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

[ Ahah. She was right in thinking that would stop the loop. Not that she wanted everyone kissing her, but some people... It'd be fine to give that kind of permission. This was a good solution. Also effective, because she's let the subject end right there and has a pleased smile on her face. ]

Oh, they could have some ready. Maybe some mulled cider as well?

[ Now a new idea. ]

You have longer legs, but how good are you at avoiding growing obstacles?

[ The track record isn't great for him, but that seems to be the closest to putting forth a tiny challenge. Especially as she steps over one vine and steadily gets faster while stepping onto another to keep going further. She may not have long legs, but avoiding obstacles like roots and vines were a specialty. ]

Well, I can give it my best shot, I did complete an obstacle course while completely smashed this season.

[He's always up for a challenge and really, he's gonna try his best to beat her. So stepping on some vines, he starts to use his long legs to his advantage, moving fast. He's good about jumping over the vines he's concerned about and stepping on the ones he's not.

He grew up on a farm so he's not half bad at it with his long legs.

Ultimately, he will trip and lose, but he's gonna give his best until such time.]

[ It might have genuinely been pretty close until that last trip, honestly. They had experiences with wild obstacles (just farm vs woods), so it was down to leg length versus someone that's had to deal with wolves before taking that Black Court course. Still, she stopped a couple of steps after hearing the thud of the fall and turned around. ]

Are you okay?

[ It's no fun to leave someone behind after that. Eden may have been laughing a bit, but it was purely out of having fun during the race, and offered a hand for Kirk to get back to his feet. ]

I think we can call that one.

[At first he rolls onto his back with a groan before seeing the humor in the situation and laughing a little out of breath. Of course he absolutely wiped out towards the end, He should have guessed such a thing would happen really. It was just his luck.

When she offers a hand, he takes it, mostly lifting himself up but still using her help. He was pretty big, even if he was still a bit skinny from being a poor kid who barely ate on a good day. He was slowly bulking out, getting more healthy muscle. It helps that there is such an abundance of food here.]

Yeah, that's your win. I almost had you there, but that one's my loss.

[He groans but there's an amused huff behind it.]

Once you're better at minding your feet, you'll start winning, probably.

[ As in, she believed it was a 'when' and not 'if.' There was a slight advantage with all of the vines, but that was temporary. Unless her own speed picked up significantly more, or if Jim getting to a bulkier weight slowed him down, she was happy enough admitting that. While there was genuine muscle from handling wildlife and carrying it back to the cabin back home, there was still catching up to reach a healthier kind of skinny on her own part as well.

With a gentle bump of her shoulder against his side before taking a more leisurely pace to finish their way to the kitchens. ]

It might come down to who learns shadowstepping faster.

[ Which she was behind on practicing, if only because her maker was so busy with preparing and participating in the symposium that she was behind on receiving his blood compared to other courts' students in the same season. It was a similar case with all of the other abilities they were supposed to learn this season. That doesn't stop her from keeping a smile on her face. ]

Sometimes I still forget that there's enough food to indulge yourself whenever the feeling hits, and that you can fill your stomach every time. Is that silly?

[He bumps her back casually, with a huff of amusement.]

Next time all when all these pumpkins aren't in the way, I'll totally win.

[But he says it as if it's a joke at himself, he doesn't seem to mind making fun of himself in a way. Sure, it's probably true, but he's not really minding poking fun at himself, especially if it gets a pretty girl to laugh.

He whistles, impressed.]

You taking Black Court classes too? Yeah, I suppose so.

[In honestly, even the most skilled people can die shadowstepping wrong, so he's not actually gonna use it casually like that, since he's not really got a death wish, but he's not about to say that to her. She might take it as him trying to protect her and honestly, she can handle herself, she's shown that much to be true.]

Not at all... I used to scrape by on whatever I could find, now I can have as much of whatever I want.. feels like some kind of surreal dream most days.

I'm taking as many classes in different courts as I can. Did last season as well. I take the silver classes that I can go easy in, so it's not too much of a load.

[ Taking it last season was probably the only way she'd be allowed to go to a black court class this one, but she liked trying for variety. ~~Unsurprisingly, she did not excel in gold court classes.~~ ]

It feels exactly that way. Aside from exactly what we needed to survive, the rest of what I hunted and foraged would go to being sold. A lot of things could be used as medical ingredients or supplies and my grandmother was the only one that was significantly skilled for a couple of towns, so we needed to keep a lot of reserve for those times.

[ Yet those were still fond times. Probably because she missed that grannie. ]

Wow, what season are you on? I'm only in my first, started in autumn.

