{SF} Fairing

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"We're here to enjoy the festival," Elsa replied flatly, looking over at Roxana Strix as she spoke. "That's the whole point of our being here. Like I said," she turned and gestured at the gathered crowds, "we need to learn to lay low too."

Because all too often whenever Elsa and Roxana got together, it looked less like two friends hanging out and spending time together and more like a bodyguard and her client discussing business. in truth, there was business that they needed to attend to. There were potential safety concerns here, and Elsa had heard rumors about visitors from abroad who may be joining this year's festivities. That wasn't even counting potentially looking into the Conners, parsing through the McLisk papers, figuring out how to reorganize the council, or preparing for the upcoming school year. Or the various offers that Erika had made, most of which Elsa was keeping to herself, being both optimistic and somewhat suspicious.

"Do you think you can actually do that?" Elsa asked, a bit of challenge going into her voice. She quirked a brow. The expression did make her look more like her sister, though only a complete fool would mistake the two of them for one another. Their hair may match in consistency, and they had the same face still, but Africa had dyed Elsa's skin a few shades darker than her genetic match. That wasn't even counting the parasite worming its way through Elsa's lower tracts. It may be half dead, but it was still there. Today she only wore a pair of shorts and a tanktop too, looking decidedly less like an heiress who was considering merging with an international security company and decidedly more like a teenage girl enjoying herself.

The question still hung there though, and Elsa waited for an answer, unable to stop from smiling.

[Roxana Strix]

Elsa voiced why they were here, as if Roxana was not well aware of that. However; she didn't actually think that was what they were here for. The two of them never just met up to hang out with one another, that were not very...not them. Yes, they did meet up in situations that could be taken as friends hanging out but they always discussed business, which was why Roxana figured that this was no different than their usual meetups. The only difference was that Elsa knew that Roxana had feelings for Elsa, she still did.

Despite wishing she did not, Rox had not been able to get rid of the desire to want to be with Elsa in some way. This way was just going to have to be enough for the time being. The other girls' words about laying low, just kept the fact that Rox figured that they were here to do more than 'just spend time with one another' was confirmed. She didn't say anything for the time being however as she walked along with her friend. Just a friend. Roxana had even tried to dress a little less like she was about to go kill someone or was about to go have a photo shoot.

Okay, so the latter might not have been true, but it was just the clothing that she liked to wear and saw no point in trying to change that up too much. At the question, Roxana hesitated for a moment as she thought about it. "I can if I view it as an order to blend in and act like a normal teenager." Roxana responded back once she was sure of her answer. Without orders, she saw little point to play games or pretend. "Welcome back by the way, officially. How have you been?" Roxana asked, out of pure habit.

Of course she was a little curious, but she had no desire to hear the details of what Elsa and Felix did, if it meant Felix's name was going to be brought up. Rox mainly just kept her mind busy with thoughts of what they were going to talk about and if they were going to get on any rides.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Leave it to Roxana to phrase it in terminology that equated it to a mission. Elsa had to half-smile at that, shaking her head slightly. "If that's what it takes," she offered. She knew they needed to do this on some level, that it would be necessary for the way things operated and for their own personal sanity. A lot had happened, and it was important that they realize who they were on a personal level in addition to the professional.

The welcome back ha Elsa letting out a short laugh. "I've been better," she offered, giving Roxana the slightly wry look. "I picked up a tapeworm during my travels. Felix was a doll about it, and it's mostly taken care of, but it's still very much with me,' which had made clearing her way here a little more difficult. Not excessively so: she still had a fair bit of money and no one really wanted to detain a volunteer.

Elsa shifted her gaze to look through the fair, considering. "I'm not under any orders to avoid any actions, foods, or behaviors though, which certainly opens things up for us. I'm leaning toward the tea cups personally, but I must admit to burning with curiosity over what Roxana Strix's favorite fair activity happens to be," Elsa finished by turning to her bodyguard and quasi-friend, her expression expectant, to say the least.

