It was official: Sveta was living in some weird 21st century remake of a detective noir movie. (And not just courtesy of Zselyke's frequent visits). In which she paid a stripper for a private dance with a straigth face, so she could have a friendly chat with them away from prying eyes. Luckily, the staff of Hexes handled most requests like they were the most natural in the world. Including this one.

Sveta collapsed in the booth and rubbed her temples with gloved hands. What a freaking week. Weeks. Months. Devon was back at least, but running Haven was still a full time job, let alone dealing with the fallout of the Mansion battle. And the security breach. And hunting Travis. She just wanted some peace and quiet. And a talk with a mystic she could actually trust. That list was very, very short at this point.

Life had been WONDERFUL since the Battle at Xavier's. Like, sure, the battle itself? Terrible. Terrifying. A little bit thrilling. But it was what came after, forming The Veil, connecting with witches around the globe, that really made the year fantastic. Madi was having to make a conscious effort not to slack with her college studies when there was magic to learn. Fortunately, the owner of the club would never let Madi drop the ball with her academics.

Hexes & Hoes was more popular than ever now that people knew there was a genuine mystical element to the show. Of course, that didn't mean she couldn't find the time to spend on Sveta, one of her favorite mutant VIPs. The dancer sauntered back into the private room and closed the velvet curtains, leaving them alone with the music of the rest of the club muddled by thick tapestry and a few enchantments.

Madi stood five inches taller than normal thanks to her black "work boots," which were knee-high and went great with her get-up for the night. The girls decided on a loose Perry Hotter theme, which mostly translated to pleated skirts, cropped button-downs, and a sleek witch hat. Okay, much of this ensemble was salvaged from her schoolgirl getup, but it was still a total slay.

Knowing Sveta wasn't the type to show up just to sit in her plush seat and get danced on, Madi elected to sit herself on the armrest with a broad grin. "Fancy seeing you back here, Ms. Sergeyeva." Could she have used Sveta's first name? Sure. But would that be as entertaining in her schoolgirl outfit? Nope.

Sveta smirked at the young woman. It felt like a lifetime ago that she had been here with Zselyke. Back before she knew jack sh*t about mystics... before the battle. Before Travis. The friendly, cuddly mystic stripper now felt like a whole different person. But as she walked in, she was still herself, and made Sveta smile against her better judgment. In the private booth, the outside world disappeared for a short while.

"Hello, Bubbles" she chuckled, raising her glass of champagne. "I see you have gone back to school..."

The first time Madison met Sveta, she could tell the Russian businesswoman was a fish out of water. It was exciting seeing her sit in her chair more comfortably, even using Madison's stage name. It was almost playful! "To be fair, I never left. Not if I want to stay on pace to graduate this Summer," she joked. She wouldn't give that kind of detail to your typical client, but Sveta was different. "That wouldn't be good girl behavior, after all."

The club was always about consent, and that went both ways, particularly with what Madison knew of Sveta's mutation. "Before we continue, is it okay if I touch you? I promise I haven't developed a mutation since your last trip here."

Regardless, she knew this wasn't just a pleasure trip. "As much as I'd love to think you were just craving a private show, I was told you wanted to see me about something?"

>>"To be fair, I never left. Not if I want to stay on pace to graduate this Summer. That wouldn't be good girl behavior, after all."

Sveta chuckled. Bubbles was flirty even when she did not try to be. And it was not a big surprise that she was in school. "Let me guess... labor law?" She ventured. It was not an unlikely guess. Madison was clever, and she clearly cared for having a well managed workplace.

>>"Before we continue, is it okay if I touch you? I promise I haven't developed a mutation since your last trip here."

Sveta nodded. It was strange, being asked without prompting. And this was not why she was here at all, but it still mattered.

>>"As much as I'd love to think you were just craving a private show, I was told you wanted to see me about something?"

Clever girl.

"Yes" she admitted, her smile giving way to something more serious, and a little awkward. "I guess we can say... I learned a lot about mystics since we last met."

