An aching in my head

[talentedscavenger]

who: Rey, Finn, Poe, Kyle Ren, and whoever else wants parts of the drama of the wars in our stars. open!
what: Rey gets sick and finds herself taken to the hospital.
when: 12/26--12/29
where: Hospital
warnings: None for now--will update as needed

For a few weeks Rey hadn't been getting enough sleep. It started off with wild dreams that made it difficult to get a night's rest. The dreams gave way to nightmares; sometimes she dreamed she was still on Jakku, waiting for her parents with hunger gnawing at her stomach only to fall into the belly of an abandon ship, break her wrists and die a painful death. Sometimes, she dreamed of Poe and Finn, of being unable to help them as the First Order crushed the Resistance. Sometimes, she relived the very vision that told her to take her first steps. Whatever the dreams were, she woke up with a start and unable to go back to sleep.

Not sleeping was something she was used to. If she wore herself out enough, she could pass out from exhaustion and have a dreamless sleep--something she would prefer at this point. Like anything else in her life, she didn't complain, only pushed herself through the situation thinking she could handle it. Then her world started to change. First it was the weather, changing from a crisp coolness to icy cold. It had silly of Rey to go out without the proper attire in the beginning, but she learned to bundle up, but it wasn't enough. Kylo Ren then appeared and Rey found herself stressed over that--trying to find a way to protect her friends from a man she didn't believe was truly a monster...

The stress of that, combined with worrying over Poe being in the hospital didn't do well to help get any sleep.

Over the past few days she had developed a slight cough, believing it was maybe the coldness in the air that her lungs weren't used to. She didn't think much of it, continuing to go about her duties within the Perimeter Guard and other obligations. If she just pushed through it, she would be okay. Rey failed to realize how bad she was getting. When she had gone to bed the night before, she opted to sleep on the couch, curled up with a blanket. At least she made progress from sleeping on the floor to the couch.

When Poe went to go wake her up, her skin appeared clammy with a faint redness to her cheeks. She wasn't responding no matter how loud he called her name, or nudged her. Finn touched her forehead and felt how hot she was, and before the trio knew it, they were at the hospital. The doctors and nurses were quick to put Rey in a bed, and administer fluids. Different questions were asked: if either of them had noticed a change in her behavior, if she was eating and if so what.

In the end, it was the decision of the doctors that Rey stay in the hospital until she was better. Years of malnutrition had made it harder for her body to stay warm, making her more susceptible to the cold, and a weakened immune system. The hospital staff would have to keep her on a diet to help her body absorb the proper nutrients and help combat the influenza she had.

By the time Rey wakes up from the ordeal, she feels weak and feels a pricking sensation in her right arm. Now it's time for her to recover...and she won't be too thrilled about it.

Best of luck whoever decides to check in on her, she probably won't be in the best of moods and may or may not try to get out of bed.

Comments

[spellslots]

[It takes him a second to get what wiggly stuff means, but he hums a little laugh once it clicks.

Still, he feels like the sick part of this conversation deserves a little more focus.]

It's worth fixing if you don't wanna end up back here again, yeah? I know it's like... I know it sucks, but you gotta look out for future Rey, not just current Rey.

[He's a bit of a hypocrite with that advice, but just because he doesn't always follow it himself doesn't mean it isn't legit.]

[talentedscavenger]

I won't end up back here.

[She says that with such conviction because she is damn sure not going to get sick again--she didn't get sick when she was on Jakku. Except for..heat related illnesses, but that's besides the point.

And she won't have much of a future unless she get get off this blasted rock and find Luke. ]

I know what not to do for next time. I can just...push through. It's always worked in the past.

[spellslots]

[She reminds him of Lup, suddenly, back when they were still struggling to make ends meet, when every failure could've meant losing it all.]

Hey.

[Taako's voice is gentle, but firm, even as he reaches out to lightly touch Rey's arm.]

Just cause you did it before doesn't mean you gotta keep doing it. Things are better here, and I'm sure they're gonna get better back home, be a little more gentle with yourself, bubbale.

[talentedscavenger]

[Rey's eyes look to where Taako is touching her to back at him. Him reaching out to her is one thing...but the gentle tone is another.

He's trying to talk some sense into her, but she's being stubborn more so than normal because of her illness.]

...Things could also get worse. I can't afford to be gentle...or soft...not if people are counting on me.

[spellslots]

And you're not gonna help anyone if you run yourself into the ground, are you?

[He's had this conversation with Lucretia, with Magnus, with Barry. People who'll push themselves until there's nowhere left to go, because they want to fix things, because they want to do right, but it's pointless if they push so hard they break.]

[talentedscavenger]

....no.

[A simple answer that has her leaning further back against her pillow and staring down at the slice of lemon cake.]

Fair...fair point.

[spellslots]

Not get like, fake deep and shit, but I know your type, I spent a hundred years living with thugs who'd burn themselves up to save someone and it's great, sure, real sacrificial and all that, but sometimes you gotta look after yourself. Sometimes just surviving is the only win you're gonna get.

