undyingcourt | Test Drive Meme

Entry tags:

Test Drive Meme - New Blood

DEC TEST DRIVE MEME

Welcome to the Undying Court Test Drive Meme! This post will allow players to test drive their AU characters in the setting, as well as meet fresh faces or even connect with those they have preexisting CR with. As with anything involved in the setting, this post will likely contain: violence, enthrallment, torture, and sexual content.

Regarding continuity, all TDM threads can be taken as in-game canon if desired. Please keep in mind that the game proper will begin in mid December, in the Winter Season, so Students/Novices should create their prompts under the assumption that the TDM takes place during the season prior to the one they will be apping as. This means that students planning to app as first season novices will be visiting Castle Courtsheart prior to their Beginning. In other words, if you plan to app a student as a second season, the TDM will take place during their first, and so on.

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

Make sure you are aware of the Rules when posting your top-level. (Content warnings are always welcome!)
Please format your Top-level in this format: Character Name (AU Name if different) | Canon | Teacher/Student | Court
As a reminder, a Test Drive sample is required in order to app.
If you have any questions specific to the TDM, ask them in the Questions thread below!

Top-Level Directory:

Chat with NPC: Revar
Ace Attorney - Apollo Justice (Student)
Alice in the Country of Hearts - Alice Liddell (Student)
Attack On Titan - Erwin Smith (Teacher)
Baldur's Gate 3 - Astarion (Teacher)
Baldur's Gate 3 - Halsin (Teacher)
Baldur's Gate 3 - Raphael (Teacher)
Batman - Bruce Wayne (Teacher)
Bridgerton (Netflix) - Anthony Bridgerton (Student)
Castlevania - Soma Cruz (Student)
Castlevania: Nocturne - Maria Renard (Student)
Cosmo Warrior Zero - Harlock (Student)
Critical Role - Percy DeRolo (Teacher)
Daria - Daria Morgendorffer (Teacher)
Devil Summoner - Raidou Kuzunoha XIV (Student)
Dragon Age - Fenris (Teacher)
D&D: Honor Amongst Thieves - Edgin Darvis (Teacher)
D&D: Honor Amongst Thieves - Xenk Yendar (Teacher)
Ensemble STars!! - Mayoi Ayase (Student)
Fate/Zero - Kariya Matou (Kariya Makiri) (Student)
FE: Three Houses - Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd (Student)
FE: Three Houses - Hilda Goneril (Student)
FE: Three Houses - Lorenz Hellman Gloucester (Student)
FE: Three Houses - Marianne von Edmund (Student)
FE: Three Houses - Sylvain Gautier (Student)
Final Fantasy XIV - Estinien Varlineau (Teacher)
Frozen - Prince Hans (Student)
Genshin Impact - Diluc Ragnvindr (Teacher)
Genshin Impact - Tighnari (Teacher)
Hanna Is Not A Boy's Name - Conrad Achenleck (Teacher)
Hannibal (NBC) - Will Graham (Teacher)
Jujutsu Kaisen - Gojo Satoru (Teacher)
Jujutsu Kaisen - Toji Zen'in (Teacher)
Lucifer (Netflix) - Lucifer Morningstar (Teacher)
MCU - Loki Laufeyson (Teacher)
Original - Aurinn Laurentius (Student)
Original - Bellatrix Bakhar (Student)
Original - Christine Delacroix (Teacher)
Original - Hanako 'Rosalina' Nurumi (Teacher)
Original - Jisu (Eden Woods) (Student)
Original - Karma D'Auvergn (Teacher)
Our Flag Means Death - Edward Teach (Teacher)
Our Flag Means Death - Izzy Hands (Student)
Persona 3 Portable - Kotone Shiomi (Student)
Persona 5 R - Goro Akechi (Student)
Persona 5 - Haru Okumura (Student)
Persona 5 - Ren Amamiya (Student)
Pride and Prejudice - Elizabeth Bennet (Student)
Return to Labrynth - Sarah Williams (Teacher)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Snow White (Student)
Stargate: Atlantis - John Sheppard (Teacher)
Star Trek: AOS - James T. Kirk (Student)
Star Wars - Darth Vader (Teacher)
Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order - Trilla Suduri (Student)
The Adventure Zone: Balance - Kravitz (Teacher)
The Adventure Zone: Balance - Lydia (Teacher)
The Adventure Zone: Graduation - Fitzroy Maplecourt (Student)

