Snow Surveillance

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana shivered a little as she stood outside, leaning against a tree. She was not really bothered by the cold; in fact she greatly enjoyed it. She had been in colder weather then this but her body did shiver from time to time still. She had come over here on her bike so had a helmet to keep her warm, but she was not longer wearing it. Roxana had parked her bike behind a snow bank, leaving the helmet which had kept her head warm and thus why she was shivering slightly. There was a nice amount of snow that had gathered up on the ground already, showing the winter was really here. Winter was still getting into its full swing, but it was nice to see snow on the ground.

Sadly Roxana figured that the snow would end up likely melting through the day with how the weather report looked like it was going to get warmer again. The weather was so fickle sometimes, but she supposed it was not really that big of a deal. She was not out here to debate how the winter weather was going to be. No, she was here to see Elsa Bellefonte at the Bellefonte residence. She had actually been keeping her distance from the other headmistress of the school due to certain events. However, she felt confident that they were safely tucked away in her memory and thus came out to check on Elsa.

She could have waited for Elsa to show up to school for work or to the other locations Elsa would show up to even on the weekends, but she wanted to talk to Elsa at her home. She just actually had to stop being weird about it all and just go up to the door. She was never good at taking the direct approach when she had basically snuck her way onto someone’s property, which she of course had done out of habit. So she was standing behind a tree outside the window she knew for a fact was Elsa.

After a moment of silently debating with herself she bent over, gather up some of the light snow and made a snow ball. Then moved and tossed it as hard as she could at Elsa's window. She would wait for a moment before she would go to make another one and repeat the process of tossing it at the window.

((Elsa Bellefonte))

[Elsa Bellefonte]

In truth, Elsa didn't spend that much time at her "residence." Her mail still arrived there fairly often, and technically all her records listed it as her primary place of being, but Elsa couldn't recall the last time she'd spent much time there. She mostly picked up what she needed, possibly showered or otherwise tended to her bodily needs, gathered things, and headed out. Between the upcoming holiday and everything that entailed, IMAC, and her sister's wedding plans, Elsa was pretty well gave up on the whole sleeping thing.

She'd actually sat on her bed for a moment, just wanting to rest and relax. Elsa had sworn she'd only closed her eyes, only lowered her guard, for a minute or two at most. The next thing she knew, she was waking up to a loud sound. Elsa immediately sent her mind out, gripped onto whatever...

.. and felt Roxana.

Elsa spat curses and, without even bothering to run fingers through her hair (which was starting to curl up into a mess), she headed for her window. She pried it open just enough to shout:

"What the hell are you doing here?"

And she glared through the window, though it was debatable how fierce she looked, given the groggy and disheveled state she was currently in.

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana knew Elsa Bellefonte had been really busy with a lot of things, a few of which that Roxana didn’t really want to think about. It was probably going to be something that her organization would make her deal with later, but for now she just paid it no mind. She could care less how fast or how slow others decided to move in their life. That was their choice. The only thing Roxana honestly cared about was the safety of her targets. She had the closest bond with pretty much only two of them and she was fine with that.

The window slid up and revealed Elsa Bellefonte, looking like she was in need of some sleep and sounding already in a bad mood. Roxana slightly blamed herself for not really being around Elsa as much recently and thus was not there for Elsa to vent to, when she rarely did. Roxana could understand why Elsa appeared the way she did and Rox assumed that she likely interrupted a moment of peace that Elsa very much needed. “I came to check up on you.” Roxana said plain and simple as she moved over closer to the window. The structure of the home was nice, to be expected of a family with the Bellefonte wealth.

That also just meant it was easier to scale do to the design and just the fact that well houses were easy to climb if you knew where to put your hands and feet. “Would it be in poor taste if I asked for you to let down your long hair?” Roxana asked in a teasing manner, trying to get Elsa to lighten up a little bit. She didn’t plan on bothering her long but just wanted to check on her. Find out if there was anything that she could do for her. “How have you been, other than busy?” Rox asked as she claimed, aiming for Elsa’s window seal.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Naturally Elsa had her room up on the second floor, far away from the ground, though Roxana wouldn't be the first one to climb up. Erika had learned at a young age that it was actually easier to climb to her twin's window than her own. So Elsa had spent several years going to sleep with her window just cracked enough for her sister to come sliding in whenever the mood struck.

