18. You want a revelation/Some kind of resolution/Tell me what you want me to say

[voluntaryapnea]

[Open Zero Spam]

[Stiles sits with his back to the wall in a cell in Zero, scowl etched onto his features. He can hear Jackson's heart beating from across the hall and he wishes he'd ripped it out of his chest so at least he'd have some peace and quiet while he's stuck down here. Being alone would be better than being stuck in the same vicinity as Jackson Whittemore.

He shuts his eyes and covers his ears with his hands, forcing himself to take slow, deep breaths. He doesn't know exactly how containment down here works, but he knows that short of someone letting him out, he's trapped for now.

It's fine. He'll deal. He always does. He's not thrilled about it, because there are things he could be doing if he wasn't locked in a freaking jail cell.

He opens his eyes again when he hears the distant echo of footsteps approaching -- but whether they're approaching his cell or Jackson's, or if someone else is being locked up -- that he's not sure about yet.

So he stares at the bars ahead, eyes dark and narrow. Waiting.]

[Public Voice Post]

[He's never done well with boredom. After several hours of sitting in relative silence, he picks up his comm. The boredom is as evident in his tone as the sarcastic taunting.]

I have to say that if this is the worst you people can do for punishment, I'm severely disappointed. No wonder our barge graduates more people than yours. You don't even have an ounce of creativity.

Comments

[shieldcatchesyou]

Having a nice time?

[voluntaryapnea]

The nicest.

private

[shieldcatchesyou]

So, what's the plan? Taunt them, and then...?

[Not a great plan, angry werewolf.]

[private video]

[lydiascreams]

[She's been looking all over for him. For a moment, she actually thought maybe he was gone. That somehow the Barges had collided again and her Stiles just isn't back yet.

In fact, she's in his room when she hears his voice. And at the word punishment, her stomach drops. She picks up her communicator and her frustration rises when she realizes there is not video.]

Stiles? Where are you?

[private video]

[voluntaryapnea]

[He reluctantly switches to video feed, and only because it's Lydia. Wordlessly, he turns the comm around so she can see where he is by the plain, dimly lit cell with the single bed, toilet and sink. When he turns it around so she can see his face, his expression is one of boredom.]

I'd say isolation, but unfortunately for me, I'm not here alone.

[private video]

[lydiascreams]

[Her face falls when she recognizes the cell. Zero, of course. She's not so much angry as-- heartbroken. Disappointed. Because she really thought she was getting though to him.]

Why?

spam;

[interns]

[ this is probably what some might call a Really Dumb Idea. but even Gwen Stacy's allowed to act on Really Dumb Ideas when it comes to her friends and her curiosity. it's a deadly combination for her ( let's not think about the literal implications there ), because she really honestly can't bring herself to go against it. so when she sees Stiles on the network, sounding very unStiles, she gets the idea to visit him down in zero and goes with it.

it doesn't take her long to find his cell, though she stands right in the middle of that hallway opposite the bars - not too close to his side, or the other. ]

Hi.

[ she holds out the plastic bottle of water she grabbed from the cafeteria, arm fully extended. yeah, she's really sticking to this whole... space thing. keeping her distance. ]

For you, if you want it.

[ like a bottle of water is a great peace offering, or a great way to get him to talk to her. right. sure. ]

spam;

[voluntaryapnea]

[As moods go, his has gotten increasingly worse since talking to Lydia briefly. He grinds his teeth together as he stares out the barred cell door at Gwen with narrowed eyes. He cocks his head a little, watching her for a moment as she holds out a bottle of water.

Once upon a time, Gwen had been a werewolf thanks to Scott. Scott had also killed her. He knows she isn't the same Gwen. Though they're both human now, she smells different than the one he knows.

He makes no move away from the wall where he's sitting.]

What do you want?

[interns]

Just to talk.

