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

[ Would that Xenk could give the boy an answer he wanted to hear. Alas, Xenk has never been good at lying, and to be dishonest to Kirk in his dreams would feel... disingenuous. But he has little time to worry when the monsters begin to descend upon them.

Under normal circumstances, Xenk would shift to better fight the creatures. His animal form, that of a lion, is better suited with its claws to fight inhuman beasts. But he cannot risk injuring Kirk -- the thought is rejected as soon as it strikes him. He promised to protect him, and protect him he shall.

Besides, this is a dream. If Xenk is suddenly wielding a sword and striking at any night terrors that approach him, then that's alright. He places himself between the monsters and Kirk, slashing and striking at too many wings and claws and eyes. The monsters strike him too, but even as gold blood drips from his wounds, he never falters. It would take far more than this to defeat Xenk Yendar.

Unfortunately, yeah, he's completely forgotten about the children in the cave. He has eyes for Kirk and Kirk alone. ]

[Unfortunately for Xenk, Kirk hasn't forgotten about the other children in the cave and even if he desperately wants to stay behind Xenk for his own protection, he can't--

He can't. It wouldn't be him if he did.]

Hold them off! I'll lead the others from the cave!

[With that, Kirk is off at a run, yelling for the night terrors heading for the cave to distract them, to pull them away and trying to make his way to the woods, but not before getting caught, grabbed by a clawed hand that bites into his skin--

Other night terrors go for the cave as the one holding him tightens it's grip.]

Xenk! The cave!

James!

[ Of course it wouldn't be Jim Kirk if he didn't make a ridiculous move to save others. Xenk is too busy holding off another wave of attacks to stop Kirk from running, and so he is unable to turn around until the creatures have grabbed Kirk.

He says protect the cave, but Xenk wants to protect Kirk. He's suddenly faced with a choice, and not long to think on it. Even his heightened vampiric sense wouldn't grant him much time here.

He has to save Kirk. But Kirk is a good man, just like Edgin. He would hate to be saved, just as he would hate to know others got hurt because he was safe. Xenk can do nothing for it, then.

He blinks once, takes a breath he doesn't need, and acts. ]

Unhand him!

[ Xenk says that, but he throws his sword at the one holding Kirk and dashes to the cave to try and fend off the ones threatening to descend there. This is a really big deal for him and he's not going to think about it. He's just trying to do what's right for Kirk, not because it's the right thing to do or anything! ]

[Something in him expected Xenk to come for him regardless, to let the kids die to their fate but instead the sword is thrown at the monstrous creature grasping him as Xenk runs into the cave. He watches the vampire do the exact opposite of what he expects.

He feels a swell of happiness as the creature drops Kirk, because it was so much more important to him that the kids were okay. That they would survive. And they would. In reality, only one of the group died that winter - Kirk kept them alive, even if every night he dreamed of this very situation, of being helpless to save the kids while he bleeds out watching them get slaughted. But tonight the kids would be safe, he wouldn't be useless because this time because he had Xenk with him.

Yet, this was still a nightmare, so by the time Xenk has finished fending off the wave of night terrors, Kirk is bleeding profusely at the feet of another night terror. Left to bleed out, staining the black and gold coat red with human blood, as it turns it's focus on Xenk once more.]

[ Xenk feels a deep sense of regret even as he wards off the night terrors from the cave, even as the shrieks from the night terrors and the cries of children in the cave grow quiet, indicating the oncoming safety. Of course, he knows this was the course of action that would bring Kirk the greatest relief, but it pains him to think of choosing strangers over the novice he has grown obsessed with, and may even care for, in his own strange way. ]

James!

[ Xenk rushes out of the cave as soon as the monsters retreat, finding Kirk's body in a pool of blood. This being a dream, it can't really be helped if Xenk somehow extends a hand to find the sword flying into it. Like magic, though that isn't something he has. ]

You will pay for how you've hurt him!

[ With those words alone, Xenk's eyes glow a bright gold, the night terror suddenly growing still. Its hands shake as they raise to its neck, and carefully, so carefully, the creature begins to claw out its own throat, shrieking loudly and stepping back to no avail. Xenk's control is absolute. He steps closer, approaching Kirk's bleeding body as the monster above him starts to writhe in pain and collapse, until it can no longer move or even fidget.

Xenk falls to his knees and leans up towards Kirk, attempting to cradle his head. This amount of blood is too great. Even the scent is intoxicating, though Xenk bites the inside of his cheek to keep himself present. ]

James. I did not -- I did not protect you. Forgive me.

[Kirk lays in the pool of his own blood as he looks towards the cave to see the kids there watching, scared but unharmed. And then the night terror dead in shrieks and gushes of blue blood, Xenk approaching him.

His head being cradled like he was something precious. The blood was far too great, there was no saving him, he was a goner, the fact he was alive at all still was probably dream logic. But he was.

He looks up at Xenk when the man apologizes and gives a nearly imperceptible shake of his head.]

No.. this is the first time they didn't die too, you saved them... Thank you.

[A shuddering gasp wracks his body, making him shake with pain and cold and fear. But if he was going to die.. at least he wasn't alone and watching the people he cares about slaughted.]

I rather it's like this...

I did not save you.

[ The dichotomy of such brutal death with so gentle a hold isn't lost on Xenk. He knows that Kirk must not have long -- that the dream is no doubt nearing its conclusion, or certainly that Kirk would soon wake.

But it makes it no easier to cradle the young Kirk in his arms as the blood pools and pools, red and human and enticing. But all Xenk does is take one of Kirk's bloody hands up to his lips, kissing his knuckles with care and reverence. ]

I am sorry.

[ Has Xenk ever spoken these words aloud???? Because wow. ]

[He coughs up some blood as he watches Xenk, some tears escaping his eyes from the pain. So many times he died in these nightmares, alone and a failure. Unable to save anyone. Everyone dead, again and again.

But this time, neither happened.]

You know.. I like this side of you..

[He manages a smile as he slowly fades, eyes going unfocused, a couple seconds pass before his hand goes limp in Xenk's hand, his breath leaving him in one final breath as James Kirk passes from his dream and into the waking world once more.]

James, I...

[ What a strange thing to say, and what a strange thing to be told, that in his failure and grief, Xenk can be likeable. He doesn't understand, even as he holds Kirk's body close and weeps for him, that this weakness might hold value, when it benefits no one.

Xenk wakes as soon as Kirk's life fades, finding himself in the dark of his room, in his own bed, alone as he has been his entire life. Well, perhaps not his entire life, but he suddenly finds himself gripped with an ache in his chest, and a headache he cannot fathom. His cheeks feel damp from crying.

How incredibly strange. ]

january tdm/event post

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cw graphic, forced suicide of a night terror

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hell yeah gold court shit

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