March TDM/Event - Spring Nox

[undyingmods]

MARCH TDM - SPRING NOX

A NEW SEASON BEGINS

Welcome to the Undying Court's March Test Drive Meme! This post also functions as the March Event for existing characters, as well as the start of the Spring Season, led by the Red Court.

New novices who are in their second season or more may handwave or backdate the previous season's arrival prompts should they wish to, and should 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 April 3-7, with invites opening on March 28, and reserves not long after!

Note that this post will contain: violence, enthrallment, slavery, body horror and potentially sexual content. Spring has many surprises! This event also features a chance for characters to submit a free Cosmetic Physical Features Regain, as a reward for the Hanahaki prompt.

Feel free to brush up on the Premise, Vampire Powers, and head over to the FAQ/Game Info page if you have any questions!

• Keep in mind that this event will be occurring throughout the month of March and into April, 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!
• Our new Locations page is live! Take a look if you've ever wondered what exactly lies in the castle.

Top-Level Directory:

Chat with NPC: Revar, Kashire, Claudia

New Characters/TDM:
All For The Game - Name - Black Court, Novice
Detroit: Become Human - Connor - Black Court, Novice
Durarara!! - Shizuo Heiwajima - Black Court, Youngblood
Game of Thrones - Daenerys Targaryen - Gold Court, Youngblood
Game of Thrones - Jon Snow - Black Court, Youngblood
Honkai Star Rail - Argenti - Red Court, Youngblood
The Locked Tomb - Harrowhark Nonagesimus - Silver Court, Youngblood
The Locked Tomb - Gideon Nav - Silver Court, Novice
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic - Princess Luna - Black Court, Novice
Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid - Lucoa - Blue Court, Youngblood
Nevermore - Lenore - Blue Court, Novice
Original - Giselle du Sang - Blue Court, Youngblood
Original - Matt Jamison - Red Court, Novice
Original - Sharel Anathrime - Undecided Court, Novice
Return to Labyrinth - Sarah Williams - Red Court, Youngblood
Supernatural - Ava Wilson - Black Court, Novice

Current Characters:
Accelerator (Yuri) - Silver Court, Novice
Astarion - Red Court, Youngblood
Cal Kestis - Silver Court, Novice
Conrad Achenleck - Red Court, Youngblood
Eden Woods - Silver Court, Novice
Edgin Darvis - Blue Court, Youngblood
Harlock - Blue Court, Novice
Leonard "Bones" McCoy - Silver Court, Youngblood
Lockwood - Gold Court, Youngblood
Lydia - Red Court, Youngblood
Raphael - Red Court, Youngblood
Snow White - Silver Court, Novice
Trilla Suduri - Black Court, Novice
Xenk Yendar - Gold Court, Youngblood

SPRING ARRIVAL

New arrivals will be starting their first season in the Spring, and they're welcomed to the castle under the watchful eyes of the Red Court. Upon arrival, they will be shown to a room by humans whose eyes glow softly from within, with vacant smiles. Thralls. There, the human thralls will draw them a bath and bring them new clothes to wear to their first meeting. These are rich, expensive things made of high quality fabric. Whether it's a silk dress and a heavy velvet cowl, or a fine pants and a vest made from a brocade, the servants will provide whatever is requested of them. The new initiate's old clothes will be burned after, in a symbol of the life they are leaving behind. If they are hungry, they will be provided food. If they need anything at all, they need only ask their new servants.

Later that night, new novices are taken to a grand hall, with high arched ceilings and candles burning in chandeliers. There are figures painted overhead, beautiful and entwined. Some have their eyes are colored to match the courts, others are gracefully placed in their death, with blood dripping from necks and wrists.

Balconies line the hall behind a forest of pillars, and vampires all watch as the group walk through (some more hungrily than others).

"Welcome to your first undying season, initiates." a fair-skinned vampire with full, crimson lips that match her crimson eyes steps forward. With dark brown curls, a plunging gown, and a broadsword strapped to her back, the woman commands the attention of everyone in attendance. Her hair falls halfway down her back, and holds herself with a surety and ease to her posture that proves her sword isn't simply for show. She stands at the center of a wide semi-circle of other vampires, "My name is Claudia. As the Red Court's acting voice for the Spring season, allow me to introduce you to the Houses that will be your new homes."

The vampire, Claudia, gives the newcomers an overview of all of the courts—Blue, Red, Gold, Silver, and Black—and then invites those already claimed by their Courts to join the vampires who will be their Makers.

