Merrion/Ari/Open
Merrion had been watching the dancers so intently that the touch made him jump a little -- and thank goodness his coat was red or he'd have had to worry about it staining, which would only be a travesty for the night, he had to admit. He turned to the one who greeted him, and his attempts at making talking to Ari easier with wine proved to be in vain.
"H-hi! Hello!" he said, momentarily pondering if downing the rest of the wine would be the wisest course of action. "It's-- it's wonderful to see you again, too!" Was his heart pounding? His heart was pounding. It hoped it was simply nerves and not the onset of something else. Maybe the wine had been a terrible idea after all?