Now it seemed as though Roxana intended to follow suit. Elsa rolled her eyes and fought the urge to just point out that the other girl could just go around and enter through the door. She ended up losing that fight: "Why don't you just go around the front and enter like a normal person?" she said, pointing toward said entrance. "There's only a few staff members here: house staff, not school staff," she felt as though that did need some slight clarification. "So you're not going to run into anyone. And no," she raised her brows, "I'm not going to help you climb up here like a vagabond or some secret lover."

The latter hadn't happened though. Despite all the claims about Erika's relationships and whatnot, she'd been relatively chaste. Elsa had been slightly worse, but she hadn't quite had to resort climbing out the window... yet.

"And I'm fine. Obviously. So you probably don't even need to climb up at all," Elsa said, smiling confidently to herself. Not that she expected Roxana to listen, but no one could say she didn't try.

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana had no problem with climbing up to the second floor; she had climbed higher on other building and was not afraid of heights. She had to be ready to climb and jump off of great heights in her line of work, and a second room was nothing compared to that. Roxana did fully plan on climbing all the way up and going through Elsa's window. She was never much for going through the front door after she had snuck her way onto a property. Sure it was likely perfectly fine for Roxana to come visit Elsa but Roxana again could not help the fact that she had snuck her way here and was still in the whole sort of sneak mode.

"Normal people are boring. Plus I already started and if there is one thing a Strix does not do, it back down from something they know they can do." Roxana pointed out. It was foolish to give up something that was already started if you knew you could do it. Sure it was easier to do what Elsa had suggested, but Rox was not really concerned about what was easier and what was harder. She was just here to talk with Elsa a little bit and see how she was doing. Roxana did chuckle slightly when Elsa said that she was not going to help her climb in here like some vagabond or secret lover. "Not even with it being so close to the holidays?" Roxana asked in a slightly teasing tone.

She honestly didn't need the help; she had just made the joke because Elsa had been at the window talking to her. It was just slightly tempting to say 'Rapunzel let down your long hair'. It didn't take long for Roxana to make her way up to the window and hung out right outside her window for a moment. "You look like you need about at least a day and a half’s worth of sleep." Roxana said, her gaze drifting over Elsa for a moment, before slightly peeking into the other girl’s room.

"May I come in? It is snowing outside." Roxana said, not really wanting to hand outside Elsa's window the whole time.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa rolled her eyes. Part of her was inclined to agree: normal people were boring. Part of her also envied said people. What would her life be like if she were "normal"? Elsa would almost have settled just for being not a Headmistress some times.. though at other times, she absolutely loved her job and the power that came with it. She just watched Roxana come up, mulling it all over.

"What makes you think I celebrate any of the holidays?" asked Elsa, arching a brow. Of course she celebrated Christmas, though mainly with her siblings. They'd long ago decided that it would be special among them, even if it wouldn't be among their parents. At least, that's how Elsa remembered it. Though even if she did, she likely wouldn't help Roxana up. That wouldn't go with the whole "Strix finishing their own job" statement anyway. The thought made Elsa smirk all the more.

She waited till Roxana came right next to her window. Then Elsa looked up at the other girl, eyebrows raised. "So what's the brilliant plan if I say no?" she asked, leaning over slightly to look back down. "Are you going to fall back into the snow? Because that would certainly be entertaining to watch."

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana did envy those who did have normal lives, but that was only on a small level and for a few reasons. A few of those reasons being they didn't have to worry about accidently pissing off a group of very powerful people who would make you pay in various ways. Honestly, she just missed how things were with her siblings most of all. The way they used to work together and had one another’s back when they were growing up and trying to prove their worth to their parents. If only Roxana would have known that they would have all grown apart as the years went on due to the powers they all gained and the status of their birth. She would have made sure to have spent more time with her siblings and tried to establish an even closer bond.

That was in the past and it was best left there instead of pulling it up and dwelling on it. She did have a lot of aspects about the way her life was compared to that of a normal person. So, she was content, happy on some level and just wished she could get her targets to that same state of happiness and content. "Well, I did picture that you might be a bit of a Scrooge, but figured deep down that you are secretly giddy about the holidays. I had this mental image of a little Elsa running to the Christmas tree with Erika and tearing into her presents." Roxana said, knowing that there was a possibility that was not even remotely true. It was still a cute image to picture and Roxana knew that now she was going to have to draw it.

