BtVS: Alternate Lives

Who: Willow, OT any and all
What: Downtime
Where A cafe downtown

If there was one thing that Willow could do anywhere, anytime, it was break open a book and read. The world could be ending around her and she'd still be lost in the world that a novel gave her. The characters, the drama, all the little twists and turns.

And while the world wasn't ending around her, downtown LA was pretty noisy, being a Friday afternoon. Willow didn't seem to mind, she just sat at her little table at a little cafe/bistro that she'd been meaning to try out for quite sometime now, but hadn't had the chance to before leaving to go on her cross-country trip with her parents.

Taking a sip of the pumpkin spice coffee, Willow leaned forward in her seat, completely lost in the world of The Other Boleyn Girl

Who: Ben, open to all
Where: Avarice
When: Thursday night

This was it. The biggest night in Avarice's short history. The CD release concert for Broken Sunrise. There were two other bands playing as well, including Skylar's, but he knew Broken Sunrise was going to bring in the media. Dressed in a snazzy black suit and tie, Ben stood on the stage, microphone in hand.

"Ladies and gents... thank you for coming tonight...  without further ado... allow me to introduce the first band of the evening."

He turned slightly, motioning as the curtain on the stage began to pull away.

"A band that I personally have a VERY vested interest in... allow me to re-introduce you all... to the new, the improved... Suicide Messiah!"

WHO: Lexi OT Ginny
WHEN: Monday, 28 Sep 00, early evening
WHERE: Chloe's Sugar Shack

It had been kind of a crazy day. Lexi had sold off some of her old gear and ordered a head-and-cabinet amplifier more suited to the venues the band would be playing in the extremely near future. On her way out of the store, she'd called Ginny on her cell and asked her to meet her at the Shack; it had been a while since she'd been there, and she felt like she could really use the caffeine.

She got there first, bought two Sugar Fairies and nabbed a seat by the window. It was just after sunset, and Lexi was feeling pretty good. Something in the back of her mind didn't quite feel right, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

So she smiled, sipped her drink and waited for Ginny.

WHO: Lexi OT Ginny
WHERE: Lexi's apartment
WHEN: Tuesday night

Lexi was sitting on a stool she'd picked up at a thrift store ages ago, her foot propped up on the corner of her amplifier. Her guitar was plugged in, and she was working her way through a classical piece as an exercise; something by Bach, complicated and fast.

Or it was supposed to be, but her fingers kept tripping over each other, and it just wasn't falling together.

Tomorrow could be a very, very bad night.

She scowled and gave it another shot, got to the passage with all the triplets and the key change, and the tune disintegrated into a discordant morass of noise. Lexi growled in frustration and set her guitar aside, on its stand, though the temptation to beat the crap out of the amplifier with it was lurking in the corners of her mind.

Who: Ginny, open to Lexi
Where: Lexi's home
When: Friday night

Most couples would be out on a friday night, partying, or drinking, or something similar. But Ginny knew that sometimes, with Lexi's past, that she needed to just have a nice night in, without having to look her demons or temptations in the eye. She'd been doing great, but everyone needed to have time away from the temptation from time to time.

So tonight, they sat at home, watching some old videos on VH1. For some reason, Ginny enjoyed watching old bands and performers and just making comments, good or bad, on what they sounded like. She was sitting sideways on the sofa, her legs crossed over Lexi's lap. Far from the goth goddess she sometimes looked like at the clubs, tonight her face was freshly scrubbed, her hair was in a ponytail, and she wore... baggy Care Bears pajamas.

"So... seriously. I know you know a LOT of people in the industry..." she said, looking at the screen with some confusion, "and you honestly think even the rockers respected Pat Benatar?"

Who: Ben, open to all. 
Where: Avarice
When: Tuesday night
What: Just a fun thread for anyone to goof around. Feel free to start your own little mini-threads in it if you like. It's a celebration, bitches. Enjoy yo'selves.


While Ben was mostly focused on all of the upcoming battles, and the violence he knew would accompany them... he also knew his friends and family needed to relax. Unwind. Just forget their problems and have some fun. So, On the spur of the moment, he'd set this little event up. Hair Metal Night at Avarice. Nothing but fun 80s rock, with drink discounts for anyone dressed in era-appropriate clothing.

