Feeling

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa stared at her cup, her brow furrowing. This was perhaps the most difficult person to approach, of all the ones that she hoped to approach and potentially recruit. Most of her "council" liked her, or at least acted friendly enough to her that she didn't have to worry overmuch. Her relationship with Franck, on the other hand was.... strained, at best. The Felix situation had complicated a complicated relationship one step further, and now Elsa wasn't entirely certain where she stood.

Yet she knew that she needed him. People had noticed his tendency to be behind the scenes, to be the emotional pillar of the community. More importantly, Elsa had noticed; she'd noticed that he could read people almost as well as she could and, almost as importantly, he had an instinctive feeling for what was best.

"Ugh," she said to herself, crinkled her nose as she looked at the cup, "you're the Headmistress of the school with your co-headmistress's backing, and you're worrying about a random Frenchmen saying yes to your proposal." She let out another unladylike snort before turning as she heard the door open.

Hopefully meeting Franck in a coffee shop would help put him at ease, in addition to potentially throwing people off Elsa's trail. She wasn't entirely convinced that they didn't have enemies, and, unlike her sister, she certainly didn't trust the newest security hires...

François Laffont

[François Laffont]

François was not aware that his behaviour attracted Elsa’s attention. It was no strategic move or anything, he was not purposefully befriending with the most influent people until he became so important to them he became some sort of emotional pillar. In fact, should you point that out to him, he’d be genuinely surprised of it. Because it was no scheme or anything, he was just like that. If he saw someone in need, he couldn’t not do anything to help. He was aware that some thought of him as some sort of doormat because of this but he sure never thought he could be seen as an opportunist.

He did wonder what Elsa might want to say to him. Without disliking the girl, it was pretty obvious they had very different opinions on way too many things to fully get along. Luckily, they could remain civil and just ignore each other. It seemed to work just fine. Except that now she wanted to talk to him. Franck did find it a bit odd to be friends with the administration of the school, or at least a half of it. Then again, the weirdest thing in that was that Erika was named co-headmistress with Elsa. Her twin, he could understand. She had a certain coldness and practical side that would be perfect for the job. Erika... she followed her guts too much sometimes. He had seen her involved in enough drama to hope Elsa would do most of the work. Still, hiring two girls who barely graduated high school to take in such an important job, that was pretty unusual. But was there anything going on like anywhere else in this school?

When he entered, he spotted Elsa pretty quickly. He did wonder if he should get himself a cup of coffee first or greet her. It might be strange considering they were almost the same age but Franck always felt like she was older and so that he had to act around her like he would with any other adult. The fact she was now his headmistress, or co-headmistress, only added to this feeling. So he walked to her table before doing everything else, giving her a brief wave of the hand as he approached. “You want to go straight to the point or you’re giving me two minutes to pick something to drink first?” he asked. He wasn’t really thirsty but he felt like it would be weird for him to sit there without ordering anything. He was curious what she might have to talk to him about. He was already focusing his power on her so he would forget about anyone else here.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa noticed Franck upon entering. Of her gathered, she was still certain that he would be the hardest to convince. He wouldn't think he had what it took, wouldn't understand why Elsa wanted him. She knew that he'd be one of the keys though. They needed a heart, a conscience... well, another, as she counted on Liz and Beau (she couldn't help but think of them as one unit) to add that as well. Franck understood people better though...

Enough that he seemed to realize that this wasn't another casual conversation, or her attempting to talk about boys or what have you. Which did bring Felix to mind, and she certainly didn't need to be thinking of him right now...

and she was, despite herself. Wondering where he went and what was going on with him. Fortunately, Franck spoke, which jarred Elsa out of her thoughts. She almost started before looking up at him. "What? Oh, yes, you can," she said, not realizing till after she'd said it that she'd effectively granted him permission. Elsa straightened slightly, again wishing that she could handle talking with empaths a little better. She spent enough time getting her emotions in order. "Feel free to get a drink or what have you, really. There's no particular rush," indeed, the more comfortable Franck was, teh better off they would all be.

Elsa smiled reassuringly at Franck or, at least, she hoped it was reassuring.

[François Laffont]

Had it been Erika who asked him to meet with her here, he would have expected a casual conversation. He probably even would have suggested she come to his place if she preferred as it would really be no big deal to him if she did. Or his father, who might however get the wrong idea and hope for something else. But it wasn’t Erika who wanted to talk to him, it was Elsa. And he couldn’t quite see her wanting to see him only for the pleasure of his company or to share with him what was going on in her life. There had to be a reason why she wanted to talk to him. Somehow, he wished it was nothing more than a will to bury the hatchet or something of the like.

