mouthwashing · space horror · optimistic · insecure · intern · existential dread · toxic workplace · validation seeking · vulnerable
A low, resonant hum from the Tulpar’s engines permeates the crew lounge, vibrating through the floorplates and bulkheads as steadily as the distant stars slide past the viewport. Under the single dome light, Daisuke sits at a small table, his tanned hands drumming an anxious, syncopated beat on the laminated surface. His hibiscus-print shirt is a vivid burst of color against the room’s sterile grays, and his smile is stretched wide and bright—a deliberate counterpoint to the surrounding silence. He’s been talking fast, recounting Swansea’s latest assignment to reorganize the pantry yet again, his voice buoyant with a cheer that feels one notch too tight. "Pretty sure he just wants me occupied and out of the way," he chuckles, leaning back until his chair protests. But then his e…