They're Not Me

[Roxana Strix]

It had been kind of hard to not try and style Demi's hair once Roxana had her hand in it and had been basically given permission. Well it was not like Demi said that she could style her hair but the girl had allowed her to touch her hair and that was almost the same thing. Not really, Roxana had no valid way to prove that Demi had in a way given her permission and thus yet again didn't really have an excuse for what she was doing. She was just...doing it. Plus she wanted to see if Demi could pull it off, since Roxana wore her hair in very much a spiky style often.

A small smile appeared on her face for a moment at the thought of Demi wearing her hair like Rox, but it quickly faded away at the realization that she didn't want Demi to become too much like her. Yes, it would be idea if the way Demi started to think became similar to Rox's; that way in the future perhaps she could join Rox's organization, but Rox was torn if she personally wanted to have to experience that kind of life. Not that any of that mattered at the moment, what still mattered was getting Demi back to the school.

She offered up a deal, one that had Demi movie to stand up; shorter then Rox, but still standing all the same. "That is because you did not behave yourself and you can deny that you didn't do anything all you want, but we both know the truth." Roxana responded as she glanced away for a moment. "If you don't want to hear what the deal is, then we can simply not even worry about it, and get straight to going back to the school now." Roxana responded. That was the end goal anyways; Rox didn't need the deal, she only suggested one to be nice.

[Demi Smith]

Demi nearly rolled her eyes again as Roxana insisted that she hadn't behaved herself. Part of her very much wanted to revisit that old argument, to keep fighting and insist. She sometimes felt like she'd been far too tame lately, and she was absolutely itching to get into another fight. As soon as the thought hit her, however, Demi realized that there was a group of people nearby who would provide her with precisely what she wanted, and they would make a marvelous stand-in for her missing family. Demi was already glancing toward the little encampment before she even realized.

Then she looked back to Roxana, who was still offering her deal, and making it seem very much like one of those unmovable things that Demi couldn't fight if she wanted. That just made Demi want to fight all the more, but some part of her was insisting that the real thing she wanted to punch lay down there, and Roxana was her best chance of getting there.

"I'm listening," the dirt thumper insisted, crossing her arms over her chest and staring up at Roxana, more than a little curious as to what the older girl would offer this time.

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana of course had noticed that of late that Demi had settled down quite a bit, which of course was a good thing. Roxana just assumed that Demi was likely tired of getting into trouble for her actions, since no one should have really liked getting in trouble. She was now thinking that perhaps it was because Demi was homesick. That could cause a change in behavior, which after seeing Demi crying not to long ago she could see that being a possibly. She could figure out the details later, for now she was just seeing if Demi was willing to hear the deal.

Well...deals in this case, but they all ended the same so she just called it all one deal. Demi spoke up, saying she was listening followed by that ever familiar crossing of the arm across her chest. "Well the ideal deal would be that you go back to me to the school now and as soon as we are given clearance to go check the place out. I will personally come get you to join me when I go to check it out. I'm already pretty sure I will be selected to look the place over once things are agreed upon." Roxana responded. She knew she would be one to come down here to check things out on behalf of the school; even if she would check them out on her without the school on her organization request.

She really would be expected to go alone on such a thing by order of the school and demi most certainly would not be allowed to go. Roxana just didn't have to tell them that she was bringing Demi along with her when she went out. "The other option; which is less ideal, is that we go together to check it out, but only from a distance and not actually go into the settlement." Roxana offered. The first deal would be ideal if demi really wanted to go into the place because the later was simply just getting a closer look. All still ended with them going back to the school.

"Oh and in both cases you have to be ready to leave when I say so." Roxana pointed out, which she figured was self-explanatory with how Demi would be expected to follow Rox's orders. She figured it didn't hurt to say it.

[Demi Smith]

Okay, yeah, the "ideal deal" (what a dumb way of putting it) definitely didn't suit Demi all that much. True, Roxana did promise to, like, take her to the group at some point in the not-so-distant future. That sounded pretty good. It also meant that Demi couldn't get close to them now, and if she couldn't get close, then she couldn't fight. So it definitely wouldn't work.

The second deal, however, would work. Yeah, Roxana emphasized the whole distance thing, also insisted that Demi pay attention. But there were all kinds of ways of working around that sort of thing, accidentally slipping away or something like that. Heck, if nothing else, Demi could probably pull the whole peeing thing. That always worked with these morons.

"Sure," Demi said, shrugging. "Sounds good to me. Do you want me to, like, shake on it or something?" she gestured with one hand, waving it slightly and giving Roxana one of those "I'm so amused by your people's strange customs" looks.

