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.
GENERAL INQUIRIES
CODING
GRAPHICS
ADVERTISING
CHARACTERS
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!
GENERAL INQUIRIES
APPLICATIONS
THREAD MODERATION
MEDIATOR
CHARACTERS
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!
GENERAL INQUIRIES
CLAIMS
DIRECTORY
CHARACTERS
STAFF NAME
OPEN MODERATOR POSITION
outbreak
/ˈaʊtbreɪk/ zero /ˈzɪərəʊ/
a sudden occurrence of something unwelcome, such as war or disease. number, no quantity or number; nought; the figure 0.
Aelin felt her cheeks grow warm as Casey held up the crumbled flyer that she had thrown away. She mentally cursed herself. Of course he would check her wastebasket. It was a rookie mistake and one she wouldn't be repeating in the future. She pursed her lips, fully expecting that she would have to beg and plead her way into staying a little longer. She didn’t know anything about him, but he didn't look like the kind of guy who enjoyed hanging out casually in a club. Then the most miraculous of miraculous things happened and the man actually spoke the words that granted her access to another dance.
Aelin's face broke out into a huge grin, "Yes!" She put her arms quickly around the impenetrable wall that was her bodyguard and gave him a quick hug. "You are the best." She stepped away just as quick and began hopping just ever so slightly on the balls of her feet in excitement. He nodded towards the bar and spoke about not drinking and although she wasn't really listening at all at this point, she nodded, "Yep. No problem."
She looked around for the guy who she had been dancing with, not that it mattered. There were plenty of cute guys that she didn't mind sharing her last dance with. A tall brooding blonde with dark eyes met hers and she gave him a soft smile. The boy's lips pulled in an alluring smirk and she grinned in response. She vaguely wondered what Casey's position was on kissing strangers. The guy nudged his head for her to come over and she turned back to Casey, just in time to see a woman throw up all over him. Aelin's mouth opened in shock, her face scrunching in an apology. "Oh no. I am so sorry."
He gave her a hard look and she managed another sheepish apologetic shrug. He told her to stay and she nodded, watching him briefly as he made his way towards the restrooms. The boy came to where she stood and she soon found herself forgetting all about her guard's ruined clothes.
The guy was taller than her, he smelled nice, and as he moved behind her he kept the rhythm between their two bodies and the music perfectly. She asked him what his name was and he spoke softly, close to her ear, making her stomach fill with butterflies.
"I'm Aelin." She said as she leaned her head to the side, speaking close to him. "I know." the guy replied.
Aelin's brow furrowed for a brief moment, "What do you mean you-" The guy's hand grabbed her arms, pulling them behind her roughly. In less than two seconds he had her completely immobilized. He began pushing her through the crowd, shoving her along. Aelin had no choice but to comply. "Casey!" She yelled, knowing full well that the music was more than likely covering up any sound she could make.
The guy told her to shut-up and her heart began to race. This suddenly wasn't a joke anymore. It wasn't some silly adrenaline rush to get back at her dad. This was very real and very painful. "Who has a security guard at a nightclub? Oh that's right…the mayor's spoiled little brat. How much do you think your life is worth to your dad, huh? I think we're going to find out."
Aelin tried resisting, but he had her arms on lockdown. She tried to plant her feet but that was no use either. He was much taller and stronger than her. She didn't doubt for a second that once they got out of this club she'd simply be slung over his shoulder. They were almost to a side door, a few party-goers hanging around it. She tried meeting their eyes, "Help. Please, help me!" As the guy shoved her along but the few who did bother to look in their direction simply looked the other way as they passed. As they approached the doors she closed her eyes, hoping it was a bad dream.
Aelin had found herself doing clerical work this morning. It wasn't something that was normally in her list of things to do for the day, but she oddly hadn't minded it. Her professor had emailed her asking for verification for forms she had sent in weeks ago. She had tried to re-sign the forms and scan them back in, but her father's scanner hadn't wanted to work. When she had called to say as much to her teacher, he had then informed her it wasn't just the two papers that were missing but also her past semester's full grading score. Apparently the school's website's records were glitching and blanks were coming up in a few student accounts. She had copies of course, and nothing else on her schedule but foreign language so she was happy for the excuse to leave the house.
It had taken less than 30 minutes to fix the mistakes and she found herself unfortunately heading back home much too soon. The last thing she had wanted to do was go back to her suffocating house so she persuaded her security guard to let her take the long way home. It was a gamble, but she knew if the little coffee shop that was down the corner was open she could persuade her guard to let her shop at the boutique across from it if she bought him coffee. He wasn't as strict as some of the other guards on rotation and unless the place sold out, it should be open. She was dying for a new pair of earrings, or perhaps a purse. Truthfully she'd take whatever retail therapy she could get her hands on at this point.
