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

[YEAH BUT AT LEAST NOCTIS HAS CRIED BEFORE??? this is abnormal for Milla!! and strange!! she opens her mouth to reply with a question-- when you first arrived here, did you ever think you'd be saying that about the time you spent in a town where everyone was forced to kill each other?-- but abruptly cuts herself off]

Ah. . .

[she blinks a few times, and lifts a hand to wipe at her eyes, seemingly bewildered by the movement. Milla can only remember one other time in her entire life where she's shed tears. . . and it was while she was standing hand-in-hand with Jude looking out on a world they helped create together. when their battles were behind them, and there was nothing but potential going forward]

[this is. . . a little different. she blinks at her hand when she pulls it away, and then blinks up at Noctis, like. he might. have the answers to this human emotion she's feeling]

[help what does she do here]

[it's another moment that's so distinctly milla—part of noctis is glad that he'll have a lot of memories like this, even to the last moments that they have to share together.

he knows, just from the look she gives him, that milla doesn't really know what to make of this.]

It's... what we'd call bittersweet. [he'll do his best, at least, to explain the feeling. it's not like noctis doesn't know, after all—considering it's something he's feeling too.]

Being happy to go back to where we belong in our worlds and see old friend. But... sad, because... it'll be a long time before we can see each other again. And... we don't know what the future holds.

[it's something like that. he knows that it makes his chest ache a little, even though it's hard to define and explain, and even though his own tears threaten to spill—noctis still reaches out to milla, brushing away any wetness from her cheek with his knuckles.]

It's complicated, huh...

[ah. . .]

[even now, she's still learning about emotions. her own emotions. perhaps, deep in her heart, she really is human]

[she rubs at her eyes again and takes a deep breath, tilting her chin up and curling her mouth into a confident smile. her head instinctively tilts towards his touch, but she is doing her best to wipe all traces of weakness and bittersweetness from her expression]

[the wetness disappears with a brush of his knuckles]

Bittersweet or not, both of us will be okay.

[she doesn't doubt that]

And I believe, in the end, regardless of how we feel. . . we'll both be proud of the choices we're making.

Yeah. We both... have important things to get back to. Things we can't ignore, even if we want to.

[she's still so strong, and it's still so admirable. endlessly, he wants to do better because of her strength and conviction. and that's why he knows he can't let this get the better of him either.

he draws in a breath, trying to steady himself, and he nods.]

But when it's over, we'll be okay. And... we'll see each other again.

[she reaches up and envelopes his hand in her own, the touch warm and comforting. she lingers for a moment, but eventually, she purposefully moves his hand from his cheek and returns it to his side. she feels cold when she lets go and draws back, but there's a new sense of resolve there as well]

Of course.

Until then, take care.

[which is really all she can say, at this point. everything else. . . well! that's already been said]

You... take care, too. Try not to break any ribs while I'm gone.

[well. he does have to at least throw in a teasing remark—noct will be noct, after all. but there is a certain lingering feeling as their contact breaks, and he can't help but to keep his eyes fixed on her a little longer.

he knows it's about time to really leave, but there are still one or two more things he feels he needs to do.

the first, is to soak in everything he can see about milla for the last time before they part ways for decades.

and then second... well, it'll come right after he's done with that.]

[. . . she's never going to live that down, is she. but thankfully, her response to his teasing is to laugh lightly and prop one hand on her hip. she's taking it in stride!]

Even if I did, we have healing artes that can accelerate the body's natural healing process.

[THAT ISN'T THE POINT MILLA]

[and after a moment of silence (in which she definitely notices the staring, not that she's complaining), she inclines her head slightly]

[ah.

yeah, he's definitely staring.]

I'm... just trying to make sure I never forget this.

[what she looks like right now, as the end is here. it's a little embarrassing and definitely a bit cheesy—but after everything that's happened in the last couple of months, he doesn't really have it in him to hold back anymore.]

There's just... one more thing.

[it is a bit cheesy, but it's certainly one of the things about him she's come to appreciate. so she smiles warmly, opens her mouth to tell him it's fine-- but then he mentions there's still one more thing, and curiosity crosses her expression instead]

Oh?

What is it?

[it takes him a minute—for all that noct has improved when it comes to expressing himself while with milla, some things are still tough.

though maybe it's less because of what he's trying to do and more the circumstances that surround it.

it's the end, for now, after all. the last chance for any of this, so he knows... he needs to make it count. so he draws in a breath before stepping closer to milla, bridging that gap as he brings his hand up to cup her cheek in his palm—and then kisses her with intent. after all—it's going to be a long, long time before he may have that opportunity again.]

[oh]

[it's funny, how even with her boldness, she hadn't thought to do this. perhaps it was just because it was easier for her to keep herself at a distance. perhaps it was because this good-bye was way different than the last one]

[there's a moment's hesitation born of surprise, but it only lasts a moment. she's then quick to lean into him, to grab the front of his shirt tightly, to tilt her head and invite him to linger in the intensity of that kiss as long as he wants to. the train isn't going to leave with him still on it, after all]

[. . . at least she doesn't think so]

[ DEPARTURE ]

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