Claudia offers the Foundlings who are left a sharp, knowing smile, and waves a hand, allowing them to be chosen. They are like the last sheep left at the auction, and the vampires who take them may not be the enthused about it. Nevertheless, Claudia waits until all have found a maker, nodding imperceptibly as the last are paired off.

Now that they are paired up it is expected—indeed, required—that the initiate drink from their maker. That is their Beginning. Only once they have truly begun can they can be considered novices.

"Makers, your responsibility to your novices begins today," she declares, a red-eyed apprentice appearing behind her. The apprentice -- for her eyes are too red to be a novice, is blond and pale, and dressed in reds to match her Maker. She's an unfamiliar face in the castle, even for those who have been here for some time. Whispers follow them as she and Claudia step away from the center of the room. Her apprentice, however, remains bound like a livewire, predatory in her gaze as it lands on the season's new novices. "Come along, Silvea," calls Claudia, and for a moment Silvea hesitates, though she follows as instructed. Bit of an odd duck, this one.

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SPRING NOX

The Spring Nox consists of two events: an Arena and a Salon. The pageantry of the Nox springs up quickly, with Red Court banners unfurling throughout the castle and greenery put on display (the tame kind, one assumes).

Some may find the Arena most interesting. A complicated tournament requiring combatants to use an array of weapons, vampires from all over come to the castle to compete. Although of course the Red Court would argue the true spirit of the Arena is to show off the finesse and skill of the competitors, many vampires attend because of the thrill all the bloodshed brings. Some rounds, the blood in the air becomes so much it can be intoxicating. Good thing there are always thralls close at hand to drink from! Novices are, of course, off limits.

Normally, this tournament is held only amongst vampires. Even Youngbloods struggle against their mature counterparts, whose strength and speed are increased with their age. But this year, Claudia announces that one novice will be allowed to compete.

In order to choose that novice, Claudia and the Red Court are holding a novice tournament prior to the Arena. The prize? A permanent pass from the Red Court. This means that even should the winner never take another Red Court class again, they would have the Red Court's favor. In a world where failing means enthrallment, a guaranteed pass is far better than gold. Of course, no one expects the novice to actually win in the real arena events, but it'll be a very exciting way to lose spectacularly.

((Note: Students can sign up for the Novice Tournament here. The winner will be chosen via RNG once applications are processed. (In other words, new characters can sign up too!))

But not everyone is interested in bloodsport. Some may find themselves drawn, instead, to the Salon. This yearly event brings the most creative minds from all the lands to hold readings and discussions on art old and new. Some sessions are small, informal gatherings around one or two speakers. Others are large, reminiscent of the Silver Court's symposium sessions. There is guaranteed to be something for everyone, and anyone is welcome to reserve a space and hold a session, regardless of whether they are a vampire or not.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Red Court event without bloodwine and seduction, either. The Red Court maintains an expansive definition of art. It is not uncommon to find steamy poetry readings full of half-clothed vampires, pieces of art where the artist is a living (or unliving, as the case may be) subject, or interactive rooms with paint and other objects meant to be played with. Art is so often about the observer, after all.

A particular highlight this year is of a traveling group of vampires, the Dragulettes, who use makeup and clothing to change their gender rather than using masks. Their outfits range from the silly to the sexual, and they will be performing a series of popular folk songs. They are well known for their humor between their songs and their critiques of the way that humans put so much stock on gender and its false dichotomies. Their show will be on the same stage NECK*SINK played on, and draws a very large crowd as vampires young and old laugh and cheer for the show.

A FLOWERING SICKNESS

The change of season brings more than just warmer weather, as last month's pollinating flowers have begun to bloom all across the castle! But it isn't just the grounds and the gardens that are sporting bright, beautiful flowers now that the snow has begun to recede. Sprouts and blooms appear almost overnight along the castle halls and walls, from the brightest to the darkest recesses of the castle, where flowers have no business growing at all. Where have they come from, and how are they blooming? The Red and Silver Courts have yet to find the cause, but the fact is the flowers are here -- and for now, they're here to stay.

But as the Spring Nox passes and the Spring celebrations continue, novices, youngbloods, even some mature vampires, begin to suffer from a strange, inexplicable cough, with seemingly no cure. As the days pass, those afflicted will begin to cough up petals tinged with blood. Later still, the affliction advances so that those infected begin coughing up entire flowers, with novices reporting trouble breathing, and youngbloods reporting discomfort in their chests -- beneath their lungs.

