Illuminating

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa wasn't surprised to find that Ellen Banks had beaten her to the coffee shop. Ellen had almost acted like she'd expected Elsa's invitation to head off the school grounds, away from either of their comfort zones, and head into the shop that had become so very popular with most of the residents of Bellefonte Academy. The last time they'd had a prolonged discussion, Elsa had been too drunk to really speak or pull herself together.

Things had changed.

So many things that Elsa felt like meeting with Ellen again would be absolutely necessary. She had wanted to make the meeting cordial to, to emphasize that she wanted to spend time with Ellen, get the other girl caught up. True, the meeting and the exchange would be very much the same game the two of them kept playing with one another, but Elsa really did want to talk with Ellen, to catch up, to discuss... things.

God, discussing Erika's and her own love life with Ellen Banks was going to be sheer torture. But Ellen wouldn't split hairs; she wouldn't coddle; she wouldn't worry about Elsa's feelings. She'd be one of the few people that would state her opinion flatly.

So while there were many other reasons behind Elsa inviting Ellen for coffee, that was definitely at the forefront of the Bellefonte's mind as she carried her wrapped scone and steaming cup of coffee to the seat across from the Banks girl. "Ellen," she said, nodding in greeting, "nice to see you decided to come early too," as if they both hadn't expected it. Elsa slid into the seat, adjusting herself, preparing the drink and pastry. "How have you been?"

[Ellen Banks]

Expecting the call? She couldn’t she exactly say she was. She would imagine Elsa was quite busy this time of year - Was there ever a time when Elsa Bellefonte wasn’t insanely busy? Prom, Exams, her other activities that she rather no one know about. –because of course she had secrets. She wouldn’t be her if she wasn’t trying to hide something. Trying being the underlined word in Ellen’s case.- but then again it wasn’t exactly a surprise either. It was undeniable that collaborating had been fruitful in the past, Ellen did like to be in the know and well; Call herself sentimental but Ellen had grown to look forward to regular bout of verbal sparring

If nothing else they were entertaining.

Naturally enough Ellen turned up several minutes early for their meeting. She often wondered what was the point on having agreed times of meeting when Elsa’s proclivity for showing up early was on of her most enduring habits, So Ellen tried to follow along. Ellen sat there ever so neatly with a coffee of her own and a blueberry muffin in front of the place where she sat “Well, I know how much you so hate waiting” She smiled in greeting, leaning back in her chair “Oh, you know me; surviving like always.” Shrugging her shoulders “You’re looking…” Ellen paused looking Elsa up and down “…Better, Done with our little self pity trip are we?” Despite the clear playful nature of her words. She was glad that Elsa managed to pick herself out of the funk she found herself in.

We would have been in trouble if she didn’t Ellen thought to herself…

“Well at the very least you’ve showered so you've made already a marked improvement from the last time I saw you” She gestured lightly to the chair in front of her “Please make yourself comfortable “Unless you’re planning on thanking me for getting you out of that hole I found you, I would imagine you have something you want to discuss”

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"Quite done," Elsa replied with a friendly smile. It wasn't even that forced, though she doubted that Ellen would pick up on much of the difference. Elsa did have the slight temptation to argue terminology and semantics, to insist that it had been less a "self-pity" trip and more a crisis of identity. However, she did feel as though Ellen deserved at least a little bit more leeway there. She had, after all, been there and contributed.

Which of course she had to mention. "Yes, I've switched drinks," Elsa replied with that same cheeriness, adding just a twist of spite to it. "now I'm on caffeine," she raised the cup of coffee, before taking another sip of it. "I would like to thank you for helping," she gave Ellen a look as she emphasized the word, "get me out of my little self-imposed hole, actually. And I do have something that I would like your opinion on."

Elsa paused though, instead working at unwrapping the last bits of pastry. It wasn't as though they were in a particular rush, after all. "I don't suppose you're interested in small talk? I am curious as to how you're doing. I'm quite well, actually. Sober at least three days and everything," Elsa took a bite of the dessert, managing to look smug even as she chewed.

[Ellen Banks]

No one ever said that Ellen was the most delicate of souls, she wasn’t raised with a lot of warmth or softness. The banks were a hard people, and as such she was trained that moments of weaknesses were simply minor nuisances that were to be fought through, there were no sick days at Banks Manor. If Ellen had a cold or had some kind of aliment she was shipped off to school regardless and told more or less to suck it up,

So once Elsa had her moment of self doubt she couldn’t really fully comprehend or deal with it in a sensitive manner. But bizarrely in someway or another it helped Elsa in someway or form apparently. Ellen considered that coddling her in someway would be met with rolled eyes so blunted was exactly what the doctor ordered.

