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

[StormWolfstone]

~Medina~

I've watched long enough. With a smirk, I give a light wave of my hands, making certain that all the pawns are within the mall's cafe except for Alejandria and Slade who are otherwise entertained at the moment as well as Myko and Rance who were busy. With a laugh, I let my voice be heard without reavealing myself. "Come now, bickering will get you nowhere." I begin and laugh softly, before appearing to them in one of my more normal appearances. My long black hair waving wildly about my face, the eyes were the deep black pools that peer about without true emotion. "I've brought you all here for a reason and I think it's time that you listen well." I see Michael lift a hand and laugh as I simply think of him being lifted from the ground and he finds himself floating.

"None of you will be able to use your powers on me, so don't even waste the energy trying." I say, the threat in my voice serious. "Now, all of you, take a seat and listen well." I waited, letting them have their own will about whether they sat down or not. I noticed that Isabel moved to stand almost completely in front of Liz and Willow raised a shield around herself, Zander and Angel. Tai-San sat down beside Bray and Moon.

I created a plush satin covered chair and sat down, "Now, here's the deal. You've figured out that you are from different realities... which I have to commend you for being smart enough to do so. Isabel and Liz, Maria and Kyle, Max and Tess, Michael and Alex... that's how your realities are seperated. Angel, Willow and Zander... you are all from seperate realities. Mallrats, you are all from seperate realities. Zeus, you and Quixote are of course from the same reality." I decided to clarify even as I looked them all over.

"I brought you here because you all are very interesting and I wanted some new entertainment." I laughed as I saw Michael scowl, "You will all have the chance to return home, remain or die. Your choices with the tests I place you through will decide which choices you can have. Whether you like it or not, you are my toys for as long as I wish it."

I paused a moment before I shook my head, "Even joining your gifts won't aid you in getting out of here. I am the Goddess Medina and you will do my bidding in one way or the other. You'll be given the chance to have your own will in some things, but let it be known now, I can make you do things." As if to prove my point, I lowered Michael to the floor in front of Tess and made him grab her in his arms, made him kiss her.

The tension was of course obvious in his body, but that was because I chose it. I could easily make it seem as though it is a person's will that they do what I want. With a thought, I forced Michael back and made him drop to his knees. "As you can see, I can make you my puppets at anytime I so choose."

I decide to remain silent, though I hold a hand out toward Quixote, silently acknowledging that the girl was to be at my side thus the others would know that she would have inside knowledge of how things would be working.

[magikhands]

*Maria*

I turn my attention from the people sitting at the table when Tess goes into her spill trying to convice Max that she was good and that she'd never hurt Alex or anyone else. There were actual tears coming from her eyes but I knew better. I'd seen the same act before. I don't care what anyone said, or what reality she was from, Tess was a killer. No one would every convince her otherwise.

I look at Max and could see that he was softening to her. That he was thinking of believing her. I opened my mouth to try to convince him otherwise but Alex beat me to it.

“Suicide?! You think I committed suicide? I don’t know where you’re from lady, but I wouldn’t do that! At least not as long as Is- I mean, I wouldn’t leave my friends! I wouldn’t do that to them! Max come on man, you have to know she’s lying!”

Suddenly a voice is heard. "Come now, bickering will get you nowhere." She starts laughing then appears, hair black and eyes just as dark. My eyes widen as she explains to us why she brought us here and where we are from. Kyle and I were from the same reality just as I thought and can't stop moving closer to him.

She picks Michael up into that air and I want to do something but if she was a god...well, my diddly little power source will do nothing but tickle her.

"Even joining your gifts won't aid you in getting out of here. I am the Goddess Medina and you will do my bidding in one way or the other. You'll be given the chance to have your own will in some things, but let it be known now, I can make you do things."

With that statement, she lowers Michael and I watch disgusted as he kisses Tess. I can tell from his body language that he's not doing it on his free will, that he'd more than gladly blast her than touch her in such a way. Especially since his hatred for her was as much as mine.

