{SF} Fairing

[Roxana Strix]

"True. Soon it won't matter anyways, I don't think you will have to worry about us for much longer." Roxana said, the last bit of words coming out in a softer tone, practically lower than a whisper. Rox could not say for sure, but it was just a feeling she had. A lot of things had gone the way her organization wanted but then there were a few things that didn't. Her organization was very much the type of group that would force an event in order to obtain an end goal. That end goal had seemed to be working but with her brother being over here now...that had to mean something was wrong.

Each of the Strix siblings had something that they specialized in within the organization. Vlad's specialization, well it usually meant something would be coming to an end. Rox didn't even bother trying to hide that little bit of information. She was certain Vlad would say as much if he met Elsa, which he possibly would at some point. Then again...Rox was not certain she even wanted such a thing to happen. At any rate, Roxana listened as Elsa explained her experience, it did sound sarcastic but Rox took her word for it being 'life changing'.

There was that bit about Felix, one that was left pretty vague which had Roxana giving Elsa a look for a moment. However; she didn't say anything on it. If Elsa wanted to share more, she would have said as much instead of leaving it cryptic. "Congratulations on the life changing experience." Roxana simply responded. What else was she supposed to say? She didn't feel like there was much there to talk about that had any relevant importance. Did Elsa want her to ask for details about what she did? Did she want her to push to know more about Elsa's and Felix's relationship? Rox hoped not, because she didn't want to. Thankfully the line was moving, which at least allowed her to move forward.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Great, more cryptic warnings. Elsa almost wanted to sigh, again wondering how they'd rounded back to something like this. "We are really not good at casual conversation," she mused aloud, more out of amusement than anything else. Well, perhaps a bit of frustration leaked into her voice as well: Elsa could only keep it so much in check. Why couldn't things just be simple, even when doing something like this?

Roxana's thoughts were definitely not focused on anything of the sort. Elsa followed the chain, something about ending and who knows what. Elsa frowned again, before licking her lips slightly. Yet more that she'd have to look at and research. It sounded like she'd have to seek out this Vlad, and potentially put a little fear into him. That definitely felt like showing her hand sooner rather than later, but, well, what other alternative did she have, really?

The congratulations almost sounded dry. Elsa would have thought Roxana sarcastic if she was certain the girl was capable of that. She let out a laugh regardless. "Yes, thanks for the experience: here's your tapeworm," she gestured and sighed again. "It could have gone much worse, so I suppose I should be thankful. So," she smiled at Roxana, almost challenging, "did you do anything interesting? Or should i start regaling you with tales about the cute little village children or what it was like when we finally struck water?"

[Roxana Strix]

It was less of a warning and more of Roxana just informing Elsa. The girl honestly would probably not have to worry about dealing with Rox's organization anymore with how things were going. It was not something Rox could say for certain, but it was a feeling from events in the past that made her come up with the conclusion. Plus, it would be best for Elsa to forget about them since looking into the group would just lead to problems if she ever managed to get a hold of any sensitive information. Which was not impossible, but extremely difficult because SIGURD was very careful about their information and who had or even could get access to it.

That included those who thought they had managed to get past the group, but in fact were still being watched and very much given what they thought they had found. "Apologies, we could talk about the weather." Roxana suggested when Elsa pointed out they were not good at casual conversation. Roxana in general was not good at conversation since she was better at orders or discussing topics that were business or she figured no one was interested in so there was no point in talking about them. As for the congratulations, it was sort of on the dry side since Roxana was only saying it because she felt like that was something you said when your friend informed you of such a thing.

The last bit of Elsa's words were too vague for Roxana to have a proper feeling on them, since she didn't know what was fully going on there. Elsa made a comment about it and the fact that she got a tapeworm from it all. "Why did you even want to go over there in the first place? Was it honestly to help out children in need or to just be alone with Felix? Or was it his idea?" Roxana went ahead and asked. There, she was making conversation and pressing a little to get at that bit that Elsa had left vague. Yes, things could have gone much worse but it all still could have been avoided if she would have stayed here and helped out with kids in need here.

