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.
Mackenna had caught word of the secret Halloween party, and immediately decided to go. Sure, she was trying to be smarter, but this was too much fun to pass up on after all the months of acting like terrified mice. She'd thought about who to bring along, and her mind had immediately jumped back to the guy she'd met only a week prior. So she'd texted him, inviting him to meet her there, and gave him a time to meet her. Mackenna had half expected him not to show, but she'd still gotten ready that night, excited. Her outfit was one half of a pair with Raphael, though she supposed if he didn't end up showing, she wouldn't look too terrible on her own. She'd foregone the wig and heels, choosing a pair of combat boots and instead just curling and piling her head in a messy up-do, leaving part of it down. Her makeup was done, and then added onto with fake blood and a "gash" in her cheek.
Imagine her glee when she arrived outside of the designated spot and found Raphael right where she'd expected. "Now who's the rebel?" Mackenna greeted happily, walking up to him before gesturing to his outfit. "The zombie prom king looks good on you. What about me?" She tapped the tiara, splattered with more fake blood, on her head.
[attr="class","CONTENT"] "TRICK OR TREAT!" Raphael yelled into his roommate's ear while he was getting ready for the party. Halloween was one of the things he liked outside of being an idiot nerd. It was the perfect time to cause trouble and have an excuse to get away with it. And it was time for zombies. The brunette looked into the mirror, his suit, or rather costume color-matching Makenna's. He slipped over the sash reading 'prom king' and put on a golden crown which may or may not have been too big for his head but there was no time to fix that.
Rushing out of the apartment he made his way to the party location. He never expected a girl to text him and ask him if he wanted to go to a party with her... because frankly speaking, Raphael wasn't the type to go to parties at all. And the prom outfit? He had either skipped proms to play games with his friends or just stood there because he never got any dates and didn't know what to do.
He waited in front of the entrance, hands tucked away in his slacks. There was no going back now. This was illegal... he knew that. He could find himself in deep, deep trouble tonight but it's not like he gave any freaks when he broke into the military base or the quarantine zone. Was there any difference? Probably not.
Raphael jerked at Mack's arrival, startled when he saw her. He was so distracted by a group of faeries walking by. "Oh my god. You scared me." He returned the smile, nodding in agreement but then he tilted his head to the side. "You look boo-tiful. But you could need a little bit more blood." he told her, gesturing at his suit which was splattered with an absurd amount of fake blood. Did he accidentally drop the bottle while trying to only put on a little? Mhm.
Mack was immediately grinning in amusement as Raphael, startled, turned and started talking. Her expression softened as he made the boo pun, her gaze bouncing from blood splatter to blood splatter as he commented on her lack of blood. ”I might have been a little too conservative with the blood.” She said graciously, nodding her head. ”But I think you’ve got enough for both of us.” There was a slow smile that accompanied that playful comment. Mack had been wondering if he was simply this entertaining all the time during their last meeting, and now she had her answer, it seemed.
”I hope I just took you by surprise. There’s a haunted house before the party. Probably pretty spooky.” She cautioned, widening her eyes as if she was telling trade secrets. Gesturing towards the entrance to the warehouse, she smiled pleasantly. ”I think kings go first, right?” As if she were doing him a favor, she stepped over to the door and pulled it open. It was like a dark, yawning mouth - open and ready to devour unsuspecting newcomers. Well, at least that was the spooky vibe of the open doorway. Mack raised a challenging brow. ”After you.”
[attr="class","CONTENT"] 'But I think you’ve got enough for both of us.'
Looking down at his outfit and back at hers he nodded, lips pursed outward. "You're right!" he said and waved his index finger at the air in a true motion. Phew. At least she didn't question the reason behind this much fake blood on his clothes. But maybe she could already guess it.
'I think kings go first, right?'
Raphael responded to her challenge with an anxious chuckle, shoulders bopping lightly. "Yeahhhh. Aren't we living in 2020 though? Like... equality and stuff you know." he tried, looking back and forth between her and the entrance to the haunted house. He grimaced as his eyes met the darkness of the hallway. He could swear he could already see someone waiting on the left side ready to jump out at him to scare them.
He took a deep, deep breath, chest rising up and down as he slowly - very slowly - stepped inside the building. Without anything having even happened he screamed and turned to the side, arms flailing in front of him, crown having dropped down covering his eyes. It took him a moment to realize it was only the sound of the door closing and he moved his crown up onto his hair again, turning his head around to look for Mack. "Oops. I mean... that was a little scary. It could have been a bomb."
Mack was already enjoying her night - and more certain that she’d made the right choice when she texted him to join her for the party. Raphael wasn’t the usual type of person she hung around with, and maybe that was why his particular brand of comedy was so refreshing to her.
She let out a little laugh at his hesitation, shaking her head. "I believe in you, Raph." She encouraged, giving him an expectant look before nodding towards the entrance. She could have relented and went first, but she thought that it might be a little more entertaining to observe from behind.
