[It's hard to find meaning in things, so he can't really blame her too much for finding it difficult. If she hadn't taken him on the offer, he would've just invited some more random people to make that list fit.]

Hopefully it wasn't because your lab was in trouble. [He smiles slightly, his lips curled up in amusement. He's actually making a joke! This is a Kodak moment! He never makes jokes!

Except he realizes she probably means his work-related friends (or civilian friends, if he actually has those), so the smile doesn't last for too long.] But I understand. Lucius's had me looking at progress reports for days now.