Her errands had taken her a little longer than anticipated, but Ari finally climbed the single flight of stairs and knocked awkwardly on the door with her elbow, her arms being rather full. "Merri?" she called. She trusted the mage not to allow Drake to open the door. When it opened, though, the man on the other side was not Merri but rather someone vaguely familiar. "Oh," she said, smiling brightly at him as she tried to place where she had seen his face before. "Hello, you must be Rene. Did anyone order a party?" She had two large bottles and a jar of cherries in a bag - everything needed for Drake's favorite disgusting drink - as well as a cake box from Mariela's and her instrument besides.
If Drake couldn't come to the party, the party had to come to Drake.
Stepping into the sparsely furnished apartment, her eyes immediately sought out the man on the couch who looked, she was relieved to note, bruised and bandaged and surly but quite alive. "You know, daydreaming about Champagne is detrimental to your driving abilities," she told him, setting her burdens down on the coffee table and leaning in to place a light kiss on his cheek. "I know he was impressive, but really, Drake."