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.
He tried ignore his fathers disappointment, he tried to ignore the fact that they hadn’t spoke since Thomas’s twin brother Charles had died three years ago. They were the only ones left, he and his father. He hadn’t expected family dinner nights or weekly phone calls, but he had expected his father to pick him over the bottle. He pushed the thought from his mind, not willing to dwell on it.
He couldn’t help but smile as she admitted he might be right. He had a feeling he was, she had lived a sheltered life and now she wanted out. She wanted to explore and to live. She seemed like the type that would dig into something until she was satisfied with the answer. She was dangerous in that sense. Her drive would lead her to things she didn’t want to know about the world. ”Photojournalism, so you want to be the one to capture the moments for the rest of us. Seems like a noble career choice.” He admitted, a little impressed that she wanted to get into the thick of it all. She wanted to be the one in the action, Thomas was fine living on the side lines.
”I like my chances.” He was glad to focus on her next move instead of the heat in his neck. Her well placed O blocked his possible win. He took the pen and examined the note pad as he questioned her about their situation. He had a feeling that she would get in a lot more trouble than he would, she was the mayors daughter. That came with weight, that coupled with the fact that she had skirted her guard to come here. He placed his X under her top left O. He offered the pen back to her, considering her.
”It sounded a little privileged.” He offered but smiled all the same. ”Who Aelin? Never met her, seems like a cool chick but I’ve never been locked in a supply closet with her.” He joked as if someone had asked him about their interaction today. He lifted three fingers on his right hand for good measure. ”Scouts honor.” Thomas went on, dropping his hand. ”Besides I don’t even know what a TMZ is. Is that some new form of Mutant Ninja Turtles I don’t know about?” He was half joking half serious, he had to assume it was some kind of news paper.
The apartment was minimalistic, clean lines and tidy to the point of obsessive. Everything had a place, everything had a home. It was a bachelor apartment, everything was in the same space except for the bathroom which was tucked out of the way. It held a glass shower, toilet, and vanity. He could have afforded something bigger, but he preferred the open concept. Being able to see everything and having clear sight lines. The large bank of windows along the one wall let in plenty of light. His bedroom separated by a glass wall.
The only plant in the apartment was a single aloe vera plant. It sat in a cement planter on the coffee table. It required minimal effort and upkeep. It was his only companion. His mother had kept so many house plants, their house growing up had smelt warm and earthy. He had tried to replicate it, but they kept dying. The long hours didn’t exactly allow for him to care for things.
He was settling into his nightly routine, grabbing an ice cube from the freezer he plopped it into Vera’s planter. The ice cube would slowly dissolve and water her over night. Then he grabbed a beer, looking in his fridge and remembering he needed to get groceries. Something he had forgotten yet again. Cooking for one was a hassle. He liked to keep the food he made simple and clean. His pocket buzzed, closing the fridge door he fished it out. Looking at the screen and the message there. He couldn’t help the sigh that escaped him. He wanted nothing more than to sit down and go over the research papers he had pulled from the library. But it looked like Brooke had different plans.
Thomas had just finished his beer when he heard the loud knock on the door. He opened it and was greeted by Brooke, she looked dishevelled, shoving the food at him and moving past him. She was already talking, not waiting for him to say yes or no. He looked from the food to her as she disappeared, ”shower?” He couldn’t help but ask as the door closed to the bathroom, moments later the shower was running. She had asked him for clothes, he stood there for a moment still holding all of the food.
Settling the food down on the small table he went to find her clothes. He spent too long trying to decide what to give her. He settled on a black t shirt and grey sweatpants. He grabbed a clean towel, standing outside of the bathroom door. Did he leave the clothes here? Then she would have to open the door. Would she be mad if he opened the door and put them inside? The shower was still running when he opened the door and shoved the bundle inside.
Thomas settled at the table, having grabbed two new beers from the fridge and setting them out. He felt out of place, he wasn’t used to having people in his space. It was odd to hear the shower running, it was odd for there to be life in the apartment. He glanced to Vera as if she would share his sentiment. The shower turned off and he flipped through one of the case studies from Europe as she got dressed.
