#alnst oc: sebastian

[sotogalmo]

3:00 am (4 days ago) — 12:34

“Come, my prince, kiss me in that forest...”

@alien-til-i-stage / @starry-skiez (small but lots of mentions of Ciaran) :

@solei-eclipse / @junebluues / @chokkito / @4listr / @aakaneeee / @rockwgooglyeyes / @teapotuser + @bluemoonscape

Before it all— continuing from my other post, which is the aftermath.

"now, let's get some rest. Tomorrow is a very special day, is it not?" Yume has said, a lot of the times after seeing the 'Sun' set while being in the garden.

It's something that he's cherished, but not outrightly stated that it's something he liked doing. It's more like a gift- that's what Yume has thought and called it

Sleep is a gift; and those who are able to sleep are given such a gift because it's necessary for them (not for me, they wanted to see if they can push me to the end)

And such a gift, is good for them.

And it's something he wanted to learn about; it's not that weird that he watches others, isn't it?

He's learning about it, and it's better to do it up close and personal- a hands-on type of experiment. So it's not weird of him to stare.

It's actually quite normal for him to stare at others.

Seeing others sleep, whether they sleep within seconds or take longer- it's all interesting to him.

They are also in weird and funny positions to sleep in... But it's nice that they trust him when they fall asleep next to him.

He, Yume Nagai -"the sleep potentate"- finds it's very nice of them to trust him with such dreams and how close he is to them (physically, he doesn't really know what happens in their dreams, but he hopes it's nothing but what they want)

But it seems whenever they sleep close to him, they have happy dreams!

That makes him.. feel... Nice about himself. And it gives him purpose.

To which, he couldn't help but let his mind wander thru his past as he stared at some of them sleeping.

His past before he met the ones in his class; before he met his class.

His past where he would indulge in his own choosing of hanging out with Ald, for as long as he can. That has him asking questions, and never getting a full straight answer— but the fact that he can hang out and hear his voice?

Ah, it's so wonderful that it just drives him wild.

Even if Ald later down the line forgot about him and then got a new pet, oh what was his name? Sebstian? Sebastion? No one cares.

Yume had loved him since they had their first meeting; when they first looked at each other and then a spark happened.

And he was helpful too! Since he could bring Ald to greatness and provide wealth for him; he was technically the son of a doctor.

And he didn't mind! He actually accepted it, outright. And if it means that the silly childhood promise they both made when they met, could be kept in like a secret; a place where he will compromise for Ald's forgetfulness—

Because as long as he has him, surely everything will be alright. Even if he forgets- as long as they are together physically; he can be safe and sweet.

...

To which, it connects to what he's been seeing and what he's seeing right now. Someone is having trouble sleeping- someone not close to him, so they're fine.

But some of them seem to be in a nightmare; granted, Sebastian always has nightmares or just plain black dreams. so it's not surprising when it comes to him—

But for the others. It's a bit of a surprise. But then again, this places does bring them so much anxiety- fear and relentless horror. Even if they don't know it.

At least the subtle-ness of such a place gets to them subconsciously. It always was like that for him, so most likely it's for the others too. It would make sense

And in a way, he has just the right thing for them that can soothe them and bring much happier dreams than the ones that they're having. Well- not really, and he doesn't feel up to it.

In a way, he's jealous because they can have this gift of being human and having a rest. It's a gift that many of them have shared with others since the very start of their birth.

But, also- he's helpful to them because he can lure them to sleep— he was helpful for Ald!

He thinks he's helpful for the others because of how he can help them with their sleeping habits. And it makes him happy that he can help them; which has turned into a thing he does for the sake of their health and overall happiness.

Everyone has worries that weigh them down from day to day, he knows that with perfect -unchained, unscorecard, and unrestrained- knowledge because he's always seen worry.

"mama" he would first think, and then- "or papa... I don't know which is more fitting for them, but mama gives me... makes me a tiny bit of.. happiness..."

But then he'll just continue this train of thought: "mama and every other person I was able to see.. I could see their worries plain as day. Even with their sleeplessness, it wasn't hard to find it. It's under their eyelids, they are called "eye bags" I've been told by ama." — "and that was why some of them have been so surprised when I went up to them, whenever I could. I think."

"But! Now! With this medicine I plan on making, with the tiny leaves I've gathered when I was out playing with Ciaran (ah, ciaran..), and the.. cuts I gave myself. Leaves and liquid are important for making a cure, right?"

Yume hums a small tone, nothing significant. Just something that he regularly hums whenever he's too deep into his mind— "repeated tasks in uninspiring daily life, deepest longings.. ah, you know. Only inside a dream, you can leave it all behind-"

He's thought of that, too many times.

To close his eyes, cast away anything - anyone - everyone and everything he's tired of because if-

Ah. You already know that though. I bet you do, it's the main reason why he was made!

Such irony.

That he, now also does the same for the same reason; to lose himseld in his mind inside of his realities, where it's all true! (oh, who needs reality when you can dream? It's very simple!)

