epidemiology | ( open + some closed prompts )

CHARACTERS: stiles and YOU, stiles and a bunch of ppl
DATE: between march 17 and march 23
WARNINGS: injuries, panic attacks, more or less zombies, idk man i'll update
SUMMARY: peter's infection finally reaches the more serious symptoms, and like any well-adjusted individual, he runs away after lashing out unintentionally. stiles deals with the injuries and tries to mobilize a search for him (mostly by doing the searching all by himself, good job??)

i. i'm frozen to the bones — university

[ it isn't a common sight, to see Stiles out and about so early in the morning it can barely be called morning — sure, he makes a point to be at the station early enough, but never without complaining about the time and increasingly desperate attempts to drown himself in coffee. now, though, he looks wide awake, despite the heavy circles around his eyes.

no, the sight isn't a common one, but it certainly is alarming, especially when one pays careful attention to the way each step he takes is somehow less steady than the one before it, the way he cradles his arm at an awkward angle and winces when moving forward jostles it slightly. still, he isn't stopping — he makes his way across the university grounds, then to where the cars are parked...

... yep, you guessed it, he's totally going to drive his car like this, with one arm out of commission and looking like he might actually clock out any minute now.

someone.

should probably stop him. ]

ii. i'm a million miles from home — random city location of your choosing

[ he's no longer sure how long he's been walking around. hours, days — he's trying not to count how long it's been since his ill-adviced decision to try and tranquilize a sleeping super-powered individual, seriously, just how did he think that was a good plan?

(he didn't, that's what. he didn't think, because he had no plan. none... just like he doesn't have a plan now. for someone whose strength tends to be coming up with plans, he sure seems to be lacking in that department lately.)

the magitek is of no help, because what good is a locating system built in when you can just leave your magical jewelry in a lab, right? right. quietly, he mutters, ] You just had to remember that too, didn't you? Great.

[ as if talking to himself in the place of the one he actually wants to talk to, making dry comments about the situation, made it all somehow easier to deal with. (spoilers: it doesn't.)

after another block, Stiles finally has to sit down, finding the nearest bench that's empty. it's cold, but he doesn't care, curling in on himself as he leans his head in his hands. this... isn't working. he has no plan, no idea where to look for Peter, no clues to follow. nothing. it's like he's disappeared into thin air and all he can do is walk around the city until his legs give out under him, until the curfew once again forces him back inside — back to the dorms, to his room, in the faint hope that maybe, maybe this time it won't be empty.

breathe, he reminds himself. it'll be fine. it's fine. it's — ]

Fine. It's fine. I'm fine, [ he whispers out loud, his voice brittle, barely there.

(spoilers: he's not.) ]

iii. wildcard!!

[ feel free to wildcard me with whatever strikes your fancy!! or poke me over at celen for a closed starter! all closed starters will be their own comments, just bear with me as i write them up...

also, the explanation (and plotting post) for "how not to deal with being infected: a guide by peter parker" is here in case none of this is making any sense! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ yes, the message he sends Anakin this time is roughly similar to the one he sent before, asking for assistance with the bunnies — but it also could not be more different. all text, an I need your help, followed by I can't that cuts off there, like the thought-typing wasn't quite working for him, like he couldn't cut himself off quickly enough for his desperation not to bleed over.

when Anakin arrives at the precinct, Stiles is waiting for him outside, his skin even paler than usual, looking roughly like he hasn't slept in days. ]

... sorry. I wouldn't have asked you, I mean, you've got a lot of stuff to worry about [ Padmé, is who he means, but it isn't like he can say it out loud ] but I... it's important.

Edited 2017-03-18 22:20 (UTC)

[ he looks sick is the first thought through his mind. were he, that would not have changed anakin's response: to jump on the motorcycle and race his way here. he runs up the steps toward stiles, slowing only when he gets close. ]

No, [ he dismisses stiles' concern entirely. a shake of his head reinforces the point.

anakin claps a hand on the other's shoulder, the gloved prostheses supplying a very human, very gentle squeeze. his mind runs a mile a minute thinking of what might have occurred. this won't a bunny situation. he can see it in stiles' face. so he speaks calmly, evenly, almost as if he were trying to use a mind trick again. ]

Tell me what happened.

