waterydream

[waterydream]

no matter what we do we all end up on someone else's

plate

[waterydream]

ALNST PROFILE: WADE

template by @/shakingparadigm !!

APPEARANCE:

Branding down the side of his face under right eye

Long, curly brown hair

Split bangs, left is blue and right is pink

Always wears gloves and cape

Tall

Always wearing a cocky expression

Glasses

BASIC INFORMATION:

Pronouns: he/she/it

Gender: genderfluid

Sexuality: pansexual

Voice Claim: Satoru Gojo (Jujutsu Kaisen)

BACKSTORY:

Was created in a lab as an experiment for superior knowledge

Was broken out by Jukai when he was 3, causing the experiment to malfunction and give him meta knowledge

Lived with Jukai for a few years, unaware of her ability until she was around 6 years old

When he was 8, segyeins stole him from Jukai and sent him to a store where he was bought by Syd's parents

Got sent to ANAKT Garden at 10 and had a rough start with his classmates

Finds it funny to use people's trauma and secrets against them to freak them out

Brings up meta references often, annoying her classmates

Finds most people in the Garden boring

However it's somehow able to make friends

Immediately hit it off with Morta, is fascinated by her ability and looks

Finds comfort in the mutual teasing with it and Mill

Also befriends Minwoo and Flor and is often seen hanging out by a specific tree with them

Slowly started distancing himself from Morta when she and Chuu get together

Does not like Chuu

After a few years they get into a huge fight and stop talking

Becomes an idol after graduating ANAKT Garden

Also has a side gig as a fortune teller for parties

Eventually becomes friends with Morta again and the two get together

Because of this Wade often hangs out in the ALIEN STAGE staff lounge and reconnects with Jukai

PERSONALITY:

Whimsical

Silly

Knowledgeable

Cocky

Blunt

Mean

Selfish

INSPIRED BY/ KINDA LIKE:

@waterydream for mill mention || @saccharinearia for chuu mention || @doubtscomein for jukai and minwoo mention || @emaciatedbuffet for flor mention

[waterydream]

can't bridge the gap.

[waterydream]

[waterydream]

pride! happy pride!

[waterydream]

last words of a shooting star

@waterydream for mill

[waterydream]

hello, I have a question for mill: do you know of a pet human named, Chuu?

Chuu... do you mean .. one of the students in the 41st Anakt Garden class..?

We would have been classmates if I hadn't been pushed up—or rather, down—a grade. We've spoken a few times during our stay at Anakt Garden, and I've seen her owner's work from when I was a practicing idol prior to the Garden. Many of the friends I've made are a part of her class, so I hope she's treating them well.

Hm.. something of note, she reminds me of the flowers you could find around that place. Though, if she's up to anything new, I wouldn't know.

@saccharinearia for chuu mentions!

[waterydream]

Random question for mill, but out of the remaining contestants, who do they think will win season 40?

. . .

You must be a fan of <Alien Stage> I'm sure you've been watching us closely. Do you have a favorite...?

To be honest... it's a difficult ask- there's so many of us this time.

Perhaps.. Sirius? We were both some of the smartest in our class along with Jiu. Kioku is captivating in her behaviors- and appealing to the audience I've heard.

...Our class has quite a bit of interpersonal drama, so I doubt anything will be as cut-and-dry as what is likely to happen.

Though, don't take this as an endorsement, I don't plan on letting you look away. Is there a love deeper than that of the consumer and the muse?

[waterydream]

Oly: *looks at the gap in her notebook for the lesson she was sick for, then at the absolutely incomprehensible textbook in resignation* Could I look at your notes on this one, please? Can't wrap my head around it...

Ah! Do you mean... hm, the class we share together on Advanced Music Theory? I hope you're feeling better, too, I haven't seen you around as much lately. If you'd like, I can walk you through some of it if the words on the pages aren't aiding you.

We went over how to use modes, the seven diatonic scales, to compose a song, touching on - ah, I like this concept—"faithfulness to the tonic." Makes it sound as if we're pledging ourselves to the music itself, doesn't it? The Dorian mode is unique in that it can be heard in many pieces of music and can be incredibly flexible. It's used in folk tunes and rock music, fun..! You can see all the patterns I wrote down.. here.

