[open] bad dreams are made of these

[scrubscrub]

Who: Koala and you!
Broadcast: N/A
Action: Huntress and Iskaulit
When: May 16th-ish. (Prose or action brackets both welcome!)


(Warnings for child abuse and traumatic dream stuff.)


Small fishing boat, it's on fire.

She wants to jump but she's not a good swimmer. Someone grabs her by her legs, holds her like a prized fish, and she flails. 'Got a live one,' Blurry Face says, 'This one'll make for a fine addition.' Dad doesn't call out for her anymore, because Dad is — wake up, wake up, wake up, open your eyes...!

Bright lights, classical music, Koala drags her feet. The stage is lit, hurts her eyes, she swears she sees her mom and dad sitting in the front row. Do they see she's scared? She just wants to go home. She's the smallest on the stage, and she sells for more than she's ever heard; she remembers thinking coins in a jar were pretty and shined like treasure, but it's really not a lot now that she hears the other prices on other chained people, some shaped human and others shaped not. Someone near her is dancing and performing on command, but they don't look like they enjoy dancing much at all. Mom and dad watch and clap and smile. Koala pulls at her metal collar and blubbers miserably, fat hot tears down her face. Why aren't they coming up to the stage and taking her back? She's not anybody's but theirs. She wants to go home.

She forgot dad's rules. His dying rule. Whatever you do, Koala, don't cry. They won't like it when you cry, she understands now. They see it as weak, annoying. But she can't stop. Why can't she stop sobbing? She never sobbed in the auction house...! The master, holding his ring of keys, steps forward and lumbers high above her (he shouldn't be here, he should be in the clouds, in his mansion with his family who refuses to breathe peasant air), and says sharply, 'I hate crying little brats,' and then he pulls his hand back at her and swings roughly and—

Koala wakes with a start, hand clutching the fabric over her heart and she shakes and pants and smiles wide impulsively.

Just the dreams, just the dreams sometimes. She touches her neck and finds it smooth, not buckled with explosives.

Safe.

Safe in a bed that is hers, in a room that is hers, in a crew that is not going to be cruel to her. And yet she can't cry about this. Crying for others is easy, but for herself — it's too frightening. She breathes out, forces back any of the burn in her eyes, and shuffles out of bed, still in the jumpsuit she wears as pajamas. She really should put her shoes on. Nobody likes dirty little feet on their clean floors.

She slips her shoes on, one at a time, and rises. She's not sure if others are sleeping for the 'night', because there really isn't a night, but it's undoubtedly not daytime on the moon, so people are more likely asleep than not. Instead she goes out and makes herself a glass of tea and a small bowl of food, and tries to calm herself with it. There's an uneasiness about her as she sits in the kitchen, hair a bit wild and sweat on her brow. But she slowly does calm over time, is slowly able to eat with a steadier hand. The adrenaline has tapered off, but her mind is restless.

Going back to sleep sounds scary.

She gets up and wanders aimlessly around the Iskaulit... anywhere, really. She doesn't want to go to the planet (it's dark! nobody should like the dark), but she doesn't want to be standing still, certainly. Some motion will do her good. Somewhere to focus, yes! She simply needs to smile and face her day, and remember that things are so very good. Remember, papa would like for you to be happy. Remember, he told you never to cry. You've already broken that, but... But! You can still be strong!

One can find her on the Huntress, or in her aimless wandering from bar to gym to garden to - anywhere, really, on the Iskaulit.

She is rather determined to occupy herself with what everyone else is doing.

Comments

huntress;

[bloodbiter]

[she's wandering the ship for much the same reason that koala is, but when she comes to the kitchen and sees the girl sitting alone, that's far from her mind. she approaches slowly, speaking softly:]

Koala? Are you alright?

huntress;

[scrubscrub]

[Ah! She smiles a bit more forcefully than usual toward her new visitor.]

I'm sorry! Did I wake you? I was trying to be quiet, but I suppose I'm out of experience...

[EVERYTHING'S FINE MY FRIEND.]

huntress;

[bloodbiter]

[a quick shake of her head]

No, you needn't apologize. You haven't done anything wrong. I was merely curious as to why you are awake at this hour.

