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.
|
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sheriffexe) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
robowest2017-03-04 12:02 pm
no subject
Thank you, Percy.
[ He gives his thanks first, but as he unbuttons his suit jacket and settles, his eyes fall back to him as he nods towards him. ]
How are you?
no subject
Are you asking me as a patient, a player, an experiment or a friend, Dr. Lecter?
no subject
[ His answer is immediate, which might be a small surprise, because it also sounds quite sincere. It's the odd thing about Hannibal—He's a monster, and even he would never deny that, but he's hardly an unfeeling one. ]
As soon as you came and spoke to me about each of our secrets, you were nothing but my friend, Percy. [ He nods to him lightly with a slightly more wry smile. ] Though if you had reservations about returning the sentiment, that's fair enough.
no subject
This wouldn't be the first time I've made some very questionable friends. [Just a thought. But he considers the question then and shrugs lightly.]
I'm...alive. I guess that counts for something now after everything. [A glance to his hands.] I've been better? It's...more complicated than I thought something like this would be.
no subject
[ Though he doesn't elaborate further, it's not hard to guess what Hannibal means. He had been surprised at Percy's calm and relative acceptance, and he had largely attributed it to the experiences truly wearing the young man down. Though even so, he had guessed that wasn't just it. It couldn't be, otherwise he would have expected Percy to shatter under such pressure.
Though clearly, he hadn't.
It's why Percy's answer gets more of a smile to tug at Hannibal's face. He watches as Percy looks to his hands, but a moment later, he looks to the side, briefly but idly directing his gaze elsewhere. ]
What made you think it would be simpler?
no subject
It's kind of like I thought death would be easier. Or that my own death would make me feel better since the game's over and we're going home. I'm waiting for that to be true. I thought after everything something this straightforward would be easier. So...guess I don't know how to really feel.
no subject
Death could be the most difficult part. It is where the chaos of the town finally rests, and you are left only with yourself. Your thoughts. Your regrets.
[ Hannibal's words aren't biting, though. Though he had taunted others with their sins, his tone doesn't quite carry that same tone here. If anything, he seems curious, and considering what he asks, it might not be a surprise. He had promised to tell Percy something if conditions were met, and unintentionally, he seems to be leading into that. ]
Would you find it easier to abandon those feelings?
no subject
I already told the Sheriff I want to keep all of my memories. Abandoning the bad feelings just because they're uncomfortable doesn't sound like it'll help me in the long run. Will it?
no subject
[ A pause, and then he decides to add wryly: ]
But then again, I'm not a very conventional psychiatrist. So you're welcome to take my opinion with a grain of salt, considering everything.
no subject
I think that's something I can agree with so maybe I'm not a really conventional patient either. I know I'm different than I was. But is it for the better or for the worse? That's what I'm thinking about now.
[He shakes his head.] But that's on me. [Dr. Lecter doesn't need to hear about this. He won't force it.] How are you and Will?
no subject
[ He's speaking from personal experience, but not only that. After all, he would certainly consider Will "worse" for all that happened to him, and much of it from Hannibal's hands or his doing. But overall, Will is happier. Hannibal does not think that. He knows it. It's why his answer to that question is a bit softer. ]
Well. Have you spoken to him? I imagine he won't want to speak to anyone else, since the experience has been exhausting for him. But he will speak to you. [ He tilts his head slightly, a thoughtful gesture, and then adds: ] You may find him a bit more agreeable, in fact. With his disorder as it once was, he is in a better mood overall.
no subject
[But he shakes his head.] I haven't. I wasn't sure he'd want to considering. You know. What I did to him. It seems unfair to approach him now but you read the letter to him, didn't you?
no subject
I did. I know why he made his choice, but... Perhaps that is simply an area where we disagree. I would give a parting conversation if nothing else.
[ Though... After a pause, he does have to ask: ]
Gaea?
no subject
[It's weird. He still misses the old Will Graham. He doesn't know how to bring him back and sometimes he's not sure if there's a way to do that, but he wonders. To the question though he nods.]
Gaea. Mother Earth. Dirt Face. Take your pick. [He even has the audacity to roll his eyes.] Earth goddess. She's waking up and we're in the process of trying to stop her and her kids from destroying our world.
no subject
And he certainly would have. Will is not really the sort of person to hold his tongue on that kind of thing.
[ Which is probably obvious by now, but. Hannibal just looks amused as Percy rolls his eyes, though it quickly turns to a raised eyebrow. Hannibal doesn't disbelieve it, far from it, but it's still... A lot. ]
Then it sounds as if you have your work cut out for you. I'm familiar with Gaea, but naturally only in myth. [ He hums a thoughtful noise, then adds: ] Well, you are a hero, I suppose. Do you think this has prepared you more for the task you're undertaking?
no subject
[There's a slight smirk.] You could say that. Our friends are waiting for me and Annabeth so we can close the Doors once and for all and the dead can stay dead. But it means Annabeth and I are being dropped off in Tartarus again.
[The question is also a good one.] ...but I think this place has helped, yes. I'm afraid of a lot of the things that have come from it, but I think it's helped a lot and will be what pushes us to the end of the war so we can win and maybe have a period of peace that lasts longer than a few hours.
no subject
I didn't realize you were so well traveled, Percy. Tartarus— [ He breathes out a small laugh, then adds: ]
I don't mean to laugh, but it's rather fitting. It is not quite the right mythos, but between Will and I, I compared you to Dante traveling through Hell. It was more literal than I knew.
no subject
It's where we were before here. I, uh, sort of jumped into it to follow Annabeth when Arachne dragged her down. We've been there for nearly three weeks. We were working on closing the Doors from one side while our friends closed them at the House of Hades.
[The reference gives him pause.] I sort of know what you're talking about but not really. Why the comparison?