hittin' the road at last.

[buywithme]

[Video clicks on, and what is by now an unfamiliar face to most appears. Prefect has become reclusive in the last several months, socializing very little, and only really leaving his cabin to eat, drink, and work on Barron's graduation. Only now Barron is graduated, so there'll be no more of that last one. He lifts a hand to offer a small wave, but is clearly a little uncomfortable.]

So, Barron's graduated.

[He speaks slowly, as if choosing his words exceptionally carefully. It's the exact opposite to how he was when he arrived, years ago.]

Barron's graduated, and... I'm tired, and I want to leave now. But Comrades... This place...

[He glances away and swallows, knitting his forehead as he searches for what he's trying to say. Finally, he settles.]

...It's been an honour. Knowing you, has been an honour. Surviving it has been an honour. This place might be the end of history, and it might be hell, or purgatory, and I don't know if it's right or not right now? But seeing it through has been an honour.

[He pauses, then bows his head a little.]

And I hope you all get out and go home someday.

[And with that, the video ends.]

Comments

[routemistress]

I am home, lovey. Good luck to you and look after that man of yours, eh?

[buywithme]

Well. Then I hope your home stays happy, and that your--

[Pause]

I hope that our family gets a little less violent over the years.

[And oh god did you just call Barron his man? Prefect shuffles a little awkwardly, but nods.]

I will. Look after his brother?

[routemistress]

We do our best, Prefect love. And I will. Cassel's very dear to me on 'is own account.

I'm texting you a phone number. That'll reach me from any kind of communication device, anywhere in space or time; don't hesitate to use it if you could use 'elp or if you just fancy meeting up for a drink or to let us know 'ow you two are getting on, all right?

And 'ave fun out there.

[buywithme]

I--

[A little pause]

Out of curiosity, how... How frequently do you think would be calling too often?

[is being harassed for weekly updates too much?]

[routemistress]

Sweetheart, I'm always 'appy to talk to you. I will say that me answering machine's covering a big chunk of spacetime, so you might not always get a version of me that's met you yet; but I'm used to that sort of thing. Never stops me 'elping if 'elp's needed.

[The answering machine is here and TOTALLY NOT TOO MUCH EVER.]

[darknessb4me]

Where are you going?

[buywithme]

With Barron. I think he wants to see some of the universe without the Barge, and then we'll go back to his home world.

...Do you still not think you'll ever graduate?

[darknessb4me]

[He's been wondering if Prefect and Barron are together, and if he doesn't ask now he'll never know. He's probably not the only one wondering.

On the other hand, he hates Barron and he likes Prefect so he's not sure if he'd want a solid confirmation if they were.]

...I'll miss you.

I don't really want to, no.

[buywithme]

[Dont worry, Arthas, at this point Prefect genuinely doesn't know either. Boyfriends? Friends? Still warden and inmate doing an ongoing rehabilitation thing? God only knows.]

I'll miss you too, Comrade.

I know you probably get this all the time, but if you ever change your mind, come see us when you get out. Or, just come see me, and I'll make Barron stay in his cabin until you leave again.

[They'll still have cabins right? Out in the real world...]

[darknessb4me]

If you don't see me, assume I died how I wanted to, without giving in to that drunken idiot at the helm.

[buywithme]

I'll assume you died stubbornly, and still not evil enough to justify your being stuck here anymore.

[darknessb4me]

I'll take stubborn. I like being stubborn.

[patheticvillain]

Good job, shithead.

[buywithme]

...

[He can't suss if you're being sarcastic or just rude when you're nice.]

Sorry. Did you want longer with him here?

[patheticvillain]

I said good job, shithead.

[The mysteries will never cease!]



[No seriously, it means thank you.]

[buywithme]

Sometimes people say that sarcastically.

[Stop it Cassel you have a natural advantage on him when it comes to casual conversation.]

Thank you.

[patheticvillain]

Half of it's sarcastic.

[The shithead half.]

If you make him sad I'll track you down and destroy you.

[Wait, that's not.]

Gently.

[There we go.]

[buywithme]

I'm never going to make him sad.

[He's not even defensive about this, he just says it with a kind of bland certainty. He will always make Barron happy and never sad. The end.]

Besides, we're going back to your home, so I won't be hard to track down.

[patheticvillain]

Good. Then I won't have to super easily track you down.

[He's a hair uneasy about 'going back to your home', but it doesn't really show.]

[buywithme]

You take care of yourself here, okay, Cassel? You and... uh, it's Chris, right? Your friend?

[Prefect has a very loose definition of friend.]

[patheticvillain]

[Stare, stare, stare. Stare.]

Boyfriend.