Gamers Against Quarantine

"Mother fuckers."

Jude closed the recent tab of COVID-19 statistics. Apparently, releasing a vaccine made everyone forget about "flatten the curve" and just human decency. If you tell people the end is in sight, doesn't matter if that end is weeks, months, or years away, they'll throw caution to the wind and just pray the odds work out in their favor.

bluntfiend: I don't fucking get it. How hard is it to stay inside?
lesbian_gengar: helps when you social distance even without a pandemic
bluntfiend: You say that like you get out much more than I do.
hetcopogg: yeah, i don't get it either.
jockjamvol6: Doesn't really matter. We'll get through it either way.
bluntfiend: No, jackass. It does fucking matter, because it might cause some of us to not get through it.
jockjamvol6: Yeah but you know what I mean. Unless you have some idea we can't just force people to be reasonable.
polaricecraps: I mean… I do have magic.
lesbian_gengar: not helpful PIC.

The pandemic didn’t phase Jude all too much. Sure, being stuck inside isn’t ideal, even for an indoor aficionado such as himself. But he got used to it. There was plenty to do inside: shape magic, talk to friends… and well, at least the in-person activism had to be put on hold. He attended a Black Lives Matters protest but even that made him a little uncomfortable.

So seeing the numbers go up after months of… less disappointing positivity rates sent Jude through the roof. But not in a single outburst, but rather in a slow grind, letting the tilt build up day by day.

bluntfiend: selfish bastards are going to screw the rest of us over.
gaycopmp4: yeah, but at least no matter how much these free-air chuds fuck up now, at least it’ll end.
bluntfiend: that’s the same attitude the chuds have.
gaycopmp4: … at least i’m staying indoors though?
bluntfiend: Do they not realize how many people they’re going to kill?
jockjamsvol6: Obviously not.
bluntfiend: Mother fuckers.


Dahlia could hear the rumble of her parents' Christmas party from upstairs. There must've been twelve guests at least. More than the county limit, that's for sure. But Dahlia never saw any of them for herself. She barricaded herself in her room the moment the party started. She even wore a mask inside her own house, just to be safe.

Last night (when Dahlia first heard about the illegal gathering), she launched a barrage of questions at her parents. Were the guests tested for COVID before arriving? No. Were the guests going to stay at least six feet a part? No. Were the guests going to be wearing masks?

"C'mon now. What's the use in seeing people if their faces are covered?" Dahlia's dad replied. Luckily, her parents didn't have any strong opinions on Dahlia's presence at the party, since they didn't want to explain what "transgender" meant to their other friends from Bumfuck, Nowhere.

hetcopogg: at least you're not trapped ten feet above a biohazard.
gaycopmp4: is that your parents' party?
hetcopogg: its going to be corona christmas over here.
jockjamvol6: Yikes. Stay… well, as safe as you can.
lesbian_gengar: inconsiderate fucks.
bluntfiend" See, these are the jackasses we should be getting mad at.
bones: Do you believe you are currently in danger?
hetacopogg: i mean, sort of but not really.

Dahlia pulled up her mask without noticing. She looked over her shoulder to make sure her door was closed. But she knew that would only do so much good. Air still circulated in from the biohazard downstairs.

hetcopogg: aaaaa i hate this.
gaycopmp4: i'm sorry it's stressing you out.
hetcopogg: it's probably fine. i'm just anxious is all.
jockjamvol6: Are you able to get outside?
hetcopogg: and walk right through the main event? doesn't sound like a great alternative…
lesbian_gengar: you could jump out a window.
hetcopogg: hmmm. you make a good point.
lesbian_gengar: wait no. that was a joke.


How long had it been since Jude went outside anyways? It'd probably been at least a week. Maybe two. It was real easy to let the days pass by from a basement when you have the whole internet to keep you company. But, now feeling self-conscious about how long since he'd seen sunlight, maybe a walk outside was in order. Just a short one around the block. Sure, it'd make him a bit of a hypocrite, but fresh air does a mind good.


Dahlia opened the window, a sharp, cold breeze buffeting her face. She pictured herself doing this when she was younger. She prepared a whole plan to run away when she thought her parents would disown her entirely during her transition. But she never went so far as to practice.

Dahlia pressed down with her foot on the roof of her parents’ porch, testing its sturdiness. It creaked, but didn’t budge. Dahlia swung herself out of the window. The shingles screeched under her weight.

Anyone from the party noticed?

Dahlia waited a moment. The holiday festivities carried on inside. She let out a sigh of relief before scurrying to the edge and dropping down into the snow.


hetcopogg: well, I'm finally outside.
bluntfiend: Me too.
lesbian_gengar: smoke finally get to you?
bluntfiend: Never. Just realized a quick dip outside would make my next blunt hit a little different.
harmpit: ug ot a msk?
bluntfiend: Of course, you take me for some kind of chud?
harmpit: jut smakig sre
jockjamvol6: How is it?
hetcopogg: it's… nice. a bit cold but quieter than inside.
bluntfiend: There's no one outside where I am. The whole place is like a ghost town.
polaricecraps: almost like theres a fuckin pandemic
blunfiend: That hasn't stopped people and you know it.
lesbian_gengar: it's also like ten o'clock. of course no one's out.
gaycopmp4: i just went outside too. but its weirdly nice out down here.
lesbian_gengar: oh yeah. im joining the outside gang too.
hetcopogg: outside gang! outside gang!
bones: I am thankful that your endeavors outdoors are peaceful.
hetcopogg: me too bones. me too.
lesbian_gengar: mhmmm.
bluntfiend: Yeah. Merry Christmas everyone.
jockjamvol6: Your inner catholic boy is showing.
bluntfiend: Oh you can fuck off.
hetcopogg: happy holidays!
lesbian_gengar: right back at you goofballs.
bones: I wish you all an enjoyable end of the solar cycle.
harmpit: hppapy hdoliy s

Across the country from each other, Jude and Dahlia smiled. It was cold outside, but it'd been years since they felt so warm during the holidays.

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License