( open + some closed prompts )

[figureitout]

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! ]

Comments

[figureitout]

No, I —

[ he stops to breathe, like he can't quite draw enough air yet to finish a whole sentence without having to fill his lungs once more. ]

I need to keep going. I can't stop, I have to... I've got to find him.

[p66]

[ It takes her two seconds to realize who Stiles is probably talking about - Peter, the man he'd mentioned when they met in the sewers, and her frown deepens to a more thoughtful one. ]

It'll be easier once you've rested, Stiles. And - I'll help you. We can find more people to help. You won't have to do it alone.

[ Reika has to try to keep her own words slower and calm - because this is a situation she's not unfamiliar with, having someone you care about be gone.

The only salve here is that if what she suspects has happened indeed happened, there was still a possibility for a return. Back in her world, there was none. ]

maybe a wrap on yours?

[figureitout]

[ he knows she's right. he's no use to anyone (Peter, really, because Peter is all that matters, now) if he's about to fall over... yet to agree with her is still hard. ]

... right. [ slowly, so slowly, he nods. breathes in; out. ] Thanks. [ because she's done more, here, than simply offer to help him. she already did. ]

sounds good! thanks for the thread

[p66]

[ She holds out her hand, though it's up to him if he takes it. If he does, she'll give him a reassuring squeeze. ]

I don't want anyone to be lost here, either. We'll find him for sure.

[ Because once you lose someone, if you don't chase after them... they will never come back. This, she knows. ]