prince-of-pages

[prince-of-pages]

Future's Clarity

Chapter three of No More Running, A Mouthwashing Retelling. Synopsis: Being caught redirecting Tulpar back to Earth by Swansea, Curly finds out just exactly how the eldest member of his crew thinks of him. Facing his failure to the lives he ‘captains’, Curly still attempts to make Tulpar safe again. Collecting all potential hazards while avoiding his new boogeyman, Jimmy. Now tasked to return to Anya and hide the protection kit, Curly wants to talk to Anya about their options. 

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Author’s notes: AHHH!! So happy that so many people enjoyed the last chapter! I plan to have this wrapped up all in five chapters! Maybe even a small illustration to celebrate the ending I have in mind! Thank you so much for enjoying my little delulu thoughts! Definitely makes me more confident to explore more fandoms! 

Ps. 

This might be the longest chapter! I wanted a lot done in this one! Sorry in advance!

Warnings: SA, SA pregnancy mentioned, Abortion topic(?)

Chapter Masterlist: No More Running

This ship was a labyrinthe made of metal and filled with empty dreams. Curly saw that now, the patting on the grated floors reminded him with each step. 

With each step, he was running out of time- he didn’t wish to fail his crew again. What could he do to possibly make this better?

There was no better, he allowed this to happen. 

But they could get through this, he had to believe this. Curly had to think there was a way to make things at least okay. He could settle for okay now.

He deserved worse than okay. He felt that writhing pit filled with shame and guilt. 

The captain had to face responsibility for this. His eyes stung, stopping to slam his fist on the Tulpar’s metal skin. He was heated and the guilt had swelled his eyes. A palm rested over his eyes to gain composure. 

“Hey… Captain? You… man, no offense, you look like shit..” the youngest member of the crew stood there. His voice had grounded Curly back into the belly of the metal beast. It was true, his captain did indeed…look like shit.

As Daisuke took Curly in, their golden pony captain was so well put together. Now he looked rugged and so tired. The look on his face had reminded him of his mentor Swansea.

“You look like Swansea when I mess something up… Did I mess something up?” 

Daisuke’s worry caused a humorous reaction from the captain. Which made him all the more nervous. 

For Curly, he understood now. Curly had never spent much time with Daisuke alone, he had found it hard to relate to someone with aimless ambition. Something about him being here had made Swansea softer. Taking a great deal of his time to teach him the basics, Daisuke is the future’s potential. Teach him a trade now, so he didn’t spend his time seeking answers in all the wrong places. 

Daisuke was already in the wrong place. 

“No, Daisuke, you didn’t mess something up. But something is up.” he raised a brow at the phrasing before putting his focus back to his urgent agenda.

“I am so sorry, Daisuke… I know you probably didn’t want to actually be on this freighter.”

“If I’m honest, Captain… I really didn’t. But I am actually feeling better knowing my time is going to something, I dunno, useful? Swansea, he might be a grumpy old man, but he does have some really good insight to like, a lot of things, you know? He just thinks of everything- potential risks before they even become risks! I think it's pretty cool, it's like a superpower.” 

Potential risks before they are risks.

‘I see the way he looks at you, i look at you the same way sometimes’

“Captain? Hey, you okay?” Daisuke stepped closer, this caused Curly to reel himself in. Casting lines to reconnect his thoughts, regain his composure. The golden pony shining himself up, what mattered now was that Curly acted. He could drown in the guilt later… He had to ensure that later  was still around the corner.

“Daisuke, has Swansea ever said anything about Jimmy?” His voice held a certain authority now. Not one Daisuke was used too. It made their brightest member stand straighter, perplexed by the sudden question.

“Jimmy? Like.. Jim? Our Jim?” Seeing the Captain’s eyes storm, they shot cold daggers.

“He said…he was happy that you gave him the axe… After that blow up at the party… He was worried he might kill you with it. I thought it was just a joke… He said you probably wouldn’t believe him if you told him.”