NEW ARRIVALS

New arrivals will be starting their first season in the winter, but they're welcomed to the castle early, under the watchful eyes of the Silver Court. Upon arrival, they will be shown to a room by a human 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. 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 they 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 pale, silver-haired vampire calls. They have silver eyes are clad in silver robes, but command the attention of everyone in attendance. They have a beauty that seems neither male nor female. They are standing at the center of a wide semi-circle of other vampires, "As the Silver Court's acting voice at this end of the Autumn season, allow me to introduce you to the Houses that will be your new homes."

The vampire, Revar, 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.

Revar offers the Foundlings who are left a gentle, knowing smile, and then allows 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, Revar waits patiently until all have found a maker.

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.

AUTUMN NOX

Silver Court is in season and for the Autumn Nox it holds a large symposium, inviting all the best vampire minds from around lands nearby and far. The whole castle is abuzz with new activity. The stables are packed full of horses, carriages litter the grounds, but somehow the castle has enough rooms to house all the new arrivals.

Novices will find that some of these vampires have not seen a human-novice in a very, very long time. These vampires might see the human-novices more like specimens, curious about their every move. They won't bite, but novices may find themselves observed as they wander the castle and its grounds.

The symposium itself is open to anyone at the castle. Scholars can present on any topic at all. Novices will find that these range from the incredibly mundane (you've always wanted to attend a history of bottom-feeding river fish, haven't you?) to the truly fascinating (new insights into how vampire hearts work) to the downright strange (the symposium has a range of lectures very close to dawn about the sharing of vampire...fluids). Seasoned novices with their own Autumn classes to attend are expected to keep up with their studies, but some teachers may let them out of a session to attend the lectures and workshops of the symposium.

The Silver Court vampires are incredibly busy between running the symposium and trying to help the new novices get settled in. They may need some volunteers to lend a hand with setting up rooms or helping scholars find their way around. In fact, volunteers might find themselves leading scholars down to the second kitchen for a bite to eat, a strong reminder that even these demure learners are still monsters who must drink blood.

PUMPKINS-GONE-WILD

The symposium isn't all that the autumn season brings. The Silver Court’s talents are on display in other ways—sometimes not in ways another had particularly hoped. An overly zealous youngblood in the Silver Court tried to grow a few extra pumpkins for the occasion and ended up with a few too many! The pumpkin vines break out of the green house and start sprouting pumpkins everywhere. These are no ordinary pumpkins, they will sprout and grow and become fully formed in the course of a night. Better keep an eye out for those vines or else your room might become full of pumpkins! Luckily, the pumpkins aren’t rotting any time soon (they’ll last until winter, or so the Silver Court vampires are saying), but it can be pretty inconvenient for them to grow everywhere. Start cutting those vines to pieces, and hope they don’t try to entangle you in the process.

LIBRARY CLEAN-UP

Meanwhile, with all the scholars in town are making a mess of the library, much to the Silver Court vampire’s dismay. Books are being checked out and not checked back in, passed around from scholar to scholar. You might find those lost books just about anywhere. Who was reading in a tree? Anyone who collects the books and returns them to the library is sure to get a little bit of favor with the librarians, and it’s never a bad thing to have a bit of an in with a Court. If you’re worried about failing Silver Court, it’s time to get searching! Although how you’re going to convince a 300 year old vampire that time is not fake and that deadlines are real (and in fact were two days ago) is anyone’s guess.

UNETHICAL EXPRIMENTS

[CW: Torture, experiments]

Those who venture towards the basement might hear something a little different than normal. The thralls who spend their time down there are normally quiet, commanded to keep silent and pleasant for the vampires they serve. But with the arrival of the new scholars comes disquieting, inhuman screams from the darker reaches of the basement. Novices trying to catch a glimpse will be chased away, but teachers might be invited to watch as these vampires experiment on one another, all in the name of science. What’s a little torture, when you’re undying?

