>>"No...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? Maybe it is the blood loss."

Ashley instinctively leaned away from the Russian blonde. She liked the feeling of that power a bit too much and she really didn't want another taste lest she want to indulge in it more and more. She was close, though, and the look on Blue Eyes' face told Ashley she was merely looking at her eyes and around her face to make sure everything was okay.

The problems didn't start until the checking of the wound for more blood loss. Ashley, in all her infinite wisdom, made the mistake of breathing in deeply, the smell of roses filling her every sense until she almost felt herself go drunk on it. Yes, she knew she liked women. Yes, she knew she should probably stay away from said women lest something like Isabel happened all over again.

But this time was different. With Isabel it had been primal and fierce, Isabel's scent burned into Ashley's memory because of it's uniqueness (cherry blossoms). It was her that Ashley could 'thank' for unlocking such thoughts in the first place. With Bentley it was a sweet smell of lavender and sweat, an odd combination but understandable since the girl had been running when they met.

But Effy's smell was rose, a more...mature, sophisticated scent that made Ashley's eyes roll in the back of her head. She didn't know why smells effected her so but they did, and she loved the scent of this woman before her. She heard Blue Eyes say something, maybe, she wasn't too sure but when she pulled back, all Ashley could do was lean forward, a happy, drunken smile on her face.

Her lips connecting with the Russian's softly.

One moment she was checking on the wound; the next, she was being kissed.
By Rhythm. Who was also a mutant.

Another one of those 'longest split second in my life' experiences.

Holy sh*t holy sh*t holy sh*t. She's gonna be boosted through the ceiling. Is she okay? Is she gonna die the moment I pull back? What did she say her power was? Music? Do I hear music? Oh God please let there be no music. People I kiss end up dead, evaporated, unconscious, turned into beasts, whatever... oh sh*t why does this keep happening to me? What did I do? What did I do this time?...
WHY THE HELL IS SHE KISSING ME?!

It was soft. Kind of weird, considering it was a girl, and not a boy (last time she got kissed by a woman, Ghosty, it was kind of in the midde of a tornado, so she did not really remember the details). She also tasted like chocolate. For a long, long moment, Sveta just froze, a million thoughts racing through her mind.

I should let go. Let go. Let go. Let. Go. Now. The longer the contact the longer the effect...
Sh*t.

Sveta pulled back; the moment was broken, she stumbled, trying to sit down, and sat next to the chair, stumbling to the floor with a surprised yelp. She sat up, looking at Rhythm, waiting for... whatever inevitabe disaster was going to happen, to happen.

The moment passed.

Ashley smiled, pleasantly surprised. Of course her eyes were still closed, but at least she wasn't being slapped. Sure she still felt slightly drunk from the smell of Blue Eyes but maybe if she didn't open her eyes she wouldn't find a look of disgust, hate...anything that she heard about when it came to situations like these.

She heard someone stumble and snapped her eyes open, gray eyes falling on Effy, who wasn't looking at her with anything other then wide eyes that seemed to expecting...something. Ashley opened her mouth to talk but froze, suddenly aware of the silence that seemed to engulf the world. Almost in sow motion did she turn and look around her, a perplexed look on her face before it seemed as if someone snapped their fingers and all the sound the universe had created got sucked back into existence.

And into her.

She was self aware now, and it took her a moment to figure out that the scream that she was hearing was her. She was standing, somehow on her feet and all traces of aches and pains were gone. Music was everywhere, all around her and it wouldn’t stop. The combination made her head hurt, made her heart scream and it was ALL AROUND HER!! She began to scream again, this time on her own because it was if her lungs were being ripped out by hand.

The shock felt like a truck hitting her a full speed and all she could do was collapse to the floor. The noise, the never ending noise, there was no sense to it!! There was no beat, no melody yet her body was reacting as if it was the usual music she listened too!! An she felt the shifting, between her strength, speed and stamina, she felt them shift between the other at random, no one moment the same as the next.

At some point in time she must have bit her tongue because blood filled her mouth as she spasmed on the floor, coming out in short spurts as she continued to shake and writhe. It was light years of pain and Ashley could do nothing but scream as she arched her back, her whole body like a perverted rainbow as she let out that final wail and collapsed back on her back, breathing heavy and coughing before she went to her side so she wouldn’t have to swallow any more blood.