She was walking along the sidewalk, her eyes scanning for the coffee shop when her eyes found something else, or rather someone else. A smile came across her face as she moved quickly to the blonde girl. "Phoebe? Is that you?" Her eyes scanned over the girl, "Oh my gosh, it's been forever! Where have you been?"
Aelin was shivering. The cold autumn air was cutting through the long coat she had worn. It wasn't her warmest jacket, but it was her longest and she needed that coverage because there was no way in hell her father would have allowed her out of the house in the dress she was wearing. Not to mention it would have completely given her away as well. She got word of a secret party that a classmate was throwing in the metro station. Down the tunnel, first alcove on the left, up the stairs and through the double doors on the end. Apparently someone knew someone who worked there and didn't mind leaving some doors unlocked for a price. She had counted down the days.
And fortunately for her, her father had been swamped with "duties" so her normal guard, Casey, had been on assignment with him instead of her. It was fortunate because out of all of her father's guards, he was the only one who could always see through her tricks. There was no ditching him, but the new guy, Alex? She lost him blocks ago.
Aelin pulled her jacket tighter around herself and hurried into the metro station. She stuck to the edge of the walls, feigning an interest in posters and ads as she waited for the few people who were standing around to get on the train. As they boarded and left, Aelin glanced around quickly before climbing down into the darkened subway opening.
Her feet moved fast as she followed the directions along the cold tunnel, tripping just once. She made it to the stairs and opened the door, the pulse of loud music calling to her. She shrugged the jacket off as she opened the doors at the end, a smile playing on her lips. There were at least fifty people dancing, laughing, living inside. Music blared and lights flashed as she made her way deeper into the crowd. Bodies were pushing against bodies as she wound her way through the cluster of people. She had a self-satisfied smile on her lips as she thought about what her father would have to say about this.
As a guy walked past, carrying an armful of red, plastic cups she grabbed one, swallowing the bitter alcohol down with a small wince. It was awful, but hey, you only lived once. At least that's what she reminded herself as she took another swallow. She had just started to dance, to sway in rhythm to the music when the sound of sirens blared over the music. Shouting and screaming erupted and people began shoving this way and that. She caught the word "raid" before someone shoved into her hard, her body falling to the ground.
Aelin had been playing the good daughter for a long time. She had spent 18 years smiling sweetly, studying dutifully, and walking straight down the path that her father wanted. She had done that for 18 years without a complaint, without a single rebellious action to her name. Then, just a few months shy of what was supposed to be her new life, the pandemic hit. She had been grounded, in the most literal sense of the word. She had been in route to the plane that would have taken her far, far away from this small town when her driver had gotten a call. "Sorry Miss." She could still hear his words. Here, even six months later she could still feel her heart plummet when she thought of it. She had tried reasoning with her father, she had tried making him see that she would potentially be safer in a place that wasn't ground zero, but lock-down had been put in order, colleges closed, and the town of Lethford had become her prison.
The days turned to weeks and the weeks to months as she went about doing her normal thing, acting in the worst most stifling play. She hated it. She hated the routine, the life that demanded perfection. She hated everything about it. Since learning that the walls of her prison weren't about to go away anytime soon, the act began to take its toll on her. That was until last month, when she had decided that enough was enough. If her father demanded that she stay, then stay she would, but it would be on her own terms.
So that's what she had been doing. The first time that she had decided to sneak away, it had been perfection. She had ridden in the car to her music lessons, gotten out and gone inside the building, just as promised. From inside, she had called her teacher and feigned being sick, waited for her driver to leave, and promptly walked right back out the door. From there she had decided to go to the park. She spent a few minutes there before getting coffee and travelling further downtown to meet a friend. The pair had then spent rest of the afternoon walking around, people watching and hanging out in places that her father would have most assuredly not approved of. For the first time in perhaps forever, Aelin had been happy. So happy that she had lost track of time, and the reckless afternoon had ended with her bodyguard finding her in a crowded coffee shop that was playing live music. Her father had been furious, but that was only the beginning.
Since that first outing, she had made a grand total of thirteen escape attempts. A few when she was supposed to be at lessons, a few while she was supposed to be in bed. The more she did them, the more creative she found herself having to become. A pool party here, a bar there, and once even a protest that had scared her more than she would ever admit to anyone. Tonight was one that she had been looking forward to for a few days. Dancing. Actual dancing that didn't involve complicated ballet and stuffy instruments played with precision.