Edited 2017-04-03 12:22 (UTC)

[ he is. at this point, he knows it, too, but it's of little concern — nothing really matters aside from his current mission. not the sickness trying to eat his mind from the inside, not the fact that everyone is looking for Percy now, that they can very well have answers soon, that there might be a cure in their future. nothing but — ]

Peter, [ he responds, his shoulder tense under Anakin's hand. ]

He's infected. I didn't... I tried to sedate him but it didn't exactly go according to plan. He's missing, and I can't find him. We have to find him. [ a pause. he knows he's about to betray a confidence right now, but he has to. he has no choice. sometimes... you just don't have a choice at all. ]

I don't mean just because he's a danger to himself. He's a danger to others, too. A real danger. He's... not a normal human. And if he's out there, out of his mind, with powers like his — [ it's a disaster. a far worse disaster than the regular infected going around. you can at least run from some of them... from Peter, there's no running. ]

Stiles — [ anakin cuts across the nervous explanation. the hand on stiles' shoulder tightens: focus. his stomach hollows. aside from a tightening around his eyes, however, anakin's expression remains even. ]

We'll find him, [ anakin promises, and his tone makes one want to believe him. his is the cool professionalism of the jedi, that absolute certainty each jedi garbs themselves in. the difference is that where in the others it is true anakin's is a veneer he puts on and takes off as the occasion demands. so little remain of which he feels certain. ]

Tell me: did he have his comms with him? Do you know?

[ the touch is enough to narrow his focus, to shake him away from the spiral that his mind is falling into again, further and further inward until he has no perspective, nothing but the misery and paranoia and choking guilt.

he looks at Anakin and nods. ] We will. [ it sounds like we have to. ]

No. [ no as in he doesn't know, or no as in he didn't? the answer is evident as Stiles pulls out a pouch — its contents are not visible, but the meaning is clear enough, even without the explanation that follows. ] He left it behind.

Okay. [ it had been worth a try. but of course, it wouldn't be so easy. ] We'll do it the old-fashioned way.

Are there any places he might frequent? Somewhere or something he'd seek out?

[ spider-hunt, spider-hunt, gonna stop a spider-stunt. spun a web out of lies, time for pete to say goodbyes. hell yeah! ani gonna spider punt. ]

[ mortal kombat theme plays in the background

it passes through his mind, the thought to respond with if I knew, don't you think I'd have searched those places already, but it isn't fair — Anakin is here, because he asked, because he needs his help. that's all he's trying to do. he can't afford to let his frustration get the better of him. ]

I don't know. I've tried to think of everything I can, but — somewhere secluded. Somewhere he could try and contain himself in, like a room, a bunker, something. It'd have to be sturdy enough, too.

[ something sturdy. secluded. there's a few places that might meet those criteria. it at least gives him somewhere to start. ]

Does anyone else know?

That he's gone? A few people do. Not too many. Why?

[ he didn't... really think of it yet. sure, Sonia told him to ask the team for help... but to him, team so often means people you trust. and he trusts Anakin better than most. ]

It'll be easier to cross possible locations off by splitting up.

[ anakin continues to give orders: where he will start; recommendations for stiles. he slips into the commanding role as if it were always his. tension sits across his shoulders, but he continues to radiate a practiced calm. ]

Stay by a radio in case anything comes up. [ police, he means. they've been a lousy help thus far, but civilians do call in strange sights to them first. ]

I'll keep in touch.

( open + some closed prompts )

ANAKIN ➙ march 20

uses mind trick this tag is not late

this tag is not late.

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i cant stop laughing whenever i look at your tag i hope you're happy

this thread is truly quality

of course what else would it be

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