On a bright morning in a small café, Shawn's desperate voice cut through the quiet buzz of early patrons, catching the attention of nearly everyone in earshot. He was kneeling on the café floor, hands clasped together in a pleading gesture with eyes wide and brimming with mock tears.
"My dear generous friend, please, let me stay with you for a few days!" he begged dramatically, projecting a level of distress that could have won him an award.
Standing behind the counter, Franz let out a tired sigh as he looked at his friend with a mixture of amusement and mild irritation. This wasn't the first time Shawn had made a scene, but today's plea seemed genuine, if a bit over-the-top.
"I ran—ah, no. I got kicked out!" Shawn declared, correcting himself as he painted his tragic tale to convince his beta friend. "All my accounts are frozen and I have little cash on me. I can't even pay for an inn for a day right now, so where am I going to sleep? Don't you pity me, benevolent Franz?"