She made it up to the window, without any help and hung out there. Asking permission before she would just climb into Elsa's room. She had expected Elsa to ask such a question; it was so very much an Elsa thing to say. She was slightly surprised by the addition words that left the Bellefonte girl's mouth, but it made Rox smile a little more. "Well, guess I will just have to hang out on your window seal and hope that I don't catch a cold. Would be a shame to get sick and not be able to do my job to my fullest capability." Roxana said. A small thought of how Elsa didn't even use her to her full potential did flutter across her mind for a moment.

A chuckle left her as she did look back towards the ground, debating and wondering if it would in fact be fun to just land back in the snow. "If it was deeper, then perhaps. At the height it is now, I think the fall would kill or seriously hurt me depending how I land." Roxana said, judging the distance and everything before looking back to Elsa. "So may I come in now?" Roxana asked again, but was prepared to have to just hang out in the window if she really had to, even if it would suck.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa quirked a brow at comparing her to a fictional character. Why was it always curmudgeonly old men that she got compared to? Or those easily defined as "bitches"? Either she was doing something very wrong or something very right. Regardless, the bit that followed had her rolling her eyes.

"Little Elsa didn't run anywhere," she insisted. Mostly because Little Elsa had been just as determined as the adult to prove that she was a mature, together Bellefonte worthy of the name and title. So Little Elsa would burn with envy while Little Erika went dashing for presents, even as Little Elsa really just wanted to tear into them. It might have even been why Little Elsa had made certain that Christmas would be a thing among the children (though Abel certainly helped with that).

Elsa shelved memories as Roxana continued, stating that she'd just hang outside. Elsa crossed her arms, keeping her brows raised, and leaned against the window sill slightly. Roxana of course continued from there, pointing out what a fall would likely do and so forth. If Elsa cared, it certainly didn't show on her face. "I'm thinking you should stay out there a while longer, just to remind you of how our particular arrangement works." She waved a finger between the two of them. "You don't get to go barging into my family's mansion just because you feel like checking up on me, even if you are supposed to be my unofficial bodyguard. For God's sake, Roxana, you have a damn phone for a reason."

[Roxana Strix]

Elsa behaved in such a way that she basically just tended to match up with fictional characters that were of the cranky and well bitchy nature. Elsa just gave off that vibe; at least Roxana felt that Elsa was a bit too worried about her reputation. She could not really criticize Elsa too much on the matter, because Roxana on some levels understood and had to behave the dame occasional. Yet, it was only occasionally but Elsa seemed to want to be always at her best twenty-four seven. Roxana had a level of respect for that but at the same time some pity.

Elsa was still young but at the rate she was going, she was going to be twenty and have a head full of grey hairs. "So Little Elsa was like how she is now? That explains a few things." Roxana said, giving a slight nod as she made a mental note. Roxana could not help but to feel a small desire to try and have a way for Elsa to just...relax. To behave the way someone without responsibilities could, for a day or at least an hour. Too much stress could kill a person and with a power like Elsa's, Rox would not have been surprised if a massive headache would be the other girl’s down fall.

Still, she didn't say anything about it but she was thinking it and not really making an effort to hide her thoughts this time around. This weather, the seasons in general made her behave in an even more relaxed and rebellious way. She didn't fully understand why but she just felt almost giddy during this season. Roxana just adjusted her foot placement and where she was holding onto the wall when Elsa said she would have her wait out there. Familiar words that Roxana felt like she had been beaten to death with by now, left Elsa's mouth. "The only way I would forget out boss-employee relationship would be if someone’s erased my memory." Roxana said, her voice sounding almost order for a moment.

She would not forget her place with Elsa, she understood it, and she expected it for how it was and likely going to be. She did want to consider Elsa a friend, but honestly Elsa kept things more on a boss and employee level than anything. They didn't really do things that typical friends would do, but she did have Elsa's trust so it worked out. Well, she had Elsa's trust to an extent. "I understand. I...I have no excuse for why I did not call." Roxana said in her usual simple tone. She was fine waiting outside or well anywhere, because she did still have her manners. That was why she asked if she could come in, instead of just going in.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

In truth, Elsa and Roxana were friends, which Elsa had essentially admitted at one point. She'd even gone out and gotten a present for the other girl, which she had tucked away and professionally wrapped. The bodyguard would get it much closer to the actual time, if not on the day proper, since Elsa very much believed in doing things in the appropriate order.

