possible interests for Elsa

As we al know, when Elsa was alive, she didn't seem to have any interests or a social life since she devoted all of her time to aiding Lauro whether it was on missions, preparing her weaponary, etc.

The question is though, if Elsa had been redeemed, what sort of interests do you guys think that she could've developed?

Also, which of the girls do you guys think that she would've become closest to had she chosen to develop friendships?

In regards to the first question, I'm not quite sure what sort of off duty interests she would've gained. Like Rico, Elsa seems to me at least to be quite flexible in this regard.

However, the second question seems to me at least much easier to answer. She might have developed a mutual respect relationship with Claes and perhaps look up to Triela as a role model and looked to her for guidance on how to better interact with people. As for the others, I'm not really sure.

What do you guys think?

I wrote Elsa as being a Star Trek fan.

Yep, I remember that Nachtsider. I could see Elsa being into Star Trek as some of the characters on it tend to have personality traits that Elsa has.

Like I said before, she could have been quite flexible in terms of possible interests so fanfic writers could write her with any number of possible interests.

I can envision Elsa playing some sort of instrument.

If Elsa's willing to put in some effort, I can see her becoming friends with Claes. Probably because Claes managed to interact with Beatrice and both are quiet characters.

Elsa plays a flute in canon.

Oh...I didn't know that. Maybe that's why instrument popped up as a first thought. Do you remember where this was mentioned?

It's off the cover for one of the Gunslinger Girl soundtrack albums, where we have all the girls playing instruments. I'll post the pic soon.

I think that picture is more promo then canon.

It's from an official source, at any rate.

Nachtsider wrote:It's from an official source, at any rate.

True.

I can see Else doing 'Twightlight of the Cockaroaches' in her room, with the Head/Leader Roach Darted/Pinned to the wall for all the other roaches to see as a warning to all.
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OK, maybe not... :face:

I can also seeing her a reader type of a person. I mean she's after she finished polishing that gun there has to be something else to do...XD

Nachtsider wrote:

It must be great for someone to write a fic that Elsa plays instrument with everyone like this.

I love that picture! It's cool that all the girls played some sort of instrument (too bad this wasn't mentioned in anime/manga).

Maybe if Elsa was alive and more open she'd play the flute with the other girls. Then they could have their little orchestra play concerts to the members of the SWA! Maybe not as exciting as an all girls soccer team or as ballerinas, but having all the girls do something together would be nice (like with the star gazing).

Sakura wrote:Then they could have their little orchestra play concerts to the members of the SWA! Maybe not as exciting as an all girls soccer team or as ballerinas, but having all the girls do something together would be nice (like with the star gazing).

Funny you should mention that, Sakura - I'm working on such a story at present, whose main focus will be music. It won't quite be what you expect, but I promise you it'll be a wild and entertaining - not to mention a little silly - ride.

Somehow, I always envisioned Triela to be Elsa's only friend/confidante. You can read more about this in my fic, 'Iceberg'.

She'd probably make friends with Henrietta and maybe Petra... they could shair love stories together

Petra: Sandro knocked me up the other day
Elsa: Nooo way!!
Henrietta: no fair, i always wanted a baby!

I'm with West Nile here, Henrietta seems to be the person who takes the most intrest in Elsa, so if anybody's gonna open up the ice queen, it's her. Triela would be able to pry open Elsa's shell using her shotgun bayonet as leverage, but canonically she seemed rather dismissive of Elsa, so I'd have to go with Henrietta.
Who can refuse dear sweet Henreitta for long?

West Nile did get my attention, had Elsa been around when Petra was, and if they shared a room, how would bright energetic Perta affect the constant gloom that is Elsa de Sica?

BTW, Nacht are you planning on contiuning Iceberg anytime soon?

Soon, my friend - soon. That thing's my baby, and I sure as hell ain't gonna leave it unfinished. Just give me some time to pull it all together.

That's good to hear Nachtsider. I'm eagerly awaiting the next chapter of your fic "Iceberg". It's gotten me to re-think the whole tragedy involving Elsa.

Still, I can see why the writers of "Gunslinger Girl" had it written that Elsa did a murder/suicide on Lauro and herself since it's meant to be a tragic series.

In any case, I was quite pleased to see Elsa in that pic shown in this thread playing an instrument along with the other girls. It shows that she's capable of being more then just Lauro's tool.

Nachtsider wrote:Funny you should mention that, Sakura - I'm working on such a story at present, whose main focus will be music. It won't quite be what you expect, but I promise you it'll be a wild and entertaining - not to mention a little silly - ride.

Sounds interesting Natch. I like reading silly stories since it's a different refreshing pace from the dark atmosphere GSG is normally in.

Somehow, I always envisioned Triela to be Elsa's only friend/confidante. You can read more about this in my fic, 'Iceberg'.

For me, I always got the vibe Triela never liked Elsa ever since the time Henrietta asked Triela about her in Ep 9 of the 1st season.

About Triela not liking Elsa, perhaps Triela meant that she merely hated the cold and hostile way that Elsa acts towards everyone.

