one ✚ arrival

[affectioning]

[ If anyone is hanging out in the square, they'll see a very confused looking teenager slowly bringing what is not his cell phone closer to his face. And if anybody is looking at the network, they see the adorable can't be mad at that face moving closer to the screen. He tilts his head, perplexed. He looks around. Nobody else looks completely confused.

But, wait. He hears other people on this thing. He squints. Could this be some kind of mass communication device? Give a gold star to Scott McCall as he looks around him and then back down. ]

Can anybody hear me? Or, see me? Anyone know how far away I am from Beacon Hills? [ Or how he even got here? ] It's in California. [ This doesn't look like California. He'd ask for help but it's not exactly something he wants to do. He can handle this. It reminds him of those times he woke up miles from home. But, that was a wolf thing. Could this be true alpha related? Is this something he has to look forward to? ] Or, if anybody near me has a cell, I need to reach some people. [ Or, at least his mother. Hi Mom. I'm all right. I just woke up in a strange place. ] Thanks.

[ But, he pauses. His nose picks something up. Yes. He distinctly smells something familiar. Or, mouth-watering. It's not clear. And that's all the network gets as he brings it back down to his side. But, the video continues as he's walking in some nondescript direction. ]

Comments

[affectioning]

I just saw you. [ But, he believes Stiles. He believes Stiles believes what he himself is saying. But, Stiles isn't one to go too insane. ] I saw a giant bear.

[studmuffin]

Yeah, I know.

[ He shrugs one shoulder upwards, feels the fever making his skin prickle. ]

... I think Derek befriended that at some point.

[affectioning]

It's been a year. Why can't you get back? Other than the two times you could?

[studmuffin]

Uh.

[ How do you explain the City without giving yourself a headache? ] It's kind of like - like a net. An inter-dimensional net. And you just land in the bottom and can't get out until someone upturns the whole thing?

[affectioning]

Interdimensional? Stiles, where are we?

[ Sorry to get testy. He just needs all the information. Then he can formulate a plan. ]

[studmuffin]

It's the City.

[ He fidgets, taps his foot on the ground and then starts all in a rush. ] So Jim - the guy talking to you earlier - actually Captain fucking Kirk. It's ... you know comic-con? It's like that. All these different people from all these different places running around except they're all real. Seventy-ish percent of the Enterprise crew? Here. A handful of Avengers? Also here. It's ...

It's kind of awesome, actually.

[affectioning]

The City.

[ Anticlimactic name if he's ever heard one. ]

Actually here or costume here? [ He knows the answer, he just has to ask. Give him a second. ] I was talking to Captain James Tiberius Kirk? [ His eyes widen. ]

[studmuffin]

Yeah! [ For the first time there's genuine excitement lighting him up. ] Dude, he's so awesome. He's teaching me some moves. [ Fake karate chop. ] So I can be as badass as the rest of this place.

[affectioning]

[ Stiles, don't hurt yourself. ] So, fictional characters also end up here? [ Or does that mean, all fictional characters are real people in other dimensions? Mind. Explosion. ]

[studmuffin]

[ He's got that is Scott's brain gonna be okay? look on his face. ]

Yeah, Captain America runs the police force. Though DC are kind of unrepresented here.

[affectioning]

Because why wouldn't they be. [ Okay. Brain engaging again. ] What else should I know? [ Wait. ] Should we go somewhere... [ They've just been standing on a random street. NOW it seems weird. ]

[studmuffin]

Um.

[ Shit.

Derek's not at the Serial Killer Shack cabin, Stiles is pretty sure he's out hunting defenseless animals. But he lives with Derek. In a place far out and tucked away and he isn't sure why he's freaking out about it except that he is.

Scott's come and gone so many weekends but he's never stuck around long enough to see how Stiles' has changed. ] Sure, we can go somewhere.

[affectioning]

[ He leans his head forward. ]

Where?

[ You know this place better than him, Stiles. He grips his device in his right hand, glancing down at it. ]

It can't always hear what we're saying, right? We have to use it? Deliberately?

[studmuffin]

That's the idea.

[ He shakes his head though. Code for nothing, brah and starts walking. ] It won't let you throw it away though. Isaac was here a while back, buried his in the woods and the next day it was back in his pocket.

[affectioning]

[ And Scott keeps up. And trusts Stiles knows where he's going. ] Creepy. [ He's going to assume someone didn't dig it up and give it back to him. But, it does sound like magic. Maybe that girl was right. ] Isaac was here?

[studmuffin]

Yeah. He left a couple of months ago though. I haven't seen him since.

[ Hands shoved into his pockets as he moves. ] He's the only other one. It's been me and Derek for a long time.

[affectioning]

He's okay. [ Right now. ] He's staying with us. [ His mom and him. He gives him a reassuring look. ] What's that been like?

[studmuffin]

[ That he frowns at. ] He's not staying in Derek's stupid loft?

[ AVOIDING THE QUESTION. ]

[affectioning]

Derek kicked him out. [ Maybe so he could be safe. Scott doesn't know and he and Isaac don't really discuss it in detail. ] He came by. Of course I let him stay. [ And then he never left. ] Do you not like Isaac?

[studmuffin]

Derek kicked him out?! [ Ugh, the future already sounds crazy. ] I thought he was totally into building his happy little magic pack? Why would he kick out the only dude who actually likes him?

[ Awkward. ] It's a mutual dislike.

[affectioning]

I don't know. Maybe to protect him? [ Neither Derek nor Isaac have talked about it. And Scott hasn't asked. He's been a little too preoccupied. Be happy you haven't experienced the motel from hell. ]

You're missing a lot.

[ Like it's Stiles' choice. Fair enough. ] He's a friend. And an ally.

[studmuffin]

[ He makes a noise then, half a laugh. ] He's your friend, your ally. Isaac doesn't like me. I'm surprisingly okay with it. It's not a stand-off dude, we just don't have any reason to become bffs.

[affectioning]

[ Does Isaac not like you or do you not like Isaac? Pointless question is pointless. ]

You don't have to. But, we're all on the same side now. [ So, remember that. Speaking of the same side... ] Derek's not so bad, right? [ Considering they're on good terms. The time away from each other over the summer did wonders. ]

[studmuffin]

[ His laugh turns into a cough that literally wracks his body but he waves Scott off with a frown and then when he catches his breath. ]

Derek's fine. Still a jerk though.

[affectioning]

[ He brings a hand to his buddy's back. ]

Really? [ Derek and Stiles do seem to have an antagonistic -- something. What must it be like to just be them. Here. Together. ] Sorry I haven't been here. [ Like he had a choice in the matter. ] So, where do you live? [ Since you've been here for a YEAR. ]