PFSB

[riddleofthebelow]

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.

Comments

[blue_ajah]

There is a familiar figure in the bar already, at a table not far from the fireplace. The Aes Sedai is drawing circles on a piece of paper with a look of intent concentration.

Perhaps that is why she does not appear to notice Tom's arrival.

[riddleofthebelow]

He glances up when the waitrat brings him his glass and he sees a friend he hasn't spoken with in... quite some time. He beams, leaving everything at his table as approaches Moiraine.

"Excuse me, madam, but I believe we know each other from long ago."

[blue_ajah]

She looks up in surprise, and a pleased smile curves her lips.

"Tom! Light illumine. It has been a while, indeed."

[riddleofthebelow]

"It's been far too long. May I join you?"

[blue_ajah]

"Certainly," she replies, and gestures gracefully toward a seat as she shifts the paper in front of her to ensure that he has sufficient room.

"How are matters with you and your family?"

[riddleofthebelow]

He takes it and settles in.

"Growing. I know I've spoken with you since Portico was born, but I have another daughter, Egress, who is walking about Opening everything she can get her hands on. Gavroche is helping Door and myself with affairs in London Below, and Ingress is a full Herald, living in Haven now."

His smile fades just the slightest with this last.

"We miss her terribly, of course, but she's happy doing what she was meant to do."

[blue_ajah]

"Of course," she agrees. "Such separations are often difficult, and perhaps even more so when worlds are crossed in the process."

That, of course, being something that the both of them understand, each in their own way.

"Growing indeed, it would seem. I am happy for you, Tom."

[riddleofthebelow]

"Thank you. I have to say I'm rather happy for myself."

It is a good life he's made.

"How about you? How do you fare?"

[blue_ajah]

There is a hint of amusement in her serene tone as she tells him,

"I am as well as might be expected."

An instant's pause, then she adds,

"Which is well, as it happens. I have found a place for myself in Twin Peaks, and yet am still able to visit both here and the world in which I was born."

[we_bring_hell]

A young woman descends from the stairs; she has very little distinguish her otherwise, as she is wearing a long rusty black robe and a veil that swathes her whole face. Even her hands are in gloves.

She passes his table on the way to the bar, and says in a clear, commanding voice, fully the Reverend Daughter of Drearburh, "Bar, a case of makeup suitable for the Effigial Rites of the Ninth House." A note appears, and she reads it.

"Yes, I am aware. I will consecrate it myself."

A large box of synthetic material appears before her, and she opens it to inspect.

[riddleofthebelow]

"Beg pardon?" he says, looking up, not sure if she's addressing him or not.

It should be noted that her appearance is not that unusual to him at all after years of patronizing Milliways and of soothing the constant chaos of the Underside. She'd fit right in at a Floating Market.

[we_bring_hell]

"I was speaking with the Lady Bar," she says, a trifle starchily. "Good evening."

[riddleofthebelow]

"Good evening," he replies, not bothered in the least, since he is also well experienced with starchy individuals.

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation."

Her clear and commanding conversation, he thinks, his mouth quirking into a smile.

[we_bring_hell]

"It is no matter." She shrugs, and lifts her box. "My name is Harrowhark Nonagesismus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House."

[riddleofthebelow]

He stands to give her a small bow in recognition of her formal introduction.

“I’m Tom Riddle, Lord Ostium of the House of Arch. We both have a plethora of names to use, so for the sake of ease, please call me Tom.”

[we_bring_hell]

"My peers call me the Ninth," she says calmly. "As no one else of the Ninth House is likely to come here, it should serve."

"Ostium is an intriguing title. In the biological sense?"

[riddleofthebelow]

"In the entrance or opening sense," he says. "All of the members of the House of Arch have such names. We're Openers."

[acrookedpath]

Speak of the fearsome Yiling Patriarch: there he is, jogging down the stairs as he flips through a small stack of talismans. It's a relatively standard array for breaking through locks, spiritual or otherwise. He doubts they will work on the warded painting, but it will give him a baseline; if he knows how the wards react to these, he can adjust, adapt, and come back with a harder strike next time.

He eels through the crowd with suprising self-awareness, given as he seems to be entirely absorbed in the talismans. Not once does he accidentally bump a patron or a table. When he's nearly to the painting, he finally looks up -- and finally catches sight of Tom.

"Ah! Tom-gongzi!" he calls, waving hello with the stack of paper slips.

[riddleofthebelow]

"Hullo, Wei Wuxian."

There's something about this fellow that is so... effervescent. Not like any dark magic user he's ever encountered.

"How are your talismans today?"

[acrookedpath]

"Well enough." He grins, quickly executing a bow before he joins Tom at his table. "Only simple ones today -- here."

He fans them across the table for Tom to take a closer look.

"It is the first step in testing your wards: an array that will break open most low-level spiritual locks. I don't expect it to work," he adds, "but it will let me see what I must do next."

[riddleofthebelow]

"That's a smart approach. I'll be interested in knowing what happens. Oh, by the way, I let Security know that you've undertaken this work for me so there will be no misunderstandings."

He's also added a more than fair amount to Wei Wuxian's tab with Bar in payment for his services. It should keep him in Emperor's Smile for a while.

"I've never had to stay in the cells here, but I've visited, and I believe the rooms upstairs are much preferable."

[acrookedpath]

A startled laugh. "I thank you for it!" he says. "I had not thought they might misunderstand me, but I see how I would look terribly suspicious, trying to break into your home in the middle of the main room."

He considers, then tips his head toward the painting.

"If you would like to see for yourself, I could place them now...?"

[riddleofthebelow]

"Absolutely. I'm very interested in how you activate a talisman."

How letters and drawings on paper become magical action is a most intriguing type of Transfiguration.

"First though, I'd thought of something after we first spoke, and I wanted to mention it to you, very briefly. I know your friend, Lan Wangji, visits here. Do you know whether anyone else from your world does, as well?"

[acrookedpath]

His brows draw together. "No," he says, a little slower. "No, I have not seen anyone else. Why?"

[riddleofthebelow]

"It would not hurt to be aware of newcomers who know your face. I have been, on more than one occasion, hexed by wizards and witches from my birth world who recognized me and then... overreacted. Because I was their enemy. It hasn't happened in a very long time, and Security handled each situation promptly with no harm to myself or to them," he says, trying to reassure the younger man.

"When it first happened, it was dismaying. Quite a shock. It may never happen to you, and I certainly hope it doesn't. But I wanted you to know that, well. It could."