Reacting

[Elsa Bellefonte]

The co-headmistress of Bellefonte Academy grumbled under her breath and blew a stray strand of hair out of her eyes. Normally Elsa wouldn't be seen in public looking quite this disheveled: dressed in exercise pants, matching top and jacket, her hair pulled back into an unruly pony. Worse, she hadn't the time to straighten her hair recently and it was starting to get its curl back. She'd already had to fend off several "Good morning Erika"'s on her walk, and she fully expected it to only get worse.

At least they were handing her coffee. She smiled in gratitude at the young woman handing the cup, ever so glad that the order had been gotten just perfectly right. That was one decided benefit of coming to a place this regularly after all. Elsa immediately sipped, the delicious and heady flavor sliding past her tongue and warming her all the way down to her belly. It made her close her eyes and take a deep breath. She licked her lips for a moment, turned, opened her eyes.

Then widened them.
Then closed them again.
Then widened them still further.

"You!" she said, pointing and walking toward him. She'd heard he was in town: Erika could not be quiet, but they'd thus far managed to somehow avoid one another. Not any more. "You! You're---"

And without anything further, Elsa flung the contents of her mug directly at Everett King 's torso.

[Everett King]

Everett avoided coffee like he avoided alcohol, certain that such substances were murder for his tastebuds. As a cook, they were understandable very important to him. However that morning he had needed a good kick, and grudgingly gave in to the urge as he'd walked past Cool Beans on the way to word. One coffee couldn't hurt, right?

Oh how wrong he was.
Maybe drinking one wasn't so bad, and Everett had accepted the inevitability of it, but being bathed in coffee on the other hand, hot coffee, was worse than he'd anticipated. Giving a short, startled cry, Everett jumped back as the boiled liquid made contact with his chest. "You just......," he spluttered in surprise, looking up at the culprit in shock. The shock intensified at the face he saw, almost identical to the women he had only just asked to marry him. But not quite.
Besides, this woman was definitely angry at him over something, and if Erika was angry she would have sooner aimed a left-hook at his jaw.

Blinking again in stunned surprise, Everett attempted to recover himself. Folding his arms, as if that could possible ward off any future attacks, he cocked his head and huffed in bemusement. "I suppose you're the twin I've heard so much about, aye? Seems like you already know me." He could only imagine the coffee had been delivered as revenge for leaving Erika, as he couldn't think of anything else he'd done recently. If that were the case, then he definitely deserved it, and was happy to receive this punishment for substitute of the one Erika hadn't given.

Lovely morning, isn't it?"

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"Me," replied Elsa, her voice cold enough to burn. her eyes narrowed into slits and, had she the ability, literal claws would've begun sliding out from her fingers. As it was, she simply clenched them ever so slightly. He kept going, talking about how she was the twin he'd heard about. Elsa was fairly certain that they'd met in passing, given those distracted greetings or what have you, but she wasn't going to press the point. Not now, not while she faced him down.

"It is," she said. She raised the mug, looking at it, then at Everett. She hefted it slightly, her eyes running along his body. "I heard you were back in town," she continued, her voice smooth, too smooth. She smiled a tight smile, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Erika mentioned that you'd been back."

She stood there for a moment, the mug still in her hand. She figured a few people were likely staring, but Elsa didn't care, at least, not at the moment. As far as she was concerned, a public flogging with a shirtless Everett would have been a little light for what he deserved. Almost as an afterthought, she began digging around in his brain, practically stomping as she looked for thoughts. He had to at least have a hint about her powers, if he didn't know the precise details, after all.

[Everett King]

Helplessly trying to pull the quickly cooling shirt from where it clung to his torso, Everett sighed. He certainly hadn't expected to meet Erika's sister like this. A large part of him wanted to simply toss the shirt off, but he rathered that would be frowned upon in such a public place. He'd just have to deal.