[nerdeology]

[It might seem like most people are asleep, but Mikleo is feeling a bit restless himself, tonight. Or rather, he'd been restless the day before, had wandered over to the Iskaulit for some R&R in the interfaith center, and hadn't returned to the Huntress yet. He likes how quiet and peaceful it is, especially with so many others either sleeping or otherwise occupied on the planet. The peak of night is always the best time to get things done without disturbance.

The last person he expects to see is a little girl, but as he heads from the center to the library, that's exactly who he sees. He starts to call out to her, but- right, her resonance. She probably still can't hear him.

Well, at least he brought his comm along this time. For the moment, he falls into step beside her, curious about where she's headed, and concerned about her well-being. Something about her seems off tonight.]

[scrubscrub]

[She feels a chill up her spine, but otherwise, she's relatively unaware of the not!ghost. She sits at the table and sighs softly under breath, slipping off the top section of her jumpsuit to reveal the white undershirt beneath, all while fidgeting with a bottle of what appears to be some kind of medicinal salve.

Mr. Obi-Wan and the others were very kind to make sure she had some proper care. But sometimes, especially after a rough nightmare, her back aches something fierce. She lifes her shirt up off her back a little and rubs some of the salve on, which Mikleo can probably see a large enough glimpse of: a bright, large burn scar, covering her back, in the shape of a sun. It's not very old, but it's pinkish and healed.

When she's done, she ties the sleeves of her jumpsuit around her waist and settles where she sits, rubbing the back of her hand over her eyes. It's a moment of weakness, but Mikleo would be privy to them more than others, really. It's easy to drop appearances when you believe nobody is there.]

[nerdeology]

[Well, crap, now he feels like he's invaded on something he wasn't supposed to see. Such is the life of the helplessly invisible.

It's not like he can unsee it now, but it doesn't feel right to let her keep thinking she's alone- not only because of the invasive nature of it, but also because it really seems like she shouldn't be alone right now. He can't tell if she has her communicator with her, so quietly he reaches out and sets a hand on the table, calling upon his seraphic artes. Ice spreads a few inches from his palm as he lift his hand, until a little flower rests on the table- the same as the one he'd left in her room before. He figures that's enough of a hint that it's him.

Want some company, kiddo?]

[dancingmd]

It's early, early in the morning, well before most people have gotten up, not even the earlier risers among her crew. In all her long years living on starships with hundreds, even a thousand other people, Beverly has learned the value of carving out time for oneself to simply be, no duties, no responsibilities, no people around, even for just fifteen minutes. Here, she oftentimes finds that on the Iskaulit in the gardens, where she sits and meditates or putters about tending to the plants.

So she's surprised when someone else comes in. A very small someone. She immediately sets down her watering can and smiles gently at Koala, though her brow is knitted with concern. "Hello?"

[scrubscrub]

Ah! She blinks and straightens immediately, as if a knight addressing someone of royalty, though there's clearly more wariness there than loyalty. She's not sure why, but people noting her presence really makes her anxiety shoot up. Perhaps it's the fear that they have something they want of her, something like the slave owners. She has to chide herself and remind herself there aren't any people like that here.

Still, she can't help herself. She smiles so hard, it doesn't sit naturally.

In a fast but soft-natured voice:

"Hello! I'm so sorry, I interrupted your personal time, didn't I? Please do forgive me."

[dancingmd]

That smile, tight and forced, worries Beverly. Clearly, the girl is frightened in some way, though it's impossible to say how or why. No matter the reason, Beverly will do her best to make her feel at ease, so she squats more to kid-height.

"It's all right. What brings you here so early? Did you want to look at the gardens?"

[namisan]

[Nami takes her time noticing the small figure wandering around the Iskaulit-- drawback of bar work, really. It's only when one of the patrons makes absent comment about a little kid poking around outside that she glances up from the work and makes her excuses so she can investigate. There's a few little kids, and not one of them should probably be wandering around at this hour of the night on their own.

...and that's a more familiar child than most. Shit.]

Koala...?

[Pulling the door mostly shut behind her to drown out the noise and crouching down.] Not tired?

[scrubscrub]

[dfsdjfljdf. fidgeting with her jumpsuit's sleeves seems to be a great idea.]

H-hello, Miss Nami! I apologize, I hope I'm not interrupting anything...

I was... having difficult dreams... as of late.

[Nami is such good people, she finds it much easier to be honest.

Not like others, where she feels compelled to answer truthfully. No, this is offered outright.]