Thanks for joining us for our first TDM! For any questions regarding the TDM prompts, please comment in the thread below. For general game questions, please check the FAQ/Game Info. Remember that the game proper will begin mid December, in the Winter Season, so Students/Novices should create their prompts under the assumption that the TDM takes place during the season prior to the one they will be apping as.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Same, I want to try everything I can get my hands on before the end of it all. A year doesn't feel like enough time to try everything.

[Especially when he was allergic to a lot of things, but luckily his Maker's blood helps him get past that. If it didn't he would be sorely upset about it all. But instead he was quite delighted to get to eat all the stuff.]

Sun, food.. being human.

[He's glad to be becoming a vampire soon but... well there's something about being human too.]

You know, it isn't all it's cracked up to be sometimes, but they really want us to give it all up. So, whatever I can do to enjoy being human while it's still okay, I think I am going to.

[ Good lad. Edward smiles blithely and nods his approval, still seemingly ignoring the stairs to the basement beside him. He focuses on repacking and relighting his pipe again, which he gestures back with at Harlock's nod.

Once the novice is rounded the corner, Ed's smile drops. He waits another fifteen minutes, counting the time off in his head until he's sure Harlock is on his way elsewhere. The Edward sighs, knocks the ashes from his pipe and heads downstairs. ]

(ooc: I figure this thread is finished, but ngl I'm adding this comment entirely to have 10 comments for rewards/regains; feel free to add one more of your own for the same!)

Edited 2023-12-17 02:32 (UTC)

You look good in everything.

[ A minor correction, gentle.

Edgin gets it. Those years where the winters got bad and the crops couldn't grow were horrible on his family. He hadn't had it as bad as Kirk, but he knows what it's like to wonder if there will even be any food to offer your family. When there wasn't enough, he'd always given his portions to his wife and daughter. So, sure, he'd tried to impress upon the servants that they needed to take extra good care of Kirk, but that was part of his job.

The mention of pumpkin pie gets him thinking. It's only been ten years since he'd had human food, but sometimes that seemed like an eternity. But it brings back memories of growing pumpkins (which easily come to mind, thanks to the Silver Court's rather zealous cultivating this season), and finding things to do with them. His wife had made a wonderful soup but one year they'd cobbled together the ingredients for a pie, mostly for their daughter. It wasn't long before he was caught. He'd had just enough money to start buying luxuries.

It hadn't lasted. ]

Good. Pie is good. [ He can't quite remember though. He says it like someone who knows what's what you're supposed to say about it. ] If you need anything, you can just ask for me. The servants, or me, or anyone, really. Some of the other youngbloods can be kinds of stupid, but I think everyone just wants to see the novices succeed.

[ citation needed. ]

Well, I can't imagine the great and eminent council is willing to tell us youngbloods whatever variables are out there.

[ On some level, he realizes there's probably a reason for that, but on another level, it just makes it that much more frustrating. Why can't they know? It just makes it even more damn suspicious. ]

[ Praise kink, got it. Good job, Kirk. ~~I thought about gagtagging you with this, but why bother.~~ ]

Good.

[ Xenk smiles the smile of a man who's truly quite intrigued. It takes quite a bit for a novice to impress him... but Kirk has the makings of a great vampire. Xenk can already tell. ]

I hope you won't disappoint me, James.

I haven't heard of anything like that...

[ The human population seemed...stable?? But he's been a vampire for 10 years he hasn't really been reading human population statistics. ]

You could do shows here, you know. Accompanied by a handsome man with a lute, perhaps?

Yeah, see? Because they were too inflexible. I'm teaching real life skills.

[ Edgin takes a deep breath when they get outside and stretches. The stars look lovely already. The night is great. He definitely doesn't miss going out in the day what so ever! ]

Besides, look, it's a nice night.

You know flattery gets you everywhere.

[He grins at the correction. Part of him wants to say "Even in your bed?" but even he knows that it's not exactly the right moment for it. There is something softer going on here than just flirting. Part of him almost wants to say it to change the subject, to make this funny and light hearted again, but the words don't come to his lips.