[Roxana Strix]

There was a half-smile there, one that Roxana noticed right away since she was keeping a close eye on Elsa. Wondering what Elsa was going to say next, what they were really here for, and wondering if Elsa was fine going about things between them like they were normal. As if Roxana had never told the other girl the confused feelings she had towards her. Roxana gave a small nod to Elsa's response, before considering something. "Granted, if I do that then I will not be...acting like myself. However; if that is what you want I will do it for the sake of making this like we are normal teenagers." Roxana responded.

She was not going to change personalities yet, she waited for Elsa yay or nay on the matter now that piece of info was out there. Rox didn't want to change and then have Elsa displeased that she didn't feel like Rox was...well whatever Elsa might assume. The admission of the truth was a little on the new side. Not like Elsa lied to her but often when she asked that question she got sarcasm or Elsa standard reply. Yet, things had changed a little, so she supposed she should not have been all that surprised by getting the actual truth right off the bat. She could not help but give a displeased look at hearing that Elsa had got a tapeworm.

The part about Felix got purposely ignored, not seeing it or him as having any relevance because making Elsa weak and being weak himself. "I assume that you are taking the necessary medication to get rid of it. I hope it does not drop your weight too much or lay too many eggs. You could get pretty thin and where it lays the eggs were certainly be uncomfortable for you." Roxana responded, recalling what a tapeworm did to the body. She personally never had one but she had some sickness before, most of which were given to her on purpose for her body to build an immunity to them or at least know what it felt like.

"Tea cups?" Roxana asked, not really seeing Elsa as the type to enjoy such a ride. Then again, she didn't even know if this sort of thing was something Elsa actually enjoyed doing. New information was being learned as well as a new experience. Roxana had of course been to a fair before, but one was for training and another was on a mission; but that was an amusement park so she supposed she could relate them to being almost the same. Rox blinked a few times as she looked back at Elsa who was expecting to hear what ride she wanted to get on. What ride did she enjoy?

"I like the ones that spin. There one that I enjoyed the best was when you sit down in seats that are paired by four with several pairs that looks like a claw...and it spins while going back and forth...that." Roxana said trying to explain the ride before spotting it and thus pointed to it to avoid making something more complicated than it was. In general the ones that spun around were the best so long as no one got sick on them. The world in a blur just…it did something that Roxana enjoyed on some level.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Remembering all too well Roxana's "normal teenager" voice and attitude, Elsa quickly responded: "Act as though you're yourself, but still relaxing and participating in normal events," she clarified, giving her friend another cautious look. Somehow, she could see Roxana doing something like that to sort of passive aggressively spite her. That did seem to be the other woman's modus operandi, after all.

For now, there was talk of the tapeworm to distract, at least for the moment. Roxana prattled off responses as though reading them from a book, and Elsa fought the urge to roll her eyes. "Whatever would I do without your sage advice?" she asked, giving her friend another look. As if Elsa hadn't already done everything she could, gone to the right doctors. admittedly she'd sought out someone locally that would favor silence rather than skill, but that was a cost Elsa was quite willing to pay.

The ride distracted from Elsa's gut. She nodded at the repetition of the word, then listened as Roxana explained. Elsa actually figured it out before Roxana pointed, simply nodding at the gesture. "So we both like the ones that spin you in circles," she commented absently, looking up. Strange to think that Roxana would like something so thrilling. Elsa preferred the more graceful one herself.

"Sounds like we know where to start," Elsa said. She nodded and headed toward the ride Roxana had indicated, weaving her way through the crowd with practiced ease.

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana actually had a small smile on her face when Elsa quickly pointed out what she wanted instead of Roxana acting like a teenager. Apparently Elsa must have remembered how Roxana acted when she did the whole teen talk and behavior of a teenager. Alright, so she needed to be herself but to at least look like she was enjoying herself. Had no one seen her enjoying herself? She was pretty sure she had done it several times. Every time she made art was when she enjoyed herself and was pretty sure that she even smiled then. She just had to put that towards what they were doing now but a small part of her felt like that would not be too hard.

Part of her had been craving some one on one time with Elsa, and she was getting it now. It made her feel weird on top it all but she made sure to keep her thoughts on what they were doing in case Elsa decided to take a peek. "I will give it my best." Roxana responded simply, tossing on a smile at the end. There, progress to acting like she was enjoying herself and being a normal teenager, right? There was a look, that was followed by words that Roxana was taking are sarcasm. It was practically Elsa's native language. "The same things you do already." Roxana responded, not bothering to hide the hidden meaning there.

