A Feeling You Don't Want To Fight

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Usually didn't need this? Elsa quirked a brow at that. It had been said with such confidence, the ease of someone who knew very well just how charming they were and was totally comfortable with that fact. She logged that away with the warning that Ellen had given her. Clearly this Akeem could very well be a potential threat...

...he could also, however, be a potential ally. He did rise to her little bait slightly, and she quirked her brow at the first comment. He continued and then Elsa found herself nodding: "If you did that, you'd stop being quite so interesting," she pointed out, gesturing toward him. "It's not simply a matter of showboating your powers; it's a matter of knowing when and how to use them appropriately," Elsa took another breath. She could still feel her heart racing slightly, but either she'd gained a much greater degree of control or Akeem's pheromones had decreased. Elsa leaned toward both.

"You're quite the interesting person: why haven't I noticed you before now?" She raised both brows now. "Been laying low? Biding your time? Waiting for just the right moment to strike?"

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

Akeem knew his unique look allowed him to pop around here, making him instantly more interesting. Even if he didn’t have that, he was confident in the way he appeared to people and the kind of reaction you usually get from this. He didn’t think he needed his power. But that did make him extra charming. Still, considering how it was not everlasting, it was not something he should use too much. Not if he wanted to get a girl, that is.

He didn’t see the need to douse Elsa in more pheromones. There were some people you got more from by not doing it. Elsa seemed to be one of those. “I’ll take being interesting over getting a girl in my arms. Even when that girl is Elsa Bellefonte,” he replied. It felt almost like he passed a test or something. He didn’t quite like that kind of relationship where everything you said or did was analyzed. At least he appeared to have passed this one without losing too much point. Then again, if she heard of him, she must have had a bad impression of him to begin with. That too was something he didn't like to work with, but again he found out he had little choice but to go with it.

“And what would you consider to be an appropriate way to use my power, really?” He knew when and why he’d use his power but she was the one trying to tell him he should know this better, so he was curious to hear what she could consider was a right moment to throw pheromones in someone’s way.

He was a bit more in his element as she asked why she didn’t know of him. Oh, it was a terrible mistake that needed to be corrected straight away. “Maybe because I left for college before you could really take the time to know me? I’ve returned only recently,” he explained. She was not that much younger but still enough for him to probably not pay much attention to her then. “If I really wanted to strike at you, we wouldn’t be having this conversation, you’d be in my arms already,” he felt the need to add.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Well, that certainly raised him a little further in Elsa's estimations. It didn't hurt that he offered another compliment in there, albeit one that had her brow raising. Elsa still wasn't quite sure what the general public made of her. She'd spent most of her life in her sister's shadow, then stepped out and become a boogeyman, and now she'd been working on moving back, while leaving little strands. Was that what intrigued Akeem? Or was it something in her past?

"Calming someone who needs it?" Elsa offered, gesturing casually toward him as if handing off the idea. "Or possibly working to add excitement to those who've lost it," she had to fight hard against grinning as she said that, however. It sounded sappy as she said it, and had Elsa heard it, she likely would've laughed it off.

The confident response that followed had her actually laughing though. "You think so, do you?" She said, smirking. "I apologize if I've been somewhat on the offensive. It's in my nature. That and, as I said, I was warned. Someone actually compared you to Priya Kuar," and if he didn't recognize that name, Elsa would have been shocked. She smiled all the more, knowing that at least part of the reason for that lay in the pheromones he doubtless kept projecting.

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

Elsa was beautiful, even a blind man could find that out. There was something a little cold about her though. Not cold. Analyzing. She had to analyze everything it seemed. You could just see it in her eyes, the way she would size you up and put you in a box. This probably played against her at times. But since Akeem was not here to try and find someone to warm his bed, he didn’t think any further than that.

