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[crazyspacegirl]

River was pretty excited to be putting the final touches on her little dance studio. It was just a hut, right off the path not too far from Serenity, but it was everything she needed and all hers. She had offered to teach ballet as part of the school's curriculum, believing that the island could only benefit from some proper culture, but she

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[tightpantscapn]

Now, Mal knew he ought t' leave River t' her own devices, what with a new dance studio t' be gettin' t'gether n' all. She would be her own capt'n, o' a sort, n' he ought t' give her space t' do jus' that.

Only Mal couldn't keep 'way on 'ccount o' his curiosity. Simon Chicago boundin' by his side, Mal headed up the path t' where River's new studio was. The pair o' 'em stood in the doorway, watchin' as River spun 'bout, all flashes n' blurs o' pink with her dark hair flyin' 'round her. Mal smiled.

Simon Chicago barked.

[crazyspacegirl]

River knew that bark as well as she knew her own voice. It didn't alarm her, but it did bring her back to the present.

"Just a minute," she said, not opening her eyes. She liked the world she was in too much to leave it just yet. In her mind, Simon Chicago was far in the future, a good thing to come. She just didn't want to remember all the bad things that had to happen before she got to the part of her life where he was waiting.

[tightpantscapn]

Mal gave River that minute n' then some, knowin' when t' not be 'n interruptin' fool. Simon Chicago must've sense it, too. He got right down on his haunches 'side Mal, waitin' real patient-like for the 'ttention he wanted.

"Got all the time y' want," he commented, takin' in the graceful way she held her form.

[crazyspacegirl]

River knew that voice even better than she knew the familiar bark of her dog, and she didn't mind remembering all the things between then and now so much, remembering that they had brought her to him in the end.

She opened one eye, squinting at the reflection of man and dog behind her in the mirror, and then opened the other as she lowered her arms back down to her sides. "Thank you. I think that'll do for now. Did you come for a lesson?" she asked, laugh in her voice. "Take those ballet lessons you must have had in your youth back up again?"

[lionelthayer]

Lionel's sort of wandered his way over in River's direction more than snuck up on her. He's almost glad for it; her dancing really is something to see.

For a very long moment, Lionel considers taking a picture. River's skill is a perfect example of why he'd turned toward photography so long ago, and while part of him wants to take even one picture, document what he's seeing, his hands stay in his pockets and his camera stays around his neck.

[crazyspacegirl]

The music ended, and River's dance ended with it. She was still for a moment, letting the quiet settle over her along with her current self. That she could remember a dance she had learned when she was little more than a toddler didn't seem strange to her. She was just glad it was all still in her head and in her body, and she knew she could teach it if she just remembered to go slowly and be patient.

Opening her eyes, she caught sight of her audience in the mirror. Her cheeks flushed slightly, not because she was embarrassed, but because she hadn't realized she was being observed. "Oh, hi," she said, dipping into a slight bow. "I didn't know you were there."

[lionelthayer]

"I didn't mean to sneak up or anything," Lionel immediately says, shaking his head apologetically. "I just kind of...wandered over. That was really nice, River."

[crazyspacegirl]

"That's okay. I don't mind. I was just surprised. Didn't expect anyone to wander in here, but I guess that was silly of me. People like to look at new things."

And River really didn't mind people wanting to look at her tidy little studio. She hoped it would make them want to dance.

"What do you think?"

[goldvogel]

It was the music that drew her off the path and over to the door of the little hut. But it was the sight of the young woman's dancing that kept her there, just watching for a long moment, not wanting to interrupt.

Kathryn had taken ballett lessons herself when she was a little girl and although she had never been as good as this, she had always found something irresistibly beautiful in dancing.

She realized that she should probably draw attention to her presence, but somehow she found herself loath to do so. The woman seemed so lost in her movements and the music that accompanied them, so absolutely happy that she was unwilling to interrupt her. So she simply remained where she was and waited patiently for the dance to end. Although she wouldn't mind if it lasted a while longer.

[crazyspacegirl]

When the song came to an end, it took a moment for her to go from a bee back to a River. She felt a little bit strange, like she had just been in two places at once, so much had she been lost in her dancing. It had been some time since she'd danced like that, when she'd been using the stage to practice on for so long; there were usually people around there, but here she was all by herself.

Or so she'd thought. It took her a minute to realize that really wasn't the case at all.

"Hello," she said, tucking a stray bit of hair back up into her messy ponytail. "I didn't know anyone else was here."

[goldvogel]

"Hello", she smiled, a friendly smile that was half meant to make up for her interruption. She hoped the young woman wouldn't feel embarrassed at being watched, since she certainly had no reason to with the way she danced. Nevertheless she felt a little guilty for startling her and her tone was slightly apologetic.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I just noticed the music and when I saw you I didn't want to interrupt your dance."

She looked around in the little hut, curiosity and interest plain on her face. "I didn't know there was a place for dancing here. Is it yours?"

[crazyspacegirl]

"That's okay. I'm not startled." For which she was actually pretty glad, because a startled River was sometimes a dangerous River. She reminded herself to be more careful.

"It's new. Just finished today," River explained. "It's mine, but of course I'll share it with anyone who wants to dance. It's not like I made it all by myself. The floor and mirrors and things just kind of appeared, like things do sometimes here, and the building crew helped put it all together."

[neptune_sleuth]

Veronica didn't mean to sneak. She only meant to look in, following the sound of music in through the doors of River's new studio. Once there, though, she leaned against the doorway, watching quietly until River wouldn't be startled. The music was nearly at a close anyway, and she applauded when it was done, her smile genuine as River finished. "Bravo," she said, smile edging up into a grin. "That was some pretty fancy footwork going on there."

[crazyspacegirl]

River wasn't startled, exactly, but she was a tiny bit surprised to find herself with an audience.

"Thank you. Thank you very much." River dropped into a deep, theatrical bow, being silly since she'd only been dancing like a child and not anything difficult. "This is the part where you're supposed to shower me with roses and adoration, but I suppose it'll take some time to train people in proper etiquette."

[neptune_sleuth]

"I'm short on roses, but I might be able to scare up a little adoration," Veronica said, head tipping to the side as she pretended to consider that. Stepping forward into the studio, she turned slowly around, looking it over. "It really came together. This is... it looks like the real deal. Not bad for an island in the middle of nowhere."

[crazyspacegirl]

"It is the real deal. I never expected the island to be quite so generous, but I do appreciate it." River took a moment to admire her shiny new floor, and was very grateful. "So, are you here to sign up for lessons? You can be in the class with Samantha."