Everett eyed the empty mug suspiciously as Elsa hefted it, more than slightly worried she'd throw that at him next. "Well you heard right, clearly. I'm back. Is this my welcome party?" He asked, rueful yet exasperated as he gave up on the stained shirt. He was probably in for a lecture from Erika now as well, for not taking better care of his wardrobe.

Figuring Elsa's intentions went past merely tossing a hot beverage on him, Everett gestured towards the counter. "Would you like me to buy you another coffee? You seem like you have something to talk to, or yell at me about." In the back of his mind it felt like things were being sifted through, or perhaps it felt more like his brain was being peeled like a banana. It was faint, but still oddly disconcerting. He supposed it was Elsa putting her powers to use. It had never been stated, but it seemed logical to think that twins would share similar powers, and knowing that, he tried not to let it bother him.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"Sorry, I left the party hats at home," Elsa replied coolly ,her eyes not widening a tic, instead remaining locked upon Everett. She tried not to take pleasure in the obvious discomfort he felt. The thought of her sister almost made her smile, almost, because it reminded her that this was the very individual who had hurt Erika so deeply. And apparently he'd walked right back into her life and heart. Worse, that meant that Elsa was going to have to put up with the constantly positive thoughts and... ugh.

She looked down at the mug, then at Everett. "I would say the least you could do is buy me another mug," she turned, walked to the counter, and set the mug on it, locking eyes with the semi-stunned girl still standing behind. Elsa pointed over her shoulder at the handsome young man with the coffee on his shirt: "He's buying. Same order, if you would."

Then she looked back over her shoulder. "And yes, it is quite logical, and you should be nervous. Very nervous."

Because Elsa was not the nice twin.

[Everett King]

"Shame," Everett chuckled, though it was a dry sound. Often his nature to take all bad comments and flip them often left the individuals baffled or befriended. He had found this method of communication to be the best and most productive for getting things done, but if he had to recall, the only person he had ever truly been nice to was Erika.
He'd never said he was a nice person.

Pulling out his wallet, Ever obediently paid for the drink then turned back to Elsa. "Considering you chose to dump it on me, I don't think 'it's the least you could do' is the proper argument here." He shot back in reply, shaking his head.

"So what did you want to speak to me about?" Ever asked, curious despite himself. He figured whatever it was, it involved Erika, and that would capture his attention every time.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"Oh," said Elsa, rounding on Everett, "I am so sorry about the coffee," she turned back to the poor girl behind the counter, jerking a finger, "this is the guy who met my sister while she was still a student at the school we work at. Then he seduced her. Then he played with her for a few months before, oh yeah," she looked back at Everett, "leaving. And of course he did that without a trace. Oh, and did I mention that my sister got kidnapped right after? So, yeah," Elsa turned back to Everett, folding her arms over her chest, "buying me another cup of coffee really is the least you could do."

She stood there, looking like murder was actually pretty close to her mind. Since she couldn't do that, she picked up his thoughts, and, very deliberately, clicked on "Erika."

Lets see what he thought about her. Elsa started purposefully rummaging around yanking at thoughts and demanding that any and all thoughts about her sister be read. Then, there, no, consequences be damned. She'd get a pounding headache soon, and there was no way in hell Everett wouldn't know his mind was being fucked with.

Elsa might have passed the point of caring around "so sorry."

[Everett King]

Everett's brow was furrowed. Scowling, he shook his head. "I actually left twice." He corrected offhandedly. "And in both circumstances it was Erika's decision to take me back. You're confusing my idiocy with your sister's kindness." Tilting his head, the male pursed his lips in thought. Clicking his tongue, Ever continued to scowl. "I'm more than willing to take any kind of punishment or displeasure Erika makes me face, I deserve it. But not from you; I won't deprive Erika of the pleasure just because her hyped-up sister has a long nose."

Despite his words, a part of him could easily understand how the actions of one sibling could affect another. Considering his own situation. It was probably for that reason that Everett wouldn't have fought back if Elsa really had attempted to murder him, like she looked like she wanted to.