As usual, he took up his residence at his personal table, in the back of the club, mostly dressed the same as usual, except for the presence of a vintage Motley Crue t-shirt. Let the people he cared about have some fun... God knew they deserved it.

Who: Buffy and Ginny
Where: Eden
When: Wednesday Night

( Read more... )

Who: Ginny, open to Lexi
Where: Lexi's place
When: Tuesday night


While Ginny knew what she was (half-demon), she also knew that these last few weeks were filled with far more angst, violence, and strife than she thought possible outside of a WB teen drama. She took silent solace in the fact that her band was getting back on track, and that Irene and a few others had FINALLY perfected the spell that would un-invite Paige from Lilly's home, which meant she could go to her own place again, and Ginny could move in with Lexi.

So, for now, the curvy vocalist was bringing the first bit of her stuff to what was soon to be her new home. She dragged a few suitcases towards the door of Lexi's flat, and rang the doorbell.

Who: Ginny, open to Lexi, Irene, Lilly, and anyone wanting to audtion for Ginny's band.
Where: Eden
When: Early monday afternoon


Well... it had to happen sooner or later. Why not sooner? Ginny knew she needed to replace Paige, and the sooner she did it, the sooner she was sending out the message that she wasn't afraid of the girl, or her threats.

So, she called Lilly and Irene, and told them her plans: she wanted to have open auditions at Eden, with all three of them present. She also wanted Lexi there, to give HER opinion, as a respected guitarist herself.

She had some ideas for a new name (since Paige had come up with Coma White), ones she liked better. But she'd ask the girls about that later. For now? It was time to see who was interested in replacing their resident drama queen.

WHO: Lexi OT Ginny
WHEN: Thursday night
WHERE: An apartment building near Eden

Lexi pulled up outside Ginny's apartment building. Not really the best neighborhood, but it wasn't the worst in the city by a long shot. It actually looked nice in twilight, rimmed in orange and red in the fading sunset. There was trash on the ground and the storefronts had security gates pulled across them, scrawled with vivid and indecipherable graffiti, and there was a smell of car exhaust and wet concrete in the air. It had rained less than an hour earlier, and the puddles caught the light, as well.

Lexi smiled. Now that she thought about it, the neighborhood looked lovely, in its own strange way.

She grabbed her gig bag and slung it over one shoulder; getting a quick look around her, she frowned and set up a Club on her steering wheel. Better safe than ... walking.

She kicked aside a malt-liquor bottle, headed up the stairs, mashed the button for Ginny's apartment and waited for a response.

Who: Ginny and Lilly
Where: Ginny's apartment
When: Late tuesday night

Who: Ginny, open to all members of Coma White and anyone who might be watching their show.
Where: Eden
When: Monday evening

To the few people who knew Ginny more as herself, and less as a performer... this was a sight they'd likely never forget: the pale, gothic beauty in her natural element, onstage with her band, Coma White.

She'd never been a huge fan of the name, or it's connotations, but Paige had come up with it when she helped her form the band. And no matter what they were called... this was Ginny at her best. Letting out every inner demon she had, in the form of lyrics that meant the world to her. When she spoke... her voice was a barely audible whisper. But when she was performing, her voice was a mighty roar, a primal scream direct from a tortured soul,  letting her fears, tragedies, and triumphs hopefully inspire young women like herself to fight back, to rebel against all that tried to hold them down.

Tonight, she wore onstage a black vinyl gown that hugged every curve, but was slit up each side to right beneath the hips, and a black spiked choker, with her usual heavy goth makeup.

The band was in the middle of one of their trademark songs, and, due to it's lyrics, every time they performed it, the stage was inevitably rushed by young women eager to rock out, to rage against what angered them. Her voice, at first, was a husky, deep purring growl.

"It's true... I've got demons inside me... and sometimes? They need to speak.
My dark places... make me feel ugly.
My lips are glossed, but my heart is weak.
I'm diseased.... as seen on TV,
Please forgive me,
For not being pretty, or sexy... but God never blessed me."

But then, as she prepared to kick into the chorus, she burst into a gutteral, primal scream, that those who never saw her perform would never believe her capable of.

"HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL FIND
NEXT TIME YOU UNDRESS ME...

SCAAAAAARS!
WOUNNNNNDS!
I'M.... BRUISED...

