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

[studmuffin]

The loft is cool. But the Serial Killer Shack totally has underground tunnels. Just in case we need to escape.

[ He turns towards the forest then, no point in keeping Scott out of it. ]

[affectioning]

[ Oh, they're turning. He follows, keeping track of all the scents he catches. ]

You call it the Serial Killer Shack? [ AND HE DUG TUNNELS? ]

[studmuffin]

Derek says it's a cabin. But when I first saw it, it totally looks like a place you keep people's scalps.

[affectioning]

It's no Hale house?

[studmuffin]

It has a fridge. And a couch. It's more livable.

[affectioning]

Where else can people live here?

[studmuffin]

Uh, there's the youth center for people our age? I've been there twice. I spent a week on Hawkeye's couch too. And stayed at the Xavier mansion until they all left and Derek pulled his eyebrows on me.

[ Coughing again, though weaker than the last. ] You could get an apartment, I guess? Or you can have Isaac's old room?

[affectioning]

Isaac stayed with you? [ Of course, he's pack. ] So are you... his pack? [ Or, considered his pack? ] I can just get an apartment? [ He'll need a job. If he really can't leave. If he'll be here for a year. ] Is there a City High?

[studmuffin]

You get an allowance. [ His shoes snap twigs under each step but Stiles knows this path like that back of his hand. He doesn't want to talk about pack though, because Derek said as much and Stiles had argued with him for the longest time until he couldn't anymore. ]

Everyone does. It's enough to pay rent and eat. You can get a job too if you want. There's no school though. Professor X wanted to set one up but then he left.

[affectioning]

There's no school? [ He can't decide if he's happy about that or if he's disappointed. Bettering himself as a student for nothing? Not cool. ] Where do I pick it up?

[studmuffin]

The welcome center will help you out. Uh, the woman who runs it is really awesome. Her name's Penny. She's been epic to me. She'll help you out.

[ There's a clearing in the woods and then a valley and lo! ] Home sweet home.

[affectioning]

[ Penny. Got it. ]

She's been epic to you? [ That sounds great, Stiles. Congratulations! Scott faces forward now, finally laying eyes on Stiles' home. With Derek. ] It's - [ How can he be polite. He doesn't really know what to say? ] Nice.

[studmuffin]

He can't hear you, Scott.

[ Eyeroll. It's not like they got married and set up their happy family home. ] I haven't seen him all day, he's probably out stalking Bambi. Sometimes he doesn't even check the network.

[ Stiles has a key though and he lets them both in. It kind of ... looks lived in. Stiles and Derek carving out space. ]

[affectioning]

[ It kind of seems like that's what happened. Not. Maybe unhappy civil union. He wasn't saying nice for anybody's benefit. He was saying it because he had nothing better to say. If you can't say anything nice...

He stays behind Stiles, taking in the room ahead. Derek built a house. ]

How long did it take?

[ He finds himself wandering towards a book shelf, running his fingers along the spines. ]

[studmuffin]

Forever.

[ So dramatic. ] He made me help him with the roof. [ He tosses his device on the couch and all but collapses down, watches Scott explore. ] He's always doing something with it. Kind of makes me wonder why he didn't just fix up the Hale house, y'know? Because he's good at it. The tunnels are cool.

[affectioning]

Because it took forever. [ He doesn't have time with all their werewolf drama. Their lives are so crazy. ] You spend a lot of time in the tunnels? [ He wanders into the kitchen, speaking louder. He's just perusing right now. ]

[studmuffin]

Just after he built them I got sent home again. I think Mae's spent more time in there than me.

[ He's happy. It fits inside of his chest and he lets it sink in. Scott's here. Scott is here. ]

[affectioning]

Who's Mae? [ Another roommate? A girlfriend? He knows it's not a girlfriend. Sorry, Stiles. But, it's nice to think of. He comes back out of the kitchen. He takes a seat on the couch beside his best friend. ]

[studmuffin]

[ R U D E. ]

She's super awesome. British. The brightest pink hair you will ever see. Total badass. [ He nudges Scott though. ] You can freak out if you want.

[affectioning]

Why would I freak out?

[studmuffin]

Because everyone freaks out.

[affectioning]

[ His mouth curls, slightly into the closest thing to a smile. ]

Would it help?

[studmuffin]

Maybe.

[ Another sly smile. ] I should probably tell you about the curses.

[affectioning]

I was told about them. And the rebellion. And how it might be connected to people getting sick. [ Which is why he turns to face Stiles now. ] You were coughing. [ You also don't smell well. ]

[studmuffin]

They've got totally darker lately.

[ Shh Scott, he's not feverish. ]