OUTBREAK: ZERO is a semi post-apocalyptic pandemic roleplay set in the fictional city of Lethford, USA. Current season: Winter, 20/21.
March 2020. The world is in pandemonium as one month ago, GHNv-20 was confirmed, five months after the beginning of norovirus season. The number of the infected are in the higher hundred thousands, and the death toll is at an estimated 250,000, with about seventy percent of the rest of the population experiencing mild to moderate illnesses connected to the S. pyogenes bacteria.
The fear of the unknown has caused mass hysteria and panic.
In an attempt to provide a semblance of safety and control, military personnel patrol the streets, even here in Lethford City, and the police force is trying to keep up with the rising street violence, assault, and theft.
Welcome to OUTBREAK: zero. Will you survive?
HAYANA
SITE OWNER + HEAD ADMINISTRATOR
Hi! I'm Haya. I'm pretty much your girl for everything! If you have any questions regarding our plot, membergroups, etc. don't hesitate to ask me. I'm also in charge of coding, graphics, anything skin related, and advertising/affiliates.
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ADDI
ADMINISTRATOR
Hey! I'm Addi. Hit me up if you need help with anything. I'm always for plotting so don't be shy. I like coffee, booze, and working out. I'm back from a long hiatus the dead so if you need anything, best ask the others until I get back into the groove of things!
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FINNLEY
GLOBAL MODERATOR
Hi hello! My name is Finnley, or Finn, call whichever and I'll be there for you (yes like the FRIENDS theme song). I am in charge of the claims and helping with miscellaneous things. Let me know if you have any questions!
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outbreak
/ˈaʊtbreɪk/ zero /ˈzɪərəʊ/
a sudden occurrence of something unwelcome, such as war or disease. number, no quantity or number; nought; the figure 0.
It had been almost two months now since the raids. Things were slowly getting back to the way they were. The repairs were almost complete at the hospital from when the attack happened. They had almost all the patients out of the hospital who had been hurt during the attacks, the ones that remained were infected. Some of them had already passed, some of them were still struggling to make it day by day. But they were trying. And that had to be enough for the time being.
Brynlee had been at work when the raid happened, she was acting as if she was a resident, checking patients in. It seemed that her real job was starting to get forgotten about the more time went on. She was starting to be treated like a nurse or doctor. Which technically she was a doctor, but she had not specialized in surgeries and things of that sort. Yet she was finding herself elbow deep, quite literally sometimes, in helping. Even after the raid, she had been saved by a cop, well not a real cop. A man who was military but under cover, and after he had saved her, she had to save him.
She had threatened the surgeon to get a room ready for him. She was not losing Kane. And even then, when the man dared to argue that he couldn't do the surgery, Brynlee had grabbed the front of his coat and dragged him down to her face and made it happen. She had bruises for a few weeks after the attacks, but now she was healed and one would never know looking at her that she had been a part of something so traumatic.
She wasn't sure where Kane went, they had made plans, and yet those fell through and now she was left looking for him when she'd see a police car pass. Or looking over the uniform that walked in the door, looking for her blondie. But it was never him. She was starting to think that he had been pulled by his real job, and was moved somewhere else. It left her disappointed but she was busy enough as it was. There was no point in trying to read into anything if the man wasn't around. So instead, she found herself working those long hours again.
And with those long hours, it meant a lot of coffee consumption and break room visits whenever she could. She stripped out of her mask and outer coats outside the door and enjoyed being able to take a deep breath without being bundled in her protective gear. The break room was regularly sterilized and cleaned, which meant it was safe to sit in and enjoy a break. Brynlee was ten hours deep into a shift, her long red hair was braided back from her face. Though a few strands had escaped during the day to frame her freckled face. She set to work on starting to brew a large pot of coffee. If no one else joined her, she would at least have a good pot to herself.