Those in the most advanced stages may find thorns sprouting forth from their bodies, with the truly severe cases becoming overrun with vines and blooms, as the victims become enclosed by plants from the inside out, and transformed into still, lifelike trees. While the rate and speed at which the affliction worsens seems to vary from person to person, the castle's walkways are soon littered with bloody petals and fretful thralls.

Fortunately for all, while the origin of the affliction remains unknown, the Silver Court finds the curse's name within their records: Hanahaki. This flower-blooming curse buries its roots in the hearts of those with unmet desires. Whether that desire is for love, attention, hatred, approval, or even food, any strong desire is enough to spark life into the pollen so many ingested the month prior, and for the curse to take root. Luckily, once that desire is met, the flowers will wither and die, vanishing without a trace.

And for those whose desires are never met? Well, fortunately for them, flowers only bloom for so long. Anyone who advances to the final stage of the curse will only be afflicted by it for ten days' time, after which the flowers will fade away, starved for lack of nutrients. During this time, those affected can be assisted by others, if they happen to know that person's desire is. Or you could try watering them, that might help? (It doesn't help.)

((As with last month's pollen event, this prompt is completely optional! Flowers can represent whatever players want, and can affect characters as much or as little as you wish. Unmet desires can be anything from a desire for love and companionship, to "wanting to get a good grade in class," being noticed by your senpai or maybe just having the world's best slice of cake. Have fun with it! Additionally, anyone who participates in this prompt, in any form, is eligible for a free Cosmetic Physical Feature Regain.))

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NEW SEASON, STILL MURDER

Partway through the tournament, perhaps during a particularly exciting bout, whispers start to make their way through the halls. Not from Whisperfangs this time, but something much more sinister. A body, murmurs say, there's a body, others shriek. Spring Nox, it seems, is to be haunted just like Winter Sol.

Outside near one of the outdoor rings, Silvea lies as cold and bloodless as the night, a deep wound in her chest but, as with last time, no murder weapon in sight.

Kashire is here, though, another thing reminiscent of the last murder. "Don't just stand there staring!" He snaps, but what else is there to do, really? Try as anyone might to get to the bottom of things, it seems an apprentice was murdered. As a crowd begins to form, castle residents and visitors alike seem to crowd the members of the Council, probing for answers. Want to join your voice to the chorus? Good luck!

CLASS NOTES

Other notable happenings for the early winter season include:

• Tis the season for spring cleaning! With the castle overrun with blooms (bloody or otherwise) and flowers sprouting everywhere, you might make a thrall's day if you help clean up some of the mess around the castle. They won't thank you directly, but it's as good a time as any for the castle's residents to do their part and help keep the castle from becoming a gothic garden.


• The new season means new classes! Youngbloods will begin teaching their new courses for the Spring season, and students get to enjoy a slightly harder curriculum as their vampiric abilities grow and develop. Don't worry if you make a fool of yourself and walk into the wrong classroom. It's the first day of class, no one has memorized all of their students' names yet.


• Petal baths have become a bit gauche, but there must be something that can be done with all these flowers, right? Students and faculty alike are encouraged to use flowers creatively, whether it be wearing them in your hair, or perhaps building creative flower arrangements to decorate their rooms and space. Morbid, considering the cursed origin of the petals, but nothing tickles vampires quite like the macabre.


• Rumors are abuzz after Lady Whisperfangs latest rag was particularly biting. Could the Lady's latest temper flareup be due to a lost love, or does she simply enjoy tormenting the castle's residents? Either way, anonymity remains on Whisperfangs' side, but will that always be the case...?

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One more thing! We've added a Locations page, for all your location-based needs. As always, characters are free to talk to the NPCs as well: Revar & Kashire & Claudia. 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 March 25-31.

Thanks for joining us and we hope you're looking forward to what this new season has in store!

Comments

edgin darvis | d&d:hat | blue court | youngblood

[juiceofthevine]

salon--edgin's performance!

[ Edgin might not be Red Court, but he loves music. He's been working on a few things so that he could play at one of the salons. Rather than picking one of the class rooms, his session is outside under the moonlight, his chair directly under a tree and the rest of the seating arrangements fanned out around it, from chairs to cushions, and blankets too.

Although he plays some traditional folk and a jaunty piece he'd learned from his memories, the real highlight is the song he plays at the end of his set, exciting and then mournful and sad. ]

Oh where is my little swallow
I have no golden armour to share
You may pluck out my blue eyes
Tear out my tongue, tear out my tongue
Well I've seen this sagging sky before
And I've sang this sorry song one too many times

salon--but it is nsfw!