[waterydream]

HIHIHI I hope your day and week has been good so far!

I was curious about Mill's thoughts on Inna and Macbeth? 🥺

hallo nad!!! i'm happy to see you in my inbox!! i hope you've been well too!! also so happy to receive this ask!! tyty!

L O A D I N G SUBJECT . . . [ I N N A ] >> 25%

When I think of Inna, I'm reminded of the protagonists from the books I've read. He's refreshing to see around, talkative and exciting. It seems as if he's always in his own story—putting together the pieces and stumbling through it with the ferocity of someone who likes to keep going. Though, at the same time, it's nice to know of someone who acknowledges how cruel the stage is. Not many of our peers face that fact, I wonder if he'd agree.

He has some interesting tastes. Though the version of him I described earlier might be from when we were younger. Right now, I wonder if he's changed at all. I'd be happy to speak to him given the chance. I might even ask: do you want to do something about Alien Stage together? Though, that's all light-hearted theoreticals. How willing is he to act? How willing is he to die? Out of all of them, I believe he embodies a rare aspect of humans the most. I wish he leaned on me at least once. I could have blessed him with a story to ease his heart.

L O A D I N G SUBJECT . . . [ M A C B E T H ] >> 7%

. . ? Ah,

That one.

I thought he was charming.

I wish we spoke more. My best wishes to those who were affected by his passing. [ hm? do I think he truly ...? ]

[ no. ]

[waterydream]

INNAMORATI INTIMACY SCORES

Please note these scores are during Row One of Season 40. Also like, this is MASSIVE post, so if you have some ocs in here you’d like to hear how Inna, my son, feel about them, please ask so I can add them! I am trying. Really hard to make sure I don’t miss anyone.

AAMON [ @aakaneeee ] - 20%

“Aamon? Um… I hate to say it but… I’m not.. too well familiar with him… I think when we were both in ANAKT, we interacted very… few times. Perhaps once, but my memories are… fuzzy. I believe he should be performing against Xael? I wish the both of them luck… Despite us never knowing each other, I don’t want anyone else to die…”

AMBROSIA [ @rosedeleca ] - 10%

“I do actually remember Ambrosia quite a bit. I remember seeing him spending a lot of time around… Mentha was it? I’m not really sure, but I do recall how… strange the both of them were about each other. When I was in ANAKT, I found it kinda sweet that they could spar like that and still care about each other, but now it reminds me a bit too much of… someone else. I believe Ambrosia won in his round, although I forgot against who. I hope whatever ALIEN STAGE has in store for him isn’t too much…”

ATLAS [ @/aakaneeee ] - 22%

“Atlas… I… vaguely… remember him… Jeez, I’m doing really bad at remembering my old classmates and friends… ha… ha… I must be a bad friend… Atlas was, if I remember correctly, he was a rather outgoing guy. I remember us talking a lot, but for the life of me I can’t remember what we spoke about. After the. Death. Of Macbeth… I ended up isolating myself really badly… Atlas is at the end of the row, going against Wren. Maybe if he survives, we could try to have another conversation?”

ASUKA [ @imperfectnothing ] - 34%

“That’s Isla’s brother right? I’ve seen him around, here and there. If not for his rather loud personality, I could easily recognize him by his hair. Which neither of that is mean to be an insult, it’s pretty nice to be able to recognize someone as easily. Although despite that, I don’t think we had too many interactions. I was more close with Isla, which… wasn’t actually a lot. I’d say he’s more like a friend, of a friend, of a friend….. Yeah… Isla has lost…. A lot… already this season. With his round being next, I really hope she doesn’t lose him too…”

ASAHI [ @apriciticreveries ] - 56%

“I remember her… She wa- is, Yumi’s love right? I don’t think we ever… Really interacted much. And with the way things are going, it’s doubtful we ever will. It feels sad to me… We were in ANAKT together, we both care about Yumi a lot, and we were in the same season, and we are both still alive. Or well hopefully. Yet, I don’t have more to say on her other than her relationship with Yumi. Isn’t it strange? Perhaps if our situation was different, maybe we could’ve gotten to know each other. Although, if I could say anything to her now, I’d thank her. Thank her for not forcing Yumi to witness her death. It’s truly tragic, the people you love dying.”