She had always given Elsa advice but the other girl made it clear that in the end she would do what she like and that point had been proven a few times already. A thing she and her twin had in common, that was certain. "So it would seem. Should we be taking that as having a deeper meaning in our lives?" Roxana asked, making conversation. That was what normal teenagers did, even if that subject was a little on the 'deep' side of things. Or perhaps comparing it to be more poetic would have fir better. Rox was a little surprised that Elsa was willing to get on the ride, but didn't say anything at first as they moved towards the ride to get on it.

"We can go on what you would like first, if you want. Are you certain you can handle all the spinning and back and forth?" Roxana asked, sounding a little concerned. Elsa said that she was cleared to do as she liked but Rox was not sure if Elsa without a tapeworm could handle such a ride. She didn't know anything when it came to Elsa and a fair besides the date auction.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"I expect far more than just your best," Elsa replied promptly, barely waiting for the words to finish coming out of Roxana's mouth. Nor did she really fight against the smile that tugged her lips ever so slightly upward all the while. it turned into an actual laugh at Roxana's reply to Elsa's comment regarding advice.

They both knew that Elsa actually listened when Roxana spoke. There were very few people the girl trusted or liked well enough to actually hear when they offered advice, and one of them was most definitely this blonde woman she walked with now. It was just that at the end of the day Elsa very much knew who she was and what she wanted to do. That included considering deep meaning and so forth, which did have her wondering for a moment.

No longer: they were moving toward the ride, Elsa striding with a fair amount of purchase. "I should be fine," Elsa replied, before looking over her shoulder at Roxana. "If my little companion acts up, I'll be queasy one way or the other. I'd like to think that at least this way I can do something to it first," she looked back at the ride, pausing only a moment to make sure Roxana caught up before they hit the line.

"Were you thinking we should load up first?" she asked teasingly, nodding toward some of the food stands (at least one of which Elsa had worked at to do her part in volunteering). "Nothing quite like spinning in circles through the air with a belly full of nachos or..." she squinted, not quite believing the sign even though she'd certainly handled at least one herself: "or fried Twinkies."

[Roxana Strix]

Elsa Bellefonte expected more than her best? What more did she want? A vow that Roxana would give it her all for something as trying to be 'normal'? Roxana didn't know and didn't say anything since she knew she could not promise such a thing. She would try to give it her best and that was all she could do since she was also told to still be herself. However; Elsa was smiling so perhaps she was just teasing? Confusion had set back into Roxana's mind, and she disliked it; almost loathed it. There were other things to talk about and do, so that held Roxana's main focus as they moved along and talked.

Yes, it was true that Elsa did at least hear Roxana out and did take her advice from time to time but not in what Roxana felt was far more important. Elsa did as she pleased in the end, even after what Roxana would tell her. That was the other girl's choice and while Rox was displeased by it she was not going to voice it anymore then she had already done with that sort of hint. Talk was brought back to the...creature that Elsa called her companion which had Roxana making a displeased face for a moment. She figured that was Elsa's way of finding humor in the situation but Roxana could not see it as anything to be joking about. It was a living creature, eating her insides and laying eggs in her stomach and down to one of the exits where waste was disposed of.

If Elsa had never gone over there, if she had been more careful, or at least went with someone capable of making sure she was fine...then Elsa would not have her little companion. The level of dislike Roxana had for Felix grew a little more in that moment but she kept it too herself and kept moving forward. "No, I meant it in terms of if you wanted to get on your tea cups first or another ride a little less on the...super spinning side of things." Roxana responded back simply. Elsa had been teasing, she could hear it in the other girl’s voice but she figured she would still make what she meant clear.

Roxana contemplated for a moment if she would get sick after eating such things and then getting on the ride. "I would like to try those fried Twinkies after this ride, if you are up for it." Roxana then spoke up. She was generally a very healthy eater for the sake of her body staying in good condition so she never had such a creation before.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"Odd, but I don't think even you're capable of killing invisible parasites. I'll have to keep that particular skill in mind should ebola ever become widespread again," Elsa offered. yes, she'd picked up on the floating thoughts and could practically sense the motivations. Roxana had a fair amount of training and ability to hide her thoughts, but her mind had also become one of the most familiar to Elsa's own. Unless the woman was actively attempting to hide her thoughts, surface level bits were likely always going to be coming through. For Elsa it was like walking by someone who had letters streaming over their face. Sometimes she just let it wash over as so much gibberish, other times...

