Merde Alors!

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa was tempted to snap back, to point out that she was nearly always on the defensive. She even got that way around Erika, who she certainly felt a good deal more comfortable with than Franck. Plus, she wasn't the one who'd decided this should be one of those conversations where people felt the need to be defensive anyway. that had certainly been all Franck's doing. She did wonder for a moment about his comment regarding touching though.

"Why does everyone feel it necessary to ask that?" she replied, rolling her eyes. "Doesn't it ever occur to you people that this is how I am?" It was, for the most part. Even relaxed, around Erika, around Roxana, around... Felix, Elsa still came off a little cold, distant, "sassy" as one person put it to her recently.

At least he smiled in response to her assertion, which nearly made her sigh. Maybe they could just leave things there, part on at least halfway decent terms, despite the "sassy" volley they'd just had. She noticed the frown, picked up what he was feeling. Cautious, she began scanning a little more deeply, her presence in Franck's ming that much more noticeable. He wouldn't want to--

"Oh, Franck," said Elsa, shaking her head and smiling. "Someone never told you about the pink elephant theory, did they?" She turned to meet him, her eyes locking onto his. "It's sort of connected to telepaths, but basically, if someone tells you not to think about pink elephants, the first thing that pops into your mind is precisely that. It's what some people do when they don't want someone like me to find out," she smiled at him, sympathy tugging there. "If it's any consolation, you're not alone."

And let him wonder if she meant regarding pink elephants or what he'd just thought.

[François Laffont]

Franck shrugged as she pointed out it was just how she was. If she wanted to be cold and distant and have people consider her bitchy because of it, then fine. Franck knew he wouldn’t be able to live like that but it was not the first time he noticed a difference of character between the two of them. Unlike Elsa, he needed to feel like people liked him. Maybe it was a flaw, maybe her way was best, but he knew he would not change. “I know there’s more. That’s why I don’t mind how cold you can get. That doesn’t mean I’m a threat to you. I don’t get why people act like I am,” he replied. Of course, it did occur to him that someone like Elsa or Ellen would probably use the knowledge his power offered to their advantage. Franck tried his best never to do that. Elsa could say it was power all she wanted he was not seeing it that way and so could not fully see her point or the reason why someone like her might be uncomfortable around someone like him.

He frowned at her as she suddenly changed of attitude, smiling at him after shaking her head. Usually, that kind of attitude always meant you did something stupid. What did he do? Did she think he was crazy to think Felix wouldn’t want to talk to him anymore? She had no idea what happened after the prom. She wouldn’t... of course she did. It didn’t take long before the fingers scanning through his mind found the right thought and sent the information to their owner, in one word, Elsa. “Get out of my head, will you?” he said with a sad smile. He wasn’t really mad. She wasn’t mocking him right now. But he was hoping for her not to use that against him. Ever.

“I prefer not to have your opinion about this, if you don’t mind. Don’t need you to feel more embarrass than I am,” he replied. Okay, so she just saw that he kissed Felix. She didn’t want to hear anything about it. He didn’t need Elsa to remind himself that Felix was straight or ask him if that meant he loved the guy or anything of the like.

He would have thought about it over and over now that it came out but something she said interrupted his thoughts. He was not alone. He knew he was not the only one who kissed the boy but that clearly was not what she meant by that. “What are you saying exactly?” he asked, more to confirm his thought than because he couldn’t guess. It was pretty easy to guess.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa was tempted to point out that everyone was a potential threat, especially someone like Franck. Every conversation they'd had up until this point had been relatively antagonistic, and they were often on the opposite side of things. Still, she didn't want to drag that out to show again, especially as the conversation had moved back around to the main focus.

Franck's command/accusation to vacate his head was met with a shrug though. People often asked; sometimes Elsa acknowledged their wishes and actually followed through with the request. In this case, she wasn't going to, not unless Franck could provide some kind of incontrovertible proof that he wasn't reading her emotions. Though he would be picking up how she thought it ironic that he didn't want her opinion on the whole matter.

People made mistakes, after all.

The next question had her looking away for a moment, licking her lips. "Obviously I'm referring to firsthand evidence of some kind," she replied, shrugging and turning back to him. Elsa's face was still nearly expressionless, difficult to read to say the least, but she didn't seem particularly inclined to give him any more information to work with either. He had enough, as far as she was concerned; he was intelligent, at least, most of the time.