Still, she didn't see any reason to remind or correct Roxana of that. she still wanted Roxana to think that Elsa was the one in charge and superior, when it was quite clear that they were much more equal than Elsa liked to let on.

"I didn't think you did," drawled Elsa. She looked at Roxana for a few moments, then sighed and rolled her eyes, moving away from the window. "Well, you might as well come in. It'll be safer than attempting to head back down, and I'd rather not have to explain why someone fell off my window."

Elsa moved back into her room, looking back at the list of things she had to do, mentally going over them and wondering if she should really be taking the time to talk to Roxana right now.

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana liked to think that they were friends, and while Elsa had said it there had not been really anything that happened between them that Roxana would categorize what friends would do with one another. Not that she was bothered by it in anyways, she was honestly fine with the relationship she had with Elsa so long as it was on good terms. She didn't really have many friends but the ones she did, they had done things what Roxana had come to believe friends did. Like talking about boys or girls they liked, going out for drinks, shopping, and hanging out. They had talked about a boy, but that was a onetime thing.

As for gift, Roxana had a gift for Elsa as well, back in her room and hidden with the other gifts that she had for a few people. She didn't know if Elsa would like the gift or not, but it was that thought that counted, right? She did plan to ask Elsa if there was anything in particular that she wanted for a gift, but she figured she would get the typical response she got from Elsa when she would ask pretty much any question. "Apologies." Rox said simple in response to Elsa drawled statement. She could have used her phone, probably should have used her phone, but she had not been thinking about it at the time.

She had not spoken to Elsa face to face in a while and knew the other girl was busy so just wanted to check in on her. "Thank you." Roxana said, climbing into Elsa's room when the girl stepped out of the way. Rox was confident that she could have remained outside and hang outside the window for a while, but Elsa said she could go in so she was not going to fool around. "Can you imagine having to explain such a thing to someone? As in imagine that you had a lover who came to call upon you in the middle of the night, but slipped and fell to their death. That would be pretty tragic and just an odd conversation to have. I imagine." Roxana said, thinking on it now.

"Anyways, I'm not here to take too much of your time. Just wanted to check in on you and talk for a little. Perhaps help you relaxes." Roxana said, moving to lean against the side of the window and looked at Elsa.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa waved off the apologies. She cared less for hearing that and more for actions that supported any such comments. She'd already moved back to absently flipping through the work on her desk, half listening and half paying attention as Roxana climbed into the room. It occurred to Elsa that she hadn't started reading the other mutant's thoughts, which was somewhat abnormal for her. She supposed that she had reached the point where she could very nearly read Roxana without resorting to such methods and doing so just felt like overkill.

Which didn't explain why Roxana was here or the strange conversation route she opted to take. Elsa looked up at her, letting out a slight snort at the imaginary scenario. "You likely wouldn't die: the fall's not that bad," she said, turning back to look at the list again. "One of Alexis's many partners fell once, and he just ended up in the hospital," Elsa frowned, "at least, I think it was one of Alexis's; it might have been Abel's." Sometimes it was hard even for a family member to keep track of the Bellefontes' love lives.

"You thought that climbing up to my window without warning or permission would somehow be relaxing?" asked Elsa, again stopping to look at Roxana, this time with raised eyebrows. "Did you get that plan from Frank Cox? Or was there perhaps a preschooler about who was just brimming with ideas?"

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana didn’t feel any probing around in her head that normally came when she was around Elsa Bellefonte, but she didn’t think too much on it. She was not actively trying to hide her thoughts at the moment and also figured that Elsa probably was just getting better at digging around in her head. She just hoped that Elsa didn’t dig into areas she did not want her to be in, as per usual. She was again mainly just focused on checking up on Elsa and that was pretty much it. She did have to make a report and it was hard to write up a report if she didn’t have much to write up.

Elsa let out a snort, and then explained how Rox would not have died and then even provided a real life example of what happened to someone who fell from one of her siblings windows. Roxana did not know about such an occurrence and now she felt the need to look into that. Figure out which of her siblings had the person over and find out who the person was. There was also the fact to make sure that they were alive and if not the details of if the Bellefonte family paid for anything in particular involving the person. “I would say its concerning that your siblings have so many guests over that you can’t keep track, but I supposed it could also be that you don’t really desire to be in their business.” Roxana said as she slid down to be in a sitting position on Elsa’s floor.

