Dear Luria Mirrorheart,

I believe it is in due time that we utilize that guarantee to meet again, though this time, under more...favorable conditions. My apologies for the incident you had to witness that became the basis of our first meeting. Perhaps a second introduction would be proper. Should you consent, you may find me at the lake after school in Maiden Park. Should you dismiss this, then so be it.  

                                                                                                     --Sincerely, Alice Himeno

That was what had flowed from her ivory hand into the simple letter. It had been nothing more than a humble request; a summons, for a better term. For a sort of re-do of their rather unsavory first meeting. It was not like Alice really cared much about whether or not her impression came off as likeable or not in the first place, but etiquette was a respected characteristic of hers regardless of her manipulative flirtatious nature, and she had to admit, she found the girl interesting, even if admitting it to herself left a sour taste on her skilled tongue.

The afternoon was cool, and a bit bright. A creature not of the sun, the albino spider had taken shelter under a nearby shady tree. White ribbons of hair ruffled like living serpents in the fiery breeze. Why had she written the letter? Really, she had considered ripping it up and tossing it into the lake. Then she wouldn't have to deal with whatever unfamiliar territory she would have just crossed into. Company wasn't really her forte. Especially voluntary company. It wasn't that she hadn't asked girls to meet her in isolated places before, but of course every one of them had just been prey.

Was Luria just prey? Another insect she would manipulate and sweep into her corrosive web? Alice hadn't quite decided yet. But she knew for almost certain that some part of her desired to leave some kind of mark on that blank slate. Perhaps even scribble onto it until it became black. Yes, that seemed plausible. But was it pleasing? Should the second impression bode impressively, of course. Not that it wouldn't be in the first place, however.

Though, that all depended if the girl even showed at all. If she possessed any ill premonitions towards Alice or knew of the white spider's' manipulative nature at all, she would promptly stay away. But being an assumed blank slate, she probably wouldn't know much better, would she?

Alice leaned comfortably against a tree and crossed her arms across her chest, hidden by its girth. The slowly undulating water of the lake failed to capture her reflection. Good. She had made sure to stand back far enough as to not expose her presence upfront. Spiders couldn't manage to catch anything if they revealed themselves out in the open too soon, now, could they?

She wasn't one to refuse a summons, especially one so clearly worded in a precise way. Instead, she found herself moving quickly to the spot, for once actually in her Miator uniform, and thinking to herself about what it is she could be requested for. Could it be the task Alice was trying to do before would be needed now? Perhaps. Or perhaps this was a genuine wish to make better acquaintance. Time would tell, she mused.

Upon arriving, she was sure not to make any rash noises or disturb the woman with some form of rudeness. Instead she made her presence known from the start.

"Alice? I'm here." she called out.

Snowy white eyelashes flickered open in surprise upon presence of a voice -- she hadn't realized she had even closed them. It appeared as if the spider had been snuck up upon instead of vice versa. Oh well. She could still spin threads off of that.

"So it appears." That quiet vocal response would surely betray her hidden presence, though she keenly worked to recover it.

Like an ominous snowy phantom, she swung herself gradually out from behind the tree into the breeze, making the white mass of hair halo about her head like a lion's mane. Though she had stepped out behind the girl, she made no movement forward like she usually would, but instead issued a soft sound to expose her presence further. It wasn't what she did usually, but none of her typical tactics had drawn a reaction out of Luria yet. So she had segmented her tactical norms into a bit of an experimental sketch. Granted, it wasn't the most comfortable nor what she was used to, but it was admittedly an interesting alteration. Placing an experimental, dispensable pawn further up the board in hopes to draw closer to the ending checkmate. Yes, that was exactly what she was doing.

Sweeping a slender arm behind her back, she arched her spine as to ever so elegantly flow into a greeting bow when she was sure she had Luria's eyes. The other arm extended outwards, pursuing the connected pale hand to tug at the edge of her uniform's long skirt into a more formal pseudo-curtesy. A subtle decline of the knees followed suite while icy eyes remained lowered, white eyelashes veiled over them like a feathery curtain. All was in mechanical, unconscious motion; an elegant product of dutiful repetitive action.