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.... . / .-- .- .-.. -.- . -.. / - --- / - .... . -- .-.-.- / --. .. ...- .. -. --. / - .... . -- / .- / --. .. ..-. - .-.-.- / .- / --. .. ..-. - / ..-. --- .-. / - .... . -- / - --- / -... . / ..-. .-. . . / ..-. .-. --- -- / - .... . / .-.. .. ..-. . / - .... .- - / .. ... / .- -. .- -.- - / --. .- .-. -.. . -. .-.-.- / .- / --. .. ..-. - --..-- / .- / -... .-.. ..- . / ...- .. .- .-.. .-.-.- / .- / ...- .. .- .-.. / .. -. / .... .. ... / .... .- -. -.. / - .... .- - / .. ... / -.. .- -- .- --. . -.. / -... . -.-- --- -. -.. / .-. . - ..- .-. -. --..-- / .- -. -.. / - .... .- - / -... .-.. ..- . / ...- .. .- .-.. / .-.. --- --- -.- ... / .-.. .. -.- . / .-- .- - . .-. .-.-.- / ... ..- .-. . .-.. -.-- / - .... .. ... / --. .. ..-. - / .. ... / -. --- / .--. --- .. ... --- -. -.-.-- / -... . -.-. .- ..- ... . / .-- .... -.-- / .-- --- ..- .-.. -.. / .. - / -... . ..--.. / .-- .... -.-- / .-- --- ..- .-.. -.. / .... . / --. .. ...- . / - .... . -- / ... ..- -.-. .... / .- / - .... .. -. --. ..--.. / .... . / -.-. .- .-. . ... / ..-. --- .-. / - .... . -- .-.-.- / - .... . ... . / .-.. --- .-- .-.. -.-- / .--. . - ... / --- -. .-.. -.-- / .-- .- -. - .. -. --. / .- -. -.. / .-- .- .. - .. -. --. / ..-. --- .-. / - .... . / --. .-. .. -- .-.-.- / - .... . / -- ..- .-. -.- -.-- / .-- .- - . .-. --..-- / - --- --- / -.. .- .-. -.- / -.-- . - / .. - .----. ... / ... - .. .-.. .-.. / .-..-. .-- .- - . .-. .-..-. .-.-.- / .- / --. .. ..-. - / - --- / .- .-.. .-.. / --- ..-. / - .... . -- .-.-.- / -. --- .-- / --- ..-. ..-. / .. -. - --- / .... .- .--. .--. -.-- / -.. .-. . .- -- ... --..-- / .- .-.. .-.. / - .... . / -.-. .... .. .-.. -.. .-. . -. / ... .... .- .-.. .-.. / -.. .-. .. ..-. - / - --- / - .... . .. .-. / ... .- ..-. . / .... .- ...- . -. .-.-.-

But now,

I can—

Be free.....

Yume hums a small tone, nothing significant. Just something that he regularly hums whenever he's too deep into his mind— He thinks he's helpful for the others because of how he can help them with their sleeping habits; he's shown that! His vial, his medicine- his "gift". And it makes him happy that he can help them; which has turned into a thing he does for the sake of their health and overall happiness.

For the sake of his—

CRASH. (Wink)

Oh?

Ah.

That rat— vermin, again.

Isn't it?

Roaming the halls, seems like he's not actually a heavy sleeper; but that's to be expected. He's always on the worry side of everything.

That's what Ald has been telling him, when he was first adopted he would make these small mistakes just like a new-born fawn! Ald found it funny, and so does Yume.

Hah, how can a faun- a deer survive in these conditions?

Ah.

But if he finds out; oh. He might tell the others— he seems to be that type of person, either way.

A scaredy cat that makes too many mistakes that it's funny, a mouse that tells on others, a rat that hears and whines, a vermin who's nothing but pest— nothing but oblivious to the idea that Yume has; that will set them both and many others free from this place.

So, yes. He has “"broken in"”. Not his fault that the aliens didn't trust him enough to watch the others...

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They met.

Face to face—

Once again. But this time with no "axe" behind Yume as to "disregard" his 'clone' (ahahah, ahahaha! funny- because he's the one and only Yume Nagai. Why would there be clones of him?)

They were standing near- so damn near- the entrance of the garden.

The ever-shifting colored box; the top of it open. They could see the stars- the other planets— everything.

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But that doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter to him; Yume. It doesn't matter.

It shouldn't, and it doesn't matter.

Why is Sebastian so resistant? Why does he hesitate (Drink up the vial. Take a breath; Suck out the poison, let it touch you) ? Why does he second guess, everything given to him?

This gift, why does he wake so easily from it?

This gift, why does he always worry it would never work?

This gift, why does he call it "nightmare"?

... Yume walks away; oh, he doesn't want to spend a MINUTE longer with this ginger!

He always makes him confused, questioning himself; but of course! What he thinks about Sebastian is nothing but rivalry!

Why should he feel connected, and feel just the same when he was with Ald (with Ciaran)?

Sebastian is the total opposite of them, and that doesn't feel nice.

Yume is now back in his room. Not alone, but he's back in his room. In all honesty, that's better than being in the halls where the others could see them.

This is better, because he can now- revisit the way he did his cure. (Feelin' feelin' feelin' feelin' f e a r)

And maybe have someone taste it (Drink up the vial. Take a breath; Suck out the poison, let it touch you) out! To see if it's perfect for the others.. even if he already gave those said others (those nobodies) their peace!

Yume sits back down, close to the area where he was making his cure; his gift to them all. Before he heard Sebastian's voice;

Of course it wobbled, but only a slight bit before he 'yelled' (more like he whispered this out loud in a very hushed but loud voice)— "Stop this already!"

To which? Of course, Yume responded, in the same tone and everything. You don't want the others to catch you, right?

"Stop what?"

Sebastian's hands waved around in the air (With a slight fever,) as he tried to remember what Yume called that glass bottle- "this- that thing that you're creating!—

You can't keep making it-!" Such a ""hero"" (but he is here with a weapon.. no, it can't be.)

