undyingcourt | Test Drive Meme

Entry tags:

Test Drive Meme - New Blood

DEC TEST DRIVE MEME

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

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

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

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

Top-Level Directory:

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

NEW ARRIVALS

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

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

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

"Welcome to your first undying season, initiates," a pale, silver-haired vampire calls. They have silver eyes are clad in silver robes, but command the attention of everyone in attendance. They have a beauty that seems neither male nor female. They are standing at the center of a wide semi-circle of other vampires, "As the Silver Court's acting voice at this end of the Autumn season, allow me to introduce you to the Houses that will be your new homes."

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

Revar offers the Foundlings who are left a gentle, knowing smile, and then allows them to be chosen. They are like the last sheep left at the auction, and the vampires who take them may not be the enthused about it. Nevertheless, Revar waits patiently until all have found a maker.

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

AUTUMN NOX

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

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

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

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

PUMPKINS-GONE-WILD

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

LIBRARY CLEAN-UP

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

UNETHICAL EXPRIMENTS

[CW: Torture, experiments]

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

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Pumpkins-Gone-Wild

[ Anthony Bridgerton, son of a noble from the Gold Court lands, and with a bright and promising future ahead of him has been defeated by pumpkins. He was going for a nice evening stroll (as one does, to see and be seen and get some exercise) when quite suddenly pumpkins and their vines started sprouting from every direction, a very localized flurry of activity right around where he's walking.

And then, to his absolute horror and chagrin, he becomes trapped within the vines. They crawl up his legs and bind his arms, dishevelling his normally impeccable appearance. Oh, if Lady Whisperfangs could see him now. The absolute scandal! This would go down in the Top 10 Most Embarassing Things To Happen To A Novice This Season, which would put him in absolute terrible standing. Who wants an embarassing novice to join their court? His reputation would be ruined!

He needs help quickly, but also...discreetly? This is a conundrum. He can't scream for help because then people would notice. But he can't get himself out because his hands are tied too tight.

And that is, of course, how he settles on a curt nod and a: ]

Good evening.

[ to anyone who passes by, as if he's not presently entraped by plants. Nailed it! ]

Library Clean-Up

[ Everyone has to do their part to aid this effort, and Anthony's part appears to be helping a very cute young novice putting books on the shelf (maybe that's you, maybe that's an npc!). There's a whole art to it, you see. A subtle little brush of his hand as he helps them place the book back on the shelf in alphabetical order, the intimacy of being so close in so quiet a space, the shared working together towards an important, altrusitic goal.

Anthony might not be Red Court, but he certainly has a natural charm (when he's not being wrapped up in pumpkin vines, unless pathetic and tied up is your thing) when it comes to this sort of thing that served him well before coming to Castle Courtsheart and which, he hopes, will continue to serve him well while here. And even if this little bit of flirting doesn't go anywhere, he is being a good citizen in helping with the library fiasco! So, really, it's win-win. ]

It is so kind of you to help with all these books, I can only imagine that the librarians will be happy with our progress.

[ He keeps his tone gentle and praising, and it helps that he does really believe it. He might seem like he doesn't care sometimes, but this library mess is a real problem! ]

Extra Curricular: Gambling (cw: gambling, use of alcohol and drugs, nudity/sex)

[ It's really no secret that Anthony, now close to finishing his second season, has been running a gambling ring. Just a bit of fun, you see, as they bet on who might excel in what classes, or how different Courts might do at school-wide competitions, or just a good old fashioned game of cards. He holds a weekly card game in an extra, empty classroom (maybe you're in the know and know where to find it, or maybe you just stumbled in) that is known for the way it often devolves into a drunken, sometimes sexual mess.

The room is filled with a light haze from whatever everyone happens to be smoking (look, when you've got a greenhouse like that on campus, this could be incredibly ill-advised), and various pieces of clothing are strewn across the floor apparently because the lads (gender-neutral) decided this was a week to gamble in stripping rather than coin. It keeps it interesting, right? Someone else's cravat is tied around Anthony's head, and his brocade vest is the only thing someone else is wearing. But everyone looks like they're having a good time.

