OOM: AU Child! Ibani

[last_kallig]

The last few months have been even harder than usual, after the death of her mother figure. Perhaps grief made her weaker, more vulnerable to sickness, because she knows she's dangerously ill. She hadn't meant to wind up here, wherever here is, but it has shown up in the nick of time.

Ibani shivers against one of the walls of Milliways, her body wracked with fever and hunger both. She's somewhere between seven and ten, clothed in fabric with far too many holes in it, and wearing a slave shock collar around her neck. Her bones stand out too sharply against her skin, and her eyes are fever bright and darting around the room.

She's not sure if this is some dying hallucination, if she's gone mad, or if she truly HAS wound up somewhere utterly strange. Whatever this is, instinct and her body DEMAND food, fuel to fight the sickness that is killing her. Untrained in the Force, she's grasping on instinct for any energy it can give her.

Maybe, maybe if she gets close enough to one of the tables she can steal some food without anyone noticing. Yes, yes that's a good plan

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[27_53]

When her voice trembles the way it does, Skellig cannot help the lump that rises in the back of his throat, the wave of sadness that floods his system at just how broken she sounds as she speaks of her 'mother'.

"Then I would have you curl up with me," he says softly, his voice slightly rough at the edges. "I feel it may aid both of us?"

[last_kallig]

She nods rapidly, tears threatening at the corners of her eyes. It's only partly sadness, negative emotions, she's just feeling so MUCH.

She looks at the items on the table, trying to get their minds on another topic. "I, I don't know what all of those things are for."

[27_53]

Weakness makes a person vulnerable. Opens them up to attack. Deflection, redirection, subject change - Skellig recognizes it all easily, understands what it is she is doing (at least he thinks he understands - he knows there is a lot about this child that is still unknown to him, her powers being one of the big things) to control her emotions.

"Some of them are unimportant," he says, leaning forward to reach for the table. He pushes aside slightly the pile of medical supplies, focuses on the other things. "Bar sent me with some things you might find useful." He grabs hold of a small pouch with a cord on it, hands it over to her. "Maybe for us to hold your crystal, to keep it safe?"

He will have to get her a chest, for her things, as they start to add to them - he makes a mental note to ask Bar about that the next time he gets a chance.

"These are for..." he studies a small toiletry pack, there is a note stuck to it in Bar's handwriting: for the fresher. "The fresher? I guess that means the bathroom? There is a comb," he glances at her hair. "To untangle your hair, though both you and I don't need much help with that at the moment. A toothbrush...paste...you use that after you eat, to clean your teeth off." There are other various things, but he doesn't go through all of them. It is clearly overwhelming.

"...and those," he points at the table. "Are snacks, to eat later." Some things she...might recognize? There are what looks like ration bars, as well as some other things that can be used between meals or as a treat.

[last_kallig]

The crystal glows, gives off light and LIGHT again when she touches it to place it in the pouch.

"Fresher is the same thing as bathroom, must be," Ibani agrees. "I will clean my teeth after we eat with the brush and the paste. Can't taste worse than the tooth fungus I had to use before." She makes a face at the memory.

"Oh, the red ration bars, those are the good ones!" 'Good' is relative. The red ones have a taste that might be called fruit adjacent if one is being very generous. "I think I've heard the others talk about some of these, but I've never had them."

[27_53]

Tooth fungus...just sounds awful. Skellig makes a slight face to match her own when she mentions it but it fades when she recognizes the 'good' ration bars, shifting to reflect the relief that she at least has something vaguely familiar.

(Though part of him wonders, does she WANT to remember any of where she came from?)

"If you are still hungry, there is more soup," he says. "Or we could try some of the other things. The ration bars? There is also more juice," he adds, nodding towards the fridge in the kitchen. "I put it away to stay cold. Or if you would rather sleep, I do not mind. I know...I know all of this has been a lot for you today."

While she is also quite overwhelmed, a part of him is also - because this morning he certainly did NOT except to wander into Milliways and then have a child thrust into his life in such a manner.

[last_kallig]

Ibani ponders this. "I should clean my teeth, then sleep." Thankfully, brushing her teeth is easy enough to figure out.

She comes back from the fresher. "I, I have nightmares," she admits, slightly nervous. "I will try not to wake you."

[27_53]

"I am a very light sleeper," he says, shaking his head as he tries to reassure her. "I wake often, so if it happens to be because of a nightmare of yours, do not worry. Sometimes I wake for no reason at all."

Shrugging his shoulders (and his wings) as he stands up from the couch, he nods towards the bed as he walks to the bathroom himself. "I will just be a minute. If you want to climb on there, go ahead."

The bed itself is a comfortable thing - there are a couple pillows (different shapes and types - sometimes his neck prefers one over the other so he's collected several options) and the mattress is a supportive foam type (Bar told him it would help with his hips and his back), sheets and blankets. It is not the most plush or opulent setup for a 'nest' by any means, but it is certainly softer than the ground.

[last_kallig]

Ibani is not expecting the bed to give as much as it does, and is VERY glad Skellig isn't there to see her face-plant into the mattress!

She's not sure what to do with the pillows, so she leaves them alone for now. She curls up on the bed in the fetal position, one that protects her squishy middle from errant or intentional kicks..