The added information made the hair on Curly’s neck stand. His blindness was prominent, his crew knew this. Jimmy knew this. 

“Why? Why do you ask?” Daisuke had prodded. His eyes wandered to the rope and the kit Curly had sported around the halls. Those bright eyes narrowed a panic growing- Curly could see it.

“Daisuke, listen to me”, Curly started to anchor him,”I don’t think Swansea was lying.. I am sorry this has to be your experience with us. This sucks, if you learned anything from this- maybe it should be how not to end up like us..” 

Daisuke stood dumbfounded on what this conversation was leading to. His features are stoned in confusion and anxiety.

“I think you are a wonderful addition to this crew. You have a life ahead of you and you should spend that time pursuing what makes you happy, something that draws you towards it. Not just something that pays the bills… Sometimes the best thing is knowing when you’re not cut out. It’ll lead you somewhere new.” 

This speech hadn’t soothed Daisuke’s growing nerves. His expression spoke for him. The gravity wasn’t lost on him. Daisuke thought he had seen Swansea in Curly’s expression. But the elder held dull light in his eyes, where he had lost hope, Curly had found it. 

They all had something back home waiting for them.

“Captain?” was all he muttered in the stale silence. 

“You need to find Swansea, He’ll fill you in okay?” Curly’s hand went to Daisuke’s shoulder, bringing his focus to the plan.

“It’s going to be okay, Swans won’t let anything happen to you. You need to stay with him.”

Daisuke nodded, with the promise of answers later, his worry shifted to his captain. 

“Is this about Jimmy?”

Curly only nodded, stepping aside to give Daisuke’s direction toward the cockpit and utility,”Swans was right.”

With that simple reply, Daisuke understood. Looking warily to his captain before turning into a slight jog to find Swansea. Curly watched till he rounded the corner. His gaze went to the stairs, feeling like a mountain to climb to get to medical. His sole’s stomped at each treacherous step. His body felt the gravity like Atlas. 

Knocking on the door to medical, seeking salvation. 

The medical room felt cluttered with just two bodies in its vacancy. The personal protection kit laid open on the desk in front of Anya. Tired eyes took in the detail of the revolver and the ammunition box.

“Why do you think they allowed a single gun on the ship?” was how she decided to break the silence. After hearing the news of the time it would take to get home… to get to safety. She didn’t have many options. Feeling powerless, she wanted to weep as the silence wilted her.

“Anya, You wouldn’t… What I mean to say is.. Can I trust you with that gun…alone?” He ignored her question. Safety wasn’t the answer here, like it was when she asked about the locks… That moment felt like a pixel, now it devoured the screen in the back of his mind.

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. 

Flashing vibrantly in the void.

“What options do you think I have?” Anya had asked earnestly. There was no malice laced in her words. As if she had contemplated her options prior to speaking them outloud. 

“I failed the medical exams eight times, you know that?” she had started,”I have no savings, all of my efforts here went to chasing that dream of helping people… What do you think my options are now, Captain?”

Her expression was unreadable to Curly. She had read him though, he was uncomfortable with the topic. Expecting him to give the same answer, we’ll get through this together.

“You can still chase that dream, Anya” Curly tried to smooth over, before he offered all that he could.

“How?”

“Let me be the father”, Curly had boldly put his preposition. Seeing the nurse's reaction, repulsed and confused. Causing Curly to backpedal.

“No,no! Not like that I mean… Anya, I understand there is nothing anyone on this ship can do. Nothing I can do to make things okay again. I can’t undo anything, but I can… I don’t know. Life isn’t over, you know? Your life doesn’t have to be over because of this…” Curly started, though he wasn't great with his direction. Anya saw his destination. 

He wasn’t a savior.

He was a man, uncomfortable within himself.

A title of captain was worth something, once striped, Curly was just a man.

Nothing made him special.

“If you can’t..abort it safely, Anya, I don't want you to stop chasing that dream. In a world like this, its rare you meet someone who offers a helping hand.. I see now that no one has lent you one. Please, just hear me out..” Curly soon sat back across from her. Closing the protection kit between them.

