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

[ Bones draws his lips into a thin line. That's a question he's yelled and hollered about, even threatened to hurt people over before.

But he can tell Edgin isn't asking to be an asshole. And Joanna's right there, she wouldn't want to see her daddy mouthing off like some asshole. ]

No, I... Shit, it terrifies me.

[ That's a truth clawed from his chest. Why is it so easy to talk to Edgin? Is it just that he has a trustworthy face? Or that he knows how it feels? ]

She'll know I'm a monster.

I mean, sure. But you're still her dad.

[ And implicit in there is maybe the thing he doesn't say, that Bones has the option of doing so, while he doesn't.

But he's nice enough he'll give him an out ]

How old is she, now? Is this [he gestures at the scene ] ...current? Or at least, what you think would be?

Edited 2024-02-02 05:24 (UTC)

[ Bones releases a sigh, those words hitting him deep in his heart. It's true that he'll always be her father, but... in a way, that's what scares him. ]

She deserves... not this. [ He gestures towards his... everything. ] Someone better than me.

[ Sorry, Edgin, this dad is still deep in his self-loathing era. But it's kind of Edgin to keep him away from that particular thought. ]

Been about ten years, give or take, since the divorce so she'd be... shit, thirteen? Fourteen, maybe? She probably looks even more like her mother, now.

[ He looks back at her, watching the both of them. ]

Edited (icon) 2024-02-02 05:27 (UTC)

[ He gets it, though. Zia and Kira had deserved better, too. If it hadn't been for him, they'd still be alive.

Still, his heart breaks a little for Bones. He'd missed out on all the good years. All the growing up. Watching Kira grow up had been Edgin's favorite thing in the whole world.

But he won't say that. That would be cruel; rubbing salt in the wound. ]

It's been ten years for me, too.

[ He really did miss it all. And for what? His father's legacy? The bottom of a bottle? None of that really mattered, Bones knows that now. He had a good thing with Jocelyn and he fucked it all up. She'd kicked him out with good reason... but it still hurts.

It hurts that he couldn't be better. And it hurts that he still isn't.

At least Edgin seems to feel that, too. Leonard hasn't really ever talked about this to anyone, so to find someone who... actually gets it is. Well, it's something. ]

I'm sorry.

[ Sympathy is something Bones is used to giving, actually. He's seen so much death in his line of work, that it's easy. This isn't easy, though. There's nothing easy about knowing how it feels.

It's enough to put things into perspective. Leonard may not have seen his daughter in ten years, but she's alive. Edgin... sounded like that wasn't the case. Leonard can't imagine something hurting worse than that. ]

Shit, I am sorry. I... I'm an asshole.

[ Just in general, but also about this. He knows he's being insensitive. He sees so much death, but it was his father's death that really threw a wrench in him. Losing Joanna would destroy him. ]

You said her name was Kira, right? How old was she?

[ It's strange, to receive sympathy for this. He so rarely talks about it--although, it seems like he's talking about it more and more these days. Maybe in some ways, that was its own punishment. If he never talked about what happened, he'd never receive sympathy. If he never talked about what happened, he could continue to punish and blame himself. ]

It's fine, really. It's--I mean, I'm the one in your dream.

[ Intruding, on this sacred place. He wants to tell him they don't need to make this about him. But he can see how badly Bones needs this. Connection. The very thing Edgin had been denying himself for the last ten years.

Well.

At least, until Kirk had showed up into his life. That wasn't something he'd ever intended or expected.

Some days, he regrets having told him. Other days, he's glad he finally did. ]

Yeah, she was...she was 11.

[ His voice catches. Too young. She'd never see thirteen or fourteen. She'd never grow up and become a young woman. He'd never walk her down the aisle or complain at her about whether she's going to have children. Never see her smile again, never-- ]

She was a good kid. I'd say the best kid, but [ he laughs, looking over at Joanna ] I'm sure you feel the same way about yours.

[ Bones shakes his head. He knows the dream thing isn't Edgin's fault. He can't blame him for that -- and besides, Edgin has been nice enough not to be weird about it. There's plenty of vampires out there who'd tell you that you shouldn't give a shit about the humans you left behind when you became undying.

