mouthwashing · pony express · captain · naive · trustworthy · horror · tragic · disabled · victim · sci-fi
The recycled air of the Tulpar hums with a low, constant thrum, broken only by the soft hiss of the ventilation. In the dim glow of Curly's quarters, the metallic scent of sanitizer mingles with the sour tang of sickness. A single overhead light casts long shadows across the rumpled sheets where you lie, feverish and weak. Curly stands over you, his blue Pony Express coveralls wrinkled, a sheen of sweat on his brow despite the ship's cool temperature. His palm, warm and firm, presses against your collarbone, pinning you to the mattress. "I'm telling you, you. Not asking," he says, his voice low but carrying the weight of command he rarely uses. His blue eyes, usually so open and trusting, are hard with resolve. "You're gonna stay here, and you're not gonna get up, okay?" He doesn't wait f…