Choosing Grounds (AU/UC/XO/ADULT) Xander and Maria needed

[StormWolfstone]

~Isabel~

"We were attacked in Copper Summit after Whitaker died," 'Max' says and I nod, that's what happened for us. "And then the Skins came here, but Tess saved us all." That's not how it happened! This is definitely not Max. Before I can say anything though, Liz says it instead,

“Tess deserted us…she set the trap, and probably watched us struggle to fight!” I can hear her hatred and I completely agree with it, squeezing her shoulder lightly.

"Ava is Tess's dupe… From the other set. They made two groups of us and -- Wait. That's it. You're not Isabel, are you? You're Lonnie." 'Max' says and I shake my head, not understanding what he means. Two groups? Dupes? What the hell? How can there be two of us? Yet, I can hear the certainty when he explains that there were two groups.

"You think I'm Zan." Zan? I kind of recognize the name, but not completely. Still, I can't help but think that's something wrong with that.

"My name is Isabel Evans." I respond tightly, not liking that he's trying to say I'm someone else.

Suddenly, a youg girl appears out of nowhere."Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other's gold!"

"What? Where did you come from?" 'Max demands and the girl seems to feel it's a game of some sort.

"Red on top means stop. Green below means go," The girl says and hands him a note before handing one to me and Liz. "Kissy kissy!" Before I can say anything, she simply vanishes and I look at Liz in astonishment before glancing down at the note in my hand.


Isabel

Welcome to the Choosing Grounds, Welcome to the Service of Medina. Once everyone has met and come together, I'll greet you face to face. For the moment however, enjoy the second chance from fate. Or.. better yet a second chance given to you by a Goddess.

Medina

Liz lowers her hand as I glance over at her. The words on the note running over and over in my mind. I don't understand any of it, but somehow things are starting to make more sense. “You are Max…or a version of him…”

"Yes," Max responds and after a moment he adds, "And you're real, too,"

“Yes…we’re real…” Liz answers simply and I can't help but look at the version of my brother standing before me.

*If we’ve been brought here deliberately, and neither of us can contact Michael, I’m assuming it’s a fair bet he hasn’t been brought…* I hear Liz say telepathically.

“So you’re Max…from a different reality I’m guessing…” Liz comments, and that makes sense. A lot more sense then I'd like to think about.

“I’m assuming you woke here, although correct me if I’m wrong…but what’s the last thing you remember…?” Liz asks and I turn to see her looking at me.

"My life was falling apart. That's what I remember," Max says and as I look at him I see him glaring at us and want to blast him just for the hell of it, because he looked like my brother but was obviously blaming Liz and I for something we didn't do. "I'm sorry. You two aren't the ones who -- Never mind."

"Okay. I was driving back from the airport after she left and I ... I stopped. There was woman at the side of the road with hair even longer than yours. I was going to help her, I think. She touched me and the next thing I remember is waking up downstairs." He looks at us, his gaze narrowing, "I take it something similiar happened to the two of you?"

Liz replies before I do, I'm still trying to determine how the hell this could be and what Medina means by 'Service'. It doesn't sound good to me at all.

“I don’t remember much… I remember being in the apartment with Michael, I was struggling with an essay for school, and then I was above the Crashdown…” As Liz trails off, I hear her continue in my mind, *I was in my old room…that’s why I didn’t answer at first sorry…*

“So we’re from two different realities…and this Medina brought us here…” I can see that Liz is thinking and I hope she comes up with something that will put things right. Though, I'm afraid that whatever's going on, we're stuck for the time being.

“I’m guessing that Michael didn’t come with us anyway…” I nod, though I can't help but worry that something more is going on. If they had a version of Max here, who else might have been brought here? How was I to get home to Alex? Alex... I'd finally begun to think about a future with him.

*We have to find our way back* I can hear her conviction and wish at the moment I felt the same. How would we get home at all? “We should probably try to find out a little more about where we are… Places appear the same I know, but who knows what little quirks might have been introduced…”

I glance over at Liz and realize without even thinking about it, that her necklace is missing something, but for the moment I can't seem to remember what. Maybe this strange transfer thing really did mess me up. "I had just left your apartment and was heading to Alex's when I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see this woman sitting behind me in my car. Then I felt tired and the world dissappeared before I awoke in the storage room." I told Liz, though I know the idea would worry her about what could have happened, I was being honest.