[Maybe that's why he hasn't seen her much, was she a season ahead of him? Shadowstepping wasn't even in the curriculum until you were in your second season. Even then most people died in that class. Not that it deterred Jim from trying, he wanted to excel in everything, and he would.

He had a goal, a plan in mind, he just needed the right people backing him up and power to make it happen.]

Yeah, life wasn't exactly easy before coming here, even then I'm glad to have made it here.. not ideal but it was better than the life I was leading.

[Probably would have ended up dead after a while.]

Aren't we pretty my in-between seasons at this point? I wouldn't consider tests classes... Autumn seems pretty much over at this point.

[ In other words, she considered the first season finished, even while not quite being there. The subjects she was experienced in, such as the silver classes, she already requested to take any necessary exams after the symposium.

Humming in thought, Eden opened the door to the kitchens so they could both go in. ]

Were you part of the lottery as well?

True. I can see what you mean. I'm just taking it one season at a time I guess.

[He catches the door and heads in after her. Maybe he wasn't in as much of a rush as she was, as much as he had plans, he also knew that they couldn't happen any sooner than he was ready for them, so he would take his time in being ready.

Already Kirk was excelling in everything during his Autumn courses. He just needed to keep the momentum.]

Ah, no. I was lucky enough to get into a bar fight in front of the right vampire. He saw something in me I guess, so he offered to be my maker and here I am. Guessing you were?

[Already in the kitchen a couple Thralls on standby greet them kindly, asking what they can get for them.]

Ah, so it really can end up happening just like that. I was wondering.

[ She paused to ask if there was any pumpkin pie around, just because it had been the curiosity earlier. Either someone else was asking for some to be made, or they were being instructed to do something with the gourds- they were apparently just cooling off. Well, she was fine with waiting for a bit. It would be a treat she'd never had before. ]

It was my first time ever seeing, much less being a part of one. I don't know how often they were done, but I made trips to the two towns at least once a week without seeing it before. So I was a little confused as to what was going on at first.

[Kirk is delighted to hear there will be pumpkin pie ready soon. For the moment he just asks for an apple to stem the tide of his hunger while they wait. The thrall gives him a smile as they always do before fetching him one.

Still creeps him out a little.]

I guess if you live outside of town and are young enough it's easy to miss, I saw it all the time, the Blue Court liked to make a whole show of it. Seems you were the lucky? one. Not to presume how you feel about it, I know it can be a mixed bag of love and hate for the whole thing.

[ Eden couldn't handle looking at the thralls when not talking to them, receiving things from them, or taking care of sudden things like vines or wounds on their bodies. It's too unnerving for her to handle- which may be why she doesn't even ask for some fruit or anything else while waiting. ]

I do feel lucky about it. It's the longest I've been able to be around people, and learn about a lot of new things. It's just... I feel bad for my grandmother. She found and raised me, taught me to be her assistant, and now she's all alone. I don't know if her son will finally come back, or do something to take care of her.

[It takes a second, but Kirk splits the apple with his bare hands and offers half to her as he listens. He doesn't feel the same way about those he left behind, he doesn't have anyone worth anything to him that's not Edgin, but then again he knows other people are sentimental like that.]

Well, I hope she will be okay and that her son returns. Maybe once you become a vampire you can visit her again? See how she's doing. Maybe say thanks and explain how well you're doing.

Thanks.

[ She accepts the offered apple half with a smile. The sentimentality was probably more likely to happen for those in a Finding. When it's less planned and more of a surprise that could happen to anyone. ]

I hope so. That or I find her son so he can return or bring here to where he's living, so she's not alone. What are you going to do after you become a vampire?

After I become one? Hm... Probably become a teacher, maybe take on some novices. My maker has been so good to me that I can't help but want to kind of emulate it some.

[He had plenty of other plans for after, but none he was going to tell someone he's just met. Maybe with time she will know.

He takes a big bite of his apple, thinking about it.]

Just gonna take it a step at a time. If I could graduate early from here, I would, but patience is key and all that. How about you? Any plans other than helping your grandma?

[ She hums in thought, seriously thinking about it. Long enough to take a bite of the apple, chew slowly, and not yet have a response immediately after she'd swallowed that bit. Really, it was a thought she'd never think to have, if it weren't for one of the teachers constantly talking about the dagger she had. ]

For long term, I'll probably end up being a part of the medical staff and putting things together for that. Maybe even special 'hunts' to find some of the rarer ingredients... Maybe I'll look into finding out about my family that left me in the woods.

[ Yeah, because everyone slips things like that into their plans all the time. It's why she was quick to go for another bite of her apple half. ]

[Oh, that was a bit of a bomb out of nowhere. But he can't really say he's opposed to hearing it. Really, she was rather an open book it seems even if she was also at times hard to read. Curious girl.

