the world is complicated and changes make everything difficult. ]

I've already told you I won't stop you. It's your life, your undying. You have to do what's best for you.

I know, that's why even knowing that you want me to stay, experienced how badly you do, I cant. I'm not gonna let that stop me.

[The decision was already made, they both know that. They were just both putting it off by pretending to be ignorant of that fact, but it was already a forgone conclusion.

Kirk was going to Gold.

He doesn't say sorry because it feels hollow.]

But I meant it. I'll help you.

I didn't ask you to stay.

[ there's a note of frustration to his voice for a moment, but he takes moment to dial it back. ]

That was just a nightmare. [ a nightmare where he'd literally killed Zia, too. He'd like to think his actions in it don't count. ] What counts is what people do. How they act on their feelings.

When you learn to start reading minds all the time, you'll find out plenty of people think and feel all kinds of things. But it doesn't mean that they want to act on them.

And, yeah, obviously some part of me is really damn scared and wants you to stay. But I'd never ask that of you. That's what matters.

[ he sighs and runs a hand through his hair ]

I don't know what I want to do. It's been ten years. I've had my chance to mourn.

Edited 2024-02-03 05:49 (UTC)

True, you didn't and haven't, I know you wouldn't. I just.. I've never had someone want me to stay, so..

[He scratches at his cheek while trying to think. Was he making this too personal? Reading too much into all of this? It was impossible to tell. The dream felt so real yet it wasn't. It felt like Edgin was finally letting himself be honest. If he had heard those words even a month ago he wouldn't even consider Xenk, yet it was too late and they both knew it.]

Hard to ignore you saying you don't want me to go. [Especially when he feels the same.

He sighs and scrubs at his face.]

Let me at least find where they buried Kira, get you some closure. You both deserve that much at least.

You're making this really hard.

[ After a day of nightmares, Edgin is exhausted. He's trying to be a good person and a good mentor but it's difficult. He did mean what he said, but not in the way he'd acted on it in the nightmare. But he did care about Kirk.

He did love Kirk.

But he doesn't have a right to be selfish about this. And yet there's Kirk standing right there telling him no one has ever wanted him to stay and it breaks his heart into a million pieces and he doesn't know what to do because telling him to stay is unfair but letting him believe no one wants him isn't right either.

They've fought about this before though. It's like grasping for straws to try and remember what he had said about, then. Mostly, tired like this, he just remembers fighting and then sex. Which is not helping. ]

I'm trying to support you. I really am. But I'm [ he realizes he's about to say "only human" except that isn't true at all at he laughs a little hollowly ] still just some guy at the end of the day. Someone who, like most people who meet you, fell into your orbit and can't imagine falling out of it.

[ someone who is hopelessly in love with him. ]

We both know you're going to Gold Court no matter what I say, though. So why make this harder on us?

[ he hasn't forgotten the offer about Kira, but they need to get through this part first. ]

[He grimaces a little at the words, but they are true, they are honest. He was making this harder when he doesn't mean to. That's not his intention at all, yet he.. Yet, he said what he said and that's on him. Edgin was trying to hard for him, he can see that. Pushing his emotions aside for him.

What does he want? For Edgin to hold on to him with his claws and make the dream a reality? No. That wasn't good for either of them.]

Ah, fuck, no you're right I--

[He takes a deep breath and nods. It was his turn to shelve his emotions. His turn to swallow the cloying feelings that were mucked up in his own abandonment issues and trauma. Those weren't Edgin's fault, so why should he make the vampire responsible for it.]

You're right. That wasn't fair of me, to either of us. I didn't think before I said it. [He sighs, giving him a smile now. A little forced but still real.]

But.. I don't think you realize the orbit you have me caught up in either. I think we're both scared that without this claim to tether us, we'll float away, but you had me from the first time I saw you play the lute at that bar.

You don't have to be scared that I'll leave.

[ Kirk is the golden boy. The prized stallion. The one everyone wants. Edgin is just a washed up vampire who plays the lute and gets really sad. He knows there's a big difference here. He doesn't doubt one day Kirk will meet his goals. Edgin doesn't really have any. ]

James, I....