"Why not!? Why not!? What's so bad about finally having rest!?" (wink.) "I'm here to save you all!"

"To start the end of the beginning."

"......"

"So I can finally meet him again... I have to do this."

"How are you so sure that this will make you meet him?"

"you... you just want to die!"

"AND!?"

"if I DIE, then they'll surely ask you about me. And he- he'll ask you about me! He'll finally talk about me!"

"Also...." Yume stopped for a bit, lowering his hoarse voice.

"Are how you so sure, I'll die? I know I will, but I'll not stay dead for long. I know it for sure." Saying it with such childishly sweet reassurance.

Sebastian gripped his scissors. Wondering if that tone should've been comforting, or something. It sounds— wrong. Like it's not supposed, to be that childish. That sweet- that unbothered.

Yume held onto his box cutters, the ones he found and hid away from the aliens- so very well.

"Besides. You know what Ald eats."

Sebastian shudders at the memories of seeing.. three? Or possibly more, human bodies that sometimes look like him; with the same clothes and everything-! The same rat hats, same rat tail belts, and everything. (Even the same things that the other pets would hunt- everything was prey. He was prey. But he lived; why? What's so interesting about him? Why did Ald keep him alive?)

"I only hope to be helpful to him. To be his resource, to be his~."

Sebastian looked away as he slightly drew blood from his own hand holding onto his scissors too tightly. "I should've known it would be like this, for that reason.. because you are weird, and a freak... ..... but why.. just why Yume..."

"it's only natural, that I'll finally be useful to him. And that they'll never let me go... I'm too important to them."

"Why.."

"Isn't painful? Suffocating?

Do you just want to escape it all?"

He's being... He's being vulnerable.

"Too tired of it all?" (A woman is eavesdropping on them; she lightly shakes and then looks down while having her robe on. She understands what he's saying.....)

"But."

What do you mean "but"? (Drink up the vial

Take a breath

Wink

Suck out the poison

Let it touch you)

"That's alright. It's fine; it's just how- and the way humans are."

You're saying that like you're.. you, yourself aren't human.... (Save this game, Mr. A)

Yume brings his box cutters to a spot on his wrist, like he's an expert at such harm (he is, just look at how he needed a glove to hide his marks!)— he didn't even have to look at his arm; his hand.

He knew just the spot, and he knew how to finish his cure; his gift— the heaven's blessing.

Love's love.

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His own blood.

If he can't give it to Ald (not Ald, not Ald. It's Ciaran), then he can at least "accidentally" give it to him.

The leaves, his blood, the poppy lookalike flowers (they are called ANAKT flowers, but he doesn't buy it. Fake? Of course, but it's the best he can do)- along with one silvervine.

Sebastian looks around, continuing to draw blood from his sweaty palm that is holding onto his weapon (Still covering my right eye

I check the tears). ..... He's thinking of doing what he should do- as a way to stop this craziness (yes, he knows that Yume has already been crazy from the start since they met, but this— ....)

A cut; and the drip-drip-drip of fresh blood. The metal smell overwhelms Sebastian, as he dashes forwards to pull Yume away; getting some of it (the blood, the blood coming from Yume's already too far gone wrist) way from the small bottle that Yume has been working on for who knows how long..

To which?

Yume attacks.

How DARE he stop this!

He would've dragged him down with him later or earlier, but now it seems like he should drag him down with him; NOW.

If Sebastian is acting like this, then he must surely want to be dead with him right now— but he can't.. he doesn't have the strength for it. (The woman outside of their door, starts to leave. They don't pay attention- but surely the guards might've- should've heard of her steps. It seems to be close to morning? The time where they would put the place in "day mode"; pink hair in cat-ear like buns sways, leaving with a younger girl who has ear-length ginger brown hair)

So it was easy for Sebastian, the one who can hold an alien back by one hand, to hold him in place and to at least try and help— keyword; try.

He tries.

He doesn't succeeds.

Yume scratches at his arm's bicep.

Not necessarily with his nails, but also with his box cutter. It's easy to do that (he had to, switch? the placement of his box cutters onto the other hand because his hand is bleeding out. Slowly, but still).

He was giving something back; he was giving that pain back. Not to the actual one who caused it, but the one who caused confusion for him.

He lightly smirked again, a last time type of smirk; the same smirk he had when they first met (God, Sebastian thinks, this makes me sound cheesy as hell. As if I liked him- no, not that. As if I "loved" him.....)

But his smirk was hiding something. Sebastian just knows it; how can he smile like this? And use so much force to crave words into his biceps....

He's—

you had used me, and abused me, made me feel small. You had cast aside my feelings, treated me like a doll. Even long before the gift, you'd broken my heart.

It was all I could do to tear the damn place apart! (I'll scream until I rot away)

They are face to face again.

Sebastian is holding in his tears (he doesn't want to be seen as weak, or pathetic. He doesn't like tears because of that. He only wants to be helpful)

Yume is ever smiling back at him.

. . . This feels so weird...

it's a medicine, it brings sleep make no mistake. And the sleep's eternal, so you never shall wake.

With what he can do for now, he reaches over to the glass bottle. Sebastian doesn't move, as he only tighten his grip onto him- trying so much.

"This is okay. This is okay." Yume said, what is he trying to achieve with saying that?

My Insomnia is transformed to a thing of the past.

