Day at the museum

Lara feels incredibly exposed and ****. Her skin is cold from the bronze paint. She stands rigidly, with her legs together and my arms at my side. It's... awful. There is a constant stream of visitors filing into the museum, pausing to take pictures or simply to look. Lara is surrounded by marble statues and many are nude themselves, yet none are positioned in such a way they feel as embarrassing as hers. Every minute is an ordeal. She cannot move. She cannot cover herself. She cannot stop the pictures being taken and the comments being made. She cannot do anything.

A lot of the visitors seem to have a great deal to say about her. She can hear them talking, whispering and pointing at her. Their voices are a little muffled, but Lara can tell that people are commenting on the realism of the statue as well as how pretty it is. She can feel her cheeks get hot as she considers what their reactions would be if they knew the truth.

As they walk by, there is a buzz around them when they see her. Children point and laugh, while some of the older men snicker to themselves. The sight of Lara naked, on display like this has a polarizing effect on the crowd. Some can't believe what they're seeing and move on quickly. Others are more curious with their gaze. People are constantly taking photos and reaching out to touch her body. Poking her arms, pinching a nipple or squeezing a butt cheek. Lara feels like a doll. Every once in a while, she sees a tourist pause in front of her, look her over and walk away with a disappointed shake of the head. These people can tell that she is not real.

Lara was used to studying statues and artifacts from centuries ago, but to be standing next to them as the object of study is a truly unique experience. She doesn’t know why, but she finds the whole situation hilarious. Perhaps because of the absurdity of being painted bronze and standing in the middle of a museum. Lara feels like a clown.

There is a dark irony to it, yes. For a career that is about finding things and bringing them out into the open, Lara found it humbling to now be the one found and looked upon. She has **** but to stand rigid and wait for the time when she is able to move again and cover her body. In her current state, it seems like an eternity.