[François Laffont]

Maybe Franck needed to be a bit more opportunistic with his power. He was, sometimes. For example, to know whether a friend of his still held a grudge against him or felt down but tried not to show it to him. He would not however try to understand why a stranger he passed by felt ashamed or guilty. He supposed he could use what he found out about Ellen against her if he wanted to. But he could not bring himself to do it. He was pretty sure that if it ever happened, it would be by accident or because he was mad and threw it out, not in a way to harm her. He wasn’t sure harming was the term to use here, if Elsa had been the one with his ability. But she would have used it to her own benefit and that of those she loved, like her sister. Franck should really drop it. But he needed to feel liked and to see her act like this only because of his ability, when he believed she should know he was no threat, he simply couldn’t get past that.

Unlike Elsa, he couldn’t exactly prevent himself from sensing how she felt. But try to explain that. In a way, he was actually glad she read that out of his mind. As much as he didn’t want to be reminded how silly his gesture was, it felt good to let it out. She was not the one he should talk of it with though, but Felix. He really needed to sort things out. The boy assured Franck it meant nothing but that was in the heat of the moment, after he just yelled at his best friend and needed to hold onto someone else. Now, he might sing another tune and consider it would be just too awkward. He couldn’t blame him but that didn’t make it any easier on the French boy.

He knew what she meant but Franck still felt the need for her to confirm. It was obvious what she meant. And her facial expression made it quite clear that she would not say any more about this. He gave her a little, almost sad, smile. “We’re hopeless aren’t we? Though you probably have more chance than I do with him. As long as you can take the “Doormat can’t have Twin A so he’s going for Twin B” gossip in the Laundry,” he said. Not like he would ever tell anyone. He didn't want to cause more trouble to his friend. He sighed. Yes, what a pair they made!

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Lots of thoughts drifting there, all for Elsa to sift through. She stood quietly, mentally cataloging them, even smiling slightly at a few. Yes, she and Franck were drastically different, and they always would be. Shame that they couldn't be drastically different on the same side...

though it almost seemed like they'd found some common ground to stand on. Elsa half-smiled sadly as Franck pointed out how sad they were, shaking her head. "That's always going to be the problem, isn't it?" she asked, before sighing. She licked her lips for a moment, looking away. No, she didn't want to cause any more trouble for Felix either; she just wasn't certain that lay in her future. Emotions were much harder to control than thoughts.

"Do you need anything else for your leg?" she asked, looking down at the wounded limb. "I can always send someone to look on it," and yes, she was somewhat aware, though almost after the fact, that she'd essentially claimed ability to control people in the school. Not like people didn't already know that though, especially Franck.

[François Laffont]

Franck didn’t bother to question himself as to why he kissed a boy he knew was one hundred percent straight. He’d blame the alcohol and the overload of emotions. Don’t get him wrong, he thought Felix was really hot but Franck wasn’t looking for that kind of drama. He wasn’t that much of a masochist. He looked at Elsa once she replied to him. “That we’re hopeless, or that the Laundry will never let it go?” he asked. Somehow, he doubted Elsa really cared about his problems. Erika’s problems were partially hers it would seem but dealing with Franck’s was pretty low on her list of priorities.

Which was why he was surprised she was suddenly enquiring about his ankle. It hurt him at first and she dismissed it. He wasn’t certain why it suddenly mattered. It probably didn’t. But she was still being nice to him, that much he had to recognize. “I’m fine. I don’t think it was twisted or anything. Thanks for your concern,” he replied to her. He might have a limp for a while, he bet it would hurt once he’ll stand on it, but he didn’t look so red anymore or that swollen. He might have it checked on principle but he was in no hurry. Unless someone else decided to run into him, he’d be able to get to the infirmary on his own.

“Do you... never mind,” he began to say. He wanted to ask about her feelings for Felix, if she had any, since she just admitted she kissed him. He didn’t like the idea so much. He would have expected Felix to be furious at her. It must mean he was beyond that and it actually worried him. He hoped it was because he accepted what happened and not because he preferred to dwell in some form of despair. Emo Felix was the worst kind of Felix ever. But he realized by asking Elsa that he was just asking for the whole thing with Erika to start all over again. He sighed heavily at the thought. “Just... be careful around Felix. I’m not sure how much more he can take before breaking up for good,” he admitted. What was the point in hiding his thought, Elsa would likely read it out of him anyway.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

"Both," said Elsa, meeting Franck's gaze, her expression blank. She did care about him and his feelings to some degree, despite what he thought. She wasn't entirely sure why, but she couldn't help but shake the feeling that Franck was some kind of lynchpin. Maybe it was that so many people talked to him and knew him. That alone made him too... useful to callously toss aside or disregard, despite how much Elsa was tempted to do precisely that.

So she got to hear about his ankle, which seemed to be doing well. Elsa nodded to that, half-distracted, half-pleased to hear that he would be doing alright. They really should get an actual healer on the staff, instead of relying upon Dr. Campbell whenever things got dicey. A healer would have handled this just fine, though as Franck's thoughts indicated: there wasn't much of a rush.