WAAAAAATCH.... MEEEEEE..... BLEEEEEEEED....
I'M YOUR BEAUTY!
WAAAAAAATCH.... MEEEEEEE..... BLEEEEEEED....
BEAUTY FIEND!"

"Once again...
Without perfect teeth,
I begin...
The dream as I sleep, soon I've sinned.

My skin, it's still thick.
My mouth? As always, is brutally honest.
At my calmest, I'm tired of explaining
How it feels to be exploited,
and rated number one... two... or seventeen..."

"FUCK WHAT THEY PUT IN THOSE DAMN MAGAZINES!!!!!"

"SCAAAAARS! WOUNNNNNDS! I'M! UUUUUSED!"

"WAAAAAATCH... MEEEEEE.... BLEEEEEEED!
I'M NOT BEAUTY!
WAAAAAAATCH.... MEEEEEE.... BLEEEEEEED....
BEAUTY QUEEN!"

"WAAAAAATCH.... MEEEEEE..... BLEEEEEEEED....
I'M YOUR BEAUTY!
WAAAAAAATCH.... MEEEEEEE..... BLEEEEEEED....
BEAUTY FIEND!"

STUCK INSIDE THIS MASK OF MINE
THERE'S NO PLACE FOR ME TO HIDE!
WON'T YOU PLEASE COME SUCK ME DRY,
DON'T TOUCH ME
DON'T FUCKING TOUCH ME
DON'T FUCKING TOUCH ME... WHY?
Can't you see beyond my skin
SIZE, my SHAPE, my ASS, my TITS
I am not your PRETTY FACE
I'm just a girl
THE GIRL YOU LOVE TO HATE!!!

"WAAAAAATCH... MEEEEEE.... BLEEEEEEED!
I'M NOT BEAUTY!
WAAAAAAATCH.... MEEEEEE.... BLEEEEEEED....
BEAUTY QUEEN!"

"WAAAAAATCH.... MEEEEEE..... BLEEEEEEEED....
I'M YOUR BEAUTY!
WAAAAAAATCH.... MEEEEEEE..... BLEEEEEEED....
BEAUTY FIEND!"

Why can't you see beyond my skin
SIZE, MY SHAPE, MY ASS, MY TITS
I am not your PRETTY FACE
I'm just a girl
THE GIRL YOU LOVE TO HATE!!!"

As the song ended, she sneered, taking a long breath as the girls in the crowd roared in applause.

Who: Mere and Ginny
Where: Mere's Home
When: Sunday Night

( Read more... )

Who: Ginny, open to Lexi
Where: Chloe's Sugar Shack
When: Saturday Night

Feeling a little shellshocked, Ginny Callaway sat alone at a booth in Chloe's Sugar Shack, fidgeting slightly, feet moving nervously under the table. The vocalist hadn't been on anything even resembling a date in quite a long time, and the pale girl was frankly a ball of nerves.

She'd dressed to impress tonight, in a black, backless, spaghetti-strap mini-dress that hugged her curves, her hair done up to be wavy and lush, and her face adorned in juuust enough makeup to make her paleness look breathtaking instead of creepy.

As a last touch, which admittedly was more because she didn't want to creep the other girl out, she'd worn black elbow-length gloves on each hand, covering the scars she was so afraid would gross people out.

She'd arrived early, she KNEW that, and three cups of coffee later looked at the clock to see that it was about time for Lexi to arrive. Well... here it goes: would the girl show up, or stand her up?

Who: Ginny, open to Lexi and anyone else from Coma White or Suicide Messiah
Where: Avarice
When: Wednesday night


Oh sweet Jesus. Ginny couldn't believe when she heard about the chaos Paige had caused at Avarice. She'd been warning her guitarist for months to back off, to leave the Messiah girls alone. She loved Paige... but she knew the girl's big mouth was going to get her in trouble eventually.

The pale, curvy beauty had gotten the phone numbers of Lexi and all of the girls from Suicide Messiah, and left messages on all of their machines telling them that she'd like to talk to any of them who would meet her at Avarice. Why not meet on their home turf for a good old apology session, right?

So she waited at an empty table near the bar, clad in a black backless dress, meant to draw attention to her back and her bust... and NOT to the thick, visible scars on her wrists that she was so self-concious about.