'This mocking monotony... Conundrum after delirious conundrum... Don't look at me with those sinful eyes. Those lusting lips and this corrupted face. My body is nothing more than a vessel of sin, yet this face is the manifestation of it all-- I... 


"I hate it!" 

A growl shivered across the stagnant gloomy water of the fountain. Curling ribbons of white and the picturesque portrait of an ivory face quivered into a blurred mist as an agitated lily-white hand clawed at her own reflection, sending a light shower of water splattering across the ornate fountain's interior side. She would tear it apart if she could. Dismember it; eradicate it purely from existence. Perhaps even purify it if such a task was even available for the sinful widow. Alice glared into the blurred water, the rift of her elegance igniting slightly into an aura of a distraught hell-bound princess. The wind caught her snowy hair and tugged at it with cold chiding fingers. It haloed about her head, making her appear slightly demonic. It wasn't like the graceful spider to fall into a state of momentary despair, but she had misplaced her footing somewhere along the recent way and had tangled herself up in her own icy web; a prisoner to her own self. 

When the water removed back into its mirror-like state, the ghostly blue orbs shuddered. 'The face of sin... A face like mine; frozen over in monotony and the err of her own forever-piling misdoings. Perhaps...it should bear a little happiness.' A slender finger reached out towards the water and gently whisked across the reflected pale lips, the icy mirrored orbs gazing ominously into the eyes of the other, wondering, struggling, curiously probing for that of which was locked deep down in the spider's web.


Alice massaged a temple with a cold hand to attempt to ease an oncoming headache. Her gaze never broke from the reflection's.  'If perhaps if only once, shall these frozen lips not shatter.'  Letting out a pent-up breath, she fluttered her snowflake lashes into a more relaxed state before relaxing the ever tense muscles of her slightly scowling lips. The ice of her mask cracked briefly, shuddering in wake of the unfamiliar warmth attempting to be formed from its sub-zero, frozen depths, then caved in a little. The ivory lips, as if on strings, curled up at the edges into that of a small, warm smile, one that was reflected by the water. It brightened the darkness of the snow queen's features, momentarily frosting over the demonic visage to that of an iced angle. 

'I have nothing to smile for; this one is feigned, that much I can tell. Not yet... This small ounce of warmth in this frozen body shall be sufficient and seen only by myself alone, although a lie it displays. Such is the fate of a solitary spider anyways.'

She was free.

Yes that was the only happy thought going through her head, as she bowed to the taxi that dropped her off at the gate of her home, home funny how those words had became so right . Turning to face the gates of the three sister schools her hair whipped in the wind shed been gone far to long in her mind at least.

' enough for my hair to grow as if weeds' she thought to herself. Rose pink hair was now tied lightly back in a pony tail her boyish side not having a clue what to do with it. As feathered bangs cupped her face letting a few longer strand of hair dangle by her cheek. The only thing that was keeping the pink hair from covering her eyes was a sight curl if you can call it that much like the edge of a rose petal, it was just enough to keep her purple pink sunset eyes from being hidden.

After all she wanted to see someone, and for that she needed a clear picture. Worry struck her heart as she began looking for her snowy spirit. The only thing that kept her moving was the grip on her bag, and the grip on pink and white roses she held. Once she found Alice she would have to first explain why she had been gone for those few months, after all Alice had seemed the fact based type. Yet....Jessie some how just wanted to hold the iced girl, weather Alice would want that or not is up to fate, she guessed.

All Jessie new is she missed the girl she once said I love you to, but would Alice still even tolerate the idea ? Before the sudden call from her lawyer they had planned a date...yet with time playing its tricks would they even be friends anymore? Each thought only made the walk to find the spider harder, she needed a moment.

Slowing to turn on a not often walked path she headed to the fountain. Maybe a little reflection can help her gather her thoughts. As her school uniform gripped to her in the cool breeze she was halted. Her body wouldn't move as she saw water splatter across causing a crystal like shine in the hair. Letting go off her bag it didn't seem to make a noise it was as if time had stopped. Pink eyes watched as her ice spirit seemed to fight with inner demons. Jessie soul ached at this her hand only gripped the roses shed brought harder unknowingly cutting into her hand. Crimson drips slide down green stocks to the ground below as she watched. Everything seems still as the water in fountain finally settled. Jessie could feel water hold to her eyes she didn't know what to do, she only saw the pain the spider was feeling the pain her friend was feeling.

