Showing my hand (Elsa)

[Ellen Banks]

That was the obvious pitfall of wearing a scarf seemingly every moment of every single day. An obvious weakpoint of hers was as clear as the nose apon her face She really was surprised that it took this long for Elsa to make a biting comment about her scarf. She had been epecting a comment like that, so she was mentally prepared and was determined not to show that her words had an effect on her like the usually comments about it did.

“I’m surprised you didn’t make an ever so witty comment about the scarf before now. Clearly you’re slipping somewhat Miss Bellefonte” Ellen smirked “I always thought of myself as a stable of fashion, I think I could even bring back the scarf look” Ellen muttered already trying to take offensive. It was the best type of offence or so the saying did go

“Your dear sister gave me this scarf. I know I was as surprised as you are” Ellen shrugged “She does like her mixed signals doesn’t she? I wished she made her mind up if she hated me or not” Say what you will about Elsa (and Ellen usually did) but at least she never left Ellen wondering where she stood. Her relationship with the darker Bellefonte twin was blissfully simple in comparison “I suppose being invited to the wedding of the year is too much. I suppose they’ll think I’ll be a distraction

She couldn’t help but utter a chuckle at Elsa’s usually blunt assessment of her opinion of Ellen “Oh, you know me so well” She said folding her arms “Even after all these years you still question if I’m about to plunge a knife in your back…Even though-“ Ellen began to say the smile dying on her face “I doubt I’m the one you should be worried about. I have my concerns about a few of the international students and officers…”

A certain like minded Russian student and Indian officer springs to mind.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa waved off the mentions of the scarf and Ellen's rather weak attempt at getting her riled up. She figure that the scarf had some other meaning, but she didn't care that Ellen didn't feel like sharing it. The bit about mixed signals did have Elsa looking at Ellen seriously for several long seconds. There was actual pain there: Elsa didn't have to read minds or pick up feelings in order to understand that much. She could hear it in every word.

Just like she heard the quip and the more serious comment. A lot there to digest, but Elsa felt there was something standing in the corner that they had to talk about, something that Ellen had more or less mentioned.

"You do realize that if there's a wedding, you're invited, right?" she said, looking to Ellen. "She might hate you now, or well, honestly, I never know where you and my sister stand,' which was the truth. Unless Elsa literally heard the two of them talking to each other, she just didn't know. "I do know that there's no way we couldn't invite you to Erika's wedding though. Like it or not, you're too important to us. Which is also why I'd rather you work with us here, and yes," she smiled, leaning back, "I'm aware that there are potential problems coming in. We'll deal with them. They're on our territory, after all."

And Elsa was quite confident in their ability to defend their own castle.

[Ellen Banks]

And there it was, finally the elephant in the room was addressed. The up coming Bellefonte wedding and all that it entailed, certainly Elsa had become aware of it by now. It wasn’t like she could hide such a thing from her twin anyway giving that she could read minds. After all these years of knowing Elsa Bellefonte. She liked to think she had a pretty good idea of how she thought and how she reacts to certain things and she guessed she wouldn’t exactly embrace Everett as her brother in law just yet, not that she was naturally suspicious of Everett but rather she didn’t exactly enjoy the idea of her sister getting married so young, it wasn’t enough that she had become headmistress of an entire school and on top of that getting married? Ellen personally questioned if she knew what she was doing…

“Exactly. This is your territory. This is Bellefonte, practically sacred land in mutants across the world and now after a school shootings it’s in the hands of two young girls not even turned 20 yet.” She put up her hands defensively before Elsa could speak up sighing “No Elsa that’s not a slight against you or your family it’s just being realist, even you would have to concede that you and Erika are ridiculously young for this position, despite how confident I know you are.Look, my point is- My father has a saying “The sharks will swim when they smell someone bleeding” and Bellefonte is bleeding. True, were recovering from the shooting and were making attempts to go back to the way things were. But the school is undergoing a transitional phrase and trying to recover and..certain parties know that” Ellen didn’t want to talk down to Erika or Elsa but with the recent internationals she had met she couldn’t help but see the school in a vulnerable way and she certainly didn’t want either headmistress to be lulled into a false sense of security.

Ellen looked up in surprise at Elsa words. As a matter of fact she did automatically assume that Erika wouldn’t let her anywhere near her big day, she knew her all too well and she knew that the temptation to cause trouble there might be too much to resist She couldn’t really say she blamed her. Ellen was hardly a saint. “Join the club” Ellen said rolling her eyes knowing all to well how confusing her relationship was.

But the real surprise was the phrase “Too important to us” now this did throw Ellen a loop, True she had known both Erika and Elsa since she was learning how to walk but she never got the impression that Elsa was particularly fond of her, she always just assumed that because she was so close to the family she merely tolerated her, because certainly she didn’t trust her certainly not enough to be considered “Important” or friends. Ellen didn’t say anything or a moment this being one of the rare occasions that she didn’t really know what to say “Thank you,”

Well that was a start

“I take it you’re taking your duties as maid of honor seriously then?”

Because who else could it be?

