The paper boy was one amusing story. Poor kid but Andrew couldn't help but laugh at him. Jorge tossed a sarcastic comment about being a gentleman at him. He just grinned but said nothing. Even if he had a retort the coffee house with the split personality would have silenced it. The decoration just couldn't make up its mind and as such went for a bit of everything. The effect was surreal.

"Can't say I have Verdy."

Andrew shook off the shock of the odd decor just in time for Jorge to ask for drink requests and insist that Verdy come with him to order her own overly-complicated coffee drink.

"Just black coffee for me thanks. I'll find us a table."

So Andrew left the two to go find a seat that would accommodate them. Eventually he settled on a well lit table by the wall. There were three chairs at this table so it would seat all of them. Andrew picked the chair that stood against the wall. Once sitting he was facing the cash register and counter. That would make it easier for Verdy and Jorge to find him once they got the drinks.

Poor origami kid. However it was only a matter of time before he relaxed and then the officers could untangle him. The idea of a piece of paper getting a cramp was rather intriguing as well, since how could he have muscles? Perhaps the assorted paper fibres worked together the same way muscles did in the boy’s human form. Mutations sometimes didn’t seem to make scientific sense at first glance.

“Me either”

It was indeed a step away from the usual café décor, and she was undecided as to whether she liked it or not. After offering once again to pay, Jorge made her accompany him to the register, since he refused to recite her fussy drink. Fun-killer.

Poking her tongue out at his stick-in-the-mud attitude (she had been looking forward to the faces of the café staff when he asked for her drink) she trotted beside him to the register as Andrew, his own simple drink ordered, scouted to find them a table that was less than tacky, which didn’t sport either a tank full of swimming flecks of colour nor a ‘tasteful’ rock and succulent garden. Good luck.

Turning her attention back to the issue at hand she observed the people in front of her. Their heads were huddled together as they waited for their turn, discussing some important matter which she suspected had something to do with the courthouse. The woman was dressed simply, plain, the wife filing for divorce and hoping to receive more than her fair share by pulling on the judge’s heartstrings. The man with her screamed ‘lawyer’ even from behind, the straight pull of his jacket from collar to hem and the slickness of his hair.

Perhaps they were in the right, and she knew it was wrong to judge people purely off appearance, and yet she was relieved that she wouldn’t have to sit in the little podium and decide who got what and which person was or was not at fault. A career in the courtroom was not for her. She glanced at Jorge.

“I’m glad that’s over, do you think Andrew will be ok?”

He didn’t seem particularly –not- okay, except for the not sleeping, but a little detached, aloof. Jorge had known him for longer (although by how much she wasn’t sure), perhaps he would know better how their mutual friend would cope.

Jorge had nodded, getting Andrew’s order, which would be exactly his own order, and walked with Verdigris up to the front counter. The place really did seem rather odd to him. It looked as if some coffee aficionado with a split-personality decided to take out all his angst on this one store in order to make it look different from coffee house across the globe. Well, in the detective’s opinion, it certain was different, but to the point that it nearly gave him a headache trying to figure it all out. Maybe coffee would help ease his sore brainpan…

It was a conspiracy. That was the only way to explain this place. The more your head hurt trying to figure this place out, the more coffee your drank to calm yourself down, which in turn only leads one contemplate the place more and drink more coffee and on and on and ON!

Jorge shook his head as he turned his attention back to the kid behind the counter. They seemed pleased with her complicated order. He would have to one day get her to teach him to say such a thing. Maybe then he would even attempt to try it! After all he could not stay totally close-minded to the experiences of the world.

After placing the order for the two black coffees and Verdigris’ order of madness, he then glanced over at Andrew and saw him sitting by himself at the far end of the shop, waiting patiently for his order to filled. As Jorge glanced at him, he immediately turned his attention back to Verdigris who had posed a very interesting question…

>> “I’m glad that’s over, do you think Andrew will be ok?”

The corner of his mouth turned up into a thoughtful look as he glance Andrew one more time before turning around to take the receipt for the drinks he had just ordered. It was a thought provoking question…

“That all depends,” he said with a small sigh. “It all depends on him,” he said, meaning Andrew, of course. “Taking a life is never easy. Everyone is different and honestly, the only person that can decide if Andrew will be okay…is Andrew. He needs to forgive himself and I simply pray that he will be able to.”

He stepped off to the side and waited for their drinks to be ready. He could see that Verdigris really cared for Andrew’s wellbeing and the thought made him smile inside. Andrew was going to need all the friends he could get. The trial may be over…but Andrew would still have a lot to fight through.

Another brilliant smile to Verdigris and he nodded to her. “Don’t worry. I’m sure with friends like you and me around…he’s going to be just fine. I have faith he will.”