{MIW} Spot-Checking

[Roxana Strix]

There was that familiar click of the tongue, something Roxana had not heard in a while and thus had noticed it quickly. She could still recall when she asked if Elsa did that for a reason and had been trying to condition her. Rox never got a straight answer to that question and slightly wondered if she ever would. "I would not annihilate them, if that is your concern." Roxana spoke up as Elsa pointed out to keep her away from vegans. She had nothing against them as a collective, just thought they were foolish and would only get rid of them had she been order to. Simple as that.

Still, it was probably best if she did stay away from them or at the very least not speak to them or she would likely upset them. Rox was indeed basically a solider; among other things, so those who knew that about her could at least understand a bit better why she viewed things the way she did. Roxana personally thought that how she viewed things was purely logical and did not understand why others did not view it the same as well, but that was not something she would allow herself to think about too much. It was a waste of time. Elsa was then asking a question, one that she ended up sort of answering her own; or more accurately, coming up with an idea on her own.

Would the group like such a thing? Roxana was trying to think back to the things that Demi had told her and what she knew about the group on her own. Demi seemed to like to eat pretty much anything, but she was a growing young girl getting to experience new foods so that made sense. What about her people? Rox even looked like she was in though as she glanced away for a moment longer then she normally did as her mind worked through the possibilities and several ideas. "It could not hurt to give it to them. If they don't consume it, they might use it for training. Their biggest concern will be was the meat produced by fellow mutants." Roxana pointed out, knowing that was a very big deal to them.

There was a look then, one that Rox did get the meaning to and glanced away for a second as she quickly decided if she was going to address it or not. "I will accompany you when and if you decide to go check them out." Roxana responded, leaving it at that. Yes, she had checked them out. Yes, she had reported back to her organization, and yes they had a plan in store for her that likely involved a farewell. She did not wish to talk about such things and made sure to keep it far from her mind as her thoughts focused on these vegan dogs and why people would put such a thing in their body.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa couldn't help but laugh and shake her head as Roxana spoke about annihilating the vegans. Coming from anyone else, Elsa would simply think that to be a joke, plain and simple. Coming from Roxana, she had to wonder if there wasn't at least the smallest drop of truth in there. It just added more to the whole comedy of the situation.

Couldn't hurt, and the worst that would happen is that someone else would have to dispose of the product instead. Then there was the whole gesture aspect of it, which left Elsa having trouble seeing a downside to this. She stared at the stacks of vegetable patties for a while, considering.

"They have something about food being prepared only by fellow mutants?" she asked, looking over at Roxana. She'd heard bits and pieces, but Roxana was the one closest to the whole thing. For that matter, this was the first time that Elsa had gotten hard confirmation that they were actually dealing with Inherited. She'd suspected and gotten some hints in that direction, but this was most definitely the first solid clue she'd gotten.

"I expected as much, as you're the one who's already had some contact with them," Elsa said, tapping the crate. She looked over to Roxana. "is there anything we'd have to do to prepare it for them? Some sort of special ceremony or something?" Elsa was being quite serious; she knew that some religions had priests or other holy men bless food, and this could very well be the case here.

[Roxana Strix]

Elsa was laughing then, with Roxana just looking at her without saying or doing anything as she just accepted the fact that apparently what she had said had been funny. She had not been aware that she had made a joke, but she supposed that it could work well as a joke. Even if she was being dead serious about she would do it if she had been ordered, because it was an order and she followed them, for the most part. Still, it was good to hear Elsa laugh and Roxana tended to not have a problem with it to a certain extent, even if she could not always relate to the humor.

The focus went back to the vegan goods and what to do with them, with the suggestion of it not hurting to give them away being the best bet. Worse case, they would just be thrown away. Well, that was not really the worst case but Roxana liked to think that the probably of the little Inherited group losing their minds over receiving a gift of vegan goods would not send them into a war frenzy. The chances of that were currently only two percent and until other factors showed up, it was going to remain that low. There was a question. "They don't really like dealing with anything that has not been made by mutants. I guess you could think of them as the types to only wanting to deal with things created by those of their own kind." Roxana pointed out.

