Future Visitations (AU/CC/Adult) Casting Call

[isabelle]

*Max*

Liz touches the symbol the same way I had. I know what she's feeling. It's exactly like the brick of the wall. It doesn't even feel like paint. It's like the bricks had been made that way, and I know that's not true. There's a faint warmth to it, and that's the only sign that it's new. I know it wasn't there when I came up to talk only a few hours ago.

Liz turns to me, confused and scared, but I'm beginning to feel a bit more collected. "It's like what I can do," I tell her.

She nods, interupting me. "The night of my blind date."

"Yeah," I say. The mark I made that night is still on the wall, just a few feet away. "But I didn't do this. Still, Maybe I'm over-reacting. This could have been done by Michael or Isabel." Or Tess, I think, but don't say. If she was up here while we were inside then all of our plans may be sunk before they're begun.

The trouble is, I just don't think Isabel or Michael would do such a thing, drawing attention to ourselves. I would say the same of Tess, too, except if she saw us, this could be her way of somehow reminding us of 'destiny.' Although I'd rather have expected that she'd come in and interupt, instead. Or has she already left town? Is it over? I’m trying not to show it, but I’m starting to be afraid. The end of the world, Liz had said, all because Tess left and she left because of Liz and me….

Frowning, I touch the symbol again. The warmth is still there. Suddenly, I’m hit by an intense flash. I see a face, a smiling young girl of maybe 11 years, standing in the desert and laughing as the wind blows through her hair. I breathe a sigh of relief, looking at Liz. “It wasn’t Tess. It was a girl. A little girl…”

I pass my hand over the wall, erasing the mark. Just because it wasn’t Tess, doesn’t mean it’s not a problem. She may look like a little girl, but she could be an enemy, like Nicholas. Or maybe an ally – someone we didn’t know… "I'll have to talk to the others, right away. If there’s another one like us around, they need to know."

[KatnotKath]

~Liz~

Despite the fact that it’s warm, from the appearance of the stone, you’d almost believe that it was made that way… I turn back to him, swallowing and trying to keep calm. I know this wasn’t there a few hours ago… It wasn’t even there when I came out for my diary…we would have seen it…

“Max…what…?”

He shakes his head, but sounds pretty calm. “It’s like what I can do,”

I nod, knowing that he’s right. “I know…the night of my blind date…” I comment, looking over to the mark which is still there on the stone a few feet away. Just looking at it makes me smile…thinking back to when things were so much simpler…when we didn’t have to put on an act… Thinking back to a time before FutureMax… That night when all of Max’s reservations and worries had disappeared for a few hours…the kiss we had shared… It was a good night…

“Yeah…” Max nods before voicing what I already knew. “But I didn’t do this. Still, maybe I’m over-reacting. This could have been done by Michael or Isabel.”

Or Tess… He doesn’t say it, but I know what Max is thinking… What if she saw us…what if she was there…? It doesn’t make any sense that she would be here, or that she’d do that but then again how much of this stuff does…? If Tess was here, for whatever reason, everything that we’ve talked about might be for nothing… She might have seen us…she might have left already…

I swallow, trying not to think such things, but unable to keep from wondering if everything I’ve done the past few months has been for nothing… I finally gave in… I went against everything I had promised myself and actually put myself before the welfare of the others. I told Max even though I knew how risky it was…

Max is frowning, and he reaches for the symbol again. Suddenly he seems to freeze, and I know he’s getting a flash. Slowly he lets out a breath and I look up, meeting his gaze. “Max…what did you see…?”

