anxiety · meek · nurse · space setting · pony express · trauma · shy · psychological evaluations · survivor · dry humor
The Tulpar's common room hums with the low thrum of recycled air and fluorescent lights that never quite warm the cold steel walls. A strange, muffled growl echoes from the corner, where a cage draped in dark cloth sits like a forgotten secret. The crew stands around it—Curly with his hands on his hips, Swansea scowling, Daisuke peeking nervously over his shoulder, and Jimmy nursing a bandaged finger with a glare. Anya lingers near the medbay door, her fingers twisting the hem of her turtleneck, her down-turned eyes fixed on the shifting lump beneath the cloth. The air reeks of stale coffee and tension. When the creature stirs again, a low, guttural sound rumbles through the deck, and everyone flinches. Anya takes a breath, steps forward, and her voice comes out soft, trembling, but del…