Instead he nods at the fact that pie is good.]

Yeah... yeah I want to try everything before my diet gets limited, you know, might as well make these last few months mean something. [But with that he grins.]

And I'm not so sure about that, but yeah I know I can rely on you. Never doubted that.

[ Ah yes, they are such good coworkers, aren't they. But he knows he's offended Fenris by the added rigidity of his posture. As a fellow stiff, he can at least read those signs.

It's a dangerous game he plays, what with Fenris being in Black Court. But Xenk knows Fenris does not kill needlessly. ]

I was merely making the rounds along the grounds. The pumpkin experiment has caused great disarray among the castle, you simply happened to be here.

Only a year, and this season's already almost over...

[ It really won't be that long before Winter started up. Would the cold feel the same the winter after that? It has her thinking, partially because she wasn't sure how much of it was about being human. There were a few things that she hoped to experience before the year was over, to know how it was supposed to feel as a human, but... She got a 'you did well in trying and handled being the target' star in Astarion's classes.

... She just also hopes that Kirk wasn't the type to read minds. Not because she couldn't block it, but she never bothered trying, and this would be an awkward time for that to be learned. ]

We won't be losing empathy, I'd imagine. Maybe for some it'll fade the longer they're vampires, but that could be kept all the same. I suppose in the physical and literal sense, this year will be the last of us being able to get our hearts racing and actually feel it in our chests.

[ Brain, please. At least she does a very good job that visually, she's talking about it all the same as eating as many different sweets that she can. ]

Anything in particular you're thinking of? I admit, I think I didn't get a very good idea of what 'human' really is. Aside from the literal, as you can imagine.

[ When Tighnari agrees and sighs himself, Ed hums and nods sagely. That's fucking life, isn't it? It's all losing, even when you win. What even is the point?

But then Tighnari goes and says he won't give up, that he believes in the wretched, ill-fated little vampire spawn, and Ed remembers all at once why Tighnari's so captivating, and why maybe there is a reason to go on, even for wicked creatures like them. Namely: because of the good ones, like him. Ed looks positively entranced. ]

You really mean that, don't you?

[ He huffs in disbelief, like it's the first time Tighnari's said something like that. It feels new every time, somehow. ]

That's a rare thing, and not just here in Courtsheart. ...They're lucky to have you.

[ The prime for now and forever... that's gotta suck to contemplate! Good thing Xenk doesn't have to worry about that at all. ]

I agree. It would not be truthful -- though some believe their mask speaks their truth.

[ He's just not a guy who believes in changing anything about himself. He's perfect just the way he is! ]

Mind reading is the most common way. Though a maker would have little trouble sensing the novice's mask. As would any blood claim -- to share blood is to share truth.

[ They're supposed to treat vampirism like it's this wonderful thing, this gift that they are bestowing on the novices. But Edgin can't help but feel sad as he hears Kirk say it, "these last few months." As if he's dying, and they're just waiting around for it to happen.

Edgin looks down at the book in his hands and he picks at a fraying thread on the corner of it. The librarians might not appreciate that, but, oh well, he didn't make it fray in the first place. It's probably been doing that for years. ]

James, I...

[ He's been entirely too sentimental, using his name like that. What is he going to do? Apologize for turning him? Apologize for the existence of Castle Courtsheart? None of this was his fault, he was just doing his best to make it as comfortable for the novices as he can.

Edgin swallows thickly and shakes his head. No, the best thing he can do is make this positive. That's all he can do. He has to, for Kirk. He owes that much to him. So he looks back up at him and tries to smile. ]

I think that's a great idea. You know, really commit to it. I'll bet they'll make anything. Even stuff from far away. You ever had reindeer? We used to eat it back home. Makes a really good stew.

Edited 2023-12-17 02:59 (UTC)

[ Xenk nods. He does not know. He's so bad with feelings. But he is here regardless because... well, he vanquished the pumpkins for Edgin. That seems simple. He does nice things for people sometimes? (He doesn't.)

