[ DEPARTURE ]

[sheriffexe]

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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Comments

[elemancy]

[he's not even going to address that first comment when percy knows as well as he does that hurting people was, in fact, the only way to save them.]

...And that's why you were acting weird on Monday. [sorry percy, you tipped him off way too much.]

You knew, right? That Barnham was going to kill me.

[hydrokinetics]

...yeah. We'd met with the Sheriff not long before you and I talked. I knew Mr. Barnham was going to do it and what he requested to get the job done. I just didn't know what day it was happening.

[elemancy]

...I had a feeling.

[which isn't entirely bad. it gave noct time to prepare himself for it. to write his letters and completely make peace with a fate he wasn't going to be able to fight.

it still sucked, though. percy knew... and didn't tell him, despite the fact that noct was obviously, even if weeks before that, willing to die if that was necessary. he lucked out in making those conclusions himself—otherwise, he may have ended up a lot more troubled by it.]

[hydrokinetics]

...Noct what would you have even done if I said Mr. Barnham and I were planning how to kill the rest of the town? Then you're just left waiting for days in dread which...I...probably caused anyway. [Whoops.]

...I messed up anyway didn't I.

[elemancy]

...Probably would've kicked both your asses for trying to deal with it without me.

[he nudges percy a bit.]

You both messed up. Spend so much time worrying about keeping the rest of us clean that you end up making everyone worry about you more.

[it goes for percy and barnham; they both wanted the best for everyone but took a really shitty approach to actually accomplishing it.]

[hydrokinetics]

I think I was already promised an ass-kicking and you're holding out on me. [Please don't kick his ass right now, Noct, he's tired and miserable but also Noctis is a good egg and he's content this way.] But trust us, we both know we messed up a lot.

I kind of wish I'd told Mr. Barnham about my role earlier so he wasn't dealing with this alone for so long. I wonder how much would have actually changed.

[elemancy]

Too tired to kick your ass now. Later.

[probably not really, he's probably not going to make good on that threat. they're both too tired.]

Don't know what would've changed. I've... asked myself the same thing a lot. Since that night, I've been wondering.

[if barnham has told him earlier, if he'd caught barnham in his own lies—would things have changed? would roles have been reversed, if only to put barnham out of his own suffering?

he probably still would have made sure percy was the last left standing, because of his merit—but still. maybe things would have been different.]

[hydrokinetics]

Hal seemed to know exactly what was happening, so maybe nothing would've changed about the outcome. The whole "fate" thing. I don't like that as an answer, but it is an answer. Or maybe we just aren't supposed to think much about it. I don't know. I've never been good about just accepting things the way they are.

[elemancy]

Maybe. Still kind of hard to believe.

[for a dumb reason, but:]

If he knew everything that was going to happen, how the hell did he let Ash kill his cat?

[hydrokinetics]

...[Hm.] Well he's a robot still. Maybe he wasn't anticipating what another robot would do?

[elemancy]

Maybe. Seems weird that he'd have everything but that all figured out, though.

[hydrokinetics]

I'd say "ask" but I don't think Hal wants to talk to any of us ever again after this. Then again, I'm not sure I want to talk to him either.

[elemancy]

I... think it's better to leave it alone now. No more of dealing with him any more than we need to now.

[hydrokinetics]

Probably the best idea I've heard all day. [There's a beat.] You know I'm never looking at cup noodles the same way, right?

[elemancy]

Good. Make sure you don't forget me.

[ha!

except really, that reminds me.]

Right—guess I almost forgot. Thanks for... doing what I asked in that letter.

[hydrokinetics]

Man, never. Even without the noodles I wouldn't. [His lips curl up into a small smile.]

Did you really think I wouldn't? You asked. It was the least I could do.

[elemancy]

Didn't know if there'd be enough time, that's all.

[but he appreciates it.]

It... was important, though. [you know. for Reasons.]

[hydrokinetics]

I make time for the important things, dude. In case you haven't noticed. [He tilts his head.] Was it important because it was noodles, or because it was Milla?

[It's a very innocent question but the look is punctured by the small smirk that comes with it.]

[elemancy]

Not like the noodles are that important. But... not like Milla can't take care of herself, either.

[don't look at him like that. it's embarrassing.

(it was 100% because of milla.)]

[hydrokinetics]

She definitely can. [But he gets it. He really, really does.] But it's no different than Annabeth sending me a box of blue food so I get it.

[elemancy]

[he nods. yeah, it's definitely like that.]

I talked to her before that, but. I didn't really think it was going to be that fast.

[hydrokinetics]

I mean...everything here was sort of rushed, don't you think? I met all of you guys eight weeks ago and I'm taking three of you home with me. Unless you mean it was fast after...you know. [Luna, he means.]

[elemancy]

Nah, it's not that.

[he's had a couple of months now to get over it.]

Luna wouldn't want me to wait forever anyway. More just. That was twelve years. This was a few weeks. Kind of an adjustment, I guess.

[it took him by surprise. feelings are weird?]

[hydrokinetics]

[A shrug.]

I've always kind of thought you can't help who you end up falling in love with. I think I always knew with Annabeth? I didn't get it at first so it took four years to figure it out but she's always been it. And now we're engaged and it's fine. So...I think if you're happy with it the adjustment period'll be easier.

[elemancy]

[ugh! okay, noct needs a second to kind of just process that because his cheeks are definitely flushing at... percy's bold terminology.

love is a strong word????]

Ye..ah. Guess it's just one of those complicated things. Definitely... not anything I was thinking about until it happened.