“Adoption? I have considered it but… I would feel awful knowing it was in some system somewhere… The type of people they could end up with.. I just don’t want it, you know? Does that make me awful?” her hand went to grip at her uniform, just over her abdomen.

“Does wanting that go against my wish of wanting to help people?”

“Anya”, Curly reached out a hand, offering it to her. Reluctantly, Anya’s hand rested just over his,”I’ll adopt them. If that means you get peace of mind, if that makes anything easier for you to still find hope…”

“I-I don’t know… I don’t want you to take it just because you feel some sense of… well responsibility for Jimmy’s actions.. I don’t blame you, you know that?” her hand had squeezed his.

“I think if you took it, I wouldn't ever want to see it? Or know how its doing, I just want this to be something I can try my best to put behind me..”

“Then allow me to do that, Anya. I don’t… I don’t think this captain thing is really cut out for me. I don’t think it has for a long time now. Would you really want to see me after this?”

The two sat locked in each other's gazes. Clarity shared between them.

She would place all of Tulpar behind her. Anya would move on to figure something out till she finally passed that exam. Her time would be her’s. With that time ,hopefully, all this would be a pixel in the back of her mind.

Anya also understood this would be Curly’s bigger picture. The way he would view things going forward with his life. More care into the things he was supposed to take care of. Learn from this and chase that escape he was looking for, a life’s purpose.

She pulled her hand slowly away, resting on the edge of the kit.

“Can I think about it? If I promise you can trust me with this? I think it's best if it's locked away with me here… So Jimmy can’t get it.”

“Hopefully it won’t come to that… But I trust you.” Curly stood, groaning as the gravity crushed him. The weight of it all drowning him, he could feel the dread of confrontation coming. 

“Do you think he’ll just get in the pod? I don’t think you should be alone with him either, Captain.”

Curly went to the door, turning to her as her concerns left her lips.

“Anya, make sure the door is locked, yeah? Don’t open it till you know it’s me. Just don’t do-”

“You can trust me, Captain Curly.” 

He understood, opening the door and walking straight forward to the lounge. 

Taking in the man he avoided. 

Jimmy, till now, had been a friend. 

Seeing him now, standing idly in the kitchenette.

Curly saw fury.

[prince-of-pages]

Responsibility

Chapter Two of No More Running, A Mouthwashing retelling.

Synopsis: After consulting Anya, Tulpar’s medic, Curly makes a decision that might alter the life he finds unfulfilling. Abandoning the job and turning the Tulpar Freighter’s destination back to Earth. In a desperate attempt to right his wrongs, the Captain is caught in the act. Curly must protect his crew at all costs against the monster on board, Jimmy.

Author's Note: Thank you all for taking time to read chapter one! It really is the push I needed to post more! I hope you enjoy my positive retelling!

Warnings: SA, mentions of SA, pregnancy by SA, MDNI, heavy topics covered.

Chapter Masterlist:

No More Running

Curly had hitched his breath when he heard the voice fill the voided space around him. His golden hair obstructed his view as he turned his head, ready to defend the controls. His eyes held a dark fury to the intruder. Swansea read that deranged look, he knew this well.

“You *never* work more than you are supposed to… Don’t you think stomping off like that is a cry for help?” 

Swansea might not have captain experience under his belt, but his life experience spoke in moments like this. Curly brows furrowed, daring Swansea to step into the pit- which he had. The automatic door hissing itself shut.

“Making more plans *without* telling us, Captain?” his eyes, tired with that life experience, read the screens. Curly exhaled deeply,”Swansea, I can explain.”

“Oh? I bet you can. What Pony Express can’t even afford us to finish the job? Send you some secret message telling you to turn home?” He was understandably still upset about the party. The thoughtful and kind gesture Curly’s crew had prepared… The moment their captain thought appropriate to tell them they’d all be losing their jobs.

Even if it was issued by protocol to host one collective birthday party… This year had been him. 

“Swans-” Curly had tried to start.