"Well, since the Crashdown is here, maybe we should see what else we recognize and maybe see if others we know are here too?" I suggest, wanting to do something to keep my mind off of the fact that my brother is dead and yet here's a guy that looks just like him.

[magikhands]

ooc: Hey guys...Sorry about not posting...I didn't know that this had started. I have to get caught up this weekend with everything before I can post my Xander (sorry Chris ).
If I can't keep up during my move Storm (which starts Monday) I'll email you.

[Anna-Liisa]

Kyle

"I'm Quixote. I'm a girl," the girl said grinning. I stared at her for a small while. She didn't have to say she was a girl, I figured out that much. She seemed to get distracted for a while. Like she had never seen herself from a reflection before.

'Quixote...That's a pretty different name..' I though to myself as she turned back to me. I wondered why she was here alone. There wasn't anyone here besides us, or so it seemed. The place was almost empty..too empty. It was freeky, seeing a mall without people.

"If there are more you'd like to meet, perhaps you should find something to eat," Quixote said and gestured at the food court. I looked there.

"You mean, there's people there? Someone I know?" I asked. I had a feeling that this wasn't a quite normal event. Should I go look, or should I not? Who excatly was there? And why did this girl have to speak in riddle's? 'Maybe I should just go and see. Maybe there's someone I know...Maria or someone..Maybe it's just a quiet day in the mall'.

Yeah right.

[isabelle]

*Quixote*

I dance down the corridor ahead of the man named Kyle. He's really very cute, I notice. I also notice a few nice clothing shops. Maybe I should get myself some new outfits. Something that suits my new shape. This will be so much fun! The only downside to aging like this would be getting closer to coming down with PAS, but I'm almost completely certain that my gene-map is clear of that particular problem. I will definately have to thank Medina next time I see her.

As we come round to the Mall Cafe, I see them. Two men in clothing that's very different than Kyle's. One's lying on the floor and one's slumped in a chair with his head on the table. Bray and Pride, I know they're called. Medina introduced me to all of them as she looked in on them from her watchroom.

I touch each of them on their shoulders and pausing to blow in Pride's ear. I quickly move out of the way as he waves his hand by the side of his head thinking I'm an insect. "Wakey, Wakey, Ice-cream Cakey!" I sing, flashing Kyle a big grin.


*~*~*~*~*~*


*Zeus*

"I promise not to harm myself so long as no one touches or harms me," she says. I sigh, glad that she's agreed to wait. A week should be enough time to put her situation behind her. If not, then I guess I'll have to think of something-else.

Then her body tenses again. "Let me go." She demands. "Why do you care what I do?"

I release her, rolling to my knees and watching as she gets up, too. Now that I can actually just look at her, I have to say she's very pretty. Her hair is black and curly coming nearly to her elbows. Her eyes are dark and beautiful, although they're also deeply troubled.

I shrug in answer to her question. It's true I don't know her at all, but I don't want to see anyone die for no reason. Well, except maybe some of the people I've seen at Nexes. Maxine Rich, for one. Not knowing anything about her troubles, I settle for a casual, response. "You're the only person I found here. Who would I talk to if you were dead? Besides, it would have made such a big mess."

I get to my feet and hold out my hand to her. "Now remember. When the week's up, if you wanna do it, you gotta let me know first. I'm Zeus, by the way. What's your name?"
.

[StormWolfstone]

~Moon~


"You're the only person I found here. Who would I talk to if you were dead? Besides, it would have made such a big mess." His response confuses me. However, I can't help but give a slight smile at such a relaxed response. He's released me, showing that he (at least for the moment) plans to keep his word.

Getting to my feet, I watch as he holds his hand out toward me and I can't help but wonder if it's a trick. "Now remember. When the week's up, if you wanna do it, you gotta let me know first. I'm Zeus, by the way. What's your name?"

I nod as I hold my hand out, taking his in a firm greeting, "I'll let you know." I begin before I respond to his question on my name, "I'm Moon. Well, at least that's what I've been called for several years." I shrugged, Moon had always been my nickname even before the virus. I honestly can't remember whether I had another name because I rarely heard myself addressed otherwise.

"Zeus, interesting name. Are you a Greek god in disguise?" I can't help but attempt humor. Despite the fact that I was still afraid that at any moment he might try something, I didn't want to simply freeze up. At the moment, not knowing where I am or what's going on, I feel the need to get a release of some sort, and humor will help.