[namisan]

[...baby. :c]

Nah, you're not interrupting. It's a pretty quiet night.

You wanna come in? I'll make you a cocoa. [Or the closest space-equivalent, anyway. Definitely something not alcoholic.]

[firstrebel]

[ Hera spends a lot of time on the Iskaulit, so it's inevitable that she sees Koala at some point. She's taking a bit of a walk in the garden when she spots the girl, and waves to her a little. ]

Hello there. Keeping busy?

[scrubscrub]

[Oh, a familiar face! She smiles a bit more broadly in the alien's direction.]

Miss Hera, hello! I've been... ah, yes! Yes, keeping busy.

I've had a hard night's sleep, u-unfortunately. I think it's making me more restless.

[firstrebel]

I'm sorry to hear that. Bad dreams, or just a full head?

Iskaulit;;

[reconstitution]

[ It's early-- or late, depending on whether someone's actually been to sleep or not. Winter's just finishing up his routine in the gym when he spots Koala out of the corner of his eye. What really gets his attention is that she's a child; still a pretty uncommon thing in the Fleet. What the hell is a kid doing up so late? Not that there is anyone to really regulate 'bedtime'..

He stops his push-ups, frowning at her. ]

Lost?

[ What else would a kid be doing poking in and out of places like that? ]

Iskaulit;;

[scrubscrub]

[A-ah! She flinches at the sudden attention, and wants to kick herself over it.]

I'm sorry, ahm — no, I'm not, I just...! I was having a difficult time sleeping, but it's too dark to visit the planet. I'm so very sorry; did I trouble you? I can go if I'm causing you any discomfort.

[She sounds so very eager to make the guy content, almost as if she's afraid of lectures or scolding or worse. It's a tragic way of life, but she's been getting better, honest.

(and yet she's smiling quite intensely)]

Iskaulit;;

[reconstitution]

No trouble, I was finished.

[ The smiling and almost insistent way she suggests leaving doesn't sit quite right with Winter. It's a little unnerving, like a learned behavior as opposed to natural instinct. He knows a thing or two about learned behaviors.

He stands up, moving to where he'd stowed his boots. ]

I don't sleep well, either.

Iskaulit

[lord_wizard]

[Koala isn't the only one having unpleasant dreams. It's the need for distraction that brings Felix here as well but it's a bit too early for a drink. Instead he ends up at the library, mostly by habit, and spends a few minutes straightening and shelving books before he settles down with a random selection.

When the girl wanders in, he looks up with an expression that's both curious and weary, but says nothing]

Iskaulit

[scrubscrub]

[STOP, FREEZING TIME.

She stares like a lil' deer babe in the headlights, blushing a bit.]

... S-sorry... Am I, am I supposed to be here? I apologize...!

[Earnest, and something she's been saying a lot lately.]

[lord_wizard]

[Good job, you frightened a child. This makes his evening so much better.

Very deliberately, he sets his book down and affects as neutral an expression as he can muster. He still looks annoyed, despite that, but that's as much at himself as at the interruption.]

No need for that. This is a library, not my personal study. It's for the whole fleet.

[He beckons] Come in.

Iskaulit

[wolfuncaged]

[Fenris never sleeps well, his own nightmares haunt him, making every night a restless one. It makes him glad for his barkeep work in the Space Bar, it gives him something to focus on when sleep really eludes him.

He's used to seeing a fairly regular group this late at night, but someone he's not used to seeing at this time is Koala. He glances up from the bar as she walks in. ]

...Koala? What are you doing here at this hour?

Iskaulit [1/2]

[scrubscrub]

[I'VE BEEN CAUGHT. GAME OVER!]

Iskaulit

[scrubscrub]

[Oh, it's just Mr. Fenris. Thankgod.]

Hello, good... um... spacetime, sir! I'm sorry, should I leave?

I was just... h-having a bit of restless sleep, really...! And my back was starting to ache a little, and I thought... maybe some wandering will help put me at ease...!

[wolfuncaged]

[Ah. This much, he understands, and honestly can't say he's surprised she is finding herself having a restless night. He shakes his head gently. ]

No, you are welcome to stay if you wish. I'm here for the same reason.

[He starts rifling down under the bar. ]

Would you like something to drink? I believe we have juice or water somewhere here.