When all was said and done, Zselyke needed to make a note to return to this bar for all future political dealings. This was so much more enjoyable than a Senate hearing.

Through her song and dance, Svetlana was offering a new way to make a difference. She could stay as she was, as a Junior Senator with a somewhat promising future, but she could do more. With Haven, skirting rules and regulations and really embracing the resources they could offer. She would be quite the asset to a mutant rights organization; they had the tools, but she had access into rooms they had no key for. It was tempting.

It was also potential career suicide. If Devon or Sveta got caught doing something shady, they could hide behind their company. Zselyke's rise in the world of politics would come crashing down around her. Hell, even if people could deal with a corrupt politician, would they do the same for a mutant politician? As tempting as the offer was, it sounded like too great a risk.

Sveta jumped down from the table after an impressive performance, returning to Zselyke, who already had her finger up in protest.

"Okay, my friend, you want to cut me in
Well, I hate to tell you, but it just won't happen."

Pressing her finger into the center of Svetlana's collarbone to nudge her away, the color in Svetlana's dress dimmed. Passing the shot glass firmly back to Svetlana, leaving some of the amber liquor to spill on the bar, Zselyke stood from her seat, walking away only to turn back in time with the music.

"So thanks, but no
I think I'm good to go
'Cause I quite enjoy the life you say I'm trapped in."

With a wave of her hand, a tophat of her own formed, along with a fashionable scarf draped across her other arm. She slid the scarf around her neck, posturing to leave for the night.

"Now I admire you, and that whole show you do
You're onto something, really it's something
But I live among the swells, not secret culture rebels
I'll have to leave that up to you..."

Zselyke motioned to leave, but the bartender, Melody, fresh with a rag in hand, swiped away the spilled alcohol and quickly stepped across the Senator as the music crested. She could not help it; she tossed her scarf back and Melody caught it, accepting the illusion as truth.

It had always been a long shot. As far as Sveta knew, Zselyke had been walking the straight and narrow so far in her political career, and teaming up with Haven would be a break from the way she was headed. Still, it was worth a shot, trying to convince her to change her mind. She would be an asset to Haven, sure, but also a good member of the team. And she was a mutant, as it became more and more obvious as she started summoning more illusions while singing. She touched Sveta again and colors dimmed, as if she was suddenly background to Zselyke's much more colorful performance.
Strangely symbolic.

Also, she looked dashing with the scarf and the hat.

Sveta took the shot from the glass, and Melody was there to clean up and refill as the song continued on. Zselyke seemed to know exactly what she did and did not want to risk in her career. Still, she also seemed more than interested, playing along with this whole literal song and dance. Sveta grinned, crossing her legs and leaning against the bar, waiting for her to put it all into lyrics before it would be her turn again. She was not afraid of a hard sell.

After swinging elegantly around a pole, hat back in hand, Zselyke tossed the hat back, letting it flip to a nearby empty table.

"Don't you know that I'm okay with this uptown part I get to play
'Cause I got what I need and I don't want to take the ride
I don't need to see the other side!"

Jumping onto one of the barstools, she stepped confidently atop the bar in front of her drinking buddy.

”So go and do like you do
I'm good to do like me
Ain't in a cage, so I don't need to take the key.”

With each of her pointed words, making it clear that she was just fine playing in her own political playing field, free from the risks Sveta offered, Zselyke danced across the bartop with a click for each footstep.

Committed to making her point, she jumped from the bar to a stool and to the wooden floor with a stomp.

”Oh, damn! Can't you see I'm doing fine
I don't need to see the other side!”

And like she was swept up in some wind, she ran in step with Sveta to the nearby piano. It seemed like this discussion was not settled just yet.

Zselyke was a vision of confidence as she took the song, and the dance, to the literal next level, walking up the bar stools onto the bar. Melody watched with a grin on her face, not mindig at all whatsoever that an attractive politician was now dancing along the top of the bar. Apparently, it was a common occurrence. Sveta smirked as she looked up at her, watching the dance and hearing the words behind the lyrics. Why would Zselyke change her political plans for an organization like Haven? Why take on the extra work and responsibility, and the extra risk?

Well, but also, why was she here, singing in a dive bar instead of shaking hands at he charity event?

Sveta stood, walking alongside Zselyke to the piano. Shot glasses had been aptly refilled again by Melody, and she placed them on top of the piano, leaning back against it to face her. Sveta was not musically educated, but she sure as hell had some questions to ask. Tilting her head, her song grew softer and more honest. Woman to woman.

Now is this really how you like to spend your days?
Debates and handshakes and partisan plays?

This woman. This bold, clever, troublesome woman Zselyke decided to befriend. They both knew the safe bet was to keep going on her current track. Sure, there was a ceiling for her, but at least she had less of a chance for the floor to fall out from under her.

