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

[ You don't want to talk to Will!! Probably!!!

But he'll be keeping to himself (or rather -- with Hannibal) over the trip, sticking to their cabin in particular. Anyone's welcome to visit but, you know, do you even want to?

He'll be leaving the same time as Hannibal does instead of waiting for his own stop, since they're both getting off together. He won't be making himself... available, not really, but if anyone even wants to talk to him at all, he's not dead, at least. You just kind of have to, uh, seek him out. ]

[ Chane wants to talk to Will! ... Probably.

That is, she makes the point of seeking him out - seeking them out, really - when it becomes apparent Will has little intention of venturing out on his own. He hasn't used words with her since before she was killed, which is both fine and leaves her feeling, perhaps a bit worryingly, like she's caught, hooked, at the mouth.

More than once, she thinks goodbye ought to be skipped altogether, but.

Ultimately, she ends up in their view, as she so often did, peeking into the cabin should their door be open.

Hey. ]

[ Will is here and honestly, he's looking much better than when he first arrived on the train. Still carrying the fog of exhaustion but -- better. Freshly showered, not well rested but more rested at least, and his hair and beard are in a bit more order -- combed and trimmed.

When Chane pokes into the room, he's sitting cross-legged on the bed and with a notebook and pen in hand, looking oddly thoughtful. At her presence, he looks up and smiles, genuinely so at her. It's nice to see her again. ]

Hello, Chane. Come to say hi? Or goodbye, if that's your preference.

[ Neither —

Uninvited, the word fills her, as words rarely do. He looks so happy and she can scarcely guess why, after everything. None of what they accomplished feels celebratory, except perhaps someone - far away, out of her scope - won something. But, Will is tidier, clearer in the eyes, looking less like he has a ghost wrapped around his shoulders and clenching his neck. That ... is another thing she ought to be glad of, right? And, on some level, she is, of course.

That doesn't mean that there isn't another part of her, smaller but no less important, that might resent him for leaving this decision (hello, or goodbye,) up to her. Why is he asking her to choose what to say when he knows she can't? Why, now, has he chosen not to just know?

It tangles in her, this moment, thoughts like wires that accumulated and accumulated without care or maintenance. Eventually, and it's a quick sort of eventually, it's near impossible to figure out which wire goes where.

If only she were a better person, really.

Her reply, once written, is inappropriately concise for what his question left in her. ]

Hello.

[After his talk with Hannibal, he's given it some thought and it's why he leaves himself plenty of time before Hannibal and Will's stop to seek out their cabin. He pauses outside, inhaling lightly before knocking on the doorframe. He won't speak, but he isn't hiding for once. If Will doesn't want to see him, he can shop him away. But for now he patiently waits.]

[ When Percy finds him, the door is ajar enough for him to see in. Will is sitting on the edge of his bed with Winston between his legs. He's holding Winston's face between his hands, Winston's tail wags against the floor and Will is genuinely smiling for once. He scratches fingers through the fur of Winston's head and looks up at the knock, looking immediately surprised to see Percy.

Also quickly noticeable is how much better Will looks. His hair is shorter again, beard more maintained. He looks like he slept for once, ate too, and while the exhaustion is there ever present, he's not looking like he's about to fall over with it. His empathy being returned to normal really does wonders for Will.

He's stuck in shock for a moment until Winston begins to tug his head away and Will lets him go. Winston eagerly heads towards Percy, sniffing the air as he goes before pushing open the door fully so he can sniff at Percy's feet. Will takes that as a sign to speak again. ]

Congratulations. [ He starts before adding -- ] On your survival.

[ He wouldn't dare refer to it as a win. It's not. ]

[He's fairly blank as he peers into the room, surprised by how well Will looks. Naturally he's happy for him, assured that Will's stabilized a bit. Perhaps "happy" isn't the right word though. It's hard to pinpoint what happiness really means right now, but there's definitely relief in knowing that Will seems better.

Winston approaches him and when the dog sniffs his feet Percy crouches down to hold out his hand for Winston to sniff. He's very real and very much here. He doesn't mind this. It's also easier to address Will while looking at the dog instead.]

Thank you. [It's very quiet and steady, void of any sort of tonal inflection. He's absolutely holding back, but it's for the best.] You look well. The train's been treating you decently then?

[ DEPARTURE ]

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