Yume pushes them both away from each other. Sebastian brings his scissors to Yume's shoulder; close to his neck and collarbone (he wanted to stop this, in one way to another. Even if blood is made. He has to chase his heart) — to that, Yume somewhat whined. Only for a little bit

No longer the sleep princess, instead the sleeping beauty~—

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The same pink haired woman is lightly seen. She's with— no.

It can't be.

It must be a clone, at least!

[thorny-chaparral]

"see, told ya I can be nice if I want to!"

"..are you sure there are no bombs in the cake?"

"only one way to find out, birthday boy!"

Happy birthday Sebastian! 08/10/2024

@sotogalmo

(I hope I put his birthday down correctly because my timezone is.. very different... so I put the date from yesterday)

[cloverandstuff]

MAYA'S FIRST DAY IN ANAKT GARDEN [PART 1]

She doesn't recognise anyone there.

That should have been obvious, of course she wouldn't. But she can't help but take note of it. Some seem to have made connections while others are content on their own. But none are faces she finds familiar.

Maya chooses to sit in a corner, under a tree (are they truly trees? is the grass truly grass? is any of this real-). She is content to watch the kods play. She is content to watch the way this story will end.

Maya takes notes of some of the kids in the meantime.

There was a boy with lengthy pale blue hair and blue eyes, talking rather happily to another kid, who had brown hair and striking gold eyes. Maya can't tell if they were friends...but they looked close to it. Maya can't help but think the scene looked rather sweet. The blue haired kid looked happier to be there than the brunet, but he looked content nonetheless. It was an odd pairing, but they seemed to be friends. She could see smiles, no matter how big nor small. [Innamorati and Macbeth by @alien-til-i-stage ]

(There was another boy, a redhead, who was looking at them from a distance. He seemed fixated on the 'blue one'...to an unhealthy degree. He felt dangerous...almost like he was inevitable. Were the blue and him also friends..?(Toki by @zerostyrant )

There was another duo she took notice of, mostly the girl, hair fading from white to brown, being more..excited, she could say. She was a bright person, there was no doubt about that. The kind that would draw people in. The boy looked rather stoic, as though he was one of those noble aliens Echidna sometimes talked to. But Maya could tell there was also an air of...caution? He even avoided looking her in the eyes...why would he be catious of the girl? Despite this, he let the girl stay around. Thats curious. [Jiu and Kioku by @solei-eclipse]

Maya looks around some more and a child takes up her attention. He looked almost ordinary, with black hair and dark eyes, but there was definitely something...uncanny about him. Like he was an attempt at something resembling human, but not entirely one. He was smiling, and it should by all means look genuine, but Maya couldn't help but find it to be so fake. Ingenuous. Almost like a doll in a way. [Yume by @sotogalmo]

The other boy he was at near felt familiar. Maya could find a sense of resemblance in the boy to someone she had seen before. But this time, he felt more...sane? Was he sane? Was anyone here truly sane? He seemed like one of the more quiet ones...like he was constantly afraid of something happening. (...why did he almost resemble one of those funny dolls Maya had seen before? The ones with strings) [Sebastian by @/sotogalmo ]

There's so many scars she can notice on the kids...are they safer here than they were before? Did some of them even want to be here-

Is that a kid in a tree?

...Dear guardians, it's a kid in a tree. He seems comfortable up there, like he's done this plenty of times before. And he just up there...observing. He had bright red eyes. (It almost seemed like they wouls glow), and beauty marks that looked like the bite marks from one of those crude shows Echidna watched. He seemed normal despite all this, if not shy. Still, he was intriguing if only for his habit of apparently watching from trees. [Ciaran by @starry-skiez ]

....ah, there was a familiar face. Just one Maya had never spoken to. She should have known Yvonne would be here. And she still carried that air of elegance around her...as well as that sense of unhinge. Her muted pink hair was always a sight to see, but Maya never got over the eerie personality of hers...Maybe she changed [Yvonne by @aakaneeee]

Maya's eyes landed on strands of white, with striking pink eyes to pair with them. The girl was staring up at the clouds (were the clouds eve real?...suppse it doesn't matter to the girl) . She seemd content in her activity. It looked peaceful. [Asahi by @apriciticreveries ]

There was another child by her side, also content. Maya could note that there were moments where seemed to communicate something to the other one using her hands rather than her words. It makes her curious on how she made it into the garden in the first place. [Yumi by @rockwgooglyeyes ]

A loud vpice caught her attention, and Maya turned to look at a rather fragile looking girl, with brown hair, only interrupted by a streak of yellow. She looked cheerful...almost like she would tackle someone to the ground out of sheer affection. But Maya felt like something deeper was lurking, like she had her own secrets she wanted to keep...Still, she seemed to be a lind soul. [Nene by @junebluues]

Ah, there. There was a boy who looked like he didn't want to be there. There was no sense of honor or want that Maya could see on the surface. He simply didn't wish to be there. Bandages wrapped around his hands, but Maya couldn't see if there was blood from where she was sitting. He did seem to be fiddling with some sort of technolody in his hands, useless if not for the fidgeting. [Xael by @junebluues ]

Beside him was another boy, though he looked more friendly than the other one. He seemed fond of his...friend(???) regardless. He seemed happy to be there, and rather brighter tha his counterpart....they were cute together. [Numa by @spcells]

[neverforgetyou]

"aww dont be nervous! it's just a crown, see!"

sebastian by @weatheredhead

[lookatmysillies]

AREPH Main Facility - Eddy POV

Tallis was brought to the facility shortly after Round 7.

