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If the content mentioned above is suitable for you, click here to read the page.Act 1
Ballerinas are wanderers, usually female, suffering from an extreme case of mass hysteria. Ballerinas can vary greatly in height and body type because of how they manifest. Furthermore, Ballerinas do not change the physical and genetic makeup of their "host", which means a Ballerina can almost always be traced back to a wanderer. In the rare cases that it is not, the Ballerina's body often displays an intense level of physical destruction and harm to oneself that may make connecting it to someone impossible. Ballerinas carry no memory of their original form and tend to behave far differently than their human counterpart. Such behaviors include changes in pitch, speed, and volume in voice, different reactions to environments, and overall flexibility and movement capabilities.
Why wanderers turn into Ballerinas is unclear. However, some estimates have tied the condition to eating disorders, anxiety, and depressive moods. This is further exemplary in their habits. Despite needing food, Ballerinas will refuse to eat or drink anything, supposedly convinced that they do not need it. Death by dehydration is common for Ballerinas, however, if a Ballerina dies, it seems only the Wanderer subjected to it does. Some Ballerinas have been seen with bodies enduring advanced levels of decay, yet they continue in their patterns and behaviors. This points to the Ballerina acting as a fungus, yet further evidence does not exist.
Ballerinas are widely accepted to be triggered by rogue genetics alongside certain environmental situations. Testing has shown that female wanderers have a 60% chance of becoming a Ballerina under similar conditions. For men, while the setup is less known, the same tests have been proven the same. When under the proper circumstances, male wanderers will show a 2000% increased chance of becoming a Ballerina as well. Male Ballerinas behave the same as female Ballerinas. Due to this, they show higher odds of suffering from broken bones as a result of their body type not matching properly to what is necessary.
What sort of mockery is this? You're hideous and I've seen better dances from paralyzed toddlers. Disgraceful, do it again.
Act 2
Ballerinas only move in ways reflective of ballet and other styles of dance, which leads to them often acting lofty to the unaware eye. Though amid all Ballerinas observed, all of them move in the same way. Travel is often done through idiopathic toe walking, with some cases involving spins, leaps, and flips. These moves are done regardless of the wanderer's flexibility, which has led to many Ballerinas suffering from repeated bone fractures and complete shattering of the limb. Regardless, Ballerinas don't seem able to feel pain, which helps to explain their lack of willingness to supply their bodies with nutrients. Many Ballerinas develop an array of body dysphoric conditions as well, leading to coverage or extensive makeup being applied across the entire body. Strangely enough, with the proper development, Ballerina's makeup can be used to produce certain objects or features. This includes resources, clothing, and other body parts. Once makeup is applied, it cannot be removed by anyone other than the Ballerina.
If Ballerinas are threatened with violence, their reactions greatly vary. However, their reaction still somewhat reflects the wanderer that was taken over. Wanderers who were considered aggressive and loud would continue that behavior as a Ballerina, displaying extreme levels of violence and combat resourcefulness. These altercations are nearly guaranteed to be fatal, as the Ballerina will continue attacking until the wanderer shows no signs of movement. On the opposite end, wanderers who show nervous tendencies will result in Ballerinas who are quick to feel. Ballerinas can easily reach upwards of 50kph, easily outpacing other wanderers.
Ballerinas who lock up resulting from threats will remain in that position for extended periods. Reports have claimed upwards of 3 weeks, all while the Ballerina could be enduring extreme harm from others. Some testing has shown that all bodily functions in this state are extremely minimal, only producing the bare minimum to prevent death from organ shutdown. Afterward, all injuries sustained remain unnoticed by the Ballerina, and it will continue onward without signs of suffering. Those who display a "fawn" response to stressors produce Ballerinas who have the tendencies to stalk those antagonizing it. These Ballerinas will initially run away from the confrontation, though will begin stalking as soon as the wanderer is not paying attention to it. The goal of the Ballerina in these circumstances is unknown, with some enacting violence upon those it stalks, while others leave after a predetermined time. Regardless their behavior remains shrouded in mystery, with the most popular theories suggesting Ballerinas acting as an extreme version of the wanderer it once was.
That was worse. Do you take me as some sort of idiot? This isn't grade school anymore. If you can't pull it off, you're worthless. Do it again.
Act 3
Ballerinas are most commonly seen wearing immense amounts of makeup and concealer, as mentioned above. Damage to these products will cause Ballerinas to react manically, often frantically moving about to find a way to reapply the product. These oddities appear in both male and female Ballerinas, with each of them aiming for similar looks to their makeup. Though with male Ballerinas, they've also displayed great fear regarding growing facial hair, and have gone to extreme lengths to prevent its growth. This includes tearing of the skin, burning it, or yanking on the follicles hard enough to tear the entire strand from their face. Across all Ballerinas, if they are unable to find proper coverage, they will use other resources to hide their facial features. Most cases include wearing masks or covering their face in bandages, but there have been more painful attempts to hide them. Despite obstruction or damage to the skin, however, Ballerinas are still able to move about with ease, still suffering from no major consequences.