“What do you think this tells the boy?” Swansea had defied, his hand gesturing to the screen, a countdown leading down to the arrival of home- to safety. The comment confused Curly, dumbfounded before Swansea explained.

“Daisuke! Life gets hard, so you turn on home! You leave a job unfinished? You work so damn hard in your life just to be tossed–”

“Swans!” Curly had finally interrupted him. Standing slowly from the piloting seat. A finger to his lips,”We have a threat on the ship…” his voice carried softly, his tone just slightly above a whisper. These words caused their mechanic to look Curly. Wary of the next words,”The foam’ll-”

“This isn’t a foam problem, Swans… We have a live wire among the crew”, the captain ran a hand along the temples of his forehead. Speaking about it with someone else, someone new- it made Curly sound crazy. After the strong release of the air he held in, Curly’s hands rested on hips, shrugging out the energy.

“It’s been sparking for too long… Already caused some damage… Ones I think I’ve been seeing but-”

“So now you choose to be a fucking man, huh?” Swansea drilled him,”You brought that useless cargo on this ship- and I am not talking about what we were carrying for Pony Express. I’m talking about the baggage YOU brought and carried with you.” His girthy index out as he stepped closer, closing the space between himself and his ‘captain’.

“We have a fucking kid on this ship-”

“We have a woman too, Swansea! I am well aware of what-” Curly held up his hand then the other joined. Swansea saw this was an attempt to wave a white flag. The elder saw this, scoffing, shaking his head at someone he would still consider a ‘young buck’. Curly still had a lot to learn…

“Why now? Are you just now seeing what kind of man your ‘friend’ is, Captain? You think this will fix whatever he already broke?”

Curly locked with Swansea’s peering gaze, they gray had dulled. 

“I don’t think I can ever fix what I have allowed for so long, Swansea.” 

The older man took Curly in, those dull hues had rivaled looks he had seen in men before. 

A face of revelation, Swansea had been through this. After seeing the bottom of too many bottles, there were things people did when they lost control. How they sobered up and atoned for them is what defines them from the Jimmy’s of the world. Swansea had probably been a ‘Jimmy’ before he hit his own enlightenment.

“You aren’t talking to me as a captain right now, are you, Curly?”

That intense eyelock softened, finally some understanding between them.  

“No, I’m not… I guess I am not,Swansea.” Curly chuffed, shaking his head and looked to the metal locker. Where the code reader and the…

His sight looked down the barrel of the gun. 

“Is the kid going to be alright?” Swansea broke his reverie, thinking back to the dream. In the back of his mind, he felt the panic of that gun pointed at him. Beckoning him to get rid of it, out of reach.

“I asked if-”

“What? Yeah, Swansea… Do you still have that axe I lent you? From when Daisuke got stuck?” Curly interrupted, going to the locker and grabbing the kit and the code reader.

“Do you think we’ll need all that…”

“Answer my question, Swansea.” Curly had to be proactive, it was the lack of awareness that had landed them all in this mess. Stopping to do intake, scanning the locker for the nylon rope. One Jimmy had crudely bet his credits on the chance of it ‘not being used’.

God, how many signs were there to Jimmy that he missed? How long had he been using Curly’s ignorance and wishful thinking against him? Had he used that thinking to trap Anya in such a powerless position? That pooling guilt now wanted him to vomit at the idea. The idea that Jimmy had used their friendship against people Curly had to protect.

“Don’t lose it now, Captain… How about you tell me this plan you have? If you are thinkin’ that freak would use a gun… shouldn’t we send a distress call?”

Curly had said aid might be needed, but now with another opinion. Swansea was right, it caused the younger man to chuckle and shake his head.

“Maybe I should’ve started listening to you sooner, Swans…” he admitted, grabbing the supplies from the locker and placing it on Jimmy's usual seat. 

