Test Drive Meme - New Blood

[undyingmods]

DEC TEST DRIVE MEME

WELCOME, VAMPIRES!

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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

Comments

TDM - QUESTIONS

[undyingmods]

[philancer]

for characters who will be starting the game in their second season (and beyond), will the tdm be taking place MID-season for them so they've already been enrolled/students here for part of the autumn season? or is this more at the beginning of the season? the end of it?

REVAR

[undyingcouncil]

backdated to early season arrival

[trettende]

[ Hans hasn't quite made his way to his Maker just yet, but he's curious to see the person in charge, at least in the Silver Court, it seems. He knows he's nobody, but he doubts he'll get a chance like this again. ]

Excuse me, you said you were from the Silver Court, correct? Mx. Revar?

[ He even does a deep bow. He's gotta! ]

It's an honor to meet you.

Haru Okumura | Persona 5

[coolcustomer]

New Arrivals

It hasn't been all that long since Haru was in the newcomers' position, for all it already feels like a lifetime ago, but that's not going to stop her from trying to catch a glimpse. It's interesting, after all, and she wants to see if there's anyone she recognises in the batch of fresh blood.

Autumn Nox

Being a firstie, Haru can't get out of most of her classes, and that's entirely reasonable. Luckily, the botany lecture falls during one of her free periods, and that's the one she was most interested in. Her father's not here to tell her 'playing in the dirt' is unladylike, and she's going to learn as much as she can.

She's probably one of the freshest faces at that particular lecture, but she's listening intently and taking detailed notes. Too bad the Gold Court has such a firm grasp on her, isn't it?

Library Cleanup

Haru's not feeling in danger of failing her Silver Court class this season - not when it's history, and she grew up hearing quite a bit of that. But currying favor with the librarians never hurts, and so she can be found corralling books at various points.

Wildcard

[Or bring your own! She'd help rein in the pumpkins for sure, but probably not want to investigate the screaming in the basement.]

new arrivals

[bleakdecember]

[He's familiar with Haru, at least in passing. They're in the same season, even if they're from a different Court. He can almost smell that anger she's got in her. He wants to see her unleash it.

...But right now he's just kind of bored. It's tiring, not being the special newcomers anymore. He likes limelight. His eyes slide over to her, as if he hasn't been watching all this new fresh meat.]

Looking for someone you know? [He smirks, laughing a little.] I'd give that up, if I were you. You'll only be disappointed. We're your new friends now.

Lydia | The Adventure Zone: Balance | Teacher | Red

[wonderland_vogue]

Pumpkins

[Gooood grief, as if things couldn't get entirely stupider around here of course Silver Court has to do The Most (tm) and it ends up being something garden related. She's not surprised in the slightest, but she's huffing in pure annoyance as one of the vines has decided it's just a wonderful idea to try and cover most of the door into her normal classroom.]

Oh yes, we're the problem when they're doing shit like this, of course. [Is she talking to anyone in particular? Not really, she's not really against the whole talking to herself thing, especially when it might end up getting some sort of assistance or pity from a passerby.

Not that it's really needed given she's quick to pull a rather ornate-looking dagger that... was somehow tucked into the top of one of her boots, don't question it. And with that she's quickly hacking away at the vines, pulling them off, and tossing them to the side.]

Nnnnnow that that's solved, I guess I'm not teaching the whole time since that delayed things a bit!~ [... She's far too cheery about that.]

Library

[Help the librarian? Absolutely not. Chaos is her middle name and she's not about to make this easy on anyone. Especially when she's decided today to somehow be sprawled over a banister in some room or another. It's better to not question how she got there. All that matters is that she's dangling a book lazily downward.]

Heeeeeey~ Looks like someone left this here, if you want to do something about it. Free favor or something? [It will absolutely not be that easy, but she's not going to say the quiet part aloud.]

Experiments, CWs the same as prompt probably

[A chance to watch something she's already probably seen ten million times over and it teaching her absolutely nothing new? Count her out. But she's more than happy to be standing temporary guard outside of the doorway to the basement. The sound of the torture itself doesn't really bother her, it never had, if she were to be perfectly honest.

Hell, if she were actually honest she actually kind of enjoyed the sounds of people suffering. But she has an image to maintain so she might as well help them out a bit. It's not like her being dressed in a bright pink and gold corset, white leather (don't question it) breeches, and white and gold boots sticks out or anything.]

The most boring jooooob on the face of the planeeeeet~

Wildcard

[Got an idea or want to meet this idiot doing something else? Toss the idea to me here, PMs, or at rustedpoetry]

library

[partybabysitter]

Lydia.

[ Xenk crosses his arms. They've been here before, somehow. This is far from the first time she's caused problems on purpose, and it's definitely not the first time she's done so to Xenk. ]

Drop it.

gojo satoru | jujutsu kaisen | teacher | gold court

[infinitevision]

[ ooc: thing 1: in the emp meme I talked about Satoru's plan to gradually overthrow the Council, and as of now, almost nobody will actually know about that. Feel free to assume that your character knows he dislikes the Council, though, because that's very public knowledge and he often just talks shit about them lmao

thing 2: if your character was in a shitty situation in the human world in the past 20 years and was rescued and picked to come to the Castle, and you want a player character to be that rescuer, Satoru's your guy finger guns winkwink. He won't be a maker, but we can say he rescued a character and then essentially handed them to whatever NPC (or PC) in whatever Court you're going with! he loves collecting strays. if you wanna plot further, PM me or add me over at cosmonautdelta!! ]

i. autumn nox

Scholarly symposiums aren't exactly Satoru's scene, but what else is he going to do around this Castle? Torture some newbies for fun? Get some thrall to bottle their own blood so he can have some takeaway? Annoy the Silver Court nerds while they're in full panic mode over all their stress? Okay, all of those do sound more fun than attending the symposium, actually. Why isn't he doing those things?

He stands out a little from the rest of the crowd -- that in of itself isn't unusual, Gojo Satoru is just kind of like that, much to the chagrin of many of the more traditional vampires -- but in the last couple of years he's taken to wearing the garb of a land far from Castle Courtsheart, clothes that just feel more familiar to him in a way he can't explain. The kimono is, at least, once of his more fancy ones, golden embroidery curling up the length of it. The food that's laid out for the newbies to grab inbetween talks smells appetizing, but it'll taste gross as soon as it hits his tongue. Nonetheless, he has some kind of fancy sandwich on a plate as he mingles with the crowd waiting outside one of the lecture halls.

In his other hand, he has a list of the talks offered. And he's not impressed.

"A Study on the Effect of Vampire Blood When Given To Beetles?" he reads out, cackling. "The Habits of Local Toads? A Most Rigorous Organizational Method: A New Way Of Shelving Your Books? Wow, do these nerds want everyone to die from a colossal snoozefest while they're too busy babbling?"

He gesticulates with the sandwich, and brightens, golden eyes bright behind his sunglasses. "Actually, if this is a cunning plan from the Silver Court to achieve dominance by killing us all with a bad case of boredom, I love it! That's so unique! I might actually attend one of these things just to see if I die." He grabs his company by the arm, and starts dragging them with gusto toward one of the lecture halls. "C'mon, we're going academic spelunking!"

ii. pumpkin-gone-wild

Aaah. What better activity is there to do on a boring Tuesday than watch hapless fools hack away with futility at ever-growing pumpkins?

While the useful go-getters are helping out at the greenhouse, Satoru has parked a lounging chair nearby, all lanky limbs as he relaxes back and sips on a mug of blood he got a thrall to give him earlier. To add insult to injury, he has a festive umbrella set up above him as if to shade him from the sun, except it's. You know. Night time.

"Hey, you over there, there's a pumpkin behind the mint bush that's making a break for it," he calls lazily, dunking a cookie into his blood. He has a thrall in the kitchens that makes super tasteless cookies for him; he just likes the crunch, even if being a vampire means he can't taste anything. "Better get on that, otherwise it'll terrorize the whole neighborhood."

