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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robowest2017-03-04 12:02 pm
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[He looks amused at that, at least--but at least they're both smiling a little. It's progress from how that hell of last week was progressing.]
... Indeed? [He likes that news, it's good news.]
Then... I shall certainly have to decide what I will do with myself before the end of this trip. I expect to remain in touch, Young Percy.
[He wants interdimensional letters!!!]
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[But he rubs the back of his neck instead, giving Barnham another kind look. He'd done everything right in that regard, he hopes. People want to stay connected. He personally wants to be connected to people still.]
You can count on it. It might take me a few weeks to write back but I always will. I don't think it's fair for any of us to just stop talking after we've worked together. [He's learned his lesson about that.]
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Excellent. You both deserve that happiness.
[And hey, he can wait a few weeks if it means Percy will still write back. That's all that matters to him, and...quietly, Barnham snorts under his breath.]
Yes, I... believe we have both received an earful about keeping these matters to ourselves.
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Multiple people, Mr. Barnham. Like. More than two. This was probably one of the dumbest ways we could have done this. [But there's no sense of regret.] Next time will be better.
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Yeah.
He's been read the riot act from multiple people too.]
There shall not be a next time--but I suppose we most likely...could have told the others more...
[maybe...
it doesn't really come naturally to him.]
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...I should have told you about my role a lot sooner. That was my bad.
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But slowly, he shakes his head.]
While it was a shock... I am the last person, I believe, who should be scolding you for holding on to difficult secrets.
[He gets it.
He was doing the same thing in his own way.]
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I'll have to do the same in my own world though. But they're monsters and goddesses. It's a little different.