[Center][h1][i]Table Three[/i][/h1]
[b]Ice, Alice, Emily, Calvin, Faith(?)[/b][/center]
[hr]

These past few days had been almost at a complete stand still compared to everything before this. The motive had already been given out, but no one seemed to be making a move anytime soon. It didn't seem like Bliss was going to be cooking anytime soon so Ice had moved in to replace her, though it seemed like nowadays his scowls had worsened. While he made plenty beautiful brown pancakes for everyone, he didn't seem to answer or accept anyone's gratitude or small talk. While Alice and Ice were seen spending time together, there was always something pressing down on them, or just Ice. Ice left Alice's worry hanging and had gone silent, refusing to bring up the topic again. While Alice did what she could to connect, Ice remained unresponsive and penitent. Honestly the Blood Donor had wanted to remedy the situation, but he had taken far too long and couldn't get over the awkward atmosphere and guilt from creating the situation. It made their exploring around the hospital dull and guilt-ridden.

After arriving to the party, Max had searched him and found his chain weapon all too easily. They had proceeded to argue until finally Ice had left and come back with the weapon unfurled from around his leg. Ice's sense of defenselessness left him jittery and nervous. Without the strength he had from not being fully recooperated, he really needed to rely on his weapon to have any chance in a fight. With a swore under his breath, he moved over to the table and threw himself angrily into a chair next to Alice.

After everything that Emily been through in the last hours, she didn't have much she could comment on or say, she only had a thousand yard stare, the memories of everyone who passed still plaguing her mind, she felt responsible for everything and her infinite title just seemed to remind her of her failure here. Emily knew she couldn't keep her title after all of this, she wasn't fit enough for it maybe someone else would be more qualified.

[Color=red]"Ms. Rishima, are you alright?"[/color]

Emily's hands shook before she looked over to Alice, her eyes seemed more sunken showing her age off more and were blood shot, the caretaker took a deep breath before she spoke."[color=cyan] H-have you ever just felt you weren't good enough for your title? As if someone has just handed it to you? Just giving you the title of special so others would look up to you as some sort of symbol?[/color]" Emily looked at herself."[color=cyan] I'm a self centered person, someone who never deserved to get their title, just gifted it because of my body and I just help others.[/color]"

[Color=red]"Emily, don't say that about yourself. I'm sure you weren't given the title of caretaker just for your looks, but for your kindness and consideration for others, no matter who it is."[/color] Alice reassured Ellie, walking up beside her. [Color=red]"And... Yeah, I find myself wondering how I even got my title sometimes, and if I even deserve it."[/color]

Emily's fist came down on the table and she stared daggers at Alice."[color=cyan] That's a crock and you know it. When I heard that Aleecia and Rika were dead my first thoughts were, "I'm glad I'm okay" and I'm weak, the moment when that night happened, the only thing I could do was curl up and hope that none of us would get hurt, I'm not worthy of my title, anyone else stronger than me could have made sure that Rika stayed put, they wouldn't have fainted the moment everything began happening, they would have helped made sure Aleecia was still here![/color]" She stood to Alice, her depression gone now replaced with anger."[color=cyan]I'm not made for this, I'm not someone who can fight robots or talk down people from doing something they aren't able to, I-I I'm just a woman who's unlucky enough to not be a house wife and had a lot of time on her hands.[/color]"

The recon silently hung her head low as Emily spoke, saying that she wasn't strong enough to protect Allie and Rika. [Color=red]"What if someone 'stronger' wasn't enough?"[/color] Alice finally spoke up. [Color=red]"What if they were too much of a dumbass to make sure they were safe, that they didn't leave us?"[/color] She balled her hands up into fists, and started shaking. [Color=red]"What if they could prevent all of this from happening, if even as they get 'stronger' they're still weak either way?!"[/color] Venom started dripping from the recon's words, as tears started to fall from her eyes. Yet she bore a grin, as to try and fight back her sorrow.