Autumn Nox

[playing_hearts]

[Alice listened to him read out the titles of the symposiums with a raised eyebrow.]

I'm more concerned with the idea that someone is feeding their blood to beetles. That just sounds like a bad idea....

[She looks down at her own copy of the list.]

There must be something worthwhile here.... "The Life Cycle of Luminous Lichen" ...... Okay, maybe not.

James T. Kirk || Star Trek: AOS || Student || Blue

[prizedstallion]

[Prose or Bracket Welcome]

I [New Arrivals]

[The scene was beautiful. Revar in their finest, all the vampires dressed to impress, those who came with a maker seemingly ready for a new world, and the bumpkins who look.. like they have never worn a silk in their life. And probably haven't but in all fairness, until last season he hadn't either. Yet now he wears such finery like he was born for the role, like he's never worn anything else.

Like he belongs.

You would think with a similar background that would give him more empathy for them, but no, Kirk just looks for anyone that gives off wayward puppy vibes. Someone he can snatch up in his plans. He needs a loyal crew one day if he was going to make his mark, was going to get a seat on the counsel.

For good or evil.. only he knew.

Regardless, his blue eyes land on someone who's maker has stepped away and he approaches with a smile.]

First drink is always the most unsettling.

II [Pumpkins-Gone-Wild]

"Dammit!"

Pumpkin vines everywhere! It was irritating, it took all morning to cut them away from his room, but now he was outside it trying to slash at the vines with a dagger to keep them from growing right back into it once more. It was taking way too much effort for something so simple.

Of course, some Silver just had to go fucking around.

So instead, of gracefully chopping away at the damned plants, the vine grows so fast that the next thing he knows his ankles have gotten entangled in the process. Trying to take a step forward results in Kirk stumbling and falling straight into another person in the hallway. Luckily, courses in Red have taught him enough weapon safety that he knows to keep his blade from stabbing the other.

"Hey, hi, thanks for catching me," he gives them a charming smile.

III [Library Clean-Up]

[Who was reading in a tree? At this point the original vampire is long wandered off without a care. So, better question now is who has the book now? Why Kirk is off course. He might look like a slack off most days, but he found this book about potion making sitting on a thick, sturdy branch and really, he might as well get a leg up. Both literally and literarily.

So if you're looking for this book? Well, look up, because that's where you will find him lounging while reading it without a care to his name.]

VI [WildCard]

[If you have other ideas you would like to play out with Kirk, Feel free to hit me up here, PM me, or @ ZodiacRockstar]

Arrival

[flagofbone]

[The scarred young man who had spent the entire time scowling and glaring at Revar turns when he heard someone speak, his brows raising slightly before speaking in a sardonic tone, giving Kirk a good look over]

And here I'd thought it'd be like a regular wine-tasting.

Fitzroy Maplecourt | The Adventure Zone: Graduation | Student | Ggggggold (for now)

[maplecourt]

Arrivals

[Should he find the thralls creepy? Yeah, probably. Does he? Absolutely not. These people got the high life, right? Like you're just below the level of a vampire and get to be involved in all of this kind of stuff, clearly it's a positive. Though he might find the whole... making him wear different clothes thing a little odd. But it's fine, he's fine, this is just how it should be where he's taken care of, right?

It's not until the whole "meeting" that he starts having any sort of doubts. He looks, well, better than he's looked most his life with black slacks and a red and gold colored brocade vest. He'd even been an utter annoyance and requested a matching cape because, of course, he deserves it. But the doubts start slowly setting in when he realizes that other people already have people claiming them.

And it's... a good chunk, it seems. Meanwhile, he's feeling entirely out of his element and his haughty exterior and snobbish air when he'd been brought in is slowly draining into him looking far more nervous about this. Someone will take him, right? There's no take backs once you're here before you've even a chance to prove yourself?]

I diiiiiiid not think it'd be this many people that got picked. [He's whispering to the person next to him, not particularly caring if they're listening or wanting to be chatty.]

Pumpkins

[Everything had been... going... for the most part for Fitzroy. Settling in, getting a lay of the land, actually not doing terribly on this whole classes thing. Until he ends up with, perhaps, the worst luck.

That luck? Him managing to get stuck in the bathroom of all things as the vines were just so kind in blocking the doorway.

Perhaps his banging on the door and yelling might get someone's attention and a little sympathy? Maybe? Or laughter, it's really a toss up.]

Come oooooon! I don't know what I did to be locked in here, but this isn't really befitting for me! [Or, you know what, maybe don't help him.]

Library cleanup

[An opportunity to be a suck up and curry some kind of favor this early? Oh hell yes, you better believe he's right on that. Which is exactly why one can find him looking in trees, under rocks, in the trash, really anywhere weird you can think of in order to find some kind of discarded book.

It might be reaaaaaaally tempting to push him fully into the trash while he's halfway in there already.

Or be a pal and let him take that book back for you. It's not like he isn't bothering everyone he sees with a book to please let him return it if they're done with it. Or when they're done with it. But without the please part.]

Wildcard

[Want something else? Just me up here, in PMs, or at rustedpoetry]

Arrivals

[serpendipity]

I didn't realize either.

[ Eden's also looking around at everyone that seemed to show up with an assignment already, and how some people were getting picked up rather quickly. While not yet dismayed and still caught in the awe of the various decor in the hall, along with curiosity about the people getting chosen the fastest, the longer it was taking was a bit of an anxiety-maker.

Honestly, it felt a little better when she wasn't the only one waiting a bit. That way it wasn't because she was on the unhealthier side of skinny. Or that she chose simple and elegant, with subtle shining embroidery on just the suede belt. Not while next to the novice with a brocade vest. ]

It seems to be random on who chooses which new novice...

Fenris || Dragon Age || Teacher || Black Court

[unshod]

[Prose or Bracket Welcome]

I ||New Arrivals||

[Fenris doesn't plan to take on a novice, so he watches almost detachedly while the lambs stumble their way into the arms of their new makers. Part of him pities them, foundlings who were mostly unwanted and not here by choice, torn from their homes and lives. But mostly, he doesn't know what it's like to have a home and a life before becoming a vampire, what it would feel like to have that torn from him. No, he found freedom in this life. Even if his first maker almost seemed to want him to fail, was enjoying his struggles.

How he was livid when Fenris broke their claim and joined the black court instead.

That was neither here nor there this night. He was dressed in his nicer black clothes the ones that almost shown silver when it caught the light just right. A subtle hint at the season. The heels of his books are tall enough to give him a couple inches of height he normally doesn't have. His mask is up, making his hair long and messily put up, his body lined with black tattoos.

He doesn't approach anyone, instead his black eyes moving from each new lamb to their maker, assessing each one that is within the black court. More novices to test and scare away it seems.

With a sigh, he sips at his blood wine.

II ||Autumn Classes - locked to Autumn season students||

[CW: Possible violence]

He doesn't care that the symposium is going on, if you were in his courses then you were expected to attend class and give your all, anything less and he would fail you without hesitation. While perhaps not the most brutal of the teachers, he was up there in pushing until death was at his students' doorstep before pulling back, making sure only the very best students passed his courses.

If death scared someone, then they don't belong in the black court because everything they did was a dance with death.

A. Students can find him before class, warming up with some stretches and sword techniques, wielding a great-sword nearly the size of himself with ease. If you're not careful, you will get cut and he will not apologize for it. Just like he doesn't during class.

B. Fellow Teachers can find him after class when he's cleaning multi-colored blood off his great-sword with a cloth and oil, before sharpening it once more with a whet stone. He looks up when approached, his broody demeanor set on his face like an old friend. His mask is off now, what little skin that shows lined with thin whispy scars.

"If you're to tell me I was too hard on them, go elsewhere."

