Separation Anxieties (Blueman)

Making sure he had everything, Shirou opened a rift and walked through it. He came out in the same general area, just on ground level. In retrospect, he could have used a rift to escape the room, or even to go to where Etzolix was now, but what was the fun in that? He'd meet up with Etzolix sometime later. They were supposed to go to a labyrinth type of area. With a sigh, he brushed him off and straightened his clothes and weapon. He took off his Immortalized Gloves and put them in his back pocket. Shirou then looked around and wondered where he was. This place seemed cleaner than where they were. No strip clubs or killer strippers. That's good, he supposed. Slipping his hands in his pockets, he walked down the street, looking for a map or some type of guide.

(Framework + Mr. Mimic -40 Source)

"Hey kid," he called out to the stranger walking along the street. Well, he wasn't a stranger so much to Jake, who'd been watching him for sometime. He knew where the kid was likely to land-- it was his city after all, and with the help of cameras and motion sensors all over the city linked straight into his office, it was a matter of time rather than and act of providence that he would find the boy. "Can I have a moment?" He wore his political suit and cocky grin. "I was watching your handy work Downtown with your friend, and I'd have to say you are quite skilled."

Shirou was called out to by some stranger. He was tempted to keep walking, ignoring him, but he decided against it. Might as well find out what this guy wanted. The youth turned towards the stranger. A seemingly normal person, though he appeared to have a high affinity for magic and illusion. Great. Shirou never liked illusionists. The man droned on about watching him and Etzolix dispatch the puppet strippers. So he was watching them. Shirou hadn't noticed anyone particular around when they were fighting, so he was either hiding really well or he was watching from camera. Considering that he was talking to him now, after randomly landing in a random section of the town so fast, Shirou guessed it was the latter.

"What's your name," Shirou asked, flatly. "And what do you want?"

"Not much, more or less your help and I'm willing to provide you with anything I can to have your aid. My name is Jake, consul of MadCross." He did a polite bow and gave his best, welcoming smile. "I observed you and your friend battling Motherhood Man-ikans. I was more than slightly impressed. May I have your name?"

Jake? The same Jake that placed Azmot into a position of power? Probably, since he was on the same consul. Unless there was another Jake with a higher position of power, Shirou was sure that it was the same Jake. How powerful was this man? Though Shirou was sure he wasn't in any immediate danger, he figured he should be weary of him, in any case.

"I'm Shirou," Shirou replied. "What kind of help? If it's disposing of more of those mannequin strippers, I'm not interested. I don't like guns."

"Its not exactly the Man-ikans that are the problem. Its more or less the people controlling them. Its not that you need my protection, but I can offer you some help at least for doing me such a favor even if you weren't aware of it. They'll certainly target you throughout all of Abaddon now. I would hope to provide shelter here, in MadCross for you should you need some." That much was true. How was that much true? If you scratch Jake's back, even on accident, he'll repay you. He doesn't like being in debt to anyone.

Shirou shrugged, turning away, after listening to Jake's offer. "No thanks. I don't need protection," he said, dryly. "I think I can handle myself. I've been through worse. I think I can handle a bunch of cowards hiding behind puppets." He started walking around, waving. "Thanks, I guess, though."

Shirou stopped. He listened without moving. He then turned around, facing Jake once more. "His name isn't important," he responded, with a shrug. If he wanted to find out, then he'd have to as Etzolix first. Though, he was curious. "Tell me, why live in such a place ridden with rodents? Why not exterminate the lot and restart over?" It was a cold suggestion, though Shirou wondered what the response he would get.

He grunted. It seemed he wouldn't be getting any sort of help from this Shirou character, so what good was he then? At the same time, he wasn't armed. Any kind of killing would require something heavy, and blunt. Like a baseball bat. Or a club. A rape club... but back to the matter at hand for now. "Disappointing. It'll be difficult to find him in this mess," he muttered under his breath. He snapped back when the young man mentioned rodents. "I'm sorry, rodents? Do you mean the Motherhood or the rats themselves? There's hardly a difference at this point."

"Of course I mean the Motherhood. And every other sad lifeform that lives in this dump," Shirou replied, obvious disgust in his voice. Still, he was just testing the waters, so to say. He was curious as to how much this Jake cared about this place. He personally didn't care about this place, or the people in this place.

"So, you mean the rats." His voice was monotone. "If I killed them, then what good would that do? It'd be a ghost town, as easily as it could done." He indicated all the panes of glass above them. "One good crack and I could cleanse these place easily. Like Atlantis, lost beneath the waves and forgotten by time and the rest of Abaddon. But no, why do that? There is limitless potential here for MadCross and her people. I should hope that one day, once achieved, I share that potential with all of those within the city of Abaddon. I'm getting close, too, so I can't give in just yet. The Motherhood is making it difficult though." He sighed, relfecting on why he'd even come down here. "I had hoped for you and your friend to assist me in the matter. I could have provided you with anything you needed, but there's no use pressing a stuck button."

Shirou listened stoically and silently to Blueman's response. "I will help you, if you happen to find something that would interest me," he told him. "However, as I'm rather new here, I'd rather not be tied down to one place. Not yet, at least. My friend feels the same, at least, with the latter. I'm unsure if anything will persuade him." He then turned, about to walk away. "Information fascinates me, by the way," he added, as a hint. "Farewell, Jake. It was a pleasant meeting you."

Jake reclined against the Brick building as the young man walked away. "Information, huh?" The clone vanished as soon as the boy turned his head, and Jake opened his eyes to a room with three corpses. He stood up, picked up the gun that had the motherhood's insignia on it and walked from his office. "Then I suppose I'll find you a scrap or two."