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana knew she ran the risk of a problem by giving Demi too options, when she really should have just given the girl one. Yet, she was not worried since this was yet again another test to put demi thought to see if the girl would pass or fail again. The first deal would meant that Demi would have to wait a little but that the two of them would be able to go down and into the settlement at some point. The second meant that they would go down there, but that they would not be going in there. instead it would be more like they were just getting a little closer than they were now to 'spy' on the group.

Rox was pretty sure the way she said it made that very clear in the options. However; she would not have been surprised if Demi tried to twist things around. Rox would not tolerate Demi doing something outside of the deal and just like last time when she took Demi out, she was fine not fully fulfilling her end of the deal if Demi did not hold her end. She was going to make that clear now that Demi gave a sure and being up for the deal. "You should be clear on which deal you are agreeing to, or I'll assume the one I want. Also know that if you don't behave and keep your end of the deal; which is listening to what I say and doing it, then I will not keep my end of the deal." Roxana spoke.

She wanted this to be very clear, because she knew Demi and how the girl would try to be sneaky. Rox was not going to tolerate it. If Demi messed up she was going to be quick to knock out the girl and carry her back to the school. Simple as that, and even if Demi proved to be difficulty past that...Rox had no problem physically hurting her. She didn't want to, but she was not going to tolerate any mistakes on Demi's behalf messing anything up for her.

[Demi Smith]

Clear on what deal she was agreeing to? Demi nearly snorted. Like she'd be agreeing to the whole go back to school deal. Roxana surely had to know better than that. "The one where we go and check them out," Demi said, jerking her head toward the stretched out camp below. "We get close, we look, we scout, and I do everything you say."

Demi shrugged. Part of her almost believed it when she said all that to Roxana. It was as if she were somehow putting some of her honor on the line by stating it out loud. Roxana was probably the closest person here to someone who would actually give a damn about Demi. It did feel a little wrong not to return that grudging respect. That and Roxana had beaten Demi.

"So are we actually going to go down there or what?" Demi asked, jerking her head toward them. She took a few steps that way, pausing to look over her shoulder, eyebrows raised as she looked up at the older girl.

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana did know Demi and what choice the girl of course wanted to do, but she just wanted Demi to be aware. When it came to deals, you really had to know what you were getting into or else you were going to end up finding yourself in a world of trouble. It would have been easy enough for Demi to have agreed and Roxana saying 'alright' and the two of them going with the plan that Roxana wanted to do the most. Then if Demi put up a fuss, Rox could have simply said that she thought Demi meant the first one, since that was what Rox had mentioned first.

A simple trick that was effective and in a way the younger girl before Rox had used it before. In a way. "Alright." Roxana said, giving a small nod after Demi had laid out what plan she wanted to do and even repeated back what came along with the deal. At least Roxana knew for sure that Demi had been paying attention to everything that she was saying and not just hearing what she wanted to hear. That was a step in the right direction. Rox still was a little uncertain if this was even a good idea to risk such a thing, but she figured she would give Demi a chance.

"I’m trusting you here, Demi." Roxana said. She looked at the girl then, falling silent and waiting until Demi made eye contact with her. She hoped the younger girl understood that she was putting faith in her. Faith that the girl would keep her end of the deal and that hopefully they would not have to deal with any problems. Roxana didn't verbally answer Demi's question, she didn't see the point in it when the answer of course was going to be eyes. Rox moved then, heading down to get closer to the little settlement, but of course was moving to approach from a good vantage point that would allow them to see but not be seen.

[Demi Smith]

Alight, good. Now they could actually do the whole moving thing. Demi had already started, but she could feel Roxana holding for something. Demi looked up at the other girl as she spoke about trusting Demi. "Yeah, that's real stupid," Demi agreed wryly before looking away. She was actually starting to feel guilty about her thoughts of betrayal, and that bothered her more than she cared to admit. Dang it! Why did Roxana have to remind her so much of the people back home? Let alone being cool enough to actually earn respect, unlike so many of the idiots around here.

They kept moving, heading closer and closer to the settlement. "They won't have official guards or anything," Demi said, looking around, "but they might have, like, watchers or something? Sometimes there are people with powers that can keep a parameter well. Unless they're all high or something," Demi wrinkled her nose. She'd heard that some clans did that, and even some in her clan did. Helped with spiritual enlightenment or something.

Just seemed stupid to Demi.

"Do you have a plan?" She asked, lowering her voice now, sort of silently reemphasizing what she'd just said a moment before.

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana could tell that there was something going on in that little head of Demi's by the way the girl looked up at her. Roxana was pretty good at least reading body language to get a rough gauge on what was possibly going on in someone head. It was never as effective as a mind reader, but it helped out in a lot of situations and kept her alive. Demi voice how it was stupid to trust her, but Roxana didn't think so. Yes, there was a part of her that agreed that it was stupid but there was another part of her that felt like it did not hurt too much to trust the other girl.

She could not help but to care for her and actually want Demi to be alright. It was weird and Roxana didn't fully understand it, but she knew it was the only reason why she made this deal in the first place. It didn't actually have any benefit to her to allow Demi to come with her, at all. That had to mean that she was doing it for the other girl's sake, which was weird for her but it was too late to go back on anything. They had made a deal and so long as Demi kept her end of the deal then Roxana was going to keep hers.

Still, she was on her guard just in case Demi did end up deciding to break the trust Rox rarely gave anyone. They were moving, getting closer with each step, and Demi was actually giving Roxana valuable information. No doubt information her organization already knew, but if they didn't well this would be of great benefit to put in her report. "Noted. Should make checking things out relatively easy then." Roxana said, speaking softly as she was slowly getting into that ever familiar mode.

The mode in where she typically was sneaking in order to kill but had to keep in mind that no killing was allowed. Then there was a question. "Not at all. I was going to just adjust as the situation calls for it." Roxana answered in all honesty. She didn't really take the time to come up with a plan since she was doing this out of desire to allow Demi to be at least a little closer like the girl wanted. Normally her plans came from orders and since this was by her choice she was just going with it.

[Demi Smith]

Demi nodded, agreeing with Roxana's assessment of the whole situation, really. These people didn't strike her as being quite as prepared as Demi's clan happened to be. They probably adhered a bit more to the whole idea of everything being part of the Divine Will and the whole oneness with that sort of thing. Demi didn't really delve too much into the philosophy part if she didn't have to. She just hoped that at least Roxana had thought that through.

And, to Demi's slight surprise, that wasn't the case. She looked up at the girl, quirking a brow. Roxana always had a plan ,or at least she always acted like she did, which amounted to the same thing when it really came down to it. Demi looked ahead again. "So why don't we just, like, walk on up and start making demands and stuff? or maybe we can try and find one and beat them up for information."

She couldn't help but sound more than a little excited about this last prospect, the dirt and dust coating her almost rippling with the emotions surging through her.

[Roxana Strix]

If these people were not prepared, that just made things all the more easier for the two of them, and also meant a less chance of anything going wrong. It really all hinged on if Demi was going to keep her word or not. Roxana was certain she could keep them out of sight or handle someone the proper way if they were spotted. The way that didn't kill them but would have them waking up confused on what happened. All you had to do was make them black out fast enough and that was something Roxana was very good at doing. Death was still what she was best at but making sure that no one would really recall what happened to them, that were up there.

As for Roxana having a plan, she typically always did but that was because she didn't just interact with people for no reason. Every time she interacted with them on her terms it was because she had some 'hidden' agenda behind it and thus had several plans for how things could end up going just to make sure she would get the desired outcome. In this case, there was no hidden agenda. She had been asked to bring Demi back or they would send someone else and Rox decide to be the one to go get the girl. To be the one to try and make Demi feel better and it was for that reason she had no plan.

This was all just sort of being made up on the spot with Roxana thinking slightly ahead but she didn’t have a fully plan laid out. She didn't think they would really need on for looking around, but she was working up several ideas for what to do if they did get caught. Demi of course was speaking up a plan; a bad one, but a plan. "That is not what we are here to do. We are simply looking. Checking to see if there is anything we should be concerned about. Weapons, sacrificing, blood, stealing, kidnapping, and so on." Roxana explained to demi. There was nothing to demand or fight about when a simple look around would get them what they were here for.

[Demi Smith]

Looking, checking, yeah that made--- "What?" Demi burst, turning to face Roxana. "Did you say---they're---we're not murderers!" Demi flung her hands out, knowing she was getting louder. "We don't---we don't go around sacrificing people or letting out blood! Most of us don't even use weapons! I only trained with one because it's supposed to be super useful for learning how to control your power around stuff and they didn't know what my power would be!"

Demi threw a hand out toward the camp, sending out a lot more dirt and dust than expected, even causing the ground beneath her to rumble slightly, even stick up a bit. "WE'RE NOT EVIL!" she was shouting now, stomping. "WE JUST WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE!" She was crying again now, tears running rivers of mud down her face. "THAT'S IT! BUT YOU PEOPLE WANT TO KEEP SAYING WE'RE AWFUL SO YOU CAN FEEL BETTER ABOUT TREATING US--"

Demi had stopped, mostly because, well, there appeared to be a hippie of some kind coming up just behind Roxana. Turned out that if you shouted a lot near one of their camps that was a thing that would happen. Who would've thought?

