silence turns awkward, even more when the other tables around them fill up with people.
Alhaitham passes another page, eyeing Zandik discreetly.
"So... Where have you been?"
"Come on, nobody will notice if there's a bit less in the pot. Our friends bring each a dish of their own so there's always leftovers."
Funnily enough, he was alone at the table at the moment.
"They'll take a while. Sit. Eat something, please."
Pats the empty seat beside him.