Merde Alors!

[François Laffont]

Damn it. People needed to watch out. Franck was now hopping on one foot all the way to the couch. After dropping on it, he lifted his pants’ leg. His foot seemed fine. A bit red but you wouldn’t expect anything else when someone just ran into you, walked on said foot and ankle, making you both fall to the floor. He moved it. It hurt but he didn’t think it was broken or anything. It would hurt a lot more he assumed. It did, of course. He could really use some ice right now. He tried to look behind him at the few people in the lounge. Was there anyone with an ice ability? He didn’t know everyone of course but he’d argue for it not to be the case.

François sighed heavily as he replaced the bottom of his pants properly over his shoe. He bent over and grabbed the small table there was between the couches there, pulling it closer to him. He shook his head in a dismissive way when someone asked if he was alright. He didn't need to burden someone with it, he’d be fine. Well, for now, he’ll just rest his foot on the table. He’ll see later if it swells or something, then he’ll go see a nurse.

What were people thinking, running around like this? Was he in some sort of race and couldn’t care less about the other people in the way? It was one thing to push someone because you were in a hurry, but that guy went beyond that. He acted as if he didn't see Franck at all, he ran straight to him, and nearly twisted his ankle. What did he do after? He got up and, not caring about the one he tossed to the floor, kept running. Some people looked at the scene but Franck seemed fine enough for them not to bother helping him. After all, he got up and it was natural for his body to be sore a bit after such an impact.

Great, now Franck felt like some grumpy old man! He was ready to give the one who just ran into him an excuse. He simply wished to know it. Or hear an apology for what happened. But no, he probably would never get any of those. It was not like Franck took the time to check who ran into him.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa snagged the man who was in far too much of a hurry, turning her hard eyes on him. Several seconds of hard staring ticked steadily by, with Elsa Bellefonte's unnerving gaze locked into the other guy. For his part, he sputtered and spat, pointing behind him and saying something. Clearly Elsa didn't care. She tugged his arm, walking.

"Don't even think about it," she said as he moved, her eyes flicking slightly. "I'm exactly who you think I am," and boy, hadn't the rumor mill been great for that lately? Elsa's reputation had skyrocketed, though likely not in a manner that would make most people happy. But Elsa was a Bellefonte; she knew how to use situations, especially situations like this, to her advantage. So she did, dragging the person back into the room.

She turned him, pointed him at Franck. Elsa had picked up Franck's thoughts during a routine skim and had just happened to be in the right place at the right time. The result marched before her now, albeit reluctantly. In something akin to irony, he practically frog-marched his way toward Franck.

"I believe you owe him an apology, at the least," said Elsa, pointing. she looked over at Franck, her expression momentarily unreadable, while a stew of emotions bubbled under that serene surface.

[François Laffont]

At first, Franck thought it was Erika who brought him some guy. He bet Elsa got it a lot, which of course didn’t mean she was used to it or no longer care. But it didn’t take long for the French boy to understand this was not his friend but her twin sister. It seemed so easy for him, his power doing all the work, pointing out the differences of character the sisters had to tell him exactly which one he was talking to. He did wonder why she was dragging some guy his way. And then he took a better look at the guy. Franck straightened up on the couch as he recognized him, more from his silhouette and the emotions he was getting from him than because he had a good look at his face. Because he obviously didn’t have the time to get his measurements and facial features when he ran into him.

Franck did wonder why Elsa did this for him. Perhaps she did it more to force that guy to obey the rules of the school. Not that he considered Elsa particularly cold-hearted, or lacking a heart for that matter, but he considered her more of an opportunist. He failed to see what she’d get from this. He was also surprised she knew what happened or the fact he was the one responsible but he decided to leave it in the funny coincidences category and forget about it.

Studying both their faces, Franck got the mix of emotions coming from the pair. He wasn’t entirely sure who owned what in there but he could guess. He could, that is, if he wasn’t so surprised to feel so much coming from the girl as he was pretty certain most of those feelings were hers. The student apologized. He clearly didn’t feel sorry at all or if he did, it was to have been snatched by Elsa, not for what he did. “You’re lucky you didn’t break my ankle,” Franck replied to his apology but he still gave Elsa a nod. Personally, he didn’t care. It was enough for him. The guy would probably not understand anyway and Franck didn’t want to start an argument. He was still wondering why he ran away but figured he had as much chance to learn it as he had to get a genuine apology from him. Not to add that he was getting more interested about Elsa than her prisoner.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa wasn't entirely certain what she was doing there either. Probably just her guilty feelings bubbling up and forcing her to do... something or something. She did know that she thoroughly enjoyed presenting the person who'd effectively harmed Franck to him. Not that Elsa expected Franck to do anything major to him.