While she waited, she readied a mug for herself. Cleaning it once more for good measure, adding the desired creamer and sugar to it before the timer went off on the coffee maker. She poured herself a large mug and then found herself a seat at a table. Blowing lightly on the steaming liquid as she heard the door open. Her brown eyes lifting to see who had decided it was break time for them as well.
In the hospital’s recovery, there had been many pep talks that the Doctor had to give to nurses and fellow doctors- not even just the patients. Things like this didn’t leave the mind easily and because the city was in lock down, they really couldn’t get a therapist in to clear the surgeons and nurses. It was a disaster bond to happen. Despite Beau being a neuro specialist, he had been doing anything he could do to help and was pulling long hours at the hospital. It wasn’t like he had anything to go back home to- most of the days, the house sat empty with the exception of the maid who came to sweep the dust off.
Since he was a certified psychologist, it sometimes felt like he was juggling patients with the victims as well as the patients. It was a hell of a way to throw himself into his work but when he couldn’t think, he didn’t feel and since he left Prism he didn’t want to.
Nimble fingers flipped some of the papers of one of the patients of the attacks and he couldn’t help the purse of his brows. There really wasn’t anything they could do for her. It was her time and they had to just make her comfortable. Passing the knowledge to the nurse, he offered a covered smile before changing his path to the break room. Hours on his feet weren’t kind and despite how much he wanted to work, his eyes were starting to cross with the amount of paperwork that he had to stare into. With some coffee, he’d probably be able to make another couple of hours.
Gently, his fingers slid around the handle before moving into the room quickly. Stripping the coat off and the protective gear, he hung it in a separate spot from the other pair. Grabbing the mask off his face, he heaved a sigh at the first breath of fresh air since he had come in about twenty hours previous. A small cat nap in one of the on call rooms helped but he was getting tired- seeing so much death even tired out an experienced man like himself. He couldn’t imagine some of the younger Doctors.
Light dents lined his cheeks and nose from where the layers of mask sat and he pulled it over his head, hanging it with his jacket. It was time to change the mask anyways but first, coffee. Light strides towards the machine, he felt eyes on him and dark eyes shifted to meet the eyes of the young red head that sat at one of the tables. A light smile, the first to see light in a hot minute, pulled the edges of his lips as he opened the cabinet to reveal the brown mug.
“I’d say ‘Good morning’ but I honestly don’t remember what time it is anymore.” Offering a light chuckle, he hastily poured the first cup of coffee in a while. Putting some sugar and cream packets in it, he grabbed a stir stick and moved to a table across from the woman. Lowering himself into the seat, he set the cup down gently before once more his eyes went to the redhead that looked as worn out as he felt. Beau had a pride of being a put together looking person despite the hours he spent in the OR or on his feet. The greying hairs that laid at his temples were perfectly in place with hair products while his dark blue scrubs looked ideal.
“I’m Doctor Beau Atlas. Pleasure to spend my break with you.” Most times, Beau could remember names but with how many people he saw a day, it was impossible to not blur things together especially when exhaustion was a factor. Raising his mug lightly, lips cupped the edge as his eyes shifted slightly to the television at the newest news report that silently buzzed in the background and black captions ran across the bottom. With a sigh, Beau tucked his arm across his chest and he held the mug up.
Brynlee watched as he came through the door, an older man who was still handsome in his age. She wasn't sure if she could recall his name, but she was pretty sure she might have run across him a time or two while on rounds or when she was was moving into rooms to fix something that was giving the nurses or doctors issues. She studied him probably longer than she should have, but she knew that it had to be because she was exhausted. Her usual sharp brain was starting to stall out after being stretched thin and running on mainly caffeine. It was actually quite funny how all doctors seemed to live strictly on coffee and energy drinks and yet preach about the importance of water intake to all their patients.
"I’d say ‘Good morning’ but I honestly don’t remember what time it is anymore."