Watching in some fascinated horror, I watch as Michael pushes Tess away and falls to his knees as if kneeling in worship.

"As you can see, I can make you my puppets at anytime I so choose."

"We are so screwed." I say with a trembling voice, fear finally settling in.

[magikhands]

sorry, I've been holding off on Xander's little group...was hoping that Antarprince would be back soon, but I'll move them along.

*Xander*

Moon takes off running toward the people and Zeus follows along behind her. I stare a moment wide eyed...still reeling from all we'd over heard and feeling more and more like we'd been thrust into the twilight zone. Glancing back at Angel and Willow I follow but stop just outside the group...waiting...watching. I didn't know any of these people, and from what I've seen, I don't know what they are.

Arguments between this group of people who obviously know one another continue until that woman...the one I saw right before waking here appeared. She sat and with what sounded like humor, explained why we were all here.

I felt a little relief when she said that Willow was not from my reality....so maybe this is one I can trust...or at the least have a familiar face around. Though it will take sometime.

I watch in horror as this mysterious woman makes a brown haired guy kiss the blonde who everyone disliked. I can't imagine having that happen...having no free will to control your body.

"Not good." I whisper.

[StormWolfstone]

waiting on other people to post here..... and also if Antarprince hasn't been heard from by the 28th, I'm going to go ahead and open Angel back up and until we get someone to take him, I'll temp him.

M- Are you still going to take Salene? or just Tess and Alex?

[isabelle]

*Max*

I actually wince as Tess describes the world she came from -- when she says I kissed her at the Prom. It's true, I did. Or maybe she kissed me. I'm not sure. But it wasn't like it sounds when she says it like that. What are Liz and the others thinking now? And then she quotes me -- ready to wake up -- reminding me of all I lost with my Liz. I'll never get that back. At this point, I don't want anything to do with her or Tess. I'm surrounded by familiar faces, but I'm completely alone...

The memory-retrieval is also a problem. I'd resisted her help for so long, since her arrival in our group was so deceitful, it was hard to trust that the memories I'd find were real. I finally did get to the point where I could trust her, and now I find that on three other worlds, she turned on the group -- murdered them and even ME! What am I supposed to think now?

It does seem clear that she is the from my world, but the question remains -- is she a friend?

Alex explodes, insisting that he would never commit suicide, calling her a liar. Of course, she only said that JIM said it was suicide, not that she believed it. And it is true that Jim said as much. I've seen the file. I never wanted to believe it, but it looked so convincing...

I look at Alex, wanting to apologise but not knowing what to say. Suddenly, a woman appears in the foodcourt, one who looks familiar -- she's the one who brought me here. Others appear, too, moving into the area like chess pieces, all looking surprised and even angry.

She wants us to sit but I remain standing, holding one hand up, palm outwards, towards her. I know she said we couldn't use our powers against her, but I can't help but want to be ready to at least try to protect my friends. She confirms the division of the four different worlds my friends are from and quickly mentioning the others as well, although I only catch a few of the names.

I can see Michael's anger and I feel the same. I don't have any intention of being this woman's puppet. I want answers. But she demonstrates her power in a way that sickens all of us. Michael and Tess? I know he hated that and she did, too. I lower my arm, no longer sure of how to go forward here.

She extends an arm of partnership to the imp, Quixote, but I already knew they were in league together.

"This is all because you're bored?" I ask, amazed. "What do you want from us?" I only hope the kissing wasn't a hint. If she tries to force us into physical relationships ...


*Zeus*

This lady is totally nuts, I can see that. But she's got abilities I can't explain. My mind is clicking through a dozen possibilities, but I can't come up with a single devise or method that would let someone do such things.

I press a button on my wrist, calling Perseus back to me. Medina doesn't interfere as it returns. She gestures at Quixote, who seems to be content to move a bit closer to her -- away from me. I thought we were friends. She was our secret weapon, Hart's guardian angel. Has she turned on us?

"Quixote?" I ask, staring at her.


