Room 201, late Saturday night
To say the Source was pissed would be an understatement. His flesh was still crawling with the effects of the exorcism the Winchesters had performed on Blair. It had taken him awhile to recover enough to venture back out of the Underworld.
But he had a few things to take care of before he left Fandom. He blazed into room 201, sprawled in a chair facing the door, and waited.
futurebucs_starAs he'd promised Parker, Anders had spent most of the past week sticking pretty close to Bridge, or just generally trying not to be alone. But he'd left a few things he needed in his room, and didn't think it would hurt to go back for just a couple of minutes and grab them.
He revised that thought as soon as he stepped into the room and saw Bel sitting there. Not Bel, he reminded himself -- the Source, even though Bel was in there somewhere.
"You," he said venomously.
demonbelthazor"You don't look happy to see me," Bel said, unconcerned and not surprised by Anders's reaction.
futurebucs_star"Why should I be?" Anders shot back as he backed toward the door again. "All that stuff that's been happening to people here, that was you, wasn't it? And me, letting you do those things to me the whole time . . . you utter frakking bastard. What now? Back for one more fling? You're not getting it from me, now."
demonbelthazorThe Source stood and disappeared in a burst of flames, reappearing behind Anders, blocking his path to the door. "I've come for what's mine," he said. "I'm leaving Fandom, but not without what belongs to me."
futurebucs_starAnders couldn't possibly have turned any paler. He remembered far too well some of the things he'd said to Bel. "I'm not going anywhere with you," he said, faking the bravado as best he could.
demonbelthazor"At least you didn't deny that you belong to me," Bel purred, moving closer.
futurebucs_starAnders bit his lip and took a step away from Bel -- the Source -- whoever. "And you have no idea how much I'm wishing I had."
Still, the proximity was having an effect, and Anders hadn't been lying when he'd said he was addicted . . .
demonbelthazorBel continued to move towards Anders, backing him against the far wall. "You belong to me," he said in a low voice. "You've said it yourself, multiple times. And just because my secret's out, that doesn't change anything. You're going to come with me to the Underworld now."
futurebucs_star"I'm not going anywhere with you," he repeated, less convincingly than before, as he felt his heels collide with the wall. Hemmed in between the desk and the fridge now, Anders was . . . less inclined than he thought he should be to try and escape. "Don't want to go to the Underworld."
demonbelthazor"Yes, you do," Bel said, reaching out with one hand to touch Anders's face. "It doesn't really matter what I am, does it? Doesn't change what you feel. You still want me." He smirked and dropped his voice. "Frakking you senseless."
futurebucs_starDamn it. He was right. Anders clenched his fists, digging his nails into his palms in an attempt to counteract the definite and very strong reaction he had to feeling that familiar brush against his cheek. It wasn't working.
"Frak you," he gritted out.
demonbelthazor"Gladly," the Source murmured, pressing closer in victory, his lips seeking Anders.
futurebucs_starDespite the small part of his brain that kept reminding him of the things the Source had done, and how he should be completely revolted at this, Anders's arms went up around Bel's neck as if by instinct, his lips parting slightly as he gave in to the kiss.
demonbelthazor"That's right," Bel said soothingly. "You're still mine. And you're going to come with me now."
futurebucs_star"Do I have to?" Anders murmured, though he was still holding onto Bel. "Can't we just stay here?"
demonbelthazor"I can't stay," Bel said, shaking his head. "And I want you with me. I need you with me."
futurebucs_starIt was about the best and worst possible thing he could have said -- the words Anders had never heard and had been wanting to hear for weeks. He forcibly shut down his own internal protests and smiled up at Bel. "Need me, huh?"
demonbelthazor"I need you," Bel repeated, running fingers through Anders's hair, tugging him closer. "And I know what's been happening...must be hard to understand. But I can explain everything. You just need to trust me."
futurebucs_star"Trust you," Anders echoed faintly. Despite the things he knew the Source had done, it was easy, far too easy, to let himself be swayed by that combination of the words and the touch. And maybe there was some way they could get out of this without killing Bel after all, if he went . . .
