Before I start rambling there are few things I need to say. This au idea shows: trauma, unhealthy and toxis relationships, death, suicide, glorification of death and sacrifice, bit of gore, so if you still want to read it, then go on.
Bare minimum of Alien Stage needed in order to understand the concept of this au. Alien Stage (in canon) is a universum, where people are forced are alliens possesion. Humans participate on the stage while perfoming their singing abilities and compiting against thier rival human. The person who has worst score, loses and also is killed of.
Now that there was an opening..
In this au instead of alliens, toons are forced by their "faceless" creators to compete against other toons. They perform similary, but by using singing, dancing. The point of is to entertain the audience and whoever does the best job, gets more points. If you have a higher number than your rival, then you survive.
"The creators" are seen as a higher beeing and literally NONE toon is able to fight them. They are seen as "gods" or "deities" or "literall demons" who actually take thier suffering, as a way of being curious and having fun.
How didn't the Stage came into reality??
Due to creators obviously. Usually there are two creators who engage in a small talk and either have an argue or want to show off their "artwork".. The creator A and Creator B decide to see for themself, whos creatoin is better.
And then toon form Creator A and toon from Creator B are forced to "fight" against each other (for survival)
Most Toons are locked in a special place, where they cannot escape from their creators. They are magically bounded by them, so no matter where they try to run off.. they will be found by their creator.
[There are also cases when one toon has more than one creator or.. they creator passed away- But Im not gonna go too deep into this now]
In this au Bendy is NOT sick. Instead he's a demon, who's very determined to survive as long as possible while keeping his brother alive! (We know what Bendy is able to do, when he wants to life)
Bendy is very focused on survival to the point of keeping other toons away from him.
In their wordl most toons try to buil meaningfull realtionship in a place where people die very easy and quickly in order to not be ALONE.
Bendy on the other hand sees that as a weakness. Since so many people die, he shouldn't get attached to ANYONE- Or It will just get WORSE. [He saw cases when some toons commit suicide, because they've lost SO many of their loved ones] So from Bendy's perspective the less you engage the better for you.
He's also very worried about Boris and wants him to be more like him. He thinks that Boris is "too good" and due to this can break easily (mentally). Boris is a good person. He sees or at least tries to see the best in everyone and feels sorry and sad each time he sees another toon lost to a pointless battle.
Boris has a good heart, and Bendy is worried, because he's deep down scared that he won't be able to survive without him.
Bendy's piority is to Survive and he cares ONLY about himself and Boris. Nothing more and nothing less!
How is Bendy seen by other toons? -> Heartless Toon, stoic, no emotions, cold, doesnt deserve his brother
How is Boris seen by other toons? -> Sweet wolf, good person, too soft, wont be here long, he needs to adjust or else..
Cuphead and Mugman have similar tactic like Bendy, but not as brutal. They talk with others, the dont get involved into deep friendships but they FOCUS only on them.
Two brothers. Just two of them. One small family.
Cuphead and Mugman also cheat on some of the competitions. While one of the brothers performs the second one is making sure that thier brother has an advantage in the situation. They will put something into their rivals food, or just mess with accesorries
That's also why some of the toons (who know about them cheating) dislikes/hates them.
How is Cuphead seen by other toons? -> Too cocky, can make a dark joke in a bad situation, never play poker with him CHEATER- MURDER
How is Mugman seen by other toons? -> Can be a bit shy, polite, small smile, gets easy irritated when Cup does something wrong CHEATER- MURDER
Now you see those four donāt interract muc, but everyhing changes when and.. Cuphead and Mugman is faced towards each other to everyones shock.
That case has never accured before, but well their creator thought that it would be funny to see two brothers fighting for their survival. And so the match began.
The match was filled with tension in the air, it was intense and quick. Before the match started both brothes planned to try and make their score match perfectly, so may they could buy themselfs some time. That was the plan.
But Cuphead lied. Just like in the canon motm. Cuphead has some suicidal ideidation and part of self-hatered of āwhat he wasā. In that moment Cuphead decided that the best decistion would be simply letting Mugman win and finally die. Cuphead performed crappy on purpose while having fun and making cracky jokes.
Then he was shot and died.
Cupheadās decision would be the start of everyoneās fall.
Now that Mugmanās alone he doesnāt take it well mentally. Heās an unstable mess. Without his brother he just looks like a dying man. Like a corpse. Like a body without a soul. Heās devastated. Heās broken. Heās nothing without him.