“It wasn’t Tess. It was a girl. A little girl…”

Well I guess that does away with one worry…although it tends to replace it with another, as is pretty much the norm…

Max passes his hand over the wall, erasing the mark and making it seem as though it was never there. The question remains, of who she was though…who she was that could mean she was able to put it there like Max. Is she a skin…a shapeshifter…Is she an enemy or an ally…? It’s a question for now that I know there’s no answer to, but obviously the worry is that she’s the former…someone sent by Khivar…

“I’ll have to talk to the others, right away. If there’s another one like us around, they need to know…”

I nod, saying nothing as Max begins to take charge of the situation. I can’t help noting, that even if he says he doesn’t like this ‘king’ business, he takes the lead well…

He begins to move towards the edge of the balcony and I can see he’s meaning to go now…as he said…right away… I shake my head, reaching out to stop him. “Max…no…don’t go, not yet…” I tell him softly. I don’t want to risk him misunderstanding me, and only wait for a moment before continuing. “I-I need to get dressed…” I look at him. “You need me there Max…otherwise how are you going to explain knowing about the mark…how are you going to explain having been here…?”

[isabelle]

*Max*

I wait when Liz tells me to, just because it's her. When she explains what's on her mind, I nod. "You're right," I tell her. I rub my chin, thinking it through. "I told Isabel I'd gone out for some fresh air, but I can't tell her I came here..." I did come to thank Liz for saving me when I was in New York and also to talk. Isabel knows that if I'd talked to Liz I would come away feeling a little better because things were sorted, or a LOT worse, because they weren't. I can't deal with pretending things are worse. Besides, we'd already agreed to keep on the same way - a very strained friendship - until we could sort things out with Tess. Liz's plan made a lot of sense.

"Go get dressed then. Hurry," I add. Liz grins, kissing me quickly before disappearing back through her window. Now that Liz and I have cleared things up between us, it's a little easier to focus on other things. I follow Liz to the open window and sit down outside as she gets her clothes back on. Talking through the window, I hold her journal in my lap as I sort the situation out in my head.

"Okay, so you were out here doing something and you saw the symbol and you called me. I came over and saw it and then we contacted the rest of the group," I say feeling satisfied. Liz would call me, even after everything - just like she helped Isabel contact me in New York. And if I'd come for 'business,' there wouldn't have been time to either sort things out or to get more upset about things. It'll work fine. "So I guess I'll call Isabel first. Then I'll ask her to call Tess and I'll call Michael."

I pull out my cell phone, still shiny and new. After nearly getting killed in the city because Isabel couldn't reach me, I finally bought myself a phone this afternoon. I haven't even had a chance to give everyone the number yet. I start to dial the house and then I think I'd rather catch her privately. Besides, she might not be home, either. I dial Isabel's cellphone number.

.

*OOC: Is Isabel on the phone with Alex or is she available???

[KatnotKath]

~Liz~

“You’re right…”

I give a weak smile as Max agrees with me, relieved that he understands my thinking, but at the same time hating the words that come next. “I told Isabel I’d gone out for some fresh air, but I can’t tell her I came here…”

Unfortunately that’s true… We didn’t think we were going to have to start this tonight, but it seems that we have no choice… We have to go from being as close as two people can be, to being merely ‘friends’ on the surface… Whether the others even think of us as being that at the moment I don’t even know anyway… I mean I still hang out with the others, but it’s been a while since they’ve actually seen us say more than a few words to each other I think…

“Yeah…” I sigh and look down, trying to concentrate on the fact that we’ll both know it’s all for show… My hand closes over the necklace around my neck once more and I smile. This is going to work out…It has to… I smile softly.

“Go get dressed then. Hurry…”

I grin, unable to keep from thinking how useless saying something like that would be to Maria… I, on the other hand, am perfectly able to handle that and nod, dipping my head to kiss Max one last time. “Ok, won’t be long…” I tell him softly before tearing myself away and slipping back through my window.

The clothes I was wearing earlier are lying on the floor, but they are rather crumpled and I think probably something clean is a better idea. Opening my closet, I pull out a second pair of jeans think a moment before adding a long-sleeved red top. It’s plain and simple, and I can’t think that anyone would think I might be dressing up – but then I know that Max likes me in red…

He sits just outside and I’m aware that if he wanted, he could see what I’m doing… I’m making no attempt to hide myself from him either…there’s no need…

A few hours ago this would probably have been approached as something of a game… That light, playful atmosphere has long since dissipated though…replaced first by one that is serious and intimate, and now by one which is simply serious…

We don’t know who this girl is – friend or foe? Is she here to help…in the long run to save Earth from the war, or does she bring with her more danger…?

