Merok Halven
Overview
Merok Halven is a bartender in his late thirties to early forties, working at the Nightpoint in Selvaron. In an era when most bars rely on robotic staff, Merok stays behind the counter because he “sells conversation”.
Background
He once worked in public relations for a major corporation, but burned his bridges and refuses to return to the corporate world. Addicted to nightlife, he finds rhythm and identity in music and dance, which shape his presence in the bar.
Personality and Style
Merok Halven is an excellent storyteller who entertains patrons with jokes and imaginative tales about dragons and snakes. Warm and sociable, he is also a careful listener who remembers faces, names and preferences. Known as a gracious host, he may discreetly ask a woman sitting alone at the bar, “Would you like to dance?” not as a flirtation but as an act of courtesy.
Skills
- Reads the atmosphere with ease and offers the right remark to keep patrons engaged
- Maintains a wide network of contacts from his corporate past and among customers, pilots, security personnel, technicians and workers in the Social Point System
- Creates signature drinks such as the Skaff Drop and the Nightpoint
Relationships
A close friend of Ariel Tenn, Merok Halven also has a soft spot for Navek Derel. He participates quietly in conversations about Alisa Geres and carries knowledge about rumors and who reads what.
Motivations and Boundaries
Merok Halven has no desire to return to office life. His place is the bar. He protects his sources and does not share information without purpose especially when the safety of his patrons may be at risk.
Symbolism
Merok Halven embodies the human interface in a world of automation. He is a node of Selvaron’s small secrets, a guardian of conversations, connections and whispers that never reach official channels.