canon au } { post-3b, of college tours and missing boyfriends

[ooglyboogleys]

Dawn: [is leading the way down the hallways of the building towards her office, turning so that she's walking backwards and facing Stiles] So most of the people around here are a little cooky, but it's the good kind of cooky. Think Dr. Brown from Back to the Future.

Stiles: So you're all secretly working on a time machine?

Dawn: Yes. However, it's not quite as cool as the DeLorean.

Stiles: TARDIS?

Dawn: More along the lines of vortex manipulator. Quick and dirty, not to be used often.

Stiles: Ooo. [ looks at Dawn and grins]

Dawn: [grins back before turning around to face the hallway, falling in step next to him] Anyway, if you're going to really be part of the department ie get to the good stuff? You want to get to know your professors.

Stiles: Sounds like a good idea. How many are there in the department?

Dawn: About ten? But you'll want to focus on whichever ones fit your specialty. Like, I'm currently working on Perception of Folklore in modern culture compared to at their origins, so I'm mostly working with those who focus on analysis in those areas. Also most of the ones I work with are ex-Watchers, which I will introduce you to all of those.

Stiles: Well, I'm aiming to be your minion, so that should help focus who I need to know, yes?

Dawn: [nods in agreement as they reach a cluster of offices] Okay. Who first ... [there's a loud cluster of very British swearing from an office to their right followed by cheers and Dawn smirks] ... Let's start with Hathaway. [and she starts to head in that direction]

Stiles: [follows, straightening the tie his dad insisted he wear for this]

Dawn: [she raps lightly on the door] Professor Hathaway? It's Dawn Summers.

Hathaway: [there's a frustrated sigh] Come in.

Dawn: [she opens the door and sitting behind his desk, glasses in his hand, is an older man in a dress shirt and suit jacket. he's pinching the bridge of his nose and looking immensely frustrated. To his left is a small cluster of rather large mice, dressed in tribal garb and cheering at their arrival]

Aeslin Mice: ALL HAIL THE ARRIVAL OF THE RAMBLING GODDESS.

Dawn: [grins a bit before giving the mice a wave] Couldn't get them to stay home.

Hathaway: It's like they're trying to get me fired. I don't think they realize that this job is where the food comes from. [he looks up and then blinks at Stiles] Oh, hello.

Stiles: [waves] Hi. [sees the talking mice and he's licking his lips because OMG TALKING MICE and yet that's not supposed to be real, right? But then again, neither are werewolves or notgitsune and OMG TALKING MICE]

Hathaway: [eyes him for a moment, before glancing to Dawn] Perspective student?

Dawn: [nods] I thought I'd take him around to meet the professors.

Hathaway: [nods and stands, extending a hand to him] Doctor Roger Hathaway. Welcome to the Berkeley Mythology and Folklore department.

Aeslin Mice: REJOICE, THE RITUAL OF STUDENT GREETING. [and then they begin parading and chanting along the edge of Hathaway's desk.]

Hathaway: Please ignore the mice.

Stiles: [shakes his hand] Stiles Stilinski. [and he just smiles at the mice because they are adorable and he wants one] It's nice to meet you. All of you.

Hathaway: [long suffering sigh] They're Aeslin mice. Has she told you about Aeslin mice? [since he's not freaking out, he assumes he's in the know]

Stiles: No, she hasn't. Probably because she'd know I'd want one. But I already have a pack of werewolves so probably better I don't.

Hathaway: No, you really don't. Because you don't just get one, you get a colony, and your life becomes subject to endless religious ritual. [he sighs as he resettles] Aeslin mice are a rare but ancient species of cryptid. They are intensely religious and tend to latch on to families that show them a kindness or rescue them from a predator and they stay with that family for generations, cataloguing important family events through religious ritual. They're rather brilliant historians. It'd actually be incredibly fascinating if it weren't so bloody annoying.

Stiles: Huh. [he nods at the mice appreciatively] at least it saves you from having to remember all your family events on your own.

Hathaway: Mmmm. Yes, that completely compensates for the lack of privacy and constant noise.

Dawn: [sympathetic look] Want me to make a vending machine run?

Hathaway: [sighs and nods, fishing out his wallet to give her a few dollars]

Dawn: I'll be right back. [disappears out the door]

Hathaway: [rubs his forehead before gesturing to the seat in front of him] Please. Sit. [he gestures to the still chanting mice] They'll be at it for a while.

Stiles: [is absolutely fascinated, but he nods and sits, trying to divide his attention] So are you also an ex-Watcher too?

Hathaway: Mmm. More of an associate than anything else. My field is cryptozoology so I helped provide them with information on various preternatural creatures - we call them cryptids - and helped determine what was dangerous enough to warrant a Slayers attention and what wasn't. When the council went ... ka-boom, Rupert Giles contacted me about staying on as they helped rebuild. [the door opens again] Then I received Dawn as a student and it all went downhill from there.

Dawn: Please. I am a pleasure to have in class. [holds up two packages] All they had was Ho-Hos and Fiber One lemon bars.

