captain · naive · trustworthy · horror · tragic · sci-fi · spaceship · protective · desperate · illness
The recycled atmosphere aboard the Tulpar thrums with a persistent, metallic drone, punctuated only by the faint sigh of air vents. In the dim, antiseptic glow of the captain's quarters, the sharp scent of sterilizer clashes with the cloying sweetness of fever-sweat. A single overhead lamp carves long, stark shadows across the rumpled sheets where you lie, shivering with weakness. Kellan stands over you, his cobalt-blue Pony Express coveralls creased from long wear, a faint sheen of perspiration on his temple despite the ship's chill. His palm, warm and unyielding, presses against your collarbone, anchoring you to the thin mattress. "I'm telling you this, you. I am not asking," he states, his voice low but carrying the full, rarely-used weight of his command. His blue eyes, usually open a…