seventeen ♢ video

[versusnurture]

I have a question.

Maybe it's a weird question. [Not that all of her questions aren't weird. But.]

If you have a quality you want to accentuate, that you want people to notice. With hair or jewelry or things like that. How do you do it? Because.

[She pulls her hair back away from the right side of her neck to reveal a pale scar, horizontal, reaching almost halfway around. It's not a totally unknown sight since she stopped wearing her scarves, but it's not something she's been showing off, either, not exactly.]

I'm sick of hiding it.

Comments

[maced_eggs]

Oh, that is nasty. That's hardcore.

No, what you do, right, is you go to a tattoo parlor an' turn that into a dragon or...fuck, I don't know. A kite or something,

[versusnurture]

You didn't listen at all, did you? I don't want to hide it.

[maced_eggs]

So draw some fuckin' flames around it and call it a day!

Either that or, 'course. Body glitter.

[fridgetothefire]

Tattoos, uh, don't have to mean hiding.

[She's answered in video, in only a tank top, ink and burns bright on her arms and shoulders until the edge of the fabric, holding herself a little slanted with defied shyness, blushing just a tinge. She's shown them to several people, but not publicly on the network before.]

I mean, I'd start with something less permanent. But it's not a completely terrible idea.

[adelphoktonos]

Was it a monster who cut your throat?

[versusnurture]

[A brief pause.]

You could say that.

[adelphoktonos]

And does it still live?

Private

[bodilesswarrior]

[She doesn't let shock or sadness ghost her features.]

I've never tried that - just tried to make it feel...normal. [She's in a tank top, today. She's not talking about the various scars decorating her arms - old cuts and burns and scrapes - but they're a fine enough demonstration for now.] To stop flinching in front of the mirror.

But yours - I bet I could make some jewellery that would work.

Private

[versusnurture]

I don't want it to feel normal. I want it to feel beautiful.

[This seems like a confession to her, and she can't really explain why. Maybe because she was raised in utilitarian pursuits rather than aesthetic, maybe because she is still afraid of having a visual identity, maybe because she doesn't really know Barbara well and is simply shy.]

You know how to make jewelry?

Private

[bodilesswarrior]

Yeah. [She raises a hand, and her fingers graze the golden canary nestled against her neck.] I don't do it a lot, but - it's not difficult.

[walkthedarkpath]

You wear it with pride, that is what you should do, girl.

[ Sorry.]

A wound as that should be worn with pride. As you survived it.

[versusnurture]

I survived the first one. Not the second one.

[Her voice is wry, though; she's not offended.]

I'm trying to get to pride. I used to hide them all the time. Now I only hide them some of the time, a little.

[walkthedarkpath]

Oh.

[ That is unfortunate.]

It may take a bit of time, but keep in mind you at least once survived something most wouldn't.

[audio]

[sickjoke]

...you ever figure it out, uh. Let a guy know how it goes.

[ Just taking off his helmet is hard for Jack; the idea of making his scars a draw as opposed to something to be feared, or considered revolting? ]

[ That's dangerously close to face paint and Joker territory, in his mind. But it's probably not that way for Abigail... Lucky girl. ]

[versusnurture]

I'll let you know.

I don't think it'll be, you know. Anytime soon.

[halftheman]

Our pale-haired friend has the right idea about pride.

[ And Harvey knows all about wearing his scars without shame. ]

No scarves. No chokers. Pendants. Collars and chains that don't obscure your throat but draw attention there.

[versusnurture]

Not too long, but not short enough to hide it.

I'm learning about pride. Slowly.

[darknessb4me]

You could cut your hair shorter.

[Arthas isn't either sympathetic or particularly surprised. Every warrior has scars.]

Did you live?

[versusnurture]

I could. I will.

[She says this abruptly and decisively. Part of the reason, probably, is that Arthas doesn't seem sympathetic. She appreciates that. Sympathy is so often disingenuine.]

I lived that time. I only died later.

[with_my_teacup]

Silk always looked like scar tissue to me. Might look good together.

[versusnurture]

. . . That's smart.

[Don't mind her sounding mildly surprised. She cocks her head curiously.]

I've never thought about it.

private

[youwill]

[She reveals her scars, and it is beautiful, a different kind of perfection. He is smiling only a little when he turns on his feed.]

Perhaps a hair cut.

private

[versusnurture]

You're too late. Someone's already suggested that.

I'm considering it.

[outofclothes]

Well, I like to think they bring out my eyes more than my eyes bring them out, but I could be wrong.

[versusnurture]

[Have a frank and appraising stare, friend.]

Have you ever hidden yours, though?