robowest | [ DEPARTURE ]

DEPARTURE

It's time to go.

Most people are on the train by now. Settled into their cabins and among friends and loved ones. There are only three new arrivals left to board and once they do, Hal pulls a conductor's hat out from underneath the bar, tugs it on, and steps around it to the middle of the train. He opens his mouth to talk, voice filling the train.

"It's time to go. Stops happen once a day until everyone's departed and I already have your stopped listed. If you'd like to be prioritized, let me know, otherwise we'll go in order of death. Settle in and enjoy the ride. If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask, folks."

This, of course, means that those who died earliest (Manfred, Higekiri) will depart first while those who died latest (Barnham, Damian, Percy) will depart last. There's a stop for everyone, though those who want to get off together are more than welcome to. Hal pulls a notepad and pen out of his pocket later and people will notice that he goes around the train confirming stops with everyone. Whatever feeling Hal may have had to a character back in town isn't noticeable here -- he is simply a robot assigned with a job.

After that, it's all a matter of settling in and enjoying the ride. If that's possible for you, at least.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ papika waits until he's already settled on the train before approaching him. i wish i could say it's cause she is being considerate about his feelings but mostly she just wants to wait til the rush to pile on him slows down so she will have even MORE time to pile on him.

so, barnhamper will now have a papika at his side, and she's just going to. tug on his arms?? get your head out of your hands, man. ]

You're here!

Miss Papika...

[Ah..... Papika. Of all people--it's good to see Papika again, even if it was only a few days that they were apart. He lifts his head at her tugging regardless, meeting her eyes.]

It is good to see you here--well and whole.

Mmhm. It's good to see you too.

... How are you?

[ besides feeling terrible ]

[You know, feeling terrible, dead inside, hating himself and everything he stands for...the usual.]

... I am as well as could be expected. And yourself?

I'm just happy that we can leave now.

[ she's not too thrilled about how that was possible, but. ]

Are you going back home?

[It's a shitty way to have to end up here, and Barnham sure contributed shittily to it.]

... I do not believe so.

[Sorry, Papika.]

But do not concern yourself with it. I shall handle this in the time to come. As for yourself--you are returning to protect those people you must rescue, correct?

[ no offense but after telling her not to concern herself with it she is just going to wanna concern herself with it?? but she will let it slide. for now. ]

I am! I have to. I'm hoping that we'll still be able to contact each other though.

I would very much enjoy that.

[He nods simply, appreciative.]

I would like to hear... more about you, and your world [though he doesn't get it] and what you choose to do with yourself from here, Miss Papika.

I'll tell you anything you want!

[ she smiles, but then pauses. ]

I... thought about maybe asking him if he could just fix everything back home with whatever merit I got. But that kind of feels like cheating, so I didn't.

[... Honestly.]

Just as I've always said. You are truly a warrior in your heart.

[He is impressed!! Honestly Papika might be more deserving of being a knight than he is at this point.]

You would rather fix it with your own hands? That is admirable. And I am quite certain that you shall be able to do so.

[ no barnham is always deserving to be a knight. shut up. ]

I hope so! It's just... if I can make it through here, I can do it back home.

[ she may be scared of what home is going to bring her, but papika is pretty sure there will be significantly less murder involved. she can do it. ]

I believe you shall be able to as well. I will be looking forward to hearing about your adventures when you have conquered them.

[He's proud ok... Papika can do it.]

I have the fullest of faith in you.