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.

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[He leans back in his seat, folding his arms over his chest and lifting an eyebrow in response. Unfortunately...he also smirks just a little.]

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?

That is the difficult part to answer. In fact, you may not know for many years, truth be told. But I hope regardless, you are happy. This may seem contrary to being "worse," but it is not.

[ 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.

I think I'm happy? I'm happy this is over and everyone can get what they want. But I don't know if I'm happy with myself just yet. But I don't really have time to think about it. Gaea' still there.

[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?

[ He nods, though he clearly doesn't seem to agree with Will's decision based on the expression on Hannibal's face. But Percy probably understands that slightly better than Hannibal does, in a sense. Hannibal is so unbothered by everything that the idea of not keeping a relationship like the one Percy and Will had is hard for him to consider. ]

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?

I'll give him some space for a while, but it can't hurt to at least say goodbye before we all leave. He always has the option of telling me to leave. He's always had that option.

[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.

[ He breathes out a laugh, though it's soft and almost sarcastic. ]

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?

Will and I are alike that way, I think. It's been a weird experience all around, Dr. Lecter. [Seeing so many of his traits reflected in someone much older, he means.] I'll see what I can do.

[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.

[ See, and the more Percy references myth, the more Hannibal's expression lights up with nothing short of delight. Will had explained this to Percy in part, the fact that Hannibal had such an admiration for the very kinds of things that were Percy's reality, so having metaphor become reality is absolutely amusing to him. ]

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.

[He knows. Will absolutely explained this to him and while he should be offended that Hannibal finds his insane and sometimes horrible reality amusing he only meets his gaze with a tired grin. Yeah. He knows.]

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?

[ DEPARTURE ]

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