Clearly her instincts were indeed correct and she honestly was glad that she was feeling better “Naturally” Ellen nodded ever so calmly at Elsa words “If the roles were reversed you would do the same” and she really did believe that.

“One step at a time, don’t be too proud of that, pride leads to satisfaction leads to laziness and laziness leads to relapse” Ellen stated quoting another of her fathers saying. She folded her arms slightly before idly reaching for a knife and beginning to cut into her muffin carefully dividing them into separate neat little sections looking up when Elsa inquired how she was… Small talk wasn’t really her forte but if Elsa wanted as such she was willing to give it a shot, she paused for a moment considering the question “Oh you know me. Getting on, getting on at always, My love life is non-existence –Unlike yours, or so I hear, congratulations I’m being harassed and staked by a girl with the mindset of a excited puppy. Your sister is indifferent to me and most of the school looks at me with apathy at best. So same old same old” She stated calmly, nothing seemed to changed for her she was in a constant circle in her life and around and around she went. “Oh” Ellen said tilting her head and smirking “Me and Eve Conner had…a discussion which ended in me slapping her” Ellen smiled just a little showing how sorry she truly was “Me and that family have…Issues”

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa nodded. Yes, if the roles were reversed, she certainly would help Ellen out. They had something of an alliance like that: not quite a friendship, but at least something where neither was willing to let the other completely fall. It had been enough to bring Ellen to Elsa and help pull her out, and it had been enough for Elsa to head here now, ready to talk to her.

Though the saying had Elsa letting out a dry chuckle: "That sounds as though it came out of the Official Banks code," which would not have surprised Elsa at all. The two of them did have some pride in their families, after all: of course they'd let that show. Still, she appreciated what Ellen was doing, again.

"Really?" she asked, raising a brow. She'd nearly forgotten about Drew's sister. She still wasn't entirely sure what to make of the family, but she'd already sworn to be on her sister's side no matter what. Ellen had also mentioned Felix though, and it was he who Elsa most wanted to discuss, after all. "Apathy's better than pity though," she pointed out. "And I don't think I'd kick that puppy following you around: sometimes having a guard dog can be useful," she took a sip of her drink. "So, should I ask for an expansion on the family issues? Or would you rather I make this conversation all about the Bellefontes?"

[Ellen Banks]

The way Ellen saw things like she had told Elsa in the past Ellen was firmly in the debt of the Family Bellefonte after all if it wasn’t for them she would be dead and that was something Ellen could never truly repay but she felt she was at least oblige to try and pick Elsa out of her hole after the shooting (Which Ellen was uncomfortably aware she was approaching the one year anniversary of. God, has it been a year already? It still seemed so fresh in her mind) In the grand scheme of things it didn’t exactly have the impact, but it was certainly a start at any rate.

“It might as well have…” Ellen admitted with a shrug “My father has a million more like that. I should know, I was raised on them. Helped raised me into the well adjusted girl you see before you today” Ellen said with a little snort, Well-adjusted. Ha-ha.

…and people say she doesn’t have a sense of humor

Ah, Elsa’s old trademark insight into her life always interesting and may or may not be welcome but on this particular occasion it was nice to talk about these sort of trival things. A welcome change of pace “Really” She nodded “I met him once you know…When Erika vanished, he was one of the first people I talked to. Seemed like a somewhat decent sort…even if he’s ever so easy to intimidate” Ellen admitted remember how Felix was practically in tears once Ellen was done her little interrogation “Amen to that” Ellen would pick just about anything over pity “A guard dog?” Ok, she have to scoff at not only the comment but the mental image of Frank Cox being intimating in the least “That hardly seems fair. You get Roxanna and I get Frank Cox.” Ellen couldn’t help but roll her eyes uttering a soft groan, her hand rolling on her temple suddenly irritated “Because if there one thing I adore hearing about is the endless soap opera that is the life of your family. Honestly, at this point for you it must be mildly annoying instead of distressing” But then again if anyone could handle it it was that family after all in the space of little over a year they’ve been dragged through hell and back and yet they’re still standing