Madi was ready to keep things hands-off if necessary, but she would be lying if she said she wasn't glad Sveta was open to a little more contact. Madi saw touch as a form of comfort and connection, and Sveta always seemed so stressed. She slid down from the arm of the sofa, plopping her butt down to sit in Sveta's lap. This wasn't her usual private room act, but it would be difficult having a serious conversation while shaking her ass. Instead, she leaned herself into Sveta, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and running her fingers into Sveta's hair.

"There, now that we're all settled in." Her free hand reached for the champagne flute Sveta was holding. She took Sveta's hand into her own and guided it to her lips to steal a sip. Given Sveta's mutation, she imagined hand-to-hand touching was something she didn't get often. "I feel like we've all spent the year learning about mystics. There's a lot to learn about, right? It's exciting." Madi was clearly still riding on the high of living the witchy life she always dreamed.

"How can I take care of your magical needs?" She tried her best not to make that sound suggestive, but everything sounded vaguely sexual in the purr-like tone Madi spoke with as Bubbles.

If there was a line between "may I touch you" and "I'm gonna plonk my bubble butt onto your lap", Madison was clearly unaware of it. Sveta smirked, somewhat surprised, but let the girl settle in and steal some of her champagne. She never really had a pysical touchy-feely relationship with any friends, for obvious reasons... or many friends. For obvious reasons. But this was a very low risk situation. For now. She smirked at Bubbles asking a question that was clearly suggestive. Then again,t he girl could have read the phone book and make it sound like a booty call.

"Well... exciting is one word for it." She sighed. "I... made a huge mistake, trusting a mystic. And he took advantage of it, during the chaos of the battle at Xavier's."

Madison might have been a little more forward than Sveta expected, but she wasn't going being some cursory comforting touches. For all her boldness, Madison was just looking to help Sveta relax and feel at ease in an unusual environment for her.

The bubbly dancer briefly deflated when Sveta explained the issue. "There really are all sorts in any group, sadly." The Veil was doing its best to encourage a philosophy of co-existence, but some mystics were inevitably going to be their own agents of chaos. Madi heard stories of mutant criminals over the years, but now that she was part of a small subspecies of gifted peoples, she could better understand how damaging that felt.

"I'm sorry someone took advantage of your kindness. But trying to be kind isn't a mistake; especially on a day like that." Madison cupped Sveta's cheek, hoping to discourage Sveta from blaming herself for whatever happened. She guessed that was easier said than done. "Are you willing to tell me what happened? Not sure what help I can offer, but I'm happy to offer anyway."

>>"I'm sorry someone took advantage of your kindness. But trying to be kind isn't a mistake; especially on a day like that."

"Yeah well... in my personal history, evidence to the contrary keeps piling up." Sveta noted with a frown. And it had not even been kindness. She had told herslef she was keeping Travis at arm's length. Clearly, she mad miscalculated that.

>>"Are you willing to tell me what happened? Not sure what help I can offer, but I'm happy to offer anyway."

Sveta sighed, sipping her drink.

"I... allowed him inside Haven. And he attacked a kid. A toddler." she frowned deeper. "Locked her powers away somehow. We tried to catch him since, but he keeps slipping away. That's actually why I came... To see if you have any useful information on spells like that."

The dancer listened from the comfort of Sveta's lap. No one liked feeling betrayed by any means, but for that betrayal to lead to more harm for others was brutal. Sveta's guilt was understandable, even if Madi believed she didn't deserve to be so hard on herself.

"So you're looking to track him down. I doubt he'd frequent the Sanctum if folks are looking for him." Even with the neutral stance The Veil was taking morally when it came to protecting Mystics, Madi doubted they could ignore a misuse of magic like that, especially involving a kid. "Your best bet would be to work with a Mystic whose expertise is Aceision. It's like... divination. Magic that finds answers and seeks stuff."

Her finger absentmindedly ran up and down Sveta's shoulder. "I'd love to be the one to point you in the right direction, but I'm an invoker and I haven't learned a spell powerful enough to summon someone I don't know against my will. But I can touch base with folks in The Veil; The Lady in Red has been mysterious and missing as usual, but I'm sure I can get someone else to help. Not sure if you've noticed, but people like me," she joked.