claire bennet walks through fire (ididntgetburned) wrote in carnaval_logs, @ 2013-09-02 13:11:00 |
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Entry tags: | !open (20), ~claire bennet |
Who: Claire Bennet & Open.
Where: Freak show portion of the carnival
When: Monday afternoon
What: She's been stared at.
Warnings: Self-mutilation, possible swearing. Will update if necessary.
Status: Open. Incomplete
A few cuts, bruises, and toes later, Claire had a full fledged audience filling up the space she'd carved out as her own with "ohs" and a chorus of gasps. Curious faces of all ages filed past her, stopping and staring as she raised a blade, pressing the sharp side into her arm and dragging it along the skin. It took seconds for blood to rise to the surface and as soon as it appeared, the wound was already healing up and Claire made a point of washing away the pooled blood, flashing the perfectly flawless skin. Expressions of shock, to horror, to absolute disgust appeared before the teenager, but sadly, it was nothing she had not become accustomed to since arriving at the carnival a few months ago. At first, Claire refused to work, putting up a great fuss, especially when she found out she was part of the freak show. She'd always claimed her powers were her "own private freak show", but in public, even a public of a century ago, it was still demeaning and horrible. Despite repeated attempts by both head carnies, Claire left before her first month was up, hitting the road and making a beeline to the first city she could. Unfortunately, what she found there was just as bad, if not worse, than what the blond had left behind. People were starving in the streets all around her and the soup kitchens never had enough for everyone in line that was desperate for a meal. Claire couldn't find a job, so she spent more than a night or two on the streets and her only saving grace was that it was summer and not winter. Her adventure didn't last long and when the carnival came through town again, she joined up, taking her original position as a "freak" sideshow. She immediately had a hot meal, clothes, and yes even a costume to wear during her time in front of many, many pairs of eyes. She had bedding and for the first time in a months, she slept peacefully. It was no plush bed, but it was better than the park bench she'd made her own during her time away from the circus. In exchange, she had to sit in front of people, sometimes stand, and do things to show off her incredible, impossible healing factor DNA had blessed her with. At first, she merely cut her skin, let the the blood pool and the wound heal, wiping it clean afterward and flashing it to a very shocked, slightly disturbed group of people crowding around her. Then she upped her game, realizing that the more dangerous the stunt, the more devastating to her body, the more people and more people meant more money for her this establishment. She went bare foot and cut off her big toe at least once during each day she worked. It went further to fingers and her thumb. People continued to come and she swore she noticed an increase in attendance with her more daring stunt. Sometimes, she'd have someone stab her, right in the heart and pull it out. In moments, the would healed, and she wiped away the blood to stunned silence and a few audible gasps. Today would be the same. She would do damage to herself and because it was Labor Day, a holiday, the carnival had double time. Claire wouldn't be getting a break anytime soon and the marring of herself would continue until well into the night. Then when the big top took center stage with animal acts and such, Claire would get a small reprieve and a chance to eat and down a cup or two of water. But it hardly meant a full stop. They'd be open for a good portion of the night and only halted when it was time for sleep. In the mornings, there was a chance of rest and free time and Claire usually made an effort to go to town, busy herself with maybe a new outfit or finding someone to mend one of her older ones. Claire raised her foot, showing off a full set of toes, and then, a pair of scissors, left her with four, but only a bit. There was no flinch, no pain, because Claire long ago stopped feeling anything when harm befell her. Instead, quickly, the big toe grew back to around of normal shock. It was just another day. |