[ 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

[alcobrawlic]

... Mm... [ There's a soft hum of thought. ]

Well, if I was you, and tends to do things that she knows is right and cares too deeply about other people, I'd be selfish for once. And I'd do whatever it takes to make it work, because both you and I are stubborn ladies, Milla. If something seems impossible, we find a new way around it.

[thatsthespirit]

[if something seems impossible, we find a new way around it.]

[well. well!! there's possibly nothing closer to the truth than that, it's true. she lifts a hand and presses it over her heart again, fingers curling into a fist. is there a way for her to continue on as Maxwell, while also being able to visit the humans she came to love so much? is there a way. . . for her to exit the spirit realm, and exist on the world without eating up precious mana?]

[is there a way for her to see Noctis again, even though he has a kingdom to run and she has a world to protect]

[honestly, she doesn't know, but. . . well. maybe she should try and see]

I suppose if I. . . asked the Sheriff to create for me a human vessel similar to this one. . .

[one that didn't need mana to exist. one that could travel between the spirit realm and the human one freely]

[alcobrawlic]

[ There you go, Milla. Sara's already looking on approvingly as her friend rests her fist over her heart. If anyone here could find a way to make some sort of ridiculous notion a reality, it was the same person who got hit in the rib with a cannonball and brawled with coyotes and kissed princes.

It was definitely Milla Maxwell. ]

It couldn't hurt to ask, right? Nothing ever got done by just wondering about it.

[thatsthespirit]

[she can't help but laugh]

You're right. I can't believe I was so weak-willed about this. It isn't like me at all.

[the look she gives Sara is fond, grateful. Sara's been a true friend to her through all of this, all the way until the very end]

[alcobrawlic]

That's what I'm here for-- friendly reminders, right?

[ Just not ones to keep herself calm in trials. This is friendship, after all. And in the end, Sara definitely wants her friend to be happy. ]

[thatsthespirit]

Friendly reminders.

[speaking of--]

If. . . I am being "selfish," then I'd like to write letters as well. To you. To everyone else. Do you think that's something we could do, Sara?

[alcobrawlic]

Letters... sure! I'll be going from place to place, but I bet we could find a way to make it work.

[ She didn't want to completely fall out of touch with Milla, anyway. ]

[thatsthespirit]

I have a comrade who sends letter through sylphjay. Perhaps the Sheriff could give us a similar method of staying in contact?

[a bird that flies BETWEEN DIMENSIONS or something]

[alcobrawlic]

Sylph... jay? What is that, exactly?

[ EXPLAIN YOUR WEIRD TERMS TO HER, PLEASE. ]

[thatsthespirit]

[IT'S LIKE PORANGE WINE ALL OVER AGAIN]

It's a type of messenger bird. Its use is very common on my world.

[alcobrawlic]

Hey, if it works! I'm all for a tried and true method.

[thatsthespirit]

Then it's settled. That's what I'll ask for.

[and the thought seems to put her at ease. this is okay. she can return to her duties as Maxwell, and keep in contact with her friends-- the ones she made here, and the ones she made at home]

[alcobrawlic]

I knew you just had to kick around an idea for awhile. And I think that suits you better than shoving your head against the window and sighing.

[ Sara's always liked her conviction, after all. A satisfied face suits Milla much better. ]

[thatsthespirit]

I wasn't-- I wasn't sighing.

[she was]

[alcobrawlic]

You were totally sighing.

[ Don't front. ]

[thatsthespirit]

[SHE'S TOTALLY FRONTING]

I was simply. . . resting my head. That's all. There was no sighing involved.

[alcobrawlic]

Milla, who do you think you're talking to? Besides, now we have more time to guy gossip.

[thatsthespirit]

[shhhhhh]

. . . ah! Speaking of that kind of-- ah. "Girl talk," I've read about something called a "double date."

Have you and Barnham made up?

[she is going somewhere with this]

[alcobrawlic]

... [ She's just going to quietly clear her throat. ]

Yeah, we did. I guess technically we didn't really fight, but... things are fine now.

[thatsthespirit]

[YOU KNOW WHAT SHE IS IMPLYING HERE DON'T YOU SARA]

Ah. . . good. I believe he'll be needing you in the weeks to come.

But do you think one of these "double dates" might cheer him up?

[alcobrawlic]

... I think he'd get pretty embarrassed, but I also think it'd be hilarious. So why not?

[ And you know, it's another thing to distract Barnham from his own feelings of self-deprecation, so she's all for it. ]

[thatsthespirit]

Embarrassment is better than-- [well. BEING BROKEN, that's for sure]

[either way, Milla looks delighted]

Then it's settled. We'll inform them immediately so they have time to prepare.

[how are they supposed to prepare Milla]