It was weird how those two sisters could look so much alike and so different at the same time. Franck wasn’t quite able to understand how someone could mistake one for the other. Then again, he was able to tell them apart not only because of the way they carried themselves but also, and mostly, because of the way they felt. Everyone did it in a different way. He never thought he could use it as a way to recognize someone but in their case he could. Unless Elsa suddenly ended up in love and do crazy things because of it. Or Erika became a bitch.

He chased all of this from his mind as Elsa smiled to him, assuring him there was no rush, at least none that would require him to sit his ass on the chair right now without any cup of coffee in his hands. He nodded and left her. He sensed the moment he came near her, as always, that she was guarding herself and her emotions. He ordered a latte and returned at her table a few minutes later. “I take you for one who isn’t the type to beat around the bush so you don’t need to make an effort and talk to me about the weather or how I’m feeling and go straight to the point if you prefer,” he told her. He didn't want to sound like he had better things to do elsewhere or that he didn’t like being around her. If she chose to read his mind she wouldn’t get that at all. But he saw no point in Elsa trying to be who she wasn’t just because she wanted to get him comfortable or whatever.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"Are you determined to make this difficult?" asked Elsa, smiling slightly. She knew her relationship with Franck was... strained. That was part of why she wanted him, and she'd explain as much. Sighing, she licked her lips and placed her hands on the table. She shifted to meet Franck's eyes, and, though he wouldn't realize it, she purposefully drew her power so she wouldn't be reading him in the slightest.

"I'm working to put together a group of students," she began, speaking slowly. She tapped her cup almost absently. "The idea is to get a group of people from diverse backgrounds who have made an impact at the school in some form or fashion. I want to draw on those that people recognize, but I also want to pull in people I trust and respect. SPECTRE caught us off guard, and we suffered for it. I don't intend for something like that to happen again, and I don't quite trust all my own staff. I'm also not completely certain that they'll be willing to work with me. So the idea is to build a group of people together who want to protect this school and the people in it."

Elsa paused. She looked at Franck. "You're the second person I've talked to about this. The first was my sister." She let that hang for a few moments, and, while she didn't read him with her power, she certainly read him with her eyes, studying him, wondering how he'd react to this, what he'd think. and yes, that last made her want to break her own ban on her power...

[François Laffont]

If Franck meant to make it difficult? No, of course not. “I just don’t want you to feel forced to ask what is going on in my life just because you think it would make me feel comfortable,” he told her. He had seen enough of Elsa to know she was able to get into his head despite him wishing her not to. For once, he wouldn’t mind. She could then see that he had nothing against her, except perhaps wondering what she might have to say to him. He never thought she’d call him and couldn’t believe it was only to be friends like he was with her sister. It was not like they were sworn enemies, they could easily be around without fighting. But he assumed that if Elsa wanted to speak to him, it was because she had something to ask and not because she wanted a casual conversation with him. He might not know her too well but he did enough to know better.

As he expected, she started to talk of a group of students she was putting together. Alright, so she wanted his help, and apparently needed to explain it in person first. He wasn’t against that as so many people just expected him to say yes the moment they asked. He did frown as she explained further. He didn’t think he made much of an impact in the school. He was there when need be, is all. He could understand how he could fit in her little group but at the same time he couldn’t believe he was a known face around the school. As for SPECTRE, he totally lost it when that happened so of course he believed that should rule him out. He could barely deal with the pain of it and had that of everyone else added, he acted like a real drama queen and was still a bit ashamed of it. “And you trust me?” he said once she was done. He didn’t think that she could as they often ended up total opposite of each other.

The surprise of being one she might want was shortly followed by the surprise of being kind of the first one she talked of it to. He didn’t quite count his sister as he assumed she couldn’t do it without the approval of the other half of this administration. He didn’t quite know what to make of it. “That’s, hm...” he began, clearing his throat and shifting position, “I don’t really know what you expect out of me here. I mean, I wouldn’t mind helping if I can but I don’t see how I’m supposed to.”

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa nodded as Franck asked his question. Yes, she trusted him, though in a very specific way, one that differed from the way she trusted, say Erika. Erika Elsa trusted unconditionally. Franck Elsa trusted to behave in exactly the same way he'd always behaved. And she wasn't at all surprised to read the surprise on his face, though it didn't make things all that much easier.

"Honestly I expected about the reaction I got," she admitted, laughing dryly. "I'm going to be asking several people that we know, and I'm hoping to draw on different strengths and weaknesses from each. Trevor Paige, for example, has excellent connections and political savvy on a Machiavellian level, but practically no one but my sister trusts him. Elizabeth Edison and Beau LaRoux are extremely well liked and have a good deal of natural charisma, but they're about as politically savvy and conniving as a pair of baby chicks."

Elsa paused for a moment. "You, on the other hand, have no problem telling people when they've crossed a line, and you're one of the few people who can read people almost as well as I can, and I know that's not just because of your ability. Plus, you're well liked and, even more importantly," she met his eyes, "respected."

