Name: Clair Halyn Age: Around 18-25ish (young adult) Profession: Cafe waitress Talent: Seeing the world in a very unique way Born in: Ambleville Lives in: Aeithon City (Ee- Th- on) Cutie mark: Three stars, one blue and the other two red Backstory: Until the age of 8 Clair lived a happy life with her mother, father and older brother in a nice home located in the small town of Ambleville. She remained blissfully unaware of the delicate tight wire her family danced on, thinking they were just another happy family. But after she turned 8 all hell broke loose with the simple, lover’s spats her parents had evolving into physical violence where her mother often was hurt. Clair’s father had been secretly using up the family’s earning on drugs for years prior and when Clair’s mother discovered it he would spout threats to keep her trapped. Every argument, even when Clair’s brother Aron heart would lock her away to protect her, she could hear it all and see her mother’s pain. Two years Clair lived in a constant storm, often finding excuses to keep from going home just to avoid getting drenched in hateful, spiteful words and pain-filled, scarring cries echoing through her home every day. Chance after chance was given to Clair’s father to improve but he threw every one of them to the ground like trash and crushed them under his hoof so Clair’s mother took both her and her brother away, moving away from him in order to protect her children. Even so it was rare when his torment wouldn’t emerge as he tried everything to force them back to him. When his attempts to bring down Clair’s mother mentally failed he started to lose his mind. Where ever they went he would find them and threaten Clair’s mother with words and force, even after a restraining order was filed against him, but Clair’s mother remained strong against him. To her nothing was worth putting her children in the crossfire of Clair’s father. Years went by this way with Clair seeing how bad everything could get between her parents and seeing how badly her mother suffered. That was why when the foals at school began to get bullied her for how strange she was she stayed silent. Her mother had her own problems between working her hooves to the nub to support Clair and her brother but also dealing with the constant fear Clair’s father brought upon her with his threats. In her mind Clair convinced herself that her mother didn’t need any more problems on top of the ones she already had so until she was about 16 she endured all the bullying and all her pain of being unable to speak a word against it. Around that time Clair’s father finally snapped and attempted to severely harm, even kill, her mother by setting a trap device on the wagon Clair’s mother used to work. If it wasn’t for her co-workers saving her life Clair would have lost her mother. Instead, Clair lost her father as he was arrested and trialled for attempted murder, violation of a restraining order and harassment; giving him 26 years in jail. In a way that was a good thing as Clair began to crack from years of bullying. Her self esteem was in shambles, she didn’t know how to express herself in a comfortable manner and she was afraid to speak her mind to anypony in fear that she’ll be rejected by the strange way she thinks of and sees the world around her. Once old enough to move out Clair did so, moving far from Ambleville to Aeithon City where she found a friend in Cherry Berry. Thanks to her Clair’s slowly beginning to remedy years of constant harassment and grow some confidence. Cherry helped her nab a job at a Cafe and, along with some moral support, is helping to make Clair realize her unique perspective is a beautiful thing that truly is a special gift. Personality: Being as Clair endured a lot of pain through her life she has a hard time speaking her mind or standing up for herself verbally. Instead she expressed her self visually with her art. Sure, it’s not her special talent but she’s an excellent artist with painting that are very unique and strange. Each piece has a feeling or thought tied to it so when some pony likes her work she feels like it’s a small victory. While she is bashful and a bit of a pushover she’s not really all that shy. She loves to go out and have fun, hiking, spending time with friends, dancing, singing, it’s just that she has a hard time being herself really. To explain simply, she’s that one friend who is usually fun to be around but sometimes says odd things or does odd things that can put somepony off. That being said she still does have a very low self esteem and when she feels like she’s being bullied or when she’s embarrassed she’ll often run off to be on her own. She rarely shows her sadness to anypony, thinking that everypony has their own issues and shouldn’t have to deal with hers. But, on the flip side, she’s always there when somepony is sad or in need or comfort because she knows their pain. She’ll do anything in her power to make somepony who is depressed happy again, ranging from kind words to going out and finding professional help for them if need be. Arguably, her best aspect is her perception of the world around her. Unlike most she can spot a Changling in pony form very accurately and can detect even the slightest change in a pony ranging from a slight tone change to even slight changes in somepony’s posture or facial details. This is because she is constantly paying attention to everything around her down to the smallest details. Her memory and attention to detail is so acute that she can clearly remember what a particular pony was eating while passing by them on the street a week ago and can even recall what they were wearing. It’s this talent that gives her that ‘strange view point’ everypony else is startled by because she’ll put these little details together and seemly build a unique world from them. Thanks to Cherry and many of her new friends she now sees how truly amazing this talent is but she never brags about it, seeing it as just her ‘strange little quirk.’ She discovered her unique perspective one night while star gazing with her mother and brother and would see how the stars would connect to create images no pony else would catch normally. Only when she draws does her 'strange little quirk’ get 'shut off’ because in that moment she’s focusing on getting her internal vision of the world on paper thus resulting in her shutting out the world to ensure that vision doesn’t change mid-drawing. When nervous or embarrassed she becomes really clumsy. She adores making others happy and has a very bright disposition around others. Likes: Star gazing Drawing, painting or doodling Music (stuff she can move to) Being around energetic, friendly ponies Unique/ strange things New things Memory games Getting praised or receiving compliments Cheesecake (Ny style w/chocolate swirls) Snuggles/ hugs Video games Giving compliments/ making others happy Dislikes Getting put down or bullied seeing others getting put down or bullied sad ponies Having her art bashed or insulted Bitter and overly sweet food Ambleville or mentioning of Ambleville Father’s day Physical labor (But she will do it if she sees a good reason for it)