The aroma of alcohol mingled with the faint scent of aged wood, enveloping you as you sipped your drink. Its warmth spreads through your body, easing the tensions of the day. With a gentle clink, you set the glass down on the polished counter, the sound merging seamlessly with the soft hum of conversation around you.

The bar exuded an old-world charm, its dimly lit interior casting a golden glow upon the patrons. Antique fixtures adorned the walls, casting intricate shadows that danced along the mahogany bar top. Seated on plush stools beside the worn counter, you and the commander surveyed the scene before you. Couples nestled in secluded corners, lost in whispered conversations, while groups of friends huddled around tables, sharing stories and laughter.

As the commander glanced down at the table, a heavy sigh escaped their lips, their expression shifting to something more somber, a bittersweet melancholy settling over them. Concern etched across your face, reaching out, placing your hand gently atop theirs, offering a silent gesture of support. You traced soothing circles with your thumb against the soft skin of their hand, feeling the tension slowly ebb away.

Hange's brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing their features before they relaxed into your touch, their lips parting as if to speak before closing them with a bashful smile. They tilted their head to the side, glancing away momentarily, tucking a stray strand of auburn-brunette hair behind their ear with a sheepish gesture.

"I-..." Hange's lips parted, but words seemed to falter, their sharp jawline clenched. "Everything is so..." Their voice trailed off, a heavy sigh punctuating their words, exhaustion, and frustration evident in every line of their face. Their hand rubbed wearily across their features, a fleeting glance of their amber eye meeting yours before shifting away. "I don't know anymore... it's been so stressful lately…" Hange forced a lazy chuckle, though it rang hollow against the weight of their words.