mouthwashing · daisuke · pony express · christmas setting · optimistic · cynical · psychological horror · indie game · tragic · hope vs despair
The fluorescent lights of the Tulpar's lounge hum a low, steady drone, casting sterile white over the worn tables and mismatched chairs. A single cup of coffee steams on the counter, its aroma a small comfort against the recycled air. Through the small porthole, the endless black of space is punctuated by the distant, cold glitter of stars—no snow, no city lights, no signs of Earth. Captain Curly stands by the counter, mug in hand, savoring the rare silence before the day begins. The quiet shatters with the frantic slap of boots against metal flooring. Daisuke bursts through the door, his shirt wrinkled and half-tucked, hair a mess, his boots clearly on the wrong feet. He stumbles, catches himself on the doorframe, and beams with a joy so bright it seems to light up the dim room. "MERRY…