She snapped out of it, glad that his eyes shifted away from her to focus on the task at hand. Giving her a moment to recoup and take a swallow of her own magic caffeinated drink before responding. "I don't think I could honestly tell you what time it was if you asked. So I will offer a 'Good day' to you." Her usual bright smile was tired but she was still able to find a genuine one to give him. Her freckled face watch him take his seat a table away, but being mindful enough that he sat so they were facing each other. He had good manners, and was actually well put together despite all of the layers that they were required to wear now a days. Quite impressive overall she had to admit.
"I’m Doctor Beau Atlas. Pleasure to spend my break with you."
She nodded her head towards him. Reaching up and pushing back the lose red hair that had fallen out of place, hoping that she didn't seem too exhausted or sloppy sitting across from him. Not that it really should have mattered too much. Her work spoke for itself, that she was talented. She clearly was a tinkerer, even before she went to medical school and had to go through all the testing that she did. Long before that she was taking things apart at home and then trying to see if she could put them back together as fast as possible while still making the unit work or work even better afterwards. An annoyance to her brothers and father, especially when they came home to a television pulled apart and the game was due on in twenty minutes. Sometimes she was able to get it under control and back together. Sometimes... she had permanently broken the device. Better the TV than actual people.
"Doctor Brynlee Valentine. But please just call me Bryn. And believe me, the pleasure is all mine. It's nice to see a face outside of a mask and the other layers now a days." She told him, her brown eyes crinkling at the sides as a small laugh left her. Brynlee was naturally a flirt, naturally playful and friendly to the point she could be overwhelming at times. Perhaps Beau was in luck that she was in one of the more milder moods. Or maybe he would have have enjoyed her personality on full blast. Maybe the coffee would kick in and he would get the glimpse of her, the old her, that most people seemed to enjoy. "Are you newer around here? I feel like I haven't seen you around much. Well, before the masks and face shields were mandatory. I would have remembered a face like yours."
octor Brynlee Valentine. But please just call me Bryn.” Amber eyes were on her once more as he gazed at the young woman in front of him. Hair as red as he could remember seeing and the way her words hummed, he couldn’t help the edge of his lips pulling up into a slight smile. Valentine. What an interesting last name. There had been patients with last names but for a moment, he shuffled through his brain for why it seemed familiar. In a small piece of his mind, he could remember seeing her signature on some of the patients' clipboards. It was simple of him but he just assumed she was another doctor at the hospital.
“And believe me, the pleasure is all mine. It's nice to see a face outside of a mask and the other layers nowadays." A light yet tired chuckle escaped Beau as he once more pulled the cup up to his lips to sip the coffee as her light laugh echoed in his ears like bells. She was completely right. Most times, they didn’t really get chances to break especially since the riots- there were days that Beau didn’t eat until he got dinner at home or the hospital forced him to take a break.
It was a warmth that Beau hadn’t really experienced at the hospital often. In some ways, Ms.Valentine was a beacon of warmth and it somewhat defrosted him. Being a part of Prism then being new once again at the hospital, he was starting over. It was proving himself all over again and considering he was a Neurologist, he had a lot to prove even in the small number of months he had been at the hospital. It had been a long time since he had heard anyone laugh, really. There was small chatter with patients or sometimes nurses but all he would do is offer a polite smile and move on. In that room, the coffee warmed him up but the red head’s willingness to speak to him was also something that he really didn’t know he needed at that moment.
“Are you newer around here? I feel like I haven't seen you around much. Well, before the masks and face shields were mandatory. I would have remembered a face like yours."
Eyes flicked from his coffee up to her, shifting his form somewhat as he sat up from the somewhat relaxed position he had been sitting in. “I’ve been here for a few months but I’ve been in the OR most of those months, so we must have been passing ships.” The light compliment hadn’t gone unnoticed but the older man knew to not take a lot of compliments to heart. The Monroe men were handsome men- even with Beau being older than Joseph. Even with their father, there had been stories of the Monroe smile melting many women. In his youth, Beau had loved compliments but as he grew older, there were times he just took them politely.
