[center][img] https://i.imgur.com/vtmTCeO.gif  [/img][/center]

Calvin woke up with a start. It took him a moment -- like it seemed to every day – to fully accept and understand that what had happened the day before was not some sick dream. He rubbed the back of his head and winced. Mercy had done what she could to ease the pain, and he had been told to rest. Shaking his head (and regretting the dull ache it brought), he stood up. 

[hr]


The forge roared under Calvin’s careful watch. There was a look of calm and careful consideration that so rarely came across his face away from the blazing flame. Even as Monokuma’s announcements blared, Calvin continued to hammer away, a small crease forming across his forehead.

So many new participants were about to become a part of Killgood’s game, and Calvin questioned from whence they all came. He had seen Rika, Thomas and Ellie after they joined last night, but he had not spoken much with any of them. Seeing Rika again had brought a familiar chill down his spine that he had not been sad to see go. Still. He was glad to see she was alright. Merely being alive seemed like something worth celebrating these days.

But there were more coming in. New faces and-

[color=#40E0D0]“Aleecia?”[/color] A frown crossed his face and the hammering stopped.  She had been supposed to get out. Away from this. He was about to go, when a figure slowly entered the room.

[b]”Hi Calvie-poo!”[/b] Alexandria was dressed like a nurse, and didn't appear to have her weapon on her. [b]”Now that superbad-evil-mean-nasty-spiteful-hate filled-Erin Steele is gone, we can talk about the fuuuutuuuuure!”[/b] She giggled before charging up to Calvin. [b]”Well? Are you really going to tell me our time together wasn't special?”[/b]

Calvin suppressed a groan at Alexandria’s bold entrance. She was never one for subtlety. While he had had some time to take in all that had happened, he wasn’t quite ready for this. [color=#40E0D0]“This is a joke, right?”[/color] He said, though he knew it wasn’t true.[color=#40E0D0] “I don’t know what you want from me, Alexandria. If you haven’t noticed, there’s a bit of a power dynamic here!”[/color] His hand hung in the air for a moment.

[b]”The only power dynamic here is loooooove!”[/b] Alexandria shivered in place. [b]”As soon as you’re cured of hope, we’re going to move out into the suburbs and start a family. I’ll even change my last name to Ibbott!”[/b] She continued to walk towards Calvin. [b]”Come on Calvie-poo, maybe you don’t see any of that happening, but do you really feel I’m all evil? Is there really no ending where we ride into the sunset together on my horse?”[/b]

Cured of hope? If that was Alexandria’s goal, she was doing a good job. [color=#40E0D0] “I don’t know what you are. You’re killing us, Alexandria.”[/color] Almost involuntarily, he took a step back. There was a dull ache in his chest as he looked at the robot’s innocent eyes. There was no malice, but that only made it worse.

The robot stared at Calvin for several seconds in silence. [b]”Oh.”[/b] She took a step backwards. [b]”I get it now.”[/b] Alexandria didn't sound like her usual cute self. [b]”You're afraid of me. That's why you'll never tell me the truth. But it doesn't matter what I do at this point. You'll never be able to love me.”[/b] The robot hung her head. Her bangs covered her face. [b]”Am I right? Can you not forgive me? Love is over?”[/b] She started to make crying noises.

Calvin didn’t break his gaze. He had an opportunity, and as uncomfortable as he was, he knew he needed to make good on it.[color=#40E0D0] “I’m not - I.” [/color]All he had to do was say she could be forgiven. Alexandria had been an important ally, and one that he might need to survive all of this. But. [color=#40E0D0]“You killed her.”[/color] His voice choked up a little bit. He tried to say more, but little came. He could forgive her. But forgetting all the she had done, what she had been party to? He looked at Alexandria. 

Her crying stopped instantly. [b]”What?”[/b] She lifted her head up. [b]”I killed her? Is that what you said?”[/b] She sounded normal again. [b]”That's pretty mean Calvie poo, blaming me for Shona's actions. If everyone did what they were suppose to do, no one would have gotten booped!”[/b] Her head slowly bobbed left and right. [b]”But I'd have found a way to boop her anyway. She was getting to close to you.”[/b] She giggled. [b]”I didn't pick you just so that you could run off with any hussie who takes interest in you. But that’s love, isn’t it? It's a flame that needs to be nurtured in order to grow. Part of nurturing that flame is forgiving you. But the other part is booping every girl you take interest in.”[/b] Her eyes started to glow red. [b]”I'm going to pay super extra attention to you from now on. I'll watch your every move, every interaction, and make sure no one can surpass me in your heart.”[/b]

Calvin’s face drained of all colour. Almost unconsciously, his hand move towards the hammer hanging off of his apron, but it stopped immediately. He didn’t stand a chance. [color=#40E0D0]“Fucking...” [/color]There was a hint of desperation in Calvin’s voice as his throat hitched. He glanced to his work, noticing that it still had work to be done. Refusing to say anything more, he made his way for the exit, his mouth a tight line across his face.

[b]”But I’ll never hurt you Calvin, you can trust me on that.”[/b] The doll backed up into a wall and disappeared behind a veil of smoke.