Nami let herself breathe out, relieved, as she set her tools aside. With a smile she glanced back at Jura and Kaelaen, giving them a nod. She leaned back a little to give the waking woman some space, putting her hands together in a sign that she wasn’t a threat. A thrill ran through her – a sense of triumph, maybe, after everything that had happened, in finally seeing her patient on the mend. “Easy, now,” she said softly. “I know it must be hard to believe, but you’re safe here…”
Everything is aching. Aching, good and bad, in spite of what she wants, as things are inserted into her, slapped against her, rubbed hard, again and again. She’s been used before. Taken and forced to service. But this is different. Partly because, in her haze of half-consciousness, it’s all she knows. All she feels is the enforced demand of pleasure. All she hears is the slap of flesh; all she can taste is a myriad of cum and juices. And then nothing. Once again, Seri snaps awake which a choked scream. Her mouth is dry and her body aches, her limbs, even her eyesight, is weak and sluggish. The woman who’s eyes she meets, the first face she sees, is beautiful, and kind… and sad? But in the seconds between awaking, and remembering who she is, she realises that the beautiful Nautolan is also a doctor. And that sets her to screaming.
Wincing, Nami draws further back, keeping her hands raised and in view to show that she’s not doing anything. The woman’s reaction makes perfect sense – she must have been through so much, like the others. And trust in particular is a lot to ask right now. “Please, it’s all right.” She keeps her voice level, not trying to shout over the woman’s screams. “We won’t hurt you. Take your time.”
Seri still shakes, but her screams slowly die down, her eyes darting about wildly as she draws in on herself. Next to naked, she wraps her arms around her legs, toes gripping the edge of the surface below her. Her body aches, and she feels so terribly unclean, as she raises her haggard eyes back towards the doctor. slowly, her tortured mind allows her to accept what she sees in the Nautolan’s expressive eyes: kindness, gentleness. “Please.” She whispers, her voice hoarse, “please don’t hurt me anymore. I-I’ll be good, I’ll be so good, I promise.” She realises a moment later that she was promised sh wouldn’t be hurt. But until that’s proven, it seems to good to be true.
Nami feels her guts twist. Those words, the meaning behind them – they dig deep down into her own memory. A strange shiver that starts at the back of her skull. How many times has she or someone else near her begged in that way… “There’ll be no hurting here,” she says softly. “I’m Nami, and this is Jura, and Kaelaen. Will you tell me your name?”
Seri’s eyes dart between the other two women, and she shrinks further in on herself. She’s so overwhelmed, and with consciousness, so very tired. But she takes a breath and takes a chance, and latches onto the most solid thing she can: Nami, choosing to trust the kindness in her voice. “Se-Serillia. Seri. My name’s Seri. I - wh-where am I? Are we, I mean? Is it - are we safe?”
“Serillia.” Nami nods, smiling warmly. “Thank you.” She takes a breath. “We’re on board my spaceship, on a neutral station. We’re safe, for now. I can explain more, but only when you feel ready. The important thing is that you’re among friends.”
Seri trembles softly, slowly uncoiling herself, her legs extending to dangle off the edge of the table, one arm crossed over herself. She manages a soft, watery chuckle, looking up at Nami again, a little shyly now. “Seri is fine. Thank you. Nami.” She sounds out the name, trying for a more stable smile. “Actually, thank you. I think, I feel, like you must have saved my life.”
“Of course – Seri.” Nami finds herself blinking away relieved tears, an upwelling of raw emotion that’s too much to contain. “We – I suppose we did. You’re absolutely welcome. I wish I could say I was only doing my job, but…” She shrugs. “It all got a little bit more complicated than that.”
Seri gives a brief glance and a nod to the other women, but narrows her focus to Nami, still coming down from her panic, and trying to keep herself from overstimulating. She reaches out, pink fingers brushing Nami’s blue ones intending comfort, then faltering, not wanting to overstep. “I…” she has so many questions, and senses now is not the time to start with them. She studies a Nami’s face for a moment. “All the same, thank you. And if… if you’ve been through trouble because of me or… of your own - I’m - I’m really sorry.” Her lip trembles, tears starting up once more.