"Yeah, okay, I can . . . I can do that."
bridge_carsonBridge hadn't wanted to let Anders go back to his room. But it was only going to be for a couple minutes and he'd still be *right down the hall*, so he'd let him go.
Only now the sickening feeling of dread in his stomach was letting him know that he really, really shouldn't have done that. Which is why he's overriding Anders' keycode and storming in to room 201.
mparkerceoParker was right behind him. They'd been talking when Bridge had decided to catch up to Anders, and it wasn't like she was willing to be left behind.
futurebucs_starAnders didn't pay them any mind, right off, preoccupied as he was. In fact, he was so busy paying attention to Bel that he didn't even notice them coming in.
demonbelthazorBel, however, did hear the door. He looked over his shoulder at Bridge and Parker and smirked. "You're too late," he said. "Anders is coming with me."
mparkerceo"Not a chance in hell," Parker blurted out, before realizing she had nothing to back it up with. "Daisy! Snap out of it!"
futurebucs_starFinally processing that the voices he heard meant other people were in the room, Anders looked at her blankly, then shook his head. "Sorry, Parker," he said vaguely. "Can't be helped."
bridge_carson"Yes," Bridge says. "Yes it *can*. That's what we're here for."
demonbelthazorBel turned around, one arm possessively around Anders's shoulders. "He knows who he belongs to," he said. "Don't you?"
mparkerceo"Not you. That is just so wrong, I don't even have words for it." Parker took two careful steps forward, and tried to catch Anders' gaze. "I know you want to belong to someone, or something, but this? Do you want to not exist at all? Daisy, please. Think, damnit!"
futurebucs_starAnders gave her a sardonic little smile, but didn't move from where he stood. "I think . . . it'd be nice to be where I'm needed," he said. Glancing at Bel, he added, "And . . . well . . ."
demonbelthazor"That's my boy," Bel said, pleased, flashing Parker a triumphant grin as he ran his fingers through Anders's hair.
bridge_carson"You really want to go?" Bridge asks quietly.
futurebucs_starAnders shrugged, obviously enjoying the attention. "I want this," he said, deliberately vague.
mparkerceoParker pulled back her arm and gave him a full-on punch in the side. "WAKE. UP! This I can get for you anywhere, any time, on any street corner in Vegas! And without the fun snuff-film ending! He can't be that good, or he'd have five hundred other jocks in here ready to go with him!"
futurebucs_starAnders hissed in genuine pain at the blow and leaned into Bel. "Room's not that big," he said dryly. "Besides, it'll be fun for a little while, at least."
mparkerceowhap whap whap on the arm, and Parker spluttering, "You'd die for a shag with the Source of All Evil? Daisy! You are not that stupid, I refuse to believe it!" She glared at Bel. "What did you do?"
demonbelthazor"Back off, Parker," Bel snarled, giving her a shove back. "You've lost. Deal with it."
bridge_carsonBridge had been pretty much ignoring the other two people in the room since he'd spoken, just watching Anders.
"Fine. You want to go? Go. But I'm going with you," he says, meaning every word of it.
demonbelthazorThe Source looked positively gleeful. "That can certainly be arranged," he said.
mparkerceoParker screamed. Loudly, long, and furious.
"AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!"
futurebucs_star"Bridge, you can't go," Anders blurted out. "You're gonna be a cop! They need you here, and in your time!"
bridge_carson"You're my best friend, and right now? The most important person in the world to me." Bridge says, his gaze not leaving Anders. "Where you go, I go."
demonbelthazorTwo sacrifices were better than one. "He can come with us," Bel told Anders. "I can find a place for him."
futurebucs_star"Bridge," Anders said urgently, "a guy like you does not belong in the Underworld. I'm not letting you go."
