*outside Lukas and Ion are carrying some supplies* Lukas: Hey Shotaro! How's your typing?

Phillip walks in carrying an oar. It's dripping with a salty odor. "Making coffee? I'd like to ask that you preserve what precious beans we have until we've got a better grip on this place. Neither Akiko, or Terui are here, so I think it unwise to make your coffee."

Shotaro gives a wave to Lukas. "Good. How's your patrol?" Turning to his partner, Shotaro's mouth curves into a grin. "And what's that supposed to mean? Akkiko and Terui's coffee is always to half-boiled and weak bodied, whereas mine is not. It's just because you can't appreciate the hard-boiled taste that I can pull from the beans." His tangent is cut short by the oar. Shotaro takes a deep breath before speaking, however the smell coming from the oar catches his senses off guard as he starts to cough. "Gah! Hah! Bleh...Phillip...are we going canoeing? What's with the paddle?"

Phillip holds the oar up, and stares at it quizzically. "Shotaro have you ever heard of "Rowing" or "Crew" as it's called in America? I find it to be a fascinating sport. One best paired with good coffee. If you find Terui's coffee half-boiled, yours would have to be quarter-boiled. It's quite the shame I never found household chores to be interesting. Suffice to say, my guess at what makes a good brew of coffee would likely outmatch you at your peak."

*he grapples up to Shotaro's window* Lukas: Supply route is now operational, and there some IMC and Apex Predator punks guarding it. So me and Northstar did some compiled a nice little montage. Ion: Correct. Humiliation of IMC and Apex Predator bogies are successful. *Lukas sends a clip of Shotaro a video of his execution Montage* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO633M8gYQQ

Shotaro's mouth twitches as he cracks his knuckles. "Oh yeah! Those sound like fighting words! Well then, go on. The machine is all warmed up for you, Phillip. Show me what you can do, partner! But just know that you need a certain level of maturity to truly grasp what makes my coffee so great." A thought crosses his mind. "How long have you been sitting on that joke? You know what? Don't answer that....for my sake." Shotaro sighs as Lukas grapples up. "You are aware we have doors yes? Just checking. But it sounds like you guys did some good..." Shotaro is at a loss for words from the video. "...work? Yeah. Good work!"

Phillip chuckles, a cocky aura filling the agency. "It truly is best you don't know. Very well then, I will take a shot at making coffee." Phillip bends over, investigating the machine, his finger firmly affixed to his chin in a state of thought. "Does the half-boiled detective want it black, or have you found a sweet tooth within yourself in such a short time?" Phillip begins to manipulate the machine, after the water begins to boil, an aromatic cloud begins to permeate the agency.

Lukas: Now you've seen the most batshit crazy things we Pilots and Titans can do! Ion: Indubitably.

Gamma was walking by, enjoying the calm, peaceful air of the empty night streets. Well, mostly empty that is. Figures there would be a giant mech walking around. What he didn't expect was its pilot's audacity, just grappling up to some random person's window. Just let it go Gamma... Just let it go... Not your problem if some half-wit breaks into someone...... Ok, yes, its bothering me. With a sigh, Gamma walks up to the front door of the agency, and knocks. Like a normal person. He waits patiently

*he turns to Gamma* I'm not breaking in. Just talking. *he gives him the middle finger* If this is bothering you. Take a hike!

"Black. Because I haven't gotten soft yet, Phillip!" He lets out a sharp laugh before turning on his heel to Lukas, still not sure how to deal with a person of his calibre. "Erm, yes. Quite crazy, impressive nevertheless!" A knock comes from the door as Shotaro thanks his lucky stars. Quickly jogging over to the door, he'd open it up and welcome in the man. "Ah! Hello there! Welcome to Narumi Detective Agency! I'm the hard-boiled detective extraordinaire, Hidari Shotaro. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

Lukas: Now then. Back to New Meridian. *he jumps back into the Ion cockpit* Lukas: I got a Mafia mess to handle with. Ion: Plotting flight course to New Meridian. Hold on to your helmet Pilot. *Ion flies off to New Meridian to clean up the corrupt crime*

Phillip comes from the kitchen, with two cups of coffee. The smell emanating from them is absolutely tantalizing. He places the cup before Shotaro, and takes a seat to have a drink for himself. "We're in a different world, and you're already getting clients? This might solve our coffee problem! By the by, I'm fully aware you won't admit that my coffee is better than yours, so I'll take your comment on how this was a lucky guess now."

The young man briefly bows, before straightening up and adjusting his hat Nice to meet you Hidari, please, call me Gamma. I own a coffee shop, Java the Hut. Gamma clears takes a deep breath before continuing I'd like to apologize for the... Tactlessness, some of the other residents have no doubt shown. Things get a little crazy around here is all. As a long-time resident I'm mostly used to it of course, but you can't be too careful.

Shotaro turns back to his partner and stomps over to the cup. His face painted with anger, however the smell of the brew instantly melts away the anger...much to Shotaro's dismay. Bringing the cup to his lips, he takes a sip of the black liquid. Shotaro would promptly put the cup down and cover his mouth with his right hand. "Sh-Shut up! It was a lucky guess!" Shotaro would then grumble about a library before turning back to Gamma with a smile. "Well that's awfully kind of you Gamma! We've dealt with our fair share of crazy cases in the past, but I'm glad to have that heads up! And you own a coffee shop? A young man like yourself owning a business, I like it!"

Gamma casually leans against the nearby wall, expression blank as always Its nothing impressive really. Found a good deal with an old couple about ready to retire. Cafes tend to be really popular around here, not sure why, so it seemed like the most logical place to open. Gamma smirks as he looks back into the doorway After all, can't be working for someone else all my life, can I?

