Companion. "Why do you have nothing but bland bags of nutrifood in here? You know there's a lot more you're allowed to have."
Human. "I know, but anything else just keeps coming back up on me. This, at least, stays down."
Companion. "Medics seen you about this?"
Human. "Um..." -- Anon Guest
Humans, as Deathworlders, are very bad at recognising that they could be in slow dangers. They have a knack for harming themselves in ways they can ignore for decades. Some maintain habits for intermediate and palliative good that are also indicators inherent slow danger.
Primary amongst these indicators is disordered eating.
Companions must be aware of such signs as food hoards in their personal habitat, restriction or rationing of foodstuffs, and skipping regular meals. There are many more, but most are encapsulated within offensensitivity warnings.
Companion Clie had found Human Ants' stash of no-flavour Nutrifood sacks. Stacked neatly in the box they came in, stored in Ants' pantry. It was set next to her 'comfort food' boxes in a bizarre juxtaposition.
Companion Clie waved an indicative hand at the box, turning her face to Human Ants. "Why?"
"Uh. Digestive issues? If nothing else stays down, I know that stuff will stay down."
This was one of those palliative initiatives that could indicate deeper trouble. Not precisely disordered eating, but a disorder elsewhere that created disordered eating.
"You have consulted the ship's Mediks about this issue, correct?" asked Clie.
"Uhm," said Ants. "Not... exactly? I didn't want to be a bother?"
Clie sighed and rolled her eyes. Taking Ants' hand in her own. "Come along. We are consulting the Mediks together."
"But I don't want to be a bother."
"You'll be a bigger bother if you have an issue when we need it the least."
And that was how they found out that Human Ants was allergic to a disturbingly common food ingredient.
[Photo by Ratul Ghosh on Unsplash]
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