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.
Jude had the night off, thankfully, and even though he'd been given a call to work tonight - considering the plans that were being made - he turned it down. A first. Even his commanding officer sounded a little shocked. But he had plans tonight - well, he hoped. He hadn't actually said anything to her, but he had woken that morning, thinking about the fact that Halloween was officially cancelled, and he couldn't help but think about Kins. About the fact that she'd already missed out on so many things, and that this pandemic was a real bitch. So, like a complete dope, he'd gone out and collected a few different things. First, a few halloween-themed board games. Candy, bags and bags of it. The fixings to make butter beer and hot chocolate, because he wasn't sure which she'd enjoy more.
That night, a few hours before curfew, he'd gotten ready, packing everything into his vehicle. And then he'd jetted over to Kins' building, making his way up, arms full, and down her hall. Standing outside her door, he felt nervous, and a bit worried she wasn't going to answer. Still, he knocked, awkwardly dangling items from his one arm. If she answered, he'd flash her a warm smile and display the items. "If we're making alcoholic gifts a thing, I've got butter beer. Oh - and happy Halloween."
Kins had settled in for the night. She didn't have plans, and it wasn't like she could really go anywhere either. The city had announced that halloween was canceled essentially. And while she had heard about a bunch of people giving that news the middle finger, she was also not completely stupid. Large gathering of people getting drunk and in close quarters? No thank you. Her immune system was already making her cough at the thought of it. So she had switched into an oversized shirt that had two pumpkins placed over her chest, and knee high skeleton socks. Just because she couldn't leave the apartment didn't mean that she couldn't still be in the halloween spirit.
A knock at her door happened, startling her to the point that some popcorn fell out of the bowl that was in her lap. She paused the scary movie she had been watching and stared at the door, seeing a shadow move under the crack at the bottom. She stood up and peeked through the eyehole to see Jude. She unlocked her door and undid the chain that was recently installed before she looked out at him. "Jude?" though it was a question, she was smiling at him as she looked at all the things in his arms.
"If we're making alcoholic gifts a thing, I've got butter beer. Oh - and happy Halloween."
She stared at him for a moment before she quickly moved back so he could come in. Her mind was still scrambling... he had done all this for her? "Can't say I've ever had butter beer, but I am willing to give it a try." She grinned at him. The moment the bags and things were out of his arms, she'd step in for a quick hug. "Happy Halloween, Jude."
The smile was, as usual, more than worth it to him. He couldn’t stop his own smile from broadening at the sight of her. As she moved to let him in, he carefully entered her apartment, making sure not to hit anything with the bags in his arms.
"Can't say I've ever had butter beer, but I am willing to give it a try."
”I have a feeling you’ll like it. But I also got hot chocolate, just in case.” He said over his shoulder, moving into her kitchen to carefully place all of the items he’d brought on her counter. Turning back to her, that grin felt like he was bathing in sunlight. The hug was unexpected, but absolutely welcomed. Feeling as if warmth was seeping from her into him, Jude held her close but loose, so that she could easily step out of the circle of his arms. The corner of his mouth pulled up at her next words, not wanting to think about what made it so worth it just to hear her say that. He was in deep, wasn’t he?
He turned back to the bags, using them as an excuse to hide his face. ”I brought other stuff, too.” Turning slightly so she could see what he was doing, and he could look at her as he started pulling everything out. The stuff to make both butter beer and hot chocolate, along with tiny marshmallows, the various bags of candy - he’d made sure to get things all the way from sour gummies to pure chocolate just in case she had preferences - and finally the Halloween-themed board games. And finally, a few different movies. Hocus Pocus. The Genetic Opera. All of Tim Burton’s animated movies. Just a few. ”I wasn’t sure what kind of Halloween you wanted to have, so I brought options.” He explained, looking a little sheepish. He’d probably gone way overboard.
"I have a feeling you'll like it. But I also go hot chocolate, just in case."
As he moved into her kitchen, she shut and locked the door once more. Ever since the run in with her bad date, she was really cautious with opening her door. And had even added a chain to the door so that way if she did open the door, there was one more barrier to keep others from just waltzing into her apartment like Kyle did. She had a feeling she would get called soon to show up for that case. But so far, she was glad to know that the restraining order she put in place was being taken seriously and was actually granted. Not that it would stop the guy from showing up, but it was a deterrent for him. One additional one was the man who was unloading his arms on her counter.
Their hug was brief, but she was glad he returned it though his arms were light around her. "You won't break me Jude. I'm not glass. Just... a little more fragile than the doors you are used to busting down." She mumbled as they parted from their hug. She looked around him as he mentioned other things. And she was genuinely moved by his thoughts in that moment. The drinks, the candy (and wow the variety!), the movies and games. All the halloween themed stuff that she could want. All from a man who she was slowly finding herself falling in deep with after their emotional dinner that they shared at his place.
