His smile felt easier when Ari beamed at him, and a light blush covered his cheeks at the mention of her changing into clothes, and it only turned brighter when he saw her hand moving to do just that.
"R-right, of course! S-sorry," he stammered as he turned around, taking to finishing off his champagne as she dressed behind him. When she announced that she was clothed, he had finished off the champagne and placed the glass on the counter, his blush still not disappeared and though his grin was small, it felt light on his face, and it was a gift he was happy to receive.
As Ari led him through the backstage corridors towards the stage, Merri was able to forget, for a time anyway, the events of the night before as he ogled each prop and was invited to sit on the same furniture as the actors and actresses did during the production. Once the night was over, he thanked Ari profusely over and over again for a wonderful night, and, though he did not speak it, for the distraction, and he made an offer to treat her to coffee to make up for the lack of flowers and to thank her for the evening.
His elevated mood would not last forever, he knew, but he would be happy if it lasted just long enough to greet the captain in better spirits than the night before.