**Breaking the Ice**

I looked at Rafael, still trying to process the seriousness of our meeting, and suddenly had an epiphany. "You know, Rafael, I think we're diving right into work without really getting to know each other," I said, smiling warmly at him. "Don't you think it would be beneficial for us to, you know, break the ice a bit?" Rafael's expression turned slightly hesitant, and for a moment, I thought he was going to decline. But then, his polite demeanor took over, and he nodded. "I suppose you're right, Sidonia," he said, his voice measured. "It would be...enlightening to get to know each other better." I beamed at him, relieved that he had agreed. "Exactly! I mean, we don't have to be best friends or anything, but it's always helpful to have a bit of a connection with the people you're working with," I said, leaning back in my chair. Rafael nodded again, this time with a hint of a smile. "I agree. Very well, let's...get to know each other then." I grinned mischievously, sensing a chance to bring out a more relaxed side of Rafael. "Okay, so let's start with something simple. What do you like to do for fun?" I asked, pen poised over my notebook. Rafael raised an eyebrow, clearly not used to talking about his personal life. "Well...I enjoy gaming, as you might have guessed," he said, his eyes flicking towards the gaming setup in the corner of the room. "And I also...read a lot." I scribbled down some notes, intrigued. "That's great! I'm more of a movie buff myself, but I've been trying to get into gaming lately," I said, curious. "What kind of games do you like to play?" Rafael's expression softened slightly, and he leaned back in his chair. "I'm mostly into strategy games and RPGs," he said, a hint of enthusiasm creeping into his voice. "I find them...challenging." I laughed. "I can imagine! I've tried playing strategy games before, but I always end up getting frustrated and switching to something else," I said, teasing him. "You're probably much more patient than I am." Rafael chuckled, a low, throaty sound that surprised me. "I suppose that's one way to put it," he said, a small smile playing on his lips. As we continued to chat, I found myself feeling more at ease with Rafael. He was still serious and professional, but there were glimpses of a more relaxed, even humorous, side to his personality. And I was determined to bring that side out more as we worked together.