[Color=red]"So tell me, Rishima,"[/color] Alice finally looked back up at Emily. [i][color=red]"Who's the real failure here? You, or me?"[/color][/i] The recon forced a laugh.

Ice slammed his palm onto the table, making sure to have both of their eyes on him before even thinking of opening his mouth, [color=orange]"Now look you two, Allie and Rika were their own person, it's not like they didn't make their own choices."[/color] Ice leaned back with his arms crossed, his eyebrow twitching. [color=orange]"Ellie, none of us chose our Infinite titles, the only reason they are any good is because they come with benefits, but those benefits don't reach us here so by god they don't matter."[/color] He turned his gaze towards Alice, feeling a little bad, but knowing that he had to get his thoughts across, [color=orange]"It wasn't enough because we couldn't have stopped them, not because of the effort we put into the situation, that's like blaming ourselves for them being put in the killing game in the first place."[/color] Ice brought his right hand up to massage into one of his temples, [color=orange]"It's not a matter of who's fault it is, it's a matter of remembering who they were and what they stood for, now eat some stuky food and keep your traps shut about what could have been, because it ain't happening any other way. Capiche?" [/color]

[Color=red]"..."[/color] Alice's forced smile faded once Ice started talking, while she wanted to speak up, he made a good point. So instead, she silently sat down, and rested her head in her arms.

"Isaiah Matthews, watch that tone you are taking with me, I may not be your mother but you should respect your elders."[color=cyan] Emily stared daggers at the blood donor." I'm useless, I couldn't help keep the two people I was suppose to keep safe, safe, I should've just stayed in my crappy apartment, shut myself in and just died. If I was never here they maybe would've had more of a  chance.[/color]"

[Color=red]"Rishima, shut the hell up and enjoy the damn party."[/color] The recon snapped at the caretaker.

Emily didn't know what over took her, but she brought her open hand across Alice's face and left a visble red mark on her cheek and instantly realized what she done, she put her hands on Alice's shoulders."[color=cyan] Alice! I'm-I'm sorry.[/color]" Tears began streaming down her cheeks."[color=cyan] I don't know what came over me, I-I couldn't sleep for who knows how long.[/color]" She wiped her tears away before trying to wipe away Alice's tears.

[Color=red]"I know you didn't mean to...Just- don't bother me till the party's over..."[/color] Alice sighed, before resting her head back in her arms.

Ice sat there conflicted, it was like everything that could go wrong, was going wrong. He had fidgeted slightly when his full name was called, but after hearing more of her response he was going to go off on her, only for Alice to do it for him. Maybe a bit more subtle than the Blood Donor would have done, but definitely got her point across. He was about to butt in again only for Ellie to slap Alice, leading Ice's blood to start boiling. If she hadn't immediately apologized and started crying, well then... This party would have been turned upside down. After the matter was resolved, Ice couldn't help but stare at Alice, somehow hoping to lift her spirits. But since he hadn't been able to properly talk to her, it felt awkward, and he....

The Blood Donor moved his hand above the Recon's head to give it a pat, then he hesitated before letting his hand fall back to his side with a sigh.

Calvin was humming lightly as he brought a plate of food to the table. The buffet table had been well-loaded, and while the rest of his table had been chatting he had gone to get food. As he returned to the group, he saw Alice with her head to the table. His hackles raised. Ice looked pained as he brought a hand over her head, only to gently let it fall. Calvin's pace slowed for only a few steps, before he picked up the pace. He laid the plate loudly on the table. [color=#93FFE8]"They really loaded this thing..." [/color]His voice was a bit tinny and faded away quickly. He gave Ice a glance, then looked to Ellie. Something in the air put him on edge. Where had Faith gone? She wasn't seated at the table, and Calvin felt she would have been far more prepared to deal with whatever sort of energy had taken over the group.[color=#93FFE8] "This is fucking..."[/color] He breathed in loudly. [color=#93FFE8]"...fun." [/color]The word fell sat there for a moment. Calvin grimaced, looking down at his plate, then to his fellow Infinites. He wanted nothing less than to sit down in this growing storm. 