Americans seemed to forget about their own problems and were always worried about leaving their nation to help others for some odd reason. The question was turned back on her which had Roxana glancing away for a moment. "Spoke to Ellen about a few things, spent time with my brother, and helped out Vera while she went on a trip with her significant other." Roxana responded back. Nothing too big or important, other than the first two really. "If you want to talk about such things, go ahead." Roxana added, not minding just listening, because it meant she would not have to do any talking.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

The weather? Elsa let out another derogatory laugh, shaking her head slightly. No, the two of them were most certainly not good at coming up with small talk. Well, no one said they had to be, especially given how very much they had to discuss with one another. Apparently Roxana agreed to some degree, or at least finally gave voice to thoughts that Elsa had practically been sensing on the edge of her mind for who knows how long.

"It was Erika's idea, actually," Elsa replied, raising her brows. "Erika made the suggestion that we, meaning her and I not myself and Felix, leave on a trip to go and actually do something, help people, have meaning," Elsa actually didn't make the word sound sarcastic, much to her surprise. "I happened to think it was a brilliant idea. Thus I shared it with Felix..." and Elsa waved a hand then, pretty much summarizing the "and then it happened from there." She did suppose that she could've told Roxana all this earlier: nothing there was hidden or a surprise or anything along those lines. Oh well, that was in the past.

And apparently Roxana had had a relatively dull summer thus far. "You and Ellen are on speaking terms?" Elsa asked, arching a brow. "That's surprising," the bit about Vera less so, though Elsa wouldn't have wagered that Roxana and the other security leader were on that close of terms. Elsa took another step closer. "We actually should talk about doing tryouts for security squad again sometime soon. The new school year will be here before we know it," she smiled at that, having heard it so often growing up that it had essentially become a cliche. Strange how things went in cycles like that, wasn't it?

[Roxana Strix]

Another laugh, but what did Roxana expect as a response for suggesting that they could talk about the weather. Nothing. That was pretty much what she expected to get in return for suggesting such an idea in the first place. She honestly didn't know what to talk about with Elsa; they had never really had small talk. The time that Roxana wanted to try, it was on another matter and that had not gone well and she left as a result. Then the next time was when she told Elsa how she felt and while that went as expected, Roxana still left not feeling quite right. Even now she didn't feel quite right but Elsa seemed fine with moving past it all as if nothing had ever been said on the topic and them trying the whole 'being normal teenagers'.

Then Roxana went ahead and just said what was on her mind, and actually got a response to it. That was kind of...shocking in a way, but she listened to the answer all the same without much of a reaction. So it had been Erika's idea but then Elsa told Felix and he apparently wanted to go. The question then was did Erika back out because she didn't want to end up feeling like a third wheel? That seemed like a possibility and while Elsa left it vague, that was what Rox was going to go with. That and the also very likely that Erika got caught up in her relationship with Drew. "I see." Roxana responded simply, not really having anything else to say on the matter.

There was a slight temptation to ask why she even bothered to tell Felix in the first place, but that felt like a dumb question so she kept it to herself. Rox was more surprised that Elsa was not aware of Roxana's relationship with Ellen, but then again Roxana didn't really talk about herself or make it obvious who she hung out with. "More than speaking terms, I would consider her...a friend. She also knows that I have been hired to look after her, but like with you the information she knows is limited. You perhaps know a little more then she does, but that is because Ellen does not tend to pry for information with me." Roxana pointed out.

She didn't understand what was surprising about it, but she said nothing on it figuring if it was super important Elsa would say something about it. Roxana also wondered if she should also tell Elsa that other bit about Ellen, but for now she kept it to herself. It was hard to be certain if that sort of thing even mattered. "I already have planned to discuss the matter with Vera, later on...likely today. All depends on when she returns from her trip and when she had a decent amount of free time. However; we can still talk about it if that is something you would like to talk about, but I think we will be next to get on the ride soon." Roxana informed Elsa, giving a small nod.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

A friend? Elsa quirked a brow at that. "Does Ellen know you call her that?" She asked. She couldn't help but smile at that. Ellen liked to pretend, but she definitely had people who cared about her and were part of her inner circle as well. Elsa supposed that she counted too. Suddenly she couldn't help but wonder if maybe Roxana felt about Ellen the same she felt about her. Possible, especially if Roxana was demisexual, which was what Elsa was starting to figure. Something to consider for later, possibly bring up with Ellen herself.

Business would work for now. Always a safe area to talk about, that. "You don't have to start putting it together immediately," Elsa said, waving a hand. "I'll work to getting arrangements and see what I can do. I don't have quite the authority that I did when I had the headmistress title, but I still know what to do," and Elsa still intended to keep working behind the scenes, even if she didn't sit on the throne. It had never really been a spot for her anyway.

Another step forward.

