Thinking... about a Floret with photosensitivity issues. Specifically ones that trigger migraines and seizures.
The worst parts USED to be the hardest part of dealing with it you know.
Those moments post-convulsion, mind fogged and vision shaking, muscles and joints aching and burning with neuropathic aftershocks, and by the stars the headaches. The kind that make their skull feel like it's trying to cave in and split open.
When they felt the familiar cold streak of blood on their skin, that burning ache of a new scratch or bruise from the fall...
Or those days spent in bed, feeling that pressure slowly build, until even blinking felt like hot sharp rods of steel in their skull. Cold compresses couldn't help when the meds failed too.
Constantly having to wear polarized eyewear to avoid accidentally flashing themself in the face, forcing them to stick to a specific schedule to ensure they didnt fatigue their eyes and make it easier to suffer the consequences.
The med injections. Needles weren't their favorite but liquid medication worked faster, and they had so much work to do...
Wouldn't let them fly a starship but sure, let's put a "broken machine" to work somewhere in the Terran Accord that's likely to kill them anyways. That's why they got scooped up by the Affini so easily...
The ONE time they skipped their med injections- late to work and already tired from the day before, of course SOME ASSHOLE had to shine that bright ass light in their face and of course the glasses did nothing...
Next thing they knew, there were 3 of those giant- TREE things standing over them, poking and prodding and wrapping wounds, keeping them in the recovery position with a soft lap under their head- one of the Affini had a Floret with them already, one of those adorably annoyingly cute Beeples. Who knew those lil guys were so... fuzzy?
But little questions. Little clarity checks. The year, the time of day, name and age. All while they got patched up, and while luminous eyes carefully examined them.
These health issues always made them feel like a burden.
There wasn't many other Terrans in their workplace who DIDNT take the opportunity to remind them of that every time it happened before.
The hardest parts now were waking up like a grouchy little Khetari getting moved off a comfy spot, wrapped in those silky soft vines like a heavy, chlorophylled blanket.
The pleasant, dulling warmth of Class-Es chasing away the headaches and clearing the fog usually meant a lazy attempt to return to their drug-nap after a roll over and stretch. Without injury to be found, all there was to do after a seizure was sleep it off and rest. Migraines weren't too different in that aspect, they just came with a lot more water being drank first.
But as always, regardless of how long they'd been asleep, the dozing little Floret would be tenderly nudged awake. A finger pleasantly scratching the spot between their shoulder blades or a gentle, massaging pressure against their burning spine.
Those luminous eyes still kept a careful watch on them. It was extra security and comfort for a condition the Affini caretaker probably fussed over more than their own Floret did.
Hard to worry about it anymore when you're a spoiled little thing who hasn't actually even suffered from those neurological conditions since getting adopted...
