Leading

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa stepped around what she fervently hoped was a pile of spilled beer as she approached what vaguely passed for a bar. She met the eyes of a smirking bartender, and her own quickly narrowed. She let her eyes flick to the bar before ordering a fruit juice. When he seemed to hesitate, Elsa pointed out that even a place like this probably had something canned for mixed drinks.

And so Elsa got a can of overpriced orange juice.

She couldn't help but wrinkle her nose, but she took it anyway. This had certainly not been a place she'd actually wanted to meet anyone, but it struck her as the best one to go for this particular "recruit." She'd had some interactions with Liz before, enough to hint that she was interested in utilizing the other girl to a greater or lesser degree. This happened to be one of the establishments that "Biz" frequented. While the clientele didn't recognize Elsa and determined her to be solidly out of place, they'd think otherwise of the performing couple.

Who were just finishing up their set now. Elsa listened, appreciating their easy harmonies and what have you, as she adjusted to her seat at the bar. Those two likely had some kind of future in this, and an outsider might find it interesting that Elsa appeared to be going out of her way to recruit what amounted to a pair of musicians. Clearly those people hadn't been paying attention to the more popular, yet still grounded people. Elsa knew she needed people willing to potentially lead the student body, and Liz and Beau were excellent candidates for that.

She just had to convince them, or more accurately, Liz, of that...

Elizabeth Edison

[Elizabeth Edison]

Waving to the audience and bowing, Elizabeth went down the stage giddily. Another excellent set with her boyfriend. They had performed some oldies, some country and an original song they had written together, which was a little nerve-wracking but overall, the response was positive.

Parched, she asked Beau if he wanted something to drink before she made her way over to the bar. At first, she didn't realise that the girl beside her was familiar until she actually turned.

Instinct told her that it was Erika but on further inspection, Elizabeth's eyebrows shot up high. "Elsa?" She asked before a smile touched her lips. She had not expected to see anybody from school tonight since she didn't actually invite anybody. But her surprise was more on the fact that Elsa was the one who came. The girl looked so out of place despite having seen her twin in here who looked very at home not too long ago.

"What are you doing here?" Elizabeth asked.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa raised her can in salute as Liz spoke her name, both greeting the other girl and offering an acknowledgment of the greeting. Elsa had thought that she'd sent a text about this, but to be honest, she couldn't quite remember. She had arranged several of these meetings, after all, and she'd used surprise in a few of them. It sometimes made it easier to catch the person.

"Well, I could say that it's the atmosphere and the fine beverages here," said Elsa archly, tapping the lid to her can, "but that would be a fairly obvious lie. I'm clearly here to see you," she gestured at the other girl. She hesitated to call Liz a friend, though she sincerely doubted that went both ways. Sometimes it seemed like as many people knew Liz and called her friend as Frank.

"You were quite good," she pointed at the stage, nodding. "I can see why everyone raves about the two of you. Probably helps that you have such excellent chemistry," she smiled a little teasingly at that, flicking her eyes to the boy and then Liz. She technically wanted them both, but she knew that she only had to convince Liz... and how hard could that be. "Let me buy you a drink," she said, gesturing toward the bartender. "And I know you often get paid in them, but I insist. Gesture and all that." Plus, the better mood Liz was in, the better this would go all around...

[Elizabeth Edison]

Laughing at Elsa's joking around, she tilted her head to the side a little in surprise when the brunette said she was here for her. What could Elsa possibly want from her?

"Oh thanks." Elizabeth ducked her head in embarrassment as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "I'd like to think so yeah." She agreed about the chemistry. When offered to be bought a drink, Elizabeth was about to argue but upon Elsa's insistence, she shrugged and hopped on to the bar stool and ordered a soda.

She would have gotten something harder but she wasn't in the mood. Besides, she wanted to stay sober for Elsa. "Should we keep up the small talk or do you wanna get straight down to business?" Elizabeth teased with a wide grin. It was funny how they had gone from just nodding acknowledgements to talking and smiling with each other simply because of a courier mistake.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Always fun to talk about the chemistry and all that. Elsa simply forced herself not to think about her own lack of that in her life. She didn't need a relationship right now anyway, not with how very complicated everything had become of late. Throwing a relationship would just make things worse. Still, she couldn't help but remember that these two were the same two who'd effectively double-dated with her sister and Felix...

... some scars still ached from time to time.

Elsa sighed, partly from her dour thoughts and partly because even Liz had determined that Elsa had ulterior motives. That was the penalty she paid for being herself, and for often telling people outright that she always had other intentions in mind. At least hte drinks arrived, and Elsa could gesture for Liz to take hers while slipping the bartender the correct funds.

