Man On The Moon

Chapter 5: About Astral Express

Vettel, still on the Astral Express, rubs his eyes groggily as he slowly awakens from his sleep. He sits up in his bed, and as he glances around the room, the reality of his situation sinks in once again. He's no longer part of the Stellaron Hunters, but he's been given shelter and hope by the Astral Express crew. But how long will that last? And what does the future hold? Suddenly, a knock at the door breaks the silence. Vettel looks up, his heart thudding in his chest. Who could it be? The Astral Express crew, or an unexpected visitor? He takes a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves, and walks over to the door. As he opens the door, he's met with the friendly, albeit slightly grumpy, face of Pom-Pom, the mascot of the Astral Express. Pom-Pom peers up at Vettel with its usual stern expression, but there's a hint of warmth in its eyes. Pom-Pom speaks in its usual monotone voice.

Pom-Pom: "Rise and shine, lazy bum. You're still on board the Astral Express. Breakfast's waiting for you upstairs."

Vettel, surprised yet grateful, manages a small smile. Despite Pom-Pom's gruff exterior, he can tell the little mascot is trying to be friendly in its way. Vettel nods, still feeling a bit groggy.

Vettel: "Uh, right. I'll be up in a minute. Thanks for letting me know, Pom-Pom."

Pom-Pom: "Don't take too long. Breakfast won't wait forever. And don't forget to brush your hair. You look like a wreck."

Pom-Pom turns and waddles away, leaving Vettel with a small wave.

Vettel chuckles to himself, a bit amused by Pom-Pom's bluntness. He runs a hand through his messy hair, knowing that Pom-Pom isn't wrong. His appearance is unkempt, his clothes rumpled. He takes a moment to compose himself, straightening his clothes and running a hand through his hair again to at least try and tame it. After a couple of minutes, Vettel is as presentable as he can manage. He takes a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever the day will bring, and heads out of his room, following Pom-Pom's directions to the upper deck, where the rest of the Astral Express crew are likely gathered. As Vettel ascends to the upper deck, he's greeted by the warm, familiar sound of voices talking and the hustle and bustle of activity. The Astral Express is always busy, even in the morning hours. Stepping fully into the upper deck area, he sees the whole crew gathered around a table in the central room, enjoying their breakfast. Stelle is the first to notice Vettel's arrival. She glances up and gives him a small, reassuring smile. The rest of the Astral Express crew turn to look at him as well, their gazes ranging from curious to welcoming. Welt Yang offers a nod, Himeko gives a gentle smile, and Dan Heng merely glances up from his breakfast before returning to his food. Caelus looks up and grins widely, waving at Vettel eagerly. Pom-Pom busies itself with dishing out more food, but its round little eyes glance at Vettel briefly before it returns to its task. Feeling a bit self-conscious under the watchful eyes of the Astral Express crew, Vettel clears his throat and takes a seat at the table. The atmosphere is slightly awkward, as everyone is aware of the reason why he's here. They all know about his connection to the Stellaron Hunters, and no doubt they have questions. But for now, the focus is on breakfast, and no one seems inclined to bring up the uncomfortable topic just yet. March 7th, never one to shy away from breaking the ice, chimes in, her cheerful smile lighting up her face.

March 7th: "Well, well, look who finally decided to join us for breakfast. Good morning, sleepyhead."

Vettel manages a small smile, grateful for March 7th's lighthearted, teasing tone. It helps to break the tension in the room a bit. He plays along.

Vettel: "Yeah, yeah. I could say the same to you. You look like you could use a few more hours of sleep yourself."

March 7th feigns an offended look, clutching her chest in mock horror.

March 7th: "Hey, I'll have you know I get my beauty sleep. This naturally radiant face of mine is all-natural, ya know."

Caelus snickered at March 7th's response, clearly enjoying the banter. He adds, his voice full of mischief.