She rolled to her stomach, weakly because whatever stitches were actually in were now definitely torn out. Still, while sitting up was a chose she had to make sure Blue Eyes was okay. With a great yowl of pain she sat up and looked towards Blue Eyes, hoping she was okay and nothing Ashley had done had hurt the Russian healer.

For a few seconds: nothing.

And then: screaming.

Here it goes.

Sveta stood when Rhythm threw herself out of bed; first she moved forward to catch her, and then she remembered that it would only make it worse, so she stepped back, and winced as Rhythm fell down to the floor. It was a tough choice, but she had to deal with it.
Sveta bit her lips hard; it was not easy to see someone suffer once again because of her powers. Sure, she did not mess up this time... scracth that, she did.
All that was left to do was counting seconds...

The door opened, two nurses ran in; people showed up behind them, peering into the room to see what was happening. Sveta stepped back, allowing space for the nurses, even though she knew they could not do anything until the power boost wore off.

Seconds passed; one minute, two. Finally, the seizure was over; Rhythm fell back, and Sveta drew a breath for the first time in three minutes. The nurses helped the girl back onto the bed.

"Rhythm, I am here" Sveta muttered, standing next to the bed "It is okay. It is over."

There was really mot much to say.

The world was hazy.

She was tired, ever so tired. Ashley fall to her back, he head hitting the floor hard but, really, with all the pain she just had course through her whole body it almost felt like a love tap. It felt like every muscle in her body was ripped apart and sewn back together by someone who barley knew anything about human anatomy. Her mouth was swollen and she was still spitting out gobs of blood. Even her eyes hurt; how was that even possible?! Ashley gave a great, shuddering sigh, closing her eyes so she didn't have to focus on anything.

>>"Rhythm, I am here. It is okay. It is over."

“Blue Eyes...”

Ashley mumbled her name, restraining the natural instinct to reach out for her. Still the sense of comfort the woman exuded reached out and seemed to calm the redhead, and all she could do was give a slight giggle, not even attempting to restrain it this time. Sure, she felt like she was dying but at least her death came at the hands...well, lips of a beautiful Russian blonde bombshell. There were certainly worse ways to die.

“I...I dun think...” Ashley coughed, sending a small spray of blood into the air. “I dun think...we will work...as couple...”

Ashley bubbled out a bark of a laugh before her head lolled to the side and fell unconscious.

The small two story Brownstone-esque building before him waited, as if it might be looking back at Roland with the same fervor he directed at it. The normalcy of the scene outside the Clinic only made the reality more amusing to him. How many other seemingly normal buildings in New York also housed powerful mutants? Survey says. Stepping up to the small porch entrance, he looked at the wooden planks underfoot. Blood traces, fairly fresh, only beginning to coagulate in the warm spring air. Crouching to examine the trail, he heard a bit of commotion inside. Probably the bleeder.

Since the run in with Noel, it had taken Roland months to remember what guns were, much less how to fire one properly. It was really a shame to lose so much. At least his face was still pretty. Standing and opening the door, he entered, looking at the few people in the waiting room. They looked back at him, though most of their attention was directed to the long, freshly sharpened machete hanging in his hand. "We don't want no trouble, man." Roland looked ahead, registering the comment. " You should probably reschedule your appointments, then." The smartest person took the cue to leave. The rest followed as quickly as their gray matter could get the drift.

With an empty office, Roland's feet began to move toward the tumultuous mess going on in an examination room. His quarry was the booster mutant he had seen on the news with an insect controller. After a week of surveillance, he was happily surprised to find that she was not living among the Mansion kids. She was out in the open. Hiding in plain sight was a fine tactic, but usually only reserved for those who could protect themselves. He suspected that outside of her enabling others, she was a creampuff. Even if not, guns generally didn't go with clinics. Maybe the presence of oxygen? The thought bounced around as he stepped into the door frame.

A woman in Spongebob smocks turned to him first. "Sir, you'll have to le--uurrrkk!" The hard hilt of the weapon caught her square between the eyes and she dropped like the quintessential sack of potatoes, no doubt next to the bleeder, who gurgled and snored on the floor. The other two nurses recoiled and began to scream. Only began, as Roland put his finger to his lips, holding the blade in the air near their throbbing pulses. "Stay put. I'm here for the Russian." His eyes turned to the blond. "If you'd rather not see innocents cut down like wheat, I'd suggest you come with me. Quietly." Of course, he secretly hoped she wouldn't come quietly.