"I love this," Kins reassured him as he looked at her, unsure of what her reaction would be. She reached out and snagged the first movie her hand landed on and then gestured to the butter beer. "Make me a drink, and I'll get a movie going. I've already got the popcorn over by the couch." She smiled at him. She paused for a moment, her eyes flickering over his face and lingering on him for longer than she should have. A thought running through her mind but knowing it was probably best to not cross that line just yet before she turned towards her living room.
"You won't break me Jude. I'm not glass. Just... a little more fragile than the doors you are used to busting down."
He smiled at her comment, shrugging his shoulders. Jude wasn’t rude enough to tell her to her face that he thought she was fragile - it wasn’t even that he necessarily felt she was. He just knew he didn’t want to hurt her, or make her feel uncomfortable. But that sounded a bit too intense. Jude hadn’t had to be gentle with anything for a long time. He wasn’t sure if he was making the right moves, saying the right things. What if he pushed her away by doing or saying the wrong thing? No, easier to proceed with caution. ”I’ll try to keep that in mind.” It wasn’t so much a promise to stop treating her with care, but it was the best she was going to get out of him.
Thankfully, the treats he’d brought seemed to be the right thing to have done. Her initial response made his heart soar, a wave of satisfaction hitting him like a nine pound hammer to the head. He watched her pick a movie and then met her gaze, wondering what she could be thinking. He gave her a little nod, smile warm. ”Yes ma’am.” He responded, tone laced with playfulness, watching her go. He made quick work of combining and layering the butter beer so that the creamy mixture laid on top perfectly. He’d of course added in a bit of honey whiskey to the recipe, in order to make it the ideal adult beverage, but it was hardly but a hint of a taste combined with the butterscotch and cream soda. He had made two mugs of it, and he carried them carefully to the living room, flashing her a quick smile before he returned to the kitchen in order to retrieve the candy he’d brought. As he returned, he set the candy out on the table along with the popcorn, taking a seat on the same side of the couch he’d sat on before. ”So, what are we watching?” He asked.
Kins grinned at his 'ma'am' comment. Shaking her head as she made her way back towards her living room. She got up on a stool to get to her DVD player that was tucked away and started getting it set back up. She had unplugged it a long time ago and had honestly just tucked it away just in case she ever got into a movie mood and it wasn't streaming anywhere. Which meant she was super glad she had not thrown it out or given it away or else she wouldn't be able to indulge in part of what he had brought her. He was kind in his own way, and after their last little visit together, she knew that even though he was still dealing with a loss, he was starting to reach out in his own way once more.
She had just finished plugging the wires in and getting the TV on when he came into the living room. Just in time too, as she realized that she had not expected company. She might have not had shorts on under her makeshift tee shirt dress that she was currently wearing. So with her hands over her head, she might just give the tall man a heart attack. Kins heard him ask his question and she smile back at him, walking over and plopping herself down next to him. Funny how quickly she had made herself comfortable around him. Trusted that he took the right precautions now. "The Nightmare Before Christmas." She said with a grin, reaching forward and taking a sip of the butter beer as the opening credits began to roll.
Kins made a small 'mmmmm' noise as she took another drink of the beer before she leaned back on the couch. Careful to not kick anything over as she propped her socked feet up on the coffee table and settled herself in next to him. Allowing her arm to press gently against him. 'Date'. This was another date in a way, wasn't it? She started to sing the opening song under her breath as she took sips of the drink in between the pauses. "You really know how to sweep a girl off her feet," She told him jokingly. Peeking over at him from the corner of her eyes.
Was he staring at her legs a little bit? Yes. Was he ashamed of it? Only kind of. He had surprised her, so he couldn’t act like she was doing it on purpose, but he still wanted to reach out and touch her. And all at the same time he was terrified to touch her, because not only did he feel too rough, he also felt too dirty. If he got her sick, he’d never forgive himself. He couldn’t even think about if he somehow passed her the virus. He’d been practically bathing in hand sanitizer just before arriving. How quickly someone could influence your choices, your life. He hadn’t given one ounce of care towards the pandemic before he met Kins.
Smiling at the choice of movie, he was intensely aware of her position on the couch beside him. The contact with her arm was like a little lifeline, a comfort that was as much a reward as her smiles were. He didn’t feel the need to fill the air with words, listening to her simply enjoying herself. At her words, his head turned in her direction, a soft curve to the corners of his mouth as he looked at her. ”I figured you’d be home tonight. It was the least I could do.” He assured her, his voice low, as if this were a private, intimate conversation. Jude wasn’t embarrassed to admit that he’d been thinking of her. She’d been all he’d thought about since their previous date.
