The Midnight Game

[animusmods]

As the chosen residents approach the elevator, two retrieval units will be waiting to hand out a sheet of paper to each person. These sheets of paper contain the instructions for their game, as well as a number placing them in one of four groups. The groups will be called one by one into the elevator and, after a long ride down, will be released into an empty version of the Tower identical to the one they just left, with two differences: in place of the countless dormitory rooms are just enough rooms for each group member to occupy one, and each door is made of wood. Inside each room is a candle, a knife that will cut the skin of the person wielding it and nothing else, a blank piece of paper, a book of matches, and a container of salt. Once in their rooms, they are to begin The Midnight Game.

Midnight Game Instruction Sheet
1. Write your complete name on the piece of paper.
2. Use the knife to cut your skin and place at least one drop of blood on the paper, allowing it to soak in.
3. Turn off the lights in your room. This will turn off all the lights in the Tower.
4. Place the piece of paper on the floor in front of the door. Light your candle and plce it on top of the piece of paper.
5. Knock on the dor 22 times. Upon the twenty-second knock, it will be midnight.
6. Open the door, blow out the candle, and close the door.
7. Relight your candle.

You must now move around the Tower, keeping your candle with you at all times. Keep moving to avoid the Midnight Man. If your candle goes out, relight it immediately. If you cannot relight your candle, surround yourself with a circle of salt. If you are unsuccessful you will



Keep moving until 3:33AM. If you are not captured by the Midnight Man, you win the game. If your entire group fails, you will be punished.

Groups
Group One
Sora
Ienzo
Shion
Signless
Vriska
Minato
Mimio

Group Two
John
Suzaku
Russia
Terezi
Disciple
Link
Marceline
America

Group Three
Taiki
France (au2)
Willow Rosenberg
Handmaid
Aqua
Deneb
Echidna
Psiioniic

Group Four
Romeo
Nina Fortner
Sollux (au)
Namine
Riku
Vriska (au)
Erik
OoT!Zelda

Comments

[2nd_dii2ciiple]

[Spilling his own blood doesn't bother Ψiioniic at all, and actually the twenty-two knocks rather appeals to his obsession with duality. When he steps out into the hall, his eyes give off as much light as the candle, throwing everything into eerie blue and red relief in a semi-circle in front of him.]

[champagnedelis]

[Francisca's spilt enough blood in her lifetime that drawing her own is rather easy, the rest of the ritual almost making her roll her eyes at how like a pagan rite it seems. She's half expecting naked girls and boys to be dancing and chanting in the hallway when she steps out, but alas, silence and near darkness, save for the other members of her 'group' and their candles.

Quickly re-lighting her candle, she steps away from the closed door, shielding the flame with one hand as she lets her eyes adjust to the gloom, walking slowly but steadily around. Her bodice-knife is a reassuring weight but she still wishes she'd brought her pistol.]

[entropied]

[The Handmaid thinks this entire ritual is ridiculous, but she pricks her finger and knocks the appropriate amount of times, regardless. She lights her candle as well, hanging back slightly from the rest of the group, though she does shoot a look at the Psiioniic.]

Isn't that cheating?

[metawoof]

[Actually getting herself to cut her finger took a bit of anxiety and willpower on Echidna's part; she wasn't exactly used to bloodshed beyond a full party wipe Call of Cthulhu style. For awhile she just stared at the knife, but eventually she decided it was best to get it over with. After that, she hurried along with the rest of the ritual, though making sure it was definitely twenty-two knocks. Messing up rituals was way too easy and also very very bad.

Once she finished, she creeped out, holding the teddy bear in one hand and the candle in her other, looking at the other members of the group (and taking a moment to be freaked out by the extra red-and-blue lights before she realized what it was.

Just had to keep moving then. Just keep moving, just keep moving...~!]

[2nd_dii2ciiple]

[It takes him a moment to even realize what she's talking about.] It'th not like I can make it stop. And the candle ith still lit.

[idkmybffsakuraiyuuto]

[Deneb moves about slowly still - the candle does well at lighting up the gold part of his face. He glances about at the others before speaking - though it's a little quieter than the average voice.]

Is it wise to speak during this?

[entropied]

[The Handmaid shrugs, looking relatively unphased by the whole ritual.]

Is it wise to stay in a group?

[notagiraffe]

[Taiki stumbled as he came around a corner and was met with a much stronger smell of blood. More people, each with cut hands also. Still he had been around much more blood in the Tower and though he definitely did not feel good, he would be able to stay conscious. He didn't let go of Sanshi's hand.]

I... sorry I think it is... the more light the better... [After all if the idea was to keep the candle lit then surely this demon was drawn to darkness] I am not sure if this demon can hear... or just is drawn to darkness... sorry...

[guiltapalooza]

[Willow was not happy to be in this situation. She was scared, it was true, but more than that she was angry. Someone thought it was okay to play games with her, and that she'd play along. Her days of meek, cowering fear were over, and while she had lost the burning arrogance of her black magic addiction in the year after Tara had died, it didn't mean it was gone completely. Willow was not going to take this sitting down.

She grudgingly follows the instructions on the sheet, wincing as she slices her finger and squeezing her hand tightly into a fist afterward to help the cut close. Then she's out the door, blowing out her candle and immediately relighting it, and stalking over toward the group.

