robowest | [ DEPARTURE ]

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game: end

[ 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.

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...Right. We could head to my room, there's nobody else staying there.

That's fine. I'd take you to mine but...[He looks a little embarrassed. He doesn't think Annabeth would 100% appreciate it before he could explain it.] I'll follow your lead this time.

[A short laugh, and a wave of her hand to displace the implied apology. She leads him there, opens the door, and moves aside so he can come in.

Once they're both inside, she waits. She assumes there must be something he wanted to say in private, so she'll let him begin.]

[Once they're in her room he leans against the closed door, scrubbing a hand over his face.]

...the duel was my idea. I never asked them to lay their lives down for me. I know it looks bad but I didn't. How mad were the rest of them...?

...They were more angry about the Coal Miner thing, but not - what you actually did. Just that you didn't tell them, I think.

[She sighs.]

But I think most of them at least understood why, they just... wished it could have been different.

There's a lot I wish I could fix. [His hand drifts to his head again.] I tried to make a deal with Hal. I. [He takes a breath.] If I tell Annabeth she'll probably try to kick my ass but have you ever just had a bunch of thoughts in your head that you don't know how to get rid of? Usually I can do that. It's not working this time.

...Yeah, I think I know how that is.

[A smile, bitter, but she moves on quickly.]

What are you thinking about? You can tell me.

I tried to bargain with Hal about the game. I wanted him to take other people from the other universes. Leave the other versions of us alone. He said it wasn't up to him since he gets the player lists, so I asked him to just keep taking the different versions of me. And he said I'm not that interesting but he also said he had fun watching so that was a lie. Just that it wouldn't keep the game going indefinitely.

I won and I still had so much merit, but I couldn't do that. So...I'm wondering what else I could have done to have enough to make up for everything else I did.

...There's nothing to make up for.

[She sighs.]

All of us had to do horrible things, but... You're not angry at anyone who voted at any point in a trial, are you? Because we didn't have a choice. There was nothing else to do.

I know you're right. I know you are, but...I'm going back to fight in a war. Remembering everything here, I don't want this game to be an excuse for anything I'll do in the future.

I know this is all stupid. The other reason I'm not telling Annabeth. [A wry smile.] I think I was scaring her a little.

It's not stupid. That's not what I'm saying. But...

[And then a pause, before moving on to the part she's sure neither of them want to talk about.]

I got your letter. I'm sorry for not... I should have said I didn't want you to do it, either, not just Jason. I'm sorry you felt like you had to - you know.

[She's leading to something bigger, though.]

You know what Milla said when she first got here? She said... Even something like that couldn't really change who you are at your core. I think she's right.

Even if you said it, it would have gone against what Will wanted. He...wrote me a letter on Friday. I got it after you and I talked. That's what solidified everything for me. He told me everything. I got a lot of letters that week.

...I think Milla's right but...even before this place...I know something's changed in me. Being in Tartarus changed me. It was enough to scare Annabeth when it got really out of control. [He's leading up to something, too.]

A goddess threatened me and Annabeth. Tricked us, you know? She was ready to kill us and instead I tapped into my powers. I could have just fought back, but I started to torture her before Annabeth stopped me. Like I said...things changed. I don't want this place changing me for the worst.

Edited 2017-03-05 06:50 (UTC)

I don't really think what Will wants should influence what any of us do.

[She'll leave that part of it alone, though, looking thoughtful instead. Crossing to take a seat on her bed, she gestures for him to sit beside her if he'd like.]

You aren't a bad person, Percy. Whatever happened, whatever you did... Nobody who wasn't a good person would have fought so hard to keep everyone here safe. It's bullshit that things came down to this, but it isn't your fault that they did. I know you would have given everything to protect us.

[It's better for both of them if he drops the subject of Will. He knows no one will understand his relationship with Will the way Percy does. Well. Maybe Hannibal. But that's even worse to consider. So instead he moves from the door and settles on the bed next to her, pulling his knees to his chest and letting his toes dangle off of the edge of the bed.]

And I still would. I know that much. All of this makes sense but it's just a mess in my head. I hate that. I need to get it together before we get back so I can fight and lead my old team. I'm a little tapped out on bravery for a bit. [A beat.] Think I used the last of it up asking Annabeth to marry me. I didn't want to come here just to talk about all of this. It's just harder to make it go away.

If what he said about the stops going in order of death is true... You've got time. We'll all be here to help you get there, too.