III ||Library Clean-Up||

[Since he was a novice, he's felt he owed the silver court a lot, if it weren't for their efforts with him and tutoring him, he might have flunked out and become a thrall all over again. But he squeaked by with tremendous effort. So when a Librarian approached him asking if he has seen some books, he makes it his goal to find those very books if possible and bring them back.

Unfortunately, he is struggling to find the said books. So he approaches the first person he's seen and asks:]

I am looking for the book, Horticulture of the Blue Court. Have you seen it?

IV ||Unethical Experiments||

[CW: Graphic Torture, experiments]

When he's invited in, he doesn't know what to expect, but this seems pretty par-for-the-course. The screams hardly affect him as he watches one vampire flaying the skin from the back of another vampire, inhuman blood spilling like liquid silver on to the table and ground around the body.

He hears some mention how surprised they are at the thickness of the skin on the back, how it doesn't cut as cleanly because of it. Fenris isn't surprised by that fact. No, he knows too much about the body and how there is a patch of skin on the back where the skin is thin, where if the arms are in the right position to move muscle and bone, you can stab straight through to the heart with your fingers alone.

But he keeps this to himself as he looks to the person next to him. Another teacher no doubt...

"He will need healing soon, at this rate he could almost become another court entirely with this much blood loss."

V ||WildCard||

[If you have other ideas you would like to play out with Kirk, Feel free to hit me up here, PM me, or @ ZodiacRockstar]

Library Clean up

[playing_hearts]

Horticulture of the Blue Court.... Hang on....

[Alice looks through the stack of books that she's holding. A few are related to horticulture, but none are the one he's looking for.]

No, but the room I found these in had mostly botany related books and there were too many for me to carry so the one you want may still be in there. I could show you after I drop these off, if you'd like.

Snow White || Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs || Student || Silver

[onebadapple]

A. Arrival

[Snow White gently ran a hand down the front of the yellow skirt and the deep blue corset that. She had never worn anything so comfortable, so fine, not that she could remember. She watched the Thrall take the old ragged dress filled with patches and threadbare spots that had seen the most wear and tear. All that she really cared about, though, was that it was warm and also covered the scar on her chest where her stepmother had tried to cut out her heart after the poison apple didn't work.

She thanked the Thrall but they didn't respond and looked all around. She felt so... clean. After the long bath and the new clothes, she felt like a whole new her. She supposed she WAS a whole new her. Snow idly touched her hair to make sure as a last check before looking around. Perhaps someone else would know what to do next.]

Why hello there, [Snow's voice is high, eager but also hesitant. It's been some time since she's talked to anyone other than the wild animals that would roam around the manor grounds.] I'm so sorry to bother you, I was told to go to the grand hall but I'm not sure where that is. Do you know where to go? If you don't, perhaps we can look for it together!

B. Autumn Nox

Oh! That was very close! [Snow had gone to the symposium to try and understand more about her... well, her new state of being. However, she couldn't help but notice just how busy everyone was! She felt quite bad that everyone was running about for her and others without seemingly any help. As she went to the next symposium lecture, her ears picked up the sound of soft grunts and as she turned her head, she immediately hurried over to someone and caught the bottle of... some sort of fluid, she wasn't sure what, about to fall to the ground and smiled as she held it in her hands.]

I'm happy to help you carry those to wherever you're going! [She smiled.] Or at the very least perhaps open the doors for you as you go?

C. Library Clean-up

[Snow White found herself outside, wondering what animals might be out and about, if there were any at all. Would they still visit her in this new state? She hoped so, animals had been her only friends growing up and she wouldn't want to lose them now.]

My goodness! Just look at this mess! [She put her hands on her hips as she looked at the stack of books in a circle. Clearly, that had been some sort of study group going on but they just left everything there without a care. She looked up as she caught the eye of an owl who was watching her with interest. She smiled at it.] I suppose messes are everywhere? [She giggled.] Well, best clean it up and put these where they belong. [The owl let out a soft 'hoo-oo' as if asking her who would do the task.] I will clean up, it's not a problem at all.

[She began to stack the books, humming as she went. She always loved to hum a merry tune as she worked.]

D. Wildcard
[OOC: please feel free to make up a prompt or contact me at snickersnack if you would like to discuss a specific idea!]

autumn nox

[theidlemaiden]

[ Help couldn't have come at a more opportune time. Hilda had somehow found herself tasked with trying to lug several bottles of blood wine to a lecture hall for a teacher but had made the silly mistake of thinking she could do it all in one stubborn trip.

Maybe this was a test of some sort. Some sort of odd, extra credit work to get someone else to do the job for her. Whatever it is, she's not having a great time because everyone else seems too preoccupied being studious to notice a hapless maiden. Except it seems another maiden. Before Hilda can gasp in abject horror at a very precarious bottle of blood wine tumbling to the ground, the shattering of glass never comes.

Her eyes brim with genuine gratitude towards the young woman. ]

That's what I get for trying to carry everything all at once, huh? I'd love some help if you aren't too busy.

christine delacroix | original | teacher | silver

[enchantibiotic]

{ autumn nox }

[ Christine may be a teacher, but she makes time in her busy schedule to attend the symposium on vampire hearts. Sitting with a notebook and pencil, she studiously takes notes on as much as she can and should anyone note her silver eyes and ask for assistance as it's the Silver Court's season, she purses her lips in annoyance at their interruption. However, she also won't ignore someone needing help. ]

What is it you need?

{ pumpkin-gone-wild }

Of all the ridiculous things to do, they pick this.

[ Carrying a small utility knife in hand, Christine walks through the halls and grabs at any vine she finds to cut it off from the main plant. It's a sorry sight for someone such as she who spends so much time in the greenhouse cultivating these plants. Of course one often has to prune and maintain things in an orderly manner, but she can understand the plant's desire to spread. ]

You there! Have you seen any vines from your direction?

{ library clean-up }

[ She is no librarian, but Christine spends a fair amount of time in the library when not teaching her courses or in the greenhouse. Ever since she was a child she desired knowledge and finding the answers to her burning questions. To see the library in such a state of disorganization is disheartening to say the least. She fully encourages the novices and her fellow teachers to go forth and retrieve books to put things back in order and she too is on the hunt.

In fact, she spots a book up in a tree and she stands at the base, looking up at it with arms crossed just as someone approaches. ]

Honestly, it doesn't look like reading up there would be comfortable at all, but I'm more impressed by how they got up there in the first place. There are no branches low enough.

[wonderland_vogue]

[Is she helping? Nah, not at all. But she can't help but be amused at the fact people are questioning the places books are ending up. Sounds like her type of person, honestly. But she shrugs slowly, looking up at the branch herself.]

Ehhh, seen weirder. It's not that difficult to get up there if you have enough arm and leg strength, especially leg strength. And isn't comfortable subjective? I like hanging out on tree branches, myself. [Of course she would, she's pretty much just a cat in a vampire body.]

Raphael | Baldur's Gate 3 | Teacher | Red

[devilyoudo]

Arrivals

Among those watching the initiates get assigned their makers is a sharply dressed vampire with red eyes and a maddeningly magnetic smile. Raphael is always on the lookout for the very best prospects. He already has several vampiric bonds under his belt, and oh he takes such very good care of them. There is, however, always a chance for new favorites.

If you happen to approach him, he raises his eyebrows either in interest or pure scrutiny. Do you fit his criteria? Do you want to? He really does want you to want it. "Interested in the Red Court, are you? A fine choice, but not suitable for every little fledgling that's had a lewd thought or two." He smiles slowly, like a poison seeping right into your veins. "I am Raphael. A pleasure."

Autumn Nox

[ Raphael will most certainly be found in many of the lectures, though perhaps not the river fish ones. He does have some taste, after all. He himself is also giving a lecture. Yes he's in the Red Court and he knows all about the bedroom and the blade. But he is also an accomplished wordsmith. His lecture is on limericks and poetry. ]

And that, my friends, is why there is a lyric and a style for every occasion. Any questions?