He turned to Bel. "You're not taking him, either."
demonbelthazor"You seem to forget," Bel said slowly, "just who is in control here."
futurebucs_starAnders drew himself up a little straighter and met Bel's gaze evenly. "You're not controlling him," he said, his voice firm. "I won't let you."
demonbelthazorBel dug his fingers into Anders's arm. "I didn't come for him anyway," he said. "I came for you."
futurebucs_starAnders cast a long look at Bridge and then at Parker, an oddly knowing smile crossing his lips as he turned his attention to Bel. "And you want me to choose between my best friend -- two of my best friends -- and you, don't you? Is that really what you want me to do?"
demonbelthazor"You don't have a choice," Bel growled lowly. "You're coming with me. You know you want to. You're mine and you know it."
futurebucs_starAnders shook his head. He was starting to feel like himself again, and he pulled his arm back out of Bel's grasp. "Not if it means I leave my best friend behind, or force him to go where he doesn't belong. I was willing to give up a bunch of things for you, but Bridge and everything he stands for? That's not one of them."
mparkerceo"Game over, creep." Parker reached out her hand to tug on Anders' arm. "Go find someone else to hypnotize and mislead. Daisy?" She took a breath. "Back away from him? Please?"
Oh, they were so dead. Someone think of something....
futurebucs_starAnders looked at her and smiled, stepping back from the Source.
"Bel never would've made me choose one or the other," he said simply.
bridge_carsonBridge smiles as well, reaching out a hand to Anders to pull him over towards him.
demonbelthazorThe Source scowled, conjuring up a fireball and bouncing it in his hand. "I could kill all of you right now," he snapped. "But then again, it might be so much better to just let you wait and sweat it out and wonder what I'm going to do instead."
mparkerceoParker, for once, refrained from comment. No way was she going to tip his decision over the other way when they were almost home-free.
futurebucs_starAnders kept backing away steadily, an almost apologetic smile on his lips. "Sorry about that," he said. "If it was really Bel I might've done it. But for you? Not so much."
demonbelthazor"But I am Belthazor," the Source said. "Everything he once was is now in me. But you never seemed to mind if it was 'really' him before, did you?"
futurebucs_star"That's because I never thought it wasn't," Anders replied. He hadn't pulled away from Bridge's grasp and he'd reached out to take hold of Parker's shoulder with his other hand now, as well. Bitterly, he added, "If I'd known that it was really you, all along? I'd never have let you touch me."
demonbelthazorBel smirked. "Liar. You'd still be begging for it. Even while you were with 'Kara' you were thinking of me."
futurebucs_starAnders felt like he should be more embarrassed by this than he was, having this aired out with an audience, but it was Bridge and Parker, and he trusted them. "I was thinking of Bel. Not you. There's a difference."
demonbelthazor"Not anymore," Bel said. "We're one now." He held out his hand. "Last chance, Samuel."
futurebucs_starAnders didn't even make a move to reach out with his own hand. "Sorry," he said, "but I'll pass. Believe it or not, I actually do have standards."
demonbelthazorBel drew back his hand and clapped it against the other, extinquishing his fireball. "I could just kill your friends and take you anyway," he sneered, "but you're not worth the effort. But I'm sure we'll see each again, soon."
He vanished in a burst of flames.
mparkerceoParker waited one second. Two. Ten.
Then let out the breath she was holding. "Whew."
And then she hugged Anders. "Yes! We're hiding you in a volcano but you're staying!"
bridge_carsonBridge patiently... or okay not-so-patiently waits until Parker is finished with the hugging. And then pounces on a best friend with a hug of his own.
futurebucs_starAnders hugged them both back at the same time, somehow, not really bothering to hide the fact that he had tears in his eyes.
"You guys would've seriously done that for me?"
bridge_carson"Without a doubt," is all Bridge says.
mparkerceoParker gave him her bitch, please look. "If only to kick your ass for having no taste. Duh." She grinned at him again, sheer relief overwhelming her. "I'm proud of you, Daisy."
futurebucs_starAnders laughed a little shakily. "Thanks, Parker," he said. "Didn't realize I had it in me . . . and can we blow this joint? I really don't want to be in this room tonight."
bridge_carson"My place is still yours, if you want," Bridge offers.
futurebucs_star"That, I could go for," Anders replied. "And then I want to curl up under the covers for a while and just . . . I don't know. I haven't felt this drained in forever."
bridge_carson"You did good, dude," Bridge says. "Bel... the *real* Bel? I think he'd be proud of you. Like I am."
