ARIELLE/AZALEA, 2030h.
Ari smiled back, took and squeezed Lea's hand. "Isn't it, though?" Those people who had come early - no doubt the promise of free alcohol had lured them - were mostly entertaining themselves at the moment, and she was glad to have the time to spare to sit awhile with a friend. "I'm glad to see you," she said frankly. She had known Lea long enough to realize that they kept wildly incompatible schedules; still, it was lovely to know that the older woman would take time to come and see her for her birthday despite the late hour and day of the week.
She indicated one of the reserved tables, took a seat herself. "Have a drink on me," she suggested. "Goodness knows one of us should." She had had a few sips of wine earlier, but that, she had determined, would simply have to be all. Unfortunate, but she'd make up for it in other ways - especially once the music got going. "You seem less worried than you were, last we spoke." She wondered if Lea had made a decision - perhaps she would ask, if the conversation came around to it, but she didn't want to do it quite yet, in case the subject was a touchy one.