Hathaway: It will do. [he takes the packages from her, grabbing a paper towel and opening them, placing each of the snack cakes on the paper towel and pushing it towards the mice] Excuse me? While I do not wish to disturb the ritual, I request an audience with the high priest.

Aeslin Mice: [one of the mice steps forward, his headdress more ornate than the rest] We supplicate ourselves to the god of Oh Won't You Shut Up.

Hathaway: [his lips press into a thin line before continuing] I offer you cake in exchange for silence and remaining within the confines of the closet until it is time to return home. Should these terms be met, I can also promise cheesecake when we return home.

Aeslin Mice: [they turn to confer amongst themselves for a moment, before the high priest turns and nods in agreement] These terms are acceptable.

Hathaway: Very well, then. Have at it.

Aeslin Mice: [cheers! And with that they collect their cake and parade their way to the closet. Once the door closes, the room falls into silence.]

Hathaway: [sighs] Finally.

Stiles: [ his fingers are at his lips, trying not to look amused] How long have you had them following you around?

Hathaway: Oh, they've been in my family for generations. My great-great-grandfather saved a colony from a particularly vindictive cat and in return they decided to follow my family around forever.

Dawn: See, personally I think it'd be kind of fun to be worshipped, but Roger doesn't seem to agree with me. Then again, I'm the rambling goddess and he's the god of Oh Won't You Shut Up.

Stiles: I would love to see what they would name Derek if you had a colony of your own. [oh, he's plotting in the back of his head. Dawn you should be scared]

Dawn: Considering Cora is the canine high priestess, I'm pretty sure they already have one. I just don't know it yet.

Hathaway: [perks up a bit] Ah, so your werewolves are the Hale wolves then. Haven't had much contact with Derek, but Cora is a very bright girl.

Stiles: [brightens a bit at the mention of his girlfriend] Yeah, Derek and I have history, but Cora and I are really close. And, well, Peter is Peter. And then there's Scott, who's like my brother. But he's not a Hale. He's a McCall.

Hathaway: [he nods] I spent some time at the castle when Cora was there, and of course, I see her when she's here for her classes. [there's a pause as he glances to Dawn] Now, McCall, that would be the "true alpha."

Stiles: Yup. That's my best friend.

Hathaway: Fascinating. We've always known that true alphas have existed - the first alphas had to come from somewhere, after all - but there hasn't been talk of any in centuries. If Scott is interested, I would love to talk with him sometime. It would be incredibly helpful to my research.

Stiles: Well, I'm sure if I was up here for school, he'd be here visiting me all the time. We could totally do lunch during the semester [no, not above using Scott to get in good with a professor, nope.]

Hathaway: [small smile] Lovely. We'll have to see what happens. [but now, more about Stiles] Are you looking to be a Watcher, then? Or are you looking to go a different route?

Stiles: Well, I've gotten really good at doing research and finding patterns and I really want to know more and be able to help. I mean, if not like a Watcher, you got people like Sam Winchester who's a walking encyclopedia of weird that goes out and helps people and I kinda like doing that too.

Hathaway: Mmm. So you're straying more to the "hunter" side of things then. Nothing wrong with that, it takes all kinds, really. You know, if you work well with werewolves, you might do well with urban cryptozoology.

Stiles: Well yeah, seeing that my best friend has the true alpha thing going, I was thinking kinda like an emissary for him? But not sitting in a vet's office while he goes out to fight either. [but he nods] And while I bet I know a lot, I bet it's not even a smidge compared to what you all can teach me.

Hathaway: Oh, there's a great wide world out there. One with quite a few secrets. I'm sure you'll learn a lot that could surprise you.

Stiles: That's what I'm looking forward to. [and the excitement is all over his face]

Hathaway: [and that makes him smile a bit] We do love an eager student. [he glances to Dawn] Has he met Lombardo yet?

Dawn: That was probably going to be our next stop.

Hathaway: Brilliant. He'll get a kick out of him, I'm sure.

Stiles: [files that name away for the new future] Well not to brag but I like to think I'm a real good student. I mean, I'm salutatorian in Beacon Hills only because Lydia is a math super genius. But I won't disappoint anyone on wanting to learn. I get in trouble for asking too many questions usually.

Hathaway: Asking questions keeps you alive in a world like this. That's not something to take lightly.

Stiles: Probably the reason I'm actually alive right now, I bet. [so many times, to be fair]

Hathaway: [nods] Smart man.

Stiles: [grins] Well, since you bargained your quiet time, I don't want you to have to spend it all talking to me. I'm sure you don't get it often.

Hathaway: [small smile] I appreciate that. [he gets up again to shake his hand] It's been a pleasure, Mr. Stilinski.

Stiles: Same here. I hope I get to spend more time with you soon too. [shakes his hand with a bright grin]

Hathaway: We shall see.

Dawn: [slides an arm around his shoulder to lead him out] Alright. Time to see if Lombardo's around.

Stiles: I seriously feel like I'm at Hogwarts. This is awesome.

Dawn: [grins a bit as she does] I'm glad you think so.

Stiles: So are there going to be talking animals in every room? Just so I can be prepared.

