robowest | [ 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... talked to the Sheriff, or uh. The Conductor, I guess.

[it's still a new revelation to him.] I asked him for something after thinking about it, and he said it was okay.

[he's still noct, so it's gonna take him a minute to spit it out, especially because.

he hasn't told milla?]

[ slooooowly raising an eyebrow. ]

Noct, did you or did you not once tell me to tell you everything?

Listen... I'm getting to it.

[leave him alone, he's new to this!]

I... can't really leave my duties at home. I have a throne, a country... I can't abandon that for anyone.

[he's resolved in that, probably more now than ever, and part of that is because of milla, honestly.] But Milla is a spirit. So... I know she'll be there, once I'm not.

[words are hard, but:] So... when I die, whenever that is—he said my afterlife can be there.

[where she is. because he knows there's nothing waiting for him in the afterlife in his own world, and for once... he wants to chase what he wants, and not just what is predestined for him.

his feelings for luna will never really falter completely, but he needs to chase what's tangible, and he knows it.]

[ Well. She'd known that, even for Milla's impulsive nature and rampant curiosity about human everything, she was still incredibly responsible. And so was Noct, even if the hairstyle and the outfit hadn't lent much to that fact at first. ]

So you'll be together after... death, huh. That's kind of bittersweet.

[ But she says it with a softer smile. That's honestly a fitting answer for him. And at least that means Noct is doing something he wants. ]

Yeah. But... it's the best that I can do.

[he's very bound to his duty and purpose, too. it's taken him a long time to really accept that. but he can't and won't leave his friends or his country in the lurch. he has work to do, and he will be every bit the king he needs to be, somehow.

he doesn't know when he'll even get to sit upon his throne even once, but one day—he will get there.

he'll fulfill his duty, and then one day, he'll die as humans all do, and he'll be able to live freely, his way after that.]

I'll be expecting letters, then. Or... spirit signals? Or whatever works.

[ ... Just let her know you two are okay. Even if she might also be dead by then?? ]

You were gonna get that anyway. We'll keep you updated.

[it's fine, it'll only be ten years.]

I'm counting on you.

[ And she smiles into her mug-- before it's followed by a very long sigh. ]

It's weird to think it's all finally over, though. Just... in a few days, I won't be seeing a lot of you for who knows how long.

Edited (THAT WAS THE WRONG ICON) 2017-03-05 05:09 (UTC)

...Yeah. It's... kind of hard to think about not seeing most of you, maybe... ever again.

[he's been trying to just not focus on it, even though he knows that's what the outcome is ultimately going to be.]

I understand that, but... the memories we've made here-- we're keeping them. And we'll keep them close to our hearts, so even if we don't meet up again for years, or in our lifetimes-- we'll still have these people in our hearts and I think that's important.

[ Sara occasionally gets like this. Sorry, Noct. ]

[it's fine, he doesn't seem to mind it in the least.]

Yeah. I won't forget any of it. But it's weird to think about. Funny, I guess... how so much can happen so fast.

I feel like you've been through that... before you even got here, right?

[ From what he'd told her. ]

Kind of a running theme in my life these days.

All the more reason to take a nap when you can! You've gotta admit those beds are nice.

Yeah, no kidding. I feel like I could sleep for a year on those things. So comfy.

So much better than napping out on a porch, right? If Milla would sit still long enough, I'd say invite her for a completely innocent snuggle session.

Wh—That's...

[well, it's not like they haven't spent the night in the same bed doing just what she suggested.

but noctis is entirely too shy for that. both for sara mentioning it so casually and to suggest it like that!]

Well... [let him die.]