Clearly she should have made some kind of report to Elsa at the very least about these people, but her organization came first. No matter, she could let Elsa know a few things now and perhaps it would allow Elsa to be able to make some decent judgment calls with what she would suggest to the higher ups on how to deal with the guest. Roxana was not really concerned with the matter to much; it was no longer her place to worry about such a thing. Now she just mainly worried about what would be the outcome for those she cared about and grown close to while she was here.

Rox didn't say anything to Elsa first words about her having some contact with them, since it was true but she saw no reason to get into it. Yet another question, one that had Roxana raising an eyebrow for a moment before she glanced away for a second. "Not that I'm aware of." Roxana responded, nothing in her memory triggering at that question.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"Hmm," Elsa made the noise of consideration as she looked the product over. "Perhaps it may be in our best interest to have one of our people purify it or perhaps even outright cook it before handing it over. We'd want to make sure we weren't insulting them after all." Elsa tapped her fingers again, considering. Roxana insisted that there wasn't any particular method for preparing the food, but Elsa still wasn't fully convinced that they shouldn't try. At any rate, they definitely had a plan for this.

Which had Elsa looking back to Roxana, realizing there was something very important that she should have addressed before now. "How have the Security Squad measures been going?" she asked. "Will we have people ready for the cook out? We're going to need to be able to show off some advances in that and potentially have security planned out..."

And she really should walk the area with Roxana. that struck her as a good final task before they went their separate ways, and she already started walking that way, counting on Roxana to fall in step with her as she always did.

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana remained silent as Elsa was clearly thinking. Rox's mind wondering off for a moment as she considered if she should give Demi a call to check with her and see if she knew anything. It could even benefit them to allow Demi to come with them to drop it off, as a sign of good faith or something along those lines. Unless the little split groups didn't get along with the other clans, then that could pose a problem. So many unknowns. Roxana didn't like dealing with and she wondered if she should suggest Demi accompanying Elsa instead.

The problem with that idea was, would Demi actually protect Elsa if something bad were to happen or would she side with those she could count as her people? It was something to consider but for now Roxana occupied her thoughts mainly wondering if they should give them the vegan meat or just donate it to somewhere else in town. Roxana would leave it to Elsa's decision and just be on standby for what she would be better suited at handling. "I can try and call someone up who knows a bit more about the people if you want to be sure." Roxana suggested.

It didn't hurt to try and get a hold of Demi if Elsa agreed to it. A change in topic, one that Roxana could respond to without a shadow of a doubt. "Everything had been going smoothly and on time. We will have all members placed properly in time for the cookout. There might be a few late additions but the core group will be ready to help out." Roxana assured her, giving a small nod. Vera had been very helpful with all of it and even was likely going to be taking on some other objectives to help out further. That girl worked hard to the point that Roxana had no problem considering the girl her partner and trusting Vera to have her back.

Elsa was then moving, and of course Roxana fell into step following after the other girl like she was so accustomed to doing. She literally would not put it past her body to end up following Elsa if Elsa had just started to walk around in circles just to mess with her. She would catch on quick yes, but the fact remained that she would follow the other girl.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Travel with Demeter Smith? Elsa had to raise her brows at the suggestion. She'd never really encountered the other girl, mostly heard about her through reports, many of which had come from Roxana herself. Elsa was the one who hadn't been wholly convinced that the younger girl would be a solid choice for Alpha, but, well, she also recognized that both Vera and Roxana seemed to hold her in some esteem. "We'll see how it all works out," Elsa offered. Perhaps they could all three go together. If Demeter was connected, then having her along could be a very visible show of good faith after all.

Roxana of course proved herself more than capable again. Everything would be in order; there may be some small tweaking here and there, but nothing too major, nothing that Elsa should have to worry about all that much. And they were moving, and Roxana was falling in step with her.

"We're going to do one last sweep of the reception area," Elsa explained as they pulled away. "I want to make sure there are no real security vulnerabilities... and yes, I'm well aware that isn't really part of what we're supposed to do any more," fortunately their walking had drawn them fairly close to the reception area already. It wouldn't be long until they were there and ready to survey the area.

[Roxana Strix]

There was a raised brow in response to Roxana’s possible suggestion. She was not saying that she planned to just throw Demi at the older girl and leave the two to figure it out. Even if a part of her perhaps preferred that idea since she was supposed to be washing her hands of such things by now. Still, Roxana cared for Elsa and was also her body guard still so it was not like she was just going to leave Elsa all alone to Demi in such a situation that could risk Demi turning on them. In another situation, Rox honestly would have felt confident that that Demi would have been able to do at least a decent job at keeping Elsa safe.

Rox just gave a small nod in response to Elsa’s words on seeing how it would all work out. That was fine by Roxana and left it so that she didn’t really have to worry about such things at the moment. Everything was in order in regards to the squad and everything involving it. As should have been expected when Roxana had also been put in charge of making sure that it got done. That still did not lessen what Vera had done and was going to do, because the girl had contributed a lot. They were then moving again, walking in step with one another like it was basically second nature. Perhaps that too was a problem, but something for Rox to think about later as Elsa spoke up about what they were going to do now.

“Understood.” Roxana simply responded. It might not have been part of what they were supposed to do, but if it would help Elsa feel better, then so be it. Plus it didn’t hurt to just be one hundred percent sure that everything was up to code and standard. Rox’s head was already looking around, tracking people’s movements, checking in on conversations in passing, and in general just getting the layout of everything around her. Hopefully Elsa was not listening in for the sake of avoiding a possible headache from the multiple thoughts at once going around Rox’s head.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"The Academy's going to be open for these events, is right now," Elsa pointed out as they kept walking. Roxana understood, said she did, and Elsa had little doubt that the other girl actually comprehended. Elsa was even willing to wager that Roxana was one of the few people out there who well and truly understood where Elsa stood and what she meant and why she kept doing what she did. Which was precisely why it was Roxana walking with her now.

"They're going to be on the lookout, obviously, but I also want us to be ready. We've put together a squad, and from what I've seen, we're even more diverse and outright larger than we've been in some time. We need to pull those people together, to show that we're capable," they were entering the reception area, which was fairly peaceful compared to the courtyard. Elsa looked around, her arms folded. "And this is just an awful area for so many reasons," she sighed, remembering how this spot had served as the launching point for Priya Kaur and everything that happened there.

Well, at least they probably weren't inviting a snake into their midst this time. Elsa looked around. "Did you know that this is one of the places with more alcohol and drugs stored than anywhere else in the academy? Well, perhaps not the greenhouse," Elsa moved forward to one of the hedge lined "walls" of the area, reaching down to dig for a moment. Soon she had a wine bottle out, wiggling it in Roxana's direction.

[Roxana Strix]

"Foolish on the school's part but also smart considering it shows any of those who doubt what the school is capable of, that we are not going to let bad events stop us…from allowing the student to grow and experience a variety of events in their time here." Roxana responded. There was a slight pause after the us because it was odd for her to count BA amongst herself, since it took a long time for her to actually accept that this place was also her home. It still did not feel like it was all the time, but there were a few times where Roxana could not help but to want to protect the place.

She wanted to protect those she had comes to admire and most certainly wanted to protect it because it held the name of the girl she was with right now. It went past her feelings for the girl and to the level of just wanting to see just how far Elsa could go and what she would be capable of. Elsa had already proven herself time and time again with very few hiccups along the way, but she was human so they were to be expected. She listened the whole time Elsa spoke of what was in place and how things appeared to be in good shape on their end. Roxana just gave a slight nod, not overly worried about things on the schools in.

Everything was in place for the event to go smoothly and the students would at the very least be safe should anything awful happen. She fully agreed that such an area was not good to hold an event that you were allowing those from the outside to come, but she knew there would be no point in trying to go for another location. The school would still go about things how it desired and it was just her job; along with several others, to make sure things worked out smoothly and everyone was safe. "I am aware that many likes to hide things in this location. A few times I have sent someone or gone through myself to collect things to dispose of, but it never remains free of such products." Roxana responded.

At this point she had not worried about it too much unless she had been asked to go do a sweep and clearly students didn't learn. Elsa was then digging around a hedge along the wall before she produced a wine bottle. Roxana raised a brow for a moment, asking that silent question before she would actually say it. "Are you certain it is wise for you to be drinking?" Roxana asked. Elsa was a grown woman so she was allowed to do as she liked, but Rox would not stand by and let Elsa drain the bottle by herself.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

They were going to keep going; everyone knew that. Elsa had been setting them on the path, helping as much as she could. She had faith in the school, in the people around her, the community. This place would keep going for some time; Elsa had the utmost faith in that, and it extended far beyond just her.