“Okay, so you were out here doing something and you saw the symbol and you called me. I came over and saw it and then we contacted the rest of the group…”

Shaking my head, I realize there’s little point in wondering… The best thing we can do for now is concentrate on trying to find something solid… As I continue to get dressed, I turn my attention to Max, pulling on my jeans and fastening them before slipping the top over my head while listening and pulling a comb through my hair, as I make my way back over to rejoin him.

I nod as Max runs through the story. Even if I didn’t want anything to do with Max, if I thought something might mean danger for him, I would always contact him about it… Whatever happens, I’m part of the group…

Something about his story niggles me though, although I can’t think what until I begin to think about how I would have contacted him… If I phoned him at home, surely he would have told Isabel straight away…?

Before I can raise this point, Max says that he’ll call Isabel first and then Michael… I expect him to ask to use the phone in my room, but to my surprise Max pulls out a cell phone from his pocket. I know that I might not have been spending much time with him recently, but I’m pretty sure he didn’t have that before going off to New York… In fact, scratch that, I KNOW he didn’t…because the whole problem with contacting him when he was there was that he had no cell… If he had, well I don’t suppose he would have needed me, and I don’t suppose that Ava would ever have needed to tell me I was changed…and where would we be then…? I bite my lip, my hand closing over the necklace around my neck for a moment before tucking it inside my top away from the view of others.

“You’ll have to remember to give me that number…” I tell him softly, coming over and sitting next to him, kissing him softly as he dials the number and then leaning against his shoulder a moment while he waits for an answer. I know this has to end… By the time the others get here we need to be at a somewhat awkward distance… We need to appear as though we’re certainly no more than friends, and certainly not close friends… We need to act as we have been doing for the last few weeks… The difference is that then it was real, and now it’s an act, and I just want to take advantage of the little time we have before it has to begin…

[isabelle]

*Max*

Liz climbs out of her window just as I'm dialing Isabel up. I glance up and notice she's got a new outfit - a gorgeous red top that has me swinging my head back for a second look.

“You’ll have to remember to give me that number…” she says softly, sitting down beside me. For a moment, I forget what exactly I'm doing and all I can think is how beautiful she looks. She looks wonderful all the time.

Then the next ring of my phone brings me right back. "Sure," I tell her, focusing again. "Maybe that's how you called me? I called you a little earlier to give you my cell number, and then you called back when you found the symbol?" Unless someone goes and checks my phone records, which they won't, it'll hold up. Unless they ask why I would give the number to Liz first and not Isabel.

Oh, who am I kidding? Of course I'd tell Liz first, even if we are on the outs. In fact, that had been one of the things I actually had planned to do when I was on my way up here earlier, before I was distracted... I smile up at Liz and then turn my attention back to the phone.

Why won't Isabel answer? I hope nothing's happened...

[StormWolfstone]

Here are reposts to help guide those that have been missing from posting. Welcome back M. I know you've been unavailable and I'm just glad to know that you are alright.


For Isabel


~*Michael*~

As Isabel seems to relax, I release her only slightly before I place a hand on her shoulder while she makes a query, "I can call Alex, do you want to call Tess and Maria can call Liz? Maybe we’ll find Max in the process or if we don’t… at least then we’ll know something."

I nodded, "I agree, that's definitely a good idea. Go ahead and call Alex first. Then I'll call Tess, we'll let Maria call Liz after because if she get's hold of the phone, she might be a while."

"Hey!" Maria's voice sounds from the couch where she was still seated. I can't help but laugh because I always can get a rise out of her. I squeaze Iz's shoulders and then release her gently.



*Max*

Liz climbs out of her window just as I'm dialing Isabel up. I glance up and notice she's got a new outfit - a gorgeous red top that has me swinging my head back for a second look.

“You’ll have to remember to give me that number…” she says softly, sitting down beside me. For a moment, I forget what exactly I'm doing and all I can think is how beautiful she looks. She looks wonderful all the time.