She looks confident, if with an edge of uncertainty, and ready to be attacked. Her eyes glance around the area quickly, looking out for the "Midnight Man". Willow comes to an abrupt stop in front of them. Some of them, she knows-- notably Echidna and Taiki, and two older trolls that look weirdly like Aradia and Sollux (their ancestors, she's guessing?)-- but others she doesn't know at all.]

What's going on? [she asks tightly.] Are we really going to follow the instructions?

[2nd_dii2ciiple]

If you've only got ten theconds to put salt around you if it doeth go out, I'd thay it's not tho much about stopping it from finding you, ath it ith keeping it away. Tho more light ith probably better, and talking ithn't going to affect anything.

[He looks at the new human girl, and shrugs.] If we don't play along, they probably have worthe plans in mind. Trutht me, this ith really tame by their standardth.

[champagnedelis]

[Snorts quietly as she catches the end of the glowing-eyed man's words.]

Indeed, at least we still have our bodies intact. For now.

[She circles the group, not really watching the people so much as the shadows around them.]

[idkmybffsakuraiyuuto]

This is tame? [Deneb turns toward the four-horned troll, and squirms a bit as he shuffles around the area.] Just what have I gotten into...?

[He makes a distressed noise, rubbing his head. This was all so weird and freaky...]

[entropied]

Nothing fun.

[The Handmaid mutters it, growing more and more irritated by the minute.]

I don't see what's stopping us from sitting in a circle until the game is over. This is ridiculous.

[notagiraffe]

[Taiki didn't really know anyone, except Willow, he knew Psiionic a bit because he was Signless' friend and he had spoken to France in the elevator but the others he had not met before. He moved closer to Willow sad that she had been brought here too. At least if he stayed near her Gohran could help keep her safe, help keep everyone safe. He spoke, feeling awkward about speaking up around so many people.]

I... er I don't think we have any choice either... they can do much worse than this and erm... they can control us anyways so... it might be just best to do as they say and keep moving... before we have no choice... sorry...

[The note had said to keep moving, so sitting down would probably summon the demon.]

[animusnpcs]

[The temperature begins to drop.]

[champagnedelis]

[Jerks to a stop before backing away from the cold spot, eyes darting around and free hand twitching towards her concealed knife before switching to the bag of salt instead.]

... Whatever it is, it's hunting.

[metawoof]

[Echidna was at least relieved to see Willow, and she vaguely recognized a few other familiar faces. But when the temperature dropped, she very nearly dropped the teddy bear and shivered a little, watching the flame of her candle flicker.]

H-Hunting?! [Oh god oh god oh god--] Then, w-we have to keep moving before it gets us, right...?! We could just maneuver around until we lose it, right?

[Oh who was she kidding was it ever going to be that simple.]

[2nd_dii2ciiple]

Move. Thtick together. Try not to get cornered. [He look grim, but determined.] If we don't play along they can punish uth... but nobody says we have to play fair. We help each other and fuck them.

[entropied]

[The Handmaid decides that humans are even jumpier and overemotional than she thought, but she does follow the Psiioniic's advice and pick up her speed a bit.]

Start worrying if your candle goes out.

[guiltapalooza]

[Willow sidles closer to Echidna, sparing a moment to give her a concerned look. As focused as she was on watching out for enemies, she always spared a thought for if her friends were okay, and she wasn't looking too good.]

What he said, [she agrees, frowning.] Play along for now and keep our eyes out for an opportunity. It'll be okay, Echidna-- you have me on your side, and I'm pretty good at this defending thing by now.

[notagiraffe]

[Taiki paled as the temperature dropped and when Echidna started worrying he drew closer to her and reached out to take her hand.]

We have to be brave... [He blinked up at her] Even... sorry... even if we are scared we have to act brave, the more brave we act the less the demons can hurt us... [He has no idea if this demon is the same as a Shirei, but acting brave is still probably a good idea, even if he wants to run away and hide. He can't let everyone get hurt.]

[idkmybffsakuraiyuuto]

[Wait... There's kids involved in this?

Whatever fear Deneb had been letting fester before, he swallowed it down hard. He couldn't stand idly by while kids were in danger. Folding his free hand into the shape of a gun, he moved around to stand behind Willow, with his back to her.]

We may not know each other, miss, but please, allow me to assist in watching out for the children. I shall cover your back.

[metawoof]

[Echidna was a bit taken aback by Taiki, but she took his hand carefully nevertheless.In retrospect, it was kind of amazing how much better everyone else was at this...

She shook her head, took a deep breath, and nodded.] Right! Even if we are stuck in here, there is still more of us than there are of the Midnight Man! And even if there are multiple of those, th-there are other groups around too!

[She mustered up a smile at Willow and Denebd, and she of course kept moving, carefully but quickly, biting her lip a bit as she looked at the flickering candle flame.]

[animusnpcs]

[The temperature rises and falls haphazardly, as if whatever is causing it is moving, searching. Occasionally the coldness seems to pass close, and there's a vague, black shape just far enough away as to be just out of reach of the candle light.]

[champagnedelis]

[Feeling the thing move around them, she turns to stare into the dark, the flicker of the creature at the corner of her eye.

Trying to keep track of the thing's movement, she stepped over to the children, nudging Deneb aside slightly so that he, Willow and France made a triangle around Echidna, Taiki and his guardians. Her hand keeps cupping protectively around the candle, wary for the weak flame.]

Something tells me that even if there's a lot of us and only one of 'him', I won't want to know what happens if the candles go out.