To say that Meri was uncomfortable was an understatement. She hoped she was hiding it at least passably well but she wasn't at all confident she was. To start with she wasn't entirely sure why she'd been invited. Her current guesses were either her brother had gotten her on the list of attendees in a weird brotherly, long-distance matchmaking effort or some party-planning intern had some misinformed ideas about seers and ghosts.
She stood dutifully at the fringes, her hands clasped tightly in front of her in a caricature of a comfortable stance. She had been working on her distaste at being chained associated with all things divination and simply choosing to attend this ball with an open mind had felt like a culmination of those efforts. But now that she was here she wished she was the spectacle.
A promised spectral bear baiting and the perceived threat that a ghost might come ask her to dance (how would that even work?!) kept her eyes glued to the center where most of the activity was. So much so that she did not notice a familiar face approach until he was within speaking distance.
When she recognized him the relief was immediate and quite obvious. She even took a step towards him in the rush and surprise of suddenly finding someone familiar and comfortable.
"You’re here!"
It was easier with her eyes off the center of the room. It was easier now, having him there to talk to. She realized after a beat that this was the first time she'd seen him since New Years. Regular correspondence made him feel much more present than that.
"I've never seen so many ghosts before." In one place or in general, it felt like a safe assumption. "Though, I'm not sure what I've done to warrant an invitation; Ghosts have no use for wands."
His answer was so frank and succinct that it caught her off guard and pulled an immediate laugh from her. She rather liked the title. It was much more poetic than what she usually went with - oddity. And it felt more fitting any way.
She also had not considered she was wanted here. Only that her oddity - no, eccentricity - checked whatever thematic boxes the party called for. She didn't personally know any ghosts so she was going to have to take his word for it.
"Does that go for ghost bears as well?" She asked, leaning in to match his conspiratorial tone.
She shook her head without a moments hesitation. The easy distraction he provided wavered in the face of considering her 'chances' with a ghost bear. She watched the main floor for a moment before her logic side returned to push back her unease again.
"Although..." she hedged with a wry smirk. "I suppose that depends on what it means when a bear 'likes' you."
It was obvious that was not a reaction he expected to have and he was clearly trying to cover for it. She did her best not to react but her lips pursed with the effort of clamping back a smile.
"Agreed." she said with a resolute nod. The ghost bear could do whatever it liked... as long as it kept its distance.
"I have. Quite well." It was a vain attempt at a better answer. She wished there was more to say, some interesting tidbit to offer, but without wands or visions as a topic she was at a loss.
"Yourself?" and after a pause - "No lingering effects?" She hated to bring up something he was embarrassed about but being accidentally dosed with an unknown potion was a serious problem. And asking in passing conversation seemed better than asking in writing.
She nodded with light smile. She had expected as much but was still glad to have him confirm it. And now she wanted to change the subject...to mercifully put the topic behind them but still she struggled for something of substance to say. She thought to offer an embarassing story of her own but he had been first hand witness to most of them. Should she bring up tarot cards?
Despite the hub of the party it felt like they were stood apart in their own quiet little bubble. "I never told anyone." she found herself saying softly. "It can be as if it never happened."
She was shaking her head before he even finished the offer. She felt bad enough bringing it up to make sure he was okay, she couldn't imagine what else there could be to talk about.
"You weren't yourself." she said with shrug... and then a pause.
"Unless you - " Her expression somehow carried more doubt than the tone of her half finished sentence.