Library Clean Up

[ He's not inclined to help people since he rather prefers you be in his debt, but if he happens to be in the vicinity of a book-hunter, he might decide to be a little helpful if he happened to have picked up a stray volume from the halls or the gardens. ]

Are you looking for this? [ He snaps it shut with one hand, his telltale smile coming upon his features. ]

It's quite an interesting study. Not sure it would do you any good.

Wildcard

Feel free to make up a prompt or ask about things first! My EMP comment is here and I'm happy to adopt novices/already have a bond or have backstories connect somehow. :> I will match brackets or prose!

Library clean up

[wonderland_vogue]

[Of course Lydia isn't going to be helping clean up any of this, it's not like she has a reason or a care for anyone to like her. But what she does take interest in is watching how others are dealing with the students running around like ants desperately trying to curry favor with the queen.

... That's how ants works, right? Whatever, doesn't matter.

But it doesn't stop her from raising a brow from a nearby wall after that whole... interaction.]

Ohhhh, are you going to make them work for that all important favor? My goodness, that's just torture. [Even if someone doesn't know her by any means, the sarcasm in her tone is dripping from every word.]

Alice Liddell | Alice in the Country of Hearts | Student | New Arrival

[playing_hearts]

New Arrivals- The Beginning {Alice is a foundling so any potential makers that want to size her up are more than welcome.}

[All through the journey to the castle that would be her new home, Alice had been telling herself that this is fine. She's fine. This is for the best. Now her family no longer has to suffer her gloomy presence and she can get away from that stifling town.

It's fine.

She manages to keep telling herself that all the way though the bath, and the meal, and the incredibly wasteful burning of her clothes. But now she stands in a hall that feels at once far too big and somehow claustrophobic, wearing a silk dress that should probably be on someone much prettier than she is, waiting with the other foundlings to see if anyone actually wants them. She is at last forced to admit, this is not fine.]

Are they really going to make everyone wait until all of us are chosen? We'll be here all night if they do that.

[She says that to one of the other foundlings, hopefully in a voice too quiet to be overheard. How good is vampiric hearing again?]


Pumpkin Gone Wild

[She's only barely settled into her new life when the pumpkin fiasco occurs. But she's not one to shie away from hard work so Alice is going through the hallways, gardening shears in hand, cutting vines and collecting pumpkins. What on earth are they going to do with all these gourds? Jack o Lanterns? Pies maybe? Throw them at whoever's fault this was?

She likes that last one. When she hears someone else in the hall, she doesn't even look up to check who it is, but instead remarks dryly.]

You know, all my life I've heard stories and rumors about this castle. People called it grand, mysterious, and even terrifying. Funny how none of them ever used the word silly.


Library Clean-up

[Finally, something Alice actually wants to do. She is happy to collect books and return them to the library. Although several of those books will get perused a bit along the way. Who was reading in a tree?

Well right now it's Alice. She doesn't know who put the book up there originally, but after climbing up to get it, she couldn't help but take a peek inside.

A peek turned into just a few pages. Then just the first chapter. And now she's just reading it. At least she's responsible enough to turn it in when she's done.]

Arrival

[timidheart]

[Mayoi is standing not very far from Alice, though it wouldn't be strange for her to have not noticed him at all. He waits in this horrid crowd while they're picked off one by one, and it reminds him all over again of the Finding. He feels sick, honestly.]

[He should have kept to himself, but his own nerves from this prompt him to reply, practically blurting out his response.]

P-Perhaps they will grow tired of this and drop those they find wretched into some kind of dungeon.

[He's a regular ray of sunshine, this one. Mayoi stands a bit closer, so they can be in proper speaking distance. He is a wilting flower, gloomy and clad in dark ruffles and lace. He'd have a pretty face if not for the expression he wears, which makes him look like he's ready to be nauseous at any moment.]

Daria Morgendorffer | Daria | Teacher | Silver

[standingonmyneck]

NEW ARRIVALS

[Daria always hated these. She left the comfort of her labs and the library to greet the wide eyed faces of those who actually wanted to have a life here.

Not that Daria didn’t. This place was her home and her tomb as far as she was concerned. But these people coming from the damned outside seeing the horrors out there to see the horrors in here was always a pill she was forced to prescribe herself each time a new round of flesh came. She’d claim she couldn’t really care less. But it was all added headaches when she just wanted to be with her research or her fellow scholars that she could stand to be around.

She wore decent robes, obviously meant for comfort more than anything else. Of course, as someone representing the court in some fashion, she had to sell everything as per their standards. Her own Maker didn’t force a damn expectation on her, but the others were a different story. They weren’t persnickedy about clothes, and they at least knew Daria would do the minimum. But it was the minimum they were owed, and they always got her research as a treat.]

Welcome.

[Aaand that was it? Yeah. Move along?]

AUTUMN NOX (warning: gore)

Alright everyone, today we’re going to test something. Not an actual test, mind you. Consider this a “test of your mettle”.

[Daria’s classes were always fair, and just in the knowledge given. It was up to her students to engage and think for themselves. Students actually interested in learning may actually get something out of her class that wasn’t miserable. Daria respected students that respected knowledge, why the Silver Court took interest in her results. Surely.

One particular class held had bare human bodies laid on sterile tables. There was one on her personal teacher’s side.

This biology lesson was about to get visceral. And Daria took this with the precision of any surgeon.

Cutting open the chest cavity with stone cold ease, she ripped the heart of the human with her gloved hands.]

Examine this carefully. There are two major arteries that go to the heart. Who can tell me what they’re called? Understanding the inside and outside of the human heart is vital. If you plan to live out there, you need to get used to the idea of your hands being dirty.

Do as I did. And then give me the answer.

LIBRARY

[Yeah, screw cleaning. Daria was nestled on a large chair with piles of books. Comfortable and reading, learning.

Not cleaning at all.]

WILDCARD

((Contact me at Lizadow if there’s anything you’d like to shoot!))

New Arrivals

[onebadapple]

[Speaking of a new arrival, she smiled brightly as she nodded in greeting to Daria and then clasped her hands in front of her.]

Why hello there! Thank you so much for the warm welcome! It's so kind of you to greet us! Everyone has been so kind since I've gotten here!

Ren Amamiya | Persona 5 | Student (first season)

[schrodingers_joker]

New Arrivals

Ren has been having a rough time lately, and the worst happening where he not only got chosen, which his parents forced him to try it out, but publicly disowning him as the vampires took him away.

The ceremony where he had to pick his maker and drink from them had Ren both a little disgusted and scared deep down, but the french blue court vampire who ended up being his maker, Raoul Lupin, reassured him and showing him kindness for the first time since the incident with that high ranking noble he got in trouble with.

After that, Ren has been mostly quiet and keeping him to himself. Thinking back on his past actions and realizing he needed to change, but at the same time, he's still angry at his parents' betrayal.

He can be seen around, with small specks of blue in his eyes, and being quiet and a bit of a loner. Approach him anyway?


Wildcard?

[Would you rather than do something else than the prompt above? Just post here.]

New Arrival

[flagofbone]

"You too?" Said a man with a rather distinctive scar across his face, making some faces due to his tongue touching the newly pointed tips of his canines. He didn't clarify what he meant, probably because he didn't think he had to.

Kevin Regnard | Pandora Hearts | Student | Blue

[unghosting]

Arrival

[One of the new arrivals looks as though he's been to Hell and only just come back -- gaunt, pale, scowling, and he carries himself with his shoulders hunched as though he'd like very much to fade away into the walls where he won't be seen. Bandages cover the left side of his face, despite the presence of skilled healers within the castle who should have rendered such things unnecessary. And, presently, he is trying to get the thrall who's been tending to him to give him his tattered old cloak back.

For a few tense moments, anyone watching wouldn't be wrong to think he was getting ready to attack the thrall outright. But the servant is so placid and pleasant that he stops, the expression on his face shifting to a concerned sort of horror.]