And yet, knowing all that, Sveta still saw the crack in Zselyke. Sure, she enjoyed what she did, but there was a creeping sense of complacency. She had a limit to what she could do, and deep down, part of her did enjoy skirting the rules.

But she had to keep her head about her, smirking as she grabbed the shot from the top of the piano.

"If I were mixed up with you
I'd be the talk of the town
Disgraced and disowned, a misfit messing around!"

Sashaying away from the piano, she raised her shot to her lips, but did not knock it back just yet. This one, she sipped down, contemplating this offer and scolding herself for doing so.

Sveta smirked, and mouthed an 'ouch' at being called a misfit. Not that she could argue that point at all. With her colorful past, it was the kindest term anyone could think of. Zselyke was resisting, but less so now, and as she walked away, Sveta downed her own shot too, and returned to the bar at a leisurely pace, putting the shot glass on the bar for a refill, and watching as Zselyke's steps slowed. Sure it could have been the alcohol, which they had been downing like fish, but there was also some definitely hesitation.

But you would finally live a little, finally laugh a little
Just let me give you the freedom to dream
And it'll wake you up and cure your aching
Take our help and break the ceiling
Now that's a deal that seems worth taking
...
But I guess I'll leave that up to you

Picking up her fur wrap from the bar stool Sveta wove it around her shoulders, sitting back and watching Zselyke with a smirk, her fingers playing with the refilled shot glass. They both knew the pros and the cons here. The question was only whether ambition or heart would win out in the end. Melody leaned on the bar, watching intently to see what would happen next.

Zselyke walked away from Svetlana as the Agent of Haven walked toward her, appealing to a sense of wonder and ambition she saw in Zselyke. Maybe it was the copious amounts of shots starting to course through her system, but it was the right appeal. Even as she stepped away, unseen by Svetlana, genuine consideration crossed Zsely's features. She draped her illusionary scarf over her shoulders in time with Sveta's furs.

And the music died, but the song was not over. It was waiting, hinging on her reply. The silence lingered for a few agonizing seconds, with Sveta waiting and Melody keeping a hand on a liquor bottle, preparing for what might come next.

And then her lips cracked into a smirk.

Zsely pivoted on the heel of her foot, marching toward Svetlana with purpose and Melody unsealed the bottle, getting to work.

"Well, it's intriguing but to go would cost me greatly
So what's the role I get for the risk that I'll be taking?"

The question hang in the air, and Haven's possible future with it, and Sveta waited for Zselyke to make up her mind. There was something in that pause that was telling her the song was not over yet. She just knew. She knew they would be stepping out of this scene eventually, back to talking in prose like normal people, but this was not that moment. There was more to come. Melody watched intently.

Zselyke finally turned and marched back to her. Sveta gave her a triumphant grin. Melody jumped to her work once again, putting new shot glasses on the counter and filling them to the rhythm of the song.

The question was spelled out: What role would Zselyke play in Haven? Sveta tossed her fur wrap aside. Now they were down to the details.

Fair enough, you'd want a piece of all the action
You'll be an Asset to Haven, I can make that happen

Assets were the life blood of Haven. Not on in the IE, not even on the board, but essential to everything that Haven accomplished. Zselyke was in a good position politically to help Haven make real change. That made her valuable.

Melody was putting in the work, getting shots ready across the bar. It would be an intimidating amount of alcohol if Zselyke was not wholly absorbed in the song and dance she took part in. The show must go on, alcohol poisoning risks be damned.

Despite no exposition, the Senator had an idea of what she was being offered. An Asset became more involved with the backroom dealings of Haven. She would offer information and work toward Haven goals within her sphere of influence. It was a step-up from a passive supporter.

But there was more; she could tell, like the notes of the song were passing along the details without Sveta delving deep into them. If Zselyke was going to be in for a penny, why not be in for a pound?

"I wasn't born this morning,
IE would be just fine!"

Melody lined shots up and Sveta kept her eyes on Zselyke, waiting for her response. The agreement had been made, they both knew it; now they were just arguing details.

>>"I wasn't born this morning,
IE would be just fine!"

Oh. Sveta grinned, tilting her head. Aiming for the stars, was she? Not that the IE was that mysterious, once one was inside it. It was mostly more responsibility and longer hours. Still, as much as Sveta would have enjoyed having Zselyke on the IE team, she couldn't exactly just play favorites and offer that right off the bat. She wasn't the boss here, technically.

Why don't we just start with Asset,
On track to IE in time?

Everyone knew in a negotiation, you always started high and gave yourself room to negotiate downward. Even with the political leverage a US Senator could offer to Haven, she was still a new asset and coming in at the highest level of the organization without spending time and earning her place and that trust was unrealistic. She did like the notion of a promotion track. She could not climb to the highest seat of authority in the country, but this could be a new goal for her.

That said, she could not just say yes so easily, right? She smirked, playing hard to get.

"IE Meetings?"
"Building access."
"Corner office?"
"An office sounds fine."
"TEN!"

Zselyke did not need to say it, but she was sure Svetlana understood that was the number of public events she was allowed to drag the blonde to, assuming she'd agree to the terms as the Senator looked at her expectantly.

The rhythm and the tune was picking up now. Details to hammer out, quite literally, as they both took quite a few shots in the process, to punctuate their offers and counter-offers. Zselyke was aiming high, but she was willing to tamper her expectations, and they both knew that even as an asset, she was going to be hugely useful to Haven. The rest was just minor details.

"IE Meetings?"
"Building access."
"Corner office?"
"An office sounds fine."
"TEN!"

Ten public events. Sveta sighed and rolled her eyes. That was ten more than she would have liked to attend; she was still holding out hope that Haven would find another face soon (or Devon would decide to come back and take up the mantle). But for now, it was a bargain. Melody cleared her throat. Right. Shots. She song did not feel like it was over, but Sveta tilted her head at Zselyke anyway.

Ten, and you pay the bill.

She did.

They shook hands. Colors dimmed again, and the music was back with a blast. Sveta grinned.
Now it was time for drinks.

Don't you wanna get away to a whole new part you're gonna play
'Cause I got what you need, so come with me and take the ride
To the other side

Sveta might have been the begrudging face of Haven lately, but her presence made boring political evenings much more tolerable for Zselyke. Having ten free passes to drag her along was not as serious a part of the bartering, but it was a nice cherry on top.

Despite her hesitance, Sveta agreed on one condition. Smirking, Zselyke slapped her debit card down on the bar and accepted a handshake, draining most of Sveta’s remaining color away. In contrast, Zselyke was filled to the brim with vibrant color she needed to release. Thankfully, the music kicked back into action.

They jumped back in, singing together, punctuating lines and sometimes words by alternating shots. This was reckless; they would definitely feel this in the morning. That was fine; they would own the night.

Turning away from the bar with nary a wobble (just yet,) Zselyke exhaled her biochromatic breath, unfurling an illusionary red carpet for the pair to follow.

”So if you do like I do—so if you do like me!”
”Forget the cage ‘cause we know how to make the key.
Oh! Damn! Suddenly We’re free to fly!
We’re going to the other side!”

They danced along the path toward the billiard room in the back, giving them the room to cut loose. Sveta was going to need two hours to regain her color anyway, so Zselyke took her hand and they twirled one another, even dipping to the music.

”So if you do like I do,”
”To the other side,”
”So if you do like me,”
”Going to the other side,”

With one final burst of breath, the back wall of the bar transformed into the sight of the ascending White House steps. If you were going to aim high, might as well aim the highest.

”We’re going to the other side!”

The number ended with the women clasped at the hand, raising their arms with an exhausted flourish to the applause of the handful of patrons who got to enjoy the display.

“Damn, Mel, your production value’s gone up,” an older woman said.

“Yeah… something like that,” she mumbled, smirking at the colorful Senator and her black-and-white co-conspirator.

A few verses and quite a few shots earlier Sveta would have pulled away from touching Zselyke again. But they were both caught up in the musical number now, and she could not help but marvel at the way Zselyke seemed to drain all the color from her surroundings. Not in a nefarious or threatening way, but rather in a way that gathered all the brilliance around her, and then expanded to create a whole new scene. Sveta sang along with a grin, walking down the red carpet alongside the young politician. Zselyke, covered in brilliant color, and herself, in shades of grey (how fitting for the whole éminence gris routine of Haven), they probably made a spectacular duo. It was a sign of great things to come.

Well, that, and the freaking White House.

"Shoot for the moon, huh" she grinned, catching her breath as they downed their last shots. Applause greeted them and Sveta glanced around, wondering how fast the story would go around town that a Hungarian political hopeful was singing about the White House with a Russian friend. Oops. The shots would not the be only thing she'd regret in the morning.

"So... I take it some of that was your powers?" she grinned at Zselyke over the empty shot glass.

The music faded away, leaving two out-of-breath women reveling in the afterglow of a splendid performance and a productive negotiation. Zselyke should have been more careful with her powers, but the patrons seemed unfazed by the display. Clearly, they were used to the musical elements, so no one thought much of the illusions adding to the show.

If they were going to question it, they could go screw. Zselyke was feeling great! She was making political moves, she felt closer to a potential friend, and she was drunk as a skunk! Those shots certainly were not props.

They settled back down, and as onlookers returned to their own conversations and the illusions faded around them, Svetlana used her powers of observation and her common sense. "Yes," she answered quietly, not wanting to advertise her powers too vocally. "I siphon color around me and I can make illusions with them. I normally consume in moderation but..."

She tapped Svetlana's cheek, sucking away some of the remaining blush. "It seems like someone may have been offering more than a morale boost out there," she teased. "Though if it's any consolation, you would have been the most stunning starlet of the black and white era. Your color should be back by morning, assuming I keep my hands off of you."