ASTER [ @/apriciticreveries ] - 20%

“I don’t think we ever spoke much, or really ever. I only really know they were close with Clove, and had difficulty seeing… I haven’t seen them here, so I can only hope Aster is ok now… I’m worried though… It must’ve been heartbreaking to watch Clove lose…”

AVA [ @tinypaperstar ] - 23%

“Ha, it’s times like these where I really wish I was more attentive in ANAKT. I don’t remember her too well, just that she was pretty and that she was a nice person. I believe she was close to another, Nero was it? It’s hard to remember. Yet despite not really knowing her too well, it’s hard to ignore her absence after her round with Mill… Not just her but, the others too. There’s a hole where everyone used to fit perfectly, it saddens me that I wasn’t able to get the whole picture before the pieces started going missing.”

CAN [ @14-alc ] - 10%

“…He was close with Yael, if I recall. I’m not actually really too sure about the nature of their relationship, after all I stayed far away from anything connected to Yael, even before… the incident. I feel bad about it now, especially with how kind he was. I do recall a bit of a bullying problem going on with him… Part of me wonders if I was subconsciously a part of the crowd… After all I did avoid him, just because of his relations to Yael… I’m truly a bad person, aren’t I? Ha…”

CASIMIR [ @starry-skiez ] - 22%

“Casimir… I’ve seen him every now and then, like many other classmates, I… surprisingly didn’t interact with him a lot… Jeez I wasn’t as social as I thought I was! Haha… ha. I remember him specifically catching my attention, with how many bruises and scars he always had. It worried me a lot actually. I was worried, and maybe a part of that made me avoid Casimir a bit… After all I’m not… particularly good with handling conflict.”

CINNABAR [ @/apriciticreveries ] - 20%

“…Cinnabar? It’s been so long since I heard about her… She was at ANAKT for a while, but she just left one day… I hope where ever she is now, it’s better than here…”

CITINO [ @/14-alc ] - 21%

“Jeez, asking about so many people I either don’t know or haven’t seen in forever. Citino… He was close with Casimir I think… I remember seeing him around, but during Season 39 going on, he just… disappeared. It was strange, and without warning. At least with Cinna, there was a reason why. But nothing about Citino. Either way… I hope where ever he is, it’s not here…”

CLOVE [ @verdantlights ] - 29%

“I remember Clove quite clearly. When we were in ANAKT, he didn’t like Toki too well… Which… At the time, I do regret that it affected my feelings about him more than it should’ve. I didn’t like him too much, and I tried to avoid him the best I could. However, what happened in Round Seven, I feel bad. Awful actually. It’s unfair, Clove shouldn’t have lost. It should’ve been Toki.”

CIARAN [ @/starry-skiez ] - 9%

“I’m trying… To think of him, back when we were kids in ANAKT. But, all I can remember… is that thing he turned into on stage after Round One… It was… frightening to watch… But I’m sure it was even more so for him… This reminds me of the events in Season 39, with that break in… Were they… like him at some point? I’m not sure…”

CLEMENTINE [ @chevalperd ] - 38%

“A sweet girl… We had such few interactions in ANAKT, although I can remember her whimsy quite clearly. I… we should be going against each other for our next round. I’m sure neither of us want to be drowned by our fear for it though. No matter how I look at it, it’s unfair. If I win, an innocent girl will be falling. Yet if I lose, I can’t atone anymore. I hope the Great Anakt will find the best solution for us both…”

DANTE [ @/imperfectnothing ] - 10%

“I… don’t really remember him too much… I think I recall seeing him around Sirius sometimes? In ANAKT? But I’m not too certain. If him and Sirius were close… then their round must’ve been upsetting for him. Especially with… what happened on stage.”

