[ 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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[thatsthespirit]

[it isn't the ending they wanted. but it's an ending, and that is enough]

[having survived for so long, Milla's journey on this train is a long one. oddly enough, even knowing that she needs to get back home to return to her duty as the Lord of Spirits, she doesn't ask for a priority stop. she isn't quite sure why. logically, she knows that she should, especially since she's spent so much time away from home already. but illogically. . .]

[ah. well. maybe she just wanted to spend a few more quiet weeks with those she had come to care about]

[Milla's pretty social throughout the entire journey. she flags people down for company, especially those who seem to be keeping to themselves. she invites people to join her in the dining car to share in drinks and lavish meals with her. she even asks for assistance in building a pillow fort so she can learn about the sacred ritual of same!]

[but sometimes, in the evenings, she sits by herself with her cheek pressed against one of the train windows, watching the scenery zoom by. she sits with her hand pressed against her heart, her expression soft, almost wistful]

[she knows this ride won't last forever. she knows, eventually, she'll have to say good bye. and although she's done it before-- to Jude, Alvin, Leia, Rowen and Elize-- saying good bye never gets any easier]

[alcobrawlic]

[ Sara will join her during one of those evenings, which isn't to say that she isn't there for pillow forts and dining car bonding-- but it's all pretty light conversation. This, however, she clears her throat for as she settles in the seat across from her. ]

Where are you going from here?

[thatsthespirit]

[lifts her cheek from the window to greet Sara with a nod, though at that question, she raises both eyebrows]

Home, of course. There is no other choice for me.

[she's convinced herself of that, fully. she has things to do as the Lord of Spirits. she can't abandon those duties now]

[alcobrawlic]

None? Not even a date night with Noct?

[ Milla. Milla, you make her sad. ]

[thatsthespirit]

[HA. . . she chuckles a bit to herself, and when she smiles, it's wry]

Don't you remember what I told you, Sara?

[the night before her execution, while they were passing notes in the jail cell like two school girls]

I don't have time for human relationships. They're. . . complicated.

[she says that so firmly and without hesitation that it almost seems callous. but her heart aches a bit even as she speaks. she knows she won't regret returning to Rieze Maxia as Maxwell, but. . .]

[there may be a reason she's looking so wistful]

[alcobrawlic]

You're right in that they're stupidly complicated, but...

[ A pause. And then Sara nudges their shoulders together, also not unlike two school girls. ]

I don't think something being complicated means giving up on it completely. So you can tell me you've got some important duty back home, and I'll get it. But don't you think that's what loopholes and creative thinking are for?

[thatsthespirit]

[WHAT THE HECK THAT'S CUTE. Milla accepts the nudging, although she doesn't nudge back. mostly because she's busy staring at Sara with a bewildered expression]

Loopholes?

[okay, she'd be lying if she said she hadn't tried to think of said loopholes. but she dismissed those thoughts as quickly as they flickered into her mind]

I don't think there are any loopholes that can change what needs to be done. It isn't just a matter of duty. [hesitation] When I return home, I'll return to the spirit realm. There's no way for a human to enter that realm, and there will be no way for me to exist among humans without a human body. Even if Noctis were to come to my world. . .

[she shakes her head]

I couldn't see him.

[alcobrawlic]

...

Milla, you can't just-- you know, ask the Sheriff to make it possible for you to have a human body or give Noct visiting rights or something?

[ HELP HER TO HELP YOU. ]

[elemancy]

[of course, there are times when noct will leave her be to let her just watch the scenery.

but not all of those times.

there are times like this one, where noct just sits next to milla while it's quiet, leaning against her and closing his eyes because he's tired. he's tired and he knows their time together is fleeting—aside from the request he made to hal.

which is a secret he's keeping close to his heart for now, because he doesn't want to get his or her hopes up that one day, this will be more than a fleeting couple of weeks they get to spend together.

either way, he leans against her, sighing quietly (and though tired, not distraught) and reaching for her hand. it's fine, right?]

[thatsthespirit]

[she's coming to really appreciate the warmth of him sitting pressed against her side, honestly. she's pretty sure she's going to miss it. no. . . not just "pretty sure." she knows she'll miss it]

[which is why she basks in that warmth at every chance she gets, so her expression is probably more fond than wistful with Noctis sitting next to her. she feels his fingers brush against her palm and easily twists her hand to grab his, gaze flickering from the window to his face]

[she smiles]

[elemancy]

I know... we both know it has to end.

[he'll say quietly. there's not reason for them to beat around the bush with this. they never have, right? they're duty-bound, and noct is going to address part of that in his conversation.]

But... Until we get to my stop, I still want this. [to embrace her warmth, to stay at her side and have all of these little moments as well as the stolen (and not-so-stolen) kisses they've been growing accustomed to.] I know I'll miss it, but...

I can go home saying I don't have any regrets. [because he found the courage to chase this, however fleeting. and there's a lot he wants to her know about it, from his own mouth and not just through a letter written in haste.]

[thatsthespirit]

[ah. . . so. he's bringing that up right away, is he? strangely enough, the bitter truth doesn't affect her smile at all. but she does lift the fingers of her free hand to press them against his mouth and give her head a small shake. she doesn't want to avoid this topic, because she thinks it's better for them to be open and honest about how short-lived this is]

[but do they have to talk about it right now? right here?]

[her finger trails from his lips as she leans forward to kiss him. it's the evening, and it's quiet, so this time they likely don't have an audience. thank goodness]

[elemancy]

[they probably don't, but he has good things he wants to say to her—things he absolutely needs her to know sooner rather than later, so that they can just enjoy the rest of their time together, however that time may end up being spent.

but it's not like he's going to refuse. he's completely endeared when she silences him so easily because... he can't fight her. fighting against milla is a losing battle, and it's not even something he necessarily wants to do.

especially when it's followed with a kiss, which he'll move into willingly. it's definitely a lot easier without a peanut gallery and he'll probably throw his boot at anyone who tries to come back and wolf whistle at them.