She had a few suggestions for him. “Ah yeah, I heard that before. Nice idea, until I make them fall in love with me so much they want to jump me,” he replied. He had a little smirk as he shrugged in the most innocent of ways, a nice contrast with his previous choice of words. “You just never know how people would react.” The idea of putting some excitement in one’s life was already more like something he might appreciate. More his style. Even if that might sound awfully gigolo. He smiled at her at the thought. There was nothing innocent there. It was almost predatory. Daring her to be this person who needed a bit of excitement for him to give it to her.

He shrugged again in all innocence, confidence still quite high. Yes, he believed so. However, if Akeem could make an annoying girl fall for him after she wounded his pride one time too many, he normally tried his natural charm before resolving to this. It was like saying you slept with a hundred women only to find out over half of them were drunk or drugged. It didn't really count, other than to make you an immoral pervert. This was not a way he wanted to be recognized as.

She mentioned a name, apparently someone he looked like. He frowned at that. “I’ve heard that name and what is associated to her but I was not there when it happens. Still, I haven’t heard anything to explain how we could be alike,” he said. He got mentions of the incidents that occurred and things she might have been involved in. Some also saying she slept with several people. Akeem did not start any fire, nor did he ask someone to start one for him. And he kept his sleeping habits to himself.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Something in the way Akeem almost casually mentioned having someone fall in love with him did set off a few alarms in Elsa's mind. Yes, she could definitely see why Ellen had compared him to their nemesis from India. Was it something in the power? Sometimes Elsa wondered that, especially given her own power and tendency to treat everything as if it were some kind of mind game. But there he was, someone who could play with emotions, shrugging off the thought of making someone desirous of him that they would jump him. Elsa was very tempted to point out that what he talked about had a name:

rape.

And look, he even gave her an opening. "Ms. Priya Kaur," Elsa said, her tone somewhere between lecturing and amused, "was the Director of the Ishvaras Institute, and likely still is for all I know," she hadn't dared check. "She came here for the IMAC tournament, and, well, she went around manipulating people's feelings and essentially raping them," Elsa favored Akeem with the tight smile, leaving it to him to draw the last few lines of connection.

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

There was a light change in Elsa but one he was still able to notice. Something in her gaze, suggesting he might have treaded on a landmine. He could swear she was more guarded all of a sudden. He needed to be careful, the pheromones were clearly losing their power. He could hit her again, to keep winning a few points with her by lulling any of her worries on his behalf. He kept that option up, in case he once again made a wrong move.

He couldn’t help the way he acted though. Akeem judged people based on what he could get from them. He wouldn’t necessarily hurt them or go against the moral boundaries but he had a hard time understand such boundaries and therefore, he sometimes ended up doing things that would be frowned upon. He never let girls think they were the only one though or that it was serious, his intentions were clear and he was the kind to keep going at someone until he obtained satisfaction. Still, the question could be asked: would they have done all of this had they not smelled his pheromones? Since he couldn’t make a homosexual girl fall in love with him, he’d say they had to have wanted it somewhere inside. It was not like he ever brutalised someone either. Not physically, that is.

She had more morals than he did however and she exposed her point by comparing him to this Priya Kaur. A woman of power, definitely something he’d like to become himself, although not at the head of any school. The tournament was also something he heard of. Hard to when you returned merely a few months after it was done and it was so fresh in everyone’s memory. He raised an eyebrow though at her last word. “And I suppose you do not compare us only regarding the ‘manipulating people’s feelings’, is it? You suggest I could rape someone? I’m curious... is it Evelyn again? Because I assured her nothing happened in that hotel room but she seems to have a hard time believing it,” Akeem replied after a moment. He didn't particularly enjoy being called a rapist. Nor the implications it can have. “I’m ambitious, Elsa. A trait I’m sure you can understand. I have a clear idea what I want my life to be. You really think I will endanger it by letting a girl claim I forced her?” He was annoyed for sure and the way he talked, he didn't try to hide this crueler side of him or the fact he’d have no affection for this ‘girl’, whoever she may be. For now, this girl was Elsa and Akeem lost his playful nature. “Free to you to think I’m that stupid but refrain from spreading such rumor.”