[ Edgin hadn't meant to walk into this...room clearly full of naked vampires. Was this art? Was this just an excuse? Edgin blushes hard, looking over what's definitely about to be a very artistic, very beautiful expression of something. He holds his hand up and shakes his head so he can...turn to go??? ]

I'm so sorry about this, I must've taken a wrong turn. Carry on. You kids have fun now.

[ Founders help this man. ]

hanahaki

[ Edgin is doing his best to ignore the creeping cough and the petals that seem to follow him around everywhere he goes now, leaving a little trail like Hansel and Gretal hoping to find their way out of the woods.

He's far more interesting in trying to find and help others, you see. He's at least heard this is supposed to be about desires, so when he sees someone else clearly afflicted he reaches out to them. ]

What do you need? Let's find it together, okay?

wildcard / office hours

[ Find Edgin wherever! Bother him in his office! ]

Edgin's Performance

[notimefordreams]

[Sarah ends up staying for most of the performances she can, particularly that last piece from Edgin. She's always one to encourage artistic endeavours of all sorts and she definitely is when she approaches him at the end.]

Those were some beautiful pieces. Did you compose them all yourself?

[juiceofthevine]

Thank you.

[ His cheeks warm a little with the praise. He has a fairly good sense of how he plays, but it's always nice to hear. ]

The last one I did. The others were folksongs, and something I...remembered, I guess?

[notimefordreams]

You have a good memory then. Most of them were very catchy.

[juiceofthevine]

That's one way of looking at it.

[ He doesn't really know how to explain the weird memories they'd been getting back, especially if she hasn't gotten any yet. Once you know you just know. ]

I appreciate it though. Do you play?

[notimefordreams]

A little. I sing more than I play but that's not that great either. I like to think I can still appreciate good music though.

[juiceofthevine]

I think singing is 90% confidence, anyway. I'm glad you stopped by, though. It's a good night for music.

Hanahaki

[flagofbone]

[The former Bandit was trying to cover up a very loud fit of coughing, almost gagging towards the end as he tries to clean up after himself, the thralls have enough to deal with when he heard a familiar voice.]

Hmmf... you sure you can focus on anyone else?

[Harlock asked, his voice somewhat raspy as an edelweiss slips between his fingers, having heard similar cough.]

That cough doesn't sound too great there.

[juiceofthevine]

Yeah, no, I'm fine. Maybe my desire is just to help you all.

[ That's not the truth but he's sticking to it. ]

So what's bugging you?

[flagofbone]

Better question is what is-

[The intended flippant response was interrupted by a coughing fit, his shoulders hunching up as he covered his mouth with both hands. A couple of edelweiss - the stark white pointed petals stained with mostly reddish blood was visible in his hands before he quickly closes them]

...isn't bugging me.

[The man finished with a somewhat hoarse and weary sigh]

[juiceofthevine]

Yeah, but I'm going to need you to try and narrow if down if you want to get anywhere with this.

[flagofbone]

[He clicks his tongue slightly, glancing towards the direction of the gate]

Well the thing I want the most isn't something you can give. And you probably heard every sob story under the sun.

salon nsfw I couldn't resist

[partybabysitter]

[ Oh boy, Edgin. This sure is a place you've entered accidentally, isn't it? Xenk may not be very creative, but he enjoys these kinds of... art exhibitions. He thus has no shame or embarrassment tied to being nude, and was happy to join in on the "art" that was being proposed here.

The last person he expected to encounter was Edgin, of course. And if his chest siezes like something just dug roots into his lungs, well, that certainly doesn't show on his face. ]

You do not wish to join? The simple act of observation may also engage one in the arts, or so I have been told.

[juiceofthevine]

I...

[ Mother of All Things take him. Xenk Yender is right there and he is very, very naked. It occurs to Edgin that nudity doesn't really have degrees. That you're either naked or you're not.

Xenk is naked.

Edgin's mouth is hanging open, still stalling on finding words, and he doesn't find them, so instead he closes his mouth and just continues staring. Just look at his face, just look at his face, but his eyes wander, down his broad chest, to his chiseled abs to his...

Fuck.

No wonder Kirk wanted to be fucked by him so bad. ]

I'm, uh, art?

[ No, those weren't the words he was supposed to use. C'mon Darvis, use your head. The other one. ]

This is not the kind of art I usually...participate in. I should go. I'm going to go? Yeah, I'm going to go.