He taps his chin in thoughts as he chews his apple thoroughly before swallowing.]

Well, maybe by then I can help you find that information. [A favor for a favor perhaps.] I could use always use an in with a medical professional and maybe I can be in a position to help you too. Mutual give and take, you know?

[ Well in her head, she thought it seemed somewhat obvious. Now it was just her being blatant. ]

My help is always a given to people I like and can consider friends.

[ Which, one was already a given, and the other seemed to be where they were heading. ]

Though I don't know how far you can get. I don't really have much to go off of myself. Really, I wouldn't have bothered, but then one of the teachers kept saying things about my dagger- Which, I know could've been to get me on edge or confused, or something that I couldn't understand the reason.

[He purses his lips in thought, thinking about the information she has and is sharing with him. So one of the teachers knows something. Playing games isn't uncommon for the teachers here, they have played enough games with him in a way, but that is the kind of game he doesn't expect from them, so to him it doesn't seem like one.]

Maybe, but it could be something too though. I mean, I can't promise I can help, but I plan to.. well, make connections and connections have information. So, if you want to find them, we can find someone who knows something eventually.

[A thrall comes over and hands them each a very very generous slice of pie.]

Thanks. [He smiles at the thrall before turning back to Eden.]

If there's a will there's a way. I'll keep my ear low for any rumors, yeah?

[ Eden didn't seem very convinced it was a game either. Just that it was in the scope of possibility. Which is why she's nodding, but anything that was about to be said was temporarily set to the side as they both received their portions of the pie. ]

Thank you!

[ The widest of grins is given to the thrall as they return to their other duties. Sparing a couple of seconds to give the fresh dessert a happy sniff. ]

I appreciate it, though I don't expect much. Not that connections are bad, but why are you planning to make them?

[ Now, to try the pie. Her first time getting to try it, as desserts would cost money that they couldn't afford to spend. The sound she made though, it could be considered absolutely sinful and probably didn't belong in a kitchen. ]

Mm! This is way better than I imagined it.

Well... I want to make a difference. [He shrugs like he didn't say anything significant just now, but for him he did. It was everything, he wanted to make an impact, he wanted people to back him and people for information, he wanted to secure power for himself and use it instead of just sitting on it like it was nothing....

He takes a breath and then takes a big bite of the pumpkin pie, doing his best to only give her a raised eyebrow at the sound, a smirk playing at his lips. Making a comment in the kitchen would be inappropriate, so he just stuffs the bite in his own mouth and--

Shit that was good! The sound he makes it something like a moan and belonged in the bedroom.]

I wasn't expecting something so sweet- founders, that's good.

[ At some point, Eden was going to note to ask about those differences. There were some things that seemed like they could be better, but she knew she had no chance in achieving them. The things she thought, she was in the wrong court and would never make it to that court to achieve.

Oh, but the sound Kirk made. Did she sound like that? She's heard sounds like that from the brothel while making deliveries. ~~They were a common customer.~~ There's the faintest hint of pink in her cheeks, but that's from a bit of imagination wandering. It'll fade once her mind is on other things. ]

It really is, right? It's so sweet, and you can taste all these spices in there! Like-

[ She takes another bite, trying to change the pitch of the moan to sound a little less like before. More happy and not... pleased. Adding a gentle bunt against Kirk's arm. It would be the shoulder, but she'd have to sit on the table to have a better chance of doing that. ]

I'm so glad to be able to try things like this while we're here.

[He makes another sinful noise until she bunts him and he can't help but chuckle, he knew what he was doing, seeing the faint blush on her cheeks, but he doesn't tease any further, he said he would be good about it afterall. He might be self motivated, maybe a little selfish and manipulative, but he was good to his word when it suited him.

Now was one of those times.]

We should enjoy it while it lasts, soon we'll be on a restricted diet. [Blood. He means blood.]

[ She'll never realize it was on purpose, because hers wasn't on purpose. It just took him making the sounds to realize how 'bad' it sounded. Which is definitely going to get stuck in her head if nothing else was done about it.

But yes, the looming restriction. It has her nodding while having another bite. ]

It's why I'm going to try as many new things while we're still able to enjoy them. Though I guess that'll end up being mostly sweets.

[ It's something she's able to lightly laugh about, because it probably sounded very childish. Because sugary things were a luxury, which they couldn't spare money for. ]

Mm... I wonder if there's anything else to try before we 'graduate.' Aside from enjoying as much of the sun as possible.

Test Drive Meme - New Blood

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