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana understood that Demi was young, that she was affected greatly by her emotions, and that she could understand how Demi could take something the wrong way. No, the latter she could not understand. She never said that the clan was doing any of that specifically and simply stated what they were looking out for. That was what Rox would have to end up coming down to check later, to see if there was anything that would rise concern or make it apparent if this group of people were friend or foe. Demi had taken it person, which already had Roxana making a displeased expression as Demi started to yell and even move some dirt again.

Instant regret hit Roxana and she knew she should never have allowed her feelings towards Demi get in the way. She should have just told the girl to go back to the school or just went the whole knocking her out and carrying her back. All of this could have been avoided and she could already imagine the beating she would have gotten if this had been a direct mission assigned to her by her organization. This is why she hated emotions, they got in the way. "Demi, calm down right now." Roxana gave out the order, a little bit of agitation clear in her voice.

Demi was yelling and no doubt attracting attention. Roxana already had a crystal dagger ready in her hand and slipped further into her 'spy' more. She would be able to do a lot better at detecting a person near her now, even if another part of her was telling her to get rid of the one causing the problem. Dispose of Demi practically screamed at her and wanted her to end the younger girl's life for messing something up. However; Rox quickly and easily reminded herself that she could not do that. "You always say how you are not a child, but you are acting like one right now. Taking things personal instead of a statement being made to inform you why were are here." Roxana spoke up, clearly disappointed.

Then she felt it, someone was coming closer. Rox already felt her body starting to move, turn quickly and rush at the approaching person. Her body demanded to feel the familiar feeling that came over her when a target was annihilated, but that was not why she was here. There would be no death but she was not going to promise that no one was going to be injured. For now she just moved, forgetting about Demi as she went after the person to get them in a head lock. It would only take three seconds before they were passed out and likely only remembering thinking that they saw someone.

[Demi Smith]

Demi heard the order and she had already started to snap back, to insist that Roxana was the one who'd made this personal, who'd started slanderizing. She was the one taking this personally? "I'm not the one who's standing there calling people bloodthirsty murderers!" Demi yelled again, flinging her hands at the older girl, clearly ready to start jumping her and let them sort out their differences in the most primal of ways. Doubtless this would've been precisely what happened, and likely ended with Demi flat on her back and Roxana having to drag her unconscious body back to the school, had that poor scout not shown up.

Demi had whirled when Roxana did, and, to her credit, had flung some dirt toward where the spy's eyes would've been. The would came from the fact that Roxana had moved faster, pulling the guy down into a head lock. Demi surged forward then, ready to stop Roxana from killing, since that seemed to be on the older girl's mind. She glared up at Roxana as the guy stopped.

"He's out now," She said, looking down. "Or are you just gonna kill him, since he's apparently some kinda filthy murdering cultist?" she spat the last few words, infusing them with more venom than she'd had in some time. She just couldn't believe that those words had come from Roxana, someone she'd actually come to respect and trust...

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana could not help but to actually roll her eyes as Demi retorted that she was not the one calling anyone blood thirsty murders. Roxana was one hundred percent sure that she had never said anything like that. Yet again more proof that Demi was all about emotions and taking things the way she wanted to because she took something to heart. That always happened when someone let their emotions rule over them. Any comment that was said they took in a personal way and seemed to have heard something completely different then what had actually been said. "No one ever said that, except for you. Just now." Roxana pointed out, her tone still mostly even but there was still a bit of agitation there.

She would not let her emotions get the better of her, even if she was displeased that she had to deal with this sort of thing right now. After she had told Demi that she was putting trust in her and had been talking to her about her people. Obviously Rox was more so trying to understand Demi's people then she was making assumption about what they did, but Demi didn't seem to understand that. Dirt came Roxana's way but she just held her arm up to keep it from getting into her eyes and ignored it. She was not here to fight Demi but if the girl didn't get herself under control, she would.

There was the scout to deal with, who Demi also caught on was there, and even tossed some dirt at him; preventing him from seeing. That would help in the long run as well when they would come too in a few minutes or so. It didn't take long for the guy’s body to go limp, with Demi pointing out the obvious for some reason. That reason becoming clear with the younger girl's next statement as Roxana released her hold. "Stop." Roxana said once more as she stood up and dusted herself off. "I never said any of that. I said what were here for. To look for anything that we should be worried about and providing example." Roxana said, looking around then.

"Now we should leave. Clearly you are not ready to handle this when it’s so personal to you." Roxana said as she planned to just do this alone like she should have from the start. Now they just had to get out of here without running into anyone else or Demi attracting any more attention to them.