What are they playing? A card game passed down through generations of novices, known only to those taught in these hallowed halls. Changing the rules seems to be a staple of the game, as it seems to constantly be in flux, but those at the table concentrate like they do know what's happening here.

Join in if you dare, or simply watch and partake in the excitement. Is that a bottle of bloodwine...? ]

Edited 2023-12-02 19:14 (UTC)

[ Anthony's extracurriculars are no secret to Xenk. Indeed, you could never keep a secret from your Maker. But Xenk has to admit, it's an enterprising little business Anthony has built for himself. He may not approve of the practice, but it shows great promise to start your own enterprise as a novice.

And with all the time in the world to kill, what vampire wouldn't enjoy a wager? Well, Xenk doesn't, obviously, but he's not here to shut Anthony down. He's just here to stand back and provide a mildly disapproving stare and make sure they don't kill a thrall or two. Novices will be novices... and maybe Xenk has a soft spot for his own. Who can say?

If anyone asks, you can't see him. In fact he may be ensuring that, by projecting the thought of his invisibility into the minds of everyone here -- except for Anthony's of course. ]

Enjoying a bit of revelry, are you?

[ Xenk, that is so entirely extra.

At least he's used to it. He responds in thoughts only, seeing no reason to make himself look like a crazy person in front of his gambling buddies. ]

I didn't think I needed a chaperone.

[ "Extra" is probably the most common word the youths would use to describe Xenk. He simply enjoys the power at his fingertips, and likes to see his novice in his element, you know.

He doesn't expect Anthony to rise to it, of course. They've built a rapport with one another. They have an understanding. ]

I am merely observing your endeavors. I may disapprove of the practice, but even gambling has its rules.

[ Rules he knows are made to be broken, but even that's an unspoken rule of its own, isn't it? Besides... ]

You novices are entertaining.

[ It's actually fun to watch people lose, that's what he's not saying. It's fun to watch people bet everything and pay for their folly. ]

Edited 2023-12-07 04:12 (UTC)

I'm not so certain you'd like these rules. They insist on changing.

[ In fact, now, Anthony deposits a handful of gold half-marbles (you know like for mancala) on the table. This is a card game?? But the marbles are definitely involved. ]

You don't have anything better to do tonight?

[ Xenk quirks a brow. He has not bothered learning the rules either, he finds the whole thing to be a waste of time. ]

Perhaps. But you seem to be keeping track.

[ Plus you're supposed to encourage novices to be themselves or some nonsense, at least as long as it doesn't hurt their chances of passing. So he supports this, for all that it lets Anthony practice his leadership skills if nothing else.

His question is amusing on its own. Even with a simple voice in his head, Xenk projects that amusement -- at the fact that Anthony seems bothered by his presence, that is. ]

Does my presence bother you? You've nothing to hide from me, Anthony.

[ The scandal indeed, Anthony. What would Lady Whisperfangs think. Hans too was enjoying a stroll (and perhaps avoiding his room, as those same vines and pumpkins have taken up residence there) when he encounters Anthony. ]

Enjoying your evening, Bridgerton?

[ Look, Anthony may be a season older than him, but that's just a few months. And this is a really vivid picture, he's definitely one of Anthony's gambling buddies. ]

[ oh...this was not what he was hopping for at all. ]

Westergaard. So good to see you. It's quite lovely out, as you can see.

[ Yes...the weather. The only thing to see here. ]

[ :) Hans joins his hands behind his back, as if enjoying this for just a moment. ]

Yes, it's a lovely night, isn't it. The moonlight is especially beautiful, streaming through the clouds.

[ He lets the man stew for a moment. Just to see if he'll crack. ]

[ Luckily, there were some people going around and regularly helping out with the rampant vines. Some had even been leaving people in rather vulnerable positions, aside from tripping up a good portion of both students and thralls. It was mostly thralls. So there's no surprise or call for help when Eden discovers the delicate situation that the Gold Court student was caught in. Given the green-grey stains on her sleeve, skirt and hands, it was likely far from the first ~~or last~~. Each step on or over the troublesome vines spoke more to ease of avoiding getting tripped by similar things, given most of her attention was assessing the poor guy's situation. ]

Not another... Hold on.