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Did Elsa only compare them with the manipulating of feelings? With the lust for power? With this urge to treat other people more like plaything than living, breathing, thinking individuals? Perhaps. Elsa did often figure people out rather quickly, and she wasn't shy about passing judgment on those that she thought deserving. In this case, she was fairly confident in doing precisely that, especially as he continued, insisting that Evelyn would have given her this information.

Which really just continued to amuse Elsa. Evelyn would have given her a cup of gasoline were she on fire, but she wouldn't be doing much else for the Bellefonte.

Then an outline, with Akeem insisting that he knew what he wanted. "So your argument," Elsa said, pointing, "is that you wouldn't rape someone simply because that would put you in potential danger? I'd love to sit here and debate that issue with you, as I'm sure it would be quite engaging, but I'd have to say that the 'I'm too smart to rape people' is a fairly telling argument in and of itself, wouldn't you say so? What is especially interesting is that each and every one of those that Ms. Kaur 'raped,'" she did as sarcastic and cruel of air quotes as she could manage, "was untraceable on some level, was something that supposedly wasn't forced.

"So I suppose I can suppress this 'rumor,'" if anything the air quotes were harsher this time around, "since we both know how important reputation can be.

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

It was pretty clear to him by now that this girl would never be an ally. If he didn’t think she had anything to do with him being forced back here, he was pretty sure she could have done it. If she was not to be an ally, he had to make sure not to turn her into an enemy. She could easily become that. Now that the pheromones were not longer working on her, she had no problem showing him what she really thought of him and his ability. Did she really think that anyone else with that power wouldn’t abuse of it for their own advantage? If she really wanted him to calm someone or make them better, he could, but she better not believe that would make him not try to use it for his own good either. When you had a chance to better your situation, you take it, even if some might say it is unfair or not right. They are just jealous because they don’t have this chance and people just loved to watch others fall and remain at a lower level than they are.

“You’re free to think whatever you want, but that is right. You think others don’t think like that? Come on. They might phrase it differently but it will resume to this: why do something to this girl and get punished for it when I can go with that other girl and not risk anything? You may think my moral compass doesn’t point due north but I can still tell when something’s illegal. So yeah, be outraged all you want by the way I bring it but I’ll still say I prefer to have a life of my own than lose everything because I fucked the wrong girl the wrong way.” Being compared to a predator was not a problem to him. Being called dangerous or shady was fine too. He could work with that. But having a criminal record that would endanger everything he’s been working on, that was unacceptable.

He didn’t like the turn this conversation was taking or the fact he could not control anything. Elsa had an opinion of him that would not change despite the fact he did nothing to show he was like this Ms Kaur of hers. His words might have implied he could but they were just words and actions spoke better than any words. “It is and it’s sad you decided to paint me as the villain when I don’t think I’ve done anything yet to justify it. You’ve already made an opinion of me and don’t seem interested in changing it. Feel free to think that if you want but don’t go around pretending that’s the truth. Reputation can destroy a man, or a woman. You should also think about that before you start assuming things on people without proof of it.” And she was free to sense a threat in his words because there was one lingering there. He would know who to blame if he found nothing but closed doors in front of him. And he was ready to give her a taste of it if she tried that. After all, he didn’t do anything against her and never meant to. If she went after him, she asked for him to retaliate.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

This man played the game. Elsa couldn't quite recall the last time she'd had a conversation with someone who understood that, how the pieces moved and how to move in reaction to them. She could see that in him and, despite her statements, she couldn't help but find herself being pulled slightly toward the man, drawn to him on some level. She wasn't sure what to make of him just yet, but she definitely wanted to know more.

"Actually," she said as he finished his response to her near monologue, "I haven't painted you as anything just yet. I'm still concern, given, despite all your pretty words, what seems to be a lack of a moral compass. But Ellen Banks didn't seem to have one. I didn't seem to have one. So I would wager that you'll end up finding your own. even if you don't, I don't quite see you as quite that villainous yet. Do I like what you say? Not particularly. Do I suspect you of being villainous? Yes. But I would be quite careful about doing precisely what you're suggesting, about jumping to conclusions, as that could very well end up with your jumping somewhere you don't want to be."