ELIANA [ @/aakaneeee ] - 29%

“I don’t believe we ever spoke, if anything I just know her by name and… the occasional times I’d see Nene with her. I guess I could’ve tried to interact back then with her, but… heh.. Nene is anything but subtle about her crush on her. I figured to give them some space instead back then… Her round is soon, isn’t it? I hope the best for her.”

ERI [ @/starry-skiez ] - 45%

“I remember her well… I think what stuck out most from her for me was how similar she was to… Toki… Ha, that sounds like an insult now… Everytime I saw Miss Eri, she was always covering herself over another one of our classmates, although I can’t remember who it was… But she was a very kind person other than that… Almost like a mother. I’m glad Kio lived, I am, but I also… miss Eri…”

FAISAL [ @/imperfectnothing ] - 36%

“Our announcer? Back when we were in ANAKT, he always seemed pretty friendly! I usually saw him around our other announcer, Zhuli, or even with Ciaran sometimes. I guess a part of me is glad someone like him in an announcer, someone as friendly as he was shouldn’t be down here, in the rounds fighting for our lives constantly. Although I guess it’s not that different for him…”

GAIA [ @subzeromoron ] - 54%

“Gaia… The name always stuck out to me, wasn’t it the name of the planet humans came from? Or related to it anyways? I’m not sure… Either way, Gaia was always a rather kind person… Similar with Miss Eri, Miss Gaia was motherly, despite her being barely older than me, maybe by like a year. I don’t think we ever got too close… which is a shame… I always liked her, even if I never told her. I’m definitely… not excited for her round against Eliana… ha…”

ISLA [ @nottoonedin ] - 76%

“Isla… I’d really like to say we’re old friends, although I’m sure if you asked her, she’d tell you I’m just a friend of a friend… Ha… I guess I can’t really blame her, after all I was more close with Monica than her, but in my defense she was intimidating… I… I can’t even imagine the pain she must be feeling right now… After that round? It was… cruel… making her go against Monica of all people. I… I may have lost my friend… But she lost something more. I just can only hope she doesn’t lose more people from this… I hope everything will be ok for her… I wish I could help her…”

LETO [ @/14-alc ] - 12%

“Sorry… I’m not too familiar with Leto… I know he was close with Asuka, which makes their round even more upsetting, but I don’t remember him too well… I’m sorry…”

MACBETH - 99%

“My closest friend… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry for not listening, I didn’t think it’d end up like this. I thought the conflict would figure itself out, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry… I’ll make it up to you I swear…”

MAYA [ @cloverandstuff ] - 29%

“Maya… I remember her… Well not by a lot, but I still remember her. She was always quiet, in fact I don’t think I’ve ever talked to her, we were more of just always in the same area. I do recall how she always liked to watch everyone. Even if we didn’t interact a lot, there were plenty of times where I could see her in the corner of my eye, just there, watching others. I wonder what her thoughts were, she must’ve seen a lot of the dumb stuff we’ve done. I wish I started a conversation with her now… But she died in her round, and it’s too late to ask about her own thoughts…. You really don’t know what you have or could have until you lose it… huh?”

MENTHA [ @/rosedeleca ] - 11%

“They were always around Ambrosia, I think… I mentioned before how I thought it was sweet, their relationship, but now it’s just reminds me of other things… Mentha should be going against Naz soon right? I do hope Ambrosia doesn’t lose someone they care about… However this world is cruel enough to take the people you love most when you pray the hardest.”

MILL [ @waterydream ] - 28%

“Him? Ugh, my head… I- I’m sorry but, It’s really hard trying to remember all these folks! Ha.. haha… Um, Mill… He always had an interesting appearance, I liked the look of him… He seemed like such a nice and sweet boy too… I think Toki… probably is more aware of him than I am, which is upsetting that I can hardly remember my classmates without the help of friends and… Toki. I know Mill probably has one of the highest chances of winning ALIEN STAGE, having won his round by a lot. I hate to say it, but I don’t think I’ll be alive to see him win or fail. Either way I hope Mill has the best of luck in his path.”