Indeed, nothing major occurred. Franck responded to the coerced apology in a way that actually had the doer of said act apologizing sincerely after, his head bowed. He looked at Elsa, and she flicked her hand, letting him go. No need to continue bothering him if it wasn't going to produce any noticeable results. Elsa stood silently for a while, watching him go.

"I would've given him more than that," she told Franck, finally turning to look at him. She nodded, then continued: "But that's the difference between you and me, I suppose. One could also claim that it's the difference between an empath and a telepath but," she waved a hand dismissively, then stood still for a few moments, wondering what she actually wanted here. Elsa did know there were things she wanted to talk about with Franck, but she also knew that the Frenchman barely tolerated her. Made things difficult to address certain subjects.

Unless you were Elsa Bellefonte, who could always fall back on snark and derision whenever she needed to communicate: "I see you finally managed to end up on Dirty Laundry's line," she raised a brow, then smirked, "but it seems the clean one likes you. I don't know what that counts for though: he's an imbecile."

[François Laffont]

Franck had mixed feelings towards Elsa right now. He never had anything against her really in the past. He had to admit they were not thinking the same way. The way she could feed someone to the wolves to preserve her sister did make him feel slightly uncomfortable. Franck wanted to believe, he was certain there was some good in her. She did love her sister and tried to protect her the best she could. But there was also a darker side to her. And he knew now that she had a part of responsibility in what happened to Felix.

This was unbelievable, all that happened at the prom and even prior to it. So surreal. He could recall what Felix said, before going to the rescue mission, that Erika had changed, that he wasn’t certain they were even friends now. And then Erika’s version, at prom. It was her sister. All of this created such a mess, one that might have been prevented had Elsa simply told Felix who she was. Well, he still lacked Elsa’s version and she could decide not to give it to him. It wasn’t exactly of his business after all. But he wanted to know. Because he wanted to fix things between his two friends. And for that, he needed Elsa’s version.

This made the boy she brought to him even less important. He did seem to realize now just what he caused to Franck and appeared like he was a bit more sorry about it. But he clearly just wanted to go. And Franck was not holding him any longer. “I bet you would,” he replied. He didn’t mean it in a cruel, judgemental way but he just realized it might sound like it. “Unless that guy could heal people, I don’t see what else he could have done,” he added, hoping it would make his previous statement less cruel. He hated sounding cruel, even if he probably looked pretty soft compared to what Elsa could give.

Franck returned his attention to his ankle. “Do you think it’s swelling?” he asked. He wasn’t sure. It was a bit red but that didn’t mean a thing. It was also painful but still tolerable. His mind was brought elsewhere however as Elsa not only stayed there but chose to talk to him again. He frowned a bit as she talked of both Laundries. “I kind of like his blog. I get what he wants to do, I think he’s just a bit clumsy at times,” he answered. But he didn’t care about either of them or what they wrote. Something else was bothering him. “What do you want?”

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"Point," agreed Elsa, looking the way of the guy for a little longer. She was tempted to add more, to point out that it wasn't a matter of what he could do for Franck now, but what could be done in the future. That felt like lecturing and, well, Elsa didn't feel like she should be lecturing Franck. Some guilty part of her almost felt like it should be the other way around.

She looked down at the ankle, even bending down slightly. "Maybe a little. Just elevate it; I'm sure it'll be fine," Elsa couldn't help but sound slightly dismissive. She hadn't come here to talk about ankles, after all, though, well, when Franck outright asked what she wanted, she could only sigh. Leave it to the empath to get to the heart of matters. Then again, he had let her drag his tormentor before him, and there had been the bit where she'd talked of the blogs. Strange that he liked the idiot's; she'd already had to put notice on that one.

"If I knew that, I'd either have opened with it or we wouldn't be talking at all," Elsa admitted, turning to look Franck in the eyes. "I suppose a lot of it has to do with the... mess around... Felix," too many pauses: Elsa almost clicked her tongue in annoyance. "I'm curious to hear what your take on all of... it is." Great, she didn't manage to get the pause out even then.

[François Laffont]

Franck knew there was a big difference between the two. It must be in the way they were raised. Elsa valued people as to what they could bring to her, if not now, in a possible future. Franck was not. He was raised being thought that when you did good to someone only to expect something in return, it was not an act of kindness and would not help buying yourself a place in heaven. Yes, Franck still believed all that religious crap, despite everything that he was and what happened to him. It was why he wanted to help people whenever he could. Maybe he was being manipulated from time to time. But at least he could rightfully say he was being the best he could.