Everett winced, though not from pain, as images and thoughts of Erika flashed through his mind like a movie reel. He had no doubt it was Elsa's doing, invading his privacy and sifting through everything he had ever held dear. If he had known a way to fight back, he would have. As it was, he could only continue to be subject to the tirade of images, ending upon the most recent, his blindness and proposal to Erika.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa rolled her eyes, as if she hasn't honestly heard her sister's partners talk about how nice she was before, particularly when Elsa let her claws out. As if they hadn't already figured this to be the very reason that Elsa went on the offensive. Someone had to. "Yes, because of course your leaving twice didn't cause problems for people that aren't named Erika," replied Elsa. "Maybe next time she's tortured you'll---"

She stopped as she sifted through. A picture was worth a thousand words, after all, and, well, Elsa got enough to fill novels. She actually had to stop, let her brain process things, just sort of letting it all roll over her. All the images, so many of them... good, tinged with emotion, their tone almost too powerful. Sheer affection, better by far then a lot of what Elsa got whenever she assaulted those that were close to her sister. Even Liz didn't express this much pure affection for Erika, and they'd known each other for years. Felix hadn't; Felix who'd misplaced his affection onto Elsa... Hadn't Trevor done the same, even if only for a moment? But this, this felt almost too pure, like some kind of refined drug, all those images...

Then one last image, one that burned in Elsa's mind even as she pulled almost violently out of Everett's mind. Her eyes went to Everett's, no doubt seeing the violation there. But that image it... there wasn't much mistaking that. For a few moments, Elsa didn't know how to respond, and didn't seem to realize what she'd been saying before she'd broken off so abruptly. What did you say to something like that? What could you say?

[Everett King]

His eyes narrowed further, a growl vibrating in the back of his throat before he let it die. "Why would I care who I inconvenience, if it's not Erika?" Well that wasn't entirely true, but he tended to be impulsive in the heat of the moment, in words if nothing else. He wasn't an inherently cruel person, and he wouldn't instinctively turn away from someone in need. Since falling in love with Erika however, things tended to fade into background noise.

Something that Elsa had said caught with him and Everett paused, sucking in a breath. "Hand on, tortured?!" Taking one dangerous step towards the girl, Everett lowered his voice. "What aren't you telling me?"

He'd felt Elsa tear herself from his mind of course; how could he not? In a way it had hurt, like suddenly pulling out a needle, a sudden shock then nothing but an absence. The chief thing that he knew could create such a stunned expression on her face (Which he felt incredibly proud for) was his proposal. Was Erika accepting. A small, smug smile flitted across his face before the gravity of the situation killed it.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"What?" snapped Elsa, Everett's movement having snapped her slightly out of her stunned stance. She looked up at him, blinking a few times, her still overloaded brain attempting to process. As expected, the headache had started creeping in, and she certainly didn't need that on top of everything else. Her mind kept lingering on that one particular scene, wondering.

"Oh, as if she hasn't already told you. She has told you everything, hasn't she?" replied Elsa. She heard a small noise behind her and turned to see a sheepish looking girl nudging a mug toward Elsa. Said girl only held for a moment to make sure that Elsa noticed before scurrying away. Sighing, Elsa stepped forward to take the mug gratefully in her hands. It would help: she knew that even as she took a sip.

Right, Everett: the man who'd apparently come right back into her sister's life and swept Erika off her feet. "I'm supposing that Erika isn't going to be moving in with Trevor Paige then?" asked Elsa, not bothering to turn just yet. She needed to regain control of the situation. Throwing a little barb, changing off the torture part which... actually it was somewhat surprising that Everett hadn't been informed of that. If not Erika herself, then surely one of her friends...

... had Everett not met any of Erika's friends? Not Liz or Beau or Trevor or Vera or... well, he'd met Ellen. They'd all heard about that...