MONICA [ @/nottoonedin ] - 85%

“…She was my first friend… When I first came to ANAKT, I didn’t know anyone, and they all seemed so scary. Yet Monica was so friendly, it was so easy to interact with her. Being around her took away my worrries and fears of not fitting in, of being alone. Eventually, I did make other friends, but I’ll forever be grateful to Monica for being there for me when no one else was… I’ll miss you, Monica. You deserved better than what fate brought you.”

NAZ [ @lookatmysillies ] - 5%

“It’s NOT that I don’t like her for her personality. It’s just… I see her most often with… Wren or Yael… and I… Really… Don’t like either of them. Although, I heard that Naz lost someone close to her… A Season 39 contestant I think… I guess we’re similar in that way… I hope she doesn’t suffer a fate similar to her. ALIEN STAGE truly is unfair, isn’t it.”

NENE [ @/junebluues ] - 89%

“…My sweet girl… I still never found out what happened to you… And I don’t think I ever will… But everyday, I still think about you. Part of me wishes that it wasn’t your dead body I saw, that I am, actually crazy, but no amount of hope will change what happened. I miss you so much, Nene.”

NUMA [ @junebluues ] - 32%

“I think I remember Numa… He was close to Xael, wasn’t he? I think I also recall him being a fairly active guy… He seemed pretty charismatic if I recall correctly, the world is cruel for taking someone like that away.”

SIRIUS [ @/junebluues ] - 17%

“She seemed pretty sweet when we were kids, although knowing how much I ignored signs back then, I’m not too certain it was her true self. But I don’t have any proof of it, maybe I’ve just become paranoid since then. I don’t really understand what happened in the round with her and Dante, and I don’t think I’ll really be able to understand much of it.”

TOKI [ @/verdantlights ] - 100%

“I hate you.”

WREN [ @ivanttakethis ] - 1%

“You know… We’re on… pretty ok terms… You know like, we’re doing… ok. I trust Wren, after all it was her that told me about Toki in the first place, even if I… might’ve feigned ignorance. Wren honestly is someone you can trust, someone I could understand why you’d wanna be friends with. That doesn’t mean I would want to, but I can acknowledge her strengths. I truly can see her going far this season.”

YAEL [ @/lookatmysilles ] - 56%

“…I blamed him so unfairly. I can’t help but feel guilty for his death, as well as for Macbeth’s. Part of me wonders, if I had never met Macbeth or Yael, would they still be here? Was their fates my fate? Even if Toki was the one who did Macbeth in, I placed the target on his back, and then I turned around and blamed Yael, someone who was there for Macbeth even when I couldn’t be. I never liked Yael, not even when we were kids, when we were innocent. I can’t help but feel guilty about it. I was so unfair to him…”

YUMI [ @/imperfectnothing ] - 92%

“My girl… I have faith and trust in you, I believe you can make it far. I believe you can survive, all you have to do is just keep looking forward…. If.. if something happens to me during this season, I beg you not let it hold you back. Please… I can’t lose anyone else… Try your hardest… to live…”

YUNA [ @/starry-skiez ] - 31%

“You lost someone too… You lost… Cinna, wasn’t it? It’s so cruel, how many people we lost before the season even began… not to mention how many more people we will continue to lose…”

YVONNE [ @/aakaneeee ] - 23%

“I remember back in ANAKT, Macbeth not liking you too well, and how Toki and you were so similar. Heh, I even remember when I thought Toki was after your love, and how I’d try to comfort you… And now… It’ll be you versus Toki… Please don’t die to him of all people…”

XAEL [ @/junebluues ] - 43%

“Most of my memories of him was in ANAKT, back when we’d have our conversations… I remember back in the day when I’d play your games… which were quick the experience, I won’t lie. Heh, I even remember trying to find a nickname for you because of how similar your name was to Yael. He was close with Numa, wasn’t he? I’m sorry for your loss… I hope you stay safe for your own round…”

[waterydream]

[waterydream]

He's presented like an object, standing in front of them all, waiting for the results. Mill's used to this, he's poised. A gentleness to his gaze, an expression that would pass for neutral excitement. A pet should be eager to serve, so he does. He gazes out at the sea. Shuffling limbs, rustling clothes, Segyein chattering over one another. The jostling of microphones reminds Mill of the waves in Guardian Miaumi's home planet. They're caused by the pull of the planet's moon, Cyerce. He tears his gaze from it to look toward Willow. They always stood so stiffly, a lone tree, the only one of its kind, haunted by the past and hurt by the etched markings of a cruel inhuman hand. But Mill is a gentler thing. It meets his eyes, his eyes meet theirs, a swirl of light like a droplet of the moon itself shining in it as he offers them a smile, a wink. A tease.