"I would like you and Beau," she nodded toward where the young man stood, talking with a few locals that he clearly knew. Beau waved at her and Elsa gave him a tight smile. They'd only met in passing for the most part, after all. "To work with a small group of people, sort of another council," explained Elsa. She met Liz's eyes now, waiting for a moment, already anticipating the several questions that would follow. This wasn't like when she discussed things with others who expected the invitation: Liz wouldn't see it coming, nor would Beau. They were far too humble for that.

[Elizabeth Edison]

Beaming at the bartender when the drinks came over, Elizabeth tried to suppress the thoughts of how odd it was to see Elsa looking...well down about something. She didn't want to press the other girl about it though so she took the opportunity to drink from her glass.

When Elsa started speaking, the blonde turned to her new friend with interest. Her first thoughts when the new Headmistress spoke was that she wanted them to perform at an event. Her eyes went to where Elsa gestured and Elizabeth smiled when she saw Beau. She waved at him before freezing at the suggestion.

Turning back to Elsa with a quizzical look, Elizabeth took a deep breath before narrowing her eyes at the brunette. "You mean a student council?" She asked, briefly wondering why Elsa thought she had the requirements for it. Didn't student council have to be all influential or whatever?

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Always interesting to see peole working through things. Elsa was betting that Liz thought she was being hired on for entertainment purposes. Oh, Elsa fully intended to do that. She enjoyed their music to some degree and the more exposure they had, the better off they'd all be.

However, Liz was soon getting to the point of things, as Elsa expected. Elsa raised a hand, waving it a little. "Something like that. This will be different, more serious, for one thing. Basically, I want to make sure that there's a group of people I cna turn to when something happens. SPECTRE," Elsa frowned, "caught us off guard. You know that as well as anyone, seeing as Beau took a bullet. What I want is for us to be ready the next time that will happen."

She sighed, moving to take a sip of her drink, holding up a finger. "And yes, I do think there's a point to inviting you and Beau. You were prom king and queen; you're among the most popular people at this school, and, finally, there's a distinct wholesomeness about you both that's downright mindboggling. You're the kind of people that become heroes in a time of trouble," she chuckled, rolling her eyes toward Beau, "he already is to some degree, as everyone knows he took a bullet to save us, well," she pointed at Liz, "you. Same thing in the end, really."

[Elizabeth Edison]

The blonde tried not to show her skepticism at Elsa's offer. Sure, she knew how serious Elsa was but Elizabeth wasn't entirely sure she was cut out for that. Though, admittedly, that Elsa thought she was was quite flattering.

Blushing when Elsa let on that she had heard her thoughts, Elizabeth had to remind herself to be a little prudent with her thoughts around the brunette. Not that she thought she had anything to hide but sometimes her thoughts were just not supposed to be shared.

Agreeing wholeheartedly about the brunette's assessment of Beau's role in the whole attack, Elizabeth looked down to her drink and smiled. "This is all really flattering, Elsa. I don't really know what to say." She chuckled sheepishly. "I'll have to think about it, if you don't mind. I hope this isn't a time sensitive matter."

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa tried to keep her mind away from Liz's thoughts, tried, and partially succeeded. The various thoughts still trickled through, just quick glances across Elsa's own mental landscape. None of them surprised Elsa: all thoughts wondering about worth: why them? Why her? What was this all about? Very similar to how Franck had reacted, for that matter, which only further confirmed Elsa's decision and enhanced her desire to get them on board.

"I'm not looking to flatter," replied Elsa, gesturing toward Liz, "I'm looking for people I honestly believe should be involved. I trust you; I trust Beau. I fully believe that the two of you will be the sort of people that most would look to for leadership in times of crisis..." Elsa paused for a moment, trying to think of recent films. "Like... like Captain America and---oh, the sexy redhead. Those two," she gestured and then shrugged, taking up her drink and sipping.

"But no, there's not quite a rush. I do need an answer within a week or so. I fully expect the two of you to talk," Elsa looked over, noticing that Beau had taken notice of them and seemed to be wondering what they were talking about. She shook her head, still wondering how these two had managed to become a unit so very quickly. It was almost as if that were their actual mutant power, instead of what they'd gotten.

[Elizabeth Edison]

Elizabeth nodded, the look on her face quite serious when Elsa assured her there was no intent to butter her up. She knew that, she figured Elsa was not the type to beat around the bush. It didn't stop the blonde from feeling that though. She really was flattered. Someone else saw something in her that she didn't know she had. Confidence had always been something she portrayed rather than something she genuinely felt.

"Thank you, Elsa." A smile creased her face before she giggled with a soft snort, her hand flying up to cover her mouth and nose. "Excuse me." She chuckled. To be compared to the Black Widow and Captain America, that was hilarious and very complimentary. It wasn't necessarily the truth but flattering all the same.