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Yes, the whole situation was awful. Elsa knew it; Erika knew it; apparently Ellen knew it as well. The Bellefonte twins were put into positions that they hadn't received enough training for yet. Worse, they'd just suffered through the SPECTRE thing, and it had been something of a miracle that they'd managed to get out of that as relatively unscathed as they were. Elsa certainly didn't want to dwell on it; she simply nodded to what Ellen said and mentally congratulated herself on making certain to include the blonde.

The rolled eyes had her smirking though, though the expression didn't last through the thank you. That made Elsa nod in response, accepting it, agreeing. "Maid of honor, wedding plan," she waved a hand absently, "I wear many hats," which was definitely an understatement. "Though I do sometimes wonder about Erika: planning a wedding amidst all this chaos and conflict. It's as if she's trying to make things more complicated."

Elsa chuckled and rubbed at the bridge of her nose for a moment. It was just one more duty that she needed to complete. She lowered the hand, smiling up at Ellen. 'So, as you can see, this is why I'm putting together a group of people. I refuse to be caught off guard by anything. Not again."

[Ellen Banks]

Well at the very least Elsa’s ego wasn’t damaged by Ellen’s word. She knew that her words no mattered how innocent they might be could nicely get under someone’s skin it has happened to both Bellefonte twins almost too many times for Ellen to count. These Bellefonte’s had such fragile ego’s all the more willing to bite back at the slightest misplaced comment and they certainly were biting if they felt the need to be, but it was good to see that Elsa at least understood her reasoning

If Erika was running this group, and Ellen just said what she said to her there would be a large hand print on the side of her face. But she had no reason to doubt Elsa didn’t know what she was doing. The group she had assembled might not have been the one that Ellen would have particularly picked (But that was more or less because Ellen had trouble trusting most people) but her in particular? She trusted Elsa…

In this aspect at least….

She afforded a brief smile when Elsa began to talk about the wedding knowing full well that there was a distinct possibility that the entire thing can become an unmitigated disaster considering the setting Elsa would have her hands full. “When do you ever NOT wear many hats. Even when we were kids you were always the one that was in charge of everything. Don’t tell me you’re not enjoying it just a little” Ellen knew her too well for it not to be enjoyable for her

“Erika always had issues with thinking clearly when her heart is set on something, t’s pointless arguing with her. Still on this particularly occasion I can’t hold it against her.” She clicked her tongue against her teeth “Her head is currently full of sugar plums and fairies and what other nonsense infect those in love. Never had time for such things myself, too much trouble then it's worth


“…and with me involved I have no doubt that you won’t” Ellen nodded assured, of that Well I can’t very well leave you alone to decide the fate of the school without me can I? Besides It’s liberating to know that if you need to get answers out of someone for whatever reason…Well, I have permission to use certain talents”

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Elsa smiled at Ellen's assertion about hats, smiled and nodded. Yes, she'd always been the one leading things, or, more accurately, she'd been the one organizing things. Usually they fell in line behind Erika's crazy ideas, with Elsa being the one to clean things up after the fact.

"Perhaps a little," she admitted, looking down for a moment and smiling. The smile turned into a sigh as Ellen brilliantly deconstructed Erika and how Erika thought. Yes, that all sounded very, very much true. Erika would always think with her heart first, and then Elsa would be right along behind her cleaning up messes.

Ellen did sound as though she was equally confident that she'd be able to clean up any and all messes as well, or at least help. Elsa did hesitate for a moment at the last, wondering if she should really allow that. Grant Ellen Banks blanket permission to use her powers for her own reasons. Very dangerous.

Yet Elsa still nodded: "You have my permission... but don't abuse it," she looked up, meeting Ellen's eyes. "Don't let me find out that you're doing something as an experiment or messing with someone simply because you can... again," she said the last a little harshly, recalling what happened between Erika and Ellen. Elsa certainly didn't want things to repeat, and she definitely didn't want to know what Erika would think about her granting any sort of permission to Ellen...

[Ellen Banks]

“Of course you do” Ellen nodded briefly once Elsa confirmed that she did enjoy being put in charge of so many things, not that Ellen was in any position to judge herself, What was she if not a control freak? Her power was merely an extension of that aspect of her. It was a trait that were deeply encoded in her family’s DNA, Ellen was just another victim of it.

Ellen sometimes couldn’t help the way her mind worked at times, At time it just always seemed to work on a manipulative level in one way or another on instinct she highly doubted that she would ever truly shake off the little devil on her shoulder whispering seductively into her ear. No matter how hard she shook. True villains can’t pretend to be anything else. They are what they are and Ellen is who she was. Which was why the idea of using the relationship between the two against the Bellefonte’s suddenly occurred to her. Using the information that Elsa had told her she supposed if she was so inclined she could try and drive a wedge between her. Use a small hypnotic tone in her voice as she questioned if Elsa ever got tired of cleaning up Erika’s mess over and over again respectively, less of a sister more of a baby sitter. "She was the screw up of the family and yet you were the one passed over, the one that could handle the school perfectly for Erika.” Nothing too suggestive just testing the water she what response she got and if the reaction was desirable she would constantly poke and prod at that sore spot until she “Convinced” Elsa to confront her sister. Naturally enough she wouldn’t do this for a variety of reasons (including the fact that Elsa could just read her mind and knew better then anyone when she was playing her games) Chief among them was the fact, she actually wanted to protect the school she did consider them both friends and she had no reason to wish them harm. Maybe a little sport with Elsa from time to time but certainly not to that extent…

Maybe that was another peak of having Ellen on board who better to predict the movements of a rat then another?