"Are you planning any projects for the upcoming school year? Anything I should know about? Or possibly just anything you'd want to share?" she looked back at Roxana. It was sort of probing, sort of small talk, and precisely the kind of conversation that Elsa figured the two of them could handle. They didn't have much longer till they were strapped on the ride, after all.

[Roxana Strix]

Did Ellen know that Roxana called her a friend? "I assume she is aware. We were roommates for a time and I assumed that we are...close." Roxana said, not sounding very sure near the end. She was certain they were friends but she was a little confused on how close they were ever since the whole confession to the two of them. Rox was still confused about, but kept such thought to the back of her mind and focused on the now. There was no point in trying to think about it when it was about one of the people she was talking to. Not like it actually mattered since she already knew how Elsa felt but it was still something that bothered her.

"I'm well aware of that. I did plan to wait and to handle tryouts differently than they have in the past." Roxana said as she looked up towards the sky for a moment. It was interesting how Elsa still wanted to play a part in it all, even if she was no longer in control of the school. It showed that she still craved that sense of power and it didn't bother Roxana at all. It was not her place to tell Elsa what she should be more concerned about; Elsa would do as she pleased in the end. Was this...bitterness? Roxana didn't know, but she didn't like how she was feeling and wished that she would have been fixed while she was back at home.

Project? Anything that Elsa should know about or that she wanted to share? "In terms of art, nothing. I have been dealing with a creative block for a while now. As for my work for the school, nothing outside of the tryouts. Then for my actual job, nothing I can discuss." Roxana said, touching all of the bases since she was not certain what Elsa had meant specifically on the topic of projects. The line moved, Roxana was thankful to not have to at least talk now, and didn't hesitate to move forward and get on the ride. She made certain that she was strapped in well enough before her blue eyes looked to Elsa to see if the girl was going to sit next to her or not before her eyes would close.

She just wanted to feel the world spinning, for it to toss the thoughts that were bothering her out of her mind.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Roommates, right, Elsa knew about that. It didn't surprise her either: Roxana's people had quite clearly arranged it. They wanted to put her near potential targets and outside of the Bellefonte family, there was no more obvious target than Ellen Banks. So all Elsa could do was nod along with that and file it away for later.

The tryouts were more interesting, mostly in that Roxana wanted to do it differently. "Well, I'm certain whatever you and Vera have in mind will work. So long as we can get more visibility for the squad. It felt as though no one knew what to do during the fire..." Elsa trailed off there, looking away, remembering the failures there. Roxana hadn't been one of them, and she'd apparently gotten at least one of the smaller members to help. Still, things could have gone considerably better than they did.

More projects for the future. They certainly had a lot to consider, which made Roxana's almost distant comments on it a little disconcerting. Likely it was Roxana not wishing to discuss anything. That almost hurt Elsa, but she brushed it aside, figuring that there was probably another reason. Besides, they were close enough now to show off wrist bands and start heading into the seats for the ride. Elsa strode quite confidently toward one. Nothing here was all that scary or anything that they hadn't done before, after all. Just slide into the seat and get the lap bar ready.

[Roxana Strix]

It was true that Roxana's people had made sure to ensure that Roxana and Ellen Bank would end up roommates but the fact that they were not again for the coming year just proved what Rox had a feeling was going to end up happening. Would they blame her for this change of plans? Could they even blame her when her job was not to keep those that were their targets on a specific path and simply just to look after them? Somehow she felt like even if they could not, she would still be punished in some kind of way for all of this likely coming to an end.

To think all of this time wasted, having left her old school, past friends, and to end up here and go experience a lot for it to possibly not matter soon. For her to have to just leave like that and never see those she had grown...attached to. Perhaps that was not such a bad thing. "Thank you, I think it will work out well too. I just have to check a few things before I pitch the plan to her, but I'm sure you will see the paper work on it before I even inform her." Roxana responded as she looked back towards Elsa. Yet again she felt confusion again which came with a small mix of frustration at how she was being so...emotional.

True her emotions were not outright showing on the outside but on the inside it felt like a dormant volcano was trying to awaken. The talk of the fire incident had Roxana nodding in agreement, fully disappointed out how sloppy that affair had been. "Agreed. Training will be a lot more serious for the new ones and if they can't keep up them I'm going to strongly suggest they be removed. No sense in having those who are to be trained to help protect the school and the students if they won't show up to do just that." Roxana said, a hint of emotion coming out in her voice; frustration. Thankfully there was the ride, which people were quick to board.