This lack of effect has led to questions about how Ballerinas can interpret their environment despite the damage. This oddity has been largely explained by the appearance of additional eyes, noses, and mouths drawn onto the skin of Ballerinas. These are produced on their own, and once completed, will act the same as a standard version of the orifice. No tests have been done to check if these new body parts connect to the main nervous system or work completely independently, and recent attempts to discover such have been met with failure. Ballerinas seem not to perceive others of their kind, actively displaying ignorance when coming across them. But with testing, Ballerinas have been shown to interact with each other. Despite any other metrics put in place, Ballerinas will recognize one another, and may briefly interact before separating again. This response does not change despite multiple factors being accounted for. Even wanderers once familiar with each other will behave ignorantly upon meeting as Ballerinas, pushing the idea that the memories wanderers gain are completely scrubbed after taking form.
Finally. You aren't as worthless as I thought you were. But practice makes perfect. So, let's do it again.
Act 4
While tying Ballerinas to cause more Ballerinas to appear, isn't conclusive, the effect Ballerinas can have on wanderers is hazardous. Often triggered by awe or fascination, many wanderers will have the temptation of watching a Ballerina perform, no matter its physical state. Because of this continuous sensation, the feeling is assumed to be a sort of pheromone produced by it. Nevertheless, it is critical to avoid watching the performance, as it can take mere minutes for someone to be fully entranced by a Ballerina. They will remain watchful of it unless pulled away from it or the Ballerina stops beyond this point. However if not, wanderers grow more and more obsessed with the Ballerina, displaying much more extreme emotions and speaking much louder than they normally would. All of this language is positive, and there have been no signs otherwise.
There is no specified end for a "show", but eventually wanderers will snap out of it on their own. If one has watched the entire performance, one will develop a fixation on dancing. Initially, this is a very lighthearted pleasure, where they will try to learn dance moves or speak to those more experienced in it. However, as it continues, the fixation will grow more overbearing. Later down the lines, this portrays itself as hubris in interactions with other entities, especially Ballerinas, where they'll try to dance alongside it and will respond quite violently if they cannot keep up. Those who survived these later behaviors shared that they felt themselves on a stage wherever they went and tried to perform to satisfy an audience that only they saw. These effects may lead to a higher chance of becoming a Ballerina and are confirmed to be linked with eating disorders, narcissism, and anxiety. While treatment is possible for the later three symptoms, the chance of "turning" seems to not change.
I think we're ready for the stage darling. Prove to them you put in the work.
Act 5
Hundreds of eyes gaze down to you, your figure, and the stage. Their quite coughs and fancy outfits indicative of the upperclassmen you've been slated to perform for. While they may clap for the elaborate moves and you taking stage, they are not better than monsters. Their kindness is one beaten out of them, not a trinket of affection. Its a audience of animals, predators hunting for their prey. Satisfaction comes not from the artistry or beauty, its picking you apart and strip them of their dignity as soon as you are seen as unfit. Their standards are unknown to us, but the consequences are ones insurmountable. It's lead many to their death as they fail to be worth anything. This is the wilderness after all, there's no time for rules or tactfulness. Take position and don't let your fear consume you. The dance has yet to being, and the music is yet to key you in. Take every step as if its your last, fight to prove that you are something greater than another treat for high society to sink their ravenous maws into.
Faster and faster your spins go, tightly weaving around each other. Better not get dizzy, as the lessons beaten into you should surely prove your competency. You land the move, your brain rolling in his bony cell while your eyes remain steadfast and firm. They push away the world around them and focus on one thing, dance. A gracious swan grown out of an ugly duckling. The person you've become is one worth appraising, not demeaning. But they don't know. You need to show them that. Each step blurs by each other as the music picks ups, your mind playing catch-up with muscle memory. Was your foot supposed to go there? Where do your arms go. The brain fights for control again but the body doesn't let it. It must dance, it must be. But as the music swells your vision blurs, a natural obstruction by the brain. Is it pain? tears? Something got stuck, and now the fight is of the flesh and will. A battle on two fronts, you could've never won.
Another mistep, then you fall. Your heart pounding and body high off adrenaline. For a moment, you can't make out the horror in your teacher's eyes, and the look of displeasure on the crowd. Something warm begins to trickle, and a sticky feeling coats your right leg. It's the feeling of blood and failed ambitions. As the body calms down pain erupts within you. And you scream. Bloodcurdling and horrific, your eyes only look deeper into the wound. With protruding bone sticking out, it's a leg that was decimated by suffering. Shattered on the ankle and shin, a new position that most humans shouldn't be able to pull off.
That's not the worst of it. The audience is sick. Sick of this scene, and sick of you. They've made their choice, and sent you through their jaws of life. Left to the wayside of society, you will be seen differently by them, by anyone. You are a failure.
What do you want, more attention? You pulled it off perfectly and yet you choose to throw yourself of the stage and tear your bones?
> Open Credits Author: PortulTrademark
Special Thanks: aregularpersonig, who helped with Act 4
Image Origins:All Images are credited, hover your mouse over them to see where it's from
Last Edit: December 19th, 2024