[ooc: preplayed with futurebucs_star, bridge_carson, and mparkerceo.]
But he had a few things to take care of before he left Fandom. He blazed into room 201, sprawled in a chair facing the door, and waited.
futurebucs_starAs he'd promised Parker, Anders had spent most of the past week sticking pretty close to Bridge, or just generally trying not to be alone. But he'd left a few things he needed in his room, and didn't think it would hurt to go back for just a couple of minutes and grab them.
He revised that thought as soon as he stepped into the room and saw Bel sitting there. Not Bel, he reminded himself -- the Source, even though Bel was in there somewhere.
"You," he said venomously.
demonbelthazor"You don't look happy to see me," Bel said, unconcerned and not surprised by Anders's reaction.
futurebucs_star"Why should I be?" Anders shot back as he backed toward the door again. "All that stuff that's been happening to people here, that was you, wasn't it? And me, letting you do those things to me the whole time . . . you utter frakking bastard. What now? Back for one more fling? You're not getting it from me, now."
demonbelthazorThe Source stood and disappeared in a burst of flames, reappearing behind Anders, blocking his path to the door. "I've come for what's mine," he said. "I'm leaving Fandom, but not without what belongs to me."
futurebucs_starAnders couldn't possibly have turned any paler. He remembered far too well some of the things he'd said to Bel. "I'm not going anywhere with you," he said, faking the bravado as best he could.
demonbelthazor"At least you didn't deny that you belong to me," Bel purred, moving closer.
futurebucs_starAnders bit his lip and took a step away from Bel -- the Source -- whoever. "And you have no idea how much I'm wishing I had."
Still, the proximity was having an effect, and Anders hadn't been lying when he'd said he was addicted . . .
demonbelthazorBel continued to move towards Anders, backing him against the far wall. "You belong to me," he said in a low voice. "You've said it yourself, multiple times. And just because my secret's out, that doesn't change anything. You're going to come with me to the Underworld now."
futurebucs_star"I'm not going anywhere with you," he repeated, less convincingly than before, as he felt his heels collide with the wall. Hemmed in between the desk and the fridge now, Anders was . . . less inclined than he thought he should be to try and escape. "Don't want to go to the Underworld."
demonbelthazor"Yes, you do," Bel said, reaching out with one hand to touch Anders's face. "It doesn't really matter what I am, does it? Doesn't change what you feel. You still want me." He smirked and dropped his voice. "Frakking you senseless."
futurebucs_starDamn it. He was right. Anders clenched his fists, digging his nails into his palms in an attempt to counteract the definite and very strong reaction he had to feeling that familiar brush against his cheek. It wasn't working.
"Frak you," he gritted out.
demonbelthazor"Gladly," the Source murmured, pressing closer in victory, his lips seeking Anders.
futurebucs_starDespite the small part of his brain that kept reminding him of the things the Source had done, and how he should be completely revolted at this, Anders's arms went up around Bel's neck as if by instinct, his lips parting slightly as he gave in to the kiss.
demonbelthazor"That's right," Bel said soothingly. "You're still mine. And you're going to come with me now."
futurebucs_star"Do I have to?" Anders murmured, though he was still holding onto Bel. "Can't we just stay here?"
demonbelthazor"I can't stay," Bel said, shaking his head. "And I want you with me. I need you with me."
futurebucs_starIt was about the best and worst possible thing he could have said -- the words Anders had never heard and had been wanting to hear for weeks. He forcibly shut down his own internal protests and smiled up at Bel. "Need me, huh?"
demonbelthazor"I need you," Bel repeated, running fingers through Anders's hair, tugging him closer. "And I know what's been happening...must be hard to understand. But I can explain everything. You just need to trust me."
futurebucs_star"Trust you," Anders echoed faintly. Despite the things he knew the Source had done, it was easy, far too easy, to let himself be swayed by that combination of the words and the touch. And maybe there was some way they could get out of this without killing Bel after all, if he went . . .
"Yeah, okay, I can . . . I can do that."
bridge_carsonBridge hadn't wanted to let Anders go back to his room. But it was only going to be for a couple minutes and he'd still be *right down the hall*, so he'd let him go.
