Blaise gratefully accepted the glass, downing most of it in a single swallow without taking time to savour the bouquet. The sight of Daphne, clad in her usual finery and set amidst the glamour of her home, was a welcome reminder of the normalcy of things. He rather missed that, missed the times when they had all just left school and were glorying in being free adults with no obligations. They'd all just gadded about, partying and generally indulging themselves without worrying about the war or politics or any of that. It was all so needlessly complicated now.

"It's good to see you too," he admitted finally, smiling briefly at her. "I'm sorry I haven't dropped by sooner." He ran a finger around the rim of the now mostly empty glass, glancing down at his reflection in the burgundy puddle at the bottom. "Things have been... rather difficult."