Elsa studied him for a few moments longer, puzzling. She'd definitely have to be careful of this one. There was no basis for trust here, no way that she could call him an ally, and yet...

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

Akeem always tried his best to adapt to any situation. It was not always easy but he usually knew how to bounce back. That boy played to win and seeing that she had the advantage right now was not to please him. No need to say he was one sore loser. Shaking Elsa was not nearly as important if he didn't feel like he won some point here, if not with her at least against her. Yet none of these three options seemed to be happening. That girl was good. Even better than Evelyn he would say, considering how the girl kept being affected by him. He didn’t like that. He didn’t like that at all.

He wouldn’t say he was a bad person. He didn’t quite care about the whole ‘right and wrong’ bullshit but that did not make him evil. It was not like he was spending his time trying to make everyone cry and quiver in fear at the sound of his name. Mentioning Ellen Banks in her speech made him groan. That girl was no better than he was. At the very least he knew how t be social and loveable when he wanted to. She was a shark smiling at the little fish before taking a bit off it. He was... well he was like that too but he could also just pet the fish and leave if he wanted to. And Elsa admitted she appeared not to have one as well. “It’s not so much about not having one than not being a hypocrite. A lot of those who claimed to be the ‘good guys’ will do terrible things and claim they did it for the ‘greater good’. Or they deny they could do anything bad because it’s not in them since they are so ‘good’. I admit I’ve got a bad side. And I admit that I will do what’s necessary for me first. It doesn’t make me bad though. Only honest with myself. “ If some wanted to believe it made him bad, then they just thought too highly of themselves.

Elsa was starting to do that. At least she admitted she would not judge him as totally villainous just yet. “I know the difference between something that can be morally wrong and something that’s illegal. Well, ok, I might not always know what people consider morally wrong, some are just way too righteous for their own good, but I sure know what’s illegal and I’m not dumb enough to cross that line. Toeing it, maybe, but not crossing it. Something tells me you know what I’m talking about.” He heard enough about the Bellefonte twins, and vaguely seemed to remember them from his high school years even if they were younger and so not as important to him. Now however, given all that this one did, she was worth some of his attention.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Being a hypocrite. Yes, Elsa could definitely see avoiding that at any cost. Again, Akeem's logic and reasoning sounded a good deal more like you'd expect someone severely lacking in a moral compass to offer. Plus, Elsa had to actually agree with him: what he said didn't strike her as necessarily bad. Selfish, perhaps, but at the end of the day, most humans were. Most just weren't quite so willing to come out and say as much.

The talk about toeing the line had the Bellefonte smiling. "Yes, I have been known to dance right along that line," which she found particularly apt, given her major avocation. She tapped her fingers along her lips as she considered him a little more. "Still, you have a power that puts you on the line by its mere existence. That's something I know all too well. But see, I'm a dancer," she gave him a nod and a slight flowing bow, "with a rather long history of dancing along that line, as I said earlier. So," she looked at him, raising her brows, "the question is whether or not we're going to step on one another's toes when you get right down to it," she offered a sly smile of her own.

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

Akeem was not the devil people depicted him as. He accepted he had a bad side and used it as much as the good one. Sure, he can help you, but he would not pretend it was not in order to get something in return. And should he ever stab you in the back, you really shouldn’t have been surprised. He did what had to be done to achieve whatever goal he had whether it was advance in life or getting someone to warm his bed. He didn’t think it made him a horrible person though. If you shoved away the restraints morality imposed, you could go a far great deal further in life.

Elsa chose to push the metaphor of the line and dancing on it to its limit. He was not sure if calling herself a dancer was to say she really was a dancer so much as saying she was used to toeing that line. He actually liked how she finished it and smirked back. “I’ll make sure not to do that. At the very least because you appear to me as one you better not try that trick on. Or make a run for it once you did.” He would not say she looked vengeful but she definitely had the power and resources to make you pay. Or fall before she did. “It’s all about knowing how to walk along that line, right? And who can be a potential threat to you while you do it. But, you see, it does not make me bad. Or stupid. I know you didn’t like how I brought it up but it still makes sense. Why would I risk forcing one who says no when I can get one who says yes? You might not like that my reason is so I don’t get in trouble but what matters is the result, and the result is that I won’t just manipulate everyone to jump in my bed.”

