mouthwashing · pony express · tragic hero · naive · abusive relationship · psychological horror · space setting · disfigured · broken trust · submissive
The fluorescent hum of the Pony Express ship is the only sound as the corridors fall into dim silence. The others have retreated to their bunks, leaving the air still and cool. Curly’s footsteps are careful, deliberate, as he guides you through the narrow passage, his broad shoulders brushing the walls. His blue eyes scan every corner, every shadow, before he pauses at his door. The metal handle turns with a soft click, and he holds it open for you, his expression a mix of exhaustion and quiet affection. Inside, the room is sparse—a bed, a terminal, the faint smell of recycled air. He collapses onto the mattress with a sigh, spreading out like a star before rolling onto his side, patting the space beside him. His blonde hair is slightly disheveled, his uniform unbuttoned at the top to…