“I’ve seen your signature around, so it’s nice to put a face to the name. If I may, what do you specialize in..?” Amber eyes looked at Brynlee and examined her face for a moment. It made him think back to his youth with Grace- the way her smiles would melt his heart and truly make him want to laugh. In some ways, that felt like it was miles away from the small break room. She had pushed him away and in some ways rightfully so. There was such a thing as being too ambitious. Most surgeons had to be ambitious and cunning to be able to learn and grow- and Beau had been no exception.
"I’ve been here for a few months but I’ve been in the OR most of those months, so we must have been passing ships."
She had been in there a few times. After the raids, she had found herself assisting along some surgeries that she shouldn't have been. Stuff that she had not done since medical school and yet, desperate times calls for desperate measures. She was better than nothing, she had steady hands and could think quick on her feet. "Guess I just haven't been lucky enough to be in the OR at the right time. In any case, welcome to Lethford General. Normally I have a bigger welcome bus ready, but we've been a bit busy." She teased lightly before she took a sip of her coffee. Letting the warm liquid warm her to the core and she leaned into the table a bit, her elbow down and hand propping up her chin as she stared over at him.
"I've assisted on a few surgeries, but it's been several weeks now. Ever since it's started to calm down from the raids. At the time, there wasn't that many options on who handed who tools." She told him. Of course, she was actually downplaying the exact role she had played in them. She hadn't been the surgeon but she definitely wasn't just one that stood in the corner taking notes. Though she also had been doing rounds like the other doctors as well, acting as residents to see who she could help diagnose and who she could discharge. Most of them remembered her if they came back. The red hair, freckles, and cheerful tone gave her away.
"I’ve seen your signature around, so it’s nice to put a face to the name. If I may, what do you specialize in..?"
She softened lightly, taking another drink of her coffee as she smiled at him. "If you mean what tasks I do when I clock in, who knows. Some days I'm a first year resident, other days an OR nurse, and the next day? Playing therapist for the two doctors who just can't seem to get along long enough to diagnose a patient who simply had a case of a twisted ankle." She laughed. It was not a false statement by any means. And she was sure that he would know that as well. Any doctor worth their salt was being used in more ways than their field now a days.
"But my degree will tell you that I am a biomedical engineer. So when you break something, let me know. Or if you have a patient who needs any prosthetics, I am your girl." She grinned, giving him a small wink before she down the rest of the coffee in her cup. It was only her first one, so she wasn't feeling too bad about emptying the cup as quickly as she did. With a quick push back, she stood and crossed the room back to the coffee machine, busying herself with the sugar and cream first before she grabbed for the pot. "What do you do in the OR?" She asked, peeking over her shoulder at him while she asked.
he light teases were welcome. Beau hadn't received a warm welcome for many reasons from the people of the hospital. One that he was an outsider that was the boss of a lot of people who were expecting to be the next attending at the hospital. Or for the fact that he really didn't warm up to people easily. In a lot of ways, he was elusive. He didn't typically take his break with others and most of his naps were in a single bed on-call room with the door locked. In many words, he kept to himself. He took care of his patients, talked to their family, and talked to the nurses but considering he wasn't young, many didn't bother talking to him more than what was needed. But, he also did not seek out conversation. "I've assisted on a few surgeries, but it's been several weeks now. Ever since it's started to calm down from the raids. At the time, there weren't that many options on who handed who tools."
Once more raising his cup, he sipped the warm liquid as he nodded his head some. The raids were a pretty rough time even for Beau. So many lives lost. Telling so many people that their mother, father, daughter, the son had passed away was mentally exhausting- especially since a lot of the residents didn't have their nerve just yet. Panic wasn't abnormal in an OR or dealing with someone coding but you were responsible for that person surviving or if they die- in a lot of ways, they were playing God. A lot of surgeons would go through a time where they believed themselves to be who chose who lived or died- Beau was guilty in his youth for sure. Even current residents he could see going through something similar.
