Richard and Hayley first connected during a cold, snowy winter in Blacksburg. They had plans to meet for the first time on Friday, January 28th, but as luck would have it, the town was blanketed with snow that day. Hayley's mom, being the caring type, wasn't thrilled with the idea of her driving in slippery conditions, so Hayley stayed in, ordered a burrito, and messaged Richard to see if he’d be up for rescheduling to Saturday instead. (Thankfully, he said yes.) When Saturday rolled around, the weather had calmed down, and Richard picked a spot for them to meet: Blacksburg Tavern. From the name, they both pictured a lively bar-type place where they could grab a casual drink and relax. Instead, they walked into a cozy, home-cooking style restaurant that felt more like visiting someone's welcoming (and very quiet) living room. It turned out to be the perfect setting — no loud music or distractions, just the two of them, getting to know each other. Over plates of comfort food, they discovered just how much they had in common. They talked about their shared love of music — everything from favorite bands to concerts they'd dreamed of seeing. That led to conversations about anime they both loved and, naturally, their mutual soft spot for animals. The conversation was easy and full of laughs, the kind where you realize the night is flying by because you're genuinely enjoying yourself. What started as a snowy delay turned into the beginning of something special — and it all kicked off over some home-style cooking, a few good laughs, and the start of many shared passions to come.