[ GRAVEYARD ]

[sheriffexe]

GRAVEYARD

So, you're dead. Shame, that. But on the other hand, it's actually kind of nice. When you "wake" in some odd version of it, you'll find yourself lying on a rather plush bed. It's cozy and warm and just soft enough to tempt anyone back into sleep. The room is equally nice, if small, and when you turn and open the curtains to look out the window, you will see... wait, is that the town? It is, actually. The town is laid out quite simply across the window and no matter how many times you may bang or wave through the window, no one seems to notice you. If you're smart enough to give up the venture and leave the small bedroom, you will notice that, of course, you are on the train. The train that, is actually pretty fancy. Moving through it, past the sleeping cabins and through to the main carts, you will find a dining car with fine dishware and meals of all kinds made at a push of a button or a request given to the air. They'll appear, freshly made and ready to eat at the table of your choice with any drink you could want. There truly doesn't seem to be any limits when it comes to the luxury of the meal. There is also a bathhouse car with private bathrooms and saunas to fit up to four. Even one rather large room containing a small pool/hot tub of sorts is available for just about anyone to take a dip. It's kind of outlandish, honestly. Then the lounge car, with its library and plush armchairs and couches. A pool table, a darts board, even a small area dedicated to painting. There's a bar too, fully stocked and ready for anyone who needs a drink. All it would require is a request from the bartender who... looks surprisingly familiar? The Sheriff is there, much cleaner cut than his counterpart outside of the train. He looks up mildly at any arrivals, giving them a nod of greeting before going back to organizing bottles or setting cigars out for a smoke. He doesn't seem to be surprised at all by anyone who appears. Just... ready to serve them, whatever they may wish. It all sort of seems okay for a moment, until you realize you're just here to wait for the game to end. Awkward.

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[robitussin]

Yeah.

[She says, her voice... strangely calm. Now that there's nothing left to fight for, it's almost easier, even if she feels awful thinking it.

Hal's words come to mind. Whatever happens this week will happen. Then you can rest. This isn't how she pictures it, and she feels empty. Hollowed out. Still, there's a strange sort of peace in that.]

I'd like that, I think.

[ceded]

[ With a tug on her arm, Xion will pull Natalie towards the lounge.

The whole way there, she doesn't let go. She never once breaks contact. ]

You know, I still don't really know where I want to go after this. [ Glancing back at Natalie over her shoulder, with the faintest, the faintest, of smiles. ] What do you think?

[robitussin]

[Somehow, her lips quirk into a half smile of her own. She lets Xion drag her along, because she never wants to leave her side after everything that's happened over the past few days. Her next words only serve to support that idea.]

I asked Percy if we could go back with him to his world. He said yes. You ever heard of New York City?

[ceded]

[ Honestly, Xion feels the same way. She'll be pretty much glued to Natalie and Shinnosuke as long as they're all here. But perhaps Natalie most of all. Xion's been forced to leave her friends before. But she's never felt quite so bad about it, ended up feeling quite so much horror and nausea over what happened in her absence. ]

Percy? [ ... that doesn't surprise her. Her smile warms as they make it into the lounge, and Xion steers them over to a couch so they can both plop down onto it. Xion will honestly just curl up right next to her, either leaning on her or actually resting her head on Natalie's shoulder depending on how they end up. ] ... hehe. No, I haven't. Tell me about it?

[robitussin]

Well, I've never been there before.

[She says, pulling her legs up onto the couch and shifting until they both find a comfortable position.]

He says it's really nice, though. Really big, lots of people. Lots to do.

[ceded]

[ Xion pulls just one knee to her chest, then pauses, remembering -- before she pulls both legs to her chest and curls her arms around them, leaning on Natalie and kind of tilting her head back to look at her. ]

... It's kind of intimidating. [ A laugh. ] Thinking about big cities with lots of people. Shinnosuke told me about places like that. I, um ... I never spent time around that many people before I got here. Actually, when we all first arrived in town, that was ... the most people I'd ever been around.

[ She's actually beyond nervous at the prospect - what if she gets overwhelmed? what if they meet more people like... well - but she tries to put a brave face on it. ]

But ... I really want to go. Especially if all of us are together, I think it'll be great.

[robitussin]

I've never been to one that big, but... We can all figure it out together, all four of us. It'll be pretty great.

[Her, Percy, Jason and Xion. She has to believe that option isn't lost to them, even if the reality of getting them here is unimaginable.]

Can I tell you a secret?

[ceded]

... all four of us.