Briefly wondering why Elsa shook her head, Elizabeth shook hers to somehow physically remove the thought. "I'm...yeah, I'll talk to him. Again, thank you. Um...hey, how's...being Headmistress been like?" She asked, very curious. Not everyday someone the same age as her got into a position of power like this one.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"You're--" began Elsa, pausing as Liz chuckled for a moment. Elsa waited, having more or less figured out what that was about. Most likely Elsa had botched her trendy reference. Like she honestly had that much time to watch films any more, what with how tight her schedule was. Which reminded her that she'd definitely have to look into some more dancing, perhaps see if she could contact that one instructor again, what was her name...

"Hmm?" said Elsa, looking back to Liz. "Oh, that, well, it's about what you expect, really," said Elsa. She waved her fingers dismissively. "I spend my time sifting through documents and telling Erika 'no' for the most part. Though she still does things without checking. Did you hear about the cat?" Elsa took a drink, her brows raised, her lips twitching. When she lowered it, she sighed. "Erika actually hired a damn cat for security. Admittedly, he does have a stellar reference, and thank God we're moving Slade Konrad over and Vera up, otherwise I'd be severely worried.

"Honestly," mumbled Elsa, "hiring a cat right before IMAC. Next thing you know, she's going to get engaged..."

[Elizabeth Edison]

Elizabeth listened as Elsa spoke, chuckling when the other girl mentioned Erika's impulsive nature. She didn't blame Elsa's twin, obviously, but in her position, it was hardly a good quality to have. It was a good thing Elsa was the way she was. They balanced each other out.

"I did! So he's a shapeshifter that just decided to remain a cat or something?" She asked before chuckling. "Oh is Mr. Konrad's position confirmed? He's really not gonna be the PE teacher anymore?" Elizabeth asked, her tone changing just slightly to the morose. She knew it wasn't a big move, much like her being in college, but it was still going to be weird not seeing Mr. Konrad in the gym.

The mention of an engagement had Elizabeth chuckling, not knowing how true that fact could actually be. The pyrokinetic wasn't entirely sure where Erika was on the dating spectrum anymore. Last she heard was the girl had been involved with one of the more affluent boys but those were just rumours.

"When is the competition anyway? And...do you need help with that?"

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"Something like that," replied Elsa tiredly. She'd read over that file and, well, she wasn't exactly thrilled, but she was willing to at least try and reserve judgment. Erika had made a lot more questionable choices lately. Besides, if memory served, Jack McCarthy had a phobia of felines, and that could always be used to their advantage. Now if only they could find out what terrified Frank Cox or Francois Laffont, they'd be set.

"As for Mr. Konrad, he may still work in the gym as well, depending on his inclination,' said Elsa. She, too, wasn't entirely comfortable with so many changes at once. True, she'd enacted a good portion of them herself, or set wheels in motion, but it felt as though everything were changing at the same time, as though they were all in a rush to make sure things happened quickly. Elsa moved to lift her drink, only to find that the can was empty. She sighed, setting it down.

"It begins around the end of the month, roughly. Several of the students have already begun showing up," explained Elsa, nodding. "As for my needing help," she smiled ruefully, looking to Liz, "why do you think I'm working so fast to form my little secret council?"

[Elizabeth Edison]

Elizabeth gave Elsa a sympathetic smile before perking up at the idea of Mr. Konrad still being around anyway. She was definitely going to need him and that new gym teacher to help her bulk up if she was going to be any help with the council. Her abilities could only bring her so far.

Because she wasn't going anywhere just yet, the pyrokinetic ordered another round of drinks for herself and Elsa before nodding at the brunette's answer to her question. "I saw them! I'm having the best time just hearing them all talk in their native tongue. May or may not have a thing for accents. Just between you and me." With a grin, she reached a hand out and touched Elsa's arm briefly, like it bonded them in secret.

"Oh," Elizabeth mouthed as realisation dawned on her. "Well, I'm certainly going to talk to Beau about it soon. Thank you once again for asking. Will you be staying? There's this guy coming on soon and you've got to hear him sing. Sounds like an angel."

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"Really, a thing for accents? I never would have guessed," Elsa replied simply, raising a brow for a moment. No, Elsa wasn't in the least surprised. She also fully believed that Liz just had a thing for people. The girl had about as many people who called her friends as Frank Cox, without the spastic attitude to go along with it. yet another reason to put her on the council.

"We can also arrange a concert for you two," Elsa paused for a moment, considering, "that's not my attempt to bribe you or anything. I just feel that perhaps demonstrating some of our home talent might work to our best interest. We are having a reception to welcome them soon, and naturally you're both invited." Elsa nodded and gestured. She then looked toward the stage, sighing.

"Sadly, I can't linger very much longer. That's the price of being the headmistress: you never have a moment to yourself," she smiled ruefully at Liz, who knew full well that those words weren't strictly true. The two had spent time together at a spa after Elsa had gotten the gig, after all.