Meribia Mansion: Rabastan Needs Some Advice

[gorgonfondness]

Meribia, the city of freedom.

As such, Master Mel has an open door policy. Meribia Mansion has guards on standby, but they offer friendly smiles and invite others in.

But Meribia is a big city. And there are other people with inviting smiles, the lovely ladies at Ramus's shop. Thanks to Draco, it's one of the only shops around that offers Wizarding sweets...

Comments

[gorgonfondness]

"There's nothing like that here," Jess tries to reassure him. "You're in Meribia. You're safe. Nothing's going to take you."

[iambetadraconis]

"No. Is gone now. They sent it away. But..."

He swallows hard.

"Mind broke. Pieces in wrong. Can't fix it. Althena tried. Wolf won't let."

[gorgonfondness]

"Healing takes time... You'll be all right, Rabastan. You will."

"Hey Jess," Kyle says. "Think we should get him home before you get the others?"

She nods and steps back so Kyle can get Rabastan. With that decided, she heads back towards the mansion and the city gates, on her way to Vane.

"C'mon, pal. We're gonna make sure you get some rest. Jess'll be back soon."

[iambetadraconis]

He'd like to protest that, say that the disease of lycanthropy means healing is stunted, incomplete, but the rage left him extremely tired when it began to simmer down.

Getting to the mansion still standing on both feet is a miracle.

That comes undone when he slumps into the first chair he sees, all limp like a rag doll.

[gorgonfondness]

"Hey ladies, would you mind getting this guy some tea?" Kyle asks, waving down the closest maids once they're inside. "Whatever you guys fix when Mia and Draco come by'll be fine."

"Daddy?" asks a nearby Rachel, wandering around out of bed.

"What're you doing awake, pumpkin?" he asks his daughter, picking her up.

"You and Mommy were both gone."

"Well, Uncle Rabastan ain't feeling too good, so Mommy went to visit Auntie Mia and Uncle Draco. She'll be back soon."

"Okay," she says, trying to rub the sleep from her eyes so she can wait for her mother.

[iambetadraconis]

Hovering somewhere between sleep and awake, his exhausted brain conjures up images of the wolves he's seen in his dreams. Skinny. Black. Featureless human-like white heads. Vines.

They walk about the hall, weaving amongst the furniture. Crawling along the walls. Peeking out of doors.

He twitches. He growls. He bares his teeth. His hands curl like claws. He glares at the phantoms, eyes tracking their movements as if they were real. He thinks they are.

They come for him he'll fight back.

They won't dismember him this time.

[gorgonfondness]

Strong hands grab him by the wrists and a gentler hand is on his shoulder.

"Uncle? Uncle, what's happening?"

[iambetadraconis]

They won't take him this time!

He struggles, thinking the wolves have ensnared him again.

"Let me go LET ME GO LET ME GO!"

He thrashes.

"You won't kill me this time! I-I'll fight..."

[gorgonfondness]

"Rabastan."

Jessica has returned from putting Rachel to bed and is back on healing duty. Her voice is firm and maternal.

"We're not here to hurt you. We're your friends and family and we're here to keep you safe. Mia's holding on to your shoulder and Kyle has your hands. They're not going to let anything take you."

[iambetadraconis]

The wolves dematerialise. His mind isn't in that hallucinating state between conscious and unconscious.

But he is still tired.

"Dre— Dream— Was I dream— Ing?"

[gorgonfondness]

"That seemed to be the case," Jessica says.

The maids Kyle spoke to earlier show up with a pot of tea. He nods his thanks and, with a gesture of his head, silently asks Mia to take it.

"Things coming in clearer now?" he asks Rabastan.

[iambetadraconis]

Rabastan nods.

The faces are more distinct now.

And worried.

[gorgonfondness]

Kyle lets go of one of his wrists so Rabastan can take the tea Mia's offering.

[iambetadraconis]

Ah, that is a good tea. Very good.

There seems to be something in it though. Something that has the rage he was feeling in some form of containment.

The anger isn't gone; just held back. And tomorrow it will return.

A special calming brew. Just what was needed.

[gorgonfondness]

The next thing he'll likely feel is Kyle lifting him up again, ready to carry him to bed while Jessica quietly reassures Mia that they'll take care of him.

Time for some rest.

[iambetadraconis]

Rest. Yes.

Sleep is very good.