(no subject)

[charmed_life]

[And that night, something very strange occurred.]

Comments

[Night 0]

[12npcs]

[You aren't where you just were a moment ago. You remember it very clearly: who you were talking to, or fighting with, or what book you were reading.

Now? It is bit like you blinked and never opened your eyes again. The world around you is dark and devoid of boundaries or shapes. Little swirls of light and after images dance in front of your straining eyes. Your ears cling to the comfort of the sound of your clothes and your breathing over the overwhelming nothing around you.

All you know is that you are standing and you are very, very alone right now.]

Re: [Night 0]

[charmed_life]

[Reaching for the sword belted at her hip]

What's the meaning of this? Show yourself!

Re: [Night 0]

[12npcs]

[Your voice echoes in the darkness.]

Re: [Night 0]

[charmed_life]

[Unsheathing her sword and holding it straight in front of her, the blade glowing a faint red. It wasn't much, but maybe it would help shed some light on the situation (ha ha)]

Re: [Night 0]

[12npcs]

[ The light reflects faintly off the nothing that you stand on. Nothing else is illuminated. ]

Re: [Night 0]

[charmed_life]

[Creepy...]

[Taking a cautious step forward]

Re: [Night 0]

[12npcs]

[ The ground is smooth and firm with a slight upwards tilt to it. You take a step forward. ]

Re: [Night 0]

[charmed_life]

[Continues in that direction, gaining a bit more confidence and speed with each step]

[Huffs at her surroundings]

If this is some sort of prank...

Re: [Night 0]

[12npcs]

some

tick

sort

tick

of

tock

prank

tick

Re: [Night 0]

[charmed_life]

[Abruptly stops, glancing around to find the source of the tick-tocking]

Time Lord...?

Re: [Night 0]

[12npcs]

[ There's nothing to see... ]

Re: [Night 0]

[charmed_life]

[Turns in the approximate direction of that last tick and onwards into the darkness!]

[Cups her hand and calls out:] Hello!

[Come out, come out, echo. Wherever you are]

Re: [Night 0]

[12npcs]

Hello . . . ello . . . lo . . . Thief.

Re: [Night 0]

[charmed_life]

Thief?

That's a pretty bold accusation. I could say the same of you.

Re: [Night 0]

[12npcs]

[ The darkness does not answer ]

Re: [Night 0]

[charmed_life]

[Frustrated sigh as she stomps forward a few steps]

Have the decency to at least show yourself!

Re: [Night 0]

[12npcs]

[ It takes a moment, and then something is dimly visible. A table? It is still some few paces off. ]

Re: [Night 0]

[charmed_life]

[Heading toward the table]

Thank you.

Re: [Night 0]

[12npcs]

[ It seems to be illuminated from above, though there is no light source to be found. Cracked porcelain hands lift from the table to float in the air before you. They click and grind spastically, beckoning you closer. ]

Re: [Night 0]

[charmed_life]

[What? No seriously. What?]

[Stops a little more than arm's length away from those hands. ... Don't get too close. Don't let them grab you]

Yes?

Re: [Night 0]

[12npcs]

[ It takes another long moment of twitching and crackling and grinding before they can move something like human fingers. They begin shuffling the deck. ]

T-thief, shall we-


Shall we-


-wh-what has been taken, Thief-

Re: [Night 0]

[charmed_life]

I don't know what you're talking about. What of yours is missing?

Re: [Night 0]

[12npcs]

Missing, Thief . . .

[ Then they begin to lay out the spread on the table. The Ace of Flame, the Ten of Death. Six of Death, Six of Empty, Five of Joy- One after another the cards are laid out with dizzying, mechanical speed. The hands creak and grind, and a fine white powder is drifting down onto the already-laid cards. ]

Re: [Night 0]

[charmed_life]

...

You have a pair.

Re: [Night 0]

[12npcs]

You, th-th-thief . . . p-pair . . . y-y-you s-s-s-split, stole, s-split . . .


[ The hands grind to almost nothing as they deal the cards. Finally, the tiny white finger tips hold up a single card face down. ]

Split Thief.

Re: [Night 0]

[charmed_life]

[Talking a tentative step closer]

How do I split a single card?

Re: [Night 0]

[12npcs]

Here, Thief. This is your card.

[ The hands turn the card to face her. It shows a well-worn stuffed rabbit, patches of its velvet fur rubbed bald, and one of its button eyes missing. ]

Re: [Night 0]

[charmed_life]

[Reaches out tentatively to take the card]

A stuffed toy...?

[Night 2]

[12npcs]

[Your dreams are twisted by a certain driving frustration. Somewhere, just ahead, you hear a heartbeat, thudding dutifully. But no matter what you do, you can't seem to get any closer to it.]

Re: [Night 2]

[12npcs]

[You have a dream about starring in a play with Chrono. He forgets his lines at the critical scene and you can't help but laugh. You feel like something's missing.]

Re: [Night 2]

[12npcs]

[You have a dream about a dramatic fencing match with Nathan. It ends with a draw, you both too exhausted to move. You feel like something's missing.]