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 have conditions.

[for the first time ever with ash specifically, he actually shows... well, that he is actually pretty diplomatic.

he's done political negotiation with other countries and their leadership before, and his potential as a king has yet to be fully realized.

but it's there.]

You can't do anything that would bring harm to my people—and that includes my friends.

[who are also, more or less, his glaive, and personal knights.]

But when I'm gone, whenever that is, or for whatever reason—you need to maintain that, Ash.

[but of course, he has his offerings in return.]

I'll make sure you're kept in good care, as my promise in return for that. Because... my life will be shorter than yours.

[he's human, but he also surrounds himself with other good humans, humans that he hopes will eventually earn ash's favor, should he choose to accept.]

[ this, he expects. He's been very forward about just what kind of intelligence he is - his roommate knows full well the kind of destruction he can wreak. He sighs in response, exasperated.

To be honest, he can't promise any of this for certain. But he's not about to admit that. ]

I told you that I have no interest in hurting any of you.

[ as for after Noctis dies... that remains to be seen. Ash just might be hoping the humans will win his favor, too, though he'd never admit it, especially not to himself. But he waves a hand, continuing. ]

I'm eternal. All life forms live shorter lives than I will. That's simply my reality. [ he's fully aware that he'll probably outlive Noctis by a long, long time. ] Regardless, I have no intention of continuing my existence in this humanoid body, anyway. Your worries are unsubstantiated.

Edited 2017-03-05 06:03 (UTC)

[it's still strangely relieving to hear ash say it with that kind of certaintly, but still.]

I... want you to be able to see the good in humans. I know not all of them are, but... Lucis is full of good, kind people that won't give you a hard time if you aren't threatening them.

[even if ash will always be a standoffish asshole to some degree, he's sure. but even those types can be agreeable enough.

but then ash makes that last statement, and it... confuses noct a bit.]

What are you going to do, then?

[ The reply is enough to make Ash look over at him again, with another unusually innocent expression on his face - he seems slightly bewildered by Noctis's words. Again, nobody has ever said anything like that to him. Certainly not a human. Milla had tried to convince him that humans weren't as bad as he thought, once, but here's an actual human expressing his desire to show him that they could be better. He's a pessimist. He gives a wry smile in response and nothing more; he doubts that such a thing could happen.

But, at the same time, there are no beings like him on Noctis's planet - as far as he knows. The humans that live there aren't the same as the humans on Earth. So maybe... ]

I would like to return to a computer again. Being a robot doesn't agree with me. [ this isn't how he identifies himself. And it's strange moving through the physical world while simultaneously not truly existing there. ] ... A phone. A computer, a console, a car... If you have a system like that, then I can live there. I may not be able to speak with you like I am now... Perhaps I will not even be able to think the way I am now. But that's what I desire.

[ if he can exist in a world where someone doesn't hate him, and be near that person, that's enough. ]

[it's strange to think about—not being able to communicate with ash, even if he's right there. but still.]

If that's what you really want, Ash... then it's fine. I'll agree to it.

[it's funny; he spent so much of these last seven weeks both trying to understand ash's frame of mind and simultaneously being wary of his intentions—but now, here and now...

he feels like ash really and truly is a friend. a questionable friend, but someone he can rely on, and someone he certainly couldn't bear to leave behind to a certain death.]

The Regalia... my car. If that's where you want to be, you'd... be close all the time, once we get where we're going.

[ He agreed to it. The conversation had been heading in that direction already - Noctis hadn't balked at the implications in his words or rejected him outright, which would have been easy enough - but now, he's plainly agreed to it. Despite everything, he's willing to let Ash stay with him. Most people probably wouldn't be surprised by this. But Ash expects disappointment, betrayal, rejection at every turn, and every time it doesn't come, he's shocked. Touched, even.

So... This is it. He'll move to a world that doesn't hate him. A world where he can start over with a clean slate - and someone willing to give him a chance at his side. This impossible outcome was never once something he'd ever considered in his entire life. Too fantastical. But it's real. As Noctis finishes speaking, Ash smiles - a real, normal smile, not an arrogant, hateful one. ]

In that case... I'll look forward to it.

Good. The Regalia, she's real good. You'll be fine that way... we take care of our wheels.

[it's meant as a final assurance, one worn with a smile. it's meant to let ash know that he acknowledges that smile and its intentions.

and of course, that he has no intent of betraying it. but really, he never had any intent of betraying ash, and he's been able to see that through; there's no reason it would change now. if ash is content with this and willing to trust in him, noct's going to do what he can to honor that.

just the way it is now.]

[ DEPARTURE ]

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