>>“Rhythm. And you Blue Eyes. Effy. Ummm...Blue Eyes... Can I...go? Yet?”

So, she was still Rhythm. And she was still calling her Blue Eyes. And she still wanted to go.

"No you can not" Sveta shook her head, sitting down again "You are too weak, and your wound is deep. You have to wait for Sebastian. He heals people."

Among other things.

"So, where are you from?" she asked her. She talked funny; it only made sense she was a foreighner. Sveta knew most people thought she talked funny, most of the time. "I am from Russia." she volunteered the information to get the conversation flowing.

>>"No you can not. You are too weak, and your wound is deep. You have to wait for Sebastian. He heals people."

Well it wasn't like Ashley wasn't expecting the rejection of her release. She sighed and looked up at the ceiling. Well, she couldn't blame the blonde, really, as she was just looking out for her patient. She could respect that, even admire it. Briefly Ashley, from the corner of her eye, sized up the blond and thought yeah...she could take Blue Eyes. But the thought made Ashley's stomach turn and she berated herself for such thoughts. She was a healer, after all. How could Ashley ever hurt her?

>>"So, where are you from? I am from Russia."

“Chicago.” Ashley offered back, shrugging. It was only where she lived, as she really didn't know where she was born. “Lived there with father. Taught Muay Thai.” Ashley weakly lifted up an arm and pretended to flex. “Why I'm like this. Unattractive, no? Muscle on girls.”

Ashley made a noncommittal growl and put her arm down. She never really thought about such things until Isabel and Bentley, but there you had it. She still wouldn't take back her training even if it meant never being with anyone ever again. But it WAS a lonely existence, and Ashley figured she was just feeling a tad sorry for herself.

“You? You're healer, right?”

>>“Chicago. Lived there with father. Taught Muay Thai. Why I'm like this. Unattractive, no? Muscle on girls.”

Sveta blinked; she had no idea what Muay Thai was. I had to be some kind of sport, if it made muscles like that. She did not think it was inattractive though; true, she didn't like girls that way, but she didn't think having muscles would be considered... not pretty. Who knew.
Also, she was not a foreigner. Hmm.

>>“You? You're healer, right?”

Sveta chuckled. "No, I just live here at the clinic. Sebastian is kind of my, you know, foster father. I help out when I have de time."

(Which was, really, most of the time)

"I can't heal, I am sorry."

>>"No, I just live here at the clinic. Sebastian is kind of my, you know, foster father. I help out when I have de time."

The redhead nodded understandingly. Apparently Blue Eyes was one of the lucky ones, one of the girls that got a home and got to keep it. She shouldn't judge but Ashley couldn't help but feel a surge of jealousy at that. Well...it didn't matter. It was petty and she was being stupid. She didn’t let this show, however, and merely nodded her head again, clearing her thoughts. Maybe the drugs were wearing off after all, just a tad.

>>"I can't heal, I am sorry."

Ashley shrugged at this. “You heal me. Give me water, food.” Ashley took a hand again and rubbed her stabbed shoulder gently. “Shoulder fine. Also, you stay, talk. Make sure, you know? I'm okay?”

Ashley smiled goofily again.

“Also, you...make me comfortable. Easy, like...I know you for long time.” she closed her eyes. “Make me feel...safe. Pretty eyes, blue like...like sky. Trusting. Sound like healer to me.”

>> “You heal me. Give me water, food. Shoulder fine. Also, you stay, talk. Make sure, you know? I'm okay?”

Sveta nodded; she was talking kind of weird, but it was at least easy to understand. The Russian girl chuckled a bit; Rhythm sounded like she did when she started learning English.

"Don't press it" she said, swatting gently at her hand as she touched the wound "Let it heal."

>>“Also, you...make me comfortable. Easy, like...I know you for long time. Make me feel...safe. Pretty eyes, blue like...like sky. Trusting. Sound like healer to me.”

Sveta blushed a bit. It is amazing what drugs could do to people...
Healer, huh. She really had no idea... if she was anything, Muse was the opposite of a healer.

"Thank you" she smiled "You are safe. Dis is a safe place. Mutants come here because normal doctors don't always like them. But in here it doesn't really matter."

>>"Thank you. You are safe. Dis is a safe place. Mutants come here because normal doctors don't always like them. But in here it doesn't really matter."

Well, it was just as Ashley had heard. The Isis Clinic was safe for mutants. At least she had a place to go to when she couldn't reach the Mansion or Sanctuary. She was about to respond when a tightness gripped her stomach for a moment, making Ashley blink a moment later when it was gone. In another room someone had turned a radio on, the same one she'd heard before she had gone to sleep (or passed out, whatever).

The moment passed and with knitted eyebrows Ashley looked up to Effy, about to question her about the feeling when it returned, this time making her body spasm. The song playing was a bit muffled but her was making her strength augment, and she could feel the telltale signs of it activating. But this time it was different, this time it was burning through her like lava. She gave a loud growl, curling up into the fetal position before straightening out again on the bed, moaning softly.

“I...uhhh...Blue Eyes...” Ashley called out, her hand reaching out the blonde. “This...drugs?”

Suddenly the music (Kanye West's Stronger) became a bit more clear then it should have and Ashley stopped moving. Just a moment ago it was muffled, sounding like it was being filtered through a wall; because it WAS. Now, it was as if the music was playing in the same room as her. She smiled a bit then, as this was a familiar feeling. Being surrounded by the music was something she did every day.

But this was...off. Wrong.

She knew the limits of her own strength. She spent hours, days, WEEKS trying to figure out how far she could go. She pushed and pushed, training and taking time limits...all to know as much about herself as she could. But now...now she felt as if that cap on her limit was not just taken off but BLOWN off, and the strength she felt was incredible. It was massive to what it was before, and as exhilarating as it was Ashley couldn’t help but feel...scared.

“Blue Eyes...” Ashley whispered desperately. “Help...”

>>“I...uhhh...Blue Eyes... This...drugs?”

Something was wrong. Something was definitely wrong. Sveta's brows knitted as she looked at the girl. Was it the drugs? She couldn't... she didn't touch her... that much... did she? But when she swatted her hand, she seemed fine.
Well, she was not fine now. Sveta didn't even notice the music from the next room.

>>“Blue Eyes... Help...”

Sveta bit her lips. She should call the nurse. But what if it was not the drugs? She was wearing gloves, even if it was her touch, the raction shouldn't be that violent... right?...

"Rhythm?" she asked, leaning closer to look down at her "It is okay, I am here. Are you mutant? What can you do?"

>>"Rhythm? It is okay, I am here. Are you mutant? What can you do?"

How could it be a secret now? Ashley nodded, now gripping the side of the bed as the song seemed to dim when she spoke, just a tad. The redhead growled loudly now, a usual form of communication for her normally but was now just a way for her to express the sudden...whatever the hell this was that was happening to her. She could feel whatever materiel the bed was made of bend underneath her grip and one of the coherent thoughts that Ashley thought was 'Don't grab Blue Eyes!'.

“I...am.” Ashley gasped, gritting her teeth and unintentionally spittling a bit. “Music, song...makes me stronger. Faster...”

Anything more was cut off as Ashley suddenly felt like everything inside of her 'whooshed' away, leaving nothing behind. The song, the strength and power...gone. She collapsed back onto the mussed up pillows and breathed hard, her muscles aching and her wounded shoulder bleeding from some popped stitches. Ashley glanced at the wound and moaned. Those would need to be redone.

“So...” Ashley looked back to Effy and gave a meek smile. “Good for you, too?”

>>“I...am. Music, song...makes me stronger. Faster...”

Oh. Oh. That... actually made sense. And Sveta found that she was not even surprised anymore. Looking at how the metal frame of the bed was bent in her grip made her shudder. Wow. Mutation was such a powerful thing. Especially when she boosted it.

"It is okay, it will pass soon" she said, moving back from the girl, in case she accidentally reached out "Almost over."

Soon enough, the effect of her powers seemed to wear off. Rhythm relaxed and fell back on the bed; there was blood seeping through her bandages. Sh*t.

>>“So... Good for you, too?”

Sveta blinked, and then smirked. At least the girl did not freak out.

"I am sorry, I shouldn't have touched you." she explained "It was my fault. So..." new topic? "... dat music makes you dat strong?" she asked pointing at the bed "Dat will need some repair. And your wound too. I'm sorry."

>>"I am sorry, I shouldn't have touched you. It was my fault. So...dat music makes you dat strong? Dat will need some repair. And your wound too. I'm sorry."

Ashley could only shake her head back and forth lazily, smiling. Her power was still there, pumping though her veins as the music played but now it was back to normal, back to how strong it made her normally. She loved her power, cherished it but how it was a moment ago...well, she didn’t know if she could handle it if her power haywired like that every time she used it. If that were the case she's probably not use it at all.

“No. My music...never like that.” Ashley closed her eyes wearily, breathing deeply. “Not your fault. My problem, somehow. Maybe...power changing...”

The bes and her wound...well, that was a different story. She would probably have topay for the bed as well as whatever it cost to patch her up. She sighed. Well, she suppose she could always find some big mansion and steal something from there, or something. She knew nothing about being a thief but she was willing to try anything once, especially if it involved stealing from some bastard that didn't need the money.

“I pay. I swear.”

>>“No. My music...never like that. Not your fault. My problem, somehow. Maybe...power changing...”

"Yeah, power charging" Sveta smirked, standing up. Looks like Rhythm did not make the connection between her touch and the suddent power boost. Most people needed some time to connect the dots.

Walking to the door, Sveta disappeared for a few seconds; the music stopped in the next room, and then she returned.

>>“I pay. I swear.”

"Dat is okay" she waved, walking back to the bed "It was not your fault. Just relax it will pass."

Picking up a pillow that fell to the ground, she handed it back to her.

"Dat's what happens when I touch a mutant. Should have been more careful, I am sorry."

Sitting down, she sighed, and adjusted her gloves.

"De nurse will be back soon to patch our wound."

Ashley nodded at the explanation given to her about the odd increase of her powers. Well, she supposed anyone that was more intelligent could have figured that out, but Ashley wasn't quite up there in that department. Still, she was a tad disappointed that her power wouldn't grow as it did with Blue Eyes' touch. Now that she thought about it, it would get a bit of getting used to but she'd get there. She had before.

>>"De nurse will be back soon to patch our wound."

Ashley shuddered and showed her frustration with the situation by giving a tiny huff and pouting. She rarely ever pouted (more like she never had a reason to do so) but now seemed like a good time. The situation was amusing in some ways, though, with her almost breaking this bed and finding a mutant that can increase your power with a touch. Sure, the power boost wasn't that long but it was enough.

“Blue Eyes...can I ask...” Ashley started as a sudden question sprang to mind. “People from Russia...all sound like you? With your, ummm...accent, yeah?”

Rhythm did not look too enthusiastic about the nurse coming back again. It made sense, the idea of getting stitches twice in a row made Sveta shudder. She wished Sebby would return soon. Until then, she would just have to keep talking to keep the poor girl's mind occupied.

>>“Blue Eyes...can I ask... People from Russia...all sound like you? With your, ummm...accent, yeah?”

Huh? She did not ask about the power boost? Strange. Most mutants instantly wanted to know more about that. Oh well.

"Umm, I guess" she shrugged "I don't really know, but people guess I am Russian when I speak, so our accents must be similar."

She smirked a bit.

"So, people from Chicago speak de same you do?"

It was half a joke, and half serious. She could tell the girl was not speaking like she was supposed to; she just did not really understand why.

>>"Ummm, I guess. I don't really know, but people guess I am Russian when I speak, so our accents must be similar. So, people from Chicago speak de same you do?"

Ashley nodded, wondering what Russia was like for some reason or another. She breathed in and out, trying to calm her nerves. It wasn't that she hated needles, she just...disliked them. Ever since she had been shot by the cops in that disaster with Spikes when she was helping Andrew and Lydia she was weary of things piercing her skin. She could only imagine how much pain she'd be in if she had to get patched up here from a gunshot wound.

“I see...” Ashley muttered, frowning slightly. “And no. I mean, maybe, some people. Talk like me, I mean. I, hmmm...guess it's long story.”

Another shrug. She really didn't want to talk about it. Still, she felt like she should. She really didn't know why, but maybe it was that safe feeling she got from the blonde. Maybe it was because she felt slightly...what was the word? Giddy maybe? Like she should be doing something? It had been creeping on her for a few minutes before her sudden power surge and even after she still felt it.

“Blue Eyes...” Ashley began, her hands nervously messing with the bed rails she had mangled with her bout of new strength. “Your power...how it work? Is it...still in me? Feel funny...here.”

Ashley put a hand over her heart and could feel it hammering. This was unusual because through all the training she had Ashley only ever really felt her heart beat this fast when she was fighting in the ring or someone on the street. Or a particularly embarrassing situation, but since this wasn't one of those...well. She didn't know WHAT to think.

>>“I see... And no. I mean, maybe, some people. Talk like me, I mean. I, hmmm...guess it's long story.”

Sveta nodded. That kind of made sense. All the mutants had their own 'long stories', including her, and she could fully understand not wanting to share it just yet. If it had to do with being a thief an dgetting stabbet, and with speaking funny, it must have been really complicated...

>>“Blue Eyes... Your power...how it work? Is it...still in me? Feel funny...here.”

"No..." Sveta shook her head, but she was not really convinced... "I don't think it is. It lasts a few minutes, and den it is gone, unless I touch you again. When you are near me, it just makes you awake, like coffee. Are you feeling dizzy?" she asked, leaning closer "Maybe it is the blood loss."