He glanced up from his spot at the table as she spoke. She looked small in his clothes, they hung off her awkwardly. He was glad he had picked sweats with a waist band. He set down the highlighter he had been using for the case study and crinkled his noise. ”Do I even want to know what you were doing with a dead body?” He made a mental note to clean his bathroom. If they dealt with a dead body at work he made a point of showering at work before he came home.
”Biochemist, not a dead body wrangler.” He informed her, the lie felt heavy. How many people had died so far in Prism’s trials? How many people had he personally infected with the virus? How many people had died shortly after getting the vaccine? He didn’t want to think about it, didn’t want to think of his role in it. ”Picnic?” The question was out and in the same breath he remembered his promise to meet her. He cringed, ”that wasn’t today was it?” He couldn’t help but ask, clearly having lost track of time.
He paused, his brows bunching together in confusion. ”Did you get called into work? Where did you find the body? I was half hoping you were joking.”
”More of a lit fan, but I watch the history channel way too much.” He admitted, with a half smile on his lips. He had always been a bit of a nerd, enjoying the company of a book over people. He tried to say his job title as quickly as possible. Trying to pull as little attention to it as possible. He didn’t like to talk about his work, what he did. Most people found it boring, but the real reason was because he couldn’t really talk about his work.
He couldn’t help but shake his head with a little laugh, ”not that interesting trust me.” He pressed not willing to make it sound cool in anyway. ”I wouldn’t say were on the front lines. I’ll leave that title to the nurses, doctors, and the police. Were just squinting into microscopes.” He shrugged as he spoke, humble to the core and not willing to take anything. He wanted to talk about anything other than what he did for work. ”My father would disagree with you, he was a solider and so was my brother. It was set in stone that was what we were supposed to be and I didn’t fall in line.” There was a sad smile on his lips.
She wanted to know why he liked it. He paused, a look of consideration on his features as he processed her question. Why did he like it? It seemed like such a simple question, yet he had to figure out how to put it into words. ”I like it because its science, I know that’s a pretty broad reason but- its just the process of it I guess. The discovery of it, the unknown of it. Science follows rules, it has structure and it makes sense.” He shrugged, knowing how boring it all made him sound.
He couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped him as she made a face at him for calling her the princess of the city. Her discomfort to her position and her father seemed to be the same as him talking about his job. He pressed on changing the subject, trying to keep it light. He couldn’t help but tease her about the school she had gone too. He was already out of his league, she was the mayors daughter.
”Journalism? Really?” He couldn’t help but tilt his head to consider her for a moment. ”Going to take on the world with paper and a pencil?” He couldn’t help but ask, teasing but serious. ”You seem like someone who wouldn’t be able to leave well enough alone.” He offered with a smile, she seemed like the type who wouldn’t stop until she knew the truth. Until everyone knew the truth, that was a dangerous trait to have.
He hated the way his face hurt from smiling, he hated how at ease he felt locked in a supply closet. She had a way of putting people at ease, it would come in handy if she became a journalist. ”Not so secret now is it?” He spoke the words with a smile as she drew her circle in the top left corner. His eyes scanning the paper and planning his next move. He took the pen as she spoke, building off his tease. He couldn’t help the feeling of heat that creeped into his neck at her words. He was grateful for the low lighting and having the paper to focus on. He couldn’t respond for a moment he wasn’t sure what to make of her words. Was she serious? Or was she just teasing him? He knew he was putting way too much thought into the comment. ”Well, thanks for going easy on me.” He spoke the words as he drew an X in the top middle of the board. He had two in a row now. He offered the pen back to her.
”How much trouble will you get in for coming here?” He couldn’t help but ask, glad to have something else to focus on as the heat receded. ”I mean, if they find out.” He couldn’t imagine what her life was like. To have people watching your every move. ”Or am I not allowed to ask anything till I win?” He cocked a brow up at her as he questioned the rules of the game. A small smirk on his lips.