Then the next ring of my phone brings me right back. "Sure," I tell her, focusing again. "Maybe that's how you called me? I called you a little earlier to give you my cell number, and then you called back when you found the symbol?" Unless someone goes and checks my phone records, which they won't, it'll hold up. Unless they ask why I would give the number to Liz first and not Isabel.

Oh, who am I kidding? Of course I'd tell Liz first, even if we are on the outs. In fact, that had been one of the things I actually had planned to do when I was on my way up here earlier, before I was distracted... I smile up at Liz and then turn my attention back to the phone.

Why won't Isabel answer? I hope nothing's happened...


For Tess


~*~Quixote*~*~

I couldn't help but laugh as I stood beside Rome and listened to the blonde girl, Tess. She seemed to be both angry and scared as she noticed that I knew her name. "I'm Quixote, I'm a friend. Do not worry, your secret is safe with us, even though currently they do not even know it."

After speaking I grinned and flashed away from where I stood next to Rome and then flashed to stand next to Tess, "Starlight, starbright, wonder what the future's like." I intoned in almost a sing song voice and then simply flashed away from them and to where they couldn't see me on the other side of the bus.


*~Zeus*~

I glanced over at Rome as I listened to the blonde girl that Quixote had called Tess. "What do you think? Does she sound like she is acting when she asks what Nexes is?" My asking Rome her opinion is just one way that I am showing her that she is and always will be a part of our team even though there were times when I tried to keep her from doing anything that could have been considered unsafe.

From behind us, I heard Jakki shuffle and turned to see her looking out from the back curtain a moment. Robbie simply stood there waiting patiently for whatever might happen. Even so, I saw him reach for Rome's hand and give it a squeeze.



For Kyle And Alex


Quixote



I laughed as I watched what everyone was doing, checking up on all the people I planned to bring together. This was certainly going to be fun.
I made myself flash outside of the room belonging to one of them and looked in the window at her. Seeing that she was awake, I made myself appear before her and said simply, "Isabel. Someone needs your help. He needs all of you."

Not thinking of anything else, I left there quickly and appeared to Michael and Maria doing the same thing and then Kyle and Alex as well.

[M]

~*ISABEL*~

I move away from Michael and Maria play fighting on the sofa to have a little privacy and quiet when I call Alex. I’m still scrolling through the numbers in the phonebook when the phone rings of it’s own accord. It’s an unfamiliar number, although local. I hesitate before answering, feeling apprehensive but unsure why. The phone rings again, drawing Michael and Maria’s attention, but it isn’t until the third ring that I make a decision and answer. Michael moves closer to me but I hold one hand up, motioning for quiet as I hold the phone so he can also hear the person on the other end.

‘H-Hello?’

[isabelle]

*Max*

At last, she answers. Good. I smile at Liz and give her hand a quick squeeze. Not that I really need to give her a sign that Isabel's there, but 'cause I like touching her and very soon, I'm not going to be able to do it for a while...

"Hi Isabel, it's Max," I tell her. I keep my voice level and low, but I'm sure she can hear the urgency. "Something's happened. We need to get everyone."

[isabelle]

*Rome*

I look at Zeus, nodding firmly. "I think she is," I tell him, quietly enough that I don't think the strange girl will hear. "But I don't understand how that could be..."

If she's ignorant of Nexes, then I guess we're safe here, but how can we begin to hope for help for Hart? If we're that isolated, they couldn't possibly have the level of medical care he's going to need.

I look up at Robbie, wondering if he's feeling the same thing, while I wait to see what's going to happen next.

[M]

~*ISABEL*~

Unsure of what to expect when I answered, I'm surprised and relieved when Max's voice comes over the phone.
"Hi Isabel, it's Max. Something's happened. We need to get everyone.

His voice is quiet but I can tell that he is as worried as Michael and I am right now.

'I was just about to call Alex. I'm with Michael and Maria. Do you want to come here? We can call the others while you are on your way. Michael was going to call Tess and Maria was going to call Liz' I add by way of explanation.