She stepped inside after him, only to jump slightly as he let out a scream. She watched the chaotic unfolding of events that followed his initial fright, shaking her head faintly in amused wonder. Mack stared at him, a smirk forming on her face and her brows pulling together in amusement. She made an 'ahhh' face at his words, nodding her head. "Totally right. Best to stay on your toes." She said, her tone thick with teasing sarcasm. And then she gestured towards the short entry hallway before them, leading into yet another room. Which was probably where the actually scary stuff started. "You still...good to take lead?" She asked, smiling broadly.
[attr="class","CONTENT"] 'You still...good to take lead?'
Raphael swallowed hard, balling his hands into fists before he rubbed them at his pants, sweat forming the more nervous he became. But he would need to at least try to be a man. He was a full-grown adult - almost. He shouldn't be scared of anything. That's what he told himself. He repeated his own thoughts inside his head, nodding along as he geared up to ace this haunted house entryway. No ghost or zombie would be able to stop him.
Once he gathered up the confidence and strength to continue through he looked at Mack. "Yes. Yes, I will take the lead. I may just be donkey but I'll be donkey the white knight." he told her, adjusting his sash and pressing his lips together. "I'm the white knight donkey." And with that, he turned around and ran for his life.
Of course, he realized he forgot something important: Makenna. He stopped dead in his tracks, rushed back, uttered a quick "Sorry!", gently grabbed her wrist, and went for a run again.
Makenna stood by and watched as he hyped himself up, a bemused grin glowing on her face, but her overall expression encouraging. When he looked up at her and made a comment about donkey, she couldn’t help but remember their first meeting. Her grin softened, a soft laugh escaping her. She was just about to encourage him when he declared himself donkey and then took off. She stared after him, brows raised, and then started laughing as he turned back for her. She let him grab her wrist, running with her free hand making sure the tiara didn’t fall off her head.
She did tug slightly so that her hand slipped into his, and then she gripped his hand back. She didn’t slow down as they entered, but she did scream in shock as a figure dressed up as an old hag leapt out from the side of the doorway. Okay, so maybe she wasn’t great with jumpscares either. She only gripped Raphael’s hand tighter, nearly stepping on his heels. ”Don’t stop!” She urged, feeling fingertips brush her back, letting out another yelp.
[attr="class","CONTENT"] Raphael was basically screaming and yelling inside his mind like a little child. He tried not to show his excitement or perhaps it was more panic than anything else. The moment she let her hand fall into his he tripped slightly but quickly got back on track. He bit his lower lip as they ran, trying very hard not to glance back. His cheeks were hot and his whole head was probably the brightest shade of red that existed on this planet.
He jumped, letting out some weird mix of a yell and a shriek. Maybe a little too high pitched for an adult man. Trying his best not to bump into anyone or anything he shoved away a bunch of plastic curtains, the kind one would find in abandoned places or scary movies and kept running. The haunted house part wasn’t as long as he thought it would but fear just stretched out all the hallways and made them appear longer than they actually were.
One more door and they emerged from the darkness into a sea of neon and bright lights. Raphael held out his free hand, covering his eyes a little until they adjusted. He was completely out of breath, chest rising and dropping fast, his heart feeling as if it was about to jump out of his body. He wasn’t sure if it was the running, or the adrenaline that rushed through him because Mack was holding his hand.
A girl dressed as Alice in Wonderland passed by, holding a tray with a random assortment of drinks, and he immediately grabbed two of those and offering one to Mack. “Cheers! I'm glad we made it and are still alive.” he said and took a sip, grimacing at the strong alcoholic taste of the black beverage. "Oh boy, I hope I won't shrink."
For the most part, as Raphael towed her through the haunted house, Mack was just alternating between laughing and screaming, so much so that she felt like she couldn’t breathe as they finally escaped the dark halls and entered the actual party section of the warehouse. Lights. Bodies. Music that she could feel in her chest. This was all very familiar, and comfortable, to Mack. She was used to attending parties like this.
The smile on her face was large and bright as she gladly accepted the drink from him, taking a long, deep gulp of it. The drink was strong, but nothing more than what she was, also, used to. Making a face, she returned her focus to Raphael. ”The relief is palpable.” She agreed, laughing lightly. Hearing his commentary, she couldn’t help but think how sharp-witted he was. Always had some sort of quip about everything. ”It’s more likely that it’ll make you think you’re bigger than you really are. Nothing like a good old fashioned confidence boost in the form of a pretty Halloween cocktail.” She replied, shrugging her shoulders. Mack downed the rest of the drink and set the empty glass on the next try that came by before giving Raphael a mischievous look.
”So, are we dancing first? Or do you want to check out what all they’ve got here?” She asked, raising an inquisitive brow at him.