*Quixote*

Medina demonstrates her power and I try not to be impressed. It's similiar to what I can do, but it's so much more. I know that my powers are included. I can't use them against her but I don't want to. I want the answers she's promised me. I'm happy to be part of her game. She's capricious and secretative, but she hasn't hurt anyone.

I hear Zeus' question and I can see the hurt in his face. I've done nothing to hurt him. I've told him where to come to find the answers he's allowed to have. Why does he judge me?

"Many answers to be found," I tell him. He has things to learn just as I do...

[M]

OOC: If you don't mind I'd rather stick to Alex and Tess, I just feel like I don't know Salene well enough and I still don't have a lot of time at the moment...

~*TESS*~

I'm totally focused on convincing Max why I don't want to hurt him, praying that he doesn't find out what happened to our Alex when all of a sudden Alex himself appears, almost giving me a heart attack. He yells at Max not to believe me and I'm afraid the great acting I just did will go to waste, especially when Max seems to be wavering.

All of a sudden this voice just comes from around us. Come now, bickering will get you nowhere. and this woman appears. I've brought you all here for a reason and I think it's time that you listen well. None of you will be able to use your powers on me, so don't even waste the energy trying. Now, all of you, take a seat and listen well.

Somehow a chair appears and she sits. She explains her whole twisted plan and I have to say, I'm impressed. It takes some messed up genius to come up with something this crazy. I've got no real problem with this as it seems like this is my best shot to get out of the mess my life is at the moment. I get a little less happy about it when she moves Michael in front of me and he is suddenly kissing me. Its gross, but at the same time the fact that she has that much power is kind of a rush.

Michael falls back, and to his knees. I wipe my mouth, both 'cause Michael is a slobberer, and also to keep up appearances of hating her and this whole thing. If I accept it sooner and figure out how to use it, my life will be better over all.

Max responds true to form. Getting indignant and beginning to question her This is all because you're bored? What do you want from us?

I just bite my life, to stop myself from smiling and also to remind myself to bide my time.


~*ALEX*~

I'm watching Max, hoping he'll believe me and refusing to look at Isabel when the conversation gets interupted by a voice. Quickly followed by a body of a weird weird lady who starts spouting about why she brought us here, and different realities. If I wasn't still so mad about the suicide thing (I mean Suicide!? ME?!) I would be more excited about the quantum mechanics of it, and the affirmation of differing dimensions and realities. I was mad about the suicide thing, but the fact that we were brought here because she was bored! Thats even worse. It is however again tempered by the fact that she makes Michael kiss Tess. Ha! Suicide, Right! Take that lady.

I hear Maria whisper We are so screwed and although its been confirmed that she isn't my Maria I move closer to her, taking her hand and squeezing it.

Max questions the newest crazy lady and I wait, still holding Maria's hand to hear what she has to say.

[NightshadeIsis]

OOC: Guys, I'm SO SORRY I've been gone for so long...There is NO Excuse. But it won't happen again. I promise. Slade, Pride, and now Lex since I'm taking his reigns, are back in action!

[NightshadeIsis]

*PRIDE*

Everything had happened so fast....I hardly had time to spin it all. Tai-San...there she was. She was alright. She was fine, safe and sound. And with...with Lex...

I don't know why it made me feel so horrid. It was as it always was. They had been married before. So why not now? But everytime I saw Lex with her, it fueled something in me. Something...something almost primal. But...but Lex looked so different. His hair, his clothes and face. And he seemed as if he was coming down from a bad hangover. He didn't seem like the Lex I remembered at all.

Before I had time to digest that sight, everything else happened at blinding speed. A dark haired woman rushes the room, charging Bray in a tight hug. More guests join the party, and more of what I swore that I'd never believe in. Things that most would equate to magic, or energy, or something to that effect. But as of the moments that I had arrived at this place, my beliefs had been shaken. Energy blasts, people popping in and out that shouldn't even be in this place...everything is upside down.

And then...this Medina showed up.