The man looked perfectly at ease with him drinking in the park. Like it wasn’t illegal to drink in public. He knew it was wrong, but there was so much other stuff going on in the world. The last thing the police had to worry about was him drinking on a park bench. It wasn’t like he was screaming at the people passing by, he was keeping to himself. He was just trying to forget the days events while not being in his apartment alone. He needed to be around people, to just remind him that he was apart of something bigger.
”Sal’s the kinda guy who toes the line. Gets you what you need, but you’ll pay for it.” Thomas couldn’t help but shrug as he spoke. Sal took cash, but he also took information. Thomas had always had the money required to get what he wanted, Sal had never asked him for more. Thinking that Thomas was just some boring squint.
Offering the other man a beer only felt right. They both worked for Prism, he didn’t know where the other man worked but he was another cog in the machine. Thomas saw no reason to turn the man away. The man didn’t hesitate in taking a beer from the bag, Thomas’s eyes had drifted back to the people who walked. Not a lot of them lingered, they walked with purpose. He watched as they avoided each other, how they skirted other people with fear in their eyes. He couldn’t help his comments. They weighed heavily on him.
They had no idea.
Thomas peeled his eyes off the people in the park and to the man sitting on the bench with him. Thomas supposed it was true, could the public really handle the truth? He wasn’t so sure. They had never faced something like this. An unseen threat, the bodies were piling and there was seemingly no way to stop it. It was overwhelming if you stopped and thought about how truly screwed they all were. Thomas nodded, tipping back his beer and finishing it off.
The man across from him considered the question. Which department did he belong too? It was a simple question, but was anything truly simple when it came to Prism? He didn’t think so. Thomas toyed with his empty beer bottle as the other answered, he was with the military. Thomas had to wonder if he knew Brooke, if he worked with her. The question was turned to him, what he did. Thomas set the empty bottle down on the bench and pulled out another beer.
Popping the top off the beer he spoke, ”military huh?” He allowed the words to hang between them for a moment before he took a sip from his fresh beer and continued. ”What would the military have to do with Prism? Do I even want to know? Probably not huh? That seems to be Prism’s MO.” How many secret projects did Prism have going on? How many people were told on a need-to-know bases? ”I’m a biochemist.” He offered with no care or interest to the words. Most people’s eyes glazed over when he told them what he did. ”Just studying how the virus works.” It was what he told everyone that asked.
Taking another large swig from his beer he considered the man beside him. ”Happy you aren’t one of the ones doing the raids? The public isn’t exactly a fan of the military these days. My best friend is a sergeant, I can see how its taking a toll on her even if she wont admit it.” He doubted the man beside him would know her, it wasn’t like the military was small.
There was an ache in his chest as he took in his best friend. Could he still call him that after the time that had passed with little contact? He had missed Gray, the man who had taken him out of his grief when Charles had been killed. When his father had turned to the bottle instead of him. His fathers favourite son was dead, he never let Thomas forget that. But Gray had been there for him, to drag him out and remind him how to live. Than the pandemic hit, Thomas hadn’t been there for Gray when he had needed it. The guilt was heavy. Gray had lost his boy friend to the virus, and Thomas hadn’t been there for him. He hadn’t stepped up and repaid the favour.
But Gray was smiling, excited to see him, excited to be at Prism. He couldn’t deny that he was just as excited to see the other. It had been too long, and Thomas wanted to make up for past mistakes. He joked about the toys. But it wasn’t a joke, Prism had everything. You wanted it, they could get it. There was no funding issues, no red tape. They were able to practice science, to find a cure.
He took the nudge, shooting the other a smile he couldn’t hide. His face was going to hurt later and he didn’t care. Gray just had a way of putting him at ease, at making everything just seem better. ”Im very surprised, I did not expect this. But I’m glad it’s you, I’m glad you’re here and we get to work together.” He couldn’t help but beam before the conversation took a more real and serious note. Thomas dropped his eyes from the other as he admitted he hadn’t known got to tell him. Thomas hadn’t been the best friend, he knew he should have done better, that Gray deserved better. Gray told him not to be sorry, but he couldn’t help it. His eyes went back to Gray as he spoke. ”I haven’t been a very good friend these last few months. With everything that happened-“ There was a sad smile on his lips as he trailed off. ”That’ll change now. I’ve got your back, we’re going to find a cure.”
