Merton was not known for his observational skills. He was also not known for reading the paper, or for being aware of anything that he wasn't directly informed of by bandmates or Leigh. He'd come home finally and then promptly gone to sleep, which was where he'd been until a few hours ago, when he wandered off to check and make sure Heath hadn't actually re-tuned his cell like he'd threatened.
He'd gotten distracted by music for a while, and only emerged when his highly tuned booze-sensor went off, and he made his way back out, grinning as he saw Orsino and dropping down to perch on the arm of the sofa, reaching for the nearest bottle. "Hey!" he greeted.
He picked up on the mood of the room too late and then blinked. "What?"