Merri couldn't help but to laugh when Lionel hugged him; a change from before, when Merri tensed at bodily contact of any sort. He was more used to it these days and he had come to cherish it more and more, and it didn't take much navel-gazing on his end to determine why.
"I'm never too busy for a friend!" he promised as they peeled off each other. His smile was still wide in spite of the words that died on Lionel's tongue; did he hesitate because of all of the terrible incidents that had befallen the city, or was it something else? Merri was curious, but he didn't pry and instead led Lionel into the tavern.
Though it was a moderately busy time of evening -- patrons of the Theatre District were here to enjoy a drink or a meal before a show, but it was a weeknight and still too early even then for the livelier crowds yet -- they were able to find a table just big enough for the both of them. A waitress came to take their drink order, and Merri asked for a glass of the house red wine and waited for Lionel to finish placing his before he asked, "How have you been?"