[Reaching over, she puts a hand on his shoulder, careful and gentle.]

It's okay, seriously. You can talk about whatever you want. [Although...] What did Annabeth say?

I have a few things to do before you guys leave, too. You all left about the same time...bet you and Xion could wait for Jason. But I know. I don't have an excuse this time not to lean on you guys.

[It's why he doesn't push her hand away. It's why he doesn't mind that his expression melts into something a little more troubled.]

The hilarious thing about it all is that Jason told me not to star in my own Greek tragedy. This was about as tragic as you can get. But...it's still a happy ending in some cases. [He smiles lightly at the question though.] She said no, but that's probably because I scared her by asking without any warning. It wasn't really a no though, that's just Annabeth's usual default answer for me. She wants to wait until after college and everything. But she's wearing my ring. It's a start.

Well, we're getting off at yours, so... It'll be the end. A month from now. God, that's weird to think about.

[The concern in her face remains for a moment, but she drops her hand after giving his shoulder a squeeze. Despite herself, she smiles.]

So she said no, but she's wearing the ring anyways? Kind of a conflicting message there, gotta say. [And then she grows a bit more somber.] Either way... Even if this whole thing was a tragedy, what comes next doesn't have to be.

You're not getting off at mine. You can't. That's Tartarus. When Hal asks you, tell him you want to go to my universe but to Manhattan. I'm going to give you my mom's address and a note for her and you guys have to take care of each other until I can come home. But...it's weird. You're right.

[There's a weak laugh.] When we first started dating she warned me she'd never go easy on me. She wants me to get through college first even if I have no idea what I want to do with my life. I just know I want you guys in it. [He looks at his knees.] I don't want to die, Natalie. But after this I'm also no longer worried about that. I'm going to fight with everything I've got so that everyone in the world can rest for a while. That means you three, too. And anyway, I gotta live up to my namesake.

...Okay. And you're sure he'll make certain it's the right one? I guess he has no reason not to at this point, but...

[She's still not inclined to trust Hal easily, honestly.]

I'm with her on this one. College is important. [But.] If you die again I'm going to kill you, man.

Yeah. I've done more than enough for Hal. He owes me this much. Besides, he doesn't have a reason to keep us here. [He moves then, pulling a small folded square of paper out of his pocket with an address written on it.] When you get there, find this apartment. My mom should be home. If it's summer, Paul will be there, too. Give my mom that first.

[He rolls his eyes though.] It's funny. I don't think that's how death works where I'm from unless you want to wait around for me for rebirth. But trust me...I'm going to try not to die. And if I do I'll try to make sure it's not like this. [A pause.] I don't know if I could kill myself again? Not like this.

Edited 2017-03-06 17:01 (UTC)

[With a nod, she takes the piece of paper.]

Okay. You're sure she'll be cool with it? [Also...] Is it okay if I read it?

[She rolls her eyes in turn, giving him her best Look.]

Don't underestimate me, I would totally find a way. [More importantly, though...] I'm sorry. You never should have had to.

Of course she will. If anything, she's going to be mad at Hera, too, for kidnapping me for months but she won't mind you guys staying there for as long as you want. And you can read it if you want but I can't promise you won't get mad at me.

[So read at your own risk. That aside, there's a flat smile.] You'd have to fight Annabeth for the right to kill me twice, but the two of you together could easily find a way to do it and that's what scares me. [His eyes are downcast all the same.] All of us should have never had to do a lot of things. It's okay. I mean it's not okay but it's just...it happened. I did it because we needed to go home. Everything after that is on me and in comparison I kind of got off easy, didn't I?

Good to know. [She says, before opening and reading the entire thing with little hesitation. When she's done:] You're such a nerd.

[If anything, that word comes out a little bit touched, not angry.]

We could tag team you, it'd be fine.

[At what he says last, though, she shakes her head.]

Not really. Nobody got off easy, but... I don't know, you especially. Rough break.

I think I can handle that as long as you don't tell anybody. [He can hear the shift in tone. It's enough that it makes him happy, at least. The idea of both girls being within reach also makes him happy.

Family. Keeping everyone close. That's what he wants. To the rest...]

...I don't want to feel sorry for myself. Is it feeling sorry for myself if I agree with that?

No promises.

[The response is automatic, but it takes her a few moments to decide what to say to his next words.]

No, I don't think so. Acknowledging that you kind of got fucked over isn't the same as self pity.

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