...you've no thoughts of your own, have you...?

[Whatever else this guy may be, it seems he is at least unwilling to have a go at someone who isn't in control of themselves. But he doesn't release the cloak, and neither does the thrall. He'll have to be persuaded to let the ratty old thing go.]


Pumpkins [cw: mentions of suicidal ideation]

[Time passes. Kevin is not convinced he wants to exist, but his maker has managed to earn his grudging respect, and he hasn't exactly settled on how he'd like to not exist, either. So, he goes along with things and watches and considers, and after a time, he decides to do an experiment or two.

Nothing like the creepy things going on in the basement, mind. No, Kevin is just pushing some boundaries a little.

After the pumpkin explosion, he can occasionally be found slinking around the grounds with pumpkins that still have live vines attached to them, which he deposits in the most inconvenient spots he can find. Next to doors with heavy traffic. Underneath tables in the dining hall. In a shadowy corner next to a painting he's taken a particular dislike to. Anyone who tries to investigate is met with a flat:]

It is my project for Revelry.

[And then, if allowed to finish up his little pumpkin tasks, he will deposit himself somewhere nearby with a bag of jelly beans and wait to see if anything funny happens. Spoilers: He does not have a "Revelry project". Deadly vampires with supernatural powers tripping over pumpkin vines is just sort of emotionally satisfying as a concept, you know?]


Meanwhile, elsewhere in the castle

[Kevin has no interest in the symposium -- or in most of his classes, let's be real -- and he especially hates being eyed like a steak by all these extra vampires. Despite his initial misgivings about the thralls, he finds his escape from all the annoying fuss down in the kitchen, where the servants see to it that the novices are fed. It can't really be called companionable, given the circumstances. But Kevin was a sort of servant himself, back before all the everything, and his grief for what he's lost is in a spot where the nostalgia of the bustling kitchen is more comfort than it isn't.

He won't speak up if any other novices appear, searching for food. But they're welcome to recognize him as the quiet, surly swordsman who silently roams the Blue Court halls sometimes, and lurks at the back of some of the first season courses. Kevin looks far more at ease now than he does elsewhere, sleeves rolled to the elbow as he peels potatoes, with a thrall seated next to him who helpfully hands him more when he runs out.]

Arrival

[playing_hearts]

Is that cloak something really precious to you?

[As a fellow new arrival, Alice had found the burning of her own dress to be wasteful, but she wasn't emotionally attached to it. Still, the thralls will not take no for an answer. She suspects they can't.]

Elias Verdes | Original (DnD) | Teacher | Silver Court

[beigeacademia]

[ooc: au plotting meme here.]

Autumn Nox
[Symposium season is Elias’ favorite time of year, and it shows. He smiles more; he chats more (always about the talks and how interesting they are). It's a bit unbecoming of a vampire, but on the flip side one wonders if this was a glimpse of the person he'd have become if he hadn't come here.

Anyway, did you see this presentation about-]

a. (students-only) [Listen. LISTEN. Elias has so few things that give him joy and symposiums are one of them, okay?! Forgive him for doing the following to you in your first Silver class of the season:]

Welcome to class, novices. Listen- there's a talk on the history of bottom-dwelling river fish going on right now. I'm going. You can follow me, or stay and I'll come back and repeat my lecture after that ends. Or you can just read the first chapter of your textbooks during this hour. It will be quizzed next class.

[He's already taking a bookbag in his hands to bring along and walking out of the classroom.]

Okay? Okay.

[Follow him and strike up a conversation on the way, or find your tutor again after class. He will indeed come back to this classroom and check if anyone actually waited for him.]

b. (teachers-only) [As you're sharing some downtime with him in a lounge or the kitchens, he might ask:]

Have you been to any of the talks? What's your favorite so far?

Library clean-up

a. [He's enlisting a bunch of thralls to clean up the mess in the library itself, which was looking quite like a hurricane swept through before he gave up and got said thralls. Problem is, the visiting scholars assume they're free snacks, which they are absolutely not. Thralls don't work well when they're exsanguinated. Also, with the castle's increased demand for blood they can't afford to have some killed accidentally by overfeeding.]

Hey. Excuse me- [Elias pulls a thrall out of the grasp of a vampire scholar, casting them a stern look in response to their complaints.] These thralls are doing upkeep for the library, please don't feed on them. Someone can show you to the kitchens if you'd like.

b. [He's writing a bunch of signs that say “I AM WORKING. DON'T FEED ON ME” and hanging them around the necks of the thralls. Lmao.]

Wildcard

[hit me up if you've got an idea for something different!]

Autumn Nox B (oh god)

[wonderland_vogue]

[While Elias might find this time of the year so incredibly interesting and fun, Lydia is the exact opposite. The majority of the time she hates every second of this nonsense and even more so the second anyone even remotely attempts to engage her in conversation about it.

Especially when she was in the middle of doodling some new outfit idea on a piece of paper. Sorry, Elias, she's not even looking up while she answers.]

Do I look like an utter nerd to you?

Goro Akechi | Persona 5 Royal | Student | Black

[bleakdecember]

i. New Arrivals

[It wasn't so long ago he was in their place, wide-eyed and eager to become. Maybe he's a little jealous that he can experience that again. But mostly he's happy not to be the freshest meat around anymore, to have climbed a little ways up on the totem pole. He grasps what little power he has with an iron grip.

But he watches the newcomers carefully. Looking for potential threats, the new favorites, who's got who as a Maker. He keeps a particular eye on the Foundlings -- they're in a moment of vulnerability. He could swoop in and be their helpful mentor, a fellow friend in the chaos. If they look promising enough.

From how warm his smile is, you'd think he's in the Red court.]

ii. Autumn Nox

[He's eager to attend all the lectures. Especially the ones about how the vampire body works. You have to know your prey, after all. It's a shame he won't be allowed to view those secretive experiments, because he'd love it.

But this one... Is not so interesting. It's on the history of a particular kind of tree, and its uses. He was hoping there might be some discussion of stakes, but no. As it draws to a close and the lecturer leaves, he stretches.]

They can't all be winners, I suppose.

iii. Library Cleanup

[As far as manual labor to win favors goes, cleaning up a library isn't so bad. He's dutifully set to work helping re-organize the poor lost books, making sure to smile and laugh and make it clear how happy he is to help in whatever way he can.

Will he snatch a wayward book, faster than necessary, from a fellow student, to look like he's doing more work? Absolutely. This is a zero-sum game.]

iv. Wildcard

[Hit me up with anything, or feel free to plot with me at larksong!]

ii

[coolcustomer]

"It wasn't all bad." But then, Haru was actually interested in the main purpose of the lecture, and not just holding out for different information.

"I'm hungry. Want to go pester the kitchen for lunch?"

Harlock (Young) | Leiji-verse/Cosmo Warrior Zero | Student | Likely Blue,

[flagofbone]

1. Arrival (still open to having a player as his maker)

[He wasn't the most cooperative on the onset during his clean up, and seem to bristle at the grisly display. As Revar speaks, he pointedly glares at the court, looking uncomfortable in the dark blue silk and brocade outfit he's been given.

The man breathes in, reminding himself that there's more than his pride at stake here as he marches off to the Blue Court and his maker. As they waited for the remnants to be auctioned off, he glances around, looking for anyone who seem just as uneasy or seem to know what they're doing]

2. How many ways can you cook pumpkin?
[Harlock stares dumbstruck at the sight that greeted him the moment he woke up. A small pumpkin swung above his bed like a gourd-y pendulum, the vine creaking - instincts took over and he rolls on the bed, hitting the floor right when the vine gave up the ghost, sending the oversized squash crashing onto the bed, splattering him and his sheets with it's guts.]

What. The. Fuck?

[Once the shock wore off, he pushes himself up, noticing more vines creeping around as he stalks out of his room]

Does anyone know why my room has been turned into a pumpkin patch?

