cityofcoba | TESTDRIVE #1

TESTDRIVE #1

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm one of a kind, I know.

[he can't help but snort, even if he doesn't understand just what he was about to say] Oh no, how dare the real Stefan ruin Other-Stefan's perfect life, how dare you. That happen a lot?

The talking in Arabic thing? Yeah. I've been fluent in it for a while now. [It doesn't bother him much - it feels like his first language. Alesci, after all, had Muslim parents who encouraged Qur'anic recitation and--shit. Shit, he's memorized a whole holy book.

(He's so not mentioning this to Damon.)]

The ruining his life thing, on the other hand... that's been pretty consistent. I might've dropped out of Princeton.

[never mention it to Damon, Stefan will never hear the end of it. Ever. For all eternity]

That's . . . pretty mild. I mean, I'd be a little more worried if you started trying to eat people when you're—

Wait, are you human or vampire? [because that's probably an important thing to find out]

Vampire. Unfortunately. [He almost groans, though he does briefly show off his yellow eyes and fangs to demonstrate that yes, he is no longer the Muslim activist he once thought he was.

Only he would think immortality during an alien invasion was a curse.] What was that about me trying to eat people?

[while that's a plus in Damon's book, he can see why Stefan wouldn't be too happy about it. But then again, they never did see eye to eye on the vampire thing.

Before he answers, he takes a drink - a long one, that nearly finishes off the glass] Vampires drink human blood, except you don't. So I was just asking.

Oh.

[He's relieved to hear this from someone else, even though he'd been planning on buying animal blood from the butcher's. (Thank you, Chinese community, for believing in blood pudding.) Stefan had accidentally almost killed the girl he liked - no sense in repeating a mistake like that.] Makes sense. If I did drink human blood, that'd complicate things more - and make me not-me, right?

Something like that.

[it'd make him an entirely different Stefan, and not one Damon wants to deal with. Or at least, not a ripper who has complicated memories of two lives and that could only further complicate things, for all he knew. That and he knew, knew it wouldn't go well at all. It never did]

[The funny thing about having two sets of memories: having two different - but equally strong - instinctive reactions. Stefan swears, having all of Salvatore's memories would be kind of nice. It would help in determining if he should awkwardly change the subject, or as Alesci would do, rush up and hug his brother, nearby partygoers be damned.

He checks to make sure no one's watching (more for Damon's sake than his own), and to set the bourbon down for a few seconds, before he gives into Alesci's instinct and rushes over for a quick, short hug.]

Yeah, well... I don't think you have to worry about that here.

[hugs. Hugs are weird, sometimes. Not that he's particularly against them, but they're also not something he ever really pursues. Who wants to hug Damon anyway? He can count the hugs he's gotten in the last few years, but.

It's different when Stefan hugs him, because that's even rarer, and usually for a reason. He's stiff at first, in that surprised, unsure way before he lifts an arm to hug Stefan back, just as brief but tightly]

I'm not worried.

Still.

[Stefan should have let go by now. He should have, but he doesn't want to, because god, his brother's so stiff. Stefan's hugs, according to other people, are warm and tight, enveloping the other person in "warm, fuzzy feelings." But Stefan doesn't think about that when he rests his head on his brother's shoulder.

Nah, Stefan thinks about how he can't remember the last time he hugged Damon like this. Maybe Salvatore should've done it more, like Alesci and his siblings did (because their house was one big giant cuddlefest).] Until you head home, you're kinda stuck with me.

[Damon can't remember the last time they hugged like this either, but if Stefan wants to keep it going, he isn't exactly going to argue it. At least, not until someone looks over or some other ridiculous excuse he could use]

There's worst fates, little brother. Besides, what kind of brother would I be if I let you wander around here by yourself?

[Eh, let people gawk (if they were). Stefan could actually play the Islamophobia card on them - though he does let go, albeit reluctantly.] The worst kind, obviously.

[He's so gonna grab another cup of tea if he can, because dangit, he really can't shake this eternal craving. Stefan would've thought he craved blood. A normal vampire should've craved blood. But nope, he was all about different tea blends.] From the looks of it, they're pretty desperate to get us to stay too. I think I even saw a masjid.

Obviously.

[another thing Damon is never going to stop teasing him about, but he certainly isn't going to stop him from getting more if he wants. As long as Stefan doesn't stop him from his goal to drink all the bourbon he can. As - nice as this is, it's still a touch weird, and if he can't go feed on people, he's going to indulge in his other vice. At least for now]

That's the impression I've been getting, aside from the whole "honored guests" crap I keep hearing. I guess it wouldn't hurt to humor them a little.

It's peaceful, they make good tea... [He shrugs.] I can't complain so far.

[He pauses - is that Alesci talking, or Salvatore? Eh, he'll figure it out once he gets a better grip on everything. On being the only Numbered in the city (for now). After all, it's not like he's bound to this place forever.] Have you wandered around much yet? Or did you just make a beeline for the bourbon?

What do you think I did first?

[he made a beeline for the bourbon, of course. Although he is shooting Stefan an entirely far too amused look at the tea comment. Oh no, here it comes] Good tea? That's a qualifier?

Of course it is. If you don't brew it a certain way, you'll lose the taste-- [He's not even trying to sound like a tea snob, but there it is. There's the evidence that he was born and bred one, whether he likes it or not.]

On second thought, let's just grab another round and look around.

[the grin that spreads across Damon's face promises nothing but teasing and jokes]

Oh, of course, how could I forget? Tea is serious business.

But I'm game for looking around. I could use another kind of drink anyway. [and he'd be good and find a hospital, rather than a vein. This time]

[It's not serious business until he's arguing with a tea shop about the best blends (which, sadly, has happened).]

I think I saw a hospital on my way here. [He's not certain, because he was more focused on why this place seemed so peaceful - so he gestures vaguely to the west.] We could check around there, see what else they've got to offer.

[Stefan please. And also please do that in front of him, he needs the ammo in his new quest to never let his brother live this down]

I think I saw one that way too. [he nods in the same direction, and the grin is back] After, I don't think the woodland creatures are aware you're here yet, so you could get the drop on them before they can rally a rebellion, if you want. I'll even help.

["You'd do that for me?"

Honestly, Stefan wasn't planning to hunt. Instead, he wanted to buy beef blood from the Chinese stores - assuming one existed here - and drink it to his heart's content. Or eat blood sausage, whichever was more convenient. But Salvatore had survived for over a century on woodland creatures, so Stefan managed a thin smile, as if it were everyday habit.]

Sure. Might as well get a feel for what wildlife lives around here.

With how weird this place has been already, I'm hoping it's normal. I like normal.

[he finishes off his bourbon and disposes of the cup (even if it's tempting to just grab a bottle for their little adventure) and gestures for Stefan to lead the way]

I'm not really counting on it.

[He does not care if this just buys into his tea snob habit - he's grabbing a cup of chai for the road as he leads the way back.] Though how weird are we talking? Besides my messed-up Echoes - er, memories?

[he very deliberately gives the cup of tea a look and a grin]

I'm talking weird weird. Do you want to know about the sex island, New Orleans, or California? Your choice, I've heard some crazy stuff today.

[two of those three stories are weird as hell, and one of them is a little more . . . personal than the others]

There's a sex island?

[If he were drinking, he would've spit out his tea.

Stefan's kind of failing to see how New Orleans or California would be weird at the moment, so sex island seems like it would be the obvious (if not strange) choice.] Actually, nevermind, I don't think I want to know.

[so, sex island it was. He'd say he's sorry, but y'know, he's not]

Whaaaat? You don't want to hear all the juicy details Rebekah shared with me?

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