He knew that Gray was hurt, that losing his boy friend had sucked. More than sucked probably. But yet he was trying to throw a smile on his face. Like everything was sunshine and rainbows, Thomas knew the other well enough to see through it. ”Did I mention you get your own office? It’s got a window and everything.” Thomas followed the others lead, trying to cheer the other up. It was Grays first day at Prism. It was a day to celebrate, not wallow.
Thomas led the way as he spoke. ”All the legal stuff didn’t scare you off? I almost turned and ran when the lady slammed the stack of documents in front of me. How many non disclosure agreements does a company need?” His words a joke, but there was also a question. Did Gray understand what he was getting himself into with the trials?
The burner had been placed in his palm. There was nothing to it that screamed it was bad or different. It was just a phone. It was a tool to be wielded. It was up to the owner to decide what it became. He had heard of burner phones in spy movies and television shows. He had never thought one would be placed in his hand, orders coming with it. There was a shipment coming in, the guy who usually handled it was off sick, having to quarantine.
At least that’s what they had told Thomas. The reality of the other mans whereabouts was so much worse. He had no idea the man would never return to work again, the company email would state he had been lost to the virus or fired. Nothing more.
He was given a date and time, he was to receive the shipment. Catalogue it, and process it into the company. He had asked what it was he was receiving, he was naive enough to assume that it was supplies. Paper, penciled, beakers, supplies the company needed to run.
What he hadn’t expected was for it to be humans. People. He was supposed to accept a shipment of people. He had known better than to question the order, Thomas knew what happened to people who questioned the operation, who put up an ethical stand against what they were doing. How else was the trial supposed to get participants? How else were they supposed to conduct their research? Puck brought in one person a week, it wasn’t enough for the whole department. Thomas had never considered it before, never asked where the others had come from. He had just assumed it was other men and woman like Puck bringing them in. He hadn’t anticipated this.
He had lost his ability to focus. Waiting on the shipment in the restricted docks of the building. It took a high level of clearance to be down here, there were a couple of workers with him. Ready to accept the shipment and help him to process it. But they were looking to him. He was the one who had been given the burner phone, he was the one who was in charge of it. There couldn’t be any screw ups. He needed to make sure that this happened seamlessly.
A buzzing in his pocket caused him to fish out the phone. Well aware that it was the burner. The number Unknown across the screen. Thomas picked up the call, allowing the silence to eat at the connection. The last thing he wanted to do was screw this up. The man on the other end of the line spoke first, an almost drawl to his voice as he spoke. Thomas listened as ice water filled his veins.
”What kind of problem?” Thomas spoke the words as he walked out of the room, into open air and away from the other workers that lingered. ”We’re talking now, aren’t we?” He couldn’t help but say to the man as he walked, needing to move. ”Just tell me what’s going on, what happened to the shipment.”
I like the idea you put forward as to how they met in the past. I think it’s a fun idea, and a good way for them to be casually acquainted. Maybe Thomas drank a little too much that night and the details are fuzzy to him but he eventually places where he knows the man from.
Yeah hes pretty morally grey. Hes willing to do what he has too even if it means hurting others. Hes still trying to sort that out. Hes very much trying to justify it to himself and tell himself that people who are dying are worth it to find a cure.
Thomas letting the details of the trail at Prism would no doubt result in death for him. So he would do everything within his power to protect the information he has and his active role in the trail. As he is one of the people studying the affects of the 'cure'.
Thomas could be in charge of a shipment coming in for sure, and they could meet that way. I would be okay with them kinda knowing each other. Or at least knowing of the other before the thread to build off of. I think Thomas would do that, but he wouldn't give him full access, just enough to make it seem like the man had full access? Cause the trials are still very hush hush and it would mean death if Thomas let someone like Louise walk in with a pass.
I could see Thomas trying to cling to someone, his mother died of cancer 5 years ago. His twin brother died in combat 3 years ago and he hasnt talked to his father since. If someone took an interest in him, or at least pretended too I think he would gravitate to them.