Everything she said was hard enough to believe as it was. I hadn't even gotten a chance to speak to Tai-San before I watched this woman with a wave of her hand move everyone around like they were nothing. I started to protest before I found myself being forced down to the ground to sit as well, as if something was bearing down on my very shoulders. I stared up at the strange being in shock and awe, completely dumbstruck. There was nothing left to do but listen at that point.

Listening was left to wide eyed gawking when I watched what she could do, making two of our new guests, Michael and Tess, kiss each other without regard. As our other new guest, Max, speaks out, I can't help but throw my two cents in. The indignity of it all, the outright anger coursing through me....

"What gives you the right?" I exclaim. "You think this is all a game? Playing with peoples lives? And what if we decide we don't want to play along in your twisted little world?"

[magikhands]

*Maria*

Alex moves up next to me and I can't help but sigh in relief as he reaches out and takes my hand in his. With Kyle on one side and Alex on the other, my nerves calm...just a little. It pleases me that though Alex isn't from my demension, he still feels comfort from my presence. Since meeting up with Liz and Isabel, neither had shown much affection or a hint of closeness with Max or myself and watching them now, a little stand offish from the rest, I wonder how their life was with the rest of the group after Max's death.

"This is all because you're bored? What do you want from us?" Max demands of Mena.

"What gives you the right?" I exclaim. "You think this is all a game? Playing with peoples lives? And what if we decide we don't want to play along in your twisted little world?" One of the strangers that entered not long ago spoke up. I look at him and wonder where he was from. It's obvious not from any of our groups' Earth.

[KatnotKath]

OOC: I know this has been a long, long time coming, sorry, hope this works

~Liz~

Tess is looking at Maria in amazement as she tells Kyle to do it, but I'm not fooled by those wide innocent eyes... As she claims that she doesn't know how she got here though, that much I am willing to believe. Looks like she's in the same situation as the rest of us...and whoever brought us here must really want to mess with our minds...

Max tries to explain the situation to her, and it's probably a good thing because if he didn't, I don't know there's anyone else here who would... Certainly no one here seems to be a fan of Tess, as Maria proves as she continues to rant about what she has done, and the fact that there's a common theme running through... It certainly seems that way doesn't it... My Max, her Alex...

I turn to watch Michael as she asks him about his reality. From the look on his face I think I know what's going to come before he says it, although there's something more there, something I don't understand... His words explain it all though, as he speaks about having lost Maria, and Max even before that... Images spring into my own mind, memories I'd rather forget, but I know I never will...

And then Alex suddenly appears...not my Alex I know from the thing he says, but still, he's Alex... We haven't lost him back home, and nor do I intend to let that happen, but that doesn't change the fact that part of me feels somehow more complete with him here... The whole gang, along with one unwanted member... My lip trembles as I watch him go up to Maria, engulfing her in a hug, but I can't let myself cry...emotions like that make me weak, they make me forget about my focus...

As Alex moves onto hugging Max now, a part of me almost feels left out... It's a silly thought though, and I know why he's gone to him really... Funny in a way, it's the same reason I distanced myself from this Max...

Looking past them and back at Tess now, my gaze hardens once more as I watch her carefully. I don't trust her... A few years ago I would have said we had to give her the benefit of the doubt if there was any at all...but that was a long time ago now...and I've changed...

I'm torn out of my thoughts as Kyle lets off a bolt of energy that's really quite impressive... He apologises, saying he just needed to let off some charge, and I can't say I don't understand that feeling... I'm looking at Tess, and inside I can feel the power surging, wanting to get out, wanting to deal with her once and for all...

As Maria moves to comfort Kyle, the girl we saw before appears, this time in new clothes it seems, and insists that she hasn't been mindwarping us so far, going further to state to tell her now that it's not allowed, although whether 'friends' is a way to refer to us in regards to Tess...well, that's somewhat debatable...

Of course using her oh so innocent look, Tess goes on to say that she doesn't do that to her friends. No...she doesn't mindwarp us...there didn't appear to be about ten more skins in that cave than there actually were, causing us to spread our attack thinly and inevitably missing some... I shake my head silently, clenching my fist as I attempt, to keep my powers which are now surging in a major way under control...

