video;

[unfettered]

[Have a bombshell-blonde teen werewolf, Keeliai. She's dressed in the same outfit she wore to a rave and leaning both elbows on the console as she stares straight into the camera.

While she doesn't start by naming Isaac, Scott, and Stiles specifically, it likely obvious to them that her first statement is aimed in their direction.]

Boys, I know you're busy with your baking or whatever you're up to [what's up with that by the way?] but I'm here now so why don't you come out, come out, wherever you are?

[Ending with a sing-song voice, she addresses anyone else who might be paying attention to her feed.]

To the rest of you, that's one hell of a song and dance they do for you back at the palace, isn't it? Too bad it's probably full of lies or something.

[Her smile fades as she makes a face and gives a deliberate, dramatic sigh.]

So, anyone want to help a girl out and give me the 101 on place? Because this network doesn't have Google or WikiLeaks.

Comments

video

[skybluejeep]

[OMFG have a staring Stiles for a very long moment, Erica. And then he yelps.]

ERICA!!

video

[unfettered]

Amazing, Stiles, you remember my name.

video

[skybluejeep]

[Yeah only one problem, the Turtle's resident smartass has had his smartass knocked out of him by this appearance. Realm between life and death indeed. He's pale as a sheet and stammering incoherently. Like he's seen a ghost.]

video;

[mccallmemaybe]

[ Scott remembers Derek holding Erica's lifeless body in his arms at the bank vault like it was yesterday. They weren't exactly friends but he was still saddened by her death. She was innocent. She didn't deserve to die.

But the way she looks on video now, perfectly healthy, perfectly alive...

It's like seeing a ghost.

Scott can't even be embarrassed about being called out on the whole baking thing, he's too dumbfounded by seeing her. ]

Hey... [ There's an uncertainty to his greeting, like he can't actually believe he's talking to her right now. ]

video;

[unfettered]

[Not knowing that she's dead in the future makes it hard to interpret Stiles' and Scott's reactions to her. She knows they're not on great terms but last she checked, they were tentatively working together. And hey, she wasn't actively trying to steal Scott from Allison yet so what was the problem?]

Hi. [Pause.] Did I interrupt a critical whipped cream moment or something?

video;

[mccallmemaybe]

[ That makes Scott laugh, but it's a nervous laugh, a laugh that belongs to someone who has no idea how to approach this situation. ]

No, we, uh, actually finished baking a while ago... [ And suddenly Stiles appears. ] Be right back! [ And he cuts his feed. ]

Action!

[skybluejeep]

[He's all fussed, and gets right up in Scott's face.]

What are we gonna do? Seriously?

Action!

[mccallmemaybe]

[ Scott asks Stiles a question of his own that he wants answered. ] How is she alive? [ Not that he isn't happy that she is. But this is officially too crazy for him. ]

video;

[zerotoawesome]

[...

... Uh.

... Wow]

I don't know who could ever be too busy for you, but if those jerks don't show up, I'd be happy to show you around this place...

Or, you know, anywhere you want.

video;

[unfettered]

[She's staring at a man made of rocks. Talking rocks. The rocks are sort of complimenting her. Flirting with her. Huh.]

Oh yeah? Anywhere in particular you'd take me?

[Yeah she'll flirt back a bit. Because she can. Because it beats freaking out on the network and maybe the guy (it's a guy right?) will give her some juicy tidbits if she does.]

video;

[zerotoawesome]

[Well, at least she isn't freaking out over the fact that there's a guy made of talking rocks. That's a first.]

Oh, I could think of a few pl- Wait, what? Are you serious?

[traitorously]

That's super creepy. I don't know that I'd come out if someone started doing that at me, to be honest, it's kind of like something out of a horror film.

[unfettered]

[Wow way to be judgy, strange girl.]

It's not creepy, it's called knowing your audience.

[No, it's creepy and she's trying too hard.]

Who're you anyway?

[traitorously]

If you're new here, how do you know your audience is listening?

Oh! I'm Catty. Big fan of horror films, actually. [She smiles, and it's genuinely friendly] And what you got told at the palace probably isn't as big a pack of lies as you might think. You really are in between death and dreaming right now.

video

[parallels]

Impressive group you must know to actually respond to that. I'd be too afraid. Or embarrassed.

video

[unfettered]

[Really?]

If you're scared so easily then it's good that wasn't intended for you.

[Yep, pointedly ignoring the barbs and steering the conversation in a different direction now.]

So instead, is there anything you can tell me about this place or the people here that they wouldn't have told me at the palace?

[parallels]

Oh come on, you have to admit it's not really the reference that invokes comfort.

[Clara raises her eyebrows but goes along with the subject change.]

Okay, subject change. I can tell you plenty. Been here a few months, learned a few things. Just depends on what you're looking for.

[cravats]

I've been here several months now and I've come to the conclusion that while they might not tell us everything, they aren't lying- at least, not that I've discovered yet. Welcome to Keeliai.

[unfettered]

Thanks.

[He's the first person to actually welcome her. Not that she wants to be there but it's better than nothing.]

So, if they aren't lying, did they leave anything out? Can't have covered all the bases.

[bereavements]

[ Isaac was working or he'd get to this right away. But, he has a job. Finally, he stops by a console before work.

It's Erica. That's really where his thoughts are right now. Erica is here. She's alive. He covers his mouth from shock. He knew it was possible and now she's here. While he wants to smile because she's there and alive, she also abandoned them and ran away. He's also a mess of conflicted emotions but, he gets timelines and he recognizes that outfit. He remembers that night well. He thinks of it often. So, finally, he answers her. ]

We're not still baking, you know. We did it once. And our cookies rocked.

[unfettered]

[Erica feels relieved to hear from Isaac finally. Scott and Stiles were familiar but they were acting weird and evasive. Everyone else was a stranger and the girls were rubbing her the wrong way. But Isaac? Isaac is familiar. He's pack. He's someone who understands being on the wrong side of Beacon Hills High School and most importantly, she trusts him.]

I was just surprised to see you've been baking together at all.

[The comment isn't given maliciously but there's an obvious undertone of curiosity. And confusion. She feels unbalanced enough being in Keeliai at all, but the change in dynamic only tips her further off.]

Can we meet to talk somewhere?

[chiot]

I ain't understand nuffin' of whatcher sayin', huh? But I know whatcha wanna know, if you wanna know. I know everythin'.

[unfettered]

[What in the hell are there kids doing, kidnapped to giant turtle cities? What even.]

Do you know how we got here? Or how we got back? Or how to contact people back home?

[Let's start there.]

video;

[coneofsilence]

If they're baking, they're on the clock, sorry.

video;

[unfettered]

On the clock? You mean that's their job?

[She'd just seen the video of them baking at home. This is news to her.]