“Well, my family has worked with there’s since as long as I can remember, my father is their family lawyer and Dear sweet Eve likes to remind me constantly that her family is above mine” She said with a better smirk playing on her face “…and that’s fine, she can say what she likes about my family I’ve heard worse trust me…but no one called me pathetic” Ellen’s voice nodded her eyes glinting and her voice turning cold “Never to my face. Things got heated…so obviously her dear brother sent me all types of cryptic comments and threats about how I’d be sorry, all things I’ve heard before of course. Not that he’ll back it up of course. They never do” and Ellen would know, after all, she has raised the anger of a lot of people in her time in the school and she has been told how she’d regret her actions, it was all very well to tell Ellen these things, that’s when they felt brave but when it came to backing up their words they all seem to be unable to follow though. The Conners were no exception

[Elsa Bellefonte]

A decent sort... coming from Ellen Banks? Elsa couldn't help but quirk a brow at that, wondering how Felix had managed to make such a good impression on Ellen. She wasn't one to toss around praise if she could avoid it, especially when it involved someone connected to Elsa's family in some form or fashion. The mind reader was tempted to delve a bit deeper, but Ellen's conversation threat pointed another direction, one that was equally interesting.

Roxana for Frank: "Well, Frank's more entertaining and less problematic," Elsa offered. She didn't think it fair of her to share Roxana's particulars with Ellen, and she wasn't certain what, precisely, the other girl was privy too. Anything Roxana wanted to say she could pass along. That was at least one "character" in the soap opera who Elsa didn't want to discuss.

Yes, she did agree with the comment, enough to smile and nod along with Ellen's assessment. "Annoyed about covers it," she admitted, before again lapsing into silence, listening as Ellen outlined everything. The idea of the Banks and the Conners feuding didn't sit well with Elsa. she understood her sister's reluctance to deal with Ellen, but that didn't mean she liked it. You didn't make allies with people who would always get along with you. Even beside that point: Elsa actually appreciated Ellen's insight and honesty. She was one of the few who wouldn't even spare Elsa's feelings, unlike most of the others she associated with.

"I'm still not entirely sure what to make of that family," Elsa admitted. "Despite dating my sister, Drew hasn't made much of an effort to talk to me, which strikes me as suspicious. I'll likely arrange a meeting with Evelyn though: she seems interesting," Elsa tapped her drink for a moment, looking at it. Yes, here was a casual connection to what she really wanted to ask: "What do you think of the sudden reunion? Between Drew and my sister, I mean, though I'd take some of you valuable input on any others that come to mind," which might have been a bit of a hint toward Felix. Elsa had no qualms about leaving breadcrumbs, that was for sure.

[Ellen Banks]

A decent sort. Elsa shouldn’t get too excited with that tern of phrase. To Ellen the phrase decent wasn’t exactly a compliment, to her “Decent” Meant unremarkable. Unmemorable and hasn’t done anything remotely interesting to raise Ellen’s ire in the least. Unmemorable that was all Ellen meant by that statement. But if Elsa wanted to take that as Ellen giving her blessing then so be it…

“I assure you, if Rox is involved with the CIA and execute war criminals at the weekend, it would be far less troublesome then having to deal with that maniac. Honest to god. I’m a baby sitter..” Ellen moaned rolling her eyes, wondering if Elsa was so complimentary if Frank had latched onto to her instead of Ellen. Personally she thought that she had the patience of a saint and tolerated much more then Elsa ever would.

A feud is such a strong word to describe the general feelings toward The Conners. She would more describe as a “Cold war” They both had the means to cause serious damage to the other but wouldn’t do so until the other struck first. Ellen was happy to leave them alone provided they do the same. Which they naturally will. They wouldn’t dare start a fight they couldn’t finish.

“Ah, now we’ve reached the reason for this little meeting haven’t we?” Ellen said lightly leaning back in her chair “If you’ve come for a independent third party you’ve come to the wrong person, as I’m sure you know” Ellen said considering the question. What did she think of the relationship. Now that was the million dollar question wasn’t it? “It’s hard to separate, personal feelings from fact, but I don’t trust the Conners and I never will. Now in terms of Erika? He seems to care for her, as much as I’ve seen from him, but…well let’s just say there’s a reason why Drew is trying to keep things from you. He has a very interesting..”Business” Ellen said thinking back to how she bought drugs from Drew in the early aftermath of the shooting

“As for anyone else?” Ellen shrugged her shoulders “There’s Akeem Ten-Amen-Which I'm sure you know about- He releases Pheromones to make people suggestible to his needs. Subtle stuff. Not unlike you know who” Ellen said referring to Priya “He’s not a threat yet. But he has the capacity to be one…Oh and I did see Felix dump a dead body in the lake” Ellen waited a beat, with a emotionless face before slipping her drink “That was a joke by the way..”