[ it's a little strange seeing Stiles like this, or- rather, seeing this version of Stiles right in front of her. he really does look the same, but that's not the shocking part - it's that even his identical features don't make up for the fact that he moves differently, even sounds different. this isn't just Stiles-In-A-Bad-Mood, it's someone else entirely. she's taking her time getting used to that. her hand moves to rest on her hip, the waterbottle still held in the other, now down at her side ]

I know you're not him, but Stiles and I are friends here. And I know you're not him, but I'm thinking - I'm hoping - that maybe if we just take a second to talk and figure each other out, things don't have to be different, with us. Just until we're all back where we belong.

[spam]

[theresalwayshope]

[When Allison sees the message from Stiles, it only takes her a couple of minutes to realize what's going on. She's heard about Level Zero, and she knows what her job is as a warden...

This is not the way to reach him. This is not the way to punish Stiles...this will only make things worse.

She wastes no time, doesn't even stop by her own quarters for anything. Within about fifteen minutes of his public post, she's striding down into Zero, testing the air with a breath to make a beeline for his cell. Jackson is also there...it only worries her more.]

Stiles? [Her voice and features are fraught with concern as she reaches him.] What happened?

[spam]

[voluntaryapnea]

[He's not even surprised when she shows up. He half expected her to when he got on the communicator to taunt the wardens. What surprises him is that she shows up before Lydia does. Apparently the strawberry blonde isn't anymore eager to see Jackson than she is to see him and that gives him a tiny bit of satisfaction, at least.

He rolls his head to look at her when she stops in front of his cell.]

Jackson came at me. I stopped him. Apparently Spider-Man took issue with my method.

[He smirks and looks back up at the ceiling, not realizing it's the first time he's actually given her a straight forward answer about anything ever that wasn't done for belittling reasons.]

[spam]

[theresalwayshope]

[Allison does notice, but she's too worried to comment...and keeping her silence is probably best anyway.

She stops at the door, wrapping her hands around the bars. She hates the way she feels down here...the wolf feels so far away with her power stripped, but she still feels the suffering of seeing a packmate caged.

She wants to go in and sit with him. She wants to make sure he's safe, unhurt. She wants to take care of him.]

Are you hurt? Can I do anything?...God, Stiles, you should have howled. I would have helped you! Promise me that next time you'll howl...please?

[voice ; private]

[crossingyouout]

I know, right? They're all a bunch of pushovers. It's pathetic.

[voice ; private]

[voluntaryapnea]

I'm seriously almost glad I'm down here and away from the general population. I can only handle being around idiots for so long.

[voice ; private]

[crossingyouout]

I'm glad you aren't trying to play pretend though. I can't believe any of us would bother. As of we've got something to hide.

[persecutioncomplex]

[it's not even a decision, the dorky version of Stiles is much better, so she's kind of okay with verbal abuse right now] You get more graduates because it's easier to be evil than good.

[voluntaryapnea]

It's also a lot more fun.

[Private Video]

[semifreakingnormal]

[Scott doesn't come to visit. The other Scott, he'd go immediately, he knows that. But Zero makes him human. Zero would makes him even weaker than he is now, and Scott - can't. He won't. He can't walk into that.

So he comms instead, flicking on the video from the safety of his room.]

Probably a good thing that they're such pussies, here.

[Private Video]

[voluntaryapnea]

[Stiles isn't surprised that Scott doesn't come down personally. And if he feels any hurt over it, it doesn't show when he answers the alpha's video message.]

It makes for a boring trip through space.

Private; Audio

[shattered_reflection]

The whole place is boring.

How bad is it down there anyway?

Private; Audio

[voluntaryapnea]

Yeah it is.

It's not as bad as it could be. I'd be better if I wasn't stuck down here with a guy I loathe, though.

[voice]

[punched_hitler]

It's not the worst.

It's just one of the standards.

[voice]

[voluntaryapnea]

Ooh. Now I'm curious.

What's the worst punishment you're allowed to dole out here?

[fridgetothefire]

Do you have a higher graduation rate? Cite your sources, Stilinski.

[voluntaryapnea]

I would, but alas, I don't have my citation sources in front of me at the moment. If you wait a week or so I'll be happy to.