They always come in twos, they said. Well, it was probably the boosting effect of her powers; for Sveta, bad things came in dozens. Pay one, get a sh*tload for free.
One nurse collapsed; two screamed. A man just walked in with a machete. A freakin' machete.
Only in America...

>>"Stay put. I'm here for the Russian. If you'd rather not see innocents cut down like wheat, I'd suggest you come with me. Quietly."

For a very long, almost western-movie-duel-like long moment, Sveta just glared at the guy. Who was he to walk in and ruin... well, more like, turn a sh*tty day even worse?
And how did he know her anyway?...

Tik-tok.

"Fine." she growled through gritted teeth. She was not going to give him the satisfaction of putting up a fight; it wouldn't be fair with the nurses, and Rhythm. Holding her chin high, she picked up her purse from the chair, and marched to the door.

I am getting kidnapped again. It must be Friday.

Roland waited for her to answer, the long pause of eye contact drew a small sigh from his lips. Unless she had some weird eye power, she was probably just mad. Maybe it wasn't her first time. That wouldn't be a surprise either. She was smart and knew what she was capable of. He only had the surface impressions, anyway. Getting to know you fare would come later, no doubt. She picked up her purse, which he allowed. He could look through it later. After she passed the door's threshold, he moved the machete, pointing it down the back hall to the rear entrance. Surveillance always wins.

They made their way down the back hall, Roland taking the time to observe the stairs up to what seemed to be apartments. Perhaps there were more worthy assets here than he suspected. No one was there presently, however. They made their way to an SUV parked in the rear lot. He opened the door for her, leaving it open and walking around to his own side. Sure, she could run. But she wouldn't. The look she had given him was one of surrender. It was more where than when at this point. He looked back behind the seat as he climbed in the machete changing places in his hand for a 9 mm pistol.

Sitting with his door closed and the gun in his lap, he looked down at it and then looked to the pretty young thing. " No reason to go this far and not go all the way. Don't forget your seat belt." Once they were in, he eased out of the lot and up the small alley between the buildings. He rolled out and turned slowly enough for the guy on the porch to write down the plate. It isn't as if he hadn't picked it up on the street over, but cowards generally felt better to get a plate, let someone with a gun handle it.

As they moved into traffic, Roland let the gun sit in his lap as he maneuvered through the business commute. "So, tell me a little about yourself."

((Continued for Muse and Roland in Kidnapping déja vu))

Silence.

For someone that loved music in just about all it's forms (even Country, though she rarely listened to it), silence was an odd thing to wake up to. It was also unusual for Ashley to wake up to the taste of blood in her mouth and the feeling like she just went ten rounds with a group of silverback gorillas. She didn't want to open her eyes because her head hurt so much and...well, she just knew nothing good was going to come of the day when she did.

All the while she pondered the question; why would Blue Eyes do something like this to her? Twice? Was she that unlikeable? Or was it something else?

No time for that, though. Pain was afoot!! The redhead reached out blindly, her hand falling on the trenchcoat that was discarded to the floor all that time ago, or several minutes ago...whatever. Time was irrelevant when you were in this much pain. She pulled the coat closer and into her as she curled up around it into the fetal position. Is this what it felt like when a bomb exploded three inches from you? Like your insides were liquified? A moan escaped her lips as she slowly opened her eyes, blinking away the blurriness.

And looked directly into the barrel of a gun.

Yup. Day just got worse.

Mina had tracked the target of her assignment to a clinic. It was plain and ordinary. Therefore Mina was suspicious of it. During a mission she was suspicious of most things though. However the presence of the girl at a clinic provided an opportunity for her. It suggested that the girl was injured. If this was the case then it would be easier to apprehend her. She'd gotten there just after the girl had gone into the place and watched and waited. She wasn't the only one with business with those inside today it seemed. Mina kept well out of the way. In the wake of the chaos caused by the man it would be easy to grab the girl.

In truth it had been a cake walk. With a smile on her face and a gun in her hand anyone left in the place had stayed well out of her way. Something about seeing one of the other employees murdered in front of them had put them off of trying to keep armed people out. She couldn't fathom why. Other people were strange that way. It made her job easier. After a couple of minutes searching she found the girl. She was on the floor injured and in bad condition. Mina's customary grin widened. This was simply too easy. Mina knelt down and put the barrel of her gun square between the girl's eyes. That would keep her busy when she woke.

