TESTDRIVE #1

[cobamods]

There's a number of ways it could happen, but regardless you find yourself standing on the outskirts of a city. A beautiful city, as familiar to you as any from your world, with all manner of buildings within sight. A sign on the side of the road greets you, saying WELCOME TO COBA You're already part of the family! It's practically inviting you to step into the city limits. Why don't you? As soon as you do, you'll find a pamphlet in your hand, almost eager to tell you all about what this mysterious Coba has to offer. And eager seems to be the impression you get about almost everything - the sun seems to brighten, the flowers seem to perk up - it's almost as if everything about Coba is welcoming you as an honored guest. And you are. Though hopefully, only temporarily. Coba would love nothing more for you to become an honored member of her precious community. Welcome to Coba, visitor, and we hope you enjoy your stay! PREMISE | RULES | FAQ & QUESTIONS | RESERVES | APPLICATIONS Please read the FAQ before commenting! ♥ Welcome to the City of Coba Testdrive! Your character has found themselves in Coba, and are welcome to do any of the following: ● As you enter the city, you hear some bustle about a homecoming party! Following the signs will find yourself at a plaza with food, drink and live music, of all sorts and types. Why don't you stay awhile and indulge? ● Or, if you're not the party type, maybe you'd like to check out the city's cultural center! There's art, books, and other things to keep your mind occupied. And, maybe you'll meet other like-minded people there. ● Not in the mood for any of the above? There's always the beach! It's a lovely day, the waves are beautiful and the stores along the boardwalk all have signs up that read "TAKE WHAT YOU NEED". Maybe you need a surf board. ● Or maybe you have something else you want to do? Go for it! You're more than welcome to come up with your own prompts. In addition to the above, we would love to encourage anyone taking part in the testdrive to world build with us! Whether it be a street name or an entire neighborhood, whatever you come up with will become part of the game's canon. All we ask is that you pop over here to link us so we can see what you've done! Finally, ENJOY YOURSELVES. Seriously, this is meant to be a laid back, enjoyable game. We welcome any questions, critiques, and ideas, so always feel welcome to approach us about any and everything. We hope you decide to stay here in Coba!

Comments

[stefanged]

[Figures he'd run into a beach instead of the woods. Stefan's not exactly complaining, though - the view's nice, and at least he's not alone.

He hesitates for a millisecond - she smells like Elena (or his memories of her), she looks like Elena, so she's gotta be Elena. Right? No other way to find out. So he takes a breath before he starts walking beside her.]

Feels kinda peaceful, doesn't it?

[counteracting]

Yeah, it does. [She smiled slightly when he fell into step.]

[stefanged]

[He stuffs his hands in his pockets as he listens to the waves roll up against the shore.]

Should've figured you were over here. [If the party didn't have tea, Stefan would've bailed on them hours ago.] You've, uh, you've been to the beach before, right?

[He remembers childhood summers up on the shore, visiting the pier with his kid sister and an aloof brother that was "too cool" for boardwalk games. But those were Alesci's memories, and well - he's almost certain Stefan and Damon didn't visit the beach. Not as humans.]

[counteracting]

Not in years, actually. [Elena's gaze shifts to the waves for a moment.]

We usually went to the cabin for vacations.

[stefanged]

Oh. [He vaguely remembers a lakehouse - the one where he and Elena spent a weekend? - so he nods, as if it clears up everything.

His gaze turns towards the pier, and the numerous stores he can see from the beach. Hopefully they've still got a couple of fair games tucked nearby...] Then I guess I owe you a proper afternoon here, Jersey-style. Might as well, while we've got the place to ourselves.

[counteracting]

You spent a lot of time in Jersey? [He'd never mentioned it before, but she also didn't know every detail of his life before they'd met. ]

Not that I'm saying no, just you've never mentioned it before.

[stefanged]

Kind of. [He's had this conversation before, of living two different, distinct lives and their memories colliding into each other on a frequent basis. This is one of those moments, especially if Salvatore's never thought about it before.]

I had friends ["and family"] who live near the coast. We'd go there during the summer, since it was what, an hour? Two hours? It wasn't far from Locke.

[counteracting]

Locke? [Elena blinked at him, stopping walking for a moment.]

You didn't really talk about your friends much. I mean aside from Lexi anyway.

