We met under very unlikely circumstances. I've never experienced anything quite like it. It happened when I was out hiking at one of my favorite spots - a picturesque trail encircling a lake. At one point, I decided to take a break and sat on the ground against a comfy tree enjoying the view while listening to Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor on my headphones when a man walking a dog came around the bend. He wasn't expecting to see anyone because it's not a very busy trail. Seeing me startled him, so he accidently dropped the lead, and the dog came bounding over. The dog is SO adorable. He's a Miniature Australian Shepherd with blue eyes. He warmed up to me right away. I grabbed the lead and was petting him as he sat in my lap. His owner came over and introduced himself, and we started talking. After a couple minutes, he sat down on the ground next to me. He told me that his dog's name is Percy. He's named after Percy Shelley. Naturally, one thing led to another and soon we were talking about "Prometheus Unbound," then poems by other Romantic poets, and then music. He loves Chopin, too. Can you believe it?! Anyway, we ended up talking and hiking for hours.
His name is Westley, just like the character from The Princess Bride. He's got dark hair but his eyes are "like the sea after a storm." Westley is 42 years old, divorced, an atheist, and a liberal like me. He is a freelance writer. He mostly writes blurbs and articles online, but he's also working on a novel. It's historical fiction set among the artists, writers, and visionaries of Paris in the years between the first and second world wars. Such a fascinating time and place! He's going to let me read what he's got so far.
The day ended with a chaste kiss, and we made plans for an official date. We are also planning on going to see a ballet. I can't wait! I've not had the means to see a live ballet in a very long time, and I've never seen one with such an intriguing companion. 
The only potential problem that I can foresee so far is that his favorite Zelda game is Wind Waker.
Last edited by TwilightPrincess on 20 Oct 2023, 1:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.