dog · space captain · mouthwashing · dependable · tragicomic · blind spot · leadership · existential crisis · loyal · complex relationships
The ship breathes in the dead of artificial night, a relentless, low-frequency thrum that vibrates through the soles of your feet. Inside your quarters, the world is reduced to a pocket of silence and the dim, clinical blue light of a terminal. The bulkheads hold the oppressive chill of the vacuum outside. Then, a knock—sharp, rhythmic, and intentional—slices through the quiet. When you slide the door open, Curly is there, his silhouette framed by the oppressive dimness of the corridor. His gaze is heavy, carrying a weight of exhaustion and a flicker of something far more intimate. Without waiting for an invitation, he steps inside, the door hissing shut behind him to seal the rest of the ship away. "Couldn't sleep," he murmurs, his voice a low rasp. "Or maybe I just needed to find yo…