[27_53]

Skellig changes into his own pajamas while he is in the bathroom - takes a mental note that she has cleaned up the tub after using it, which he neglected to tell her was not necessary, either he would have done it or had the Loompas handle it later - and when he sees her curled up on the bed when he walks out, another part of his heart breaks at how fragile she looks.

Quickly he puts away anything still-perishable into the fridge, before he joins her on the bed carefully, facing her. He pulls a pillow down and tucks it under his head, on his side.

She is looking at him, with those wide eyes that are still wild and a bit anxious...

"C'mere," he says softly, opening his arm to her. There is a space against his chest where she would easily fit curled up, could sleep safe and protected. "If you want to."

[last_kallig]

Her body is fragile, but that can be fixed with time and care.

She smiles soft, shy, when he invites her close. She shifts carefully, curls up against his chest. "So soft," she murmurs, sleepily.

[27_53]

Carefully, he brings his 'top' wing up to rest over her body - not entirely enclosing her, as he does not want to take away any 'escape route' should she desire it.

He also has...very little idea of what else to do in this situation. He has comforted many children before, in situations where it was required...but this is different. Much different. Those situations were not anywhere near this one, that he has found himself in.

(They will learn together, he supposes.)

Gently, he brings his hand up and brushes it across her forehead, stroking her hair softly, comforting. He may sleep a little bit, but the majority of his attention will be on her as she rests and heals.

"You are safe now," he whispers.

[last_kallig]

She snuggles into his embrace, his wing, as if she was meant to fit there. Her body seems a fragile vessel of skin and bone holding a heart and soul far more durable and full of Light.

For once, she sleeps without nightmares, soothed and comforted by his touch, his presence. (And perhaps too exhausted, too deeply in NEED of rest for dreams to trouble her much.)

[27_53]

Whatever combination of factors lead to her being able to sleep without nightmares, Skellig is grateful for them; once she has settled and is resting comfortably, he allows himself to do the same.

At some point in the early hours of the pre-dawn, he finds himself awake, and uses the opportunity to work on healing some of the lesser, finer troubles she has been carrying. It is brief, and she sleeps through it without any issue, so he is satisfied.

Later, there is the hint of light streaming in from the curtains that cover the sliding door to the balcony, but it is hazy and muted by the layers of fabric. He has been vaguely 'awake' for some time, but has not moved, as he does not want to disturb her as she rests - clearly her body is in need of it.

He is however, already contemplating breakfast ideas...

[last_kallig]

She begins to stir, the light prompting her body toward wakefulness.

She shifts slightly, mutters something unintelligible.

[27_53]

It is interesting, the way the energy around her stirs and shifts as she also does, as she begins to wake up. He is careful not to move too much - he does not want to startle her, even though with his senses keeping tabs on her heartbeat and breathing he can sense she is still quite relaxed.

Though he does bring a hand back up to stroke her hair again, as that seemed to bring her comfort before, and even with it being short and choppy - there is enough there to run his fingers through as she stirs.

[last_kallig]

Her energy seems to be connected to...everything. The connection to him, to other living things is stronger but the connection extends to things that are not alive at all The Force binds the universe together, connects all things, and it is strong with her.

Her gaze is a bit unfocused, fuzzy with sleep, as she opens her eyes.

[27_53]

As she blinks at him, he offers her a small smile as she works to focus.

"No nightmares," he says, encouragingly and quiet. "We both slept well."

[last_kallig]

"Skellig," she says, delight growing as she realizes that yesterday was REAL. "I, I don't hurt at all." Delight is mixed with puzzlement, as it's been a long time since she can remember being without pain.

[27_53]

It has also been a long since since Skellig himself can remember being without pain - even longer if you do not count the various methods of chemical & drug 'fixes' he has tried to ease his aches. So he knows that feeling, and can imagine the relief (and confusion) that comes with the absence of hurting.

"I am glad to see it worked," he says. "Sometimes with greater wounds, it can take a bit of extra time for everything to...settle."

[last_kallig]

"I, I can't thank you enough," she tells him. "Would it be okay if I gave you a hug?"

[27_53]

"Absolutely," he says. "I do not mind."

He shifts a little on the bed, moves his wing back so she can hug him easier.

"You are welcome, Ibani."

[last_kallig]

She hugs him tight, just clings for a while. "You saved me. I don't know how I got here, or why, or why it was just me, but you saved me," she whispers.

[27_53]

Skellig is not bothered by clinging; if anything, it gives him a better chance to allow his energy to lightly float across the surface of hers, mingle with the Force that surrounds her (it is still so very strange and interesting to him) and understand it a little bit.

"I do not know either, but I am glad that you found this place," he says. "And that I dropped that spring roll."

[last_kallig]

Ibani giggles at his comment about the spring roll. "I would have come closer even if you hadn't dropped it. You felt safer than the other people downstairs, and I was so very hungry."

Ibani's stomach decides to growl. "Shush, you were just fed!" she grumbles at her stomach. "Stop being silly."

[27_53]

"I have decided what I am making for breakfast," Skellig offers helpfully. "It is easy, it will not take me very long to cook it."

He pauses. "Do you know if you have any...allergies? Sensitivity?"