Soon one of the employees would be going around making sure everyone was strapped in properly and the ride would start. First slowly swinging back and forth like a pendulum and then the spinning motion would kick in as the ride would keep going back and forth. Roxana soaked it all in, eyes closed as she took slow deep breath. How the ride felt was how she felt when she was just standing still and now the world matching her mind helped her calm down in a way. Time would past and soon her eyes were opening when the ride was slowing down and coming to a stop.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

It should work. Elsa had confidence in Roxana and Vera: that was why she'd done what she could to get them into the positions they had before things had gone pear shaped. At least something there was working. Actually, more and more Elsa was realizing that it was the behind the scenes things that she seemed to do better with. She was a coordinator more than a leader, wasn't she?

Paperwork was easy, after all. Elsa glanced over at Roxana at that thought, well, that and feeling some oddly contradictory thoughts from Roxana. Elsa wasn't an empath, but she was quite skilled at picking up on people's eccentricities, particularly given how much time she'd spent in their heads. Roxana was acting a little more nervous. At least she had the conversation to latch onto, giving the explanation for the training and all that business.

"I'm sure we'll find several suitable candidates. Just use who you still have," Elsa supplied. She couldn't immediately remember who that was. "And give us a roster," she added, before sliding forward into the ride.

Then it was buckle up. Get into the air. Spin. Lose yourself. Elsa felt her stomach twist slightly, but no more than was normal for the ride. She let her hair fly behind her, taking it all in, including the bit where Roxana closed her eyes. Elsa brushed her thoughts over her friend's, and wasn't at all surprised to read static there. She smiled and looked back ahead. The ride slowed, and they lowered to the ground.

"Well, that was bracing," Elsa said, actually meaning it, despite the odd word choice. She let out a chuckle, already raising her hands to allow the attendant to unlock them.

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana would disagree with Elsa on the other girl's thoughts about how she felt she was best at behind the scenes work. Yes, Elsa was good at behind the scenes work but she also was a leader, she had shown it before multiple times. She was not mind reader however so she could not assure Elsa of this, but she had in the past. Still, Roxana could not help but wonder what was going through the other girl's mind at times. Elsa could read hers and apparently Elsa could not do a two way feedback, but Roxana had yet to experience it yet. Apparently Riley had...perhaps that meant Vera or even Felix might have experienced it as well.

"I plan on ever retesting those we have now. I desire to see if they still have it in them to do what they signed on to do. Of course there are a few who I can see us waving tryouts, but we can discuss that at another time unless you really wish to talk about it." Roxana said in her usual tone of voice. She didn't have everything worked out there yet, that was the main reason why she didn't want to talk about it. Nothing was worse than sharing an incomplete plan, but then again it was those incomplete plans you had to share if you were not confident you could complete it yourself. Roxana was confident she could complete it herself.

She just nodded at Elsa's words about the roster. Yes, it would all be taken care of. Then the ride, it helped out a lot but with it stopping, it meant the thoughts would only stay away for so long. Not that they ever fully went away but they became something similar to background noise. A noise that you would get use to and soon enough tune out as if it was not even there at all. "Indeed. Ready to try that fried...creation?" Roxana asked, not really certain if you could call it food or even a snack with how much sugar it had in it.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Retesting certainly sounded like a good idea, and Elsa would reaffirm that soon enough. The whole ride thing had gotten her mind a bit more spinny than she would have liked to admit. That was part of why she liked it: too often she got herself too wrapped up in her mind, and it was nice to just let it go from time to time.

Roxana had even brought up the fried creation. Elsa chuckled at that, bringing a hand up to tuck some curls behind her ear. "That does sound like a good plan," Elsa said. She turned, orienting herself toward the frying station, knowing precisely where it was thanks to her planning. She nodded toward it before heading that way. She could still hear the shouts around her, and her own equilibrium did feel slightly off. Truly, it felt rather good.

"I'm all for the retrial idea," she offered as they walked a little further away, at least enough to stop them from shouting at one another. "Certainly some people have let their skills rust, now that there doesn't appear to be any overt threats," though Elsa still fully believed there was something on the horizon. If nothing else, they hadn't heard the last of SPECTRE... she just knew it.

