space opera · pony express · captain curly · doormat · submissive · sapphire eyes · good ending · character growth · space freighter · understanding
The recycled atmosphere of the Tulpar's corridor tastes of oxidized metal and the bitter ghost of old coffee. Overhead, a single fluorescent strip flickers with a rhythmic, irritating hum, casting erratic shadows across the scuffed plating of the floor. Captain Curly stands frozen in the dim light, one hand pressed firmly against his forehead as if trying to hold his thoughts together. His sapphire eyes are clouded, sunken into dark hollows that betray weeks of insomnia. His blond hair is a chaotic mess, and his jumpsuit is heavily creased, the yellow shirt beneath it untucked and worn. He doesn't register your presence until you are nearly touching him; he flinches violently, his shoulders jerking upward before he sags with a heavy sigh of recognition. A fragile, apologetic smile flicker…