While his companion, the guard, Hayate, was dragged unconscious to the lower high-security floors that Eddy had yet to attain access to, Tallis was immediately transferred to the ICU. Usually, this space was reserved for injured workers, but Tallis was an exception. He was placed in the same bed that Eddy had been vacated from after a long rest and recovery following its near-death encounter with the target Solei. Or... whatever they were now. Eddy wasn't certain. It was still set on the idea that it could save them and bring them home after such a long absence.

While Eddy was slowly integrated back into the field, they lingered in Tallis's room during the long days. At first, they merely observed him; a real Alien Stage contestant, up close! It was a marvel. He was marked for death by his loss against the contestant Daiki with her edgy wit and charm, but AREPH must've had bigger plans.

Maybe they brought Eddy a friend after all this time. They hadn't had a friend for a very long time. Not since... not since him.

Eddy tried not to think too much about Sebastian most days. Some days they allowed themselves to look at his baby pictures and smile and tear up.

Tallis was a lot - well, bigger than Sebastian was, but he worked well as a friend all the same. Eddy clumsily re-braided his hair whenever his braids loosened in his unresponsive state. It checked Tallis's IVs and the bandages on his midsection, one for the first bullet (it definitely got him good, but only pierced the fatty tissue of his side) and another for the second, which had pierced his abdomen. The aliens who tended to Tallis's health joked that Eddy might as well be their boss, seeing as it was there even more than they were.

It read case files to Tallis to stimulate his mind, ate meals in his presence and told him that he would love the pudding from the caf once he woke up, studied his calloused fingers (how did they get so rough?) and gently wiped his face and neck with a wet cloth every now and then to keep him clean. When one day, Tallis was transported to the lower levels where Eddy couldn't go, it was sad to see its new best friend go. Waiting for him to wake up felt like it was taking forever.

When he re-emerged a few weeks later, he was still asleep - kept in a medically induced coma, the doctors told Eddy, for his health. They told him he should wake soon and put him in one of their medical observation rooms. Eddy couldn't braid Tallis's hair anymore, as it had been buzzed sometime when he was gone, but they could resume their usual routine.

Until Tallis did finally wake a few nights after Eddy monitored Round 16 to watch for Aurien and Solei.

And Tallis was not happy.

They got past the initial awkwardness after Tallis threw things at them the night he woke up and spit in their face. Tallis must've realized relatively quickly that he was surrounded by aliens and his best bet was to let the only other human stick around.

He rejected Eddy's friendly gestures for a solid week. He pushed away the warm washcloths and refused to eat much of the food Eddy offered him despite his gaunt, sunken appearance. The only times he addressed Eddy directly (or anyone, really) was to ask questions.

Where am I? The AREPH facility. Where's the facility? I'm so sorry, I can't tell you that! How am I alive? The guard saved you - I'm glad he did, too! Where is he, then? Undergoing treatment in the lower levels, then he'll probably be questioned. Are you going to question me? Soon, yes, we think you might have information pertinent to our investigations.

Tallis's jaw ticked at those words, and Eddy knew he knew what that meant.

Tallis had ties to high-profile figures.

(And that was the only reason he still lived, not because his life had any worth to anyone, but because he had information on the people who really mattered in the eyes of others.)

Which brought them to their first compromise.

Eddy wasn't technically allowed to show Tallis any information regarding Season 39 of Alien Stage. He was supposed to be in the dark.

But it broke Eddy's heart to reject him any information on his friends, Tov and Himei. He cared about them. He had a human connection with them, like Eddy had a human connection with Sebastian once upon a time.

"I'll be your friend if you tell me if they're okay," Tallis said ever so quietly one night from his bed, eyes wide and teary. "Just tell me if they're alive. Tell me how many of my friends are still alive."

And Eddy broke.

"Tov," Eddy whispered in his ear so no sound systems would pick up on it. "Himei, and all the others who won their rounds before you, all but Vera. Khoi." Tallis's eyes fluttered shut. "Lark, Akane, Jae, Lang, and Onyx."

Tallis's throat caught on a harsh swallow. "No Castor?"

Eddy hesitated, wishing not to have to be the one to confirm it.

"No Castor," it murmured, shrinking away when Tallis's face briefly crumpled, a single tear released from his eye. Then he wiped his face with his blanket like a small child might and forced a stoic look upon his face, though his lips still trembled.

"Tell me," Tallis said shakily, "who wins the next row. If you can."

Eddy couldn't turn him down again after that.

"I can."

AREPH had different plans.

Eddy didn't have to tell him one thing, because for Rounds 17 and 21, Tallis was placed on a chair in the observation room with wires and electrodes attached to his head. Eddy and a few others had already taken a few cracks each at getting Tallis to talk about his classmates and he had thus refused.

"Is this necessary?" Eddy whispered to the small alien named Yakun, chewing on the inside of their cheek behind their facemask. Tallis's face was nearly green with sick as the countdown to Tov's round whittled down, his friend about to meet the fate she was destined for either way.

Eddy hoped she won, for Tallis's sake and their own preferences. She was Eddy's favorite contestant. She was radiant.

"It is," Yakun told it. "If he won't tell us about his connections, we'll learn ourselves."

Tallis had already been irritable and jittery since he woke up from his coma. Now, he was downright mercurial as the round progressed live on a projector before him. He shook violently in his seat from the beginning till the end. When Lark hit the floor, he covered his eyes, his mouth moving in what could be some silent prayer. He only removed his hands when the announcer bellowed Tov's name.