Though then though tears she saw it it was small light and hard to see, a smile ? Through all this pain the snowy spirit was smiling.

" I thought spiders hated water "

A weak chuckle left her own lips as Jessie stood there her heart wanted to run forward and hug the white haired princess she saw before her, yet part of her wanted to make sure to burn the sight of a warm smile into her memory. " I missed you"

Was quietly horsed out as she was finding hard to get anymore words to leave her. Her hand just dealt with the pain of the rose thorns actually as Jessie thought more about Alice the pain seemed to not even there.

Alice's heart almost stopped at the sound of a familiar voice. It was one she hadn't heard in quite a while. Was it just her mind playing tricks on her? The manifestation of the loneliness inside her? Her own hellish demons trying to agonize her? Her ghostly blue gaze remained fixated at her reflection. The warmth had melted from her lips and instead a look of shock held to them, as was reflected in her icy orbs. She was afraid to look. For if she looked, she was afraid she would see nothing: no trace of the pink haired girl that still lingered in her acidic mind. The spider was afraid of the unfamiliar sensation not felt physically that would tear at her heart if that was true. She had come to feel true pain; the deep and internal kind; and it burned and twisted inside her chest uncomfortably.

That couldn't be... Surely it must be just a trick; an embodiment to mock me...'
]
The snowy spider tried telling herself that mentally, but her aching heart wished to believe it was true. If she looked, would the girl truly be there? Even so, she was for once concerned that her sinful touch would only stain that reality.

'Perhaps once, this hell-bound spider did have something to smile for... Whether or not that image is still in a radial reach, perhaps-- Please let it be...'

The stillness of her elegant reflection on the water shuddered slightly as a single, small ripple disturbed its glass-like surface. The widow hadn't realized she had stopped breathing or was aware of the cause of that ripple as she slowly turned around to take the risk and look at the girl she had missed so much more than her fatigued being would allow her to believe.

A light gust of wind stirred up again, ruffling through her snowy hair and highlightning a single glistening tear that bubbled among the white lashes. It slipped silently from their cradle and glistened down a lily-white cheek, betraying the forced poker face that had now came to rest across the arachnid's shadowed, snowy features.

"I missed you too...Jessie." Her voice held its natural smooth monotonous tone as she spoke softly. Her features proved traitorous, and the small fraction of a smile melted through the ice and faded back upon the snowy lips to grace the beautiful being she was convinced to be only but a sadistic trick materialized from the fluttering ache in her heart.

Fear?

Fear was in the air Jessie knew that feeling to well but for it to be felt coming from the snowy spirit? This has the water from Jessie's eyes slide down her cheeks. Did Alice not believe she was here? Or is it she fears seeing her again ? Or was Jessie reading this all wrong was Alice upset at the pink haired girl ?

Silence. Her thoughts stopped as she saw a drop of water hit the pool below, the snow haired angle turned ever so slowly to look at her. Ice eyes met rose pink. As familiar words were spoken.

' I miss you too....jessie '

Her heart couldn't take it as she moved. Roses fell as blood much like the water splattered back in the wind causing a jewel like reflection behind her. Pink hair flowed back slipping from the white ribbon that loosely held it. Arms twirled around the iced figure she somehow missed the mixture of warm and cool.Her knees hit the ground before the fountain as she hugged Alice. " i-"

She was sorry for disappearing from her dance partner yet the words right now wouldn't come , she just..she just wanted to hold her dance partner her friend the girl she loved.

The fallen roses caused a flurry of petals a a breeze crossed the two girls.

Iced eyes widened as what she believed to be only an beautiful illusion moved. Suddenly, there were a pair of arms around her and even more familiar a blended contrast between warm and cold. The widow's arms unconsciously draped around the pink haired girl and she embraced her tightly, afraid for a moment that if she didn't embrace the girl tight enough, that she would disappear. The familiar warmth, the contrast, the physical contact; it all felt far too real to be fake. Surely this was not a trick of her poisoned mind. Unbeknownst to the snowy angel, another year slipped down her cheek.

'Thank you...' She wasn't even sure who or what she was thanking at that moment. Perhaps fate itself or some ethereal being up above. She was grateful that this wasn't an illusion; grateful to be able to even just touch the girl again. It was cracking her ice - she was unraveling - but she cared little right now about freezing it over.

Pulling back slightly out of the embrace, the icy spider relocated her hands to Jessie's face, sweeping a few ivory fingers past the very edges of the curled pink bangs before letting both hands rest on the sides of her pink haired dancer partner's face. Damp frozen eyes flickered up through pure white lashes to be graced by the ever so intriguing mixed ones.

"Jessie..." Was all the now slightly quivering monotonous voice could manage, all the frozen lips could let slip out. Alice wasn't aware that another fragile tear had escaped; she was too focused on the girl before her and the foreign aching in her chest.

Jessie.

Like a bell her own name rang through her mind as Alice spoke it. Iced finger tips glided up to hold her face she chuckles in her chest not allowing it to leave her lips as a softened grin graced her lips. Jessie was happy no over joyed she could kiss this girl .. But no. She wasn't sure if that would ruin the moment. So instead her hands rose and wiped the tear that fell across Alices porcine skin. Once the tear was gone Jessie let her own hands hold on to Alices. Leaning forward she laid a soft kiss on the other cheek.

Pulling slowly away she found her voice. " its been to long....far to long....but Alice.. I I am finally free ."


She knew that may not make sense not now but she knew the next thing shed say would very well make sense to the spider. " I'm free from my father for ever free to love who ever free to be who ever and I want to be your partner, in or how ever you'll take me."

Her heart pounded as those words left her lips. Her grip tightened ever so slightly waiting...waiting for anything

A quiet breath escaped the widow's lips as a tear was brushed away. She hadn't realized she was crying nor that she was capable of even shedding a tear. It made her want to chuckle a little, but no sound issued out. Her iced guard was still up slightly, despite it being almost fully melted at the moment.

Free. At first that word confused the spider, but she still held in hopeful positive connotation. Free of what? The following words pleased the widow; had she not recomposed herself slightly, she would have smiled again. For now, her lips remained neutral, although the ice in her ghostly eyes had melted a bit to show the truth of her emotions. Jessie was free from her father. Finally. Alice did not want to think about that man; based on the given description of what he had done, just the thought made her blood boiled. She cared for this girl - her dance partner and admitted friend - deeply. She didn't want for her to be hurt any longer nor did the spider wish to cause further pain, be it emotional or physical, for her. Another breeze stirred, haloing the snowy spider's glistening shoulder-length hair into subtle shapes. It threw an ominous shadow across her ivory face, although there was only a light-hearted warmth reflected in the frozen orbs. Her frozen lips parted slightly, hesitant to project the words she had dwelled upon through the loneliness and her thoughts.

"A spider is not meant to love, nor liberate or be loved..." She started, not trusting her now more quiet than usual voice. She for once looked straight into the mixed eyes; something she rarely did; allowing her own iced eyes to convey what her stubborn guard would not allow. "I have hurt you, and bound you in this god-forsaken web of mine, yet still you return regardless. A sinful being such as myself is not deserving of such kindness or warmth, but..."

The porcelain widow tried to concentrate as she spoke as to keep herself from accidentally letting her speech impediment, those darn Spoonerisms, slip in. It wore her out to speak this much, and it was visible upon her face. Her flurrying, icy mind protested for her to stop speaking the honest words that were to follow, but her aching heart would not allow it. "I have finally felt pain, and what its personal presence depicts. It hurts, but with its presence came a realization... I love your warmth... Your personality and even just your presence. I love how you never gave up on a venomous spider like me despite being bitten, but most importantly, I... I love you, Jessie..."

Her ivory features were even paler from the exhaustion of speaking so much. The words came out softly and honestly, although the spider's icy mask had frosted over again out of slight fear and the unfamiliarity of what she had just said. The spider's own grip loosened a little because of it and her frosted orbs disconnected from the other's to trail to their hands.

Love...what is love? Its something she had thought of a few times before. She had also spoken them thinking she had understood; and maybe she did. Yet now she almost didn't hear the others words for her heart beat hard when Alice first spoke. At first her heart pitter and pattered in worry then in slight fear for her friend but finally if she hadn't been still breather Jessie would have thought shed gone to heaven. For her heart stopped when those few words were spoken.

' I..i love you Jessie '

It couldn't be true could it ? Jessie wanted it to be but...was this a dream did she pass out from loss of blood ? No that was silly the cuts from the thorns where hardly anything..no this was real. Alice the iced angle had said she loved her. Jessie couldn't help but just stair , if it wasn't for the ice dry breeze causing her to blink she may not ever had looked away. She noticed as warm yet still crystal like eyes looked down. Jessie knew this...all these feeling were knew to the so called spider. Even the pink haired tomboy didn't fully understand. Though one thing she did understand was she felt the same.

Letting one of her hands glide up to the widows porcine face she allowed a finger and thumb to lightly hold the beautiful iced chin only slightly using a bit of force to raise Alices head she leaned in. The kiss was soft, it wasn't from fear. No she wanted to show Alice snow...cold still but soft not like ice. She wanted for her new love to understand she needn't always be ice that she could be a soft snow just falling from the mixed sky of warm and cool.

The snowy spider stared back at Jessie in silence, concerned at what effect her words had had. For a moment, she forgot what she had even said, then, once remembering it, struggled with whether to once more put up her icy guard. But then that familiar warm touch relocated to her face. The widow twitched slightly, her body remembering now, from the ice of her elegant guard, that she was not used to physical contact. That would have to be something she would have to adjust to still. Maybe she would never fully get used to it, but in time, perhaps it would fade away by itself. Ice was difficult to melt, but even so, over the time she had spent with Jessie, it was becoming thinner. Alice was not ready to quite lose the secure fortification. Not yet at least. It was a signature part of her, just like a web was to a spider. A web...

She was still protective of the frosted imaginary structure, yet now Jessie was yet again standing on the fine threads of it. Except now, there was not much of a risk. The threads would hold; the spider had invited her into the very center of her web. Of course, the pink haired girl would have to still tread carefully and lightly with care, but over time, they would strength to support the girl no matter what. Actual love was a new, unfamiliar feeling to the serial heartbreaking spider, so the new threads weaved in its wake would be weak and fragile at first for the spider still did not know how to love.

Finally, her chin was raised and a kiss was delivered. It was a soft one, warm, too, as it contrasted with the spider's colder ones. She enjoyed the softness; of how the warmth and cold softly formed a contrast. Yes, this was better... The snow queen kissed back hesitantly and gently, remembering the last time she had kissed the girl she had bit her. Bit her as a test. The memory twisted her heart painfully a little. Alice brushed her tongue slightly across Jessie's lower lip over the area she had bit that time. She was not asking to deepen the kiss or anything; rather, it was her own form of apology for the action, whether Jessie understood that or not. The breeze stirred again, brushing lightly through the ribbons of snowy hair. The aching in her chest lessened slightly, but still remained, this time a remainder of how their last kiss went and how she had hurt her dance partner. The spider did not wish to hurt her again, intentionally or not.

The lick ..was odd at first Jessie knew little of what it meant. She did know that though they were now connected more so then just in dance, Jessie still had to be careful after all though they were both new at this Alice was someone special, she was delicate much like the snow flake Jessie saw Alice as. Alice also still had her web. Each silk line could still brake. So what did this lick mean it wasn't something passionate, even if it was..Jessie didn't want to push her luck; that and she wouldn't know what to do. No this soft lick reminded her a puppy or a kitten ? Yes a kitten licking you after it had just bitten you out of fear.

Hehe. This amused Jessie because for some reason she remember the time a kitten had bit her when she tried to pick it up from a ally way. The bite was from fear and the lick it did was an apology, ah was Alice apologizing? Thats right! There first kiss..Alice bit her in a sort of test..Jessie remembered getting hurt from that but now she seemed to have a hard time recalling the moment. After all Jessie was far to happy, yet it seemed important to let Alice know that she was forgiven though the pink haired girl was far from upset. So how to forgive someone when your not mad at them? Yes that would be hard.

Once Jessie thought for a moment making sure to think carefully with out just spacing out and stop at the action at hand she figured it out kissed back her eyes shifted to a white rose that still lay on the ground, the lucky little thing unharmed and still a bit of a budding flower. Carefully she grabbed it and as the kiss slowed she placed it in the snowy white hair. Pulling from the kiss she only moved her lips to mouth the words " its alright snowflake. "

The nick name seemed far more fitting then kitten or any other nick name shed given the so called spider. Though she did not actually make sound to forgive she hoped Alice would understand. Jessie hadn't wanted to ruin anything with sound no not now. She wanted to burn this memory in as well.

A rose was slipped into the glistening ivory hair. It was a budding one, much like this new thread of their relationship. Alice reached up with a snow-white hand to glide two curious fingers ever so gently along the fragile petals. She didn't know where this silken thread would lead nor quite how to spin it. But spiders always managed to form an artisan's web in the end, making use of every starry strand they weaved. Those strands could still break, of course, for nothing but glittering thread they were, but if fortified strong enough, an seasoned arachnid's web could bind like iron chains.

But the snowy spider's web was tainted and heavy with sin. It was getting heavier, especially after a...rather interesting encounter with a certain green haired Cheshire Cat in the bathhouse. That in itself was a sin... A heavy one too, but sins were common underminings of the icy girl. For every part of her was a manifestation of sin in her own corrupted mind; every inch of the snowy skin, the frosted hair, and the glistening iced eyes. This heavy corruption would only weigh down further on her web until it broke and the spider experienced a prolonged fall from grace. ...And Alice was secretly afraid of that.

She rolled her eyes playfully at the nickname and smirked a little. Snowflake. It was a gentle one; cute, too. Like every other one, it would take some time getting used to. Alice sat in silence for a moment, just enjoying the moment and trying to process the new feelings and the depth of what she had confessed. She desired to keep the lull of the tranquility, but the hidden fear of falling prickled at her mind.

"Jessie..." She began quietly, flickering her frozen gaze back to look at the beautiful girl. There was a glint of insecurity in them, yet she frosted it over quickly as to not let it be seen. "This sinful web of mine is getting heavier, and with it, the iced silk is thinning... One day, I am to fall from this web... And when I fall, I... I want to know that you will be there to catch me... Please..."

The last pleading word was spoken softer than the rest. She shifted the icy light of her gaze away, looking visibly weary from speaking more than she was used to again as well as from concentrating far too much on keeping her random speech impediment from emerging. She hated admitting her insecurities; being the closed off iced figure she was; but she waited for a response, wondering what sort of one her words would provoke...

Once the slight amusement of yet another nick name raided from Alice, Jessie saw it..something was bothering the girl. This something unsettled Jessie already. She was quite and still as Alice spoke. A bit of frost lingered over the snowflake. Yet Jessie could tell Alice was far from her comfort zone, on the edges of her web as the young Maitor girl would have called the situation. Jessie's didn't waver until the crystal ones left their sight.

Jessie was left somewhat startled shed never seen Alice worried or scared if you wanted to go that far. Now Jessie had to think, shed never given it a thought the idea of Alice falling from her own web. Sure Alice had mentioned a few things a few worries if she looked back on it. Alice had spoken of the possibility of getting tangled in her own web but never of truly falling others may have that fait but her...this was worrisome. Would Jessie be able to catch her? Jessie would not only like to think so but shed also do everything in her power to make it so. Now the question was how to answer. She wanted to make sure the iced figure truly could feel safe with the tomboy. Jessie wanted to make Alice feel confident and safe again and then she remembered...ah thats it.

Reaching in to her poker she managed to take hold of the item carefully pulling it out hiding it for the moment she spoke. " if you do indeed fall. I shall catch you, though maybe it is time to think of your self as something more. A spider you can still be but like most things you can pull a layer back and be a new thing ...so let me ask you this..."

She took a breath calming her self from the emotions that rattled around in her head and heart. " do cats not land on there feet ? "

Letting go of the item in hand a silver chain laced with snow and ice sickle charms hung and dangling in the now light breeze was a small silver bell it was far from something loud and noticeable tiny in fact. Its ring quite and a tad off key from other bells yet still beautiful. " October...thats my guess..."

A reassuring smile met the pink haired girls lips as she spoke once more. " though you might fall from your web and even if cats land on there paws I will always be there for you. "

Her tone soft quite, she didn't know what to expect. She didn't even know if Alice would remember there deal about the bell and if so Jessie didn't expect Alice to wear it... Infact the day she bought the necklace Jessie had doubts the only thing she truly wanted was to know Alices birthday...after all last time they spoke about the date Alice told her to guess the month and yet Jessie said fall how silly.

The widow kept her gaze averted as Jessie spoke, although she listened to every word. Something more... Could she be? Such a poisonous being tainted by sin... Alice wasn't sure if she could shake that label off for something new; she had never tried. A slave to her own web - the bane of her own creation. Prisoner and reigning monarch to it at the same time.

The mention of cats landing on their feet made Alice think for a moment, and she glanced back to Jessie, her iced eyes widening at the sight of the bell. That's right... The bell... The snowy spider stared at it in surprise, lulled by the soft ringing, then let her snowy lashes fall shut over her eyes. A soft chuckle escaped her ivory lips, blending with the lull of the breeze.

"Jeez..." She breathed quietly, having regained the elegant yet playful aura of her old self. Letting her eyes open, she offered a ghost of a playful smirk. "Correct, my dear."

It was rather both frustrating and funny, really, when she thought about it. Jessie McKnight, her dance partner - one unique face out of the many attending the schools of Astrea - managed to tame the spider. Perhaps tame is not the correct word, but Alice was not sure how to refer to it any other way. Jessie dared to get closer than anyone ever had to the widow, and, more shockingly, the icy dancer had allowed it happen. Even when bitten, the pink haired girl did not waver. Falter, yes, but little determination was lost. And that persistency spurred her to realize her own feelings. She loved this girl; though the remaining ice of her guard might not let it slip through often just yet. Either way, Alice could deny that no longer. It hurt still, and frightened her a little, but this time, she was willing to give it a try. For she was not alone in it.

Jeez

Jessie chuckled herself finally letting herself relax it seemed as if at least for now shed made Alice laugh...well thats how Jessie saw that famous word Alice always spoke, She saw it as one big laugh. With Alice feeling a tad better Jessie stood from her kneeled position. She took the necklace opening the lock and reached over Alices neck. Making sure no strands of white hair got caught she locked it. Letting her hands slipped away the cool metal fall agents porcine skin. Jessie's pink eyes glanced at the beautiful picture before her. " You dont have to leave it on, but know you do look beautiful ."


She took a moment to pick the ribbon up that had long fallen from her hair. Tying her hair back once again. This plus her bangs did give her a slightly girlish tone but it didn't take away from her boyish look. What did was her school uniform.

Once done she brushed her knees off and and sat by Alice giving just enough room between them for Alice to feel comfortable. She turned ever so slightly to face the white haired girl. As she did she dipped a hand in the fountain washing away the last of the blood that marked it. Raising her hand from the water she watched as water rolled back into the fountain. " Alice ...since I am back for good...and free from everything in America ... I have some money that was my fathers... I am thinking...after this year of school I might look into an apartment.. I'll be fifteen by then and I would really rather not live alone.... "

Letting her eyes shift up from the drops of water still falling from her hand. Jessie's eyes found crystal ones. " it wouldn't be far away..no I plan to Live in the neighborhood next to the school...but if I plan to live in Japan from now on...id like for some company...and you seem like you'd be a good house mate."

A fait smile was given before she lightly bit her lip from nerves. " you don't have to and it isn't something that will happen tomorrow.. But since I am going to look id like to know if I need one room or two . "

Yes with that shed let Alice think. It was a lot to take in.. It still is for Jessie after all when she said it in court to her father she really hadn't fully meant it...she just wanted to make sure he knew she wasn't going to be back ever again.

Alice tilted her head forward a little to make it easier for Jessie to put the necklace on the widow. The little bell jingled. She held the small silver bell between a forefinger and thumb, intrigued by how it glistened. "Thank you; it is lovely." The spider had finally been belled, or rather, the cat. But Alice did not quite mind. She offered another soft chuckle to the compliment, brushing it off as she always had.

"Presently, I am not the beautiful one here." She responded, gesturing to the pink haired girl with an upturned ivory hand to indicate that she found Jessie quite beautiful herself.

The widow watched Jessie tie up her hair. The girl really did look lovely with longer hair. Not to say that she was not when her hair was shorter. In fact, she still looked boyish. That intrigued Alice. The ghostly blue orbs followed Jessie as she sat beside the spider, not too close, but yet comfortable distance. A slight look of concern riddled across her face at the sight of the blood on the girl's hand. How did that happen...? She shook herself from her thoughts when Jessie began to speak.

So the girl was thinking about moving into an apartment off campus next year. A few students seemed to be doing that as well. Then came something the spider had not expected. Be a house mate. It made Alice think for a while. She was so used to being solitary. Even when she still lived in the Himeno mansion, she usually isolated herself in her room or escaped our to the large equestrian field in the back to seek solitude, leaving a flock of maids or the irritating Kutsumari flurrying around to look for her. What would a break from solitude be like? Alice spaced out slightly as she thought.

"Most people don't like spiders in their house." She said softly, trying to lighten the mood slightly as she noticed Jessie biting her lip. "But if you wish, my dear... I would be alright with it I think."

It certainly was quite a lot to think about and absorb. The widow looked at the fountain of the water as she thought more, once more faced with her static reflection.