riddleofthebelow | Recent Entries

It might seem like it's been much longer, but it's really only been a month or so since Tom had the free time to make his way to Milliways. A few weeks ago, Egress picked up a nasty case of dragon pox on an outing to Diagon Alley. This required some strict quarantine spell protocols, which took more time to research than Tom had anticipated, and several trips to St. Mungo's that further delayed her parents' usual busy schedules. She's well now, and back to her ebullient self. But just as she was getting better, a trade contingent from Paris Below got lost in the wild marshes of Walthamstow thanks to negligent guidance by a poorly chosen bravo, and that took all manner of soothing and sorting out as the ripple effects of the incident spread through the Underside.

Tom's been quite busy.

Portico's schedule hasn't altered much, thankfully, and Tom has spoken with his son's two tutors in passing at various occasions over this busy time. But this is the first time in a while he's been able to relax at a table with a proper scotch.

Tom steps through the family quarter painting into the Front Gallery of the House of Arch. He was going to go to Milliways to look for Lan Wangji, but his task is no longer necessary. The younger man has stepped through into the gallery at the same time.

"Hello, Lan Wangji," he says, placing his hands in his pockets and rocking back on his heels. He's in a splendid mood. "How fortunate - I was just coming to look for you, to discuss your letter regarding Portico."

Tom is in the bar. It could be on the date the post was made. It could be a week before. He comes here more often lately after all (but not nearly as much as Ingress, apparently!)

He's reading The Daily Prophet and scoffing a little. That's his usual response to this particular publication.

Tom needed his camera to take yet more pictures of his adorable children, and when he fetched it the evening before, he found something odd he can't explain. It's not a bad odd thing. It's just a puzzling odd thing.

Ingress has some explaining to do. Or Wei Wuxian. Either one.

So Tom's at a table at Milliways, with an eyebrow raised, and wouldn't mind some company.

The next time Tom enters the bar, he turns round to the portal painting first thing. When he steps away, the rabbits playing poker look much more like proper rabbits instead of rabbit-shaped former canines. He steps back, regarding it, and nods his head. Much better.

Then he takes his stack of research with him to a table and orders a scotch. While Wei Wuxian indeed broke the ward on the mysterious scroll, and Tom was able to translate it, it still makes no sense. He has old maps of London Above to scour for clues today, because the existence of scroll is still bothering him. He doesn't think it's malevolent, but he's even more convinced that there is no logical reason to have found it in the Underside.

Not that the Underside is very logical. You know what he means.

2020 - AKA The Year Viv Remembered That She "Ran" PSFB... ha, ha oops?

In More or Less Chronological Order Ish:

- Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House arrives in Milliways via PSFB and meets:

Alistair of the Grey Wardens (who gives her the beloved Milliways run down)
Kevin Sifton (who is very kind and welcoming)
Moiraine (despite the necromancy, there is no balefire, because character growth! Plus Harrow is kinda adorable.)
Dorian Pavus (and it's a necromancy greet-cute!)
Wei Wuxian (who sees her secret and after a prickly first meeting, continues to some good old fashioned necromancy bonding.)

- Harrow and Moiraine continue their conversation, and Harrow's having a pretty rough time.

- Lan Wangji arrives and finds Wei Wuxian again (and Viv says "happy sigh")

- Moiraine's hanging out at the bar drinking tea

And, as she does, scopes out a new patron "tainted" with the Dark (Wei Wuxian):
She also chats more with Harrow (who really, really needs a friend)

- Lan Wangji returns a second time.

In which there is Hoshi, surprise!alcohol, Wei Wuxian, adorable drunkenness, and deadly rabbits outback
In which the Reverend Daughter of the Black Vestals of the Locked Tomb and the heir of the Ninth House teaches him a little more about what necromancy is (and isn't) (and there are FEELINGS all over the place)
In which he meets Tom Riddle and compares magical systems, gives Tom some clues about a dead friend at Milliways who may need help, and shares the horror that is the very concept of tea bags.

- Lan Wangji plays guqin to soothe a very upset Harrowhawk (who has no secrets from these cultivator types, apparently)

- Wei Wuxian experiments with talismans because of course he does as well as:

Meets Tom Riddle and helps with a magical problem, finds out about who Tom was, and brings about a significant change to Milliways scenery
Talks with Ninth about necromancy, Lan Wangji, and music and then there is a paperman escapade!
Tells Lan Wangji about that mean cultivator lady, Moiraine (and ensures he stands down so Aspen doesn't have her two reserved characters with forehead baubles play against each other), then both get a little fluttery over each other's standing with Harrowhark, but they forget it all and go Night Hunting! Thanks for the demons, Ava

- Harrow discusses genealogy with Dorian and has a far-ranging conversation with Moiraine that goes from confession, to magical theory and notation, to magical experimentation. Harrow touches the True Source and promptly passes out; Moiraine gets a taste of necromancy. And it's about high time for that, I say!

- After making the rabbits playing poker a little more rabbity, Tom settles into a table.

Moiraine - old friends catch up
Harrow - a meeting in which - big surprise- Tom is not phased by necromancy
Wei Wuxian and a trip to the House of Arch and the Underside

- Lan Wangji meditates out by the lake

Harrow mentions magical experimentation with that meddling Aes Sadai and LWJ cultivates through the guqin
Ingress disturbs LWJ due to squid sighting, and they get along like only two warriors in white who know about the grey can
Wei Wuxian cold from Harrow's thanargy, WWX gets the best snuggles and then SO MUCH shade is thrown at Tom's Wizarding world.

- Harrow's ritual blows up a bit (much like this summary post!)

Um, this got MORE. I CATCH UP. So much writing. Many words.

- Lan Wangji comforts the hurt Wei Wuxian (thank you, fandom gods)

- Lan Wangji and the burial rites

- Harrow in the bar

- Lan Wangji - a late visit

Wei Wuxian and coffee and the Magical Array of White Hot Sexiness (i.e. Lan Zhan)
YIKES THE EMPEROR AGAIN
Obi Wan Kenobi

- Wei Wuxian in the bar post ritual

Ingress is hanging out at Milliways because why not?

- Meets Harrow and manages to get the poor thing to try a spoonful of ice cream
- Wei Wuxian recognizes her from the HoA memory and guess what? It's ice cream liquor party time!!!! (Ingress says “I’ve only known WWX for a few hours but if anything happened to him I would kill everyone in this room.”)
- Lan Wanji learns more about Heralds, Ingress offers any help because allies in white, right?

- Harrow and the skeleton war

- Harrow refuses Bar's attempts at food enticement and meets Alyce Carrow, talks with Wei Wuxian

- Wei Wuxian and some resentful energy out back (and Tom, Harrow, Gu Yong-ha, and Kevin Sefton)