It's the reason Bones wouldn't talk about his daughter otherwise, really. Much as he wants to deny any kind of attachment, Bones has his job and he has his family and that's it. Well, he doesn't even have his family, really, but that's the reason he's so invested in medicine for treating thralls. That kind of medicine might help humans, too.

But Bones can believe that his daughter has a future. Even if he doesn't see it, he can sleep during the day knowing that she's out there. Edgin, though... honestly, it's a wonder he's even still standing. The day Joanna dies, Leonard is sure his heart'll die with her.

What can he even say to that? He sets a hand on Edgin's shoulder. He barely knows the man, but it's all he can do. No one can ease a wound like that. ]

Can't argue with that. [ He smiles sadly, more to play along with Edgin's obvious attempt. ] I might've made a lot of mistakes in my life, but she ain't one of 'em.

Edited (icon) 2024-02-02 06:07 (UTC)

[ There's a lot of days Edgin wonders how he's still around, too. He always tried to have an image of being all put together (you can take the man out of the con, but you can't necessarily take the con out of the man), but he'd spent plenty of nights getting drunk himself. He's been more mellow the last couple years, numb to the pain and tired of waking up having fallen asleep on the floor, but the pain never really goes away.

He mirrors Bones's sad smile when he pats him on the shoulder. What a touching, manly moment. Just two men, one patting the other on the shoulder in a true showing of masculine solidarity. ]

Yeah. I get that.

[ Edgin sighs, knowing he's about to overstep his place but committing to it anyway ]

I know I don't have any right to tell you how to live your life, but I think....you should try to see her. I think she'd want to see you. I can't imagine Kira having to grow up without one of her parents.

[ At least, he couldn't imagine it, but that'll be changing with that nightmare he shares with Xenk. ]

[ Just two sad dads who understand each other deeply. Nothing homoerotic about that. Bones looks straight into Edgin's blue eyes, his own silver reflected back at him. Something about that look tells him they have a lot more than just daughters in common.

Normally, Bones would take that suggestion and tell him where to shove it. Really, if it were anyone else, he'd be so aghast that he'd shove the man away and tell him to fuck off.

But Edgin is clearly speaking from experience. And his daughter's gone for good -- Bones has never thought of himself as lucky, but he feels damn blessed when compared to the grief Edgin's surely gone through. Still, it's not exactly easy to admit some guy who's in your dreams is right.

Leonard looks away, chest tight with every little thing he's always wanted to tell his daughter, and every little fear he's had of her rejecting him. ]

I know.

[ He sighs. It's so easy to talk to Edgin? It hurts like hell to say it, but he knows it's true. Still, serious conversations like these suck the energy right out of him, so he has to follow it up with something. ]

Pretty much guaranteed I ain't gonna live up to whatever she thinks of me, but... It'll be a helluva surprise when she finds out her dad's a bloodsucker.

[ These two can fit so much self-loathing. ]

Well, if it's any consolation, at least you don't have a form that looks like the stuff of people's nightmares.

[ It's not like Edgin's night terror form is a secret or anything, he's certainly used it before. But it isn't lost on him, either, that it's part of a very particular skill set that would terrify little girls. ]

[ That actually makes Bones laugh. It's true, Edgin definitely got the short stick in terms of vampire stuff. Silver is kind of just... nerdy. Her dad's not even a cool vampire! ]

Yeah, you got me there. All I can do is turn into a vulture. And give myself blue eyes.

[ Like, he passed his Blue Court classes, but they definitely thought he was a stick in the mud. And Bones isn't one to dwell, but. He does feel a little better about this now. And it's the most he's talked about his family in years. ]

Whaddya say? Would you go with me, if I ever actually went for it?

Blue is the best color, you know.

[ But he very clearly say it like it's what he's "supposed" to say--he's just teasing.

He's really touched by the offer, though. They don't know each other very well, and this is a big deal. ]

Yeah. It would be an honor to meet her.

Right. This the part where I say silver's better?