One must keep in mind though that even if Elsa did open up to the other girls, she'd probably retain that cool and distant personality of hers where she can still engage in a cold and hostile demeanor when angered, she'd merely be nicer to the other girls in the way that Claes is nice to the other girls.

Sometimes I think that Elsa should've been given a better handler then Lauro considering how he treated her. If anything, I blame him for Elsa's death since he mistreated her and drove Elsa to engage in the whole murder/suicide thing in canon.

Im guessing that all the girls started out with a cold and hostile persnality, and it was Triela's job to break the ice. so given time Triela and Elsa could have been friends.

I'm struggling to see Angie, Rico and Henrietta as 'initially cold and hostile', Nile. The only ones who could have fit that bill would be Bea, Claes and Elsa.

True in canon Angie, Rico and Henrietta were portrayed as the ones with the sunny dispositions. Though Rico retains all of her past memories and is the opposite of cold and hostile but Angie and Henrietta didn't retain any of their past memories. Does that mean it's the work of the conditioning or the side effects?

I've always thought Elsa would be a reader too, but for instruments, I feel she fits with the Oboe (both she and the oboe tend to stand out in their respective areas. Elsa for the fact that she killed herself, and the oboe for its penetrating sound). That's pretty much the reason why I gave her one in Life After Death. I was originally planning for an Oboe d'amore for it's rarity and price as well as how it went into a period of disuse for some time, but I stuck with a regular oboe for some reason... I'm not too sure why.

I think Rico remembers her past because it serves as a reminder of what her life was like before the agency. It gives her the strength to keep going and stay loyal to Jean and the Agency.

Nachtsider wrote:I'm struggling to see Angie, Rico and Henrietta as 'initially cold and hostile', Nile.

Actually, if you’ll recall in season 1, Triela told Henrietta that when she first came to the agency, she was anti-social just like Claes. Henrietta then made the comment about how it was Triela who helped her change.

As I recall, Angelica remembered her past when she first came to the agency as she asked about her parents and her dog perro when she first woke up in the SWA.

It was only later on did she forget about her past which is likely for the best given that her own parents tried to kill her for insurance money.....

This is what I feel like doing to Angie's parents....

Danjo3 wrote:Actually, if you’ll recall in season 1, Triela told Henrietta that when she first came to the agency, she was anti-social just like Claes. Henrietta then made the comment about how it was Triela who helped her change.

I'm familiar with that bit you're talking about, Danjo. However, I don't think this 'anti-social' behavior can be equated with the 'cold and hostile' conduct I mentioned prior.

Having the memories of one's past erased is, in my opinion, not a side-effect, but an objective of the conditioning.

Nachtsider wrote:

Danjo3 wrote:Actually, if you’ll recall in season 1, Triela told Henrietta that when she first came to the agency, she was anti-social just like Claes. Henrietta then made the comment about how it was Triela who helped her change.

I'm familiar with that bit you're talking about, Danjo. However, I don't think this 'anti-social' behavior can be equated with the 'cold and hostile' conduct I mentioned prior.

Having the memories of one's past erased is, in my opinion, not a side-effect, but an objective of the conditioning.

well it probably started out as an anti-social behavior, when Triela failed to interact with her soon enough it was mixed with her extreme obsession for Lauro and in the end she thought to her self "why should i even bother with them, i have Lauro!"

Or it could be arrogance, Elsa and Henrietta are alike in alot of levels but one thing Elsa has over Henrietta is her once near perfect mission record. Elsa thought that she was good enough without anyone but Lauro's help and so she remained hostile, Henrietta "failed" her mission in episode one and with Joze not in the area she turned to Triela for support.

Elsa thinks she's invincible but Henrietta looked up to Triela as the better girl.
ep 8 "but last month i killed at least 10. that's probably more than Triela's got!"

I tend to go with the school of thought that Elsa was probably anti-social prior to becoming a cyborg and the conditioning just exacerbated it.

That can work too but i don't like delving into that topic since it will just plunge this thread into another "what is conditioning anyway?" thread.

West Nile wrote:That can work too but i don't like delving into that topic since it will just plunge this thread into another "what is conditioning anyway?" thread.

That does tend to become a slippery slope around here.

Danjo3 wrote:I tend to go with the school of thought that Elsa was probably anti-social prior to becoming a cyborg and the conditioning just exacerbated it.

Seconded.

Utsurokuri wrote:True in canon Angie, Rico and Henrietta were portrayed as the ones with the sunny dispositions. Though Rico retains all of her past memories and is the opposite of cold and hostile but Angie and Henrietta didn't retain any of their past memories. Does that mean it's the work of the conditioning or the side effects?

Actually, Henrietta was in constant need of attention and support, being taught every step of the way in what had to be done. She also always wanted to please others at her own expense- especially to her handler Jose. In this she seemed more focused in doing things than she should be, but then again, Rico was also focused but only 'when the job needed her to be'.

Rico is not Cold and Hostile, but focused and driven, as per her teacher/handler's requirments. Outside of that, Rico is a caring and loving individual, who does not want to hurt others outside of the job.