The decision had been made. The teasing had been passed and they were heading toward the ride. Elsa had to let out a slight laugh and shake her head at Roxana's next comment and the various thoughts that went along with it. "You know what?" she had to admit, looking up and over at her friend, "I don't believe I've ever tried one of those."

It had always been something her mother had frowned upon while she and Erika had been growing up. After the fact, it just never seemed like something that Elsa would want to try. She looked over to it now, considering and idly wondering.

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana glanced at Elsa and then looked away for a moment. Elsa's words meant that Elsa was hearing some of her thoughts, but that should not have come as a surprise. Roxana didn't like the fact that she could not feel Elsa there, but she did have to keep in mind that the closer Elsa was with someone the easier it was for her to pull such things off. This was good in terms of Elsa's power improvement but bad for Roxana who now felt like putting some more space between them. Now Roxana even felt that it was probably best that Elsa turned her down because the girl would have been able to access too much from her mind. That and it likely would not have worked out...right?

Impossible for me to just stop thinking. Roxana thought to herself as she set her thoughts once more on there here and now and trying to not think about the things that were bothering her. "No, but I know how to cook food properly to minimize the chance of you getting sick." Roxana responded but it came out more along the lines of a whisper. She could not help but to be upset over something as small as this when it involved that it could have been something else that would have put Elsa's life at risk. They kept moving on, no doubt already in the line for the ride that Roxana had pointed out and then the conversation was on the treat that Roxana wanted to give a try.

There were a few things that she wanted to try but was uncertain of because she didn't do this sort of thing for 'fun' and the foods were certainly not the best for her body. They were not made to be, they were made to be good. "I would be shocked if you had." Roxana responded when Elsa said she had not tried one of them. She didn't even expect Elsa to be up to trying them, but she felt like Elsa would be willing to give them a try. "After the ride, we can try them. Don't think it would be very smart to get it before a ride like this." Roxana said, waiting in line, which was moving on ahead so it should not have been too long of a wait. Her blue eyes quickly looked around, before settling on the ride for a moment or two and then checking back in Elsa's direction.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa rolled her eyes: "You do realize that whenever you speak something, your thoughts on that get more noticeable? You might as well bold or underline them," which was all she was going to say on the matter. At some point, she'd have to share precisely what was going on between her and Felix to Roxana. The young man had all but disappeared, and Elsa was more or less convinced that she'd used him to get forward. Perhaps they'd try again at some point, but for now...

now things were complicated.

Fortunately, Elsa didn't have to worry about Roxana prying into her thoughts. she just got into line and kept her face stoic. The conversation could remain focused on the fair. "Well, nothing like new experiences. After all," she gave Roxana a tight smile, "what's the worst that can happen?" Of course referencing the parasite that she carried around in her gut. Elsa tactfully left that bit off for now.

Instead she slid into line and waited, looking occasionally at the back of Roxana's head. "Seems as though we've picked a popular one," she said dryly, leaning over to look. "We may have to wait a whole ten minutes."

[Roxana Strix]

"I do, but there is little I can do on it. I can either give it my all to try and cover up my thoughts or just allow it to happen and make sure my thoughts are not on anything important." Roxana responded back. She knew of Elsa's ability; obviously, as well as that he power didn't allow her to completely block out what Elsa could do. All she could do was use her training which would only help so much, but she didn't feel like she needed it. Not when they were talking about one another and how Roxana felt about Elsa's little trip. That was nothing that she needed to keep hidden for the sake of her organization not being displeased with her.

What Elsa choose to do with Felix was Elsa's choice, because Elsa should have already known how she felt about the other boy and how foolish it was for Elsa to even deal with him in the slightest. She didn't take her advice then so she didn't see the point in having to say or really concern herself with the matter. Roxana wished that she was a mind reader so she could just get what Elsa was thinking and all other important information and be done with it. She felt done with a lot of things but blamed her still confused state when it came to emotions among a few other things.