Dawn: [laughs] No. Hathaway's the only one with talking animals.

Stiles: [looks dejected a moment, then shrugs] Well, now I'm prepared. Let's go.

Dawn: [she pauses when she reaches a T in the hallways then points] I think Lombardo's office is this way.

Stiles: [follows, then stops as his pocket vibrates] It's Scott. [since they aren't in any offices, he stops and answers the phone] Hey, I can't really talk right now.

Scott: Stiles, something's happened.

Stiles: [his stomach drops and he looks at Dawn] My dad?

Scott: No, not your dad. Derek.

Dawn: [turns at the question about his dad, raising an eyebrow in concern]

Scott: Listen, I know you've got Dawn and Cora near you. You guys need to come back right now. I went over and his place is completely shot up to hell like there was a gang war inside of it. A bunch of dead guys that your dad thinks may be Mexican drug smugglers... and there's blood. Derek's blood, and um... he's gone.

Stiles: [looks at Dawn, haunted] What do you mean, gone?

Scott: He's not dead. I can follow his scent out to the parking lot and then it just disappears. And I smell another creature but I have no idea what it is, and dude... with the Winchesters out of pocket we need Dawn here to help figure this out.

Stiles: [has his serious face on as he looks at Dawn] I'll tell them. We'll be back by dinner time.

Dawn: [okay yeah that's really not good] Stiles, I'm lacking the werewolf hearing here. What's going on?

Scott: See you soon.

Stiles: [hangs up the phone and texts Cora to head to the jeep] We need to go back.

Dawn: What happened? [because that's not really an answer, she got that much]

Stiles: You know how they say when you think things are too quiet, they usually are?

Dawn: Stiles. I'm a big girl. Stop stalling and tell me what happened.

Stiles: [purses his lips] Derek's gone. Possibly kidnapped. Definitely bleeding and probably Mexican gang related.

Dawn: [she processes that in pieces. Derek's gone. Derek's bleeding and possibly kidnapped. Then the last part happens and she's already turning on her heels and heading for the door] They're not a gang.

Stiles: Which is why you're being summoned back to Beacon Hills because you know stuff like this.

Dawn: They're hunters. They were after Derek before looking for a She-Wolf. We thought it was Cora, but she was keeping a low enough profile at Berkeley that she wasn't attracting attention, so we weren't worrying about it too much. But if they came after him again ... [she grits her teeth] Damnit.

Stiles: And Cora was here.... he probably refused to tell them

Dawn: But they would have just killed him to send a message, they wouldn't have taken him again. They would have killed him to try and leverage Peter.

Stiles: Maybe it's not Cora then? Or maybe it's a different set of Mexicans. I mean, Mexico has a lot of people in it.

Dawn: [shakes her head] She was in Beacon Hills. Argent saw her, it had to have been her people. [they reach the Jeep and Cora's standing there, looking confused]

Cora: I figured I wouldn't see you guys until tonight.

Stiles: We need to go home. Your brother has gotten himself kidnapped. Again. He needs to really stop doing that

Cora: [her eyes widen a bit and then she looks to Dawn] The Mexicans?

Dawn: [shakes her head] They were there, but I don't know if they did this. We just need to get home and figure it out.

Stiles: I'll drive. [is taking off his jacket and tie] You guys go do your calling people and finding out what you can info. But we're stopping at Arby's before we hit the interstate.

Dawn: [nods and she's already calling Buffy and Lindsay as she slides in the front seat]

Cora: [slides into the back, before leaning closer to ask Stiles] What did Scott say, exactly?

Stiles: Basically the loft is all shot up, a bunch of dead gang people, he could smell Derek's blood and tracked him to the parking lot and then it disappears.

Cora: Does he know if it was human or something else? Maybe this "La Loba" they're looking for is the one who took him.

Stiles: He said he smelt a creature there, but he didn't know what it was.

Cora: Maybe Peter has. I'll text him.

Stiles: What happened the last time anyway? I was kinda distracted at the time.

Dawn: [shakes her head] It was before Derek came back to Beacon Hills. It was when he was looking for his mom's claws. The Mexicans were the ones who had it.

Stiles: And where were you then? [looks at Cora]

Cora: Berkeley. [texting Peter: What do you know about Derek?]

Stiles: If they could find Derek and Peter on some quest because why weren't his mother's claws in Beacon Hills?!

Peter: [texts back: Tall, Dark hair, hazel eyes. Broods a lot. Currently missing.]

Cora: Because they stole them. [checks her text messages before muttering:] Ass. [text: Scott says there was a scent of a creature he didn't recognize. Have you tried?]

Stiles: So Mexicans stole your mom’s claws. Why do I feel like there is a huge plot hole missing in this?

Peter: [text: it's familiar, but I can't pinpoint where I've smelt it before.]

Dawn: Talia was an extremely powerful alpha. Her claws still have power in them, even though she's dead. Derek could even use them in a complicated ritual to communicate with her briefly. I'm not surprised someone wanted them for themselves.

Cora: [text: Okay. Let me know if you find anything. We're on our way back.]