[Yeah, this much was expected. However, she's guessing Sophie's directing her frowning towards disliking the lie rather than disbelieving the lie, so that's fine. She takes a deep breath (though she tries to be quiet about doing so) before starting into the lie she'd prepared.]
They found some messages that some bad guys were sending each other, but they can't understand what they say. So they need someone as clever and good with new languages as Norma to figure them out. She wanted to come right back, but no one else could do it. She told them she wouldn't go for longer than a week and a half [to build in a little failsafe in case something goes wrong] though, because she wanted to come back to see you again.
I know. But it's an important thing for her to do, and she'll be back as soon as she can. And at least Walter came back today!
[She tries to make the last part sound like that makes up for it, even if it's probably the equivalent "don't worry, kids, ice cream has been delayed but right now we have sandwiches!" They're both food but one is a lot less fun.]
Because they needed someone who is really good with languages, and Norma is the best. I'm sure you know that with the way she helps you with Relares, right?
[Fenimore doesn't actually think Norma is the best with languages around, even though it might be almost true for at least the people in Luceti, but she'll pretend she thinks so for the sake of the lie.]
[Fenimore knows she can't promise it for sure, but with how long it's been since the last draft and how it's not especially common for people to go on consecutive drafts, she thinks she can bet on it.]
And then she's going to stay. She'll want a nice, long rest after that much work.
[And even though she knows that Sophie isn't a big fan of it, she reaches down to ruffle her hair, because little kids sometimes don't get a proper say in what is done to them.]
[Action, May 26th] Whooooooops I thought I posted this answer before I left.
Yeah?
[It's been really boring without Norma around. It's about time she's getting back.]
[Action, May 26th] Oh whoops.
Yeah. It's going to be a while before she gets back. She signed up on a mission while she was away.
[Action, May 26th]
Why?
[Action, May 26th]
They found some messages that some bad guys were sending each other, but they can't understand what they say. So they need someone as clever and good with new languages as Norma to figure them out. She wanted to come right back, but no one else could do it. She told them she wouldn't go for longer than a week and a half [to build in a little failsafe in case something goes wrong] though, because she wanted to come back to see you again.
[Action, May 26th]
But I wanted to see her.
[Action, May 26th]
[She tries to make the last part sound like that makes up for it, even if it's probably the equivalent "don't worry, kids, ice cream has been delayed but right now we have sandwiches!" They're both food but one is a lot less fun.]
[Action, May 26th]
Yeah....
Why couldn't someone else do it?
[Action, May 26th]
[Fenimore doesn't actually think Norma is the best with languages around, even though it might be almost true for at least the people in Luceti, but she'll pretend she thinks so for the sake of the lie.]
[Action, May 26th]
[Norma is really, really smart....]
Just a week?
[Action, May 26th]
A few days more than a week at most. I promise. She doesn't want to be gone any longer than she has to.
[Action, May 26th]
[As long as Fenimore promises, she guesses that's all right.]
And then she's gonna stay.
[Right?]
[Action, May 26th]
And then she's going to stay. She'll want a nice, long rest after that much work.
[And even though she knows that Sophie isn't a big fan of it, she reaches down to ruffle her hair, because little kids sometimes don't get a proper say in what is done to them.]
[Action, May 26th]
And then, sounding as though she thinks she's being very subtle:] Blowing bubbles doesn't make you really tired, right?
[Action, May 26th]
She's not just blowing bubbles. Her mission is going to make her pretty tired -- like if you had to do homework all day.
[Action, May 26th] Guess who finally picked up a couple of extra spoons for backtags!
But she can blow bubbles when she comes home.