[ A murmur. She knows who Natalie means without it needing to be clarified, because ... in a way, of course it's the four of them. Who else could it be? But, at the same time, it ... gives her a hollow kind of pang. Something bittersweet. Nothing she'll name.

It's for many reasons. Both for the ones not included in that number, and for the life - the death - that she's leaving behind. The best friends she'll never see again.

With a deep breath she tries to clear some of that away. ]

Of course you can. You can tell me anything, Natalie.

[ She means that. Completely. ]

[robitussin]

[She shifts slightly, looking up at the ceiling of the train. Regardless, she notices the way Xion shifts as well, and she reaches out for her hand. It's protective and comforting, and she pauses for a few moments before speaking.]

What I told you before about not liking him... I might have been lying a little.

[She figures Xion will know what she means.]

[ceded]

[ Xion takes that reaching hand without hesitation, intertwining their fingers. When she'd arrived here, physical touch had been so foreign, so unusual, especially to comfort. No one had ever really ... hugged her, or held her hand, or anything like that at all. The Organization was not a touchy feely kind of place. Hugs, hands on her shoulders and her hair and between her shoulder blades, all of that had been so .... strange. Six weeks later, it all feels ... like this is the way it should have always been.

An immediate smile spreads across her face at what Natalie says, though she ducks her head, so it might not be visible at first. But then she nudges the other girl with her shoulder, and grins up with her. ]

I kinda thought so.

[ natalie that's cute ]

I hope he likes you too. [ A beat, and: ] He better. [ huff puff

she'll fight anyone who doesn't love her best friend, okay. ]

[robitussin]

[A smile of her own, even though she's going a little red?? Gross.]

I'm pretty sure he does.

[There are some things that are hard to misinterpret. Anyways. She nudges right back, her lips quirking into a larger grin.]

What, were you going to fight him if he didn't?

[ceded]

What? No! .......... maybe.

[ look

look. ]

You're, like ... the best person ever! How could anyone not like you? I'd at least smack him.

[ HUFF PUFF ]

[robitussin]

[A long, long pause.]

You know I was kidding, right?

[ceded]

I'm just saying.

[ Sort of mulish and pouty. ]

[robitussin]

[Gently flicks her on the forehead, honestly.]

You don't have to worry about it, anyways.

[ceded]

[ Leans her head back, scrunching up her expression. But it blanks out into curiosity and she tilts her head. ]

I don't? ... does that mean...?

[ somewhat. hopeful tone. ]

[robitussin]

[ah here comes her old friend, Fear Of Emotional Vulnerability]

Why are you looking at me like that?

[ceded]

Um...!

[ god. she's not good at this shit either. she can surmise some things, but she worries about overstepping her bounds and making stupid leaps of logic. ]

... do you know for sure that he likes you too?

[ why else. would she. not have to worry about it ]

[robitussin]

[A pause, and then a nod.]

I'm... pretty sure, yeah.

[Somehow.]

[ceded]

That's great!

[ she sounds relieved. whether for natalie's sake or for knowing she doesn't have to beat up jason todd is a tossup ]

I'm ... really glad.

[ with a little smile. though ... her expression turns somewhat more wistful and she glances away. ]

... we'll get everyone here. We'll all go home. I ... really want to believe in that.

[ her voice and her face are complicated things here. bittersweet determination might be the best possible description. ]

[robitussin]

Yeah, we will. There's no way everyone there won't figure it out. They're too smart.

[She rubs slow circles on the back of Xion's palm with her hand (which she now has two of shut up I knew that) in an attempt to be comforting.]

You're a good kid, you know that?

[ceded]

[ ... !

Xion will blink up at her, not ... really sure what to make of that. She will go a bit pink, flustered, before kinda ... looking away, leaning her head on Natalie's shoulder as she does so. ]

I...

[ ... ]

I think all I ever wanted was to be with my friends. I don't really know if that makes me "good" or not.

[robitussin]

[She shakes her head.]

It's not what you want that makes you good or bad, I think. It's what you do, and... You did so much to protect everyone. I'm proud of you, you know?

[Then, she sombers.]

...I'm sorry that it came to this, though.

[ceded]

[ ...

She doesn't voice her doubts. Whatever could be said of her efforts, she did work hard, and she feels sure Natalie worked harder. She doesn't have it in her to bring all of that up now and make Natalie have to comfort her. The mere idea feels selfish beyond belief. ]

There's nothing you have to be sorry for. [ Gives her hand a squeeze. ] The only people to blame are really ... the Sheriff's employers, whoever they are. We never did find out, did we?

[robitussin]

[She hesitates for a long moment, but... No, she respects Xion too much to hide this from her.]

Do you want me to tell you?