François did not bother much about the way she dismissed his ankle problem. She said it might be swelling a little and it was all he wanted to know. He didn't have much anything to elevate his foot however so he used the couch, resting his head on one arm of it, his foot on the other one. That did mean Elsa or anyone else would not be able to use said couch as he was taking the place. well, they could if they wanted to have his legs stretched over them but they would be disturbing a much needed discussion between Elsa and Franck so it was best for no one to come around.

Now that his ankle should be fine, provided no one decided to bump into it anymore, he could focus on the girl. All that happened came back to him and Franck tried to sort it out. Felix must have told her he loved her, thinking it was Erika he was talking to. He had no idea what exactly had been said but after that Felix had the feeling not only she did not want of him as a boyfriend, but also put an end to their friendship. That alone was enough for Franck to be slightly hostile towards her. Why did she have and pretend she was Erika? When she realized how important what he said to her was, why didn't she admit she was Elsa and not her twin? He did find it a bit weird Felix could not tell them apart but Franck knew he could mostly because of his empathic skills.

Elsa had to bring Felix. So, she wanted to come clean, explain her side of the story? Franck knew he had no right to demand it, since it had nothing to do with him. But he wanted to know why his two best friends had to end up in such an emotional state. He tried not to look too pissed at Elsa. But it was hard, for every time he thought about it, he recalled the emotional state he found Felix before he went to rescue Erika, and then at prom. “All I know is that apparently Felix admit his love to Erika... to you. Next thing I know, Felix is certain your sister changed so much they could never be friends again. I suppose it’s also because it was you and not her?” he replied to her after she asked what he knew of this. “What I don’t understand is why you let him think you were Erika when he was telling you how much he loved her,” he added, his tone harder than he meant to. Elsa didn’t strike him as one who enjoyed making people suffer for the sheer fun of it. Not to add it would also hurt Erika and the girl loved and protected her twin against everything. But he failed to see what she meant to achieve doing this.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Next time, Elsa was stomping on the ankle instead of treating it. Hostility should've been expected though, the way Elsa acted to and around people. She held her tongue as she picked up a few of the thoughts drifting through Franck's mind. Something told her that addressing thoughts would not win her any favors right now, no matter how much the words burned on the tip of her tongue.

Franck's explanation actually saddened Elsa slightly, and yes, that emotional response was possible for the girl. Hearing how badly Felix took it... didn't surprise her as much as it probably should've. She had talked to him before talking to Franck after all; they'd... had quite a discussion about it, in fact. She did nod at Franck's guess, seeing as that had been the conclusion she'd drawn and more or less discussed with him.

The confusion was actually to be expected, and aggression almost helped. Elsa could go on the defensive then, where she worked best. "I let everyone think I was Erika," she said, speaking slowly and clearly, "because I actually thought she'd run away with someone. She'd been talking about it, and I didn't want to cause her any pain or frustration or some kind of manhunt. Yes, I am aware of the irony there. As for the other part..." Elsa trailed off, looking away for a moment. She took a deep breath then looked back at Franck. "It's complicated."

[François Laffont]

When he felt some annoyance out of Elsa, Franck remembered he was talking to a telepath. They both had to watch themselves if they didn’t want to reveal more than they meant to. She could read his thoughts and he could feel her emotions. He would have to be more careful than that. Even though he never expected to be friends with Elsa, she was Erika’s twin sister and he didn’t want to count her as an enemy. Not to add that he let his feelings take the best of him and nearly ruin his friendship with Erika. He didn’t want to make the same mistake with Elsa. Franck knew he could be emotional, it was a side-effect of his power, but he never thought he could be to that extent.

Still, even if he did pick some sadness coming out of the girl, Franck couldn’t fully forgive her. He had the feeling all the this would not have blown out of proportions had she not pretended to be Erika. Felix would have waited to find the girl, they would have learned she was kidnapped. Later he might have told her about his feelings and obviously been turned down but he would have been able to deal with it. Instead, a friendship was destroyed. Perhaps he couldn’t forgive Elsa because he also blamed himself for it. He pushed Felix to talk to Erika. He had a part of responsibility in all of this and he could not deal with it.