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Naturally Elsa was now picturing Roxana working for the CIA and executing people. Somehow, it didn't seem that farfetched. It also seemed like Ellen was exaggerating the whole Frank issue. Elsa was tempted to let slip a few of the bits and problems that she had to deal with regarding Roxana: helping the young woman back to her dorm after she got beaten half to death, the incident in Mexico, the constant mentioning of a shadowy organization with unknown purposes... yes, there was definitely a lot going on with Roxana.

But Elsa let that particular conversation topic lay for now. As Ellen pointed out: there was a reason for this meeting. Elsa had to smile slightly as Ellen insisted that she wasn't a good third party. "Well, you're neither a Bellefonte nor a Conner," she pointed out, extending a finger to point at the other girl. There was a technical matter there. Elsa lapsed into silence though, looking down. She knew, in vague terms, of Drew's various businesses.

"I haven't actually spoken with him in some time," Elsa admitted, frowning. If anything, it almost seemed as though he were avoiding her. His sister wasn't... but did that mean that Drew had something to hide? Elsa didn't want to think about it, not with how close he was to her sister.

So wrapped up in her thoughts was Elsa that she nearly missed Ellen's continued observation. The Banks woman mentioned a new player, and Elsa made a slight note to check that out later. The joke actually had her laughing. "Mm, I was wondering. I told him to be stealthy about that," Elsa tapped her drink for a moment, realizing that they'd hit part of what she'd wanted to talk about, and that the next bit would require her to expose a little weakness to Ellen. "Do you..." Elsa took a deep breath, forced herself to meet Ellen's eyes, "what do you think of him? With me, specifically. you mentioned your thoughts earlier, but... I actually want to know. From an outsider, from you, I suppose."

[Ellen Banks]

Yeah, it wasn’t any stretch of imagination to picture Roxanna brutally hurt people in that way did it? Hence why she was so valuable to the school, thank God she was on their side that’s all she’ll say about that. With her training and her particular set of skills she could probably kill them all with some degree of ease if she so choose.

It made Ellen wonder about the organization she claimed to work for, even though Roxanna has been notoriously mute on the subject, but she couldn’t help but consider the possibility of their being more like her…and what if they weren’t as friendly as Roxanna seemed to be…

Ellen couldn’t help but smirk at that little point by Elsa. Ellen made a face momentarily as if this wounded her ever so deeply but that didn’t exactly last for long “…as I’m told more times then you’ll believe” Ellen sighed, that seemed to be the main issue that people like Eve seemed to have a problem with. Like she was trying to be something that she wasn’t. Trying to pretend to be among the elite by trying to BE a Bellefonte. When nothing could be further from the truth. She was a Banks. Something far different from a Conner or a Bellefonte, and they may not be a well known last name as others, but that didn’t mean that they weren’t deadly in their own right. “Well of course you’ve haven’t. After all, why would he want to be anyone that he knows could poke around in his head? It’s only sensible…”

Ellen blinked for a moment in surprise, if she didn’t know any better Elsa seemed to have softened for a moment…When was the last time she had seen that, But when she thought about it, it was easy to add up the reason why.

Well, well well. Elsa actually growing smitten with someone, Ellen never thought she would see the day…

There was a long pause for a moment considering her answer before had sipping her drink once before leaning forward “You know, once upon a time. If you asked me that I would make something off the top of my head, to ruin your opinion of him. No reason of course. Just because it amused me to disturb things like this…” Ellen admitted shrugging her shoulders “But now…If you want my honest opinion. I think he’s a good person. He hasn’t been on my radar a lot, which meant he keeps out of trouble and from what I’ve seen he cares about you…” Ellen admitted, a cough actually forming in her voice “You ummm…You care for him don’t you?” It wasn’t a question. Ellen had known Elsa long enough to know when Elsa was feeling those type of strong feelings, despite herself she leaned forward before casting a look around her as if trying to make sure this was private “…What’s it like?”
 

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa saw the smirk and realized what Ellen meant by the words. Yes, it was rather unfortunate how everyone seemed to be dead set on making Ellen Banks an outsider. It struck Elsa as being understandable but unfortunate. Again, the line "you don't make allies with your friends" came to mind to her. She certainly understood her sister's reluctance and didn't hold it against Erika in the slightest. But to purposefully ostracize Ellen seemed like asking for trouble. It was like going out of your way to kick a venomous snake that hung around in your neighborhood: it was going to bite you at some point and you probably deserved it. Though in this case, Elsa almost wanted to befriend the snake, so she wasn't sure how well that analogy held up.

