undyingmods: (Default)
undyingmods ([personal profile] undyingmods) wrote in [community profile] undyingcourt2023-11-30 12:01 pm

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 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.

juiceofthevine: (inkonic d&d hat edgin (16))

[personal profile] juiceofthevine 2023-12-17 03:54 am (UTC)(link)
[ Edgin laughs--cat-burglary. That's a good one actually!

But...there's something she's not saying here...A couple somethings, actually, but he'll take this one at a time. ]


So what's the "little extra thing"?
juiceofthevine: (inkonic d&d hat edgin (12))

[personal profile] juiceofthevine 2023-12-17 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
Kind of a big ask to have a vampire teach you about life, isn't it? My job is to teach you about Undying.
wonderland_vogue: (7)

[personal profile] wonderland_vogue 2023-12-17 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
[Sometimes she can make a joke or two and it not be terrible, thank you!]

Oh, you did catch that. [She merely shrugs in response, immediately trying to downplay it.] Nothing harmful, just giving them something else on top of returning whatever I snag. [You're making her say the quiet part aloud and she hates it, Edgin.]
partybabysitter: (66)

[personal profile] partybabysitter 2023-12-17 03:59 am (UTC)(link)
[ Xenk makes a minute shrug. Discussions on the existence of truth or justice might fall more on the hands of the Blue Court, as he leans into Gold Court so he doesn't have to worry about such questions. ]

It is a useful skill to have, though its use depends on each person.

[ Like, he doesn't look down on anyone who uses it, it's just not his style. ]

Indeed. The body can change, but the mind remains the same. Even in a different form, we remain as we are. And blood is a deeper truth than even the mind.

[ Her question does give him pause. He appreciates her keen interest in these topics, especially since mind reading falls under his purview, and it's definitely earning her points in his book. ]

It depends on the vampire's defenses. In my classes, I teach novices how to guard their thoughts -- this can include thoughts of their masks, though it is not strictly the purpose. However if one is skilled enough, as many Blue Court vampires are, then masking can become as second nature. In such a case, it would be difficult to determine, and far easier to read their surface thoughts.
juiceofthevine: (inkonic d&d hat edgin (11))

[personal profile] juiceofthevine 2023-12-17 03:59 am (UTC)(link)
Okay, setting that aside for a moment...

[ He's not sure he believes her that it's not harmful. ]

What did you need my help with? It sounds like you've got a full plan on your own.
wonderland_vogue: (Hahaha/wow that's dumb)

[personal profile] wonderland_vogue 2023-12-17 04:02 am (UTC)(link)
[For once she means it! Just... how do you not lose your reputation when actually being nice for all of two seconds?]

Oh, right, that part.

I could always use a distraction, if you're up for it~ A, say, group distraction of some form would be the easiest way of having freedom to nick some things.
juiceofthevine: (inkonic d&d hat edgin (86))

[personal profile] juiceofthevine 2023-12-17 04:05 am (UTC)(link)
A perfectly timed musical distraction, perhaps?

[ He's...excited?? he hasn't done something like this in so long. But once a thief always a thief and he really actually does want to help. ]

As long as you swear that you're not going to harm anyone with that extra thing, I'll help.
midlifecryseas: (bb - fantastic at breakups)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VS4Dzmc6N64

[personal profile] midlifecryseas 2023-12-17 04:06 am (UTC)(link)
(ooc: you're welcome )

[ Honestly, being down here listening to tortured screams? Not Ed's idea of a good time. But riling up Diluc like this makes it positively bearable. Enjoyable, even. Ed smiles brightly, happily distracted from the guarding or reconnaissance or whatever the fuck they're actually supposed to be doing. No intention of stopping any time soon, either, especially when Diluc takes punishment so well. ]


S'ppose we could stand here in silence instead, listening to their screams...

[ Can Ed resist? No, no he cannot. ]

If you like listening to everyone else getting off, that is. I'm more of an "active participant" kind of guy myself.
wonderland_vogue: (Smirk/smug)

[personal profile] wonderland_vogue 2023-12-17 04:08 am (UTC)(link)
Exactly what I'm talking about.

[Sometimes she misses her thievery days and this is a victimless crime, isn't it?]

I swear I'm not, that was never in the cards to begin with~ It's all just fun and games and totally harmless.
partybabysitter: (43)

[personal profile] partybabysitter 2023-12-17 04:10 am (UTC)(link)
"An award that exists only in your mind, perhaps." Damn, okay, Xenk says that pretty obviously not under his breath, he's just serving that one up for Satoru because they are Coworkers in the worst way.

He levels Satoru the blankest stare at that hand. Being cool has never been on his radar. He thinks he's cool already, because nothing is cooler than following the rules.

"I believe your definition of 'cool' to be suspect," there's that blunt honesty again. Of the two of them, it's not hard to guess which one the Council likes best. But Xenk, serious as ever, turns around and pats a hand on Satoru's opposite shoulder. "Please simply focus on teaching your students, Satoru. They are relying on our wisdom to guide them."
juiceofthevine: (inkonic d&d hat edgin (89))

[personal profile] juiceofthevine 2023-12-17 04:11 am (UTC)(link)
Okay. I'm in then. You just send the word and I'll be there.

[ he holds out his hand to shake! it's a deal! ]
wonderland_vogue: (Smile/totally genuine)

[personal profile] wonderland_vogue 2023-12-17 04:14 am (UTC)(link)
[He's such an absolute doofus, but she didn't expect otherwise.]

Absolutely~

[Handshakes are weird, but if that's how he wants to do it, then she can oblige. Even if her grip might be a little too tight for a simple deal. It's fine, she's fine.]