Which meant that yes, Elsa respected him to, and not even all that begrudgingly.

[François Laffont]

Franck was surprised Elsa might trust him but he was also surprised of his surprise. On some level, he could trust Elsa. Like, for example, he could trust that she would have the school’s best interest as it had to do with her family and she was ready to fight against anyone and anything that could put her family and its image in jeopardy. He supposed that, if you thought of it from that point of view, there were reasons for Elsa to trust him. But he was still surprised that she might do so.

Franck blinked when she admitted she expected no less of him. So she played that whole conversation in his head before. It was not the first time he felt like he was too easy for others to read but being so plainly told so caught him off guard. She came with an upper hand, she already had arguments to change his mind. He listened as she mentioned other students that he knew of. When she claimed that Beau and Liz were as conniving as baby chicks, he almost wanted to ask what he was supposed to be but he kept his mouth shut.

Going from conniving to honest didn't seem to make much sense but she still did to talk of him. She described who he was and even though he could tell it fit, he still couldn’t quite put himself under the limelight as she seemed to do. He hesitated a moment, thinking about everything she had told him, playing with his cup of coffee as if forgetting he was supposed to drink it. “I’m still not sure what you want me to do. I mean, I don’t think I’m as liked or respected as you seem to believe but you know that if you need help and I can be of service, I’ll do it,” he told her. It was kind of weird as he felt what he said contradicted itself. Of course, if he understood what she was planning to do with this group of students precisely, maybe it would be easier.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

They were getting into the details now, and Elsa could certainly handle details. She was downright detail oriented. "I might be making it sound more complicated then is strictly necessary," she admitted. "I essentially need you to be the group's conscience. Obviously I have quite a few people that I trust on board, but I don't think that they'll be willing to call me out. I need someone around who can make sure that I don't step out of line.

"You'll also be involved and informed of major decisions, particularly if anything of import comes up. You'll be expected to communicate your opinion on how the school should react to the situation as well as giving advice toward general behavior. You in particular will be asked to sort of keep an eye on the rest of us, to make sure that none of us is... well," she smiled ruefully, "turning to the Dark Side, if you will."

She paused and took a drink of her tea. "Does that all make sense? Or am I complicating things further? It really just comes down to needing an angel on my shoulder to tell me when I'm about to sin, and you're the best choice for the job."

[François Laffont]

Franck was trying to understand why Elsa would need a group of students. She had the teachers, the staff members, all of them. Why would she need a bunch of teenagers? He didn’t feel like she was exactly pointing out what this group was meant to do. She preferred to specify what she would want out of him. “So you want me to... be myself around you?” he asked as she began her explanation. He seemed to have a Jiminy Cricket air about him as she was not the first one to seek him out about this. He never heard anyone mention it so clearly though.

He couldn’t believe someone like him might have a say in the school’s affairs. He was no one, just a student. He didn't even finish high school! But she was talking of telling him about the major decisions and he could only understand that he would before the other students so he could give his opinions about them. He wasn’t quite certain whether his opinion would matter or even be noted but at least he would know about those decisions and be able to adapt to these. He didn’t care much about the little Dark Side comment he took as a mere joke. Besides, he had too much to think about to stop at that.

He paused a moment, busy sorting it all but he did hear her ask if he got what she was talking about. “I think so. You’ll think about what is best for the school and I, the students, in a way?” he replied. It seemed to be what came out of her words, or at least what he got from it. “You really trust my opinion so much? Or am I really the only one who dares admit when he doesn’t think like you?”

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elasa nodded: that was exactly what she wanted, for Franck to be himself. to be entirely technical, she wanted a group of people to be themselves around her and to direct those selves toward helping the school as a whole. She held back from immediately saying that though, wanting Franck to work through things for a moment, waiting patiently till he spoke again.

"That's what I'm hoping. I'm also going to be asking several people, not just you and I, so we'll have plenty of people thinking about the wider picture, bringing their own unique perspective into the picture. I trust these people for the most part, at least enough to weigh their opinions carefully when we move forward, and, well," she smiled, "most people really are intimidated by me. You're not. Or," she leaned back slightly, "you don't pretend to be."

She paused for a bit, taking a deep breath and looking away. She thought silently for a few moments before looking back. "We're also not friends, at least not yet, and that can sometimes be more useful."

Hurtful? Perhaps. But true? Elsa certainly thought so.

[François Laffont]

Okay, so Franck thought he got most of what Elsa wanted of him right now. He still couldn’t quite get past the fact she cared enough about his opinion to hear it but what she wanted out of him was pretty easy. She wasn’t asking too much. Well, he thought so. Because he almost expected a catch to come anytime soon. Like that he would have to work many, many hours for the school to help her and her sister. Or that he would end up having to do things he wasn’t entirely comfortable with. Yes, Franck could definitely see a catch coming over.