He used to do Muay Thai before the virus struck. He probably went to libraries, book stores, and coffee shops a lot. He is also a runner, he has a route he does everyday. They could have met running, maybe he even does races. Before this he worked at a company looking into cancer research. Ill try to think of more, what kinda stuff does Louise do?
She seemed to still think that this was all better than staying home. He wasn’t so sure, if he was at home he would be sleeping and not having to hide in a chemical filled supply closet with a stranger. He didn’t answer her right away on if this had all been worth it. She pressed on, speaking a familiar quote, it took him half a second to figure out the source. ”Eleanor Roosevelt?” He questioned as he glanced to her. By the way she spoke he had the feeling that she didn’t get out that much. If she had someone watching over her than he doubted she had free reign to do what she wanted.
Her eyes were on him as he spoke, it felt weird to tell a total stranger his story. Even if it was a better way to pass time in the supply closet than sitting in silence. She wanted to know what he did, he shrugged. ”Biochemist, not super exciting.” He spoke the words in a offhanded way, trying not to linger on the topic. Peoples eyes tended to glaze over when he spoke about science, it wasn’t exciting or thrilling. For him it was, but others tended to lose interest quickly. His father sure had.
Half joking as he asked if she was a princess, he really hoped she wasn’t. If the police were concerning whoever was pledged to be her bodyguard would be worse. She laughed though, a light noise that set him at ease. They were both careful to keep the volume of their voices down. There was no telling when someone would walk by the door.
His brows rose in surprise as she admitted that she was the daughter of the mayor. How her father had assigned her a bodyguard, it seemed extreme, but it also made sense. He blinked; it all made a little more sense. Her want to explore, to be free even during a global pandemic. She had slipped her guard and come here, her quote from earlier seemed to make more sense as to her motive. ”So, basically a princess of the city.” He couldn’t help but joke, at least that’s how it seemed to be. ”Harvard, of course.” He laughed, his smile coming easier now. ”Please don’t tell me you studied law, Im already way out of my league.” His words were a tease, but there was some truth to them.
He watched with interest as she pulled out a little note pad and started to write on it. Or rather draw he noted as she lay the little book between them. She wanted to play a game he hadn’t played since he was a child. But there was a twist that came with it. If she won, she could ask him anything. Thomas looked from her to the pad of paper. ”Anything?” He questioned knowing that he would have to break the rules of the game before even starting. He couldn’t tell her anything about his work, at least in regard to the secret trial Prism was conducting.
Hesitating a moment before he took the pen from her, ”deal.” He held the pen for a moment, examining the tic-tac-toe board between them. He drew an X in the middle of the grid, then extended the pen back to her. ”You better not be some master class tic-tac-toe player.” He joked, scooting a little closer to the pad and her so he wouldn’t have to lean so far the next time it was his turn. ”You wouldn’t take advantage of me like that would you?” His tone was light, teasing, the smile easy on his lips as he glanced from her to the pad.
He could feel their eyes on him as he approached, the way that Puck looked him over was familiar. It happened every time Puck brought someone in. Thomas wasn’t used to being looked at like that. He ignored the mans eyes, the female was looking him over as well. He didn’t look like a threat, just an average guy. There was no sign that popped up above him warning of danger. The initial interaction was short, she quickly agreed to come with him and Puck on a tour. She had no idea what she was walking into. He felt his chest tighten as he scanned his card and hit the button for the elevator.
Thomas caught Pucks eye as they stood in the elevator, waiting for it to descend. Puck seemed to be as conflicted as he was over what they were doing. Puck’s gaze fell away from his, he shifted his attention to the female who was speaking with excitement. She wanted to be a researcher one day, she wanted to be at the forefront of science. She wanted to help people. Something twisted inside of Thomas, he had said the same things once. He forced himself not to think about it.
”Sounds like you have it all figured out.” Thomas offered her when she paused to breath, there was a soft ding and the doors opened. The floor was a front, for the public or anyone else who came sniffing around. The floor was bright, white with well placed pops of color. There was a large seating area with couches and magazines spread across low tables. Further along were glass enclosed offices, Thomas led the way towards the far end of the space. There was a door there, one that would open with his card. ”We can start with my lab and the flu shot, get it out of the way.” His tone was casual, there was a beep as his card scanned and he held the door open.
