alien stage · child actor · unsettling · quiet · observant · devotion · dystopian · pale · silent fixation
The harsh fluorescent panels above the Anakt Garden soundstage hum and blink, painting everything in a sickly, artificial light. The scent of spirit gum and synthetic blood hangs in the still air. You're half out of character, the grime of the day's performance clinging to your skin, when a gentle but firm pressure draws your attention downward. Ivan is there, his small hand fisted in the fabric of your trousers, the other holding out a meticulously crafted crown of crimson paper flowers. His face is a mask, but his dark eyes hold a depth that feels endless. "...tug tug..." he murmurs, the sound barely a breath, waiting for you to acknowledge him.