Round 21 was worse. Like Round 17, Tallis's friend took the early lead and held it throughout, but also like Round 17, there was a wrench thrown into it. Instead of Lark falling to the ground, it was Himei, forced down by Noora. When Noora started raining punches down on Himei, Tallis, who had already been anxious the whole performance mouthing "something is wrong" promptly burst into silent tears, biting down on his fingers as Himei was hurt. The gunshot piercing Noora's neck almost seemed like a relief to him, making his teeth unclench from his flesh, dark bite marks left in their wake.

Eddy hated it.

That night, Tallis was utterly defeated, pale and shivering. He let Eddy clean his face, or maybe more accurately, he had no energy to resist it. He let them steal an extra blanket from an unoccupied room and put it on Tallis's bed.

Eddy watched over him that night, eyes fixated on his sleeping form, pierced by the familiar ache that came with connection.

Sebastian's pictures felt like they were burning against Eddy's leg where they rested in its pocket.

Not much more than a week later, Himei's long black curls were falling to the floor with each rhythmic snip of the scissors.

Daiki was dead. Himei had outlasted her. She won the stupid fucking game she was playing against herself.

But with every photoshoot and interview that came afterwards deeming Himei a member of the Elite Eight, declaring her better than Daiki, pitting her against Tov whose points count loomed ahead of her, Himei knew the truth.

Every time she glimpsed herself in the mirror and saw her bruised, sore face, she knew the truth.

Every time she laid eyes on Cirrus, whether in a magazine, on a billboard, or at mealtimes, she knew.

She didn't win.

She'd already lost, regardless of the outcome.

The morning of Round 24, she woke with a heavy heart.

She needed to see Tov.

Tagging time! Tov belongs to @ivanttakethis; Daiki belongs to @daiki1k; Sebastian belongs to @sotogalmo; Lark and Noora belong to @kamersona; Cirrus belongs to @cirrusoftheclouds. Everyone else is pretty much mentioned in passing, so I won't tag those people and spam their notifs, lol.

[imperfectnothing]

I've watched. Coco twice this week. This day, I thought of candlemask when watching it (or more like. Sebastian as Miguel but. ,,yeahg)

I've been thinking. A lot. Of them .

Yeah. Puede que esté loco

(head in my hands) oh my god. fuck. how did you clock this. dian/faisal are kind of inspired by Coco subconsciously?? if that makes sense? It's one of the reason's Fai's flower symbol is marigolds (them being used on ofrendas, also their multitude of symbolisms), Dian's overall character symbol being a candle which is something that has a lot of prevalence in that movie and also just, the dia de los muertos tradition in general,,, Flor's skeleton/mask imagery too?? like fuck man

Miguel is soooo Sebastian (and vice versa) like man, stubborn yet ultimately mousy boy who is eager to please but at the same time, wants to follow his dreams, uncompromising in his passions?? so so so fitting. thank you for sending this ask. gives me an excuse to go feral /pos

also in part based off of the aesthetic of this one subway surfers version, that was for dia de los muertos a few years ago, 'cause i fucking love the aesthetic it had during this time . . . the marigolds and candles and the constant twilight?? chef's kiss

[verdantlights]

Weirdest idea, feel free to not notice this.

Blink Gone but Sebastian and Toki

*grins evilly at you* yes... yes.... im assuming toki/luka and seb/till considering personalities and who between them would theoretically die?? cause mgmgmgnfmfm yes eusyeysy

also bc you did take inspo from tills r7 fit for sebastian!! ir emember that,,, i can draw my cunty little asshole in a fit thats similar to/is lukas stage fit UUWUAUUA

i love the idea a LOT cause i also put blink gone on tokis playlist whehehe

[solei-eclipse]

Tiny silly question. Would Solei know of Sebastian-? I dunno. I just kinda think it'd be interesting inna way, especially if Seb slightly reminds them of Flor. Justa tiny bit (it's not a coincidence) <- I think I'm silly

Explodes

I'm not sure if you've mentioned it before, I'm sorry I might not have seen, but it depends on how obvious/secretive Flor was about having him. Obviously going through that would thoroughly change a person, but Solei wouldn't know what happened to Flor unless they were told outright.

If Solei were ever to meet Seb, they'd be genuinely shocked at the visual similarities. He's like a very different version of Flor to them, more mousy and afraid. Yet they may be able to see her face in some of his expressions and mannerisms. It feels uncanny at times to Solei...

They'd definitely care for Sebastian, though! It's something they can't help, especially since he's Flor's son and Solei is very fond of her. They'd worry about him often.

[aakaneeee]

l'amour de pierrot

(sebastian belongs to @sotogalmo!)

[astoryofsuchwoe]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEBASTIAN!!!!! @sotogalmo

[rockwgooglyeyes]

So, since it's possibly canon that Nyx and Asa are related- how would he (and possibly others?) react to the fact that Sebastian is related to Flor(ie, being her son) <- just thinking of this. I think they might bond (along with Cas) but who knows

It is canon that Asahi (@apriciticreveries) is Nyx's daughter!

Nyx's feelings around family and children are complicated in and of themself because he's immensely protective over his children (despite the fact that he can do little to actually protect them) and he loves them dearly even though he only knows them for the first three-four years of their lives. He loves his children. He names them after the little beauties in life, the movements of the heavens, the steadiness of the stars. He wishes that they hadn't been born because they were brought into a world containing such cruelty and betrayal but still, he loves them.