Jude wanted to give her everything she’d missed out on during her time in the hospital. He wanted to give her her childhood back, but this was the best he could do. A piece of it. It wasn’t the exact same as what she might have done, but even without her own health issues, most traditional Halloween activities were cancelled. He’d done what he could with what was available to him, but he wanted to do so much more.
The light contact was enough to keep her full aware of him. In a way, it was like before she was sick. Such a long time ago, she barely remembered what it had been like to interact and touch others without having to worry about what happened next. Sickness was always going to be around. There would never be a world where one didn't get sick. Kins knew it, she had been sick since beating her cancer. Several times she had been sick. With half of those ending in hospital stays, but she pulled through. She just needed a little extra TLC during those times. And the hospital had been the best place for her. But he was making her feel... normal. Which might have sounded like a bad thing, but it wasn't. She hadn't ever felt this way since being sick. He had no idea what it meant to her. Normal and not sickly and falling.
"I figured you’d be home tonight. It was the least I could do."
Her face turned towards him in that moment. No sign of teasing or joking on her face in that moment. Listening to the movie continue playing as she stared at him. "Why?" She asked quietly, her voice just loud enough for him to hear her. "You didn't have to do any of this..." She wasn't being ungrateful, but part of her wondered why her? Out of everyone he could spend his time on, why was he spending it with a girl who could barely go outside of her house because she was forced to self quarantine basically.
He’d been focusing on the movie, mostly as a way to distract himself from her. But as her small, soft voice sounded, his gaze moved over to her, tilting his head in her direction. Jude felt his chest tighten, his brain scrambling for an answer for her. One that made sense. His gaze flicked down to his hands, turning his head away as he inhaled deeply. ”It’s been a little over two years since I lost my family.” He cleared his throat, as if the words were irritating it. ”I wouldn’t really say I was suicidal. I didn’t actively seek it out, but I didn’t care if I died. I didn’t care about anything.” His brows pulled together, his dark gaze glancing back over at her. He was serious, his tone solemn. She really wanted to know what was drawing him to her, so he was going to tell her.
”And then I met you. And you made me feel...like a total asshole.” A small twitch to his mouth, a faint curve at the corners. ”I felt like I was throwing away something that you had clearly fought very hard to get.” That smile slowly took over his face, his gaze locked on hers. ”It’s also a little bit selfish. I kind of just really like it when you smile.”
Kins stared up at him, her eyes only briefly flittering away when he mentioned that he didn't care about anything. And she could put together what he meant. He was reckless, he didn't care about anything that could have happened to him. She understood that in a way. She had prayed at one point, during her lowest of low times where the pain was horrific that she would just die. But she looked at him now, trying to imagine him not walking around the earth with her. It would have been a shame.
"And then I met you. And you made me feel...like a total asshole."
Her cheeks flared with color as she stared at him. She almost apologized to him. She had not made his job easy that day. She had given him a hard time until she realized that she didn't have her ID. And then he offered to take her home because of the rain, she didn't listen to him to stay in the cruiser while he helped a trapped girl in a car. Then their first time seeing each other after, he was to the rescue. She felt something swelling in her chest as he went on to explain what he meant by his 'total asshole' comment. Her eyes wide as she stared at him. Before she knew what she was doing, she heard his smile comment, and then she moved. She leaned forward to place down her mug of butterbeer and twisted towards him as she leaned back.
Her hand reaching out to grab the front of his shirt and pulled him to meet her half way. Her lips crushing against his for just a moment before she quickly sat back against the couch. Her arms crossing over her chest and her cheeks bright red from the small action. But she was overwhelmed with emotions from what he said. "I like when you make me smile." She told him lightly.
As Jude explained, his gaze was watching her, to see how she’d respond. He was extremely nervous about her response, and he knew why. Because he liked her. Wanted to spend more time with her. And it could all be lost so easily, something he now knew very well. He was hoping for another smile - instead he had about a second to prepare for a kiss when she turned to him and pulled him by his shirt to meet her. The kiss was brief, fast, and yet he felt his head swim as he felt her lips on his. He didn’t get the chance to reach out for her before she was sitting back, Jude blinking as if he might’ve just dreamed that.
"I like when you make me smile."