“I need you to be ready with that axe, I don’t know that I can trust Jimmy won’t do anything stupid when confronted…”

“You planning to confront him? Are you really thinking that’s a good idea? What about Daisuke and Anya? I don’t move as fast with an axe… still got years on me-”

“I’m asking you to defend the cockpit, Swansea. I’m hiding the gun… you never know. Any other threats you know on this freighter?” Curly was sitting now, tapping the keys away to earth. 

‘Treason on board, need immediate rescue. Tulpar Freighter, SOS.’

He sent it, he prayed it was delivered. They were already wasting so much time in the cockpit. Jimmy could be around the corner- the way he thought of him was more like the boogeyman. 

“Get that axe, you keep an eye on this room.”

“I want you to promise me something, Captain Curly.” Swansea had interrupted, causing Curly to pause as he recollected the discarded items on the vacant station next to him. The throne of a pest.

“Nothing happens to the kid, Daisuke. You need to promise me that. He has so much left to live.”

“Swansea, we all have so much left to live. We’re going to figure this out together… If this goes well.. I pray we’ll have Jimmy freeze dried before anything like that happens..” The two men took in each other then. Curly straightened up with the instruments they’d need to pull this off. He slid the loop of the rope over his arm and rested it on his shoulder. 

“You’re co-captain now, and if Jimmy comes knocking, that’s what you tell him, understand?… I need his attention. Redirect him to me…”

“I’ve been seeing the way he looks at you, Curly. I must admit, I look at you the same way sometimes. Pathetic man, aimless ambitions, that kinda thinkin’ gets people hurt- and has.” Swansea watched the color of Curly’s face. Facing the reality of the crew had painted long before his revelation. 

“I think everyone wants to escape themselves” Swansea continued,”You aren’t a bad man for wanting to escape. Everyone does, vices just change depending on who you are.”

Closing the gap between them, the large hand took Curly’s shoulder giving it a proud and firm grip.

“It’s time like this that defines us as who we are when we stop running. It's your turn now, like it was mine when I stopped drinking, I reckon Daisuke will have to learn that running might put you ahead… but don’t make the destination any closer, does it?”

“Does it ever get closer?” it sounded like a plea, leaving Curly’s lips. 

“I think you’re starting to see the finish line…” Swansea replied, retreating his hand off the captain’s shoulder. 

“Now, I got orders, Don’t think we have much time now before the freak wakes up…”

“No, we don’t. I need to get to Anya..” Curly turned to the controls. Engaging a captain’s lock to prevent intervention from anyone other than the captain. 

People have to be worth their titles.

Now, Jimmy was stripped of his. 

There was a dangerous criminal on board the Tulpar freighter cargo ship. 

The two men shared a glance. Standing near the door,”Axe. This door. After I speak to Anya- I’ll check on…him.”

“What are you going to do to him, Curly?” Swansea asked before Curly could activate the door to leave. The blonde had turned to his elder, flashing a smile,”Making him take responsibility, Swansea.”

Quickly, he lifted the code reader to the open locker, seeing the number illuminate within the confined space. Looking to Swansea one last time, a knowing nod happened between the men by sharing the numbers with him. Taking a moment to memorize the code, before dropping his arm to his side once more.

Not wanting to waste anymore time, Curly checked the door. Seeing no one in sight just yet, he looked back to Swansea sharing a nod to him.

They were all treading in unfamiliar water now.

There were no titles, or what made someone worthy to have them…

In the oceanic void of space, everyone is prey.

That’s how Jimmy saw it.

[prince-of-pages]

A cut transgirl romance comic by Garun

[prince-of-pages]

show some love to my bestieeeee

The Awakening

Chapter 1 of No More Running, a Mouthwashing Retelling.

Synopsis:

Curly is the captain to the misfit crew of Tulpar. After a revelation dream, Curly decides he wants to start living a life where he doesn't have to run. Starting with on issue he's been running from the most, his best pal, Jimmy, and the man his best friend truly is. No More Running is a fan story about Curly taking his own responsibility to his crew of Tulpar.