3. Ssssh, quiet in the library.

[Somehow he slipped away largely unnoticed. He knew he can't go back to being normal, but damned if he was just going to give up. Harlock examined the halls, trying to memorize the layouts, what places seem less busy, places that seem to be closer to the outside world.

Then he stumbles into the library, his eyes widening at seeing far more books in one place than he ever thought it was possible. The former outlaw shook his head, chiding himself for getting distracted, but... perhaps he could find something of use, he moves around, trying to stay out of the way of novices clearly trying to clean up, but still finds himself stopping to gawk, or examining a book whose title catches his attention before tearing himself away to continue to case the library.]

WILDCARD
(throw anything that seems fun - pm me or contact me at RShini)

Library

[aria_ardeinae]

They're books, we have a lot of them in here. If you have time to browse, you have time to tidy.

[ Reyson doesn't actually have any real authority here, beyond his inherent attitude and Gold Court approved bossiness. Nobody even asked him to be reshelving things in here, for the record. He is just pissy about it being out of order and it is something that it is in his power to fix, so he is doing something about it.

He hands a hefty encyclopedia to the interloper. Take it. Take it, and be drawn into the web of doing menial tasks these scholarly assholes won't bend themselves to bother with. ]

Izzy Hands | Our Flag Means Death | Student | Blue

[captains_hands]

A]-New Arrivals
[Yes, he's a novice, and yes, he knows how it looks, but no, he doesn't care. He is a man on a mission, a mission to have a promise fulfilled, and he knows he's better than half the novices here, regardless of their time spent, just by the very nature of the one that made the promise.

Still he's on edge and not very happy when he bumps into someone or they brush near]

Watch where you're going!


B]-Here in the Garden

[Izzy is not a man who likes gardens, or nature very much, and the feeling is mutual- Feel free to pass by him struggling with vines and pumpkins, kicking vines and pumpkins, being slowly strangled to death with vines as he flails to get free]

Fuck off!


C]-Library...

[Izzy is not so much cleaning up as he is making more of a mess as he pulls book after book off the shelf as if searching for something and then haphazardly leaving them wherever. Those eagle eyed might be able to stop him from pulling a page or two from out of whatever volume he's holding. Whatever the case, whatever looks he gets is going to be met with a snide:]

What?


D]-Basement Dweller

[novice though he is, that's not going to stop him from exploring every nook and cranny of the place if he can get away with it- and maybe he can't but he intends to try. So feel free to come find him sneaking down to the basement. Join him or try and stop him. He seems annoyed by the screams if anything, or tense at least, not sure what he'll find but knowing he's not going to like it]

D

[bleakdecember]

Going somewhere?

[He's getting better at moving quietly. Of course he'd try to sneak up on another student lurking around here. In truth, Akechi really wants to see what's going on. Getting caught is too much of a risk...

But having another student here to take the fall for him? Perfect. Just what he needs. He tilts his head.]

Walk quieter. They'll hear you.

Jisu (AU Name: Eden Woods) | Original | Student | Silver

[serpendipity]

New Arrivals |Set early autumn but we can time shenanigans|
[ Being herded into the Grand Hall, Jisu repeatedly slows down to look over the statues, the high arches, and even the chandeliers. Soft sounds of awe can be heard while leaning or stepping to stay out of various people's ways. All the while, there was just always a hand fiddling with the back of the wide suede belt that was a pale blue, to allow the silver embroidery to shine in a delicate manner. Which was far more subtle than the object tucked into the belt, given the way the teen kept putting attention towards it. Some could think that Eden was simply fiddling with the ends of her hair, as a sort of soothing gesture.

She even continues to do so as the people Chosen by vampires went to their selected courts. Which made the numbers dwindle a lot more than she had expected. Enough to gently nudge another nearby as it was getting time to wait and get their own makers. ]

I didn't realize that so many go out and hand-select people. I wonder why they need to do the lotteries, if there's so many out there being chosen.

Autumn Nox
[ Those that had been around earlier in the season would have already had the idea, but this symposium only proved it. Eden Woods does not know how to take very long breaks. Especially when revelry and enjoying drinks is practically extra credit around here. In-between the various classes (and she's taken as many as allowed,) she's run back to the symposium to either help with new novices, with demonstrations, or to make sure the scholars eat. There's even rare moments where there's time to sit and listen to the lectures. Those who've been around already know that she's listened to most of the ones being repeated here.

It could be either the first, third, or seventh time she's seen back in the area to check on things. Asking if novices need help getting around, if there's some kind of help needed for the scholars, or seeing if someone that looks a bit peaky has eaten recently. Are you one of those people, or the bystander wondering where all that energy comes from? ]

Pumpkin-Gone-Wild |Item involved comes with a bit of gossip for those that love listening to the unfortunate and interesting times of other noble houses.|

Oh, hold on!

[ It may be a call out to you or another person going by, but Eden is running to quickly crouch down in front of the intended person. Unsheathing a dagger with a serpent's head embossed on the pommel, Eden carefully cuts at the growing and thickening vines carefully around that person's feet. ]

Someone may've gotten a little too enthused when getting advice about soil enrichment and seed treatments... They've been tripping people up everywhere.

Unethical Experiments
[ It's unsurprising that with the symposium going on, Eden had been in most places to help with fetch quests. Be it for items or people. Yet it's when getting near the basement on the way to pick some things up that a mostly faded ghastly wail has the teenager pause and look back towards the basement entrance. ]

Did you hear that...?

New Arrivals

[disdelusioned]

[The novice next to her shrugs, but a red-headed teacher with black eyes speaks up to answer the question.]

Control. The Findings remind humans who is in charge. Depending on their opinion of us, it either gives them something to fear or something to look forward to.

[Sure, she's not one of Black Court's novices, but from what he could tell the question was asked in earnest.]

tighnari | genshin impact | teacher | silver court

[veardant]

new arrivals;

[ what a lovely scene. while many vampires were dressed in finery, tighnari looks rather plain in comparison, though he's certainly clean and neat, tidy.. except for the bit of soil beneath his claws. nevermind that. he's standing aside with the block of silver court vampires as the niceties are observed and the announcements are made, and when the new arrivals begin to approach, tighnari has a warm smile for them.

you might think his ears and tail strange, or the pads on his palms and fingertips, but he certainly seems friendly enough. he remembers well how he felt when he first arrived as well - it was like stepping into an entirely new world, and it could certainly be overwhelming, even for those who were prepared for it. he approaches anyone who looks lost, his tail flicking back and forth behind him. ]

Overwhelmed? Don't worry, it gets easier.

[ or perhaps he is your maker to be..? ]

autumn nox;

[ tighnari is, of course, incredibly busy with the symposium. while he doesn't love giving talks, he knows how important it is to share knowledge, and as a silver court teacher it is all but expected of him to make an appearance, and help out, even if he'd much rather be out in the greenhouses, or up to his elbows in loam in the forest.

ah, well. he's committed to his job.

anyone who might be attending his talks, tighnari speaks on plants and fungi. his first presentation is a simple overview of the new species in development at the castle, while the second surrounds the protection and preservation of an over-harvested species of mushroom. lastly, he hosts a seminar on proper foraging technique while gathering in the wild. yes, he's a giant nerd, leave him alone??

nevertheless, he can easily be found after any one of his talks, mingling with those who have questions or concerns for him, or anyone who wants to chat about any previous presentations. but he certainly looks.. exhausted. ]

pumpkins;

[ did i mention that he looks exhausted?? he's about ready to kill the fool who allowed this to happen. not only does he now need to deal with the pumpkins bursting up all over creation, he also needs to deal with the messes left behind in the greenhouses by its violent eruptions. between the symposium and this disaster, he's hardly had any time to rest.

and so he can be found in the greenhouses, hacking through vines and haulting pumpkins around, as well as righting and repairing any plants or specimens that may have been overturned or crushed when the pumpkins burst free. he has a generally harassed look about him, his tail puffed up to twice its size, lashing behind him, his tall, large ears pinned back against his hair. ]

Founders preserve me, when I get my hands on that fool - [ he turns at your approach, and snaps: ] What do you want?