The bit that Ellen tossed out regarding Drew's avoiding Elsa made her wonder though. She knew that he had a power similar to hers, and she kept hearing things that made her wonder. This was looking bleaker and bleaker with each passing day, and Elsa was beginning to wonder if there was some point when she should try to draw some sort of line for her sister.

But she remained silent on the matter for now: Ellen was not the one Elsa should be discussing her sister's relationship with, short of getting an outsider's opinion. However, Elsa didn't mind discussing her own relationship with the other girl. It also seemed as though walls dropped for a moment, or perhaps, more accurately: gates opened to allow a momentary exchange.

"it's... complicated," Elsa admitted before pausing to lick her lips. "As for how it feels... it's..." she sighed, looking down, "he fell for her first, and I just can't stop remembering that, reminding myself of it. I don't think whatever we have can last just because of that. I'll always feel like his backup choice, like he picked me because she said no. I'm not an idiot," she looked up at Ellen, met her eyes, "I know that he cares about me. I care about him too," she smiled a little impishly, "and he's quite good at certain things too. Turns out that the caring extends to certain more enjoyable activities," Elsa sighed, leaning back. "But it's odd, because I'm not used to letting too many people in... I have allies," there she had to look at Ellen, "more than friends. And I'm just starting to find out that's not going to work. Felix has helped me realize that I'm more than my last name, and knowing that someone cares about me for who I am has certainly brought my confidence up...

"But still, I don't know where it's going or what to expect or even what to call it," Elsa paused. She let out a laugh, shaking her head before looking Ellen in the eyes. "Either you just hypnotized me or I was desperate to share that with someone besides my sister," she gestured at Ellen. "Take your pick."

[Ellen Banks]

It’s funny how closely ingrained Ellen was into Elsa’s family and the school itself (She had known the Bellefonte’s since she was five years old) and yet she was seen as an outsider and kept at arm’s length most of the time. Which she supposed was only fair considering her little habit of playing dirty when given the choice, and of course dear Erika didn’t trust a word she said. It was a mild source of irritation for Ellen, like a sore at the roof of her mouth that wouldn’t heal because she kept tonguing at it repeatedly, but she abided by it…for now at least. One didn’t know what the future held did they?

Ellen was…well, testing things, it would be a good way to put it. Testing how far this new found weakness went. Pressing against it to see what fell out, shaking the tree. She couldn’t help herself to be perfectly honest, old habits died hard and a potential vulnerability in Elsa Bellefonte, was too much to pass up. Even though she wasn’t tempted to use this information against her, call it curiosity on her part

And what she shook loose, even SHE didn’t she didn’t see coming. It was like Elsa was looking for an excuse to pour her heart out to someone and Ellen happened to be that someone, Ellen simply sat impassively, her dark brown eyes bearing a hole at Elsa, almost scanning her as she took in all of her words, even though once Elsa delved into more private affairs Ellen had to winch “ Thank you for the mental images” Well, at least Elsa had more of a sex life then Ellen…

A small smile trailed on her lips as her food laid there forgotten for the moment “Three, two one. You’re back in the room…” Ellen smirked “Not even I’m that good to put you under without you noticing, If I could I would have tried it a long time ago so I’d go with the later.” She considered thinking of when the last time, Elsa ever let someone this close “Consider this; if you're  second place to have, then that would have destroyed the relationship between you two a long time ago, even if you ignored it. That’ll bubble to the surface soon enough. Yet here he remains. Attentive as ever” Ellen said shrugging , wondering if anyone would believe her if Ellen toned her she was dishing out advice and being a shoulder to cry on for Elsa “…and if you truly felt that way, then you would have kicked him away wouldn’t you?" Ellen’s eyes flash “So you really need to ask yourself; if you really do feel that way, or are you making excuses because you’re not used to letting people get this close..and that scares you.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Yes, part of Elsa did realize that she was showing weakness to Ellen Banks. Somewhere a Bellefonte was feeling a twinge in their head and didn't know what could have possibly caused it. however, Elsa knew better, knew that they needed to be allied with Ellen, and she knew that this would help that. Plus, there was the completely selfish reason of wanting to hear the truth from someone who would understand but wouldn't pull punches.

