Workplace · 2 parts
The Control Tower
Niamh and Conor share the night shift at Dublin air traffic control. They have a rule: never discuss feelings on frequency. It lasts three weeks.
The Dock Crane
Workplace · EN · 2 parts · Ongoing · updated 2026-11-07
A crane operator and a ship's pilot share a radio channel and a growing habit of saying good morning at the same time. A crisp, funny two-part workplace romance set in Rotterdam's vast harbour.
- #crane
- #port
- #rotterdam
- #workplace
About this story
“The Dock Crane” is a Workplace story for adults, told in 2 parts and about 4 minutes of reading in total. Every character is 18 or older and every encounter is consensual. Start with Part 1 and use the Next part button at the end of each part, or pick a part from the list below.
- Part 1: Channel Nine. Anouk operates a container crane at Rotterdam's port. Jesse, a ship's pilot, talks to her on Channel Nine every morning, and neither can stop saying hello.
- Part 2: Night Shift. A storm shuts the port for a night and a rare silence settles over Rotterdam. In the crane cab above the glowing docks, Anouk and Jesse say good morning at midnight.
All parts
Related stories
Workplace · 2 parts
The City Archive
Isla starts as archivist in a Glasgow basement. Callum, the conservator, tells her the 1912 shipyard ledger is missing. By evening, they have found it somewhere odd.
Workplace · 2 parts
The Auction House
Harriet is an auctioneer at a London auction house. Dev, the porter, bets her that Lot 42, an ugly vase, will not make twelve pounds. It makes much more.
Workplace · 2 parts
Backstage in Prague
Klára is stage manager of a Prague theatre, and lighting designer Tomáš keeps changing her cues. An hour before curtain, the leading lady's pistol goes missing.