(they could probably just get a room but whatever.)]

[thatsthespirit]

[HE USED TO BE SO SHY, AND THEN HE CRUSHED ON A BOLD SPIRIT, AND NOW LOOK AT HIM.]

[it's soft and chaste and she lingers for quite a bit, but after a moment she pulls away, fingers running through his hair. she doesn't go far, although their foreheads aren't quite touching]

[she exhales deeply. okay. now they can talk]

What do you plan on doing once you go home?

[elemancy]

[he'll want more of those kisses afterwards, but... the talking comes first, and he's pretty glad that milla doesn't make him delay it while his nerves are at ease.]

I have a throne to reclaim.

[there's a quiet conviction to his tone; much like the letters she received following his death, there's an air of his nobility to it. the traces of his father flit to the surface, kingly as he knows he's going to have to be.]

My friends, my country... I will make sure they're safe.

[even though he knows it means there's no way for him to follow her. he can't follow her, because as tempting as running away may once have been, he has a duty to his country—to his whole world.] And I will... avenge them.

[she knows who.]

[tightly]

[ You know what, let's do the pillow fort thing. Chane looks bewildered as all get out, but as requested, she returns with every pillow from her and Claire's shared cabin.

...

What dos Milla even need them for? Puzzled silence reigns. ]

[thatsthespirit]

[Chane is a good friend. Milla looks pleased with this collection of pillows and blankets]

Have you ever built a. . . "pillow fort?" [she asks, hands on her hips] I'd like to build one while I still have the chance, just for the experience!

[tightly]

[ Chane does two things in answer. First, she shakes her head, "no," and then she tries to approximate the shape of a fort with her hands, attempting to give Milla some indication of their task.

Obviously, this involves carelessly dropping her armful of cushions to their feet. ]

[thatsthespirit]

Ah! Then this will be a new experience for us both. I find that quite exciting.

[she crouches down to scoop up the cushions into her arms]

We should be able to use one of the train seats. We could drape a blanket over them to create a sort of. . . blanket cave? I suppose.

[as she thinks through the logistics of this she makes her way towards the lounge car]

[sating]

[ There aren't many people that Hannibal has to talk to on the train anymore, since he considers the bridges thoroughly burned. He doesn't regret it at all, of course, because if he would have... He wouldn't have done the things he had. He's quite content as a result. Unlike everyone else, he's truly enjoyed himself.

Though there are at least a few that he as parting words or lingering questions for. The people he had gotten to know well were still damaged for it, but there were a few who had only become interesting to him a bit later when it would have been odd to strike out new relationships. Milla is certainly one of them.

Eventually, he'll track her down, and he approaches with a small, courteous nod. Despite what she knows, what everyone knows about Hannibal Lecter's true nature, it seems that he's still exceedingly polite. ]

Hello, Milla.

[thatsthespirit]

[he catches her while she's looking out of the train's windows wistfully, and she immediately straightens at the sound of his voice. she has no weapons on her person (not that it would do her any good, considering the no-violence rule the train strictly enforced) but her hand drops to her waist anyway. it's a habit]

[despite what she knows about his true nature, Milla doesn't drop her formalities either. she even offers him a small smile in greeting, although it doesn't quite reach her eyes. she's wary]

Dr. Lecter. Are you enjoying your journey home?

[. . . despite her words, internally she's wondering how many other Will Grahams Hannibal will create when he goes home. how many other people will he break, twist and distort into "worshiping" him like Will seems to do. . .?]

[how many people had he broken before Will?]

[she feels it's almost a shame she doesn't have a weapon on her person. if she could kill him now, then she could assure that Will was the last]

[sating]

I have. It has been...

[ Hannibal trails off, seemingly oblivious to her thoughts or her gestures that make it clear that violence is on her mind. It's of course more accurate to say he's ignoring them, because he knows they hold no weight here. He's safe and comfortable, though he'd hardly complain if people wanted to take out their anger on him. It would amuse him. ]

It's been restful. [ And then, almost as if he knows what she's thinking, he adds: ] Will and I have been enjoying our much more peaceful time together. To have his condition return to normal has been good for him.

[ Though even if Hannibal has an uncanny perception that's chilling, this is just coincidence. He motions to a seat near her politely. ]

May I?

[thatsthespirit]

[there's hesitation before her answer, but the same knowledge of safety that allows Hannibal to ignore the obvious indication that violence and wariness are on her mind right now allows her to feel a sense of ease. she's safe, just as much as he is. some of the tension leaves her shoulders, and her hand returns to her lap]

[her expression flickers when he mentions Will, eyes narrowing slightly, but she does her best to keep her reaction minimal]

If you wish, yes. Is there something particular I can help you with?

[sating]

[ With permission granted, Hannibal takes a seat across from her as easily as he always had. He unbuttons the suit jacket he's wearing as a smooth, habitual gesture and takes a seat comfortably. He's relaxed and at ease, which is a contrast against her own tension. ]

Not help, no. I wanted to thank you, actually.

[ He inclines his head towards her with a light smile. ]

I appreciated your letter, Milla.

[thatsthespirit]

[that]

[was certainly not what she was expecting, and it shows in the way her eyebrows shoot up in surprise. normally, people don't tend to appreciate letters that end in. well. death threats]

. . . is that so?

[she gains a hold of herself as quickly as possible, forcing her expression back into neutrality]

May I ask why? It wasn't exactly meant to be a letter one would appreciate.