Astronomically Imposterble

II

Oh my god, over 8,000 words later and it's finally done. Enjoy!

When getting Gamora ready for the Artemis mission, the NASA workers stocked the cafeteria with plenty of food options for the crew--seeing as the crew comes from a multitude of different backgrounds. The crew themselves have said on multiple occasions (since the start of the mission) that, at times, there's too many options to choose from. All this being said, Elorie still chooses to eat Fruit Loops in a small Styrofoam bowl with a plastic spoon. She could've had pancakes, waffles, or any type of omelet she might've wanted. She could've had breakfast muffins or fruit tarts. And she still insists on cereal.

Elorie sits alone at a cafeteria table while she eats her breakfast. Her sketchpad is propped open on her knees under the table. According to her, it's easier to sketch with it under the table when she's eating as opposed to beside her. She mindlessly sketches some of the planets she saw as she uses her non-dominant hand to control the spoon, occasionally slowly bringing it to her mouth. The pencil glides along the paper, creating a multitude of thin grey lines. She smiles softly to herself as she takes a second to admire her work. Now she's seen a whole new galaxy to draw on the tops of her jeans or on the cuffs of Ethan's. A warm sensation in her chest starts to spread throughout her as she imagines the new designs she can leave on Ethan's clothes and how he'd love them. She can't wait to show him all of her sketches and all the pictures they took on the mission--which, of course, is highly illegal if you don't know the right people. She gets so excited just thinking about it that she almost drops her spoon all over her sketchpad.

"What's got you in such a pleasant mood so early in the morning?" Helena asks as she sits down across from Elorie. She glances up and offers Helena a warm smile as she closes the sketchpad and tucks it underneath her. "At least, I'm assuming it's early in the morning based on how my body seemed to detest the idea of waking up this morning." Elorie giggles and plays around with her cereal. Helena cracks a small smile. She leans closer to the table and raises an eyebrow. "Are you going to answer my question?"

Elorie waves her hand around and shakes her head. Helena's eyebrow raises higher. "It's nothing really." Helena leans back and crosses her arms. Elorie laughs and continues to shake her head. "Really, Hel--"

"Hel?" Helena questions.

She's very much aware that is her actual name but she hasn't told any of her fellow crewmates that just yet--well, not entirely. She's dropped massive hints about being the Norse goddess of death but she hasn't used her name. To use her actual name would render her alias useless. But now she's heard 'Helena' one too many times to find her real name strange.

Elorie shrugs. "It's just a shortened version of your name," she supplies. Helena's heart sinks. "You know, similar to how you guys call me El or Ellie. My dad calls me Moonshine but, uh," she scratches the back of her neck, "that's not really a nickname for you to use." Helena laughs. Elorie tilts her head. "Have you ever had a nickname before?"

"No, I haven't," she answers with a shake of her head. She resists the urge to add, 'nicknames are for peasants'. She's grown too fond of Elorie to say something like that in response to her question.

"How have you never had a nickname before?!" Elorie cries. She pushes her cereal aside so she can fully concentrate on the woman in front of her. "Did your parents not call you anything? Your friends never shortened your name?"

"Oh my parents called me quite a lot of things actually." Elorie raises an eyebrow. "None of which are to be repeated." Eloire nods. "And I don't have friends, so, no. No one's ever shortened my name." Elorie starts frowning. "You would be the first."