[ Perhaps it will be some small comfort to Barnaby to look up and see that the person he nearly ran into is Howl. And, on top of that, that Howl has clearly had a few drinks already himself, judging from his watery eyes, and his flushed cheeks... and the tips of his blond hair starting to turn white. Howl blinks at him as the fog in his brain clears just enough for him to place this familiar man, but once he does, a wide grin spreads across his face. ]

Barnaby! Don't tell me you're leaving, just as I found you? [ He reaches out to clamp a friendly hand on his shoulder. ] How have you been? Stay just a bit more! Or is this establishment a bore?