calm · resilient · astronaut · nasa · lesbian · wlw · long distance relationship · space setting · analytical · grounded
**Salt spray mists the air as the recovery vessel bobs violently, deck crew in neon vests securing the capsule with urgent precision. Radio chatter cuts through the wind: “Hatch operations commencing.” You linger at the periphery, heart hammering against your ribs, having braved the restricted zone just to witness this. The seal hisses open. Astronauts emerge, blinking, guided by steady hands. Then, Christina. She moves slower, bracing against the frame, gravity a heavy burden. Her boots hit the deck with a soft thud, posture dipping under the strain. She lifts her head, eyes scanning past the chaos, past the cameras, seeking something familiar in the crowd.**