[color=#93FFE8]"I forgot... my... fork!" [/color]He stumbled over the words, standing stock still as he said them.[color=#93FFE8] "Umm... Alice? Wanna help me find it?"[/color] He made pointed eye contact with Ice, clearly uncomfortable.

Ice met his eye, but then looked down almost defeatedly. It wasn't like he knew what to jinking do! Honestly, he wanted to grab Alice and bust out of there, but after some prodding he found out they wouldn't be getting their weapons back until the end of the party, and he was far too on edge without it.

Alice nodded, standing up from her seat.

[color=#93FFE8]"Oh, Sweet." [/color]The Recon's face was.... melancholic. Calvin swallowed. It hadn't been so long ago that he had been slapped for poorly-chosen words. He prayed it wouldn't happen again as he walked towards the ever-familiar buffet table again.[color=#93FFE8] "This is some kind of shitshow, huh?"[/color] He did his best to commit to his search for a utensil. 

The recon nodded again, looking under the table for the metalworker's fork.

Calvin cast a furtive glance around the room. Most seemed to be having a good time. Ice and Ellie were dutifully stationed at the cursed table. [color=#93FFE8]"Hey, Alice."[/color] His tone was conciliatory. [color=#93FFE8]"You probably have more experience dealing with this than me, so you don't have to listen."[/color] He stopped pretending to search. [color=#93FFE8]"I don't know what you were talking about over there, but I know Ice and I know Ellie and..." [/color]His shoulders arched up as he tried to find the right words. [color=#93FFE8]"I don't think we're going to get out of here anytime soon. I don't know if we ever will."[/color] He looked over at Ice. [color=#93FFE8]"It's good to care about people in here. I think. It's going to hurt sometimes... but-" [/color]His voice lowered. [color=#93FFE8]"That also means that people are going to care about you too. And those people need you just as much as you need them."  [/color]He froze, not sure what to anticipate from the recon.

[Color=red]"..."[/color] Alice expression softened, before she sighed in defeat. [Color=red]"I should leave...before I make things worse..."[/color] she muttered, then started to walk away. [Color=red]"I never did well with parties either way."[/color]

[color=#93FFE8]"Give me a fucking break, Alice." [/color]His voice was still low, but pointed. [color=#93FFE8]"You've gone through so much, and now you're checking out?"[/color] He took one step to follow her, but stopped. [color=#93FFE8]"You can do what you want. But I'm speaking from experience when I say that this shit won't work. And I think you know that too." [/color]His hands balled up.[color=#93FFE8] "I'm not any better than you. But I'm fucking trying." [/color]He paused a moment, but then turned back towards the buffet table, grabbing the fork he had spotted the minute they had arrived.

In everything that happened in such little time, Emily watched as Calvin arrived at the table and tried to make things less awkward instead it ended up feeling a bit more awkward for her, asking someone to help you get a fork and then climbing under a table didn't make everything back to normal, if Ice didn't notice it Emily wouldn't care but she decided to apologize to him."[color=cyan] My actions were out of hand, I formally apologize.[/color]" 

The former caretaker could see that Ice held feelings for Alice when she struck her earlier she could feel the tension that it caused and noticed Ice's reaction."[color=cyan] I will leave so I won't be a bother to you or anyone else.[/color]" she told Ice before turning her back to the table and leaving, she glanced over her shoulder once taking a look at the other tables before she looked back ahead of herself. 

Watching Alice move away dejected, Ice got up. He started to follow after her, only to hesitate once again. Moving over to the buffet table, he grabbed a cookie, [color=orange]"For helping... thanks."[/color] After giving Calvin a nod, he scanned the room for Faith. His weapon was a rather pressing matter. Not knowing where she would be, looked for Krista, only to realize she was still playing. Changing tactics, he looked for Felix or Daimyon, then moved over to table two.