[ but a single second later, he sighs heavily, smoothing his hackles. ]

.. apologies, I hadn't meant to snap. Please, tell me what you need. Are you here to help?

classes; (closed to students)

[ classes are, in fact, always in session here in the castle, and just because he is busy with the symposium and scholars, as well as the pumpkin nonsense, doesn't mean he neglects his students. they are ever and always his focus, and he has no less energy for his classes.

well. really, to anyone who is looking, he does look quite tired, but if asked, he'll smile and brush it off.

today's class is outdoors, on the grounds. tighnari is teaching wild foraging and identification. everyone has a notebook as well as a small field guide that he has written himself, on the native flora and fungi of their particular region, as well as any invasive species. right now, he's kneeling beside a cluster of mushrooms that grows out of the base of a large oak on the grounds. ]

Now, can anyone tell me what these are? Extra points if you can list three uses for them.

wildcard;

[ feel free to tweak any of the above prompts to fit you, or come at me with something new! if you'd like them to have prior connections, or you'd like to start a claim/have tighnari as your maker, feel free to hit me up on the au workshop post!! ♥ ]

Autumn Nox!

[coolcustomer]

For all she's very Gold Court, Haru's been interested in plants all her life - and now she gets to indulge that interest. So of course she's at this lecture, listening carefully and taking detailed notes.

It's fascinating. She's a novice and a firstie at that, and thus probably one of the youngest people in attendance, but she was very much looking forward to this one from the moment she heard about it.

Xenk Yendar | D&D:HAT | Teacher | Gold

[partybabysitter]

I. New Arrivals

[ Xenk watches the proceedings from up on high in the balconies, golden eyes cast along the crowd as he observes the new arrivals for the season. Had he chosen any for himself? He doesn't make a habit of it, but if it's what his Court needs, then he would do it in a heartbeat.

He likely hasn't been needed this time around, but one must always prepare. Standing among the other vampires of his court, he cuts an eerie figure--still as stone, perhaps even reading the thoughts of some of those new arrivals. Maybe he'll find someone interesting. Or maybe he'll catch any seditious thoughts before they can take root in their fragile, human minds.

If you're a fellow youngblood, please feel free to tell him to cut it out. New arrivals might want to watch themselves though... ]

II. Autumn Nox

[ The Autumn Nox may be a Silver Court event, but Xenk is always happy to lend a hand when it can make the Gold Court look good. This means he's been tasked with organizing a partciularly harried group of thralls as they set up rooms for the new novices, their emotionless faces dripping with sweat as they run to and fro, carrying everything from furniture to bedsheets, to lamps and potted plants. ]

Quickly now, this is important.

[ He speaks in a commanding tone, the thralls picking up the pace against their will. Not that they have those to start with. If you happen to be staring, then Xenk will easily notice. ]

If you have time to gawk, then surely you'll have time to help elsewhere? I have this well at hand.

[ Or perhaps you've been unfortunate enough to witness one of the thralls breaking something, whether it's a dropped vase or a shattered frame, Xenk looms tall above the thrall, his golden eyes focused intently on the thrall, as if deciding what to do next. Ooh, boy, should you help? ]

III. "Unethical" Experiments (cw: torture and violence)

[ Xenk may oversee much of the work that goes on with thralls, but vampires experimenting on vampires isn't his cup of tea blood. He observes the experiments with disinterest, appearing unaffected as the smell of vampire blood fills the air. He wrinkles his nose as the smell is drowned by burning flesh, and someone faintly calling 'again!' before the screams begin anew.

It's a little macabre, even for him. Enough that Xenk Yendar will turn to the nearest teacher beside him and actually attempt small talk. ]

Is it boredom that drives this? I may be too young to understand.

[ Later on he can be found near the entrance to one of these particular basements. Shrieks and yells are distant now, and he seems more relaxed for it. He's been asked to ensure no novices sneak in where they aren't needed. The scent of human blood, even if they're in their first seasons, might be enough to tamper with the "results" the scholars are searching for. To any students, he'll turn them away himself. ]

This is not the way to the dormitory. I suggest you turn back.

[ That's it for Xenk!! I haven't been able to tag as much on the EMP just yet but feel free to hit me up if you want any preexisting CR with him! His app is here if you wanna take a look at his background for ideas. Hans' TL should be up next :3c ]

autumn nox

[infinitevision]

"Aww, but I was enjoying just gawking," Satoru says airily. "What else am I suppose to do? Help shelve books? Rearrange furniture? No thanks."

He has a book in hand, something he borrowed from the library -- a treatise on the language of a distant city, and the psychological ramifications of their language's structure -- and despite all the Silver Court nerds running around everywhere desperately trying to get the library in order, Satoru has so far resisted returning the book. Or doing anything to help out.

He's oh so generously gracing them with his presence. That's enough.

Satoru peers into one of the novice rooms being set up, and perks up. "Ooh, this one has a window. That's great; they can really appreciate that sunny forest view before they go through their Becoming and have to cover the window up!" His cheerful tone makes it impossible to figure out if he's being serious or sarcastic. "Xenk, you big romantic, you're so thoughtful."

Kariya Matou (Kariya Makiri) | Fate/Zero | Student | Silver

[larvate]

one | new arrivals - new students only

[ Sullen and vaguely haggard-looking, Kariya awaits his Beginning with grim resignation. His expression has grown flat and distant as he waits, and even his clothing suggests a man who simply wishes he could be overlooked: as fine as anyone else's, yes, but heavy and dark and loose enough to obscure the shape of the body that lies underneath.

Still, even he isn't immune to the energy that suffuses the room. Some nervous, some excited, all of it anticipatory. He swallows and glances around himself; it's by mistake that he locks eyes with another new student, but now that he has, there's no avoiding it.

Awkwardly, he nods his head toward them, and he asks, ] How do you feel? About—all this?

[ He can only hope that someone else here shares his reluctance. ]

two | pumpkin-gone-wild

[ It's possible that you've seen Kariya elsewhere around the castle—but not terribly likely. He has only been here for a few days, after all... And in the aftermath of his Beginning, he has spent most of his time brooding in his room.

He'd changed that today. In retrospect, he probably shouldn't have. The greenhouse had seemed like a smart place to lurk at the time; with the situation being what it was, surely, most others would be give it a wide berth. And, besides, he likes plants. They make lovely scenery. ]

I—

[ Naturally, it had backfired. It's almost more embarrassing to be seen like this than it is to be snared in the first place, but he supposes he should count his blessings. Things could get much worse, if he isn't able to free himself from this tangle of pumpkin vines. ]

Sorry. Could you help me?

[ It's not a great first impression. He knows that. It's already happened, though, so there's nothing to do but swallow his embarrassment. ]

three | library clean-up

[ Eventually, Kariya accepts that he can't spend all of his time alone. So much as he hates to think of himself as making himself useful, he does. The library isn't such a bad place, anyway. He... feels at-home there, in so much as feeling at-home can ever be a good thing.

Sorting books is oddly soothing. Rather than hunting down the missing manuscripts, he helps find a place for those that are returned instead. The shelves have been left a disorganized mess from their plundering, so as long as he assists the librarians, he can be found pulling volumes from the shelves and idly leafing through them. Some of them he sets aside more swiftly than others, scowling or cringing as he does so, but still, he always makes sure they're returned to their proper place.

Whenever someone approaches, reflexively, he glances up from the title of a book and asks, ] Sorry. Am I blocking your way?

four | wildcard

[ You can find Kariya's AU plotting here. ]

pumpkin-gone-wild

[serpendipity]

... Oh dear. Hold on.