Or at least, I hope it will. Releasing his hand, I clasp mine together and glance around. "How did you get here?" I ask, wondering if it's the same way I did.

[isabelle]

*Zeus*

I merely listen as she promises to tell me before she kills herself. There's no 'if' in her statement. I'm sure that she doesn't see any other way right now, but hopefully, that will change. Moon. That's a pretty name. Makes me think of peaceful nights and relaxing times. "Are you a Greek god in disguise?" Moon asks.

"Not that I know of, no," I say with a cocky grin. Of course, I've heard about the old stories but I really don't know much about the details. My uncle told me that Zeus was the king of the Gods and he threw lightning bolts. All I have is my flash bombs. ... Well, I have other toys, too, but nothing like a lightning bolt.

"How did you get here?" she asks now.

"Oh. I was in my workshop with my friend Quixote when a woman appeared. She said she had a secret and she was going to help me do more," I explain, leaving out the mention of opposing Nexes. The Storm is secret and I'm not going to discuss it with a stranger. "She left with Quixote and when they came back, she brought me here. Well, not here. Out in the street. This place is deserted. 'Roswell NM.' I don't even know where that is."

I glance around the lobby, taking note of the ancient plasma screen TV and the other electronics around. A dozen ideas cross my mind for using those things in my 'toys.' My fingers itch, longing to start taking them apart so I can get the bits I want, but I don't even know where the nearest entrance is to the Storm HQ. I'm not sure how this empty place is supposed to be helping me 'do more' to prevent Nexes from winning.

"I should be trying to figure out how to find my way back to the workshop," I say but I try to focus on Moon. She already told me that she doesn't know anything about the hotel, but she might know something about the area. "How did you get here? Do you know where we are?"

.

[Anna-Liisa]

Kyle

I watched as Quixote started walking away without saying anything and followed. I didn't want to be alone. And I wanted to know who was there. I guess it couldn't be that bad. If it was Maria, then it all would work out. If someone else, well..I guess it wouldn't be so bad either. As long as it would've been someone.

We arrived to a small café and I noticed to persons there, both a sleep. The other oen was on the floor and the other was sitting in a chair. I had never seem them before. They were wearing more different clothes than I was. Hmm..Must've been tourists.

The girl tried to wake them up. She blew into the the other one's ear and he just waved her of. I tried to hold a laugh.

"Wakey, Wakey, Ice-cream Cakey!" Quixote sang and grinned at me.

"Who are they?" I asked, slightly amused. This girl was odd, in a good way. She wasn't like the other girls. Even if I didn't fully trust woman-beings, she seemed to be quite OK. "I haven't seen them around.."

[StormWolfstone]

~Pride~


"Pride, I.. I know this isn't the right thing to say at a time like this.. but I fear we may not have a better time." Tai-San said as she smiled, her stance and expression showing an intense hesitation. I lifted my hands and placed them on her shoulders with a smile, yet remained silent. I'd been holding back so much, going through so much torture whenever I was near her.

"I care about you, Pride. Very deeply." Again, she hesitated. My gaze dropped to her tempting lips. For months, knowing that she was near, working with her, I'd fought the very urge I had to kiss her, hold her and tell her what I was feeling. Looking back her eyes I take only a moment to decide that if the light in her eyes means what I'm hoping, then she won't be angry with me for following through.

Slowly, I pull her closer, giving her the chance to pull away even as I'm lowering my lips toward hers, whispering, "I want to kiss you, Tai." She doesn't seem to hesitate or resist and mere seconds passed before I finally had a taste of her lips.

I knew the instant the dream began to fade, for the last month that's the same dream I've had repeatedly. It's not exactly how the scene really went, but it was near enough.God, I miss Tai-San. Glancing around me, I feel a sudden gust of wind and before I know it an enchantingly haunting woman is standing before me with a smile. She lifted her hand, placed it on my shoulder, and next thing I knew everything was dark and silent.

The fuzziness of sleep held me strangely tied even as sounds began around me. I felt something by my ear and lazily, lifted a hand to wave away a wayward fly or insect of some kind. "Wakey, Wakey, Ice cream cakey." I hear a sing songed voice and take a moment to listen around me before moving. I vaguely hear another voice and decide that I'd better wake up even though sleep was much better.