Only now the sickening feeling of dread in his stomach was letting him know that he really, really shouldn't have done that. Which is why he's overriding Anders' keycode and storming in to room 201.
mparkerceoParker was right behind him. They'd been talking when Bridge had decided to catch up to Anders, and it wasn't like she was willing to be left behind.
futurebucs_starAnders didn't pay them any mind, right off, preoccupied as he was. In fact, he was so busy paying attention to Bel that he didn't even notice them coming in.
demonbelthazorBel, however, did hear the door. He looked over his shoulder at Bridge and Parker and smirked. "You're too late," he said. "Anders is coming with me."
mparkerceo"Not a chance in hell," Parker blurted out, before realizing she had nothing to back it up with. "Daisy! Snap out of it!"
futurebucs_starFinally processing that the voices he heard meant other people were in the room, Anders looked at her blankly, then shook his head. "Sorry, Parker," he said vaguely. "Can't be helped."
bridge_carson"Yes," Bridge says. "Yes it *can*. That's what we're here for."
demonbelthazorBel turned around, one arm possessively around Anders's shoulders. "He knows who he belongs to," he said. "Don't you?"
mparkerceo"Not you. That is just so wrong, I don't even have words for it." Parker took two careful steps forward, and tried to catch Anders' gaze. "I know you want to belong to someone, or something, but this? Do you want to not exist at all? Daisy, please. Think, damnit!"
futurebucs_starAnders gave her a sardonic little smile, but didn't move from where he stood. "I think . . . it'd be nice to be where I'm needed," he said. Glancing at Bel, he added, "And . . . well . . ."
demonbelthazor"That's my boy," Bel said, pleased, flashing Parker a triumphant grin as he ran his fingers through Anders's hair.
bridge_carson"You really want to go?" Bridge asks quietly.
futurebucs_starAnders shrugged, obviously enjoying the attention. "I want this," he said, deliberately vague.
mparkerceoParker pulled back her arm and gave him a full-on punch in the side. "WAKE. UP! This I can get for you anywhere, any time, on any street corner in Vegas! And without the fun snuff-film ending! He can't be that good, or he'd have five hundred other jocks in here ready to go with him!"
futurebucs_starAnders hissed in genuine pain at the blow and leaned into Bel. "Room's not that big," he said dryly. "Besides, it'll be fun for a little while, at least."
mparkerceowhap whap whap on the arm, and Parker spluttering, "You'd die for a shag with the Source of All Evil? Daisy! You are not that stupid, I refuse to believe it!" She glared at Bel. "What did you do?"
demonbelthazor"Back off, Parker," Bel snarled, giving her a shove back. "You've lost. Deal with it."
bridge_carsonBridge had been pretty much ignoring the other two people in the room since he'd spoken, just watching Anders.
"Fine. You want to go? Go. But I'm going with you," he says, meaning every word of it.
demonbelthazorThe Source looked positively gleeful. "That can certainly be arranged," he said.
mparkerceoParker screamed. Loudly, long, and furious.
"AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!"
futurebucs_star"Bridge, you can't go," Anders blurted out. "You're gonna be a cop! They need you here, and in your time!"
bridge_carson"You're my best friend, and right now? The most important person in the world to me." Bridge says, his gaze not leaving Anders. "Where you go, I go."
demonbelthazorTwo sacrifices were better than one. "He can come with us," Bel told Anders. "I can find a place for him."
futurebucs_star"Bridge," Anders said urgently, "a guy like you does not belong in the Underworld. I'm not letting you go."