[ He clears his throat. Oh, gods--Founders, whatever--he's really doing this. He's going to tell him. He doesn't want it to be something he said in the dream that doesn't count because he never wants to say it out loud. It's been on the tip of his tongue for awhile now, threatening to come out in the afterglow of sex, lurking around corners of conversation and waiting for Edgin to put his guard down enough that it slips out.

It's just that before, he was always so scared that saying it would push Kirk away. But now he's afraid if he doesn't say it, it'll be too late, and Kirk will never know. ]

I want you to know that what I said in the nightmare about you being someone I love, that's true.

[ Edgin looks down at his hands, fidgeting, but then looks up at Kirk, trying to keep eye contact even though it's hard because this is important. ]

I love you.

And that's why I'm not going anywhere, okay? Because I take that very seriously. I don't leave the people I love behind.

[ In this, his words are confident. He might carry a lot of guilt about how his actions got his family killed, but he never once abandoned them. ]

Edited 2024-02-03 17:07 (UTC)

[He's about to reassure Edgin that he knows he won't leave, that he trusts it, even if the fear lingers irrationally. But when he calls him James.. well he knows whatever Edgin is about to say is important. The man never says his name like that unless he's about to gut punch him with some emotion that will leave him breathless.

And the vampire delivers.

Luckily, he's pretty confident in the fact that Edgin doesn't say it with the expectation of it being said back, because Kirk doesn't want to say it back until he's sure he feels the same, because love is a big scary emotion and he would never want to do Edgin the discourtesy of saying it flippantly. He does care a whole hell of a lot for Edgin though and his heart swells with that emotion, easily spilling over into their connection.

Getting up, he moves over to Edgin to take his hand, holding it. There is a tremble in it.]

I know. That's why I'm gonna trust you despite any irrational fears, because I don't abandon the people I care about either, so you're stuck with me.

[He might have been abandoned a lot, but he never abandoned them. Once he sets his sights on someone, they're stuck with him, for better or worse.]

You're gonna get so sick of me one day.

[He laughs when he says it, injecting humor into the moment, his smile more genuine.]

Thank you.

[ When he feels that tremble in Kirk's hand, he brings it up to his lips and kisses it. Trying to give him whatever comfort he might need to know he's not alone. ]

I know it's hard. But I really appreciate your trust.

And let me decide whether I'm gonna get sick of you, alright?

[It was hard, he's not really had to trust someone before - had people trust him but not the other way really. It was a strange and new experience, it was difficult, but honestly, he was glad for it. If he was going to be a leader one day, he needed to learn what trust was.

Edgin was someone he knows he can trust, the vampire was so open and honest. So as terrifying as it was, he nods, because he was going to trust him.]

Yeah, I can do that, though you're not gonna shake me off even if you do.

[He leans forward to capture a kiss, soft and intimate and full of an emotion he doesn't want to name.]

Can't say I'm mad about that.

[ Oh...but that kiss. It makes him have butterflies in his stomach, his dead heart stirs. He kisses him back, soft and gentle. Now that he's named this thing between them, he's not afraid to put his whole heart into it. ]

Good.

[Putting his arms around Edgin, he holds the vampire close as they kiss with such emotion, soft and gentle. Something deeply intimate and warm. Kirk wasn't even making it sexual, he just wanted to indulge in their connection.]

[ Edgin is happy to indulge him, as much as he needs. He holds him back in kind, keeping him close as he returns the warm kiss (or at least, as warm as he can be, as a vampire).

This is going much better than he was worried it was going to. Maybe he shouldn't have been so afraid. What they have is really strong. Special. ]

[It is strong and special, it was important to Kirk. Almost enough so to stop him from his goals and ambitions, but now he was sure he could use those to also help Edgin. To do more for the vampire than he currently can. He wants that more than anything, to repay him for taking a chance on some fucked up bumpkin.

The kiss is warm and intimate, the way their tongues dance and move together, it was bliss. The trust they were both giving each other meant the world to Kirk. He would do whatever he could to not betray that.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

january tdm/event post

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