[Everett King]

Everett's face was sharp, eyes bright with an angered intensity as he glared at Elsa. "Listen here brat, you've clearly slithered out of the deepest, dankest hellhole known to man, and while I find your perseverance quite admirable, my give-a-shit bar is dropping fast. What is 'everything' and when are you going to stop running your mouth and actually tell me about it?" He'd glazed over the implication that Erika might have told him about it. She'd never mentioned torture before, and know that he thought about it, whenever the subject of her capture had been brought up, it had merely been glossed over. It wasn't hard to believe that Erika would hide something from him, if she thought it would protect him. Idiot.

Folding his arms, Ever continued to glower. "I'm supposing you're right." He mimicked sarcastically, impatience causing his temper to spike. Trevor Paige. Well he had a full name now. So that was the name of the dimple-stick Erika had been with. If he wasn't so focused on being angry, he might have been more curious.

His foot began to tap, an outlet for his emotions rather than a nagging gesture for Elsa to get on with it. No, if he'd wanted to do that he would have flashed her a finger or something less pacifying. "Sometime today please; so we can both be free of each other's company."

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Oh look, he'd gotten angry. That was almost adorable. Elsa could see some physical traits that someone (obviously her sister at the least) would probably find attractive, and they actually got somewhat enhanced as Everett got angrier. Most of his comments actually had Elsa smirking though. Brat? Seriously? That was the best he could come up with? Clearly Erika wasn't interested in him for his imagination.

"Actually, my sister and I slithered out of the same dark hellhole, technically," said Elsa slyly, "and that's probably not a great thing to call our mother," though if Everett knew anything about the twins (and Elsa was betting he knew more then the average person), he had to know that neither particularly enjoyed the company of their mother.

he'd taken a defensive stance, but at least given her a little information. Also nice to know that she could affect him. Elsa readjusted her grip on the mug, taking a sip. A few people were still watching, and Elsa didn't particularly enjoy the attention.

"Did she really not tell you? I'm not trying to be coy," Elsa raised a hand up, finger extended. "I'm just... surprised," she lowered it, frowning and tapping her mug. She needed one last confirmation, and she slid her mind out to look at his, much more tentatively this time, wanting to see if truly had no idea of the hell Erika had, well, slithered out of...

[Everett King]

Everett's expression turned indignantly amused. "Charming." Once again he was being reminded as to why he so often fought to control his temper. He wasn't very good at being angry, and usually it ended up taking the conversation no where it wanted to go. "From what I hear, it's not the worst thing she's been called," he retorted smoothly before brushing the topic aside with a shake of his head. That was a can of worms he'd rather deal with, with Erika, not her twin.

It didn't seem like he could categorize Elsa's reaction as one of surprise or disbelief, but there were definitely aspects of both in her comments. Everett's frown continued to deepen, worry and resignation lining his face. "I'm not. That's just how she is," he sighed, running a hand over his eyes. "And if she didn't say anything to, then it must have been bad. So please, will you tell me?" The request was made quietly, nothing of the previous ire in his voice. There was only the tired plea.

He had no idea what Erika had gotten herself caught up in, but it was apparently much more than a simple kidnapping. He'd play nice for her; but at that point he was determined to have Elsa talk one way or the other.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"By her children, no less," agreed Elsa, smiling. Oh, she could see some of the charming parts of Everett, even when he was raging at her and looking like he'd probably have punched her already had she not been related to the love of his life (and even wearing her face, if we were to get really technical about it).

Their ire could not last for long, as even Everett's frown deepened, his righteous anger shifting into something else, something that Elsa could feel. She sighed, reaching a hand up to massage the bridge of her nose. How could Erika not have told Everett? Wasn't he one of the people that she told everything to?

"Okay," said Elsa, sighing and lowering her hand, "we do need to talk," she nodded, then gestured, "but we should probably do it somewhere I haven't made a scene. At least a corner booth if nothing else. They're all probably too afraid of me to get closer,' she looked around for a moment, giving a few people eyes before taking a few steps that way, pausing to look back over her shoulder at Everett. They both had to realize that this conversation was going to require as much privacy as they could manage and, really, a corner of this little coffee shop would likely be their best option.