video

[scrubscrub]

Ah, hello! I'm sorry if I'm interrupting anything; please, don't mind me if I'm troubling you!

[Koala's familiar, unnatural smile has appeared! She seems to be in her black jumpsuit and white tank -- though she's taken to Han Solo's advice and bought a blue dress for herself, which appears to be hanging up in her closet next to her yellow dress. And it appears there is a clown-fish shaped child's mug on her dresser, and a strangely ice-sculpted flower in a pot behind her (thanks, phantom person). It's not much, but it's still a far cry from her plain room from her first few weeks. And not only that, but a new revelation! She has a pillow with a cat on the pillowcase! GRANTED IT'S A VERY ODD CHOICE FOR AN ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD... but hey, progress! 

Still clean as hell, though. She's clearly just gotten finished with her chores, wiping her bangs out of her face. They've been growing out a little, getting in her eyes.]

I - I wasn't sure if I should say, before, but... That is, I wasn't sure if I would be punished for it, when I arrived here! But now I am trying to listen to Mr. Zuko and the others, and... and try not to think like a slave! So I will not stay quiet when I have questions! Forgive me if that is very straightforward of me. 

I was wondering, um. If you have a burn, and it is not... If it's healed, but it itches badly sometimes, what... should you do?

S--sometimes it is when I am working, but it can also be when I sleep; some nights it itches so fiercely, I have trouble falling asleep!

The first time it happened, I was not allowed to say anything, but... But now, I think I can.

... I'm allowed to, right?

It's okay to ask for help for such a thing, right?

Comments

[namisan]

It is absolutely okay.

[She's happy to see you're asking, though. That's good. Step up in the world.]

You know, I think there are creams you can put on that. We could try finding some.

[scrubscrub]

Creams! Oh, but that sounds like it would be so cold to put on your back.

[Not that she's shooting the idea down! Medicine is a great idea, Nami!]

Do you think they would sell it somewhere? I have... money still!

[ video ]

[beardstrokes]

Yes, of course you're allowed. Where are you? I can help you with the burn.

[ video ]

[scrubscrub]

I'm in my room, Mr. Obi-Wan!

But it's okay; don't worry too much, sir! It's not a new burn. It's healed quite a lot, but it's just...

[Koala's old burn itched some, too. The first brand. But the second bright pink symbol has been a bit more troublesome.]

[video]

[helladoomed]

[Huh. Cute kid. And Chloe has burned herself a few times so she might as well help. So here Koala, have a lady with hair the same color as your new dress.]

Itching means it's healing, as weird as that sounds.

Put creams on it, or cool, damp rags. Just don't scratch or pick at it or it'll get infected and that's hella worse than an itch.

[video]

[scrubscrub]

Itching is healing. I understand...! Healing is definitely a good thing.

[She gives a nod, firm and sure. She has to count her blessings!]

Infection is definitely not good. I've seen people with infections, especially from their burns! Because it's not taken care of properly. That would be horrible...!

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[firstrebel]

You're always welcome to ask for help.

Itching is usually a good sign when an injury is healing, but I know how irritating it can be. There might be a cream or salve you can put on it to relieve the feeling. Just be careful not to scratch it, since that could cause problems.

video;

[scrubscrub]

Thank you, Miss Hera! I — I appreciate so much kindness.

I will be very, very careful from here on out not to scratch! Even if I want to, I swear I won't. I'm very good at - at, um... 'mind over matter'!

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[bryces_pup]

[Riona's never been a slave, but she can't even imagine how hard it must be to change your way of thinking like that, especially for a child. But it seems she's making good strides, so she puts on an encouraging smile as she replies.]

You are most certainly allowed to ask. As to your burn, if it's itching that means it's healing, which is good. I think there are creams and tinctures you can put on it to alleviate the itching. Does your ship have a medic?

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[scrubscrub]

Oh, yes... We do! I haven't really, um...! I haven't spoken to them much, yet.

But they seem like a good person, so maybe I should talk to them...

[She's a bit wary of new people.

You never know when a terribly cruel soul will appear, after all.]

[theshabbiestofmen]

Course it is.

[Which is what others have said, but it never hurts to have reassurance! But others have offered aid, and his own healing magic is, frankly, a crapshoot, so he doesn't bother offering. Instead:]

I quite like your pillow. I'm more a dog man myself [HAH god he's funny] but it's quite . . . cute.