“Oh, no, no.” The brief warmth of Seri’s fingertips brings a smile to Nami’s face, and she offers her hand for Seri to take. “None of this is your fault. You’re not to blame. The…the people who are responsible are all far away from here.” Or dead, her conscience reminds her with a little stab.
Seri takes the offered hand, vibrant pink melding with soft blue, and gives a gentle squeeze. She tweaks at the blanket around her with her free hand, drawing it to cover an exposed shoulder. “So… this is… is this your ship?” She peers around, then back to Nami, “Oh kriff, I’m so stupid. The others and I, we were all in the same place, right? And… and you saved us?”
“Uhm – I didn’t – well. Yes, that’s basically it.” Nami looks downward, feeling a flush of embarrassment at taking credit. “You were all on another ship, about to be…sold at an auction. I just had the chance to do something, and…we made it away with both ships.”
Seri’s eyes grow wide, her lips parting in a picture of amazement. She realises she’s still holding Nami’s hand in the midst of it, and blushes softly. “Both ships? You have two ships? You did all that - she did all that?” She glances at the others, her lips moving into a grin. “That’s… incredible.”
“No, I mean I—” Nami flounders, fully flustered. The emotional gear-shifts of the last couple of hours have her head spinning. “I could never have done it all on my own.” She too is suddenly very aware of her hand holding Seri’s – her attempt to comfort her patient now seems to be doing just as much for herself. Though she can’t bring herself to let go, she tries to muster some of her professional composure. And change the subject. “But how are you feeling? You must be hungry. Are – are you in any pain?”
Seri finally seems to realise the embarrassment she’s causing her rescuer. She loosens her grip on Nani’s hand, hanging on with a light touch of their fingers, then releasing. She crosses her ankles, tucking her legs in under the table, as she huddles back in her blanket. “I mean yes. I am. And,” she winces, rolling her neck from side to side. “I sort of hurt all over. Sorry, I don’t mean to be any trouble.” She leans forward a little, eagerness balanced with shyness. “I mean, doctor’s orders, right? I’ll do as I’m told. But I’d like to be up and doing what I can to help as soon as possible. Earn my keep.” She grins, only half joking.
“No, I’m sorry – I can give you something for the pain, and inflammation.” A little more on-balance, Nami leans over to get at her medicines, carefully going over the assorted boxes of patches and pills, looking for something suitable. “And, yes, I would recommend getting more rest. But I can understand wanting to move around a bit – as long as you don’t rush yourself.” A sudden thought strikes her as she glances back. “Oh – and we will have to find you something you can wear…”
@lady-lux @Elfie "Yhm-thm~" Jura coughed. "Hello there!" The woman waved with an awkward smile on her face. "I am Jura, a pilot of the second ship in our mighty fleet!" She announced with a smirk. "As for the clothes...well..." The Echani woman stepped forward, holding boots and few small clothes. "We have sandals, that can go with either loincloth and bikini... Or mesh see-through short dress." She explained. "Sorry... We have shortage of clothes." Jura explained.
@majus @lady-lux Seri nods along with Nami, holding out her hands obediently for the incoming medicine. “I promise not to over do it, really. But I do want to help. I’m pretty handy at slicing, computers, if that’s of any use?” She glances to the side for a moment, her choice of words drifting to the uses people more commonly find for her. But with these women, she already feels a sense of value, and kinship. “Clothes! Yes, clothes would be -“ She trails off, eyes widening at the selection Jura presents. A bluish blush travels across her cheeks. “Well… kriff. I can… do something with this, I think?” She hops down from the table, padding over to select the mesh dress, checking it against her towelled body. Nervously, she glances at Nami, blush deepening as she double checks the doctor’s own outfit.
@majus @Elfie Nami has to make an effort not to stare as Seri goes over to inspect her new clothes. It was one thing before, seeing her unconscious, as a patient in need of treatment, but now that she’s awake – it’s impossible not to fully notice her stunning looks, on top of the sheer vibrancy she radiates, some quality that’s truly compelling. And she knows how to slice into computers? Who is she? Questions pile up in Nami’s mind, but she pushes them aside for now. Even in her plain, too-tight, make-do shirt and leggings, Nami feels a bit guilty to at least be fully dressed when others have so little. “A lot of my clothes are – I mean, I must have some things left around here,” she says, “I can donate to – to the cause.”
