It took some doing. Jacqueline may have requested the blood mage’s assistance back at the assault on Justin’s mansion, but the tech wasn’t there to facilitate the request. Lada’s limited casting range and the lack of glamors to facilitate such a boon made attempting a blood based buff at the time unviable. Especially since the operation demanded success and allowing a former hostile that Jacky had personally hurt was seen as unwise by some. But things were different today. There were no mission parameters to contend with, and they could converse with Lada in a non-hostile environment. Even Better, Binky was back on duty. Fritzi would never humor such a request with her schedule, but now most of that was Binky’s problem, as was taking Jacqueline to see Lada.

The shipping elevator made its slow descent into the earth. The old reclaimed lab in Pax Septimus was near their headquarters, but was separated into an entirely different facility. Jacky hadn’t been told much about the place, but that was par the course for GEMINI. Everyone was on a need to know basis, and the only thing Jacqueline needed to know was where Lada was being held. 

[color=baddab]”Do you get tired of people telling you how tenacious you are?”[/color] Binky was wearing a lab coat with some GEMINI patches on it. It was similar to what Fritzi wore.

Jacqueline, on the other hand, was in one of her business suits. At Binky’s question, she chuckled. [color=a95c68]“No, I’m not the type to let that kind of passive-aggressive criticism get to me,”[/color] she retorted dryly.

 [color=baddab]”It’s not criticism!”[/color] Binky flailed her hands. [color=baddab]”I mean, some may view it as a negative, sure. But not me!”[/color] 

Jacqueline smirked. [color=a95c68]“Don’t worry about it, I’d take it as a compliment even and especially if it weren’t meant that way. Still…[i]thanks, darling,[/i]”[/color] she winked. After that brief bout of unprofessionalism, and flustering Binky, she leaned back against an elevator wall, and let the other woman redirect the conversation to the matter at hand.

[color=baddab]”Right, better move on before you become Fritzi MK II.”[/color] With a cough, Binky regained her composure before explaining the situation. [color=baddab]”Lada’s arrangements have improved a bit since you showed her the butt of your war pick, but I wouldn’t put it past her to show you some hostility. She’s been moved into a visiting cell where you can communicate with each other. If you can convince her to bestow a blessing on you, we can move you two into a lab and more closely monitor what she’s doing. If everything goes well, you’ll be able to use her power in combat.”[/color] With a sigh, Binky shoved her hands into her pockets. [color=baddab]”Su wanted to come down here with you. I didn’t tell her anything, but she figured it out pretty quickly. She made me promise to make sure nothing bad happened. If you decide that this isn’t worth the risk or Lada’s too stubborn, I can take you back up.”[/color] 

Jacqueline nodded along to the explanation, only half-listening. [color=a95c68]“Mmhm, got it,”[/color] she assured. [color=a95c68]“Really, I don’t know what you all are so worried about when she’s under this kind of security…”[/color]

[color=baddab]”True, but in order for this to work, she’s going to have to cast her magic on you. We’ve been able to keep her away from magic circles for the time being, but you’ll more or less be at her mercy if the two of you decide to go through with this. I’d rather be too cautious than not cautious enough.”[/color] The elevator stopped with a rumble, and a pair of double doors opened up. Beyond them was an empty loading bay, and beyond that were the labs. Somewhere in that network of plexiglass shields and labcoats was what Jacqueline sought. Binky turned to look at her. [color=baddab]”Any questions? Got a strategy in mind? I don’t know many espers that would willingly subject themselves to a dark blessing. I’m, admittedly, kind of out of my element here.”[/color]

[color=a95c68]“No questions,”[/color] she replied shortly. When asked about her strategy, she put a hand to her chin thoughtfully. [color=a95c68]“You mean for what I want out of this? Something like what Arzendale did for that esper lackey of his. It looked to work pretty well for them, so I figured why not, you know. Might as well fight fire with fire…or something,”[/color] she shrugged, clearly not all that concerned about the potential risks or the morality of what they were doing.

[color=baddab]”I see… Then I’ll just take you to her. You may wish to enter the esper state to hide your identity. If you care about that.”[/color] Binky knew that she didn’t.

For all the build up the labs got, they didn’t look particularly interesting. Even though they were supposedly synthesizing mana for magical experiments, it just looked like a bunch of scientists playing with beakers. Some were wearing hazmat-like suits as they walked in and out of tented rooms. 

Binky opened the door and waved Jacqueline inside. The setup was very similar to a crime drama. There was a plexiglass-like  barrier that split a countertop down the center. There was a phone in both halves of the room, but there was no way to dial anyone. Binky waited at the doorway while some armed guards were positioned on Lada’s side of the room. The level of security probably seemed excessive to Jacqueline, but not a surprise. Lada herself looked like she was doing pretty good. She was still bandaged all over, but there was a bit more luster to her appearance. Her hair was straight instead of messy. She was actually wearing a dress. Though she looked just as disgruntled as the last time they saw each other. Though that could have easily been attributed to a “resting bitch face” among other things. She picked up the phone on her side of the glass as soon as Jacqueline did the same. 