That's the crux of the complexity when it comes to his feelings on even Flor and Cas's relationships with their children.

He understands Cas' (@lookatmysillies) aversion to raising his offspring and the reasoning and trauma behind that. After all, none of them had any choice in whether or not they would have children, Nyx knows why Cas would want to avoid thinking about it and looking at his kids because those kids are representative of an irreversible and irrevocable trauma. Even for Nyx, who actively involves himself in his children's lives, it's still a trauma, which he takes out on Oryon and whoever was tasked with fucking him that time (unless the studs want to be around the kids, Nyx is like "fuck off and get away from me" lmao).

Flor, well, Nyx has a little bit more trouble understanding Flor. This is simply because he can get why someone would remove themself from the life of their child, but forgetting about that child entirely? He doesn't really fathom how that's possible. (With his knowledge pool, I doubt he understands PTSD and the selective amnesia that can be involved in trauma disorders like that which is ironic considering he has one.) Nyx definitely tries to connect with Flor over the fact that they were both the carriers of their respective children though, with the way that it changed their bodies, the specific trauma that comes with bearing a child, that sort of thing. (I say "try" just because I think he reaches out a hand but it's fully up to Flor to take that hand and I don't know if she would)

Dian wouldn't really be able to handle Flor being a mom super well despite the fact that they're friends just because the whole breeding process is something he doesn't touch with a ten foot pole. He knows he's privileged for being able to avoid it but it's an incredibly bad time for him to think about/interact with so he does not go near it!

Yumi definitely thinks it's interesting that Sebastian and Flor are related because she can see the family resemblance? But at the same time, they're so different. She honestly thinks it would make more sense if Nyx and Seb were related because of their attitudes but when it comes down to it, she's kind of ambivalent to that whole can of beans.

I have another season 40 OC in the works but I don't think he would have much of an opinion on this either, except for maybe the fact that it's ironic that Sebastian has a mom and yet he experienced all of this family based trauma. Not ironic in a funny way, just peculiar.

[sotogalmo]

3:34

Did this for some reason

Ratman Sebastian (heavily taken from Present Day Problem Takechi Robert) and Catman Toki

Toki: @zerostyrant

[thorny-chaparral]

intro!!

hello and welcome to thornychaparral, aka @aakaneeee :3 this is my side blog for my ocs... because my main blog is getting crowded

the original characters featured on this blog:

.akane☆she/her, anakt class 39, 28 years old, romantically involved with naz, status: deceased

.aoto♧he/him, anakt class 39, escaped, 25 years old, romantically involved with marisol, status: alive

.yvonne♡she/her, anakt class 40, 24 years old, romantically involved with sebastian, status: alive

.eliana♤she/they, anakt class 40, 20 years old, (romantically, one-sided) involved with nene, status: alive

.atlas◇he/him, anakt class 40, 21 years old, romantically involved with zhuli, status: alive

.vivianᶻ𐰁she/her, anakt class 40, escaped, 25 years old, no romantic involvement, status: ■■

.aamon⊹he/him, anakt class 40, 19 years old, no romantic involvement, brother:■■, status: alive

.briar｡𖦹he/him, anakt class 41, 23 years old, romantically involved with ichor, status: alive

.viktor꒰ྀhe/him, anakt class 41, 20 years old, status: alive

i never realized I had this many...

[sotogalmo]

@zerostyrant this is Seb and Tok to me

Pangur walked over to touch noses with Belphie, and I thought amazing, yes, there is peace in this world again, until she slowly dropped her lower jaw and morphed her face into one of demonic rage and poor Belphie scrambled and fled like his soul was being eaten

[lookatmysillies]

Yael Fun (Tragic) Facts!

Since he has the least amount of screen time of any of my OCs so far, he’s some tidbits of his character to help get to know him better:

-He gravitates towards unhealthy relationships whether that be for friends or romantic partners. He has an incredibly toxic and codependent relationship with Macbeth, and after Macbeth’s death, he becomes obsessed with trying to get Innamorati to accept him and accept Macbeth’s passing.

-He could have the potential for a healthier dynamic if @paradisedisconcert is still making their shy little guy

-He’s had multiple unnecessary surgeries done. He’s had organs removed and replaced that were perfectly healthy. He has to have a very specific diet not to aggravate his system after all that’s been done to try and “fix” him.

-Because of this, he has to exclusively eat plain, tasteless food. He misses sweets.

-Tends to wander with seemingly no goal, aimlessly picking petals off of flowers or staring at seemingly nothing

-Before he goes to sleep, he has a routine of pressing his fingers against different spots on his torso to feel if anything is inside that shouldn’t be or otherwise missing. He does this again when he wakes up.

-They’re very interested in his peers and sometimes follows them around without saying anything.

-He and Naz used to be friends, but Naz slowly became freaked out by Yael and pushed him away.

-His hair is always cut short and straightened when he comes back from a visit home. His guardian is wealthy and likes him looking as clean and presentable as possible. Naturally, his hair is curly.

-Left-handed.

-Takes a lot of strange medicines every day that switch out frequently. He has to take them crushed in his food since he can’t swallow pills.

-Born female but leaned more androgynous and masculine as a young child, so they grew up as such.

-Wants to help others but often goes about it the wrong way.

-Their guardian, Aligri, has never sent any humans to Anakt Garden before Yael, who was sent very, very young.

-He has a very blank look about him most of the time.