[ Reaching behind her, a dagger was pulled out like it was your regular ol' utility and weeding knife. Except this is one of those daggers meant for concealment, and had a snake head embossed on the small pommel. The way she goes over to either fully cut the vines that were away from Anthony's body, or carefully going through to only slice through 95% of the vine's thickness, it was clear that she was used to using it as a normal knife. It takes a few minutes before she starts wiping the blade on the silver clothes and backing off.

It would've been faster, but there were times she had to cut some new tendrils short of getting her, or adding to the pile. Still, she's proud of getting this done rather smoothly. ]

Okay, if you pull against what's left, it should snap off. I'd move pretty quickly after you do, though.

[ Anthony stays quiet through the whole thing, barely daring to breathe lest he end up moving towards her blade, but when it's all over: ]

That was quite the display. You're very good at that.

[ He pulls on the remaining vines and frees himself, a little breathless but clearly impressed. ]

Did you learn your bladework before coming here?

You could say something like that. I've had a lot of experience taking care of many sorts of wildlife with this.

[ She'll tilt the dagger back and forth a little, more to be amusing than as a brag, before sheathing it behind her. At least it's wildlife she claims to have practice with, and not people. But who'd believe she would hurt people with a face like that? ]

How did you end up so wrapped up like that? Usually only the older thralls have been found in such a state. Or Miss Rosie, but she put herself that way... You weren't trying to attract people for a rescue, were you?

[ That's normally a Red thing, as she's found with Rosie, but she wouldn't put it past anyone. It could've been fun to try if it wouldn't ruin her forage and harvesting reputation so much. ]

[ It's definitely true that the statement doesn't match her cute face, but Anthony has the blessed experience of having Several Sisters and he knows well that cute girls can hide all kinds of things! And sometimes girls can even use knives! Terrifying. ]

Oh, I was rather trying to do the opposite...[ he admits this with a healthy dose of embarrassment ] I thought, perhaps, if I didn't say anything, they'd simply go away...

You thought...

[ Alright, someone with sisters would definitely know better than to think a cute face meant complete innocence. That face goes quite perplexed at the logic, however. Now while she didn't have any right to call someone sheltered, it had her wonder about people being literally so. ]

You've never seen the way vines could completely cover a house or tree, have you?

Satoru doesn't show up every time Anthony's gambling ring holds an event, but he's there often enough that he's a familiar face. It's not proper form for a Gold Court teacher to attend such things, and that's exactly why he's here. Also, currency can be useful!

He always ducks out before the sexual debauchery begins if the majority of the crowd are students. Plenty of the teachers don't mind a little power imbalance flavor to their fuckery, but meh, it's not his scene. Still, strip poker is hilarious, and Satoru's sunglasses are currently perched on someone else's head, his kimono is missing its obi, and he's got no less than three pairs of boxers and panties slung around his wrist like prizes.

"Haaah? What do you mean I can't play a straight flush in this round?" he asks Anthony, affronted. "I always used to be able to! Since when did that change?"

He first learned this game a little over twenty years ago. It's gone through countless changes, but some things always stayed the same. Until now, apparently.

"Ugh, fine, then I don't call, and I'll take two cards," he amends, idly shuffling through his hand. "By the way, does your maker know you do this? That's not a blackmail threat, that's just me gleefully imagining the look on Xenk's face when he realizes his novice is promoting underground orgies."

It's not my fault if you can't keep up with the change in the times.

[ Tonight is indeed a no straight flush night. It's gay flushes only, actually. That's when you get all the jacks from all the courts together. ]

Anyways, you know I can't keep anything from him. [ Even if some novices get better at schooling their thoughts, gold novices have the hardest time. Their makers often literally teach the class on mind reading. ] If he wanted to shut it down, he could've done that months ago.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Test Drive Meme - New Blood

Anthony Bridgerton | Bridgerton (Netflix) | Student | Gold Court

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pumpkins

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