[b]”You are interested in blood magic.”[/b] Her russian accent was thick, but not to the point where Lada was hard to understand [b]”What do you want?”[/b] 

Jacqueline sat down, polite smile in place. [color=a95c68]“Yes, that’s right,”[/color] she answered. [color=a95c68]“What I’d want, huh…Well, there was this vampire who used his blood magic on an esper on one of our missions. I’ve been curious if you could do something similar. Use your magic to give me a defensive boost, maybe a healing option in a pinch?”[/color] She shrugged. [color=a95c68]“I obviously don’t know what goes into this, so you’ll have to tell me if it can even work or not, then we can test it for the fine-tuning.”[/color] She paused for a moment. [color=a95c68]“If you agree to, of course.”[/color]

And it wasn’t like there was much reason not to. Jacqueline hadn’t  been filled in on all the details, but she understood that Lada knew helping her would further benefit her in some way. [b]”Blood can heal. Blood can protect. You remember the fight, no? Can do, maybe.”[/b] She rubbed her chin. [b]”Why turn to me? Healing and protecting magic is not rare. Other ways to go about it.”[/b]

[color=a95c68]“That’s true,”[/color] Jacqueline hummed. [color=a95c68]“Some of it is a personal interest on my part, I guess…But also, there should be benefits to blood magic. Which you should know better than I. So if there are things that only [i]you[/i] can do, feel free to clue me in.”[/color]

[b]”The benefit is how easy it is to use with access to sacrifices. Every living creature has blood, no? All that matter anyway. ”[/b] Lada gave the agent a sideways glance. [b]”Jean has been obsessed with you since you fought.”[/b] She scoffed and shook her head. [b]”On and on about how your fight was interrupted by all the distractions. He says that we will not have a child, but he will have rematch one day. No magic, no distractions, just a duel.”[/b] Her hand caressed the side of her stomach. [b]”I think I can make spell that you like. If you agree to give Jean rematch, I make you spell. Deal?“[/b] 

[color=a95c68]“Easy power…”[/color] It was still all too easy to remember how Arzendale had done it. A bunch of hostages, slaughtered for his magic. [color=a95c68]“It’s fine as long as it’s just me giving you some of my blood, or you getting incidental bodies like last time,”[/color] this referring to when Lada had exsanguinated recently dead Cobra gangers. [color=a95c68]“But just so we’re clear, I’m [i]never[/i] going after someone just for this.”[/color] That much was probably obvious, but at the very least, Jacqueline wanted to make it clear that even though she, unlike pretty much any other Gemini agent, was interested in blood magic, she wouldn’t be going out of line with it.

Lada stared back at Jacqueline. Her scowl hadn’t deepened at all, but it hadn’t gone away either. [b]”And they say Russians are dramatic.”[/b] She waved her hand at the esper. [b]”I do not care if the blood comes from you, a cow, or a child. If it did not come from Jean I will help you. You must honor my request, that is all I want.”[/b] 

Jacqueline then considered Lada’s proposal. [color=a95c68]“Jean,”[/color] she blinked. [color=a95c68]“Rottweiler, huh. Strange request, but sure,”[/color] she agreed easily. [color=a95c68]“He better be fine with me transforming, though, or it won’t be much of a fight,”[/color] she commented. She stood up, and stretched. She still held onto the receiver so Lada could hear the rest, but turned to Binky for her next idea. [color=a95c68]“Maybe give him access to some non-lethal gear if he wants it? Since I’m gonna go at him with Havoc.”[/color]

Before Binky could offer any input, Lada stood up. [b]”I was not clear.”[/b] She leaned on the counter. [b]”Jean is aware you are no match for him now. But he [i]wants[/i] you to beat him one day. He has been looking for successor and would train you. He was impressed with how you handled weapon, but knew you would benefit from guidance in hand-to-hand combat.”[/b] She squinted her eyes. [b]”I do not understand that man, but that was what he wants.”[/b]

The green haired doctor placed a hand on her hip. [color=baddab]”Why did you say he wanted a duel first?”[/color]

[b]”That how he worded it to me. He wanted a duel, after she was ready.”[/b] Lada avoided looking at anyone while she spoke. 
 
Lada’s clarification started a bark of surprised laughter from Jacqueline. [color=a95c68]“Wow, you were saying about dramatic?”[/color] 

[b]”My Jean is not Russian. For better or for worse.”[/b]

Jacqueline shook her head, bemused. [color=a95c68]“Alright, I’ll let him train me till I can beat him. Deal,”[/color] she grinned, and would have offered a palm to shake if it weren’t for the plexiglass separating them.