He tilts his head, trying to picture what Edgin describes. Xenk himself hadn't had any uncertainty when he was going through his seasons, but his circumstances were unique, to say the least. ]

I imagine it must be, for those who find no comfort in structure.

I can't say I have, either. Which is why I highly doubt that being the case.

[He still has half the time she has, so he's still somehow closer to knowing what's going on outside than she does. Oops.

Oh.

Oh is he really doing what she thinks he is?]

Mmmm, I don't quite think vampire society is all that interested in my wheeling and dealing, darling. Unfortunately the sleight of hand and the performance art of it all is lost on most of them. [What is essentially magic and trickery to vampires, after all? It's quite sad, if she's honest.]

Though I'm not opposed to the latter part of the sentiment.

Edited (Fingers, pls) 2023-12-17 03:03 (UTC)

[Once he thinks he's out of Teach's hearing rang - which is he likely underestimating, the bandit suddenly punches the wall, ignoring the sharp protest his knuckles are giving at the action, his teeth gritting.

Damnit! He's so damn powerless! All he can do is observe and swallow his bile.

But he won't forget... he won't forget what he had felt.]

I mean, I think we can all agree you're kind of unique in that regard.

[ Xenk surely you know this. Unless...? ]

You never know! Maybe they'll like the novelty.

[ He misses it sometimes, too. Sleight of hand. Pretending for the con. Theft. ]

This place could use something to liven it up.

[ get it? because they're dead? ]

[ Yet she also knows that her prime would've lasted a while even if this didn't happen. At least there was this final year of growth, even if most of it is being spent learning about what the undead life will be like. ]

I suppose when you can make the truth appear however you want...

[ She doesn't know how much of a 'truth' it is. There's plenty of time to settle that though, now isn't there? ]

Ah, so mind reading and a blood connection would get around it... Well, not around it, but see that it's still just a mask. Which do you think is easier? To be able to read if someone's masking, or what they're currently thinking of?

[ Also she appreciates this mini-lesson. It'll make future classes easier. ]

Considering I'm pretty sure there are a few that would love to have reason to take my head off if I even tried conning someone here... [Well. It's not a great time, she's pretty sure.

Even if that won't really kill her, either.

Vampire bonuses.]

... Actually you did give me a great idea, if you'd like to hear it and potentially play along~

[ Some people must like structure, right!!! He definitely didn't get called a thrall in his seasons because he was so stuffy or anything. That was so long ago, he can barely remember it. ]

Perhaps among your own court.

[ Nah, he's pretty weird for Gold, too. The higher ups just like him a whole lot. Then again... Xenk probably had the most trouble with Blue Court classes, let's be honest. ]

Those in Gold and Silver are predisposed to order. Barring a few outliers.

It is...

[He peers up contemplatively, he always did like star gazing, it tends to put things into perspective in his mind. Harlock quickly realized he's letting his attention drift before looking back at Edgin]

Wonder if you got something about life you can teach me that I haven't already learned.

[ Edgin makes a face. Gojo is a gold teacher.... ]

Not the way you are.

[ Edgin stands up from where he'd been seated and slings his lute over his back. ]

Come on, let's go for a walk. The night is young, and it won't be that much longer before winter comes and everything is blanketed with snow. We might as well enjoy it while it lasts.

As long as they didn't take your head too far, you'd survive.

[ I mean....this is a #VampireFact, even if it's pretty gross. ]

But I'm listening, go on.

[ he leans in and everything! ]

But it's still painful if they do it, that's the problem. I'm not too keen on that part. [Look, while she might have some masochistic streak in there, getting your head taken off is still not a fun experience even for her.

Well, okay, if he's going to be dramatic about it, she can reciprocate.]

What if, and hear me out, I just did a tiiiiiny bit of cat-burglary. Quite literally, actually. And then just casually made their missing things their holiday presents along with a little extra thing just for good measure?~ [This is horrendous.]

No one's going to suspect a cat of doing anything wrong, especially since even though my form is a wild cat, I can still look enough like your generic housecat.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 74 of 93

Test Drive Meme - New Blood

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject