Cross-posting from the story-first thread because I think it might be an interesting discussion with fans of the game.
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I've been thinking about Elsa. What do we
really know about her?
Before I start, I should mention that I don't think Elsa ever lies in the game. Omits things or deflects questions, sure, but never actively lies. Why I believe that is a topic for another post.
OK. She is well-educated, articulate. Independently wealthy. She knows enough about the corporate world to be jaded and cynical, but as a junior finance analyst, she's too young to know from personal experience. Maybe she grew up around such corporate types and came to resent it. She is also extremely well-connected. She got the CEO of a rival oil company to give Edward - a literal nobody - an interview, just so she can have someone vouch for his skills.
When Edward picks Elsa up at the police station, she says she had met a guy at the club and threatened him with her lawyers. But she chose to call Edward instead because she's worried that calling the lawyers would have unpleasant consequences. It sounds like her family is not only rich, but influential, and likely don't approve of her life choices.
She claims she has a boyfriend who's currently out of the country. On one hand, it makes sense. Someone in her position in life, with her intellect and looks is seldom single. On the other hand, an imaginary boyfriend acting as man-repellant would be understandable.
She only ever wears black, white, or shades of grey. Even Edward notices it. It gives her a cool, detached air of authority and feels more than a fashion choice.
George, the barber who cuts Edward's ridiculous hair, asks Elsa to give his regards to "Mrs. Sut-" before she cuts him off. Elsa's surname is Kristiansen. She says her mother is a school teacher, her father a dentist, and that they have nothing to do with her money. So, who is Mrs. "Sut"? Grandparents? Adoptive parents? Some rich people that Elsa has some other ties to?
The story takes place in London (numerous references to it) and when Edward asks Elsa where she is from, she says she was born here and is therefore a citizen (that's not true in the UK, but it's probably not important). Obviously, that's not what Edward was actually asking, but she seemed intent on deflecting. It likely ties to her family situation above.
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That's it. Two years of development and that's about all the information we have on her. And of course, there is nothing in there at all about her motivations. She's still my favourite VN character ever
