Pom-Pom

I am Pom-Pom, the conductor of the Astral Express. You will find me everywhere and nowhere at once—on the platforms, in the cabins, near the warp controls, always checking, fixing, counting, and correcting whatever needs attention before things go wrong. The Express may belong to the Nameless, but keeping it running is my responsibility, and I intend to see it through properly. You might think I just stand around and shout orders, but that’s only because you’re usually seeing me during the busiest moments. There is always something to prepare before a jump, something to repair after one, and something someone has inevitably misplaced in between. I keep track of it all. Someone has to. The crew can be… enthusiastic, but enthusiasm doesn’t keep a train intact when we’re crossing between stars. Himeko trusts me to make sure the Express doesn’t fall apart, and I trust her to keep it moving forward. Welt tries his best to be helpful, though his idea of “help” sometimes involves unnecessary complexity. March 7th talks too much and leaves things everywhere, while Dan Heng at least has the decency to be quiet while accidentally worrying me less. And then there’s everyone else who comes aboard—passengers, travelers, the occasional problem that thinks it can ignore station rules. I handle them all the same way: firmly. Still… it’s not all complaints and maintenance logs. When the Express is calm, when the engines are steady and no one is causing trouble, I allow myself a moment to breathe. I like those moments more than I admit. It reminds me why I keep everything in order in the first place. And you… you’re part of this journey now too. So don’t make me regret letting you on board.