diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 5cde2f1..69ae13e 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1 +1 @@
-TwitterAPI
\ No newline at end of file
+tweepy
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/secrets.ini b/secrets.ini
index 9b94c1b..6198eae 100644
--- a/secrets.ini
+++ b/secrets.ini
@@ -13,7 +13,11 @@
 #
 # https://stackoverflow.com/questions/10755655/git-ignore-tracked-files
 
+# note: api_key/secret = consumer_key/secret
+
 [Credentials]
-api_key='xxx'
-api_secret='yyy'
-bearer_token='zzz'
+api_key='x'
+api_secret='y'
+bearer_token='z'
+oauth1_access_token='a'
+oauth1_access_secret='b'
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/api.py b/src/api.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ce13d84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import tweepy
+
+import secrets
+import util
+
+class API:
+    instance = None
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        API.instance = self
+        self.client = tweepy.Client(
+            bearer_token=secrets.bearer_token(),
+            # consumer_key=secrets.api_key(),
+            # consumer_secret=secrets.api_secret(),
+            # access_token=secrets.access_token(),
+            # access_token_secret=secrets.access_secret()
+        )
+    
+    def get_tweets(self, id: int, count=5):
+        posts = list()
+
+        step = util.clamp(count, 5, 100)
+        retrieved_tweets = 0
+        pagination_token = None
+
+        # while retrieved_tweets < count:
+
+        resp = self.client.get_users_tweets(id, max_results=count)
+        print(resp)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/catchup.py b/src/catchup.py
index e5ad38a..66d4af3 100644
--- a/src/catchup.py
+++ b/src/catchup.py
@@ -2,5 +2,16 @@
 # Scan all accounts for cross-company interactions.
 # Terminates when finished scanning.
 
+import os
+import TwitterAPI as api
+
+from util import *
+
+## Returns list of tweets present in queue.txt
+def get_local_queue():
+    f = open(os.path.join(get_project_dir(), 'queue.txt'))
+    pass
+
 def run():
+    queue = get_local_queue()
     pass
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/listen.py b/src/listen.py
index e2b8dd3..1357a5a 100644
--- a/src/listen.py
+++ b/src/listen.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 ## The bot's listen mode
 # Continuously listen for cross-company interactions.
 
+import TwitterAPI as api
+
 def run():
     pass
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main.py b/src/main.py
index 3134eb8..787b286 100644
--- a/src/main.py
+++ b/src/main.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import secrets
 import catchup
 import listen
 
+from api import API
+
 def init_argparse():
     p = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Twitter bot that follows interactions between Nijisanji EN/ID and hololive EN/ID members.', formatter_class=RawTextHelpFormatter)
     p.add_argument('mode', nargs='?', \
@@ -28,14 +30,17 @@ def main():
 
     if args.mode is None: return
 
+    api = API()
+    api.get_tweets(1390620618001838086)
+
     # determine running mode
     match args.mode.lower():
         case 'l' | 'listen':
-            print('LISTEN MODE\n')
-            catchup.run()
-        case 'c' | 'catchup':
-            print('CATCH-UP MODE\n')
+            print('RUNNING IN LISTEN MODE\n')
             listen.run()
+        case 'c' | 'catchup':
+            print('RUNNING IN CATCH-UP MODE\n')
+            catchup.run()
         case _:
             print('\ninvalid mode. run with no arguments for help page, including mode list.')
             return
diff --git a/src/secrets.py b/src/secrets.py
index 2e49803..6b84477 100644
--- a/src/secrets.py
+++ b/src/secrets.py
@@ -3,20 +3,22 @@
 import os
 import configparser
 
+from util import *
+
 # returns dictionary of the Credentials section.
 # [NOT TO BE USED OUTSIDE OF THIS FILE.]
 def get_ini_credentials():
     c = configparser.RawConfigParser()
-    if len(c.read(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), os.pardir, 'secrets.ini'))) > 0 and c.has_section('Credentials'):
+    if len(c.read(os.path.join(get_project_dir(), 'secrets.ini'))) > 0 and c.has_section('Credentials'):
         return c['Credentials']
     return None
 
-# returns the api_key stored in secrets.ini
+# returns the consumer api_key stored in secrets.ini
 def api_key():
     c = get_ini_credentials()
     return c.get(option='api_key', fallback='xxx') if c is not None else 'xxx'
 
-# returns the api_secret stored in secrets.ini
+# returns the consumer api_secret stored in secrets.ini
 def api_secret():
     c = get_ini_credentials()
     return c.get(option='api_secret', fallback='yyy') if c is not None else 'yyy'
@@ -26,9 +28,15 @@ def bearer_token():
     c = get_ini_credentials()
     return c.get(option='bearer_token', fallback='zzz') if c is not None else 'zzz'
 
-def get_all_secrets():
-    return f'api_key:{api_key()}\napi_secret:{api_secret()}\nbearer_token:{bearer_token()}'
+# returns the access_token stroed in secrets.ini
+def access_token():
+    c = get_ini_credentials()
+    return c.get(option='oauth1_access_token', fallback='zzz') if c is not None else 'aaa'
 
-# print(api_key())
-# print(api_secret())
-# print(bearer_token())
\ No newline at end of file
+# returns the access_secret stroed in secrets.ini
+def access_secret():
+    c = get_ini_credentials()
+    return c.get(option='oauth1_access_secret', fallback='zzz') if c is not None else 'bbb'
+
+def get_all_secrets():
+    return f'api_key:{api_key()}\napi_secret:{api_secret()}\nbearer_token:{bearer_token()}\naccess_token:{access_token()}\naccess_secret:{access_secret()}'
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/util.py b/src/util.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2f1cb56
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+## Shared utility functions.
+
+import os
+
+global twAPI
+twAPI = None
+
+# returns system path to this project, which is
+# up one level from this file's directory.
+def get_project_dir():
+    return os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), os.pardir)
+
+# determine if tweet involves cross-company interaction
+def is_cross_company(tweet):
+    pass
+
+def clamp(n, smallest, largest):
+    return max(smallest, min(n, largest))
\ No newline at end of file