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

[There's been a lot of times where Eliot's been stuck in crappy places for a long time. Some real shitholes, way before he joined up with his crew. So being stuck on the train hasn't been so bad. Still, he's been getting pretty tired of it. But that's almost over now.

Over. Man, there's been a few times he'd almost started to doubt that was gonna happen.

And he sure didn't expect to come out of this with something good. Or the chance to offer something good to someone. But he's got his plans with Lust. So, alright. Crappiest vacation of all time. He can still count it as a win, for that one thing.

He's hanging out, where anyone can find him. And honestly if at this point you're expecting Eliot to look anything but kinda pissed, I don't know what to tell you. It's just his face, alright? He's still good to approach if you wanna go for it.]

[He isn't the only one who's considering this a win. For such a miserable, tiring, frustrating experienced consisting of death and despair...she's coming out of it far better off than when she'd arrived.

And in a great many ways, it's thanks to Eliot.

There's still a part of her that fears there's some catch, some shoe to fall. But that part of her is small and quiet, and her demeanor is brighter than it ever had been in the town. She finds him, when she's made her rounds and spoken with those she wishes to speak to.]

Still certain you'd like to return home with a stray in tow?

[She knows he is, she's only teasing. And expressing her gratitude in a way that doesn't make her intensely uncomfortable. It's easier to jest and make light of it than admit the depth of her feelings.]

[Feelings are very complicated and he gets that. So he recognizes the teasing for what it is and for what lies underneath it. Sometimes you gotta express yourself in less direct ways.

It reminds him of Parker, kinda. And that realization makes his smile just a tad warmer than it already would have been.]

It'd be a shame to go back with nothing at all to show for it, right? [Teasing right back. Because of course.] 'Sides, we all kinda qualify as strays anyway.

I suppose we are. [But most of them have homes of their own to return to, people waiting. She'd already abandoned her people, before she'd found herself here. Or...there, she supposes, now that they've left it behind.

Either way, to return to her own reality would essentially be death. Or at least a more pitiable existence than she'd had. God, what a miserable thought.]

And I also suppose there are much worse souvenirs to be leaving with. [She can't help but meet his eyes a moment, before looking down and clearing her throat.] I'm...I look forward to seeing your world. Meeting the friends you've spoken so fondly of.

[She only hopes that her presence is accepted.]

All I ever wanted was a human life of my own.

[ DEPARTURE ]

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