Elsa turned to him at his question though, arching a brow. Franck had to know that she'd start reading his thoughts the moment he trailed off. The thoughts caught her hard, and she felt the bit of affection she had toward Felix well up. How she could remember his confession of love, even if it had been directed at Erika instead of her. How Elsa had longed to be loved like that. It all welled up for a moment, as if unlocked by the word, but Elsa quickly scooped it all up and shoved it back away.

Though she did have to laugh at the thought of Emo Felix, agreeing wholeheartedly. "That's why I'm being careful," she said, nodding at Franck. "I---I don't want him to be hurt," which was true, even if it made Elsa swallow and look away. She paused for a moment, then pulled out her phone, glancing at it. "I have things I should be doing,' she mumbled, attempting to make it sound convincing and feeling like she mostly failed.

[François Laffont]

She was right, he supposed. They were kind of hopeless. Franck knew he gave his heart too easily. On that, he supposed he was a bit like Erika. Elsa, by kissing Felix after all that happened, well she just joined them in the hopeless train. As for the Laundry, no doubt that psycho blogger would kill for that kind of story. Franck would not tell it of course. Unless DL was someone able to read minds like Elsa, no rumour about it would leak from him. Not intentionally, at least.

If Franck did not agree with everything Elsa believed or did, he was glad at least that she did not use their differences to be cruel with him. She was defensive but not aggressive. She was not the only one in that state. Even some of his friends, he knew he made them slightly uncomfortable, since he could tell what they felt all the time. He wished it was not the case and with time they got used to it. He wasn’t sure Elsa would ever entirely get used to it. It didn’t seem to be in her nature. He supposed he would have to be the one to adapt.

He knew, well he expected, Elsa would look in his mind to find out what he wanted to say. It was why he phrased it. Best be straight with the prying than try to pretend he was not doing it. Yes, Franck could be straight on certain things. That was a lame joke. He’ll recycle it for a better occasion. He frowned as the emotions he got from her changed a bit as she thought of Felix. Could it be... he preferred not go there. She might hate him if he started theorizing on her loving Felix. That would explain a lot of things though.

He was relieved to hear her say she was being careful. “I’m glad we agree on that,” he admitted. She did seem a little nervous though now that the conversation was back on Felix. She didn't want him hurt and they both had the same goal here. He felt her things to do were just a pretext. But his part in this play was over and he already had a taste of what happens when he meddles further. He wasn’t entirely getting what his friend was getting himself into but he could only watch and come for help when asked. Nothing else. “Alright. And Elsa,” he said, wanting to stop her before she ran away. “I’m sure things will get simpler.” It was only wishful thinking though, right?

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa smiled slightly as she and Franck finally found common ground. Somehow, she couldn't even pretend to be surprised that said common ground happened to be Felix Nicholas. Wasn't that how it kept working for her? With him specifically and everything. She sighed, looking away. She really did have things to do, though Franck wasn't wrong in thinking that they were at least mentioned to get her away from this situation.

He accepted it; that was enough for her. She nodded again, beginning to move. She stopped as she heard him, turning to look. When he finished, Elsa smiled sadly at him. "It's never simple with me," she told him. Sadness welled within her, though it was tinged with the slightest bit of ironic humor. The humor and amusement grew as she turned to walk away, nearly peaking as she effectively tossed a comment over her shoulder:

"Wishful thinking is usually the best kind. Which probably explains why I'm awful at it."

[François Laffont]

Franck did feel a wave of sympathy coming out of him as he sensed her sadness. He had no idea what happened to her for Elsa to claim that nothing was simple with her. It couldn’t just be because of Felix. It was complicated but not the end of the world. It was more like Erika to freak out because her relationship with someone was getting all confused, not Elsa. Because of that, Franck felt she must have had hard times about other matters, other more important matters. And so she had all of his sympathy.

He smiled when she talked of wishful thinking. “Maybe I should do that for you then. Apparently, I do too much of that,” he replied with a light chuckle. He knew he was naive, or at least that many people considered him to be. Elsa probably thought that too, since he was ready to give his trust easily to just about anyone. Maybe he was. But Franck couldn’t see any other way of living. “Start by smiling especially when you don’t want to. Maybe that’ll work,” he said though something in his tone would prove he didn’t quite believe she would do it. Franck did, but Franck was not Elsa. An Elsa smiling all the time, that would be the weirdest thing ever.

Franck gave her a quick wave of his hand. She did say she had things to do. He got that the whole discussion around Felix would only get more awkward if they kept at it. And would lead nowhere. He’ll talk to Felix, make sure he was not jumping into another drama he didn’t need of. Other than that, there wasn’t much he could do, especially now, with Elsa. She could go and try to find something to do.