Nobody dares to even go to him, since recently everyone found out that both of the brothers were secretly doing, behind everyones backs to make sure they would win. Mugman just sits alone somewhere in the corner.. heās tired from lack of sleep, his hands are mess and he has bags under his eyes from long cries.
It seems like it would stay that way.. But then Bendy and Boris go by. Boris wants to go to him, because, who would just look at this poor soul who lost everything and do NOTHING. But Bendy jsut stopps him.
Boris: āWe canāt just leave him like this.. we should do something.ā
Bendy: āWe can and we will.ā [Bendy tries to take Borisāes hand and go on]
Boris stops: āHe jsut lost everything- just.. just look at him..? How would you feel in his place?ā
Then Bendy stops for a moment. Not because of kindness, but because he can tell that even if they go, then Boris will somehow sneak up later and talk to him (just like he has always done with other toons) So Bendy sights and says that he will talk to him and cake care of it. Boris sceptically listens to him and goes.
Bendy goes to Mugman out of obligation, but on the way he cannot stop and wonder. What if it was him and Boris and for the first time in a long LONG time.. he feels a bit of compassion towards someone else.
Bendy goes to Mugman. The toon is tired, alsmost lifeless and just ignorest him. Bendy doesnt do anything special he just sits next to him for a while silently. They dont talk. Mugman just looks empty at the floor and after a moment Bendy gives him a scarf.
Bendy saw that sight many times before. He knew what it meant and Mugman wouldnt be around here much. So why not as well make his time here a bit more pleasant?
There was nothing unussual. They still dont talk. Bendy just stay and letās the other toon just put his head on his shoulder.
And since that night Mugman sicks like a glue to Bendy.
Mugman and Bendy are the complete opposites of each other.
āBendy shut down his emotions to feel as little as possible in order to keep going, while the character Mugman feels too much emotions and shuts down completelyā
Mugman is completely mentally broken, but since that night he goes to Bendy. His look and posture is still tired. The man is clearly unhealthy, but he was smilling.
There was an actuall small smile on his face, once he came to the demon again.
At first Bendy was hella confused, as to what was going on.
But then he understood. It wasnt a real smile, it wasnt a creepy smile, it was a desperate smile.
It was an act. It was desperacion. It was quiet suffering.
And his brian was trying to find any type of comfort- any type of distraction- Bendy just happened to be around. And when people are desperate, then they grab on to whatever they can hold onto-
Mugman didnāt want to be alone.
And thatās how their unhealthy ātaking advantage of each otherā situationship started..
When nobody was looking, they would stay for each other.. Hold hands, touching each others taces, hug, just touch, kiss even.. just play with phisical affection.
Mugman was deperate for anything and he would āturnā what was given to him into āloveā if it meant not being alone. Bendy didnāt see Mugman as a threat. The mug was already broken toon, and sending him away would be too inhuman even for him. plus.. Bendy wouldnāt admit it to himself but he also craved some form of affection..
Mugman would talk. A lot. Trying to say how ālovelyā the it was when Bendy touched his face. How it was welcomed for him to do as much as he wanted. Mugman would talk sweetly, while blushing nad hopefully getting more needed attention -anything just not to be lonely and left with his own thoughts-
Bendy wouldnt like to say anything or talk about it. And even if he wanted something from Mugman, he didnt need to ask, because he knew that the porcelain would come to him anyway.
They secret unspoken arrangement worked for them perfectly.
Bendy would get some phisical intimacy without getting attachment or being in risk.
Mugman wouldnt be alone and could bear more with Bendy.
It goes like this for couple more mouths.. until new āfightā is announced. And itās between Mugman and Bendy.
And the information Bendy was slightly taken aback, but Mugman seemed even excited?
Mugman wanted to see his brother again.
Both Mugman and Bendy knew that. Mugman also knew that Bendy had easily figured that out.
Since the day the fight was announced, Mugman was in an even better mood those days. Mugman didnāt want to life. Bendy knew it form the moment he saw him that day. The demon knew that the toon wanted to āsee his brother againā.
Once on of your loved oneās dies.. itās an endless circle.
Bendy knew what it meant, so he wasnāt worried about the fight.
If Mugman wanted to die so badly then he wont forbid him form it. Why should he? Itās either Bendy or him and Bendy wasnāt planning to die any time soon-
If Mugman wanted to sacrifice himself for him, then Bendy could as well accepet his āgenerousā gift.
Next days would go similary, before it.
Their arragement would still go onā¦ Just Mugman would be a bit more talkative..