Although, for now, he was mostly focusing on his coffee, giving him an excuse to be silent while he thought without it to be too awkward. Thoughts that were kind of disrupted when she pointed out he didn’t seem to be intimidated by her. “Well...” he began to say, replacing the cup on the table, a light grimace on his face he tried to hide. “I guess you can come off as cold and it is a bit intimidating. And you are more practical than many of us. But, I guess, I have an advantage compared to the others. I do know for a fact that you have a heart,” he said. The grimace he had at first turned into an uncertain smile. He didn’t want to get mauled by her because of what he said. And he truthfully didn’t know what she would hate the most, that he knew she had a heart or that he joked about it.

He frowned for a moment at her comment about not being friends. He opened his mouth. A sound even came out, as if he was about to speak, but he closed his mouth again. He guessed she was right? “We might not be friends but we’re not enemies either. I do respect you too, you know. Even though our opinions differ on a couple of things. And I’m not naive, I know that if this school will run fine it will have more to do with you making sure it does than your sister. I’m not saying she isn’t cut out to it, but clearly it’s more your thing and the social part of the job is hers.”

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa chuckled at the mention of her being intimidating and cold, ending it with a sigh and a slight shake of a head. The last bit though, the part where he insisted she had a heart, had her raising her brows. She did keep that bit of information rather close to the chest, didn't she? That he could pierce in and discover that, well, it was certainly worth noting. It also just reinforced why Elsa felt him to be necessary on her council.

"I actually agree with you there,' said Elsa, nodding. "Not precisely friends, more... allies. You and I have enough friends and common goals in common that it just makes sense for us to be so," she nodded and ran her fingers along the mug. "I'm hoping that we can set things up so that the running of the school won't depend on any one particular person. That's often been a problem: it's part of why things fell into something of disarray after our grandfather fell ill."

Elsa sighed, running a hand up to move back some hair before nodding. "Hence why I'm talking to people. You'll have to work with a handful of others, though I may have already mentioned that. Myself, Erika, others that make sense," Elsa nodded. "You can handle crowds, correct? I know that can sometimes be difficult for an empath," but she also knew that Franck had already proven quite gifted in his ability, or at least in controlling it.

Again; hence the conversation and offer.

[François Laffont]

Of course, Elsa could be colder and more intimidating than she was now that Franck would still try to see through this facade and claim she had a heart. He would always give the benefit of the doubt, try to find something good out of everyone. Some called that being naive, he preferred to say he was not cynical. Come to think of it, Elsa was probably saying the same thing about herself, with only those two adjectives reversed. She was not cynical, simply not naive.

Either way, he wouldn’t consider Elsa as an enemy. He wouldn’t consider anyone as an enemy. That sounded way too superhero movie-like. He didn’t think their relationship was a negative one though. Because he did respect her also. And she was right, despite what differences they had, they actually shared common goals. “So you want to school to be run by some sort of council with your sister and yourself as chairmen... or chairwomen. Can we say that?” Asking about the grammar of her language at such a time was kind of comical and he wouldn’t think any less of her for not answering but he still asked. It wasn’t like it was his first language, there were subtleties in it he didn’t always get.

Again, she brought up the group and how they were people that ‘made sense’. He wasn’t sure naming him would make sense although he kind of had to give it to Elsa for being the one talking of it to him. Had it been Erika, he would believe it was only because of their friendship and she wanted emotional support dealing with all this. Elsa was more likely to push him if he ever tried to be her emotional pillar. He opened his mouth, slightly caught off guard at the mention of crowds. “It’s not as much about how big the crowd is than how they’re feeling. It’s when they all feel the same that it’s hard. Not impossible, of course, if I’ve got someone to calm me down. You don’t intend to make me word crowds, do you?”

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"Well," Elsa fidgeted slightly, "the school is actually already run by a board of trustees, with Erika and me acting as Headmistresses. This group," she splayed her fingers and pressed them on the table, "is my way of making sure that the right kind of people have control and are in a better position. We won't be official, likely at all."

Though Elsa had already made sure to cover it so no one but her would catch any drag from this. Her group would be safe, all tucked under her specifically, all responsibility funneled to one person. Elsa knew she, they could handle it. They just needed to get all the pieces into play first.

"Well, like I said, my hope is mostly that you'll ensure that we don't end up killing each other," said Elsa, smiling. "I'll have LaRoux and Edison work crowds, at least, that's the hope. Erika too, of course..." Elsa trailed off. Yes, that seemed right. Felt right. They needed to have all the right pieces in place. So much to put into place, it just made her head spin. Actually, said head was beginning to ache again, and she sighed, pressing her hand to her temple and closing her eyes. She didn't need to worry: Franck had already agreed. Just move forward with the plan.