Still, Elsa gave Ellen a sardonic smile as the other girl talked as though she'd just hypnotized the Bellefonte. No, she wasn't that good, nor would she ever be that good. Elsa may want to extend trust, but she wasn't going to open her mind up for the Banks girl to take control.

Before she could say anything though, Ellen continued. In many ways, what she said felt like it came out of Elsa's head. The thoughts were similar: there had to be something actually there, if it was, it would have bubbled up or would soon, and yet there Felix was. "I'm not sure that our relationship really bears the credit for Felix being faithful," Elsa drawled. "I'm fairly certain that's who he is," though she paused, looking down at her cup. There was a question there that she didn't want to have answered: why would someone like that be with her?

"You know, I really don't think you and I push people away because we don't like them getting close,' Elsa said, looking to it. "We genuinely know that we're objectively better than a lot of people. Erika can pretend, can go off and have affairs with chefs, but we know: we're from different stock. One day we're going to end up in charge of everyone else, whether we or they like it or not..." Elsa trailed off. She actually believed that, on some level. Despite what she may decide to do for an occupation, wouldn't she still be a Bellefonte? She was almost willingly shackling herself so that the other three siblings could move free.

"Or maybe we just need to find people who are actually equals?" she asked, looking to Ellen and raising a brow. Hadn't they done that? Weren't they doing that now?

[Ellen Banks]

Ellen was ever so curious why she wasn’t currently pressing this weakness that had showed up ever so nicely on her lap, it might as well has been gifted wrapped for her. All she needed to do was to press it like there was no tomorrow. She wagered after so many years of a stalemate she was just handed a big time atomic bomb…but she didn’t.

And nor did she want to…

Not only was this just a little curious for Ellen but also very frustrating. Two years ago, she wouldn’t think twice before pulling the trigger after someone showed a weakness. Urg…Maybe she was getting soft and that the natural Banks killer instinct was waning just a little. The constant warm and constant hugs from Frank Cox might just have been having some kind of effect on her. Like a warm fluffy poison that was working through her system, until she woke up one morning, riding a llama and eating cotton candy for every meal.

Such nightmares…

“Loyalty and being faithful are rare commodities” Ellen noted before taking a small bite out of her muffin making sure to wipe her mouth with her napkin before continuing “We know this better then most, especially with our reputations” She trailed off her words, not needing to finish them, it was no secret that Elsa and Ellen might as well be viewed as the wicked witches of the Bellefonte Academy.

Ellen listened in on Elsa’s theory on why they were so standoffish and it was hard to deny that she didn’t have a point, Ellen had often mused on the same thing, they had egos. That was truth, but it was earned egos in Ellen’s mind. They were a cut above most people. Maybe that’s what naturally drew them together, they were arguably two of the most ambitious students and Ellen had no doubt that those ambitions would only yield success when they grew older “I don’t really know why I push people away more” Ellen admitted flickering a hand across her brow rubbing her temples lightly “It’s pretty much an impulse at this point” Ellen paused and shrugged her shoulders “As long as were sharing…”

Ellen frowned at her words taking them all in before leaning forward pressing her elbows onto the table “Do you think we could change? If we really tried to?”



A question Ellen had often considered

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Yes, they were still above the rest, would always be to some degree. So long as their last names were "Bellefonte" and "Banks' they would simply be better, be worth more. Elsa couldn't quite shake that, no matter how many times different people insisted on otherwise. The simple fact was that if she'd wanted to ruin those same people's lives, she'd only have to put her mind to it. Most people couldn't say as much.

Elsa had expected some sort of question or commentary from Ellen on that. The impulse business, that made sense, and Elsa found herself nodding slightly: certainly something she understood as well as her companion. "Everyone can change," Elsa replied, adding a slight shrug, "and you'd be fooling yourself to think we haven't already. It's partly because of our relationships. With Felix, with Franck, with my sister, with everyone," Elsa added another shrug. "It's also partly because we've gone through quite a bit. If you ask me though, that only makes us all the better. We can now add that we were victims of an oppressive group, that you were shot and that I lead a campaign against them. Seems to add a bit more to the superiority, doesn't it?

"But at the end of the day, Ellen, there's probably always going to be some part of us that just knows we're better. The only way we'd lose that is if one of us went for someone of lesser status, and even then, I'm not sure. It's rather core to our beings..." but could cores change? Elsa left the unspoken question hanging in the air, as if she could see it and actually study it to find the true answer there.