With gaze still trained on the grass, now frozen in her bow like a stiff, humanoid android lacking electrical charge, she continued, "I trust you are doing well?" She didn't want to talk more than she had too, but the generics of opening light conversation had to addressed first and foremost. That much she knew about conversing.

It was an interesting greeting, and one that Luria took note of. She responded in turn with a courtesy of her own, even if it were uncalled for, before she had decided she would respond.

"Adjustment to the school has been slow, but I'm not doing bad." she offered a tilt of her head with folded arms, in much the same manner her sister would. "You've been safe since last time right? No more slaps?"

It could be taken as sass, but it was genuine concern.

It appeared as if the girl was doing fine. A slow adjustment, while irritating, could quickly by bypassed too in time. Alice wasn't sure if she was any ounce relieved by this information, but she was certainly just a little...less cluttered in her mind with the prospect that the girl hadn't had any problems.

The question she was echoed, however, almost made her scoff. The word choice almost elicited a strange chuckle, too. She had hoped Luria had moved past that little observed incident. Though it was only to be expected, she guessed, since that had been the solidified base of their newfound acquaintanceship. There would be no changing that. Oh well, Alice could work around that eventually. For now, it was best to address it as it was brought up and possibly weed it out later if their acquaintanceship continued to evolve in the future. That is, if the white spider would even let someone that close to her.

"My safety has not been disturbed," she responded with a sharp flick of a lily-white hand, "no more slaps."

She had certainly caused some mischief that might have distrubed the safety of a few random other girls though. But such was the outcome of walking absentmindedly into the trapping snare of a spider's outstretched web.

"May I inquire the status of your safety in return? I trust you made it home safely?" She questioned. There wasn't much concern in her eerie voice, but if one probed deep enough, they'd find a little. Whether it was genuine or not, however, was an entirely different debate.

What surprised her most wasn't the lack of tone in the voice, or even that she was called out here at all. It was the act of asking the question in the first place that surprised her. She had only ever really associated with people who knew her capabilities, so inquiries of her safety were rare. Still, she brushed it aside rather easily, as she had no reason to hold on to tha surprise beyond a quick and slight quizzical look that faded into a more stale, normal face for her. The only emotion she had was the one she thought was most appropriate for the situation, and in this case, she would borrow from her sister.

"I'm rarely in a situation I can't handle." she said, her expression unchanging but her tone shifting to a confident one. "Especially if I had been jumped. Street rats can't compare to a lifetime of training."

This of course was an end slate statement. How could she say more after that? How could it be replied to to leave an opening? Luria had just unintentionally backed herself into a social corner, but she did not let that show in her features. Instead, she relaxed her stance a bit as if ready to accept more if it came. There wasn't much she wasn't prepared for, but this, she felt a certain lack of understanding about.

No matter. She allowed herself to grip the locked around her neck for comfort, though the reason she gripped it would remain silent.

Now there was a reaction. Albeit quick and fleeting, but Alice swore she saw something flitter briefly across that emotionless blank face. There was no feeling of satisfaction in it, nor triumph for that matter. Perhaps just a slight flicker of condescending curiosity. It appeared as if Luria wasn't quite used to being asked such a question.

No sooner had the brief reaction melted had the girl spoke up with a confident tone sounding like not quite her own, her features not connecting with her voice. While it might have taken the snowy spider by surprise at first, she almost expected it now, though it was only their second meeting. It was almost like the girl drew upon spate personalities at times of speech. Nothing quite seemed her own except for the blankness of her personality and initial visage. Maybe it was a bit of a far-fetched assumption, but it was certainly plausible. Alice decided to catalogue the thought for now and analyze it later.

What struck her next was Luria's retreat, making a grab at her locket. Had the question perhaps made her uncomfortable? Or maybe it was because it had thrown her off guard? Alice wasn't quite sure, but took it into consideration. Oh well. She'd try her best to skirt around it for now and try to ease her back into the abandoned conversation.

"Is that so? Then you kept your word then." Alice felt like that was really all she needed to say, but in order to keep the conversation flowing, she shifted her tone, "Ah, have I perhaps made you a bit uncomfortable, my dear?"

That was a question she wasn't used to asking. Nonetheless, keeping her frozen gaze trained on Luria, she awaited her answer in analytical silence.