[Roxana Strix]

The sounds of Elsa chuckling had Roxana smiling a little, if only a moment before she caught herself smiling. She had nothing against smiling, it was just something that she didn't do too often or for too long since it was a display of emotion. That and there were very few things that could actually bring a smile to her face. "I like it when you chuckle and smile for real. It sounds...nice and when you smile for real it’s like, you...I don't know of the word to use at this moment and time." Roxana spoke up, unable to hold back those words that would have crossed over the surface of her mind. That didn't sound like too odd of a thing to say, did it?

Oh well, it was out there and Roxana didn't feel like it had been wrong to say it. She was just being blunt as usual but this time it was pointing something out that was more of a complement then just coming off as 'cold' towards someone. All the same, Elsa agreed with the plan to get that friend creation and soon enough the two of them were heading off in the direction to go obtain said creation. Roxana did more of the following this time since she didn't really know where she was going since she had not gotten around to mapping out every detail of the fair.

In truth she didn't even plan to come here unless invited. Not that it mattered now because she had been invited by Elsa and she had no problem being here. Other than still uncertain if they could really pull off this whole just being normal teenagers. Elsa spoke up about how she thought a retest was a good idea and how it would give people the chance to brush up on their skills since it had been a while since anything major happened. That was a good then in terms of the small hope that things would be peaceful, but Roxana was no fool.

Roxana just nodded, not really sure what to say or if there needed to be anything said on the matter. However; they were supposed to be talking since normal teenagers didn't just walk around in silence when they were supposed to be having 'fun' at a fair. "Is there anything you have planned for the coming year? How did you think you did on your...finals?" Roxana then asked, feeling those were normal question to ask.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

The comment just had Elsa letting out another dry laugh. "you'd be surprised how often I hear that," she drawled, before lapsing into something of a smile. Why did everyone seem to want her happier? Or perhaps the better question was why she would question something like that. Why wouldn't everyone want her to be happier? Or just everyone in general. Or at least the people that Elsa had somehow befriended in some strange, semi-convoluted manner.

The walk to the fried shop wouldn't be overly long: already Elsa could see the little trailer. Nothing there looked all that appetizing to her, but they really weren't there for the food so much as the experience of attempting to eat said food. Elsa was already angling toward that, seemingly as determined to get the fried food as she would be on any other mission.

And there came Roxana's attempt at small talk. To Elsa's surprise, it actually sounded and felt like real small talk. "I'm going to be working on self-development for the most part," Elsa provided, sounding almost too casual about it. "I'm quite certain I did well enough on my finals: I generally do," she gave Roxana another look, this one with raised brows, before she turned back to the trailer. "I can't quite shake the feeling that something's going to happen though. Probably because of how eventful things have been for the last year or so..." Elsa trailed off, her mind going to everything. How had they even made it out of all that with their sanity and at least some degree of normalcy?

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana was not actually surprised that Elsa had heard that a lot. She was only surprised that Elsa still didn't seem to think it was true or take it to mean that it didn't hurt for her to be happy. Roxana didn't know and it was hard for her to really say much on it since she didn't smile a lot herself. She just didn't have much to smile for but when she did she would smile, for at least a small moment until it felt odd. It was hard to not notice yourself making a certain facial expression when you didn't really make it so your face felt different. "That clearly means it is true then." Roxana responded simply.

In the end it was still Elsa's choice if she was going to take it and do something with it or continues to not really mind hearing such words. Roxana didn't say much of else as they walked except for her response to Elsa on the matter of retesting. She then aimed for the having a normal conversation, which seemed to be working out very well now that Elsa was answering the question. Self-development did well on her finals, and how she had a bad feeling about things to come. Roxana glanced away at the last comment, her mind almost going off in thought but she stopped it and instead focused on the first two parts of what Elsa had said.

"Self-development is good, my father always says it is best to know and better yourself before you can even begin to fully understand others." Roxana said, almost adding a 'don't quote me' but she was pretty sure that she had gotten what her dad said spot on or the proper gist of it. "Good that you did well on your finals. I would be disappointed in you for not asking me for help if you needed it when it was time to study." Roxana added. As for the last comment, she chooses to not say anything on it. She didn't like to think about how the peace could come to an end and she hated that she might not be here to keep those important to her safe should the peace come to an end.

"What fried creation do you plan on getting? I think I want to try the Funnel Cake...and maybe one Fried Oreos since I will already be heading to the hospital from the funnel cake." Roxana responded, saying it in a lighter tone to make a joke. She even smiled a little at it, almost letting out something like a chuckle but she held it back and instead moved ahead to get what she had spoken of.