Roxana glanced at Elsa but didn't say anything to the 'what was the worst that could happen' question. Clearly that had to been some joke considering what Elsa had living in her. "I'll buy them for us when we are done here then." Roxana replied back simply, looking at the ride and going back into her usual silence. It was broken however as Elsa spoke up about their wait, which she did have a good point. Perhaps they could get the treat and eat it while they waited in this long line due to how a lot of people seemed to want to get on the ride.

"Once of us could get the treat to eat while we wait...or we could talk." Roxana said, thinking the former was a better plan. What did they have to even to talk about that was not business? Roxana was also fine just waiting there in the silence; it was something she was used to doing.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"Or you could just let me pick up details," Elsa replied casually, though not without letting some of her frustration slide in there. It wasn't as if they hadn't discussed this a few times. It was making less and less sense for them to struggle to keep too much from one another. They were allies, and the more they knew...

Then again, Elsa wasn't exactly giving Roxana everything either. she supposed that she could offer her friend the same courtesy. That was always the more interesting part. Her power meant that the more she knew someone, the more instinctive pulling their thoughts became. It also meant that Elsa should be pulling back more, letting the thoughts drift through on their own.

They focused on the treats now. Thinking about it made Elsa smile slightly, her lips twitching just ever so subtly. It soon followed by an offer to buy the treat now, and Elsa could practically read the underlying indication all too well: eating would be preferable. "Probably best to talk," Elsa countered. Wanting to make sure that Roxana fully understood, she gestured above. "We don't want to end up hurling fried twinkies while spinning thirty or so feet off the ground, after all." Elsa then looked over at Roxana, a brow raised. Surely it was Roxana who would have more questions for her, after all. It wasn't as though Roxana had been the one to recently return from another continent.

[Roxana Strix]

"I already miss our veiled threats, trying to take away what fun we can have by trying to figure out what we are hiding from one another?" Roxana asked, smiling just a little bit and only for a moment. It was her attempt at a joke to what they used to have to deal with when it came to talking to one another. Part of her missed that while another part also realized it showed how far they had come, but then that also made her wonder if that was why she felt the way she did when it came to Elsa. Those feelings that had yet to go away and kept getting in the way of her everyday life.

Hell, she could not even do her passion with art without such thoughts coming to her mind. Thoughts that she again made sure to cover up with thoughts on what they were doing now. They might have been allies but on some level Elsa was also an enemy. She made Roxana think and feel differently than she was supposed to and thus got in the way of what her organization wanted. Rox didn't really want to talk about it or anything for that matter. She would have vastly preferred the silence or silence caused from them being polite when eating a treat and not talking with their mouth full.

She wondered if Elsa knew that and had purposely picked to talk instead of get a treat. Granted, she had a fair point that it was risky to each such a thing and go on a ride like the one they were in line for. However; Roxana was confident in her ability to not get sick no matter the situation. There was a look, one that had Roxana glancing away for a moment before looking back to Elsa, and then the ground. "Well...I assume you enjoyed your trip other than the bug. Did you...feel like you gained anything in your time away? Feel like you grew closer to…him?" Roxana asked, not even sure what to really ask.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"If you'd like, I could attempt to threaten your organization again. It just gets a little boring and repetitive after so many tries," Elsa replied, as dry as ever. She didn't particularly miss that verbal sparring all that much. She had enough on her plate without antagonizing or threatening Roxana. This certainly didn't stop her from digging around in the other woman's organization. Quite the contrary: Elsa fully intended to figure out what was going on there, and the sooner she got around to it, the better off she'd feel.

For now, stand in line and act like a normal teenager. It wasn't just for the people around them either: both Roxana and Elsa needed this too. Just as they needed to talk and chat and simply become at least that much more comfortable in one another's presence, despite the reservations Roxana might express both verbally and mentally.

"The trip was quite the lifechanging experience," Elsa said. She laughed lightly at that. "it sounds sarcastic, but I'm quite serious. We helped construct a village well and aided in some relief work in the area. As for me and Felix, well, it helped give me some.. perspective." Because she wasn't quite sure it was safe to fully explain that to Roxana, at least, not just yet.