“I tossed a snow ball at your window first. Then climbed up when you opened up your window, and didn’t come in until you gave me permission.” Roxana pointed out, correcting the statement. The way Elsa said it made it seem less tactful then what Roxana had done. “Still, it is not my best idea. I will admit that.” Roxana said but didn’t bother to explain why she did it. There was a reason for it but she didn’t want to bother Elsa with such details. She then fell silent for a moment, looking over Elsa once more, and took in information on how Elsa was doing based off her appearance.

“You should lay back down for at least a little bit. Would you like a massage to release some of the tension in your body? Perhaps I can retrieve you something hot to drink?” Roxana asked, remaining on the floor. She had a feeling of what kind of responses she was going to get, but she asked and would try either way. Elsa was like a stubborn child when it came to Rox wanting to help her out with things besides what Elsa had asked for. The things the other girl typically asked for involved some form of work and Rox actually wanted Elsa to take it easy for a moment. Working yourself so much in this weather was just begging to get yourself ill.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

No, Elsa didn't bother reading Roxana: she didn't need to most of the time. In some ways, Elsa knew Roxana better than she knew her younger sibling. Which was part of the reason she'd said what she'd said regarding the visitors. She smiled a little at Roxana's comment, even adding a short laugh and shaking her head.

"It's less that there's so many and more that I just don't care enough to keep track," agreed Elsa. She gestured in the rough direction of Alexis's room. "Who knows what goes on with Alexis? I don't even think she knows."

Then came Roxana's explanation/excuse, outlining her little adventure. Elsa didn't bother to respond to that. She simply looked at Roxana, folded her arms over her chest. Her eyebrows raised as Roxana kept going, and she finally ended up nodding at the end. "Yes, it certainly wasn't your best," she agreed, her voice a little sharp, though only a little. Elsa had opened the window herself, after all, and she did understand how Roxana worked and thought, at least to some degree.

Though the suggestion had Elsa laughing and rolling her eyes. "You really don't think I relax? I assure you that I make certain to take time to myself," she gestured for Roxana to follow and walked over to her laptop. Soon Elsa had it booted up, the screen coming to life. Elsa pointed at it. "That," she said, "is the information for the upcoming ski trip. I fully intend to do as little work as possible over that vacation. And I just happen to have an actual, professional massage planned," she looked at Roxana, smirking again, "so you'll forgive me if I don't take you up on your offer, though I'm sure you mean well." Elsa left the screen open though, certain that Roxana would want to read through it.

[Roxana Strix]

"I figure that was going to be your answer." Roxana said as she made herself familiar with Elsa's room. Her eyes looked around, reading a few things, measuring, and making several mental notes while all still paying attention to most of what Elsa was saying. It was nice to be in someone’s room when they were actually in there and they allowed you to be in their room. Roxana of course had been in Elsa's room before, but this was the first official time when she was not up to something and sneaking around. She was just paying a visit to a friend and trying to offer her assistance in any way she could to the other girl.

"We all have our flaws, right?" Roxana asked when Elsa agreed with her that it was not the best plan she had come up with. She was not a perfect body guard, no matter how hard she tried to be, and how much people expected her to be. She was good but there was still things she had to learn and get better at that years were necessary in order to get there. The question was rhetorical, one that Elsa didn't really need to answer, but there was a hint there. There was a hint to something else that Roxana was getting at but was not going to directly say. At least not yet.

"Was that a serious question?" Roxana asked when Elsa asked her if she didn't think that Elsa relaxed. No, no Roxana didn't think Elsa relaxed, at least not enough for all the work she was doing and the weight of it all. There was also Elsa's age to keep in mind and again Roxana knew she was a bit of a hypocrite but it was different, and she was a year older then Elsa. She did follow the other girl, looking at the screen and quickly doing a quick skim here and there as Elsa explained what was planned. Elsa said she planned to do as little work as possible there, but was that actually going to be the case?

"That is fine. A professional would probably be for the best. I have been told my hands are too soft and that I'm too rough. Yet, I don't understand who wants rough hands touching them and it’s difficult to be gently when you are trying to remove tension from someone’s body." Roxana said, glancing at her hands before reading a bit more information that was on the screen. "I guess this means I have to sign up for this trip as well." Roxana said, letting out something of a sigh as she reached to navigate around the site a little bite, researching.