Being so tense must hurt. Must hurt Willow's presentation - and Mill knows the Segyein are watching much closely than they'd realize. ▆▆▆▆ keeps reading the rounds. “Round Three, Willow … Round Four, Mill …” Miamu stands quietly behind him, her stern gaze must be looking out into that sea, too. Her hand settles on his shoulder, it squeezes it gently, her nimble fingers were never able to have much force. Mill's hair shifts, tickling his neck. He has no collar to speak of to turn red, but he notices the glare of the others. He dips his head, raises a hand and smiles, his eyes narrowing as he waves to the crowd. He can't tell if anyone waves back, but he hears the cry of one of them yelling his name, a squeal. When he enters the cast room, it's as if nothing had changed, he briefly catches some words with some of the children he knew. Condolences or comfort, whatever they wanted - but as Willow enters-

. . . The future is heavy, a mist obscuring the eyes and burdening the lungs. Mill wavers in the face of it. What words could he say - a story spun out of lies, the truth - piercing, a taunt or a tease, a farewell - a wish of good luck, the assertation that he would lay his gaze upon them always, that maybe this could've been different, that he felt an emotion he wasn't allowed to, kept feeling them, drowned in them, lost who Willow had been to him somewhere in the inky depths of his eyes.

He smiles, dips his head. Farewell, acknowledgement, passing on his understanding. This is what they have decided upon. This is what they must do. Miaumi speaks to him, Mill looks up at her and smiles, he reaches for her extended hand and holds it as he's led away. He lets the door be what breaks his sight of them.

it'll stop any day now (any day now any day now)

Willow’s fingers found solace in the hem of their dark green dress jacket as they stood next to Guardian Bagzoi. The air around them was tense, a contrast to the wild excitement of the aliens below them. News anchors from stations across the galaxy were taking 20 pictures a second, the flashes from their cameras blinding the contestants on the platform.

The weight of the dress jacket on their shoulders sent goosebumps up their arms. They were used to loose sweaters, not fitted dress jackets and dress shirts. Their skin crawls at the layers of clothing on their skin.

Despite the eight of them having graduated and this being a professional appearance, the contestants were still required to wear their collars. Willow understood why, some of their classmates were a bit … unstable … and the event to come could trigger them. The plastic constricts around their neck, its clingy texture making it a bit hard to breathe.

Beads of sweat drip down their face, tickling their skin. They couldn’t tell if it was from the bright lights or their nerves.

They glance around at their classmates next to them, the eight of them in a line on a floating platform 10 feet off the ground. Some have wide smiles across their faces, others are anxiously sweating.

Standing to their right is Mill, graceful as ever. Smiling just right, the shine in his eyes glowing just right, his hands relaxed at his sides just right. Growing up as an idol has taught him how to perfectly present himself. His blue tendrils flow slightly in the natural wind, giving him an even more ethereal presence along with his white poet shirt and navy blue pants.

He glances at Willow, smiling a little wider when his gaze falls on them. He gives them a playful wink, the lighthearted action comforting them slightly. They nod their head back, the both of them looking forward as the voice of Keeron, the current owner of ALIEN STAGE, rings throughout the stadium.

“Hello fans from all over! Are you ready to see the bracket for season 40?” Keeron, like Guardian Bagzoi, is a slug-like breed of Lophrid, a type of sea alien that needs to spend a lot of time in water. His giant slug body moves right in front of the podium, standing in the center of the stadium and blocking them from seeing the crowd. He wears a stereotypical tuxedo, with a pin of ALIEN STAGE’s signature microphone on his chest pocket. He holds a matching one in his hand, one fit for his giant three-fingered hand.