Still, that didn't mean they shouldn't do their part. Hence why they were in the area and looking about for any potential security risks. It didn't surprise Elsa at all to hear that Roxana knew about the place's reputation, nor was it surprising to hear that Roxana policed it fairly regularly. "Everyone needs outlets," Elsa replied, flicking a hand. She didn't care that much about drinking laws... obviously. As far as she was concerned, people should be allowed to have their little vices so long as they didn't extend and do too much damage to the people or place around them.

Plus, where else would Elsa be able to dig up a bottle of wine? She saw the raised brow and felt the question right before Roxana asked it. "That's just insulting," Elsa said, before walking forward. "To think that I'd actually drink this dredge," she held out the bottle for Roxana, raising her brow. "I should make you have to sort through and find every bit of alcohol and drugs as punishment. Seems fitting, don't you think?"

[Roxana Strix]

Everyone needed an outlet; yes, Roxana supposed it was true. However; there were healthy outlets that didn’t damage your body or mind. That was what healthy hobbies were for like, painting, dancing, singing, photography, horseback riding, and so on that the list seemed like it would never end. Those were good outlets and ones that people should have strived to go for. Why it had been proven that an alcoholic beverage here and there was fine, constant consumption was not. Perhaps it was yet again a side-effect of her training and how she was raised as to why she thought this way. Not that it mattered too much.

Elsa seemed to be insulted, or at the very least displeased that Rox would assume that Elsa would drink such a thing. Well, if you really wanted some alcohol then you would not be too picky about the quality of it so at the very least Elsa was most certainly out of her drowning herself in drinks phase. Then again, she could still be doing it in secrete and still was picky. Elsa seemed like she would still be the picky type no matter how low she would fall into something. “I made it my business to stay out of your business when it comes to your consumption of adult beverages.” Roxana responded. She did not want Elsa to be an alcoholic but she also had stepped back from that, not feeling that it was her place given their relationship.

That status had been made clear recently; that they were in fact friends, so now she did have a reason to be in Elsa’s drinking business. Elsa was holding out the bottle, Rox just looked at it, and was almost tempted to tell Elsa to put it back. She had not come here to do a sweep and collect everything that was hidden here. However; if that was what Elsa really wanted to do, then she would if the other girl participated in the collecting and disposing of said products. “No. Does not seem like a fitting punishment.” Rox responded, her tone still the same as ever but she was giving Elsa a look. Elsa punishment was always so tamed and honestly Rox preferred something that she could feel, it was what she was used to.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

In actuality Roxana had hit a little too close to home with her assumptions. Elsa knew that she had a weakness here, would always have the problem with alcohol now. She'd have been a complete wreck if enough people hadn't intervened. Hell, without Felix she very likely still would've been a wreck. To hear that someone she trusted and liked would immediately jump to the conclusion that she'd go right back... it hurt.

"You really need to work on how this friendship thing works," Elsa informed Roxana. "I suggest finding Frank; she's supposed to be the expert," or at least the bubbly blonde seemed to think so. Elsa adjusted her grip on the bottle, looking it over. It seemed cheap, probably something that had been smuggled out of one of the local stores, or even one of the bars that wasn't too stringent about checking IDs. Elsa sighed and tapped the bottle, considering.

"Still seems fair to me," Elsa said, before looking around again. "I bet I can even make it related to security somehow. Something about how we need to know all the little hiding spots in here so that we're not surprised," Elsa bounced her brows and held the bottle out, extended toward Roxana. "Here, you'd better take it," she leaned forward, "so I'm not tempted."

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana had not meant to be mean or imply that Elsa was going to fall back into that drinking problem she had a while back. She was simply being honest and asking if it was wise for Elsa to drink or even be around drinks. Rox understood how addictions worked on some level and for some even being around the substance could trigger them to desire the substance again. Since Roxana had stopped prying into Elsa's drinking problem since that conversation that had about it, she was not aware of the level of recovery Elsa had gone through or if she still had the problem.

Their relationship status might have been confirmed friendship, but that didn't mean Rox was aware of what she was allowed to speak her mind about. "I have not had many people that I was honestly friends with and I'm still trying to understand what things I'm supposed to, allowed to, and not talk to you about." Roxana admitted. She figured the other girl would know or at the very least understand that. It was not like Roxana could just flip a switch and become the best friend in the world for a person, not unless she took on a role and was not actually herself.