So she had planned it all out the night before. She had to leave her window unlatched, she had to hide her shoes in the bushes because she couldn't climb out of her window with them on. She had to wait until precisely 10:15 when the guards went on their rotations. She had it down to a science because she couldn't miss tonight. She had high hopes, and oh how right she had been. Out the estate, through the woods, down the walkway and to the street. It was three blocks in the shadows, walking, which took her eight minutes. Then a bus ride for another fifteen and then another two blocks until she got there. The music calling to her from outside like a siren.
It was loud and vibrated with excitement. She couldn't find her friend but she didn't care. A boy asked her to dance and she had nodded with a smile big enough to blind the room. The music was reverberating in her chest, her heartbeat mimicking its rhythm. The boy was a good dancer and as the music bled into another song he moved closer, making her pulse race. She turned to face him and his smile was daring. Her eyes met his and she thought for a moment that they might kiss. Then the boy's eyes darted behind her and he stopped moving, fear and apprehension on his face. He took a step back from her and Aelin felt a tap on her shoulder.
She turned and met Casey's bored eyes. "No." The words out of her lips immediately. "You've got to be kidding. How?" Aelin crossed her arms in annoyance as she met his eyes. It didn't matter how of course. He was here and her fun was over. She glanced back behind her for the boy and wasn't surprised to see that he wasn't there anymore.
The imposing man stood out in the crowd of people trying to have fun and Aelin felt her cheeks burning with the number of people glancing over at them. She turned to him, her eyes pleading with his, "One drink?" She asked, "Go and have one drink and let me stay just a little longer." She doubted very much he would allow it, but she had to try. She had to plead her case. Aelin hated begging, but wasn't above it. "I won't run. I won't try to get away. You can see the dance floor from the bar. Just give me another dance. Please?"
Strong-willed. Aelin has led a sheltered, slightly pampered life. She's hardly ever been told no. On the few times where she has been told no for something she's refused to back down until she gets her way. She's very determined and likes the challenge of something that is seemingly "impossible" Tactful. She can be very charming and polite, even when she's irritated. Her upbringing has forced her to be around politicians and the upper echelons of society so she's well versed in the art of charisma when she needs to be. Arrogant. She has a tendency to be a bit arrogant at times. Curse of her upbringing. This can sometimes lead to bouts of indignant irritation. Dreamer. She has lofty dreams, many of which involve leaving the small town of Lethford as quickly as possible. She likes thinking about her future and romanticizing all the many ways it can turn out. Naive. She's a very smart girl but completely naive when it comes to the harsh realities of the real world. She tends to have a hard time seeing past the bright sheltered bubble she lives in. Brave. A product of her naivety makes her very brave, borderline reckless. She likes the thrill and rush of the unknown sometimes. She's been one to push her luck and test boundaries when the mood hits her.
[attr="class","ozapptitle"]BIOGRAPHY
Aelin was born to Andrew Locke, Lethford's mayor. From the moment she could walk she was paraded around the pompous political ring that is local politics. Her mother left both she and her father at an early age and Aelin doesn't have any memories of her. She was put into private school and given tutors very early on to enhance her already bright pedigree and resume. She's earned top marks in school, organized various committees, and followed her father's lead anytime he brought her along to his office.
She was raised to be perfect and to appear perfect, always keeping up the facade of perfection throughout not only her public life but personal as well. And she plays the role well. Her "boyfriends" are all restricted and basically chosen for her, and rarely did she ever like them back. Her father enjoys her company only when it's convenient for him or when there's a good photo-op and has his heart set on a politician career path for her.
Aelin has other plans, but keeps them very hidden, lying about what classes she has been taking and what her major is. She promised classes of microeconomics and modern political thought when in reality she had been taking visual media design and photojournalism. She wanted nothing more than to travel the world to exotic places, capturing life through the lens of her camera. To be free of constantly being in the spotlight and let herself get lost in people who didn't care who she knew or how much money she had. She had spent 18 years of her life in an invisible prison cell and she was finally ready to be free. On the day she had received her diploma she had made it up in her mindthat she was going to finally tell her father the thruth and damn the consequences. She had gone home, ready to be brave and then the world was plunged into a pandemic. Now she finds herself stuck in lock-down, having to play the role of perfect every day of the week, suffocating in the dog and pony show her father continues to play, pretending everything is fine and under control. She wants to run, but feels like every day pushes her from that possibility further and further.