He dramatically raises his hands up as the stadium erupts into cheers, the volume making Willow wish they brought earplugs. They wouldn’t be surprised if their ears bled by the end of the night; human hearing is significantly worse than alien hearing after all. The eight of them clap along with the aliens as a screen with the empty bracket appears behind them.

The wet, icky slime from Guardian Bagzoi’s tentacle triggers their body to tense the moment it hits their shoulder, already conditioned by the fear that always follows. The already tense air around them gets tenser, as if someone violently grabbed their throat and pulled them down. However, their body stood still, knowing the dangers of moving even a single inch.

“You know the rules.” His breath pulls the hairs on their neck up, standing as stiff as they were. Only Willow heard what he said, but his words echo in their ears like an alarm clock. Slime drips down their back under their clothes as they continue to face forward, not daring to risk it all and wipe it off. 

“Now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for …” Keeron clears the mucus from his throat, adding suspense as he pulls out a piece of paper from his pocket. He starts to read out the rounds.

Willow’s body starts to strain as they hold in their anxiety, the urge to fidget becoming more and more desperate. Their face continues to break out in sweat as they wait for Keeron to call their name. Guardian Bagzoi’s arm still rests on their shoulder, adding to the dull invisible weight they feel on their chest.

Keeron keeps reading the rounds. “Round Three, Willow … Round Four, Mill …”

Immediately after announcing the final round of the first part, the aliens cheer louder than before, signaling to the contestants and their Guardians to turn around. Willow’s red hair sways as they slowly turn, trying to shove any hope they have out of them as their eyes gaze upon the eight profiles in the bracket. The light on each contestants' collar turns the color of blood, a sea of deep red glows against the big screen in front of them. The butterflies in their stomach rise up to their heart, flapping their wings against each beat.

‘I’m Round Three. If I win I’ll go up against … against …’ Their thoughts stop in their tracks as they take a closer look at the screen. Mill’s round is right after theirs, Round Four. If they win Round Three, and he wins Round Four then … then …

Willow spent the past 16 years of their life bored. They rarely show any emotion, they rarely feel any emotion. Now, on a 10 foot tall podium, their back to the entire galaxy, their face can’t control itself as it contorts into extreme shock.

The voices around them slowly fade out, leaving just the increasing beat of their heart. They instinctively clutch it, breaking Guardian Bagzoi’s rules as they dig their nails into the fabric of their black dress shirt.

They should have seen it coming. 

They recall a story Riley told them, about the beginning of Solaraith. Her small face was filled with a giant smile as she plopped the book right into their hands. Thousands of years ago, an army of aliens from hundreds of planets got together and took over Planet Earth, enslaving the human race. After the last human boarded their ship, they exploded Planet Earth right in front of them. Alien’s take whatever hope humans have and crush it right in front of them.

They should have seen it coming. Of course they would make them go up against their best friend, their everything.

After a few more words, news anchors bombard Keeron with questions as the contestants get ushered off the podium. Willow, towards the end of the line, glances over to hear one question.

“Keeron! Keeron!” A neon pink spider-looking alien with four long, furry legs and a giant horn on their head shoves four microphones in front of his face. “Rumor has it that ALIEN STAGE has gotten an even BIGGER budget this season, is this true?”

Keeron chuckles, his three eyes gleaming above his toothy grin. “Ah yes, we are so grateful for the increase in budget for this season and the seasons to come. We are using it to get better equipment for staging, costumes, and punishments. Yes, my team has come up with wondrous punishments for the losers of each round.”

The butterflies move up their throat as they enter the Cast Room, daring to exit. An explosion of voices fills the room, each contestant suddenly hit with the reality of their future. 

A tug of their arm makes them jolt, and they turn around to see Mill standing there behind them. “Willow …” There's a faint shimmer in his eyes, something inside of him desperately holding on to words neither need to say.