[ There was no judgement or laughing, but Eden look too concerned for her fellow Silver student. The vines had also gotten a bit in the way of the door's path, so it took a bit more time for Eden to push it open enough that she wasn't worried about the growth managing to close it again.

Delicately stepping over the vines, or on top of them in one moment, the teenager crouched down so she was closer to the tangle. ]

It doesn't look so bad at least.

[ Taking out a dagger from her belt, there was careful work done so as to not nick any of the clothes or anything, and simply cut away the vines. Which, even without her background, she seemed to have gotten a good bit of practice with the pumpkin vines if the staining on her hands were any indication. ]

A couple more seconds and you can step off and away from them, completely free.

Sylvain Gautier | Fire Emblem Three Houses | Student | Blue Court (eventually)

[philancer]

Arrival:

[ Sylvain is not yet a novice - officially - he has a few more months until he's eligible to be selected by a Master and become officially enrolled at Castle Courtsheart. It seems accepted as a given - expected, even - that will happen by most that know him. He's not exactly sure why, although he's been aware of several vampires in the Gold Court who have had their eye on him for a while now. He hasn't exactly encouraged them yet, however - much to his father's continuing displeasure.

But Sylvain has his own plans. And he's pretty sure they won't involve the Gold Court. Not that he's mentioned this to anyone, but this sanctioned visit before his enrollment comes at the perfect time. It gives him the chance to look around, inspect the other Courts. And perhaps find one that appeals to him more than the Gold does. Or at least a Master he wouldn't mind agreeing to. The one currently paying him the most attention back home... is not someone he'd want to bond with at all.

So after arriving and changing into the provided clothing - fine even by Gold Court standards, which is saying a lot - Sylvain sets out to explore and see what - or who - he can find of interest. Or, if he's lucky, maybe be of interest to someone else. ]

Library Cleanup:

Are you using those?

[ In an attempt to make himself useful to the Silver Court vampires hosting them, Sylvain had agreed to help them tackle the current disaster of their library. Considering one of his friends back in the Gold Court tended to leave piles of books wherever they went, this was hardly a new chore for him. Although he's politely and patiently eyeing you now - or, more importantly, the stack of books beside you.

Were you using those? And if not... ]

I think the library needs them back. If you don't mind?

Unethical Experiments:

Uh. Actually. This might be a bad idea.

[ Sylvain has always had a hard time turning down a dare. Especially when the challenge sounded fun, daring, and/or especially dangerous. Or all three! Even better!

But as another inhuman shriek echoes up from the depths of a stone-paved stairwell, his expression shows more than a hint of unease as he glances over at you. Were you the one that dared him? Or perhaps he was the one daring you? ]

Did that sound especially human to you?

[ ...Maybe it was just his imagination. ]

Wildcard:

(( hit me up with a prompt of your own! Sylvain is currently hoping to branch away from the Gold Court that raised him and find a Master in one of the other Courts - preferably Red or Blue (although ultimately I'd like for him to join the Blue Court if there's a vampire that would like a novice to bond with!) Feel free to leave me a starter or hit me up at chaneystarr with questions or ideas! ))

experiments

[nobleobligations]

[ This isn't the first time Lorenz has found himself baited into some juvenile competition with Sylvain. Oh, he'd rebuffed the dare at first—but then Sylvain had implied something-or-other about his capabilities, and rather than rise above such blatant provocation, Lorenz had snapped, "No, I dare you," and then the next thing he knew the two of them were standing in the basement stairwell together.

As Sylvain speaks up, Lorenz tosses a withering glance in his direction. ]

Dare I ask what you think separates a human's scream from a vampire's?

[ This may not be the first time he's taken the bait, but it will be the last, Lorenz tells himself... Just like he has every other time this has happened. He really, really means it this time, though. Honest. ]

Halsin | Baldur's Gate 3 | Teacher I Silver

[naturesgifts]

New Arrivals
For Students:
It's because this is a Silver Court function that the school nurse has even bothered to come out of his office. Well, that and to get a look at all the students about to start their journeys. First steps into this world are often wobbly.

He's not about to take a novice. He rarely does. But he is about to go on ahead and try to learn every new face he can. It's only right to know who is who among this new flock of ducklings.

"Hello and well met. I am Halsin. I hope your studies here will lead you to great discoveries."

For teachers
The Becoming is always a bit of a nostalgia trip. The large man watches over the group like a proud father, a small cup of blood tea in his hand. As becomes tradition, he enjoys making little wagers about which courts will take which hopeful.

"A week of substitute teaching says that this is Silver Court's year."

Autumn Nox
No lecture series is complete without the most awkward class in the world. "Your changing body and you". It's the puberty talk. Only it's about the first year of Becoming. What to expect. What to worry about. At the front of the class is a walking barn on a man, his hair tied back in a mess of braids and piled in a bun. He's just finishing up. "Now, these new urges you feel may scare you but know that your nature is changed. These new urges are completely normal and you should not shy from exploring these new instincts, just as nature intended. And if you feel they are too much, do not hesitate to come to my office and speak to me about them. I want nothing more than your success in this new life." He pauses for a smile and concludes. "Any questions."

Pumpkins
No. Nononono. Of all the times... [The words are a near bear-like growl from what is usually such a gentle giant. It's rare to see Halsin angry. Annoyed, yes, but angry. It is just not something the school nurse cares to feel. And right now, Halsin is utterly pissed off. There's a sound deep in his chest that could have come from one of the Blue Court about to change. No change happens. It never has for him.

He still snarls at the vines and pumpkins that have all but blocked him from what he considers his realm. The nurse's office and the small sleeping chambers beyond are his. His territory. And he can't get to it to hide after too much socializing.]

I told them! I told them my office was off limits! [He has no weapons, so there's just a very big, very angry vampire tearing at vines with his hands, trying to clear a door to get inside.]

Library
"Do not worry. I will catch you " He promises. He's seen someone climbing something dangerous to get to a book. His initial instinct had been to yell. To tell them to get down. But they're already up there. So all he can do now is stand under them in case they fall.

Later Halsin can be found being put to work shelving books. His height is an advantage here and he's been instructed to shelve the top most tomes. Mostly because the Librarian terrifies him just a little and he'll do whatever the Silver Court Elder tells him to.

[Unethical experiments]
He absolutely cannot and will not go down there. Doing so would break his heart and make him ill. But he can also not ignore it. So, instead, Halsin can be found, looking decided pale, hands shaking a little, staring at a spot on the wall, wincing every time the door opens and the sounds come from below. He sits huddles at the top of the stairs, hugging his knees to his chest. At his feet is a veritable treasure horde of medical supplies. Bandages and sutures, ointments and salves. There are even bags of blood, sitting in a warmer to keep them fresh. He's there. He's there just in case something goes terribly wrong and he has to go and help keep the Final Death at bay.

If he sees any students coming, he'll simply mutter from his sad little spot on the floor. "Don't go down there. It's not for you." He won't stop them of course. There's others down below that will. It's not his job. His job is to make sure all the scholars that came here left in one piece.

Unethical experiments

[wonderland_vogue]

[It's not meant for everyone, that much she absolutely believes. While she certainly doesn't mind everything that's going on down there, typically watching with a sadistic bit of glee and also interest in what's going on, she's not the typical. And, through the years, she's learn a thing or two about what to expect and who to expect or not expect down there.

But she can't be down there all the time, she has work to actually be doing. Which is precisely why she pauses when she sees Halsin huddled on the floor, looking... well, she knows precisely why he looks and is acting the way he is. Normally, normally she'd tease someone about this, point out their weaknesses and how can they be a vampire if they're bothered by blood and gore. But there's a few people that have made the exceptions list.]

Mm, they have you on standby today? [Nor is she going to ask if she can join him as she's promptly sitting down next to him and leaning against his side.] There's really no other option? It's been, what, years of this shit and they can't get it through their thick skulls that this isn't really your place?