Elsa said that it seemed fair to her that Roxana had to go through and basically clean up; work that still did not feel like fit her skill asset. She just glanced away for a second before moving to take the bottle from the other girl. There was no point in trying to plead a case or say otherwise with Elsa when it was clear the girl was set on this. There was that comment then that made it click that Rox had possibly hurt Elsa's feelings. "I didn't..." Roxana started before she just took a deep breath and moved to start searching the area. Sometimes she felt like the other girl hated her on some level. Yet again just confirming how bad emotions were.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"There are plenty of things you're allowed to talk about," Elsa replied, sounding almost casual. She moved to lean against one of the benches in the area, looking around, scanning it. "In point of fact, most subjects are open when it comes to friends and so forth. And for the love of God, stop the pity crap. We both know that I don't expect you to offer to braid my hair," as if Roxana didn't realize how Elsa thought by now, not to mention how the brunette was almost always scanning thoughts, literally couldn't help it whenever around someone like Roxana.

"And no, I don't hate you. If I did, I wouldn't care that you apparently think I'm still a lush," Elsa replied. She knew her emotions were bubbling up now, but she was very nearly to the point of not caring. "See," she pointed at Roxana, "that's not a fight you have. But with me, every time I see alcohol I have to consider just taking a sip, remembering what it was like not to feel not to think for those few moments. To have that comforting warmth again. To lose myself, because let's face it: sometimes Elsa Bellefonte is a fucking ugly bitch that nobody loves. So you'll just forgive me if I get just a little upset when one of my closest friends casually assumes, intentionally or not, that I'm going to lose one of the hardest damn battles of my life."

Elsa paused for a moment, then jerked her head toward a corner. "There's some Cognac in that corner. That's actually mine."

[Roxana Strix]

Roxana listened as Elsa explained that there were a lot of things that they could talk about, but Rox was still not too sure about that. There were a lot of thing that Roxana could not just tell the other girl in the first place and the things that she figured that she could say, the other girl would not care to know. She had been wrong about that before, but how was she ever supposed to know that Elsa would have cared about her sleeping with something. It was clear that she had a lot of work ahead of her in order to be a 'friend' to the other girl, but was there any point in trying at this point?

Blue eyes looked to Elsa when she pointed out that 'stop the pity crap'. That had Rox looking confused for a moment, not aware that she was getting that reaction out of Elsa. The other girl should have known that Rox didn't want that in the slightest. "I don't want your pity." Rox responded, hesitating for a moment before she went to say more. "Did you want me to braid your hair?" Roxana then asked, because yes she did actually want to play with Elsa's hair. She enjoyed the way hair felt between her fingers but just never thought to ask the other girl because she honestly expected to get a lot of no or dry comments in response to the questions Rox did desire to ask at rimes.

Elsa said that she didn't hate her and if she didn't then she would care that Rox thought that she was lush. That again had Roxana pausing, debating if she should ask a question or no and figured based on what Elsa said earlier it was best to just ask it. "So you do care that I view you that way?" Rox asked, wanting to make sure she understood what Elsa had said correctly. They were still friends, Elsa made it clear she didn't feel that way in the slightest for Rox, but had that changed? Rox could have been over analyzing things again, which was why she was not fully expecting to hear a certain response.

Rox moved about to work on gathering things that were hidden, checking the regular spots and also other locations that people might have spotted when they were getting all creative about hiding their narcotics and alcohol. She still listened as Elsa spoke about the drinking and how she did think about what it would be like to have a ship again and just go numb to thing. Rox was aware of people that did that, but in her family it had been mainly used to dull ones sense of pain when they had a job to get done and that was what she used it for. Now a small part of her contemplated drinking enough to go numb to the feelings she did not desire to have, but knew it would take a lot of alcohol for her to get to that point.

"I...apologize for upsetting you and know that it's not true, about no one loving you because there are people that do." Roxana responded, resuming collecting things again, looking to where Elsa pointed before going to check. She debated yet again asking another question but kept it to herself, knowing that Elsa would probably pick up on the thought of wondering if it really was Elsa's drink or if she was just saying that because she was still upset with Rox.