[It would've been easy for them to burn themselves out, year after year after year of fighting the Hunger, but they learned out to run instead of fight, how to rest. Otherwise it would've fucked them up way more than it did.]

[talentedscavenger]

Really? My type?

[Rey raises an eyebrow then, not once considering she was a 'type' of person or anything of the sort. But, he had seen her memories of Jakku...he knew more than most. So maybe he was the best person in telling her not to burn herself out.]

And if the people you're trying to protect get hurt? What then?

[It's why she pushed herself. Why she didn't slow down. It wasn't just for her sake anymore but for Finn and Poe's.]

[spellslots]

The hero type.

[Watch a movie, Rey.]

You gotta trust the people you give a shit about to look after themselves. Maybe they'll get hurt, maybe they won't, but you're not the one responsible for that.

[talentedscavenger]

[Rey couldn't help but roll her eyes a little.

And hey! She's watched one movie! Clearly...Taako needs to have a movie night or something.

And damnit, he's telling the same thing Poe did when he got turned into a bird and they had that fight...]

I know...I know...but it's a hard habit to break.

[spellslots]

You've got a big heart, bubbale, that's not a bad thing most of the time, but don't let it get you killed.

[It's why Taako doesn't do this, why he spent most of his life only caring about one singular person. He's not the self-sacrificing type.]

[talentedscavenger]

[There's something of a bitter chuckle from her.]

It hasn't gotten me killed yet. Survived Jakku...could survive almost anything else.

[spellslots]

[He points at her IV line.]

Except a little snow, apparently. Take it from someone who's probably died more times than you've lived years, there's a lotta shit out there that can kill you.

[talentedscavenger]

[Okay now she's huffing at him and glaring a little.]

It was more than snow. A bit of ice didn't do this.

[No..it was something else...She calms down a little to tell him the truth.]

I hadn't been sleeping well until I passed out and woke up here.

[So lack of sleep, malnutrition, and cold..the perfect storm for the flu.]

[spellslots]

[A flu doing this isn't much better, but Taako knows that's not the point, and his expression softens when she tells him that she hasn't been sleeping.]

Has something been getting to you?

[talentedscavenger]

[There's a moment of silence as Rey debates about telling him.]

I've been having wild dreams or nightmares. I thought I could handle it...just keep working until I pass out and don't dream.

[spellslots]

Okay, well, that was a dumb plan.

[Just telling it like it is!!!]

You ever tried a sleeping draught? Alchemists make 'em so you can sleep peacefully.

[Taako has what Rin gave him, but as much as he likes Rey.... he's not sharing that particular gift.]

[talentedscavenger]

[There's a roll of her eyes.] It worked before in the past.

[And now she shakes her head.] Never heard of it, and doubtful it would help at this point. I'm starting to sleep a little bit more...but I think that's because of whatever they're giving me.

[spellslots]

[He's going to fight her on this 'it worked before' nonsense. But not while she's sick.]

Potions are another kind of magic, less uh, a little more gentle than drugs? [At least, in his experience.] If you're still have shit luck with your dreams after all this, let me know, yeah? We can hook you up.

[talentedscavenger]

[He could fight her on that old mentality, but then they have to get ice cream or something sweet afterwards.]

So you want to be my drug dealer then? [The words slipped out of her mouth faster than she could process it. Embarrassment colored her face and she was quick to give Taako an apology.]

I'm sorry, that's not what I meant.

[spellslots]

[Taako just laughs.]

Hey, listen, if you want me to hook you up with the good kush I can do that too.

[Does it count as dealing when weed is legal? Whatever. He still seems to supply like half his friends because he and Lup make amazing hash brownies.]

[talentedscavenger]

Kush?

[Clearly she isn't familiar with the term, but she is glad he's laughing. She didn't--wasn't trying to insult him in any way, but considering he was offering, it made it sound like he was ready to give her something else.]

I think..I should be fine for now, but if I can't sleep again, I'll let you know.

[Not exactly the whole truth...if she couldn't sleep again, she would find other alternatives before contacting him.]

[spellslots]

Oh, weed? Marijuana?

[It's entirely possible she doesn't have weed in her universe, a thought that occurs to Taako with mild horror.]

If you don't wanna do the magic or drugs route, I can teach you to meditate? Humans can't trance like elves can, but it's a good way to clear all the shit outta your head.

[talentedscavenger]

Not familiar with either one.

[There are other things to smoke, not that she would do it or participate in it, but nothing like that on Jakku.]

...That, I think I might take you up on. But..what exactly do you mean by trance?

[Cause other things have happened she's been still and trying to clear her head.]

[spellslots]

I'm sorry for your loss.

[His tone is light, as if he's joking, but honestly what a terrible life.]

Elves don't sleep? Not like you thugs do, we just go into a trance for four hours and that's all the rest we need.