“Ellen told me that, that she planned it with you when Erika asked some time out of all the drama. But we’re not talking about hiding her there. You could have just told Felix you were Elsa and didn’t know where your sister was at the moment, something,” he pointed out. At this point, Franck had not the strength to be mad over the fact Elsa hid her sister’s disappearance. Anyway, she probably felt bad enough already, knowing what happened next. It came from a good intention and blew up in her face. He knew that feeling all too well. He frowned when she said it was complicated. “How?” he asked. He thought his suggestion was logical. Of course, maybe she thought about it after it happened but by then it was too late. Who’s to say. Franck sighed heavily. “We made a pretty mess with all of this,” he added on a calm tone. He said we since he considered himself responsible also and wanted her to know it. At this point, he was wondering if it was still worth talking about it.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Note to self: be careful trusting Ellen Banks. Then again, Franck did end up being the bent ear toward so very many people, didn't he? Erika, Ellen, Elsa, Frank, Felix, who knows who else ended up confiding in the empathetic Frenchman. That made him dangerous, though not in a way that Else knew how to handle properly.

It would surprise Franck to know that Elsa didn't, in fact, have much guilt from helping her sister. She'd do it again, though she'd also be a little more thorough in figuring out what happened to Erika in the future. They'd develop something there. But if Franck wondered about this specific instance, this mess with Felix... yes, Elsa did wish she handled that better, though perhaps if she had, then she wouldn't have been the one to hear those words...

"It's definitely a mess," agreed Elsa. she looked at Franck, blinked. "Though I'm not sure why you're including yourself in that. Unless you're whispering suggestions in Felix's ear, you're probably the least guilty party in all of this," Elsa paused for a moment, considering Franck again. She couldn't help but let some of that calculation slide in her gaze, as she weighed and measured him. Normally people came up wanting when she looked at them like that. Franck rarely did.

"Don't blame yourself for the troubles the rest of us have gotten ourselves into, Franck," she said, blinking and looking away. "I don't need someone else attempting to help shoulder imaginary burdens."

[François Laffont]

François was not surprised that he slowly became the ear and shoulder to lean on to so many people. His power helped greatly for that. Others might not understand, not believe you, but Franck could feel exactly how you feel. And he was a great listener. What he found surprising was the number of people who considered this gift of his a threat. Ellen, for example, hated him only because he could tell she had a softer side and that she loved Erika. As for Elsa... well, he wouldn’t quite say she disliked him but she knew of her opportunistic streak. Knowing so much about all the most popular, and richest, kids of this school, she must consider it a power. Franck was not seeing it like this of course and the only one he used such knowledge against was Ellen, and only to get her off his back. He didn’t want to betray his friends’ secrets, even less use it against them. He wouldn’t even think of doing it, unlike her apparently.

Franck knew he could be mad for Elsa’s bad judgement all he wanted, it happened and there was nothing they could do about it now. If he knew one thing about the girl, it was that she loved her sister. He could not see her pulling this act if she thought for one second that Erika was in danger. No, they all had good intentions there. But the path to Hell was paved with those or so they say.

He stared at Elsa when she pointed out he should not include himself in this. So she decided not to read his thoughts for once? Or perhaps they were too confused for her to pick them up right. He straightened a bit on the couch while trying to keep his leg up. “Maybe I am but I’m still the one who yelled at your sister instead of trying to understand what happened and help both of them,” he replied. He wasn’t sure if Elsa could understand why he felt guilty. Their personalities were rather at the opposite of each other.

“So you don’t regret anything?” he asked her when she called them imaginary burdens. He paused a moment, thinking about it. “I suppose it’s a bit late for regrets. And it won’t lead us anywhere. Thinking about what else we could have done, it’s useless,” he thought out loud. As he seemed to have reached this conclusion, he sighed and shrugged it off before looking at Elsa again. “You better talk to Felix, if you haven’t already. You owe him an explanation far more than you owe one to me.”

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"She deserves to be yelled at from time to time," replied Elsa, only sounding a little amused. People could yell at Erika all they wanted, especially if it involved some of her more foolish decisions. Elsa couldn't always be there to upbraid her sister for the more foolish, emotional mistakes she made. Besides, considering how Elsa's own emotions so often acted as her weakpoint, well, sometimes it was easier not to even dip a toe in the waters of hypocrisy.

She remained silent while Franck asked her. She almost laughed. Regret? Regret making decisions that killed people? Regret hurting people who cared about her, about Erika? Regret where they'd ended up? How Elsa had all but used the situation to end SPECTRE?

"I never said I didn't have regrets, and I've... spoken with Felix too," and more, but Elsa certainly didn't want to discuss that with Franck, or, at least, not before she worked it out with Erika. Just talking to Roxana had made things awkward enough without adding more people into the mix. Besides, Erika could forgive Elsa talking to a "friend," but not likely Franck, considering... everything.

No, Franck could find out that Felix and Elsa kissed from someone else, thank you.

