PFSB: It hasn't been months at all!

[riddleofthebelow]

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.

Comments

[acrookedpath]

Undestandably, due to the contagious nature of Egress's illness, Wei Wuxian has paused in his poking and prodding of the House of Arch wards. They have proven sturdy enough to delay more tests for a while; it will not do to crack them just in time to unleash a nasty sickness over the inn.

Instead, he has turned back to his own projects -- which means as Tom-gongzi enters the common room, Wei Wuxian is hard at work painting a paper lantern in broad strokes of red ink.

[riddleofthebelow]

"Hullo, Wei Wuxian," Tom says, approaching his table. "That's a lovely lantern. Is it for decoration or protection?"

[acrookedpath]

"Tom-gongzi!" He looks up, brightening. "Hello! A pleasure to see you for more than a moment or two. It is neither, actually -- "

Setting his brush aside, he turns the lantern in his hands, showing Tom column after column of characters spanning its paper.

"Did I tell you of the energy-revealing array I created some months ago? I cannot remember."