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[color=#F08172]“Alright...”[/color] There wasn't much for bliss to do at the table with Caora and Mary. She had already eaten, so that was out. It would probably do Caora some good to bond with Mary without the nanny standing there the entire time. There were still others who hadn't shown up to eat, and Bliss wondered if Emily perhaps hit a snag with a few of them. Not everyone was especially sociable, or would enjoy the new woman's company. What Shaun did damaged everyone's ability to trust.  [color=#F08172]“I'll be back later. There's plenty of food out back for everyone.”[/color] Bliss bowed before leaving the table, but not before adjusting the placement of the salt and pepper shakers.

[hr]

Bliss hadn't encountered anyone as she wandered down the halls of Axis Mundi. Perhaps she was trying too hard. Not everyone benefited from being around people. Some people really were happier being off by themselves. But before bliss could decide to turn back, she could hear the sound of a piano.

[color=#F08172]“Hmm?”[/color]

Bliss walked down stairs and followed the sound of the music until she reached the door to the theater. As she cracked the door open, The sound of the piano grew louder still. But it wasn't until Bliss stepped inside that she could see who was playing.

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While it didn't seem like it, Alice aspired to be as skilled in playing the piano as her younger brother, in the events that something happened to him. After the argument she had with the metalworker and blood donor, the recon had retreated back to the theatre, where she could calm herself down by practicing the piano more. 

[Url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uCs9mpqZP3A&itct=CBUQpDAYACITCPP7np7h2tgCFQkYfwod3D4EazIHYXV0b25hdkibopeEnOW8n84B]The song[/url] she was playing then seemed to convey rage and stress, yet somehow sorrow, as if something had went wrong.

As Alice finished the song, a dopey grin had crept onto her face. [Color=red]"I-I did it, haha, I actually nailed it!"[/color] she exclaimed, squealing out of happiness.

[color=#F08172]“You nailed...It?”[/color] Bliss tipped her head.

Alice's expression quickly shifted into one of fright, as she tensed up, and turned to look at the nanny. [Color=red]"H-how long have you been here?!"[/color] the recon asked back, rather nervously.

Bliss's eyes shifted left to right. [color=#F08172]“Maybe a few seconds, but I could hear you before I actually walked in here.”[/color] 

[Color=red]"Well, atleast it just you. I don't really play piano with an audience..."[/color] Alice explained, standing up from her seat to walk towards Bliss.

[color=#F08172]“Well, I didn't mean to intrude. You probably could play for an audience if you wanted to. I didn't really meant to intrude.”[/color] Bliss scratched the back of her head. [color=#F08172]“Did you see anyone else? Not everyone is accounted for this morning.”[/color]

[Color=red]"N-No, it's okay. I just have a bit of stage fright, unlike my brother."[/color] Alice reasured Bliss. [Color=red]"But no, I havent seen anyone else yet. Hell, I havent even introduced myself to the new infinites yet, haha."[/color] she answered, scratching the back of her head.

[color=#F08172]“Oh, I meant anyone, not just the newcomers.”[/color] Bliss laughed and shrugged her shoulders. [color=#F08172]“Well, I didn't mean to eavesdrop on you playing. If you want to be alone, I can leave.”[/color]

[Color=red]"Wait, you dont have to go. I just...had an argument with Calvin, and needed to calm down.[/color] Alice admitted, running one of her hands through her hair. 

Bliss stared at Alice in silence for a moment. [color=#F08172]“Did you want to talk about it?”[/color]

[Color=red]"Nah, I'll just try to find them and apologize..."[/color] Alice politely declined, walking to the door.

[color=#F08172]“Well, alright.”[/color] The nanny stepped backwards out of the door. While bliss was curious about what had transpired, she wasn't going to force Alice to talk about it. These types of things were likely to happen in wake of a trial, and hopefully they wouldn't spiral into permanent resentment. [color=#F08172]“I'll see you later then, Alice.”[/color] Bliss started to walk away. [color=#F08172]“You look very pretty without that eyepatch.”[/color]

[Color=red]"T-Thank you, I guess?"[/color] Alice chuckled, a light tint of pink on her cheeks, before walking away to the patient's quarters.

[hr][hr] 

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It hadn't been long since Calvin had barricaded himself in his room. Ice had found certain ways to amuse himself. His head bandages had been messed up from the beginning, but with his hand all fudged up, he couldn't do much damage. Bored, Ice had started picking at the strange cloth cast that Alexandria had prepared for him, but suddenly he heard a woman's voice in his head, [i][color=lightcyan]"Isaiah.."[/color][/i] It was that vivacious ruella again. Cringing, Ice had settled with playing with his coat buttons before checking his pockets. Inside he only had one or two butterscotch left. Affirming that Calvin wouldn't leave his room anytime soon, Ice got up and grabbed some more from his room. He then proceeded to sit outside the younger man's door again and started making a tower with the candies.