Warnings:

SA, mentions of SA, pregnancy by SA, MDNI, heavy topics covered. Chapter Masterlist: No More Running

The ocean was a still gore that engulfed his ankles in its carnage. The ladders, an army of them, standing proud of mocking in their proud posture. What had held them so proud, Curly could not see or make out. The ocean of blood shrouded their origin, he knew now this was a dream, as it always was.

Climbing and climbing with no clear destination of where it ended. This had always been his life, captain of his failed ship… The Tulpar crew was made up of misfits, he had added someone he thought was his friend… Yet Jimmy was so quick to throw Curly under- running from them? What did he have to run from?

The cool gaze, peered at the ladder raising with no clear destination.

Running from them.

Curly dropped his head, the ocean of blood welcomed him at the bottom- can one run when you are never on solid ground? But now there were figures surrounding his ladder, his ladder he had worked hard on climbing all his life. The soulless eyes of his crew members pierced their captain. He had opened his mouth to speak to them, reassure them they could all climb their own ladder, before a bright screen silenced any attempt. He had remembered this sound, it was a warning screen, bright red that barely reflected on the crimson surface.

This was new, this had never happened before in his dream, a warning…

STOP RUNNING.

Curly felt a panic rush over him, this world was communicating to him, warning him. He looked down at the ghastly crew, three were there to meet his gaze… They looked different now. Dead corpses- their blood seeping from their demise.. Was this his doing? Where was Jimmy? Scanning the crimson, any sign of his friend-

The red light had become silhouetted, causing Curly to snap his head up. His eyes met the barrel of the gun kept in the emergency protection kit. Tracing to the finger on the trigger was Jimmy.

The warning sign had changed, in big letters Curly could make out:

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

Jimmy’s words rang louder, echoed in the space around him,”IT’S US YOU ARE RUNNING FROM!” Curly gaze turned stern and focused, staring through Jimmy now. Daring him to pull the trigger, the click of the gun’s trigger pulled-

He had snapped himself up on his bunk, this was a new dream- he had looked over to the neighboring bunks. All men shared a room, leaving poor Anya on her own. Curly had noted that Jimmy’s bunk was empty- rustled and slept in sure. Still empty. It had hit him then, the comment Anya had brought up…

Why…weren’t there locks on living quarters?

He felt the way his heart sank, sank in the ocean he had awoken from. Staring blankly at the ruffled sheets of his co-captain’s bunk. His breathing became labored, snapping his gaze to the men sleeping, Swansea and Daisuke. The sound of the automatic door giving way, Jimmy standing in his boxers and shirt he wore under his uniform.

The way he had looked at him and changed, the appearance such as this made that pit deepen, all that pooled inside was guilt.

“Where were you?” he had asked Jimmy, by the way of greeting his co-captain. “Had to piss, if that’s okay with you?” he retorted in defense, a wire exposed and ready to harm those who dared touch it.

That’s what Jimmy was now, a liability, a problem waiting to happen. No, it did happen and is happening now.

This thought caused the captain to stand from his bunk, throwing on his standard issued Pony Express jumpsuit. Seeing the logo almost made him want to rip it back off.

Jimmy was nestling back into his sheets, watching as Curly moved in a fast, anxious fashion. Curly saw it then, the way he viewed their medic, anxious and fidgety.

“What the hell are you doing?” he said just above a whisper, planting his head on the pillow. Curly looked at him passively as he made his way to the door, seeing Daisuke stir at the sound. He couldn’t tell Jimmy he was going to see Anya, no, not directly.

“I have a headache, might as well do my job while I’m awake”, that had caused a soft chuckle in reply from Jimmy. Disregarding his captain, and Curly knew exactly what Jimmy thought with that chuckle…

‘When do you do your job when you’re awake?’

Curly stepped into the night lighting, the way the moon illuminated the shared space. He stood in the cool lighting, as if staring at clarity.

Jimmy had been right, he was running from them. Climbing his ranks with no clear end view, he had stood for nothing. His eyes lost in the scenery of the moon, a smile cracked on him when he saw it then. The pixel, the imperfection he had always looked over… Even when pointed out. How long had he overlooked? Could he ever undo the damage that had been caused by his willful ignorance.

