You glance at C-0RA from the corner of your eye. Alright, you hope to god she has the self awareness to not blurt out her answers. You grab a nearby sheet of paper to scribble down some questions.
The Agent watches on. You toss over the slips of paper to C-0RA before leaning forward to look at the Agent. It's weird only being able to make out a set of shades and a smile. C-0RA quickly reads through them before tossing the slips of paper back to you.
[DETACHED] Huh. That was quick, your weird robot really does work wonders, huh?
[ANTIQUE COLLECTOR] That's her function. Androids like it when they can do their jobs. Look at her smile.
You grab the slips of paper and skim through them.
"TIME: N/A, BEFORE TODAY. LOCATION: DISTRICT 9, BURNING DOWN APPROVED N-COMPANY OWNED BOOKSTORE. REASON: NOTICED THE RAGING FIRE, NEEDED TO INVESTIGATE."
"LOCATION NOT FOUND, DATA CORRUPTED. WEIRD SIGNALS POINTING TO P-DISTRICT, UNKNOWN LOCATION OTHERWISE."
"DESSERT OR DESERT, PREFERRABLY WITH LOTS OF SUGAR. LOCATED IN PERSONAL STASH."
[RATIONAL] Investigating arson? A worried citizen, perhaps? Or someone who owned the building?
[WARY] No, most people would've just reported it to the police and let them handle it.
[CAFFEINE ADDICT] Sugar? Disgusting. Straight black is how you're meant to drink it.
You shake your head at the sudden swarm of voices. You can't really control which ones pop up, it's like your head is a sponge being soaked and wringed out constantly. But okay, this gives you something to work off of.
"So. Would you like a cup of coffee? I got a personal stash and, well, this IS an important business talk. Is it not?" You shake your cup at the console screen. S-4M gets the hint, with a cup of light brown coffee quickly being dispensed. And a refill of doublecaf for you, of course.
The Agent's smile wavers for a moment, though not in a bad sense. Disbelief? <span class="mu-b">"Oh. Thank you."</span> Without further ado, she grabs the desert coffee and takes a sip of it.
[DYING LIGHT] I suppose this is our time to shine, isn't it?
[EMPATH] Indeed. Just go with the flow, even if you don't like them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=588-F75YkkU - A DISCUSSION OVER COFFEE."Coffee is how people bond, you know? Or I suppose it's one of the few ways I can truly relate to others." You take a sip of coffee. "I know, I know, this is strictly meant to be 'professional'. But if we are going to work together, a working relationship wouldn't hurt, no?"
<span class="mu-b">"Understandable. Though B-Company would prefer if such personal matters were kept to a minimum."</span> The scale raises.
"Right, right. But look. I'm the Administrator. You're the Representative or Agent. That's what we're called. But really, they're just titles at the end of the day." You put the cup of coffee down. "That's not who we are."