[scrubscrub]

Do you think so? I thought it was so cute! and so funny. Cats don't usually dress up, after all. They have fur for that! But isn't it such a cute idea? I — I like dogs very much, too, of course...

[Maybe she could buy a matching dog one.]

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[monolike]

Gonna echo everybody else and say it's okay to ask for help. [A slave??? Geeeez.] Also, if you haven't found anybody to help with that, I know someone who might be able to assist. And since you're hurt, it's perfectly okay to ask for help with your chores, too. You need any help around the ship?

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[scrubscrub]

[She offers a small smile. Though she's usually just terrible at it looking more genuine and less 'creepy smiling kid', she's been trying her best to look more authentic. Mirror practice, you know!]

Oh, no, no, sir! I'm not hurt - I mean, I think it's not... It's not a fresh burn! It's quite old. A few months! But it's still very tender and causes trouble sometimes... but not enough to hurt my work, I promise you! I would never slack on my job!

[imahologram]

You should always ask for help when you need it.

[It sounds like she's gotten plenty of help for her burn, so that doesn't really need to be addressed.]

Besides the burn, how have you been doing?

[scrubscrub]

['Always ask'. Such a concept!]

I've been alright, Miss Leia. Other than being itchy sometimes, I've felt very wonderful! I've — even bought some things! I hope that's okay? There are so many cute things to find in shops... but wasting money on too many frivolous things would be very irresponsible and horrible of me.

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[killedwithlove]

Anders could help!

[Cole has the communicator a bit too close to his face, but he's just excited to do what he's meant to.]

He's a spirit healer and if I help him we could probably take most of the pain and itch out of it by speeding the healing process.

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[scrubscrub]

[AH WELL HELLO LARGE FACE.

She leans back in surprise, but she's certainly great at rebounding!]

A spirit healer! That sounds very unique. I don't think I've ever heard such a thing.

video; now featuring herds of tl;dr

[nulliverse]

[A slave. This tiny girl was a slave, and so cowed that she can barely ask for help when she's in discomfort. Even pain. Did that burn get any sort of treatment when she first got it?

This is one of those moments for Celeste, a dual reminder that things could've been so, so much worse for her and of her own extreme isolation and control by others in her teen years. But she was never punished, even if her well-being was only just ensured and some serious concerns were brushed away. Even if the entire situation was just barely humane by its very nature.

She's not good with kids - her relationship with her younger sister has always been fraught, and she almost never saw the Primary students at BIAPA - but she can't just ignore this. The burn's been handled. Her right to ask questions has been handled. What does Celeste say, when she feels such a burning desire to say something?]

Do you like to play?

[It's not even a fair question, really, given that the girl could have no concept of play if this has been a lifelong condition. But it's somewhere to start.]

video;

[scrubscrub]

[Oh...! That makes Koala have to stop and consider this.

Play... Hmmm.]

I... I think so! I don't play very often... I haven't since I was very, very little!

I remember enjoying playing with bouncy balls, though! And I enjoyed swimming.

[intelligently]

The medical bay might have something that could work. What kind of burn is it?

[scrubscrub]

[A-ah, their medic! She flusters a bit.]

It's... it's a little older!

It's a burn from a brand, Miss Doctor.

[IS THAT HOW YOU ADDRESS A MEDIC. She's not sure. But hey, she threw a 'miss' in there.]

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[wolfuncaged]

[This makes him intimately happy, the fact that she's honestly trying. Even more, it seems to be working. It's an honest joy, watching her confidence grow. She's far better at it than she realises, better at it than he ever was. ]

You are doing very well. You should be proud of yourself.

As the others have said, it is because it is healing. Perhaps a cream or cold compress will ease it so you can sleep.

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[scrubscrub]

Th... Thank you, sir! I'm very proud to hear I've been doing well!

What is a cold compress, though? I'm afraid I'm not familiar... It sounds a little scary.

video;

[ino]

[ Oh ... this poor baby child. ]

Of course you're allowed to ask. I actually have a salve you can put on that burn that will help with the itching, if you'd like to have some.

video;

[scrubscrub]

[A-AH, ANOTHER!!]

Everyone is so helpful here... I wish I knew how to repay such things.

[Aren't you supposed to give back what others give? Right...?]