Elsa.

“Can’t have that, you need your beauty sleep.” Says the one who gets five hours a day, max.

“Whatcha planning?”

Not even a friendly visit by her own doppelganger? Hovering behind her with a cup of tea.

“Early morning, I see.”

“You too.” A small wave before she cleans up and heads to her own room.

Fresh mystery to solve tomorrow! How bloody exciting.

Plus she does have some hunts that could be much, much easier with an extra pair of hands…and would be a cinch with another her.

// (potential Rivals season 5 spoiler)

CONSIDER MY NEURONS ACTIVATED

“Well, if she did find her way back, she’s an arse for not sharing notes.” A hearty chuckle as she finishes off her drink.

“Why don’t you get some rest first? We’ll tackle this with clear heads tomorrow.”

“Huh…okay, then maybe that one missing Elsa could be the key if I’m the one who broke the cycle.” And she’s thankful that she’s not shunted away.

“Either way, you’re welcome to stay until you find alternative living arrangements. You know where the guest rooms are, yeah?”

“I mean…I’m the me from this world.” Gesturing around. “This is my house. But perhaps…we can start from your arrival point?” This is more like…Strange’s wheelhouse or something, but she’ll bite. A mystery seems fun.

“Well, I’m just as curious.” Good thing she has the bottle on the table. She’ll pour some for herself.

“So…any suggestions on how to start investigating?”

“Hold on…and we didn’t switch worlds?” Yeah, that’s gonna be an interesting case to crack.

“Seems like a whole cycle that’s somehow broken when you got here. That we know of. Anything else you know?”

“It’s somewhat new to me, but it’s not the first time. That version of us is a lot more well-versed though.”

But that’s…curious. Still, she’d love to help herself.

“Strange. Well…we can figure it out, of course. I think our brains put together can get it done.”

“I figured. I did meet another…us? Met her some time ago. Blonde, and get this. Never met father. Works for STAKE, a SHIELD offshoot.” Now that, that was the first time.

“But in any case…do you remember how you got here?”

-“Long gone. Mum sent me away to study in England, he took Cullen under his wing, died in a fight, and I came back to take over the family plot. Mum followed some time after, unfortunately.” And then…everything happened. “It was quite the whirlwind feq years.”

“Spend one week with everyone under the same roof and your opinion might change.” She lets out a hearty chuckle and sips her drink.

“But yeah, wouldn’t have any other people to be the family. As for father…” A slight glance at the covered-up portrait at the edge of the room.-

-who looks a few years younger than Cullen, braided raven hair with an outfit straight out of a fantasy novel.

“Oh, and Lasha.” Finally, she points to the tiny chihuahua perched upon Mihaela’s proud shoulder.

“All dropped onto my laps when I least suspected it. But they’ve grown on me.”

-A family picture of four. Her other self might recognize Cullen in his fancy smoking jacket, and of course Elsa herself. As for the other two…

“Mihaela,” she points to the older woman of about sixty with dark, silver-streaked hair, standing tall and proud despite her age.

“Lyra,” the one-

“Had…” The word trails off as she takes the thought in. Much as she finds him annoying, Cullen still means the world to her.

“Three, would you believe it? One older, one younger, one chronologically ancient but biologically younger.”

Elsa points to the picture placed on one of the walls.-

// :)

“Both.” She sits down across of…herself and raises her glass a little. “Many similarities, but probably just as many differences. How many siblings do you have?” It’s probably one of the easiest ways to tell the difference. And usually where the interesting stories start.

“Exactly the answer I expect.”

A cheeky grin as she grabs a bottle from the cabinet, pouring two glasses for them.

“Much as I hate to tell Adam to get that chair cleaned again, you can sit there, I guess. Bloody hope we have the same usuals.” Walking over to the table.

“None of that is yours, I assume?” Gesturing at the blood as she goes through the liquor cabinet.

Good thing this isn’t her first time meeting…other hers, so to speak.

Shower first. She’ll help with the drink later.

Hate when the morning comes
It's light that I'm running from
Can't fly too close to the sun
That's why I'm nocturnal

“Bringing back some Memories, but it really is good.”

📲 Chamomile tea works wonders. Or some time down in the training course to tire me out.

“Unfortunately, some of us don’t get the privilege of choosing.

Much as it is strange coming from me, some of them are quite decent. Though the scent is something to get over.”

“…generally a problem, yes. Also a valid fear to develop.

But one as easily rectified by frequent exposure.”

“Oh bloody—“

Blink.

Oh, it’s a costume.

“Nevermind, carry on.”

In her experience, they have plenty of time to figure out the ‘what’ once they’ve been shot enough to stop moving.

“Then let’s make the count zero, shall we?” Slotting in a shell to top her weapon up before she nudges her head for Britney to lead the way.

“One, most of them are quite easy on the eyes.

Two, they almost uniformly smell of wet dog.”

All too familiar sounds, of course. But it never hurts to double-check.

This evening’s choice is a lever-action hunting rifle. Elsa peers into the barn, trying to get a good feel of the surroundings.