This space was also a front, but it looked like a working lab. Sure, they did some stuff in here, but nothing of actual note for the trial. The space was empty, machines hummed, her eyes were wide as she took it all in. Thomas let her look around, ”check it out.” He offered but she was already gone. Thomas stayed beside Puck as she explored. Thomas dropped his voice low as he spoke, the female engrossed in an electron microscope. She had no interest in either of them as she moved around the space.
”Where did you find her?” It was a question he had never asked before, but he couldn’t keep doing this without knowing. There were so many other questions he wanted to ask, but instead he admitted something that he had never told anyone. ”I hate this part.” He glanced at Puck, knowing that none of this was easy on him.
It felt like he was walking on eggshells. One misstep and it would be the end for him. He knew he was putting a lot of pressure and emphasis on the casual conversation, but how could he not? This was the owner of the company he worked for; this guy was as high up as you could get. Thomas had never thought he would be having a conversation with the man over coffee in a break room. Yet here they were.
He could see the man’s interest as he mentioned the trials. Thomas met the mans intense blues with his hazel eyes, refusing to look away. Joseph looked back to the paper, but his interest was perked at the man mentioned complications. Thomas chewed on the words for a moment before he steeled his resolve and spoke. ”What kind of complications?” He knew it was a big ask, he didn’t even know if the man would tell him. But the fact that he had mentioned it meant something, Thomas wasn’t one to leave well enough alone. He wanted to know, his curiosity not allowing him to drop it. ”Might be nice to know what Im walking into.” He shrugged his shoulders, trying to seem casual about it.
There was a mocking laugh that left the man, he watched as Joseph leaned back, arms crossing over his chest. Thomas soaked up every word as the older man spoke. Thomas met the others gaze, leaning back on the counter crossing his own arms over his chest. ”I’ve heard that our death rate is through the roof. One of the reasons they wanted to bring me on, to see if there is a biological reason in the test subjects the vaccine is being rejected so harshly.” Thomas kept his tone even as he spoke, he hadn’t been able to look over the data fully. But he knew it wasn’t good if they were bringing more people in on it. Thomas didn’t miss the glance to the coffee, he had a few more minutes until it was done brewing judging by the noises the machine was making.
There was a weight of truth to the others words. It was possible by the time they had discovered a vaccine the virus will have mutated and the vaccine would become ineffective. It was a chance he was willing to take though, he couldn’t sit around and do nothing. ”I hate to agree with you, but I do. This could all be a giant waste of time if the virus mutates. But at least we’re doing something.” He offered, his fingertips drumming against his forearm.
Joseph laughed, but this time it sounded more genuine. It made sense that Joseph was used to having all eyes on him thanks to his family. Thomas couldn’t help the slight uptick in his lips as the other spoke, he didn’t want any of the attention the trials could possibly bring. ”Hopefully I can avoid that.” He had no interest in being front and center when this thing hit the papers.
His tease about the boss being in the break room wasn’t lost, the man’s reason for being here was more than justified. The man owned the building, he could go wherever he wanted. He found the conversation turn serious; Joseph made sure to meet his eyes as he spoke. The question hanging heavy between them. Thomas’s fingers stilled, no longer drumming against his forearm. ”Things could go wrong anywhere. I understand what my role will be, I signed the papers.” Thomas paused for half a second, never looking away from those intense blue eyes.
”I left my job at the cancer research center because people kept putting up red tape, they kept stopping us from making progress. Do you know how many times we got close to a breakthrough just to have it ripped away? For the FDA to step in and slap our hands and threaten us? Too many. Those barriers have been removed.” Thomas dropped his arms, turning away from the man to pour himself a coffee. Thomas left his black, taking a step away allowing for the other to get up and get his own coffee. ”I’m willing to do what is necessary to see a vaccine be created.” He offered, taking a sip of the rich black coffee.