A deal it is and I'll hold you to that.
partybabysitter: (107)

[personal profile] partybabysitter 2023-12-17 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
[ Gojo is an outlier that should not be counted!!! But Xenk is amenable to a walk, even if he doesn't normally care for Blue Court's... things. ]

Very well.

[ It's not the first time Xenk has been called unique. He'll take it as a compliment. If more people were like him, vampire society would be a lot better, in his opinion. He makes his same rigid, perfect stride as he walks up to Edgin's side. ]

Winter is soon to come. You must be looking forward to it.
trettende: (a tiempo y armonizados)

[personal profile] trettende 2023-12-17 04:29 am (UTC)(link)
Silver Court, apparently?

[ Her question may have been rhetorical, but Hans answers it anyway. He's at least good enough with his sword that he takes out a few more encroaching vines, but there really seems to be no end to these things. ]

Why they bother, I have no idea. I mean, they can't even eat these!
flagofbone: (Default)

[personal profile] flagofbone 2023-12-17 04:29 am (UTC)(link)
You did say 'real life skills' - and you'll have to forgive someone used to speaking like a human.

[He folds his arms across his chest, there's a dryness in Harlock's tone that is hard to miss]
juiceofthevine: (inkonic d&d hat edgin (78))

[personal profile] juiceofthevine 2023-12-17 04:30 am (UTC)(link)
You know...I am.

[ He heads them out towards the little lake on campus. It's not a lake so much as a really big pond, but, you know. Somewhere they can walk towards. ]

I'm from the Blue Court lands, originally. My family lived in the North, where the winters are longer.
serpendipity: (F13)

[personal profile] serpendipity 2023-12-17 04:32 am (UTC)(link)
[ She'll figure out what she thinks about it even more when classes actually start for them as well. At the least, Eden's listening and thinking about everything Xenk's saying. ]

Because if it's second nature, it's just a further extension, instead of some active change that you're putting before people? I guess I'll understand more after the ceremony and when all of these lessons begin.

[ Instead of sneaking this much of a preview. Even Eden can recognize that she's jumping a little ahead of herself, given the ceremony was still happening. ]
juiceofthevine: (inkonic d&d hat edgin (5))

[personal profile] juiceofthevine 2023-12-17 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
[ Wow, sir!! He's the teacher here. ]

Knowing when to have fun is an important skill.
trettende: (mil portazos en la cara la vida me dió)

[personal profile] trettende 2023-12-17 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
[ Oh yeah, this could get bad. Hans isn't going to mess around -- mostly, it'd be bad to lose a classmate this early on?? ]

Don't worry about it! Here!

[ Hans pulls the dagger out of his boot (the right one) and slashes at the vines that had been wrapping around Cal's foot. How he's got two swords! (Ish.) Not to worry though, he turns his sword over in his left, holding it handle-first for Cal to take.

Don't worry, Hans still swears gloves, he's not just grabbing his blade on the sharp end like an idiot. (It could happen, though.)
]

We need all the help we can get.
juiceofthevine: (inkonic d&d hat edgin (88))

[personal profile] juiceofthevine 2023-12-17 04:35 am (UTC)(link)
[ He has not actually gotten anything out of this deal, but you know, he's happy about it too. Weird handshake and all. ]

It'll be my pleasure. Think about the shows, though. Your talent shouldn't just be hidden.

[ Edgin casts bardic inspiration---or, he would, if he knew how. ]
trettende: (por primera vez hoy siento que se abrió)

[personal profile] trettende 2023-12-17 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
Right.

[ Definitely no helping people! Unless it makes him look good. Yeah, this is the same thing. ]

I actually... Well, I really don't want to end up as one, either. They're necessary and all, but... yeah.
partybabysitter: (74)

[personal profile] partybabysitter 2023-12-17 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
[ It's a nice pond. It might even have some live animals in it. But it's a nice backdrop to the cool night. The nights are getting longer, after all. ]

I see.

[ Damn, Edgin has been a teacher for the last ten years and Xenk definitely didn't know this about him. He knows other things about him, sure, but not the details. ]

The winter must remind you of home?

[ It's a strange thought to consider, for Xenk. Home is... home was... Well. Home is Castle Courtsheart. It has been for a very long time. His life before was in the Gold Court's lands. It's long enough ago that he doesn't like to think on it. ]
juiceofthevine: (edgin30)

[personal profile] juiceofthevine 2023-12-17 04:58 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, a little bit.

[ He hesitates as he says it. He's not supposed to think of it as home, he's not supposed to think of his human life at all. These were sentiments that were beyond vampires. And although, sure, he could one day go be in the Blue Court lands, again, it would be frowned upon to try and reinvent what he had before.

And while he could maybe get away with that with someone else, Xenk is big on rules. ]

conradachenleck: (Golly...)

[personal profile] conradachenleck 2023-12-17 05:01 am (UTC)(link)
[Conrad might not be much of a flirt, but he is good with his hands. Anyway... For the moment he's only focused on her as she extends her hand to lightly stroke him like that. The faint touch to his chest sends a bit of a sparking sensation along his skin, even though they're touching through clothing. Truth be told, he's been a little lonely since his fellow art instructor, his mentor whom he shared a blood claim with, went on sabbatical. He tries not to think about that too much, though.]

Soon... Soon is good. [He's not quite sure how else to emphasize that he is quite excited about these plans so... He'll just go with that.]

And, um, you're welcome, of course. It's no problem. If you ever need help with anything else... Ah. Don't be afraid to ask.
flagofbone: (Hah... tell me more)

[personal profile] flagofbone 2023-12-17 05:10 am (UTC)(link)
[A slight smirk flits across his face]

And what kind of fun do you plan on teaching today?