His chest was tight, and there was a feeling building in him. He made a noise in his throat, some non-committal sound, as he reached out and gently turned her face towards him. Leaning in, feeling selfish and hungry all at once, Jude kissed her again. This wasn’t a quick kiss - no, he leaned into her, kissing her with a passion that surprised even him. A million different emotions were roaring his mind, some good and some bad. All at the same time, he was tender with her, his touch feather-light on her cheek and his mouth - despite the intensity burning behind the kiss - was steady. No urgency - no, he was savoring her taste as if he were enjoying a delicacy.
Kins sat back on the couch, her face towards the television as she let herself sit there. Red faced, unsure of what she had just done. Considering they had been on dates now, and clearly the two had some sort of connection, she figured that the kiss wasn't completely out of place. Though she had sprung it on him. Acting quick and not really giving him the chance to react before she had pulled away. She hadn't kissed someone in a long, long time. It was something that she was cautious of normally. And yet she just planted one on him like it wasn't a big deal.
His hand on her face made her grip on herself tighten a bit, though she turned her head towards him. The blush completely taking over her face as she looked up at him. She was prepared to apologize, that she should have waited or asked or something. But then his lips were back on hers. She instantly released her hold on herself and tangled her hands into his hair, holding him close to her as she kissed him back. His kiss was completely intoxicating and he was so gentle. She was shaking by the time she pulled back to gasp for air. Shaking because she was overwhelmed with the passion that was just shared between them. She wanted more. She craved it.
Kins went back to him, kissing him again as she shifted in her seat trying to situate herself on the couch so she could get closer. But she got impatient and wound up taking a seat in his lap. She just wanted to be close to him.
As their lips met again, Jude had the momentary worry that she hadn’t actually meant the kiss. That he was reading her wrong. But it was too late to back off, and he was glad he didn’t - as she kissed him back, her hands in his hair, Jude felt fire burning in his chest. He kissed her like he wanted to consume her, his mind throwing rational thought out the door. The little voice whispering in the back of his thoughts - the guilt, the pain - were for once, quiet. He could have kissed her forever, but as she pulled back for air, Jude didn’t try to stop her. He would go at whatever pace she wanted to go at, and he thought that was that for a moment. He stared at her, eyes darkened with desire, trying to stop himself from reaching out and pulling her to him again.
He was a little surprised when she came back to him on her own, but he wasn’t about to protest if she wanted to kiss him again. Jude was not expecting her to plant herself in his lap, but he didn’t dislike it in the slightest. One of his hands came up to cup her face, his thumb brushing her cheek and his fingers extending into her hair, pulling her in close. If they were worried about germs, it was a little too late for that. His other hand found her hip, resting there gently. There was a sensation running through his body, making him feel electrified.
Kins was not sure where this boost of confidence came from. This case of recklessness. No matter the habits that Jude had put into place, this was a risk. But she was already in too deep. She was already pulling him closer to her, her lips moving against his as she shifted to straddle his lap. His hand on her waist and face were gentle and it shattered her heart in a way. He was so gentle, so soft with her. She pressed her chest to his and nipped his bottom lip as she pulled back, her breath ragged for a moment as she looked at him.
She wasn’t sure what to say. She glanced back to his lips and thought about going back in for another kiss. She hadn’t kissed someone in such a long time that she was shaking and only praying that she wasn’t making a fool of herself. “I, ah. “ She breathed out and then glanced around them for a moment. Should she take her shot here? He made her feel alive and in that moment, she didn’t want to stop. “I never gave you a tour of my place. Not fully.” She offered, her eyes glancing back to his lips again, though she followed them. Pressing her lips back to his again.
Jude was going to lose his mind if she continued to kiss him the way she was - already his skin was feeling two sizes too small for him, his mind a confusing muddle of various emotions, the strongest of all being the absolute attraction he felt towards the woman in his lap. Feeling her teeth graze his lip as she pulled away, Jude leaned in, ready to follow her. Unwilling to let her part, but he pulled himself back, chest heaving with each breath he took. He stared back at her, taking in the sight of her with that same hunger in her eyes that he felt roaring in the back of his mind.
“I never gave you a tour of my place. Not fully.”
White hot electricity shot through his body at her words, his lips parting to respond, grip tightening on her like he was ready to pick her up and whisk her away. But then her lips were on his again, and he got lost in the kiss for a moment before his other hand came up to cup the other side of her face. He pulled away from her slightly, lips still brushing hers. ”I would love a full tour.” He murmured against her mouth, pulling away further as his thumbs gently caressed her cheeks. ”But we don’t have to, Kins. I didn’t come over here expecting this from you. I’m happy just like this.” He wouldn’t push her to do anything that would make her uneasy. If this was going to go any further, he wanted to know that she was actually okay with it. His dark gaze held hers, moving imperceptibly as if he were searching her face for any sense of hesitation.