And wake she did. Mina noticed the girl's eyes flickering open. They immediately focused on the gun. That was a good thing. Mina's hand dove into a pocket and pulled out a strip of cloth. It would be easier for her if the girl could move under her own power. However she didn't want her seeing where she was going. Secrecy and all of that. She tossed the strip of cloth in front of the girl's face and gestured to it.

"Blindfold yourself, please. Otherwise I might have to shoot you and do it myself."

Her voice was pleasant and cheerful, if a tad lower than usual. It, along with the knit mask she wore were for her own protection. She didn't need the girl identifying her to the police.

Peachy keen.

When did she get so cynical about life? Well...okay, truth be told her whole life (what she could remember) was bathed in cynicism, and while she often thought dark thoughts, Ashley felt that looking towards the light is what helped her get this far. And maybe her journey of revenge for the mutant that murdered her life those years back COULD be considered a dark journey, Ashley simply looked at it as an opportunity to see the world. Well, at least New York. That was grand too.

And then she had walked into a cafe.

Since then her life had been a curvy road of mishaps and misadventures. From getting shot to unlocking her...'feelings' for a certain bonemancer, things haven't been going exactly as planned for Ashley...also, not that she really had one, but those plans certainly didn't involve getting shot or falling madly in love with someone who would rather rip our your soul then look at you. And then there was her current situation; from getting stabbed (stabbed!) to having a Russian blonde make her body go haywire...to a gun pointed right between the eyes.

Did the universe not like redheads? Was it because of that silly rumor thing that redheads had no soul or something? Ashley vowed to dye her hair as soon as she was...well, not dead, hopefully. Maybe the person behind the barrel of the gun just wanted to talk?

“Ummm...okay.” Ashley replied brilliantly, taking the blindfold and putting it on. “Can I...put on coat?”

Well, what else could she do? It wasn't like she had access to her headphones, and even if she did she couldn't fight; she could barley stand. It hurt to BLINK much less throw a punch or knee. She took the strip of cloth and slowly put it around her eyes, tying it on the back and wincing the whole time. She got to her knees with a little difficulty, then to one knee...and finally to her feet. It was a process, but she was there.

“Sorry.” Ashley said, surprising herself with how calm she was. Well, sounded. On the inside she felt a bit more scared. Of course she felt like she was dying a second ago from a mere kiss, so maybe it was going to take a bit for the jolt of fear to kick in. “Sore. You are...?”

Mina checked the blindfold after the girl had put it on. It was secure and it didn't need any adjusting. The girl could barely speak with any sort of sense. If Mina were one to conjecture about her targets beyond what was needed for the job she'd guess it had to do with the loss of memory mentioned in the letter she'd received about the job in the first place. The girl was taking far too long to get up for Mina's taste but she managed it before the woman lost her patience and forced the girl onto her feet. More importantly the girl was talking and asking questions.

Mina moved and grabbed the girl's shoulder with one hand to direct her movement. The other hand held her gun which was pressing into the girl's side as a reminder not to try anything stupid.

"You don't talk unless I ask a question. Now we're going to leave this place and go somewhere nice and cozy for a little chat."

With that Mina forcefully turned the girl and headed her toward the back. She suspected that the man that had been in here moments earlier had used the same route. Her smile widened. Perhaps they'd meet some time and discuss such things. Perhaps they'd be trying to kill each other while they did so. Or they may never meet face to face at all. All that was left was to get out to the vehicle, rented under the name of a criminal acquaintance still at large, and head to where she'd set up.

AT least it didn't hurt to walk.

Well, as much as she thought it would anyways. She still hurt. But she walked as fast as she could anyways, and then tried to walk faster because she had a feeling the woman that was kidnapping her for whatever reason didn't like to be held up by such petty things as “injuries”. She was only turned different directions a couple of times before cool air hit er face and she sighed, relieved to be in the cool air again.

The vehicle wasn't uncomfortable, and Ashley pictured that it probably looked like anything else you'd see on the street that didn't standout. It wasn’t uncomfortable, though, so she imagined the person kidnapping her actually needed her for something. She couldn't imagine what for, but the redhead knew better then to ask questions. She'd only met a few power players in her time on the streets, and none of them had ever liked being asked anything.

'I'm blindfolded and the woman hat's driving has a gun.' Ashley thought miserably. 'Someone like that probably wouldn’t hesitate to kill me if I tried to make sure.'

Well good. How could this get any worse?