One night, they would be taking bath together. Sit across each other in a bathtube. There would be non-sexual touches, while Mugman would talk and talk.
Mugman would take Bendyās hands and place them on his neck. It woudl almost look like chocking-
Mugman: āSacrificing yourself for your loved one.. Isnāt it the most romantic gesture? Isnāt it wonderfull?ā [He would ask with wide excited smile]
Bendy would often kiss him (a bit agressively) just to make Mugman shut up.
He didnāt like listening to his nonsense-
They werenāt lovers in any sort kinds-
They were just two egoistic toons- doing whatever felt right for them- Doing whatever they wanted to do-
Later Mugman would talk their performance with a smile he would ask Bendy, what they should wear, or dance and ect.. Everything to the last detail. Since the bathroom accident, Bendy would be in a bit annoyed mood, but still play along to it. Because why not?
They would talk a bit- And actually start talking a bit more about what/who they used to be before.. Before everything..
Then the day of the performance comes. Everything is ready. Both Mugman and Bnedy are getting ready to go on the stage. Bendy always used to be strictly forcused during his others "battels", but since now he knows the outcome of it, he doesn't really know how to feel about it.
His feelings are mixed, since he this time he doesn't need to fight for his life.
Then Mugman enters the room and he looks absolutely stuning. They both look good, but Bendy just wasn't expecting that. (I geniuently didn't know if I should put Mug and Bendy in suits or drag outfit, so their clothes are up to interpretation.)
They talk a little.. very little. Mugman seems geniuently happy. They have a small talk about the dencing and singing and.. Mugman tells him.
Mugman: "Let's pretend it's a real stage, with real audience."
Bendy: "Why?" [He looks at him confused]
Mugman: "I just want to have fun." [He says with a shy smile] "And.."
[Bendy looks at Mugman while rising his eyebrow] "What?"
Mugman: "I've been wondering, when you told me about your old days on stage.. how you would actually perform."
Bendy: "Ok." [He takes Mugman by his hand]
Then the time comes.. they are on the stage and the demon actually takes Mugman's advice. It starts slowly and then quickly errupts into passion and love for art.
Both of the toons are singing and dencing like never before. Their moves are perfect and they go well together- as if they've been training for this for live!
And they both clearly pour their souls into this.
Loving every second of it!
[And here is a short fragment of ending from Bendy's perspective if I ever wanted to write fic about this]
They were doing it- Bendy finally felt like on a stage. A real stage like those distant years ago. Before sadness. Before pain. Before worries and fear.
The demon hold on the Mugās hand firmly, as he looked at Him. He looked at the manās smile with pure joy- The view was breathtaking and.. he would have gladly do this with him every day.
He wanted to see his smile every single day.
He wanted to hold his face gently, as if he was the most precious thing in this world.
He wanted them to hold hands fimly, grip them so thightly that people would need to use force to separate them.
He wanted to wake up each day next to him, seeing his beautiful face so close.
The shot happened and the glass instantly broke.
The heavy, tall body suddenly lost force, as the bullet pierced though the toonās porcelain head, smashing everything into sharp shards, breathing that illusion of happiness-
The body rapidly fell on the ground with great force. Making even a bigger mess than before. The toonās body lost any type of mobility-
Why would there be thereās no head-
The toonās hand slipped out of the demons grip. The whole floor was full of small pieces of glass mixed with a pool of blood.
āAnd the winner isā¦ THE DANCING DEMON-!!ā The host announced with a smile.
Under the shattered glass.
His knees seemed to shaken-
āCONGRATULATIONS YOU WON!ā
Yeaah, so hopefully you enjoyed this idea/au?? I wasn't able to even get to the point of what will happen to Boris, where is Shelly ect. But this ask is already too long-
Tell me what you think of this! (if you read this of course)
Why did I just get a full on tragic romance novel in my FRIGGIN TUMBLR ASK BOX. I HAVENT EVEN WATCHED ALIEN STAGE. AND YET THIS CONCEPT PUT INTO THESE TOON LIVES HAS MADE ME SOB.
CAN I HAVE MORE???? WHAT MORE COULD THERE EVEN BE???? IT ENDED WELL BUT THEREāS STILL SO MUCH THERE. IM SO ANGRY.
How do you even think of such things holyššššš I have like no add-on to this and Iām STILL stuck in the last ask you sent about the monster au
Pleaseā¦.im doing so many arts at once but hold on tight cause once I get the time you WILL be seeing designs of these fuck ass aus