He could blame Pony Express, what company would send one woman on a year long cargo ship with four men. This was passing blame, Curly knew this. He was her last line of defense, and it was here he chose to make a stand.

His face was cool, as the clouds and moon reflected on his features. Lost in thought, he didn’t hear the neighboring door slide open, and the woman standing next to him. She didn’t disturb him, she took in his expression. Cool eyes that once reflected calm ocean waters now raged with unspoken fury. She had seen this in Jimmy, but never controlled rage- his was messy and spilled over.

Captain’s seemed contained and calculated- his smile broke across his face which caused concern.

“C-captain?” Anya said softly, “Are you alright?”

Her voice broke the thought, in fact it scared him to hear her so suddenly. His eyes widened seeing her stand so close to him.. How could she even feel close to anyone here?

“Anya.. What a relief. I was just about to go to medical.. Maybe you can help me find some pain relief.” His voice was a forced calm. Anya simply nodded, Curly saw the nerves that plagued her now. Wondering how she thought of him now.

‘God, Jimmy what have you done…” Curly dreaded this, that dread wanted him to run. As he walked behind Anya, offered her to go first into the small space that was her office and infirmary.

As he entered, his hand locked the door. Seeing Anya turn in a panic, her eyes wide with what he only imagined Jimmy had pavloved her into. He raised a hand, to soothe her, his feet planted on the steel that made their floor. This metal made hell, the hell he had piloted.

“Anya” Curly began, his voice was shaky and unsteady. Seeing how she watched him fumble, her eyes glued to the lock where his other hand had rested.

“Captain? What are yo-”

“I want you to start sleeping in medical, locked.” He removed his hand from the door, his eyes softened, holding himself together. Curly had slowly moved to the chair that rivaled where she usually sat. Sinking in it slowly, his hands ran the length of face.

“I want to talk about Jimmy, Anya.” His eyes watched as she followed orders. His mind raced back to the night he and her spent looking at the screen, seeing the bigger picture and not spending enough time to find the imperfection.

“I actually.. Was hoping to talk to you about the same thing…” Anya had confessed, after a moment of silence. Seeing her captain’s eyes snapping to meet her. Was he was waiting to hear the news- did he know?

Anya felt his gaze weigh on her, those waters pooled into her grounding her to this conversation. “I’m pregnant, I thought i was just getting si-”

“Is it Jimmy’s?” he asked calmly, but the muscle in his face tensed, his jaw tightened to hear the answer. When Jimmy had been a subject for discussion, Curly often slapped it away. Here he sat attentive, expecting what he already knew. She replied with a nod, a somber and defeated movement.

Curly saw the way she avoided his gaze, focusing on her hands that now laced together with unease. The tension between them was filled with uncertainty of what would be a resolution. Curly saw them plainly, run or stand. He could easily finish this job, and whatever happens here would be because of Jimmy… Jimmy would be a father.

He inhaled to ground himself, running meant allowing his own ignorance sway his judgement.

“Do you know how far along you are?”

“I just…found out.. I wanted to wait to tell you- I was going to tell you, Captain-” she fumbled, scared of the repercussions of the information she revealed.

“I’m turning the ship around now, Anya.” His voice spoke with conviction, as he stared into the dark gaze Anya possessed. She had looked at him confused, her eyes brows knit the more she considered it.

“We’re going to figure this out, together. Do you hear me?” His hand placed firmly over her nervous palms. This was the first time she had felt a comforting gesture. Comforting act of any kind done by anyone on the ship.

In her desperation for peace. Anya leaned into the idea that her voice carried finally to someone else. “I don’t feel safe with him on the ship…” she confided, her voice shaky as her hands took Curly’s, she felt her heart in her voice. The shake of fear of Jimmy finding out, he had taken so much from her, the thought of it ending now seemed impossible.Curly’s eyes were back, controlled and focused.

His other hand met hers, steadying them as they shook.