[partybabysitter]

[ Xenk is indeed very naked, every perfect muscle and plane of his body on display. That's definitely art, alright. He can see how Edgin watches him -- it stirs that shuddering, shaking growth of petals in his chest.

Instead he smiles. Well, he keeps smiling. He hopes Edgin likes what he sees, for all that he doesn't consider the whole public nudity thing to be particularly sexual. ]

You may remain if you wish. [ There's another twinge in his chest, this one makes him look away, hiding a flinch by casting his gaze back to the group. ] Perhaps I can go with you? I do not believe I am needed for the next display.

[juiceofthevine]

[ Some part of him does want to stay and see this. He knows that nudity isn't a big deal, and especially not in vampire society, but the last couple months are the most action he's had in years, and he's not sure he'd survive the warm embarrassment rising inside of him.

Not because of the others, but because of himself. Because he doesn't know what to do with himself here. ]

If you want, sure.

[ Go with him, he means. ]

[partybabysitter]

[ Xenk nods, returning to his serious demeanor as he continues to ignore the strange feeling of whatever has invaded his lungs. As much as he might enjoy a bit of naked art, he finds the prospect of spending time with Edgin far preferable. ]

I will retrieve my clothes. One moment.

[ He steps away, reaching for his clothes and masking a few quick coughs as he dresses. It'll take more than a petal or two to stop Xenk, but he decides to dress down a bit, with only his shirt and pants, rather than bother with a more restrictive jacket or his usual finery. Those he simply offers to a nearby thrall and instructs them to return to his room.

His shirt he leaves half-open, of course. That's how he is. By the time he returns to Edgin (he wasn't really that far away,) he looks like he's ready to go. ]

Have you enjoyed the Salon thus far?

performance check

[galacticmalpractice]

[ Bones isn't huge on art, but he knows Edgin can play a mean lute and he'd support the man through anything. He stays for the full set in other words, that final song hitting close to home. He isn't surprised. Edgin's way with music is almost magical.

If his eyes are a little glassy when Edgin finishes the song, well, that's nobody's business. He looks moved, but he won't cry. Not in public, anyway. But McCoy stands and approaches, a little bashful (if only because he knows Edgin will see how close to tears he got.) ]

Damn, Edgin. You could seriously give these Red Court guys a run for their money.

[juiceofthevine]

Thanks. Music belongs to all of us, not just any one court.

[ That could be said about a lot of things--and Bones and Edgin are exactly the kinds of people would would say that.

But Bones makes him smile, even when he can see he got a little glassy eyed. It makes him feel good, because he knows he really communicated his feelings with the song. It's a song that makes him want to cry, too.

It's a song that makes him think about Kira. ]

Thank you for coming. I appreciate it.

[galacticmalpractice]

[ Edgin's response makes Bones smile. They really are the kind of people who say that. The kind of people who think these vampire rules are kind of bullshit. ]

'course, man. You know I wouldn't miss a chance to hear you play.

[ And if he swallows a bit more because he's still tamping down those emotions from the song, well. Bones does not feel anything halfway, really. He knew exactly what it was about. ]

That last song... phew. You sure are somethin'.

[ Wow, he's so good at flirting. ]

[juiceofthevine]

[ Edgin blushes a bit, his smile growing. ]

I'm glad it came across. I've been working hard on that one.

[galacticmalpractice]

I could tell. It really paid off.

[ He means that, too. Edgin poured his soul into that song. It's no surprise it nearly brought Bones to tears, too. ]

Music an' this stuff... [ Feelings, he means. But he also reaches for Edgin, brushing a hand over his shoulder. ] It suits you.

Salon - Performance

[onebadapple]

[Snow White knew Edgin could sing, but it was always a wonderful treat when she got to hear it, even the more gruesome lyrics. She clapped and smiled when he finished another song.]

Oh, that was wonderful, Edgin! I always love getting to hear you sing. Will you be having singing classes this season?

[Edgin may notice that Snow White's lips are completely stained blood red, but it looks... natural - as if they were always meant to be that color.]

[juiceofthevine]

Thanks Snow.

[ He smiles! She always gives such nice praise. ]

Singing's not really my strongest, I'm not sure I could teach it. But I'm glad to hear I can fake it well enough.

[onebadapple]

You would never know, you did it so naturally! I love to sing. Sing, hum, whistle, so long as there's a merry tune to work by. What do you feel is your strongest, then, if not singing?