[Color=red]"Um, h-hey Isa- I mean Ice."[/color] It wasnt hard for Alice to find the blood donor, but noting what he said about staying around Calvin, it didnt make sense for him to be seen alone. [Color=red]"Is it okay if I sit here?"[/color] she asked Ice, averting her eyes in embarassment.

With the sound of someone's voice, Ice looked up suddenly and his tower of candies fell. He relaxed as he glanced up at the smaller girl, [color=orange]"I'm not against company."[/color] He slid over a bit so he was closer to the door, then scooped the candies into his pocket. Remembering that it was abnormal for a grown man to have so many candies, his cheeks went a little pink.

A hint of a smile on the recon's face, Alice quickly sat down besides Ice, hugging her knees close to her. [Color=red]"So, where's Calvin?"[/color] she asked, glancing over to the blood donor. 

Ice let out a dry laugh before knocking on the door next to him. Alice thought she heard a swear come from inside the room, but that might have just been her intuition. Ice stuffed his hands in his pockets, wishing he had a cigarette, at least he might look cooler that way, [color=orange]"Butterscotch or lemon?"[/color]

[Color=red]"I don't mind either one, haha."[/color] Alice replied, scratching the back of her head. [Color=red]"If Calvin decides to come out of his room, could you tell him that i'm sorry for yelling at him? And slapping him?"[/color] she asked, concerned as to how the metalworker took their argument.

After getting confirmation, Ice slipped Alice's hand into his, opened the hand up, and placed both candies inside. [Color=orange]"Can't you tell him yourself?"[/color]

[Color=red]"I'm a bit nervous to..."[/color] she mumbled as she quickly stuffed the candies into her pocket, a light tint of pink appearing on her cheeks.

[Color=orange]"The punk's not gonna eat ya,"[/color] he opened up a wrapper and slipped another butterscotch in his mouth, who knew how many candies he had actually eaten today?

[Color=red]"I know, but I can't help but worry. Alot."[/color] Alice explained, chuckling nervously.

[color=orange]"You just need to cuss at him 'til he gets fired up and then drop the apologize on him."[/color] Maybe it wasn't a good idea to follow Ice's advice.

[Color=red]"W-wait, wouldn't that make it worse?!"[/color] Alice asked, her expression showing a little more fright than nervousness. [Color=red]"I mean, the only reason why I swore at him was cause he didn 't understand that I can take a few more bullets for him and the others!"[/color]

[color=orange]"If you're that worried, slide a note under his door, it's not like anyone's gonna think any less of you."[/color] And Ice entirely meant that. Was he good at motivating people? Yes, but not the good kind. The only real way to get advice from Ice would be to read his mind.

[Color=red]"Maybe later then, gotta find the [i]write[/i] wording, ya know?"[/color] Alice joked, yet still internally cringed at the accidental pun.

Ice stiffened for a second, before frowning slightly, [color=orange]"Did you just...?"[/color]

[Color=red]"I know and I am so sorry for that."[/color] The recon apologized, eyes widened.

He let out a long sigh, before crossing his legs and starting to make a candy tower again, trying to fill the silence, [color=orange]"So... How's the eye?"[/color]

[Color=red]"Hm? Oh, it's been fine. It's actually been fine all this time."[/color] Alice explained, one of the hands in her pockets gripping her eyepatch.

Ice gave her a questioning look, not seeming to understand why she did so.

[Color=red]"I...always hid it behind my eyepatch cause I was worried about what others would think of it, if you're wondering.[/color] she added, noticing the blood donor's expression. [Color=red]"Self-esteem issues and all."[/color]

Ice scratched at the back of his neck, before sighing again and tussling Alice's hair, [color=orange]"You listen here Alice Masson, Infinite Recon. You are a total laucher and if anyone has a problem with how sumbul you are then they have a problem, mainly me."[/color] And here Ice was trying not to get attached to anyone else, he was a real softy in denial of his own nature.

Alice's eyes widened for a moment, before a grin appeared on her face, as the recon could help but giggle from Ice's reassurance. [Color=red]"Ya really think so?"[/color] she asked, the tint of pink returning to her cheeks.

[Color=orange]"You're a grisette Terra Alice, nothing can stop you."[/color] He didn't smile much, but it seemed like for a split second his mouth quirked up a little as Ice looked at her.

[Color=red]"...Thanks Isaiah."[/color]