He turned to Bel. "You're not taking him, either."
demonbelthazor"You seem to forget," Bel said slowly, "just who is in control here."
futurebucs_starAnders drew himself up a little straighter and met Bel's gaze evenly. "You're not controlling him," he said, his voice firm. "I won't let you."
demonbelthazorBel dug his fingers into Anders's arm. "I didn't come for him anyway," he said. "I came for you."
futurebucs_starAnders cast a long look at Bridge and then at Parker, an oddly knowing smile crossing his lips as he turned his attention to Bel. "And you want me to choose between my best friend -- two of my best friends -- and you, don't you? Is that really what you want me to do?"
demonbelthazor"You don't have a choice," Bel growled lowly. "You're coming with me. You know you want to. You're mine and you know it."
futurebucs_starAnders shook his head. He was starting to feel like himself again, and he pulled his arm back out of Bel's grasp. "Not if it means I leave my best friend behind, or force him to go where he doesn't belong. I was willing to give up a bunch of things for you, but Bridge and everything he stands for? That's not one of them."
mparkerceo"Game over, creep." Parker reached out her hand to tug on Anders' arm. "Go find someone else to hypnotize and mislead. Daisy?" She took a breath. "Back away from him? Please?"
Oh, they were so dead. Someone think of something....
futurebucs_starAnders looked at her and smiled, stepping back from the Source.
"Bel never would've made me choose one or the other," he said simply.
bridge_carsonBridge smiles as well, reaching out a hand to Anders to pull him over towards him.
demonbelthazorThe Source scowled, conjuring up a fireball and bouncing it in his hand. "I could kill all of you right now," he snapped. "But then again, it might be so much better to just let you wait and sweat it out and wonder what I'm going to do instead."
mparkerceoParker, for once, refrained from comment. No way was she going to tip his decision over the other way when they were almost home-free.
futurebucs_starAnders kept backing away steadily, an almost apologetic smile on his lips. "Sorry about that," he said. "If it was really Bel I might've done it. But for you? Not so much."
demonbelthazor"But I am Belthazor," the Source said. "Everything he once was is now in me. But you never seemed to mind if it was 'really' him before, did you?"
futurebucs_star"That's because I never thought it wasn't," Anders replied. He hadn't pulled away from Bridge's grasp and he'd reached out to take hold of Parker's shoulder with his other hand now, as well. Bitterly, he added, "If I'd known that it was really you, all along? I'd never have let you touch me."
demonbelthazorBel smirked. "Liar. You'd still be begging for it. Even while you were with 'Kara' you were thinking of me."
futurebucs_starAnders felt like he should be more embarrassed by this than he was, having this aired out with an audience, but it was Bridge and Parker, and he trusted them. "I was thinking of Bel. Not you. There's a difference."
demonbelthazor"Not anymore," Bel said. "We're one now." He held out his hand. "Last chance, Samuel."
futurebucs_starAnders didn't even make a move to reach out with his own hand. "Sorry," he said, "but I'll pass. Believe it or not, I actually do have standards."
demonbelthazorBel drew back his hand and clapped it against the other, extinquishing his fireball. "I could just kill your friends and take you anyway," he sneered, "but you're not worth the effort. But I'm sure we'll see each again, soon."
He vanished in a burst of flames.
mparkerceoParker waited one second. Two. Ten.
Then let out the breath she was holding. "Whew."
And then she hugged Anders. "Yes! We're hiding you in a volcano but you're staying!"
bridge_carsonBridge patiently... or okay not-so-patiently waits until Parker is finished with the hugging. And then pounces on a best friend with a hug of his own.
futurebucs_starAnders hugged them both back at the same time, somehow, not really bothering to hide the fact that he had tears in his eyes.
"You guys would've seriously done that for me?"
bridge_carson"Without a doubt," is all Bridge says.
mparkerceoParker gave him her bitch, please look. "If only to kick your ass for having no taste. Duh." She grinned at him again, sheer relief overwhelming her. "I'm proud of you, Daisy."
futurebucs_starAnders laughed a little shakily. "Thanks, Parker," he said. "Didn't realize I had it in me . . . and can we blow this joint? I really don't want to be in this room tonight."
bridge_carson"My place is still yours, if you want," Bridge offers.
futurebucs_star"That, I could go for," Anders replied. "And then I want to curl up under the covers for a while and just . . . I don't know. I haven't felt this drained in forever."
bridge_carson"You did good, dude," Bridge says. "Bel... the *real* Bel? I think he'd be proud of you. Like I am."
[ooc: preplayed with futurebucs_star, bridge_carson, and mparkerceo.]