-Can often be heard singing strange, unfamiliar melodies and words under his breath—he sees singing as ritualistic. He’s never known a life in death without it.

-In addition to Macbeth and Inna, he’s also interested in Naz, Kioku, Yume, Xael, Numa, Sebastian, and Yumi (subject to be added onto, obviously)

-He never really seems happy or childlike, just listless.

-He once had an incident where he almost drowned in the stream in Anakt Garden. He wandered there and was found facedown in the water by a classmate. He was pulled out and had to be revived.

-He had to wear a collar after that.

[verdantlights]

TW for brief mention of SA, abuse, and panic attacks.

Bumblebees are out - Jack Stauber

♧ Clove ♧

Green is Clove

Blue is Aster - @apriciticreveries

Orange is Wren - @ivanttakethis

Purple is Cindy - @tsukacchako

Macbeth - @alien-til-i-stage

Sebastian - @sotogalmo

Clove's most recent owner, Ignis. Abandoned him at ANAKT at 15 years old. He was visually beaten and bruised, cuts and gashes visible through tattered clothing. He looked lifeless. The administrators who handled him were... a bit concerned, but couldn't do anything to help him yet. The only thing Ignis said before handing all ownership over to ANAKT was, "Keep her hair long and keep her piercings in. Don't let her take them out."

And so began Clove's recovery at ANAKT. The admins were thankfully kind towards Clove, and helped him recover as well as put him in physical therapy for wrongly-healed fractured ankles.

Clove was silent for a while, the light in his eyes was dark. Everyone was referring to him as a girl and he couldn't say anything about it. His voice wouldn't come out, he was too scared.

But little by little, he regained hope. He ended up in speech therapy too, which helped a lot. Soon enough he was giving rough bits and pieces about Ignis' treatment towards Clove as well as Clove's preferred identity. They acclimated decently, able to edit a few things on his chart for future admins to see. As for Ignis' treatment, they weren't surprised to hear the things he had done. A lot of human pet owners treating their pets like sex toys, punching bags, and/or slaves is nothing new.

From what they've gathered, Clove endured all three. He was forced to be a young girl and to do everything Ignis asked of him. It was torture. He had to endure it for roughly 2 years.

They learned how Clove's eye became defective. He had a nasty beating and was left with a gash through his right eye leaving it black, bruised, and swollen. It got infected and wasn't treated. He had a parasite eat its way through his eye and by the time he was finally taken to a doctor, he was already blind in his right eye. Thankfully it was removed before any further damage was done.

...

...Making friends at ANAKT was a nice change, too. He found a lot of people he liked and some he... didn't quite like. He can be found in a patch of grass weaving flower crowns for anyone who wants one, his shaking hands turning stems in and out, over and under. He repeats the motion until his hands start to cramp.

Sometimes he'll accidentally break a stem... somewhere in his mind he hears the snap of his ankles and the scream he let out after, but he's not there anymore. He picks another flower.

He found someone who's presence is very calming, someone named Aster. He finds it quite ironic that their name is also that of a flower. He likes to braid flowers into their hair and likes to sing and dance with them. They can't see very well, but Clove doesn't care. He likes to help them during the day, if they feel like Clove is crowding them, they never say anything. In fact, Aster seems to enjoy the help Clove provides.

♧

"I hope I can see you one day. Maybe when I get you out of Alien Stage."

"Alien Stage? What's that?"

"...You... oh no..."

"Aster...? What's Alien Stage...?"

They stay silent for a while, contemplating their next words carefully. Unfortunately,, there's not a good way to put it.

"Do you know what our singing practice is for? It's for Alien Stage. Once it's your time to participate... you'll be sent off to compete. If you lose a round by unpopular vote... they kill you on stage. It's all for the entertainment of the aliens. I'm not here to participate, only to train. But you... I need to get my owner to adopt you, so you can be free."

Clove's head was swimming. He felt dizzy. He was going to die? He would go up on stage and sing his heart out to an audience of aliens, only to be voted against and killed?

His breathing became quicker and heavier. His hands were shaking again. He felt lightheaded and everything was too bright. His vision was blurred,,, no those were tears. He quickly stood from the bench he was sitting on, forgetting his ankles were still faulty. Tripping backwards, he lands on his back, punching the air out of his lungs. He curls in on himself, deaf to Aster calling his name frantically.

HewasgoingtodiehewasgoingtodiehewasgoingtodiehewasgoingtodiehewasgoingtodieHEWASGOINGTOFUCKINGDIE.

♧

When he wakes, hes lying on his back, facing the too bright sky of ANAKT garden. His head was pounding, but he could see familiar face above him. He made out Aster, Cindy, and Wren circling him, he also swore he saw Macbeth and Seb in the back watching worridly.

"You okay, Clove?"

"Yeah, you seemed to hit the ground pretty hard, does anything hurt... too bad?"

Clove groans, sitting up slowly. He tries to hold his head up with his hands, but notices that one of them is being held by Aster. He feels his face heat up a little bit, but deflates when he remembers why he's on the ground in the first place.

"Alien Stage..."

Everyones face twists in disdainful knowing.

"Is that what got you to freak out? I thought you knew?"

"He didn't. I guess... he was never told."

"Is... Is there anything we can do to help you, Clove?"

"I just wanna sleep. My head hurts. Sorry for scaring all of you."

He stands on wobbly feet, Wren immediately standing to stablize him. He mumbles a 'thank you' as Wren helps him get back to his room.

He doesn't sleep very well, needless to say.

♧