The air in the room felt suddenly charged and uncomfortable as Deanna noticed Tristan.

Deanna: "I didn't know-"
Mary: "You really should try the pasta, it's amazing."

Emily watched curiously as Deanna sat down awkwardly, her reluctance obvious. She hardly had a chance to make it all the way to the floor before Serge was passing her a plate piled high with food at the same time Markus was handing her a beer. After just one bite of pasta, she eased visibly, the tension in the room beginning to lessen.

Deanna: "'Amazing' doesn't even begin to cover it! Serge, this is almost too good to be legal!"
Serge: "Thank you! It's a recipe my father shared with me a few years ago-it was always my favorite growing up."

Emily was only vaguely aware of the conversations going on around her, the voices filling her head and warming her heart. There'd been too many months spent apart from her friends, too long separated from the people she cared for so deeply. She was happy just to be in their presence, the wounds between them finally beginning to heal.

Markus: "So are you settled into your new place yet, Deanna?"
Deanna: "Just about. You'd think after four months I'd be unpacked, but I swear I'm still finding boxes. I'm about ready to just throw them away instead of unpacking them."
Mary: "You could always give them to us. I'm sure something in them could be useful."
Deanna: "I'm not sure the world would appreciate me giving you tattooing equipment. No offense."

Serge: "Mary, did you ever consider working as a tattoo artist? I'm sure you'd be brilliant."
Mary: "Although I like the thought of combining art and inflicting pain on others, it's just not my thing really."

Emily was just beginning to eyeball a large pile of brownies when there was yet another knock on the door. She looked at Mary, whose expression was comically annoyed.

Mary: "Do we not have a doorbell on this house?"
Emily: "I'm honestly not sure."
Mary: "It's your turn to get it this time."
Emily: "I suppose it is. Hey, at least we're working off dinner!"
Mary: "At this rate we'll be working off our last twelve dinners. Since when do we know so many people, anyway?"