[stefanged]

[He frowns, less at Elena's words and more at the thought of a friend-less life. (Salvatore, what kind of life choices were you making?) It's not something he wants to dwell on.]

Maybe there wasn't much reason to. [He hopes.] But yeah, Locke City, New Jersey. I used to spend a lot of time there - and on the coast.

[He's not sure how to best talk about this, because god, it's like dealing with Damon all over again. If he admits the truth, he'd just disappoint her.] You've heard of it, right?

[counteracting]

Not before today, really. I mean if I did, it was probably only in passing.

[Sorry Stefan.]

[stefanged]

[Ouch. Straight to the heart too!]

Probably for the best. [It DID just get destroyed by aliens, after all.] It wasn't much like Mystic Falls - it was huge, but everyone still knew everyone, or at least knew of everyone.

[Subject change is a-go:] So how much do you wanna bet that this city's got some of the same boardgame games?

[counteracting]

I think it's a pretty good bet?

Can't hurt to go see, anyway.

[stefanged]

[He nods, leading the way almost a little too enthusiastically - it's like he's a little kid again, re-exploring an old haunt as he rushes up towards the boardwalk.

Most of the stores are vacant, but he heeds the "take what you want" sign, setting up the fairground game himself. It's one of those "hit the target, win a prize!" type games, and he's even holding the ball in his hands as if it were routine.]

If I win... [He hums.] You'll have to stick around here with me longer. And if I lose... well, you should decide that for me.

[counteracting]

What if we tie? [Elena's watching him with the ball.]

Because I've seen you play sports, Stefan.

[stefanged]

Right. [It hits him, like the far-off memory that it is. Football? Soccer? Football AND soccer?]

You tell me. I've played sports, but these... I haven't touched them since high school. [Alesci hasn't played them since high school. God knows when Salvatore last hung around fairgrounds.]

[counteracting]

I'm pretty sure that doesn't matter given you're a vampire, and all.

[stefanged]

No, it kind of does. Sure, I've been a vampire for over a century.

[He lobbies a ball at the target - it hits the outer rim, rather than the bullseye he'd been aiming for. Stefan, for the most part, shrugs and grabs another ball.] Doesn't feel like it sometimes, though. Not after my memories got messed with.

[counteracting]

Damon mentioned that. [That was a little weird, actually and Elena's attention shifted to the net.]

What do you remember from Mystic Falls, really?

[stefanged]

I should've figured. [It's not said with malice - or any negative emotions, really. Stefan figures, sometimes Damon gets the older brother gig right.

He pulls his arm back as he readies himself for another toss.] Not sure. I didn't really have anyone to compare notes with, so... [The second ball's a little closer to the target, but not by much.]

I remember the big things. My summer underwater. Meeting Silas. Knowing people like Klaus and Rebekah - but the little details might be a mystery.

[counteracting]

Well that's a start. I can try to help fill in the blanks if you want me to.

[Her gaze shifts back to the net.]

Well you're improving.

[stefanged]

You sure? [He remembers vaguely being amnesiac before. What was the old saying? Fool me once, shame on me, but fool me twice...

Ball three hits the target. Thank god, because after a point, there was so much vampiric reflexes could do for a guy.] I'd be up for it, but it could get kinda weird.

[counteracting]

Because I've never experienced anything out of the ordinary in my life?

[Raised eyebrow, Stefan, so much with the eyebrow. ]

Yes, I'm sure.

[stefanged]

Fair enough.

[Ball number four, on the other hand, misses - and instead knocks a poor teddy bear from the ceiling. Stefan sighs at himself.] Okay, so... I remember you, and Damon, and sadly, the Mikaelsons. But I think there were more people? Like you had a brother?

[counteracting]

Jeremy, yeah. There was also Alaric, who was kind of our guardian, my aunt Jenna, who was killed a while back, John Gilbert, who died around the same time as Jenna, Bonnie and Caroline, my best friends. [There's a long moment of silence before Elena rubs a hand over her eyes. ]

Katherine Pierce.

[stefanged]

The soulmate. [Stefan turns slightly, to avoid showing Elena the frown on his face. For close to half a year, he was positively, absolutely convinced that Katherine - not Elena - had been his destined love. To learn the truth was a relief.

A relief, but one that still made him question his memories.] Er, what she told me, anyways. I know her, just like I know Silas and Amara.

[Beat] Weren't there two guys always hanging around your brother too? Matt and Ty... ler...?