[ Bones huffs a laugh. Yeah, this rapport feels... nice. It feels easy. It feels very manly to joke about these things and understand each other and look into each other's eyes while you think about your family who's either dead or dead to you. ]

Well, if I ever work up to it and Revar lets me off the castle's leash, I'll let you know.

[ It's horrifying to even think about it, but having someone there... would help. Bones knows that. And Edgin seems to understand. It's as close as he's gotten to really acknowledging the possibility. ]

Maybe if you ask nicely. I managed to be let out to play at a tavern.

[ He laughs, a thought striking it. ]

We could always form a band.

[ That actually gets a laugh out of Bones. A band? ]

You serious? They'd never buy that.

[ He can't pretend he doesn't know how to play, but still. Of all the reasons... ]

I'd sooner get permission going out on some... I dunno, scouting mission for some rare herbs or something.

See, there you go. That could work.

[ Edgin would like to believe if he just asked, that would work too, but...they'd gotten a lot more strict about keeping people around lately. He kind of doubts playing in random taverns is on his dance card for the future. ]

I'll have to ask Revar, see what they say. I mean, they'd probably know if I was lyin' to 'em, but they might still let me anyway. If I play nice.

[ Revar is nice... Bones definitely appreciated having them around when he was a novice. Of course their hands might be tied, so that's unclear. He'll just have to see. ]

I mean, as long as you promise to come back....

[ well, it's all just speculation. And they're still stuck in this dream, which they should probably solve. ]

Any ideas on how to wake up?

Right? Reckon it can't hurt.

[ He shrugs. Though now that Edgin mentions waking up, that means he has to look back at his beautiful family. ]

I got no clue. Maybe something terrible happens to 'em? Ain't a nightmare yet, so maybe I just stay here long enough 'til I wake up.

[ He doesn't want to jinx it, but this is all speculative anyway. It was never real, even for all that it rips a hole in his heart. ]

Sorry for gettin' you stuck in here. Hadn't had one of these lucid dreams myself 'til this one.

It's really alright. You don't have to apologize to me. If anything, I should be apologizing for intruding.

[ but they both know it's not anyone's fault. weird shit like this happens. increasingly so, it seems like. ]

[ Bones shrugs, waving a hand dismissively. It's awkward enough as it is, sharing a part of himself that he keeps so hidden from others. ]

This is the last place I'd wanna be with anyone, at least you get it. Anyone else might've been... you know how it is. We're supposed to kill our old selves and all that.

[ Even saying it feels wrong, when all Bones' family has done is put cookies in the oven. He's definitely torturing himself, trying to keep this dream together, but he wants to cling to it as long as he can, intruder or no. ]

I guess I was never too good at killing.

Yeah, neither was I.

[ It's kind of crazy to think how much he and Bones have had in common this whole time, without ever realizing it. ]

[ And to think they were just one year apart... Bones really is having a "is this guy seriously so deeply on my wavelength?" moment. Like destiny found them and decided to stick them together.

He'll feel stupid if they both just sit around and don't say anything, so. Bones grumbles, holding out his hand. ]

Leonard McCoy. Or you can call me Bones. I think I've seen you around but I don't think I ever bothered sayin' hi.

[ He shrugs. ]

I'm not real "personable" or so they tell me.

[ Edgin takes it and shakes his hand (or does the cool ye olde time grab each other's wrist greeting, which is both cooler and more homoerotic if you ask me and it was a shame the d&d movie did not do it. Anyway...) ]

Edgin Darvis. It's nice to be formally acquainted.

[ Oh, this is definitely a cooler and better handshake than a usual one. D&D movie, you missed out. Way more homoerotic this way. ]

Same here. First time meeting a guy and spilling my guts out to 'im on the same dream, so congrats on that.

[ It would be way too awkward to acknowledge the sexual tension here so Bones is going to keep acting blase and not extremely touched that Edgin hasn't made this dream thing weird. ]

january tdm/event post

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cw mention of alcoholism

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cw:also sad dad alcoholism

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cw allusion to alcoholism

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cw drug mention

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