[François Laffont]

Franck stared up at Elsa. He thought the same, to be honest. Sometimes, Erika needed to be shaken a little. He loved the girl but sometimes he had the feeling she was asking for drama to come her way. She didn’t seem to realize at all. She could say she no longer cared about the Dirty Laundry but it caused more damage than that. As a friend, Franck tried to wake her up to this from time to time but she didn’t want to hurt her while doing this. Although, he might have done just that during prom.

Again, Franck wondered if she bothered reading his thoughts while conversing with him. He thought Elsa quite able to do so. She proved it in the past. But she also admitted she had to do it, it was not her power acting up without her meaning to. Maybe she considered his thoughts not really worth checking. He couldn’t be sure, he never fully understood Elsa. Perhaps because they were too different on some points.

Even though she tried to act her ironic, dry self, nearly laughing at his comment, he felt deep down inside what it put her through. He forgot about his foot until he sat straight and turned to face her, forcing his ankle to move which made him grunt and remember why he stood this way. But he still remained in that position. “I meant, you don’t regret your deception on Felix? I never thought you were cold enough not to care for what happened,” he specified. He didn’t want Elsa to think he might question whether or not she regretted SPECTRE and what followed. “I won’t give you my support about this because I know you don’t need nor want it. But don’t forget what my power is. I know you’re not always as icy as the Laundry likes to think,” he added. That might be a bit presumptuous, considering he didn’t her know that well. But he knew enough, he believed, to say such a thing. And hopefully no one heard he just claimed that Elsa Bellefonte was made of marshmallow inside.

Franck had to restrained himself from asking more details when she said she did speak to Felix. It was not his problem and he needed to stop messing up with other people’s business. “How did it go?” he still asked. What, he could ask that! It was not like he was asking for details, only to know if he needed to scoop the pieces of his friend’s heart before putting them all back together.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Regret the deception? Partially. Not at all. That was the whole complicated, nearly untouchable mess. Elsa certainly didn't want to go digging in there and see what she turned up. Too many complications wrapped up there. That Franck mentioned his own power, and how he could, probably had, used it to crack her icy exterior made Elsa grimace slightly. He was smarter than he looked, and his teeth were sharper as well.

"You really should've stuck with your initial thoughts," Elsa coolly replied to Franck's question, her eyes meeting his. "As it's hardly your business," she hesitated, fighting to control her emotions. She was at least glad that their positions weren't reversed. The last thing she wanted was to know what Franck felt toward her right now. She certainly didn't want him thinking about what passed her mind at that moment: her lips gracing Felix's... twice, once for each of them.

"But since you're going to dig around and find out anyway: it went well," she supplied, gesturing toward him with one hand as if handing him a gift. If he wanted to be confrontational, she'd fire right back. "He forgave me, and everything's perfectly fine between us," someone could chill drinks with the ice in her tone. She paused for a moment though, shifting. She looked away. Her brow crinkled for a moment.

"You," she began, pausing to look at him, her voice wavering for a moment, "you might--you should probably ask him about it though. He'll probably want someone to talk to," there, that should be enough for him, right?

[François Laffont]

Elsa replied to him and it was now clear that she read his mind. He was not as mad as he should, truthfully. If she read that he considered what happened between Felix and her as none of his business, she read the rest no doubt. Franck had been too busy sensing her emotions to really noticed if she did but he supposed, if he chose to focus, that he might feel her mind digging through his current thoughts. Oh well, he would let her. For now. He didn’t think he was thinking anything shameful at this right moment. The day he’ll think of some sexy specimen of male and what he could do with him, he’ll ask her to get out.

He noticed how she suddenly went on the defensive, like trying to push him away or something. “Why do you guys always act like I can be a threat to you because of my power? Relax, I won’t. You don’t have the ability to suppress all of your emotions anyway. And I’m not touching you, it’s not like I can read more than what you’re feeling right now,” he told her. He said it a little harsher than he meant to. But he didn’t understand that attitude. Alright, you were guarded. But it was not like Franck meant to use the fact she had a soft interior against her. “Why do you feel the need to let everyone think your ice-cold?” he asked. He couldn’t take it if someone thought he was snobbish or mean or anything of the like. He was unable to see the advantage of appearing cold to people and not let them see you could be nice also.

He gave her a little smile when she assured him the conversation with Felix went well. He would even sigh of relief but that might be a little too much. He nodded, not really caring about her tone. Like he said, perceiving her emotions on the surface told him a different story. He frowned a little when she said he should talk to Felix, grimaced even. “I’d do that but I’m not sure he will want to talk to me right now,” he replied. He tried to chase Felix from his mind. The last thing he wanted was for Elsa to find in there that Franck kissed him.