Suddenly another woman runs through the cafe-like area, talking now to two other men, who I can't actually believe I missed in all of this... So much for keeping a low profile - although somehow I don't think this is likely to be the biggest problem for us here... Different rules apply to back home, although I think number one is still the same - survival...

A moment later there's another arrival as a third new man steps forward, although this one does announce his presence, and I look round, silently taking it all in.

Tess is crying - my heart bleeds! - sobbing away to Max about how terrible things are back home. If I were willing to bet, I'd put money on my counterpart in her reality being the one who's right...she's not fooling me one bit with that innocent sweet act. Working on getting Max on her side, her big protecter... The things she says about Alex just don't ring true though, as apparently the Alex here agrees as he starts protesting that he would never commit suicide...

I open my mouth to say something here, but before I can, a disembodied voice rings out, before a woman appears moments later in the middle of us. She's like nothing I've ever seen before, strange, almost eerie, and I have no doubt in my mind that she's the one behind all this.

"I've brought you all here for a reason, and I think it's time that you listen well..."

I hardly seem to have blinked as Michael suddenly floats up off the ground as this 'woman' warns us that we won't be able to use our powers on her. She tells us to take a seat, and listen, and I stand firm. I don't like being told what to do, and I don't like being played with... Isabel moves in front of me, and I quietly let my power begin to grow, ready to put up my own shield should it become neccessary. I have a feeling I might surprise a few people with it, and for the moment it's best kept to myself, but I'm ready... It might be of little use against her, if she is powerful enough to bring us all here, but I'll try...

Before my eyes a plush chair appears and she takes a seat, basically confirming for starters what we already know. She explains whose from whose reality, and I look over at Max briefly as she confirms that Tess is from his. So she didn't kill my Max, and she didn't kill Alex's and Michael's Max or Maria, nor did she kill Maria and Kyle's Alex... Max's Alex though...well, that's another matter... I'm inclined to put my faith in his Liz rather than my trust in someone who in three other realities has been proved to be a murderer... She goes on to explain about some of the other people here, and I look around, trying to work out who's who...

"I brought you here because you all are very interesting and I wanted some new entertainment..."

Entertainment...she brought us here for entertainment... I listen silently, but inside I'm shaking with anger. She's put my friends and family in danger because it's fun for her to do... She's put me and my 'sister' through the trauma of seeing 'Max', all for a bit of a laugh...

Her speak of going home, remaining or dying does cause me to focus more on her though, but at her mention of being her 'toys', my fists clench tightly at my side although I stay silent for the moment, biding my time...

It's almost like she is reading my mind as she continues, dismissing the idea I did have of combining our powers, and eventually introducing herself as Medina... A Goddess...? I'm not really sure what to make of that, but then when it comes to it three years ago I would have said aliens were a product of an overreactive imagination, and I ended up married to one, so I guess my mind is far more open than it was... Whoever she is though, she has a sick sense of humour, bringing us together like this, and now, as a show of her power causing Michael to kiss Tess... The sight makes me want to be sick, and I can only imagine it's a hundred times worse for him...

"As you can see, I can make you my puppets at anytime I choose..."

I can see that Maria is scared now, and I want to go up to her, but Kyle is there for her, and Alex... Part of me longs for that, to allow someone to comfort me, but it's been a long time since I allowed myself that liberty, and that's not going to change...I have to be strong, I can't show weakness, I'm the one that has to be strong to help the others...

"This is all because you're bored? What do you want from us...?" Max demands of Medina, followed by one of the strangers. "What gives you the right...you think this is all a game? Playing with people's lives? And if we decide we don't want to play along in your twisted little world...?"

I swallow a moment, pretty sure what the answer to that is and take a breath, thinking of those back home who are all alone now. I look over at Medina, refusing to shy from her gaze as I speak up for the first time, asking one simple question. "What has happened to those you left in our worlds...?" I have to know if the others are alright...