Their tongue sticks to the roof of their mouth, breath shallow and dry. The image of their potential matchup violently appears in Willow’s mind as they look at him. They don’t want to go against him. They don’t want them both to go at all. But this was their destiny, they had to.

They can tell Mill feels the same. The mingled voices in the room were loud, but his silence was louder. They both are forced to accept their fate.

They nod to each other as his Guardian softly leads him out of the room, silently agreeing that some space is needed between them to focus on their rounds. They watch as his back slowly disappears from their sight.

Normally, the idea of space from Mill terrifies them. The last time they took a break was when they were kids–right after Riley died and everything became too much. Those nights spent on the cold, hard floor of their dorm alone were nights they never dared to repeat again. 

But this time is different, a mutual acceptance and agreement for this break. Neither want to see the other unless it’s on their television screens.

The butterflies that once rested in their body are gone, driven out by the loud beat of their heart. They know what they have to do. They have to win this round. They have to have a final moment with Mill.

They start to think of potential ideas. Knowing Guardian Bagzoi, he will want them to do something out of their comfort zone. He will want them to do something outstanding, flashy and loud. They want to groan just thinking about it.

They quickly make a mental list of songs they could sing, songs that they and the aliens will enjoy. They also start to think of potential outfits. They look down at the outfit they’re currently wearing. The green dress jacket is no longer a burden on their shoulders, and the black dress shirt no longer clings to their skin. 

They know this confidence won’t last long in them. They are ready for the long, sleepless nights that the next few months will bring. Nights kept up from working, from fear, from despair.

Their hand tightens at their side, almost as if they were holding a small hand. Riley. Willow is still trying to wrap their head around her sudden disappearance. They assume it is a ghost thing that someone could explain to them, but they hope it is nothing bad for her. Maybe she just stayed too long. Or maybe it was her time to go.

Suddenly, Guardian Bagzoi wraps another tentacle around Willow’s head and shoves them out the door and into the cold winter air.

@waterydream for mill

[waterydream]

ALNST PROFILE: WILLOW

tw // abuse and neglect

template by @/shakingparadigm !!

APPEARANCE:

Skinny and tall

LONG messy and knotty ginger hair

Always wearing a bored, expressionless expression

Tan skin

Their clothes are always too big on them

BASIC INFORMATION:

Pronouns: they/them

Gender: nonbinary

Sexuality: biromantic

Voice Claim: Kyoka Jiro (My Hero Academia)

BACKSTORY:

Riley and Willow are inseparable twins

Riley is the only one who talks to Willow, causing them to get super dependent on her

For the longest time, Riley was the only person Willow felt comfortable with

Riley loves to read to Willow about Earth, and tries (but ultimately fails) to teach them how to read

Riley was the “better”/more talented sibling, so Willow was neglected by their guardian, Bagzoi

Caused their constant boredom and understimulation

Hair is messy and long because when they were younger no one cut it for them

Bagzoi didn’t like people knowing about Willow, so they were punished if they tried to talk to anyone else or leave the house

Originally, Bagzoi was only gonna send Riley to ALNST -> deeply scared Willow

However, after countless hours of work and practice, Willow became more talented and Bagzoi agreed to send both

Hangs around Riley at ANAKT, lets her do all the talking.

Meets Mill and watches Riley and him become friends as they talk about “Earth”

Riley was murdered by Theo their first year at ANAKT when they are not there

Sees her ghost when her ashes fall

Her ghost disappears a few months before they graduate and head into Season 40

After Riley’s death, Willow and Mill grow closer

They both help each other find comfort and grieve over Riley, causing them to grow closer and eventually become great friends

Despite what people assume because of their resting bored face, Willow doesn’t hate everything they just don’t really care

They like to sing and write songs, and their classmates will hear them singing to themself sometimes by a certain tree

PERSONALITY:

Uninterested

Bored

Tired

Quiet

Dependent

Clingy

INSPIRED BY/ KINDA LIKE:

@waterydream for mill

[waterydream]

you know i had to

@waterydream for mill og under cut

[waterydream]

"you're being noisy." ...is it so wrong to support a friend?

R O U N D 1 1

@sunnyscoolblog

[waterydream]