Profile
haughty • guarded • teasing
Basics
PersonalityDakota seems naturally made for the spotlight, acting sharp, cool, and collected under its glow. She loves the call of the crowd and the feeling of want that comes from a million eyes when she's at her best. However, off of the stage, she is cold and quite rude, keeping her words short and relationships distant. She thoroughly dislikes not getting what she wants and acts as if she has a right to it, often calling others that deny her the things she enjoys stupid or annoying. Still, this is all in her own defense, as she often sees the kinder and more open aspects of others as a reflection of her former self, fearful that getting close to them would revert her back or cause her to hurt them. She really is lonely and just wants to learn how to enjoy company, but will never say it. | Trivia
|
History
TW for physical and emotional abuse, alcoholism, house fires, burns, & murder.
Dakota was born to parents that never wanted to children, a fact of which they wouldn't let her forget. From a young age, her parents showed disdain for every aspect of her, calling her weak and often jumping to more than just words. She was pulled out of school in her first year when teachers noted the heavy smell of tobacco on her and called her parents with concern, her father taking it as a personal insult. From there, she was nearly a stay-at-home maid for the two and constantly made grocery runs on foot, often being instructed to steal food if the cash they gave her wasn't enough to cover the costs. She was kept almost entirely hidden from the world, that is, until her seventh birthday.
When her parents arrived home on the evening of October 2nd, 2006, they were both incredibly drunk and made quick announcement of their disapproval with Dakota's choice for dinner that night-- spaghetti and meatballs, which was supposed to be a treat for her birthday. Seething, Dakota's mother tugged on her hair while cooking, the oil in Dakota's right hand falling onto the open gas flame of the stove. Fire immediately broke out, the girls' arms and face caught in the mix. Her mother was taken up in flame, Dakota too worried of the backlash she'd receive to recognize that she'd made quick work of her mother's panic with a frying pan. Her father ran in afterward, Dakota making sure that he wouldn't have a chance to yell at her either. She fled the house and ran for miles in the cold night until she reached a large outcropping of grass, falling over and blacking out from the pain and shock.
End TW.
Dakota woke up in a tent surrounded by a group of clowns, two in particular, Cellar and Koin Onishi, claiming to have found her in the field nearby, bringing her in to treat her wounds. Upon asking questions of her origin, Dakota denied all she could, claiming she didn't have a home to return to. The circus being quite a place for misfits and those looking for a new life, the Onishi's made their appeal to the owner of the show, Count Callahan. CC agreed to permit her existence only if she remained a source of free labor, to which Dakota seemed to have no say in the matter. Nonetheless, with nowhere else to go, she quickly made residency in the community, Koin and Cellar adopting her and letting her use a new name.
The work at the lower levels was hard and grueling, Dakota mostly being sent off on errand runs or forced to repair clothes and accessories for the top showrunners. She tried working in the kitchen with her small history of cooking but quickly found their only source of gas heat to be too overwhelming, a fact of which resulted in a lot of teasing from her peers. However, when Dakota turned 14, she was officially able to start training under Count Callahan to become a performer. Her talent immediately shown through, Dakota rocketing through the ranks of class with an astonishing speed, power and standing over others finally placed in her possession. This was incredibly apparent when she surpassed one of her worst bullies, Emiliea, at the age of 16 and gained the role of CCCC's cover-image performer and star, feeling like she was getting what she deserved all along-- those who bullied and harassed her in the past due for a raging scorn.
She continues to work in Count Callahan's Circus Curio to this day, technically unable to leave until her 24th birthday. Dakota is not kind to her peers, often ignoring them or greeting them with passive-aggressive remarks. Despite being a known name within the performance and entertainment circles, she is somewhat of a hidden individual, not caring much for interviews or press-- just come see the damn show! She wants all the attention with none of the work through others, a fact of which comes through her tendencies to run her own errands and make her own costumes rather than communicate with others for it. When she does exercise her favoritism by Count Callahan though, she mostly commands other dancers and clowns to just drop things off at her door, favoring most of her interactions to be on the defensive side and never allowing anyone too close. Still, she makes frequent outings in order to keep herself from being bored by the hateful individuals of her work and home, often people watching or getting into trouble for cheap entertainment. It doesn't fill every hole in her heart, but it's at least a break from the self-insulting and spiteful purgatory of her mind.
Relationships
Cecil Chamberlin [ biological father † ] | An independent plumber and rampant alcoholic, Dakota often had to take care of his needs, even going so far as to steal beer by his orders. She is very glad he's not around anymore. | ||
Gisela Chamberlin [ biological mother † ] | Very vain and conceited, Gisela would often return from her shift at the hair salon to belittle Dakota's 'measly' work efforts only to run off to gossip with friends. It seemed she always had the newest products despite the very little cash the family made. Dakota doesn't like to think about her. | ||
| Cyrus Kodak [ acquaintance ] | The clerk to first catch Dakota stealing as a child. As far as Dakota knows, he's her only connection back to her hometown and now deceased family. | ||
| Cellar Onishi [ adoptive father ] | He was the first to find Dakota behind CCCC's main tent, bringing his husband Koin over to bandage the injured girl up. Adopting her with some enthusiastic convincing to CC and Koin, Cellar holds immense pride for Dakota despite the current distance between them. Often far more energetic than she can handle, he keeps a fair, encouraging stance on her independence. | ||
| Koin Onishi [ adoptive father ] | Often concerned and selfless, Koin immediately tended to Dakota's burn wounds after Cellar found her. Though he was reluctant at first, the clown warmed up to the girl quickly, becoming protective of her due to the fairground's often cruel popularity contests. Even with their current distance, he still keeps his eye on Dakota, monitoring her relations and habits more closely than Cellar, all with good intentions-- despite how much it annoys her. | ||
| Count Callahan [ employer ] | Dakota's employer and head of Count Callahan's Circus Curio. She made Dakota into a star but also forces her to work without proper pay, holding her to a long-lasting contract. Know to Dakota, CC also takes a large portion of her Ultimate check, claiming it for 'supplies and housing,' the damsel growing increasingly agitated with her situation. | ||
| Emiliea Ecounte [ coworker ] | Emiliea used to be Count Callahan's prodigy, soon replaced by Dakota after her first few classes under the two. She was very cruel to Dakota before and during her teachings, later holding resentment against her for becoming CC's next poster child. The girl learned a lot about being mean to others from her. | ||
| Izabella de Luca [ lover ] | Meeting and immediately feeling a connection of similarity and comradery, Dakota fell for the sharpshooter. Keeping her guard up, the damsel continued meeting with Izabella, feelings eventually rising until the two admitted to a mutual attraction. They see each other often, causing trouble for others in their wake and finding fun in the presence of each other. Perhaps they even will be married one day! | ||
| Genesis Santiago [ friend ? ] | The two met while Dakota was making her way back home from the city, instantly trying to up her mood by belittling the other. However, Genesis appeared completely oblivious yet supportive, something that both annoyed and charmed her. The two see each other occasionally, Dakota disliking the hugs but enjoying his seemingly frivolous optimism-- not that she'd ever say that though. |