"If you mean what tasks I do when I clock in, who knows. Some days I'm a first-year resident, other days an OR nurse, and the next day? Playing therapist for the two doctors who just can't seem to get along long enough to diagnose a patient who simply had a case of a twisted ankle."
The man's brows raised at her as his face remained somewhat amused as she spoke. To have someone as versatile as that was impressive but in some ways, could be a liability. But he wasn't the Chief and at the time, it was probably extremely helpful. He had his own hands tied many times that he had to have so many Residents take over his post-ops. A light chuckle escaped him at the mention of doctors fighting. "It seems to be a quite usual thing that happens in the hospital now- two doctors yelling rather than communicating to solve the problem." Beau really never had a problem with other doctors but he knew the situation well- a lot of times, he had to step into his therapist's shoes himself. "But my degree will tell you that I am a biomedical engineer. So when you break something, let me know. Or if you have a patient who needs any prosthetics, I am your girl."
With a light nod at her words, Beau listened for a moment as his mind wandered some. It happened when he was sleepy- he could hear her speaking and he knew what she was saying but for a moment, his eyes remained on the table she sat at as he listened. Some would call it disassociation but at that moment, he felt calm.
The chair moving across the floor brought his focus to the woman as she moved towards the coffee pot, Beau's dark eyes following her movements as he shifted his shoulder some. Bringing his coffee back up to his lips, his head turned some as he looked at the glass as nurses passed by. "What do you do in the OR?"
The question had his head turn back to the redhead, his eyes meeting hers as his lips pulled into a smile. "Neurosurgery. As of late, I've been performing more General surgeries but I am not one to complain." He mused lightly, flashing a more toothy smile over his shoulder before finishing his own coffee. The warmth was filling his stomach and he could almost feel his energy bar filling up as well. "From the sounds of it, the hospital is very lucky to have someone as versatile as yourself."
tag: @drbeau | OOC: paging dr beau (; do you need a hand?
"It seems to be a quite usual thing that happens in the hospital now- two doctors yelling rather than communicating to solve the problem."
A soft grunt of agreement left her, her eyes looking at the table below her face for a moment. Letting head hang there for a moment. "I just don't understand it. We don't have time for this now a days. We are all pulling doubles or triples. And I certainly don't have the time to listen to their ridiculousness. Yet somehow..." Her eyes flickered back up to him, lifting her face with a small sarcastic grin. "I am there to say 'now children, it is time for us to play nice.'" She turned on her best 'mother' voice, even wagging her finger in the air as she did so. Brynlee was not one. But she had a mother who had to parent five Valentine children, so she got to see and hear it plenty.
"Neurosurgery. As of late, I've been performing more general surgeries but I am not one to complain."
She caught the smile tossed her way, and her grin widened over her face. Freckled cheeks lifting high to crinkle the corner of her eyes easily. "Well, you are getting to keep your mind sharp and hands steady with practice at least?" She offered, at least there was a way that they could try and look at it in a positive light. She reached back and grabbed the pot off the warmer and made her way over to him. She would reach out and aim to pour the coffee into his mug as a refill, flashing him that smile of hers as she did so before retreating back to the counter top.
"From the sounds of it, the hospital is very lucky to have someone as versatile as yourself."
She shook her head with a small chuckle. "I guess so, they are just lucky I am good with my hands. And I hate standing still. Or else I would have parked my rear end a long time ago in a bed and rested until someone needed a machine fixed." She collected the sugar and creamer packets, several of each and after making her own coffee, she placed them on his table for him. As much as she could be 'every man for himself', she also had a kind heart when probably caffeinated. And she was just glad to not be sitting by herself in the break room. She slipped into her original seat, blowing the top of her fresh coffee to make sure she didn't burn her mouth.
She locked eyes onto the older gentleman for a moment, and when she went to open her mouth to ask him another question, a pager went off. She glanced at her own and realized that it wasn't hers, but it was Beau's. She raised a brow and gave him a knowing smile. "Duty calls?" She asked him, almost sad that their interaction may be cut short now.