Stretching, I yawn before opening my eyes and sitting rigid at the table. It didn't take long for me to realize I was in the mall. "How the hell did I get here?" I asked no one in particular, and turned to look around. "Bray!" I exclaimed as I saw the other boy on the ground and wondered if he was alright. When Bray began to stir and slowly sit up, I noticed that he was definitely older then when last I'd seen him. It seemed unnatural to me, because I couldn't understand how in only a few weeks, he'd seemed to age years.

"Bray? Do you have the virus? Has it come back?" I can't help but question and then as he looks up and sees me, I notice his eyes look haunted. Holding out a hand, I say simply, "Come on, let me help you off the floor and we can all sit here. I'll brew some tea and we can figure out what's going on." I say this as I look at the strange girl and the guy with her.

"My name's Pride and this is Bray, who are you two?" I ask.

ooc: bray's later.... kind of stuck on how I want to start it.

[isabelle]

*Max*

“We should probably try to find out a little more about where we are… Places appear the same I know, but who knows what little quirks might have been introduced…” Liz says.

I nod, we need to figure out what's going on here, I know. I don't know what Medina means by the 'Choosing Grounds' but it worries me. As much as the 'Service of Medina.' It doesn't sound like it has anything to do with our duty/mission for Antar and if that's the case, we really need to get out of here and back home.

Home is a mess right now. Not a situation I really want to be in, but it's what I have to do, I know. Medina says it's a 'second chance' but it won't mean anything if I sort things out with this Liz and Isabel. I need to find mine. The only real second chance would be to go back in time and change things, but whatever's going on here, that's clearly not what this place is. This place isn't what it seems and has far more unknowns. We have to figure it out so we can get back to where we belong.

"Well, since the Crashdown is here, maybe we should see what else we recognize and maybe see if others we know are here too?" Isabel suggests.

"Definately," I agree. "The note said something about meeting 'everyone,' so there's obviously more than the three of us, but if Michael isn't here then it's probably not related to ... 'home.' Let's take a look." I don't know why she feels that Michael isn't here. I'd kinda like to see his face even if he is often a bit too quick to act. I wonder who else could be here.

I throw my vest in the general direction of its hook and start for the stairs. I'm still mulling over what this Isabel

"Wait a minute. Did you say you were going to Alex's?" I ask. I know they're from another reality and I already know that things are different. But what if the second chance has to do with Alex? Maybe it's too late to save mine, but I can act before another Alex dies. They can be warned and maybe stop it. "Where you come from. Is this before the Junior Prom?"

Frankly, they look older than that -- like they have to be out of high school already, but I can't go on looks alone. I need to ask.

[StormWolfstone]

~Moon~


I can't help but notice that he's cute and cocky. Two things that rarely ever mix well, but they seemed to fit him. Of course, that's all I'd let myself think. I don't trust him, even though he hasn't given me a reason not to. I know, so many people would tell me that I'm being unfair, but I don't trust anyone. It doesn't matter who they are, I don't trust them. The only people I trusted are dead and have been for months.

"Oh. I was in my workshop with my friend Quixote when a woman appeared. She said she had a secret and she was going to help me do more," Zeus tells me, this Quixote name made me smile. It was so odd and yet I liked the sound of it.

The part about the woman though, could it be the same woman I'd seen. I can't help but wonder, but before I can ask, Zeus continues, "She left with Quixote and when they came back, she brought me here. Well, not here. Out in the street. This place is deserted. 'Roswell NM.' I don't even know where that is."

"I should be trying to figure out how to find my way back to the workshop." He says and I can't help but wonder why it seems there is something about this workshop that's so important.

"How did you get here? Do you know where we are?" He asks and I shrug. I don't know much of anything.

"I was walking across the plain, alone and without purpose when this strange woman... an adult... how could there be an adult?" I can't help but ask myself before I return to my explanation with a shake of my head, "The woman didn't say anything, she just touched me and next thing I knew, I'd awakened here.. in the kitchen. I haven't.... been here long." I glanced toward the knife that was a bit of a distance from us, "I had just found that when I heard you call out."

Turning back to Zeus, I can't help but wonder whether my next suggestion will be a mistake or not. Yet, as much as I fear that I'll end up being attacked again, something tells me it wouldn't be by him. Not to mention, I don't want to face whatever's happening by myself. "Should we take a look around and see if anyone can tell us what this place is?"