Phillip finishes his drink, and decides to pose what could potentially be, the most risky question he's ever had to ask a potential client in his entire life. Phillip began to sweat nervously at just the thought of what he was about to ask, but his curiosity overwhelmed him, and he was forced to submit to his urge to know. "You run a coffee shop you said? Tell me, where do you get your beans?"

Gamma pauses for a moment.... A question he was never prepared for.... Crap, where do they get coffee beans. He awkwardly scratches the back of his head, searching for an answer. Only to end up with nothing but disappointment for all involved. Err... Well... You see.... I kinda just started like... Yesterday. So I'm afraid I haven't had to restock any yet, and the elderly couple didn't give me any advice on the subject. So.... I suppose I'm rather clueless. I mean, just something from the grocery store wouldn't work, right?

Phillip tenses up, as that question led him into a whole new state of mind, Phillip had transcended the limits imposed upon him by the world he knew as home, and it filled him with dread. His heart pounded as his new state of being produced another question, one which he could never have handled, had he not left his old self behind. "That depends, where does the store get their beans?"

Gamma begins to sweat nervously. He had always hoped people would simply accept his ownership as fact, but being tested such on his knowledge, how difficult. I.... Obviously they get them from farms. Coffee farms of course, where they grow those nice little trees so they can harvest it. I mean, where else would you get the stuff?

If the old Phillip saw what Phillip was doing now, he'd be horrified. The relentless onslaught of questions seemed to only fuel itself, each answer bringing forth a tirade of questions. "I've surveyed around this place, and no such farms exist, nor does the environment seem stable enough to support growth of a coffee plant. Now if you had told me that the plants were held in a warehouse being maintained with artificial conditions, I'd have believed you, but now I must know, if these warehouses exist... who owns them?"

W... Wrong guess, eh? No matter. We can handle this. Gamma takes a deep breath to calm his nerves. How would I know? I'm new to the industry, afraid I haven't had time to question who or what owns the coffee industry. Why does it matter?

Phillip was waiting for this question, as though his life depended on it, he let all of the rising tension release in a tsunami of emotion, his mind clearing as the last question left his lips. "We're running low, so I was asking where I could get some..."

Gamma breaths a sigh of relief. So he doesn't know, good. Well, we have this lovely thing called the internet that allows you to order beans from a wide variety of places. Though, of course, it might take some time to properly research what you're looking for. In which case you might wish to visit a local grocery store to get something to hold you over until you're satisfied with your provider. Remember, the important thing for whole-bean coffee is freshness. Want it to have been roasted as recently as possible.

This was not the right answer, Phillip was pushed over the edge once more. "Why does this place have the internet? For that matter, if we couldn't nail one place down, why are there a variety? You seem to be nervous... Why are my questions making you like this? I still don't know social etiquette from this world, but where I come from, these questions are fairly simple to answer."

Gamma sighs and takes a deep breath to calm himself. No biggie, just normal, friendly stuff, right? Why does this.... Look, we're not barbarians, sorry if some of the others gave you that impression. We still have most modern conveniences. Like the internet. And video games, worked at a game store once after all. A.... As for the nervousness, my apologies, I'm simply rather new to this whole coffee business you see, and so I'm afraid I'm not quite sure on it. Had to act rather hasty, you know? Besides, how hard could running a coffee shop be, right? Half the places I saw didn't even have anyone manning them. Utterly ridiculous.

Phillip's eyes narrow, as though peering straight into Gamma's lack of a soul, or if he has one, it's very small. "This doesn't answer my question. Where are the beans from!?"

Gamma looks around nervously... This can't be good... Ah ha, a distraction. Gamma points to no direction in particular Oh, look a bird. How lovely. With his masterful tactic performed, Gamma proceeds to run off into the streets. That was a close one

Phillip gives chase, but gives up at the door. His eyes light up, as a new vigor overwhelms him. "Beginning Lookup. First Keyword: Coffee Bean. Second Keyword: Nexus. And finally, Third Keyword: Source." Phillip appears to have a book in his hands, which he cracks open and reads it page by page. "Shotaro, I've got it!"

Shotaro quickly jumps away from the sink. There's only one bird that would ever come into the office. "Ah! Shoo bird! Get! Get! Eh...? There isn't anything there Gam-" Turning around to where the man once was reveals that he is no longer there. "Ah. Strange guy that one. So you've found the source, Phillip?" Shotaro walks over to his partner once more and pulls up a seat. "Spill the beans then."

Phillip frowns at Shotaro's pun. He begins to speak in a low voice. "Apparently, there is a vortex in the sky somewhere in the Nexus, and from it, rains endless amounts of coffee beans, of endless varieties. It's been raining there for so long, that a mountain of coffee beans has formed. Inside one of the many caverns on that mountain, an entire faction hides out. This faction, which hides in the Cavern of Caffeine, used to be a peaceful sort, which doled out the much needed coffee beans; however, everything was drastically altered when a group of pyromaniacs assaulted. Now, that faction has declared war on intelligence itself, and from that location, very few individuals seek to tread. The Library tells of a mechanical figure, who could brave these horrid conditions, and became a legend. I fear our war for coffee may have begun this night, Shotaro."

Shotaro grins as he takes off his hat and dusts it off. "Well then...I hope that Cavern of Caffeine is ready for us! Because no matter who or what is in my way..." His eyes narrow as he places the hat on his head once more. "...nothing will stop me from getting my coffee! We've faced bigger foes before, this should be nothing for our combination!"

Phillip closed the book and stood up, as though inspired by his words. "I know what will stop ME from helping you get your coffee. Sleep. We can't go running off in the middle of night for a beverage traditionally served in the morning, now if you will. The rowing today took a lot out of me. Good night, Shotaro." Phillip then goes into the door covered in trilbies, and isn't heard but for the occasional shuffling.