[audio] / [video]

[waitingfortoast]

[Good news, everyone! If you will direct your attention, through the snow, to the third deck of the Black Tide, lights are on in the Seabreeze Café, and a white-haired man wearing a strange, glowing visor is puttering around like he owns the place.

It involves coffee, so he basically does. That's one of his rules: if coffee is involved, Godot will love it, body and soul, and... you know, polished driftwood countertops.

Once he's satisfied with the blends of the day, cleared out the snow, and had a cup or two himself, he posts to the network. More good news: his deep voice is as warm as his coffee.]

Ladies and Gentleman, I'm pleased to announce that not only have I found a working espresso machine in this snowy abandon, I'm sticking the flag of the nation of Godot into the countertop of this Seabreeze Café on deck three.

[It briefly cuts to video, showing a warm-ish-looking haven in the midst of the snowbanks of deck three. There is a sign taped to the front counter which reads: "Ask me about Prosecutor Godot's Challenge" in blocky letters.]

I propose a simple game, to pass the time and the cold. If you win, I'll allow you a mug of the greatest flavor known to mankind. If you lose, you can slumber with your own bitter disappointment tonight.

Your challenge? You must identify which mug of coffee I present you with is caffeinated...

...and which is traitorous decaf.

By taste alone.

[He chuckles darkly, and cuts the feed off. Don't worry, you'll still get free coffee, either way.]

Comments

[Video]

[carterbeenbartered]

[Carter's breath puffs out of his mouth. He's already walking towards the coffee shop. This guy doesn't have any eyes! This makes talking a lot easier! Carter can't help but hope this guy is nice. Carter smiles brilliantly.]

Hey! Uhm, I'll--I'll take that challenge!

[Audio]

[waitingfortoast]

I'll brew something up fresh for you, kiddo.

[....did that sound ominous? It might have sounded ominous.]

[Audio]

[carterbeenbartered]

[Carter approaches in a few minutes, feet crunching in the snow. He's bundled up and looking cozy in his new winter jacket, boots and gloves. His cheeks are red from the chilly air and steam puffs from his mouth.]

H-hey, uh-- are you--

[No eyes, no eyes. Carter's gaze flips this way and that before settling on Godot's hair.]

Coffee... guy...?

[Audio]

[waitingfortoast]

[Godot's leaning on the counter, looking for all the world like a tomcat that just caught its dinner. His unofficial title from Carter earns a bark of laughter.]

Indeed. Name's Godot. Prosecutor, coffee aficionado extraordinaire.

[carterbeenbartered]

[Another attourney! Carter's already met Mia, but he hadn't heard anything about this Godot guy. His white hair and charming manner give Carter one immediate impression: cool.

He trots forward, breath puffing out.]

Aren't you cold? It's freezing out here!

[He slows as he nears Godot, unsure. Carter drops his gaze automatically to the counter and looks at a mug.]

[waitingfortoast]

An attorney never falters before his journey's end. That's one of my rules.

[Whatever that's supposed to mean. Godot is wearing a muffler and a handsome peacoat, though.]

Either way, that's what the coffee's for, wouldn't you say?

[Godot ducks away behind the counter, busying himself with a bag of beans.]

Espresso? Or do you prefer a less bitter drip?

[carterbeenbartered]

Less bitter. Sweet, actually.

[Carter totally misses any esoteric or philosophical point of poetry Godot was making. Carter is still wowed by his glamour.

He seats himself carefully and sets his hands on the counter. He watches the man work. There are no eyes. He can't get over that.]

So did you, uh, serve coffee as a part time job in law school or what?

[waitingfortoast]

Sweet, eh? Not a fan of curling the hairs on your chest, I take it?

[Because... because the coffee's so bitter. Godot, please, finish your thoughts.]

I've been known to play barista here and there, but mostly in my younger years. By law school, I couldn't abide by the sludge they wanted to call coffee any longer.

[Translation: law school's hard and I had an internship I had to keep up with.]