The ship's human is a former deregger still recovering from the horrors they endured. They often awakened in the middle of the night shaking and afraid. The companion liaison decided to do something about it and got the human a gift. A weighted blanket, and a soft, cuddly, comfort item that they, even though they were an adult, could cling to when they started to get lost in their own head. This fierce protector that helped the ship, and was an incredibly brilliant engineer, sometimes needed another's protection after all. -- DaniAndShali
[AN: Weighted blankets are fine for sleeping under, but not that great for hauling around. I know this because I've had to carry a few. Also, fun fact: The weighted part and the outside cover can and should be separable, so I'm working with that feature]
Fact: Deregger expatriates are the most broken of the available Ships' Humans. Fact: They are also the most protective and wary. Fact: Those who have been hurt... are the kindest. All of these were true for Human Shel.
According to the records, Shel chose her name after rescue. She was one of the many rescues who didn't have a name, or recognition as a person, until the Galactics tore her away from the only home she knew. She arrived with the kind of eyes that had seen too much and went too wide in horror, and would never open in any other way again. That look had faded somewhat with safety and therapy, but it remained even so.
Companion Gorx roomed with her, because of the night terrors, the nightmares, and the fact that Shel was just... better with someone on call at all hours. Someone there for her. As a licensed Human Therapist, Gorx had studied the sundry mental injuries of Humanity and was trying an assortment of things to help her Human out.
This week... the fluffy weighted blanket. Fluffy, because Humans liked the sensation of fur. The weighted blanket because those often assisted with ameliorating sleep issues. The sensory feedback could help with grounding exercises.
On her worst days, Shel would not respond to her name, but a string of digits that was her former identity in the Deregger Female Farm. Those were rough nights. Gorx wanted to wash her mouth out every time she had to utter them.
Failure point one: With the fluffy cover on, it was too hot to sleep under. Human Shel solved this by removing the fluffy cover and cuddling it in her sleep. That fluffy exterior became a sort of wardrobe choice next to instantly.
Success point one: Human Shel slept longer and sounder. The awakenings were comfort-related and they were more rested as a result.
Success point two: Human Shel was a lot calmer with a surrogate pet about her person.
Weirdness point one: When sitting at her work station, she looked rather like a stereotypical Evil Villain waiting for the secret agent to turn up so they can meet again. If a stereotypical Evil Villain ever had a pet that was a shade of purple so virulent that it almost gave of radiation.
Failure Point two: Human Shel would not be segregated from her surrogate pet, even for washing, and the fabric quickly became filthy.
They talked about that. How hygiene was important and they could have two surrogate pets and thereby be safe even when surrogate number one was in the cleansing process. It was Shel's choice as to whether it was identical or different.
They went shopping for new covers together, browsing through the options available and even spending some significant time in the Design Your Own kiosk.
They even had a squishy bean module that could, under certain circumstances, purr.
It was a fruitful, if expensive, day.
Success point three: Human Shel was having significantly fewer anxiety incidents.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / phantom]
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