She couldn’t help but feel her eyes flash in victory for a moment once Elsa had let her off the leash in a manner of speaking, knowing she had permission to use her powers for the purposes of the group (Not to mention her own uses) was welcome if not unexpected use indeed. She wondered somewhat why Elsa would allow such a thing could it be that this was her telling her “This is me testing you. Don’t make me regret this” “Messing with someone because I can” Ellen repeated smiling innocently lightly playing with her hair “Surly you have me confused with someone else Headmistress. Why it’s almost like you don’t trust me…” She laughed a little as if the mere idea was humorous “Well on that note I better be going. Ellen said standing up “Do let me know when we have our first meetings I would image you have a lot of potentially unhappy people to break the news to. Do give your sister my regards when you do

[Elsa Bellefonte]

There was a moment there where Elsa wondered if she'd done the wrong thing. She didn't like second-guessing herself: it didn't sit well with her and just wasn't part of her personality. Elsa thought everything out ahead of time, lined up everything, made certain that everything was just in the right line. Now she couldn't help but wonder if the snake she'd thought she could train was going to end up biting her instead of her enemies.

Though Ellen did seem to realize that, though Elsa suspected that Ellen might be playing with her. That repetition and the hair playing didn't sit well. Elsa just raised her brows as Ellen continued though. The girl invited herself out, and Elsa nodded, agreeing with the dismissal. Technically Elsa should draw the line, insist that Ellen wasn't in charge, that she leave when Elsa decided and not the other way around. But this was Ellen, and Ellen was allowed some leeway.

"I will," said Elsa, nodding, "and you could do me the favor of not making it overly difficult," she met Ellen's gaze again. "This is only going to work if we manage to ban together and do what's best for the school. I trust you for this, somewhat, so don't make me regret that," she nodded and then folded her hands, waiting for Ellen to take her leave.

[Ellen Banks]

What seemed to be an exercise to showcase Elsa’s power over Ellen had turned into quite the benefit to Ellen, Even if it did more less amount to Elsa releasing the lead for just the briefest of moments, Ellen was willing to take whatever she could from her. She hasn’t been having the most fortunate run of luck recently so Ellen learned not to look a gift horse in the mouth. Especially when said gift horse happened to come from a Bellefonte certainly not from Elsa but then again she doubted Erika would even begin to consider doing for Ellen what Elsa just did.

It was almost out of character for Elsa to give into to such a request unless of course she legitimately meant it when she told Ellen that she was trusting her. (With Elsa it was hard to tell what was the truth and what she was just jsaying to get what she wanted) and if that was the case, what had Ellen done to earn this truth? Hasn’t she spent her childhood and teen years proving unquestionably that she shouldn’t be trusted?

Food for thought….

As she turned she couldn’t help but to turn back to Elsa one last time “Don’t be lulled into thinking, that just because this school bears your family name, you’re the only person who considers it home” After a beat she couldn’t help but feel a sly grin grow on her face “..and of course you trust me. Haven’t you noticed? You’ve been looking into my eyes the entire time” and just like that she marched out of the room. What could she say? Old habits die fast and the idea of implying that she had used her powers on Elsa without her noticing was simply too tempting to resist. True that she didn’t try anything and logically Elsa would be able to tell the instant she was considering it, but tiny seeds of doubt are always the best kind.

She had the admit, this never ending chess game between them was nothing if not entertaining


“Your move..”

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Yes, Elsa kept her eyes and attention on Ellen, even as the other girl stood and turned. So she was technically looking to the other girl's back as Ellen continued, insisting that Elsa wasn't the only one to call this school home. Elsa didn't bother to answer: that was part of why she'd called together the people she had. Nearly all of them fought hard for this place, believed it to be a home of some sort, or believed the people to be family.

The last comment nearly had Elsa chuckling. It was just Ellen all over, thinking that she'd tossed something at Elsa. As if Elsa hadn't made the conscious decision to do just that. She recognized when someone altered her thoughts, did their thing, and Ellen's power, strong though it was, took time. Plus, Elsa could always simply erect psychic barriers, let the white noise take over.

"So keen of you to notice," she simply said to Ellen's back, "and let me know if it hurts," she was referencing, of course, the wound that Ellen bore, the one that should have killed her, the one that had changed everything. Was it a bit of a low blow? Perhaps. But Elsa wanted, no, needed to remind Ellen of obligations as well as games. This went beyond their little chess match, after all.

Though that didn't stop Elsa from mouthing a word to herself:
Check.