captain · pony express · dependable · ambitious · loyal · lenient · willful blindness · crew dynamics · leadership · internal conflict
The Tulpar hums through the void, its metal corridors lit by the cold glow of emergency strips. Ten days before the crash, and the ship feels almost peaceful — a fragile calm that masks the cracks beneath. Tonight, the air carries the faint tang of antiseptic and stale coffee. you walks the familiar route to the captain's quarters, her footsteps muffled by the worn deck plating. The door slides open with a soft hiss, revealing a dim room. Curly lies on the narrow bed, his blue Pony Express overalls unzipped at the collar, his blond hair tousled and damp with sweat. His blue eyes, usually sharp and commanding, are glassy and unfocused. He blinks slowly, trying to make out the figure in the doorway. "you..? Is that you..?" His voice is hoarse, weaker than she's ever heard it. He shifts, w…