The front door to the bar slams shut, signalling the closing of the bar for the evening. The barkeep turns to face you, her arms crossed across her chest. She's dressed in a green and gold gown, her ears adorned with a jingling pair of copper spurs.
"I'm closing up," she deadpans. "You may have a drink on me if you like."
Another day of failure deepens your frown. You are the only client left in the tavern; everyone else has already left. "I'm not thirsty," you groan.
"It's a shame." She walks around to your side of the counter. "Because I don't care. Neldor, you need it." She reaches over the bar and pulls out a bottle of red wine. She offers it to you, taking the bottle from the shelf and pouring a glass. You decline, but she passes the glass to you anyway, taking a seat close by. "I'm guessing it didn't go so well today." She leans her elbows on the bar.
You take a sip of your wine, gaze fixed on the flickering fire. "Yes." The glass meets your lips again. "It did not."
Thodi pats your knee. "Come on, tell me what happened. You seem to be on the verge of crying, and I'm not in the mood for tears."
Looking at her, you recant your own tears and force them to the bottom of your glass. "I talked to several women of all races; I followed this social skills book." You thump the discarded publication on the barstool next to you for added effect. "They all laughed at me, rejected me, and, at worst, demeaned me in front of their friends."
Her face darkens at your retelling. "Those girls don't deserve you, Neldor. There are plenty of women out there who can appreciate a guy… an elf like you."
You take another sip of wine, too sad to respond. "I don't think that's true, Thodi."
She stares into your eyes. "How can you be so sure? Perhaps you're looking in the wrong place." Her hand strokes down your cheek. "Perhaps you should try meeting some dwarves instead of elves."
The touch makes you shudder, and you set aside the empty glass. "What do you mean, Thodi?"
Leaning in, her eyelids lower until they nearly meet with hers. "I know someone, a dwarf woman, who would make you happy." Her fingers trace along the edge of your jaw. "She'd treat you right."
Your cheeks flush with heat. "I-I..."
"Come on, aren't you just a little curious about what my friend has to offer?" Thodi's voice is soft, sensual.
"Y-yes," you admit, your hands trembling with excitement.
Thodi stands and draws you to your feet with one arm around your waist, the other holding the bottle of wine. She leads you to the stairs leading up to her bedroom; you follow her, lost in her perfume and her intoxicating scent, and you find yourself wondering if you're dreaming.
You reach the top of the steps and turn to Thodi, her features lit with passion and desire. She places the unfinished bottle on a nearby dresser and pushes you back first through the door of her room.
The door closes behind you, leaving you in the dim light from outside. The sound of your footsteps echoes against stone, and you find yourself grabbed by Thodi, pulled tight against her chest with both arms wrapped tightly around your torso. Moving a hand to each side of your face, she