[attr="class","CONTENT"] Raphael was more than just a little overwhelmed by everything really. He nodded at her as he sipped at his drink. When she emptied her glass in one go he did the same. And regretted doing so. Raphael grimaced at the strong aftertaste, sticking out his tongue slightly and grabbing another drink from one of the waitresses passing by. He gulped that down too. It tasted a little better, sweeter, but also kinda funny.
‘So, are we dancing first? Or do you want to check out what all they’ve got here?’
At Mack’s question, he let out a nervous chortle, adjusting his crown a little. “Uh. I… didn’t think we would actually make it that far. Umm… dancing. Dancing sounds good?” he replied, blinking slowly at her, one side of his lips arching into an innocent smirk. There was a light feeling of panic rising inside him as he turned around to walk towards the dance floor. Raphael didn’t know how to dance dance. All he was capable of was wiggle his body and jumping around like a fool. Worked well to have fun, never landed him a girl though.
Once they reached some free space in the middle of it all Raphael felt more awkward now. Someone bumped into him, forcing him to lurch forward slightly and grabbing Mack’s shoulders just to keep him from falling down. “Whoaa. Sorry sorry. I-” he said, removing himself just as quickly. “So… this dancing thing. How do you do that?” he asked her, bopping his head off-beat to the music.
Mackenna did her best to contain her laughter, though the emotion glittered in her gaze as she watched him. She was a little surprised he actually went straight for dancing, but still impressed. ”Dancing it is.” She replied with a dip of her chin, leading the way out into the sea of dancing bodies. As she found a decently good area for them to dance, she spun on her heel to face him, smiling broadly.
As he was bumped into her, her hands came up automatically, glancing off his elbows in an effort to support him as a laugh bubbled up from her chest, shaking her head as a way to clear off his apologies. ”It’s okay!” She shouted over the music, catching bits and pieces of his following question. She shrugged her shoulders, reaching out and grabbing his hands. ”Honestly? I just move to the music. We don’t have to choreograph anything.” She told him, leaning in slightly so she didn’t have to continue shouting. As she did, she started bouncing on her heels, swaying her body to the beat of the music. Dropping one hand she raised his other so she could spin herself, jerking her chin to clear her hair from her face, grinning. Sidling up to him again, she leaned in to talk into his ear. ”Just have fun.” Before she darted away, twirling and bouncing and swaying as if the music was just an extension of her. Mack had always enjoyed dancing the most when it came to parties.
[attr="class","CONTENT"] Awkward. That was how Raphael felt and probably looked. He was awkward on a daily basis but today was different because he was being awkward with a girl on a date. If… he could call it a date. Heck, he wasn’t even sure if it was one, to begin with. Maybe it wasn’t. Maybe it was. He could feel his cheeks flaring up thinking about it and by the time she grabbed his hand to spin herself around, inching closer and moving away again, his head was probably as red as a cherry.
Moving to the music sounded easier than it was. Raphael was standing on the dancefloor, stiff as a piece of wood. He would have very much appreciated an actual choreography to avoid the klutzy movements he was about to do. His feet struggled to find a beat, a rhythm, anything related to the music that was playing. “Okay. Okay.” he mumbled, nodding, or rather bobbing his head again. It took a few moments until he finally managed to at least bop his head to the song - for now. Raphael was sure he would lose the beat again once the song changed. He had three minutes left. “I think I got it.” he shouted, grinning like a fool, hands stretched out above his head towards the ceiling. He was bending his knees slightly, bouncing up and down a bit. Still awkward… but better. “Is this how you do it?” he asked, yelling over the music at Mack. “It’s… fun! I guess.”
Watching Raphael try to figure out how to have fun had to be one of the most heartbreaking and hilarious things Makenna had ever been a witness to. Of course, she didn’t laugh at him or mock him - no, Mack wasn’t that rude - but she did giggle a little and try to offer him encouraging looks as he bounced around off-tempo for a few moments.
“I think I got it.”
Mack clapped her hands, still doing just about the same as he was - jumping around and swaying her body, albeit a little more graceful - as he seemed to finally relax and get into the music. She wasn’t embarrassed in the slightest to be dancing with him, even though a few people seemed to glance their way. No one else mattered to Mack right now as she focused on Raphael, absolutely invested in this maybe-a-date-maybe-not thing. ”That is absolutely how you do it, Raph!” She replied, having to yell over the music. Letting out a shout of sheer happiness, Mack followed suit and raised her own arms over her head, spinning around as she moved to and fro, laughter etched into her expression.
Giving him a playful, searching look, Mack raised a brow. ”And you had me thinking you didn’t know how to dance!” She wanted to reach out and touch him, but with the pandemic and how skittish he could be, she didn’t want to scare him off. Of course, Mack had to dance relatively close to him with the bodies pressing in around them, but she was trying to do that thing where you respected someone’s personal space boundaries.