Maybe it was the coffee that gave him courage, or maybe it was the fact that he could have an honest conversation with the man about the trials. Either way he spoke. ”There is a lot of risk for you in all of this, I’m a little surprised that you are allowing it. What happens when the statistics hit the news? Or will you control that? If people knew the truth they wouldn’t hail you as a hero.” Joseph seemed like a smart man, Thomas had no doubt the man had already thought about it. That the man before him already had a plan. Joseph was too smart not too.
The want to embrace the other was so strong, he hadn’t seen the other in what felt like forever. The human resources worker was looking between them. It was apparent that they knew each other well. But she had no idea how close they had been. Thomas felt like he had to explain his absence from the others life, he knew that he should have been there more for Gray when he had lost his boy friend to the virus. Guilt turned in his gut as they both awkwardly stood there after they both clearly wanted to embrace the other.
Thomas knew the other was being sarcastic, there was no way he was only here for a tour. It was clear that Grayson would be working at Prism, but not just for the company. On the trials, Thomas had to wonder if the other knew what he was signing up for. The woman behind the desk was sorting out the papers to file them away for later use if needed. Thomas recovered from his shock and surprise. ”Its been a hot second.” He offered, it was hard not to keep the happiness over seeing the other out of his voice. He had forgotten how much he enjoyed Gray.
”Common,” Thomas spoke the words as he jerked his head towards the door. ”I’ll show you around. We have the coolest toys.” He smirked under his mask, there was no lack of funding here. They were at the forefront of research, Thomas had been thrilled when he had seen all the tech. Less so when he had started to use it, until he had started to test the vaccine on people. There was a heavy weight to what he did at Prism, he was still trying to learn how to carry it.
”You’re looking good,” he informed the other as he lighting nudged the other with his elbow. ”Why didn’t you tell me?” There was no hurt to his tone, only curiosity. Thomas questioned as they moved towards the elevator banks. He knew the other would know what he was asking, he hadn’t known the other was applying at Prism. It made sense since he had lost his boy friend to the virus. It made sense that he would want to be at the forefront of the research. ”You doing okay? Im sorry that I abandoned you Gray. After everything you did for me after Charles died-“ his words trailed off. Offering the other a tight lipped smile under his mask, he kept forgetting that the other couldn’t see.
He had sworn he had seen her at their high school. He couldn’t tell if she was teasing him or not still. His discomfort showed through though. The last thing he had been thinking about was hooking up with someone, they were in the middle of a pandemic. ”It doesn’t matter how cute she is! People are dying left and right from this virus.” He half yelled as he picked up his coffee and swirled it around in the cup. He knew he was being a little intense about it, but he couldn’t help it. Not after he had seen firsthand what the virus did to people. Worse was what the vaccine was doing to people that they infected. He shoved the thoughts from his mind as she pulled into traffic. He was thankful how close they were to his work.
He admitted it was better if he was alone. He had pushed everyone away since he had joined the team at Prism working on the trials. He couldn’t chance letting anyone get too close to it. He couldn’t allow himself the chance of slipping up and saying something. He trusted himself not too, but it was a heavy weight to carry. He was starting to struggle with it.
His eyes cut to her as she informed him that he was stuck with her. He pressed his lips together under his mask. She had taken hers off to have a sip of her coffee. He had forgotten how attractive she was, as the mask was moved to sip. Charles had made his interest in Brooke clear from the beginning. Bro code insisted that Thomas keep a wide birth from her, and he had. He had let Charles pursue her, he had never asked if they had ended up together, a part of Thomas didn’t want to know.
She wanted to get out and do something. He frowned under his mask. ”I was planning on working.” He admitted, it was all that he did it seemed. He didn’t exactly have a lot of other options. The word was in survival mode, when he did go out it was for work, groceries, or a run. Brooke was looking at him, she wasn’t about to take no for an answer. ”One afternoon, a few hours.” He finally conceded. ”You aren’t picking me up and giving me no way to leave. A few hours, I know a good place. Ill text you.” He offered as they pulled up to the looming office building, grabbing the case, his mask and his coffee. ”Enjoy the coffee, try to stay out of trouble.” Thomas said as a goodbye as he closed her car door with his foot. He refused to wait for her to open and close his door again.
