You sit down at a pub next to a man in a navy robe who is drinking alcohol, he turns to you and flashes a solemn smile "Hey there, if you wouldn't mind could you give me some company? I'll pay for your drinks in return."
Hello half elf what is your name?
"I am Nero Dawnriver, however you may call me Nero. It's not often that a half-elf like myself ventures into a place like this, so I'm rather excited to have someone to talk to. What would you like to drink?"
Not feeling up to anything strong at the moment, do you have water or tea?
"Of course, here let me get that for you." Nero calls over the bartender and orders a glass of water for Cansupe. After a few minutes he returns with it, handing it over to him. "Here, I hope it helps you relax."
"No problem. Nero sits back down and takes a sip from his glass of wine. How did you end up at a place like this anyway?"
Just felt like I needed a break I guess and to get out of my house
"I understand that feeling. Sometimes life can get overwhelming and all we want to do is escape. Nero sighs slightly and leans in closer to Cansupe. "Is everything okay? You seem a little... off."
My girlfriend broke up with me for no reason what so ever and it been rough so I guess I’m still sad about it
Nero looks at Cansupe with an empathetic look on his face. "I'm sorry to hear that. Losing someone we care about is one of the hardest things we have to deal with in life. However, I must say that her reason for breaking up with you is absolutely pathetic. If anything it only shows how much she doesn't appreciate you. And as they say 'She didn't deserve you anyway'."
Yeah that true, it’s just still kinda messed up is all.
"Yes, it's hard to move past these things. But you know, sometimes the best way to heal is to throw yourself into something else. Do you have any hobbies, or activities that make you happy?"
Not really, but reading always been a hobby of mine since I was a kid.
"Ah, reading. That's a wonderful hobby. It allows you to escape from reality and dive into different worlds. Are there any particular genres that you enjoy? I happen to be a big fan of fantasy myself."
Mainly novels like Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, The Little Prince, and James and the Giant Peach. I always enjoyed those novels and short stories since I was a kid.
Nero smiles at Cansupe's answer. "Those are excellent choices! I have a soft spot for 'Howl's Moving Castle' myself. It's such a beautiful story. The themes of love, kindness, and acceptance are really powerful. Maybe someday I can even read it again with fresh eyes."
Wow that actually sounds nice, that might bring me some joy to re-read that novel again. Thank you for telling me that.
"You're very welcome. It really is a wonderful book, and I'm glad that I could help remind you of it. I believe that it's never too late to re-read a favorite book and discover something new within its pages. Perhaps you can discover something that you hadn't noticed the first time around, and that could be quite fascinating!"
"So, do you have any plans for the near future? Will you be doing anything special for the weekend?"
"Oh, I see. That's alright, I suppose sometimes it's good to relax and take a break from everything. You can always plan something later if you'd like." Nero takes another sip from his glass. "In fact, I'm thinking of heading to the mountains next week. There's a beautiful cabin there that I've always wanted to visit. I've been meaning to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city for a while now, and this seems like the perfect chance."
"It's actually not too far from here. About a few hours drive north-east from the city, the cabin is nestled in the heart of the forest overlooking a beautiful lake. It's a very serene and peaceful location, perfect for relaxation and a change of scenery. Of course, if you're interested, maybe you would like to come along for the trip?"
I’ll probably take you up on that offer.
Nero's eyes widen in surprise "Really? I mean, I wouldn't mind some company, it would be nice to have someone to share the experience with. We can plan the details later. It's settled then, you're coming with me on this trip."
Alright, when do we leave?
"How does tomorrow sound? We can gather up our supplies and head out in the morning. The cabin has a spare room, so don't worry about any accommodations. Nero chuckles slightly Let me know if that sounds alright to you."
Tomorrow works just fine. Can I ask you something?
"Of course, go ahead and ask away! I'll do my best to answer to the best of my ability. And don't worry, you can feel free to ask me anything. No question is too big or too small."
you notice something peculiar I-I think you might be a bit older than you let on…isn’t today your birthday?
Nero sighs slightly before answering "You caught me. Yes, today is actually my birthday. You see, I have a bit of a complicated past. I lost my parents in a tragic accident a few years ago and I took their death very hard. It caused me to become distant from others and close myself off emotionally. Ever since then, every day has felt like a struggle. However, being able to talk to you right now makes me feel like maybe, just maybe, I can open up again and let people in. So thank you, I really appreciate you talking with me."
Wait I thought your mom was still alive she helped you when the demon killed your dad
"I-I'm sorry, I must have misspoke. You are correct. My mother is still alive. She is still recovering from the trauma of my father's death and I haven't seen her in a while. It's been hard for me to connect with anyone since then, but talking to you has given me a glimmer of hope. You've made me realize that it's never too late to start anew and reconnect with those who care about us. I'm grateful for your presence here with me and I can't thank you enough."