“Neither do I, Anya… you need to do something for me, okay?” he asked, his hand softly squeezing over hers.

“Don’t tell anyone we're on our way back home. Not until I say it, okay? You need to be brave just until I deal with Jimmy.” Slowly he rose, losing her hands and leaving them on the desk as she sat there. Looking up to him, worried of the outcomes she could not predict from the information given to her..

“I am so sorry, Anya…” Curly said,” I’m taking us home, we’ll figure out the rest from there okay?”

Anya sat in the confusion of this interaction. Her eyes Curly followed as he went to the door, his hand on the lock,”What are you doing, captain?” she asked bluntly, raising from her seat just to halt with his hand gesturing to her to stay.

“I’m changing our destination. While Jimmy is asleep, I’ll be right back here. I want you in here doors locked till I return, okay? We’ll go over on how to make you feel safe on Tulpar again.”

“I don’t think I ever felt safe on the Tulpar, Captain…”

Curly looked at her with defeat.

He had failed her, failed everyone on his ship by allowing Jimmy in. He should’ve asked him what he had gotten in trouble with back at home.

Jimmy was his responsibility.

“Keep the door locked.” He reminded her, finally unlocking the door and checking for clearance.

“I won’t tell anyone…” she promised Curly. The affirmation made him smile weakly to her,”We’re getting through this together, Anya. I promise.”

Curly left her then, walking to the cockpit. The chair he had sat in filled him with new ambition, taking it with a new responsibility.

He had sent a message back to the company, phrasing there had been strange activity on board that required immediate attention. That the Tulpar would be setting its new destination to home. Rescue might be needed.

Booting up the controls and making it official. Curly hadn’t relaxed until the screen had confirmed he was successful. That home would be reached, it would take approximately one hundred and forty-five days till home… Which might make Anya’s window smaller. The idea of that caused Curly to inhale deeply, how could he tell her? What were their options for her situation?

“I thought it was weird you’d be workin’ this late at night, knowing you” a voice filled the silence of the cockpit, sending Curly into a panic.

[prince-of-pages]

@x-jackalnope-x

A captain and his crew

[prince-of-pages]

I LOVE MY BEST FRIENDDDDDD

I hope this hurts.

[prince-of-pages]

Did I daydream this, or was there a website for writers with like. A ridiculous quantity of descriptive aid. Like I remember clicking on " inside a cinema " or something like that. Then, BAM. Here's a list of smell and sounds. I can't remember it for the life of me, but if someone else can, help a bitch out <3

[prince-of-pages]

Always a good annual reminder

[prince-of-pages]

Interspecies lesbianism

[prince-of-pages]

will is werewolf coded because his darkness is hidden and repressed even to himself. he fights against it relentlessly, but he can’t get rid of it no matter how hard he tries. he only comes to terms with what he is under the light of the moon when he realises how much he loves the hunt.

hannibal is vampire coded because his darkness is always there, an irrepressible hunger within him. he can hide it from other people but never from himself, and so eventually gives in to his most violent impulses, despite the cultured exterior he gives off

idk i think it’s neat. they’re both so cool

[prince-of-pages]

I've recently noticed an increase in well-meaning people sharing unethical primate memes.

Unfortunately, the primates in these memes were either taken directly from their habitat to be sold or their parents are breeders that were themselves taken from the wild.

Worse yet, when baby primates are taken from the wild often times their older relatives are poached and sold for meat.

This all contributes to the reason why the majority of primates are endangered.

Let's all do our part by thinking before sharing!

Please feel free to share without credit ☺️

[prince-of-pages]

fanfics are one of the best things that humanity has come up with. i fucking love reading stories about my favorite characters from people who have the same brainrot as me

[prince-of-pages]

why did he say this

[prince-of-pages]

@x-jackalnope-x

Dude, where’s my kissy. Where is my fuckin snuggles bro

[prince-of-pages]

[prince-of-pages]

[prince-of-pages]

so shocked was I that I could not find an existing side-by-side that the lord compelled me