robowest | [ DEPARTURE ]

Entry tags:

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I told you to just call me Natalie, you know.

[A small shrug. She's sure he doesn't want to talk about what he had to do. Wouldn't all of them just like to put this whole ordeal behind them? Even so, she feels like she has to say—]

That was a rough break. Sorry about... you know, your everything.

Ah... that you did. My apologies.

[She did, and the mess of everything kind of wiped that from his brain. He clears his throat, and slowly shakes his head.]

I believe...anyone in my situation would have done what needed to be done, just as I did. I... chose to do so so that no one else would have to.

[That's it.]

As it was my choice... please, do not concern yourself with it. It is enough, to see everyone [...alive] ...again.

I'll concern myself with whatever I want to, thanks.

[It's at least said mildly, without any bite. The look she gives him is both concerned and curious - she has to wonder if it's really enough. Still, she doesn't want to push him. Not now.]

At least it's over, I guess.

[That sounds like Natalie, at least; it's good to know that having some time to be dead has at least helped a little?? With the trauma? He hopes so, at least.]

...Tis over.

[He'll hold onto that.]

With the outcome that... I believe was best. [Even if it sucked that everyone had to die, well...everyone had to die anyway. So here we are.]

Not a single person here deserved to be killed permanently for the sake of a game such as this.

[It feels hard to accept that this was best, but... If there was only one outcome that could send everyone home, that's that, she supposes.

It doesn't mean she doesn't hate it, doesn't feel anger and sorrow curl in the pit of her stomach at just the thought of it. All the same, she can at least focus on what comes next.]

You're right about that, at least.

[That nobody deserved this, even if there are two people she immediately thinks of, but - no. Don't think about them again, she tells herself.]

So... What are you going to do after this?

[What comes next, he's finding, is the hard part. He was able to get through this game by focusing entirely on the inevitable outcome--they would get through this, allow everyone to go home, and from there... they'd be done. He would be done, and that was more than enough for him.

He didn't want to do...more than that.

Now that he's here, he's finding that he has no idea.

His brow furrows a little, and he sighs softly, shaking his head.]

I... do not know. I suppose I did not, at any point, think that far ahead. [Could not let himself think that far ahead, really.] I...

... Well. I do have time to think about it, I suppose. [If that bit about them getting off the train in order of deaths is to be believed.]

Have you decided for yourself?

I guess that makes sense. There might have been a few things that were kind of distracting along the way.

[It's tinged with sarcasm, and followed along by a huff that comes out as a half laugh.]

...I'm hitching a ride with Percy to his place, so. Guess we'll both be chilling here for a bit while we wait.

[You know, just a bit. Only a little distracted by murder and suffering.]

Is that so? With Young Percy?

[Well then.]

Excellent. I am...glad for that. I shall hope that your life in his world shall be pleasant--and... that you shall look out for him, as best anyone can.

You don't have to call him Young Percy, you know. It sounds weird.

[A small shrug, but there's something about her expression that betrays some of her excitement regardless.]

Yeah. Xion's coming with, too.

[He can't help it, okay, he's from ye olden times. He blinks.]

Ah--does it?

[CAN YOU BELIEVE NOBODY HAS TOLD HIM THIS ALL GAME]

I... see. [huh.] Good. Take care of Miss Xion as well. I... she deserves to live a proper life.

[A pause.]

I'm not seriously the first person who's mentioned this to you, am I?

[yikes]

...She does, yeah. More than basically anyone else here.

['fraid so, natalie. sorry]

Er... yes, you are. No other person has seemed particularly bothered by it...

[WHOOPS]

... Though I will not disagree with that. Miss Xion, Mister Shinnosuke--Percy, Noct, Mister Todd, yourself...you all deserve a better lot in life than you have been given.

I guess that shouldn't surprise me. Everyone here is weird.

[so kind]

Yeah. Shockingly, this isn't an experience I'm really eager to repeat, somehow.

... Indeed. It is...an experience that none should ever have to experience once.

[Much less again.

He shakes his head.]

Though I may not have the right to say this... You did well, Natalie. You fought hard to save those you cared about, and to protect those who remained.

You should be proud of your bravery.

[From the way her eyes widen and her lips part slightly, she clearly wasn't expecting him to tell her anything like that. After a moment, she looks down towards the ground with a half laugh.]

You don't have to say that.

No, I suppose I do not.

[Calmly, placidly, he shakes his head.]

But it is what I believe. And I wished to say so, before our time here is through.

[She pauses for another moment, almost ill at ease, before she nods slowly.]

Thanks, then. And... Whoever it was, I'm sure you made it fast, so. You know.

[She won't thank him for killing anyone, even if he had no choice, but she can at least be glad they suffered less than if it were someone like Ash.]

... I did my best.

[HE FUCKING FAILED WITH SHINNOSUKE THANKS SHINNOSUKE.]

Though it does not make it better. I am aware of my crimes--we all are.

[It's...not fine, but it'll be okayish maybe.]

Perhaps, in some twisted way...this is something to learn from going forward.

You say it doesn't make it better, but you also just called me brave for fighting hard, when fighting hard included murdering someone.

[A raised eyebrow.]

If you're going to be all self deprecating, you could at least hide it better.

[He killed five people okay, he's having a hard time!!]

...Ah. Well.

Yes, I suppose that is true.

[He shakes his head, running his fingers through his hair.]

I apologize... I am still attempting to come to terms with my actions...myself.

No apologies necessary. I get it, trust me.

[But.]

Just remember that none of us had a choice. Not really.

... Right.

[What he did--he chose to, but... in the end it was still because of the game.

He'll try to remember that.]

I shall keep that in mind.

[While trying to sort out his own thoughts here.]

... There is a great deal I owe to the others here either way--this is not something I could have accomplished alone.

[Despite his best attempts at doing just that.]

I mean, you probably could have accomplished it alone. You're built like a tank.

[But she knows that isn't what he meant, so—]

What're you gonna do about that?

[HA.... ha... well it's true, he is. He snorts softly.]

Indeed... though we all know that had I been chosen for death, that would have been it.

[BUT HERE THEY ARE.]

Nonetheless... I suppose I had ought to thank them. I did not wish to presume my company was wanted right now, however.

I'm not so sure about that, honestly. There's no rule against fighting back if you're picked.

[#thanks hannibal

Either way, she tilts her head.]

Honestly, I'd be surprised if basically everyone didn't want to talk to you after what happened.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject