Instead of waiting for her invited party, Vivian was already setting up her little studio. Music player plugged in and the song qued. All she had to do was press play. The dancer started with a few stretches, but found herself ready to begin a few minutes in. And so the music began. A soft piano forte filled the gym and she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to help clear her mind as it was released. As soon as it was expelled, Viv started into a mixed Jazz and Lyrical ballet piece. The beginning was full of elongated limbs, perfectly positioned pirouettes and a few leaps. But then another sound whistled through the speakers, making it seem as if the wind whipped around the dancer, splaying her hair out in a perfect cape. This was when her style seamlessly shifted. The perfect lines continued as she turned toward aerials and high jumps. Then even that shifted as soon as beat dropped and she launched into her favored style. Animation locked her body at each beat, freezing her in place.

The smile on her face was prominent as her feet glid across the floor like it was ice. Each movement was intentional even though she was making it up on the spot. Then the perfect moment came for her to try the new move she had thought up the other day. A high kick extended her leg over her head as it dipped backward. She bent her upper body toward the floor, extending a single hand to catch her backward fall, letting it take all of her weight as both legs lifted into the air. She held a split, then carried over to place one foot after the other on the floor once again. The dancer was far from finished though. It felt far too good to stop now. She flowed from one genre to another, shaping them together and making them her own. Nothing less should be expected from the once prodigy of Reinhardt.

( Song is Faded by Alan Walker. The lyrics version. )

A glistening snow flurry of frills once again swirled through the air as Alice made her way to the gymnasium. It was a place the widow had not yet visited; never had a reason or purpose arose for her to do so. But this time it was different. She was to prove her worth for the mysterious dancer she had met. Vivian Fairclough. Maybe she would remember that name. It all depended on impression and impact. With so many vulnerable flowers in Astrea, why stop to remember names? A temptress never did, let alone a serial heartbreaker. She couldn't attach names to any of the countless hearts she had broken or manipulated sadistically over the years. Neither faces sometimes could be quite recalled.

Music from inside the gymnasium soon reached the spider's ears. An interesting style, it was. It appeared as if the fellow dancer was already within. Alice quietly entered, her stance fading into her usual analytical one. The lacy white, Victorian-styled dress she was wearing swayed about her slender legs in the form of a petticoat while a transparent silk ribbon with the appearance of lace feathered out from the back. It made her appear like a ghost as she moved; almost gliding with each step. The two small, signature braids in the front of her hair rested delicately on her exposed collarbones. The rest of it fanned out in a snowy mass behind, some snowy fringes brushing her shoulders, others not long enough to reach. Underneath the lace and lily-white fabric jingled out the faintest jingle of a hidden silver bell.

Elegance soon morphed with an energetic style. Each movement bled into another style sunder to the previous, yet instead of appearing chaotic, they were manipulated and executed in a way that highly complimented every choice for a following move. Perhaps she had underestimated the dancer in her mind. Alice gingerly leaned against the wall of the gymnasium by the doors, deciding to spectate the intriguing scene. Vivian sure had talent. She couldn't help but wonder perhaps where this girl had come to learn how to master and execute it so well.

The music had begun to die down, heading into another song, before Viv noticed Alice leaning against the wall. With that stance and the almost chilled look she was giving, the girl could almost shake the girl. Dance was not meant to be cold hearted and analytical. No matter what the style. You could study to learn an easier way to do something, but dance was an expression. An art form. You couldn't learn to express yourself, you just did.

Vivian almost startled flailing her arms in frustration at the girl, but instead put a cocky smile on her lips as she sauntered over to Alice. She had always been great at putting on a cheerful front even while frustrated

"You're watching me like I'm the original Mona Lisa or something, Miss Alice. Do you find me worthy of her smile?"

The dancer flashed a brilliant smile and smoothed her hands over her slightly ruffled, long, dark grey shirt. The only other thing she was wearing were a pair of black leggings. Of course her feet were covered in a pair of thin black jazz shoes, since tennis shoes would scuff the gym floor. She tapped the toe of her shoe against the floor as she clasped her hands behind her back, then bowed a bit at the waist.

"It is good to see you again."

Her presence did not take long to be noticed, nor acknowledged. Although, it almost seemed like the girl was perhaps a little put-off by the way the widow was watching her. It made Alice want to laugh, but she kept herself composed. Such an action would only appear unlady-like and sacrificial of grace. Vivian's words did manage to elicit a ghost of a chuckle, however, it slipped out in a sort of strained manner.

"Oh, I must admit, my dear, her smile pales in comparison to the dazzle of yours." The spider chuckled softly back, her tone holding to its natural monotony yet conveying genuine truth.

Gliding her ivory hands to the edges of her white skirt, the slender fingers gripped the laced edges gently and tugged them outward, one lily-white leg sliding back almost behind the other and her torso lowering to initiate a bow of her own, her overall form conveying an elegant curtsy. "As it is to see you again, my dear."

Rising from her bow, she let her poise melt into that of sort of a ballerina's; feet turned out at a slight forty-five degree angle and hands folded in front of her. It seemed almost inconvenient to attempt to dance in heels, yet Alice had adjusted to doing so in the tall shoes. Of course, this would be painful to many, but, due to her rare condition of not being able to feel pain - or, medically, congenital analgesia - she could not feel the strain it would probably be putting on her toes. "Your style of dance is quite interesting. Impressive, you could say, too. It makes me knurious to c- ah, curious to know just where you learned to move like that."

Darn the Spoonerism bringing inelegance to her speech. She had lost concentration on her words. She brushed it off, however, like it had never happened, hoping the other would just ignore the occasional speech impediment.

A half smirk and playful roll of her eyes was given at Alice's attempt to flatter her. Had she been one of the members of her crew, the dancer would have lightly punched her shoulder, or brushed her knuckles against her jaw. Alas, this was not so, so she kept her posture, not much different from Alice's. Her hands were clasped her back though and her feet tucked together, one heel against the arch of the other foot. She soon began to fidget a bit, yelling at herself in her mind. Don't say it. Don't. You. Say. It. Vivian Rose.

"Cat caught your tongue for a moment there?"

Great. She could palm her forehead so hard it would make her vision go black if it didn't make her look like a crazy person. But she couldn't hold back the smirk that was making her lower lip tremble ever so slightly. Then she started to giggle and bent a bit at the waist to place a hand on her knee.

She took a deep breath, trying to dispel her laughter, but it came back as soon as she started to let the breath out. Her bright blue hues were even starting to tear up a bit. A hand waved as if she couldn't breathe and finally the laughter died out.

"Oh my~ That was just too darn cute. I'm sorry. I just can't help it. I would have never expected a slip like that from you."

A hand ran through her onyx tresses before she fully straight and flashed another of her dazzling smiles at Alice. This was an easy distraction to keep her from asking what school she had been to to learn such things. That was a conversation left for tea time, or something like that. Viv didn't know. She didn't tend to have conversations over tea.

"Come dance with me."

A pale hand extended toward Alice, awaiting her answer. If she had angered the spider then she was more than welcome to decline the offer. Not like Vivian would let her get out of here without at least one dance.

Then another thought struck her. Mm. She probably should have locked the other doors leading into the gym. Those newspaper girls were always looking for a good story and if they saw the two of them dancing together they could get the wrong idea and think it a great romance in the making or something. That would be just plain annoying. For the first time since the two had met face to face, Vivian was frowning, her eyes narrowed as she stared off at one of the far doors. Forgetting that she had offered her hand to Alice for the moment. Can anyone say scatter-brained?

Alice blinked slowly like a feline, her poker face melting into one of slight disappointment yet amusement at the same time. Slender arms crossed across her chest and she looked away for a moment towards the wall, a soft sound falling from her ivory lips. Her speech impediment had been noticed. Even more, it had been commented upon. Not that that really ruffled her feathers much, but it made Alice slightly embarrassed. Perhaps even a little frustrated. But nothing close to anger, no. The widow wouldn't let her temper flare at something like this. So she let it out in the form of a soft chuckle and looked back at the now laughing girl, fringes of glistening snowy hair fluttering subtly when she moved.

"Perhaps, my dear. Or maybe it was that smile of yours." She teased with another chuckle, though this one was quieter than the first. Flirting was a kind of hobby to the snowy dancer, whether it be serious or just playful. Vivian didn't seem bothered by it so far, but it did come as a bother to her, than the spider would veil that large portion of her nature promptly for the entirety of this meeting. Trained in the areas of elegance and proper mannerisms, she could be serious and proper when she desired to.

A hand was offered and Alice let her icy gaze wash over it for a moment. Vivian appeared to be distracted, and a frown even crossed those smiling lips. That pretty face didn't seem quite right without that dazzling smile. And one should never to let there guard down around the predatory spider. A cold, lily-white hand hesitantly contacted the offered warmer one, pulling the distracted dancer a little closer, while the other rose to ever so briefly and gently brush the corner of the frowning lips with a fingertip, tracing from the pulled down corner up, ghosting a drawn smile.

"My, my, a frown isn't befitting of such a lovely face."

The snowy words slipped out quietly. Their presence chased the hand on the girl's face away and it came back to daintily rest back at the frozen spider's side. With a chuckle, the snow-white girl stepped back to establish distance between them once again, loosening her frigid grip on the other's hand as to allow the girl to pull away should she have made her uncomfortable in any way.

"I highly doubt it was my smile. I do it all the time. Get too excited about something and mix my words all up. Especially after a show. It's best I don't even talk." Either she was just stating the fact that it was normal or she was trying to make Alice feel better. She could take it however she liked.

While Vivian was staring at the door, wishing it locked from a distance, Alice seemed to take advantage of this state and moved in on her. The sudden chill against her skin had goosebumps raising along her arms and her bright blue hues flickering back to the girl. There was a curious light behind them as she looked a bit upward to catch Alice's gaze. Her lips parted a bit under the younger girl's finger then as it pulled away, she playfully snapped her teeth at it. All the while, blood was slowly pooling under her cheeks, painting them a pretty pink. Whether this was from her embarrassment of just doing what came naturally or something else, she wasn't sure. It certainly wasn't from the small amount of distance between them. She was a dancer, she was use to such proximity to her partners. This showed as she used Alice's hand to lead her to the middle of the floor and pulled her into her arms. Vivian lifted their clasped hands as the other tucked against the curve of her waist. It was here that she paused and offered a cute little smile.

Though there was no longer music playing, Viv swayed ever so slightly. Marking a three-four count. She'd offer Alice a rare treat today. It wasn't often that she sang while partnered with someone.

"Have you ever performed a Viennese waltz? It's mostly like a regular waltz, but you add lifts and can get a bit creative."

It was one of her favored styles if paired with just one other dancer and offered the most relaxed environment for improvisation. After she spoke her sways turned into small steps, allowing Alice to follow in step with her. Once she figured out of the girl had done it before, she would start into the routine, humming the tune of Flora softly. Then as if an afterthought caught her attention she tipped her head and grinned a bit.

"I know I don't look like much, but if you're willing, I'd like to try a lift. I promise I won't drop you."

Even as she spoke her feet kept up the precise steps of a regular waltz, leading Alice through each motion as they swirled around the center of the gym.

Alice gave a soft chuckle and a habitual wave of a lily-white hand. So Vivian messed up her words at some points to? It reassured her a little yet didn't help the frustration from its presence. But that was a personal frustration, nothing aimed at the girl noticing it. If she concentrated hard enough, she could control it, but even still, there were times were the start of one would almost slip in. As to why it happened, no one knew, not even the widow herself.

The icy orbs shimmered playfully when her finger was snapped at. Now that wasn't a reaction she was quite expecting. The blushing was yet that- Alice couldn't help but chuckle. She loved any and all reactions she could provoke; whether through her touch or her speech or some other factor. That was certainly amusing one. Not only that, but she found the girl rather cute with her face dyed in blush. Vivian wasn't like her usual prey; be her even prey. She perhaps appeared more like the predatory type. Which one was more fitting? Hm. Not everything that entered the spider's frozen silk web was necessarily prey - no matter how much she would like that to be so.

She allowed herself to be lead to the center of the room, a slight soft sound of amusement drifting from her lips at the familiar position she was guided into. It was one of waltzing. A position she knew quite well. Almost too well. Although her body tensed a little under the physical contact, she let no hesitation enter her form as she gracefully brought the hand that was not clasped up and glided it over to rest on the dancer's shoulder, adopting the following position. It had been a while since she had danced with another. All this time she had only danced with the eccentric and most unique Jessie McKnight at the school and had grown quite familiar with the way the girl moved. How would it fair with another? Alice pondered as she fell into sync with Vivian. She certainly wouldn't let another get as close again as her pink haired partner had.

"Of course, my dear." She answered softly with a nod.

The frilled bow and white fabric of her dress and hair flowed in a ghostly manner with each step. As for the prospect of being dropped, the spider only chuckled yet again.

"Even if you did, it would not harm me." If she was dropped, only the impact of the fall would be felt, not the pain that might result. Of course, it might cause some sort of unfelt injury, but that was the danger of being a dancer having a condition in which pain could not be felt. Sprained ankles were always common in her ballet, but Alice could never perceive the pain in order to stay off of it, so it usually worsened until standing on it was impossible due to it giving out on her. Yes, pain was a necessary evil to life, and a tremendous danger if not able to be felt.

"Oh, and by the way, my dear," she added teasingly,"you look quite cute when you are blushing." A slight smirk graced her lips at her own words before it was frosted over by her guard.

Interesting. So the other dancer couldn't feel long lasting pain. It wasn't a very common ailment, if you'd call it that. She had heard one of her classmates at her last school talking about it, calling it a gift. But so much damage could be done if one wasn't careful. It could easily be a career ending gift, if one were to take it just a step too far.

"Perhaps, but my pride would be wounded. I'd rather not deal with that." She flashed a cheeky smile, but it quickly turned into a pout as she looked off to the side. "Oh, hush. I am no such thing."

Then her grin was coming back into place. As the dance was progressing, Vivian added a few out of place steps, shifting their stance here and there. Perhaps testing the other dancer or simply progressing through the steps she had prepared. Then she broke their grasp sliding her arm further around her waist as the other craddled her upper body and dipped her into a bow.

"Alright, Miss Alice. Let's see what you got. When we stand, I'm going to step back then spin you into me. When you almost reach me, extend your right leg. Then let me do the rest. I'm going to spin you in the air. Just warning you. So don't kick me or anything."

Vivian smiled at the girl she had cradled in her arms, keeping eye contact with her for a moment before easing the spider back onto her feet. As she did this her hand holds shifted once again, clasping Alice's right hand with her left as she slid to the right. The other arm arched off to the side in a flourish.

The snowy spider chuckled once more, amused by the dancer. She said no more for the moment and instead simply just focused on flowing along with every movement, keeping her stance loose rather than rigid as to be able to adjust to each surprise alteration of the dance. Like a ballerina, she shifted her light weight onto her toes, only falling back onto the thin wedge of the tall ivory heels if needed to make a quick adjustment. Every movement was performed in sync and made her glide along with the guiding dancer. Alice let herself be dipped back, the snowy fringes of her hair fluttering out like serpents.

It was kind of comical to her, being in the following position. The widow was so used to being the one guiding, in dance and in general, that it felt a little strange being the one to be guided. Yet she followed through the motions without protest; when it came to dance, both dancers had to be free from hesitation or confliction or else a connection could not be established and the dance, not able to be performed. She listened to the instructions, giving a single faint chuckle at the last part. "Alright."

Offering a ghost of a smirk, the spider did as she had been told, flowing with each action and managing to keep her refined grace while focusing on form. Would Vivian be able to pull the lift off? Alice wondered as she prepared herself, the white frills of her petticoat fluttering about her knees.

Using their clasped hands, Viv guided Alice into a twirl, keeping her steady until the timing was just right. She dipped gracefully at the knee, sliding the other leg out to the side as her arm tucked under Alice's knee. Instead of using her hand, her wrist was all that made contact with her chilled skin. The other hand released Alice's and instead braced her back once more as she lifted her into the air. Not a sound was made as the girl did so, only her natural breathing pattern expanding her chest. The spider really was very light and she was use to lifting her own body weight and holding it on one arm, so it caused no issue at all. Using the momentum of the turn, Vivian eased Alice's lower half over her shoulder while the girl twisted. The arm that had been supporting her back moved across her ribs, still giving a stabilizing support. Now that her legs were trailing down Vivian's back, she shifted her free hand to tuck up against the girl's bicep, followed by the other hand against the opposite one. A few quick spins to continue their momentum and she eased her grip so that Alice could slide down her back and onto her own two feet again. The dancer bowed a bit at the waist and turned so they were now facing each other with their arms crossed in an x.

Instead of continuing on with the dance, the dark haired girl released Alice then ducked her head as she let out an excited squeal and ran rapidly in place as if trying to burn off some of the adrenaline that was pumping through her veins. When she brought her face up to Alice's view, she was wearing the biggest smile yet and practically bouncing.

"That was so a-sauce-um, I can't bewieve its. No one would evar let me try wif dem."

Sudden her hands clasped over her mouth. She had done it again.. Her over excitement had made her words come out a mess. Cheeks lit up once again and she closed one eye, looking like she was ready for a lashing.

"Uh.. sorry."

Alice followed each movement with grace, letting each move happen without hesitation or protest. Her body tensed a little more when her skin was contacted, but she tried her best to keep herself loose despite the natural tensing. Finally, she was lifted. It surprised the snowy dancer how strong Vivian was; granted, the widow wasn't very heavy at all; but the girl didn't look like one of much strength in appearance. It didn't take long for the complex lift to end and for the widow to be returned to the floor. She paused to brush a snow-white lock of hair behind an ear when she was released. Vivian seemed absolutely ecstatic. So much so that she was literally bouncing with it.

What was that? That complete mess up of her words... It was adorable. It reminded the spider of how children often spoke when they got really excited about something. With a chuckle, she reached out elegantly and briefly stroked a hand through the dark hair, not in flirtation, but more in an act of reassurance.

"Sorry? Why are you apologizing, my dear? I think it is quite adorable." Her words were sincere, not a forthcoming of her flirtatious nature. Having occasions where she, too, messed up her words, she felt a bit sympathetic of the girl. She withdrew her hand and offered an ever so slight upturn of a corner of her pale lips.

"And you are quite the impressive dancer. Whether dancing alone or with a partner." She complimented. In the realm of dance, it was beneficial to be fluent in both areas. At least with some styles of dance, but still, it was good to be skilled with both. It kept a dancer's skill intriguing and flowing and impressive in itself. She was still curious as to where Vivian learned to dance, but figured maybe that was a curiosity to be consulted later. The dark haired dancer didn't seem like that was a topic she wished to visit.

Without thinking about it, Viv ducked under the hand that had just moved through her hair. She hated having her hair touched. It was a little pet peeve of hers. For which she apologized to Alice for immediately. The apology was going to followed by her turning down the girl's compliment, but she let it slide this time.

"I trained for many years at Reinhardt to get as good as I am, even if most of it was on my own. But thank you, it's good to know hard work has paid off. You dance very well yourself. Especially with a partner you've never danced with before. It went quite well."

Finally, the dancer had let it slip about where she had gone before transferring to the Hill. It was a lapse of thought on her part, since she had sworn never to tell anyone how she gained the skills she had. Her facial features flashed a bit of her inner irritation before they smoothed over again. The only credit she owed that school was the tutoring of her voice and a bit of her classical training. The other things she learned on her own or from tutors outside of the school's curriculum.

So it appeared as if another also was not fond of having her hair touched. This action of avoidance was of no offense to Alice; her pink haired partner was head-shy as well, although, head-shy was not the conclusion the spider drew for this reaction. She offered an acknowledging wave of a hand as well as an echoed apology herself. Prey or not, the ivory widow commonly based her interactions, whether with predatory intent or simply just an action, on reactions received.

Reinhardt. So that was the place the raven-haired dancer had acquired her skills. Alice wondered why the girl had previously seemingly avoided the name or topic. Perhaps her experiences there were discontenting? Perhaps there lay a dark secret the girl wished to abandon? Maybe something else? This ignited a candle of curiosity in the ballerina's mind, although she questioned the fruitfulness of stoking it at the moment. For now she let the mental candle flicker, not extinguishing but existing on a wisp as to be revisited at some time should the opportunity present itself.

"Quite. It was a pleasure dancing with such a talented dancer like yourself, my dear." Alice had to watch her words for a moment to avoid mentioning the school for right now. When something sparked the widow's curiosity, it was difficult to put out the flame depending on what it was caught her venomous interest. Much as it was trying to control it. To the compliment, she offered another acknowledging, graceful gesture of a hand.