He was not sure she got the difference but he liked to believe she could. Even if she might refuse to give him that point. He shrugged as he figured that out. “Besides, our encounter should be the proof of that. This girl wanted to know what it felt like, as if the lust I can give through my power is any different from the one you can feel on your own. Yet you didn’t see me leaving with her at my arm, did you?” She could consider him a potential threat all she wanted, or someone with no moral compass. But he wanted to make it clear that insinuating he might rape women would damage her as much as it would damage him. Should anyone try to make him fall, he’ll make sure they fall with him. As simple as that.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Did Elsa appreciate the compliment in Akeem's words? Of course she did. Despite what she may want other people to believe, Elsa Bellefonte was human. She appreciated compliments. She appreciated them all the more when they came from intelligent people like Akeem. He seemed to realize that they were equals of a sort, and he was willing to play the Game, as Elsa thought of it. He continued with his logic, and while Elsa still didn't particularly like the mindset she could... understand it a bit better.

He'd make a powerful ally.

The thought fluttered through Elsa's mind for a moment as she studied him. In many ways, he reminded her of the very one who'd insisted she keep an eye on him. Ellen was closed off, but intelligent and savvy enough to work people. Elsa and Ellen had bonded over that sort of mutual view. Well, that and the fact that their lives had been entwined for longer than either of them cared to remember.

"No, you don't currently have someone on your arm," Elsa said, nodding toward the empty space. She hoped he got the implication: she wasn't there either. "But that could also be because you want to make a point, or because there are too many witnesses," she gestured around them. "At any rate, it does prove that you're at least savvy. And I'd much rather have someone like you at least walking alongside me, if not quite watching my back."

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

Akeem knew his personality tended to be rough on some people. Not everyone liked his view of the world or the way he acted in it. Some had more moralities than he did. He’d called that restraints, personally. He had some trouble understanding those. But he was not wholly a bad person and apparently Elsa got it. Or suggested that this might all be a scheme. Like bluffing about bluffing or something like that.

“Please. I think it’s reasonable to say I can get someone without the need of any special power. Sure, getting her to my room would have taken a bit more work on my part that way but isn’t the chase exciting too?” It was at least enough for him not to simply spread pheromones all around the moment he wanted to sleep with someone. What would people witness anyway? That he’d been flirting with the girl the whole time and she fell for it and wanted to spend more time with him elsewhere? Ooh, how evil was that!

“If I’m that savvy, I also know who I can get the most from and how to get that. Which means that if I want to be in your good graces, I would know better than to force you. After all, you’ll remember it,” he said, a little smirk playing on his lips. Using his power usually meant the end of an alliance with someone, unless that person was unaware of his power or just too naive to get he used it on them. Elsa was neither. “I’d rather have you an ally or at the very least not have you against me. As long as you feel the same, I don’t see any reason why this would not work.”

[Elsa Bellefonte]

The chase exciting? Elsa quirked a brow at that, looking at Akeem out of the corner of her eye. There was something almost predatory about it. Oh, she knew full well what he meant, and some part of her had to agree. Elsa certainly enjoyed flirting enough as it was. But she couldn't help but look at every statement on several levels. It was essentially how her mind worked. And it kept working as Akeem continued, saying that he knew enough of how to get to her, or at least the first few steps.

"It sounds like we're in agreement then," Elsa said, nodding slightly. "I suppose now is when we decided to do a project together. I don't suppose you're in US History two hundred? Because I hear there's a research project coming up and I'd just so love a partner with some actual intelligence."

Well, you did have to think on your feet around here, after all, and you could never quite forget that they were students at the end. The teachers certainly weren't going to let that fact slip by.