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]

Said students had been getting their training from Kyle.

"Hail Mel, Rabastan," the former thief turned hero calls, finishing his opponents. "Is it time to hit the Seagull Tavern?"

"Not until we can see what Rabastan can do," Mel says, narrowing his eyes at his son-in-law.

The beastman finds a foil and tosses it to the wizard.

[iambetadraconis]

Rabastan catches it. Barely.

What? That's what Accio is for. :I

Two more have stopped practising and are now listening in. Kyle's students seem to be taking wagers—

"I think I'm ready," he says, hoping he got the stance right. It's been a while since he last held a bladed weapon.

—not on who's going to win, but on how embarrassing the loss will be.

[gorgonfondness]

Kyle is apparently going to be his opponent, replacing his usual sword for a false practice one. Mel will be acting as observer.

(The beastman can wield a double-bladed axe single-handed. It just wouldn't be fair.)

"Better come at me," Kyle says. "Can't see the other way around turning out any good."

[iambetadraconis]

Wagers are adjusted, since someone thought Mel was going to deliver the humiliation.

Doesn't make it any less funny as Rabastan tries to shake off the rust when he does as instructed.

The opinion is unanimous: Rabastan is going to need his own Level Zero...

[gorgonfondness]

Kyle barely even moves.

"We all gotta start somewhere," he says. "Every night of drunken debauchery starts with a single sip."

Mel facepalms at the enthusiastic use of metaphor.

[iambetadraconis]

Nobody in the audience is facepalming. Some of them are doubled up with laughter.

Rabastan looks like he's had lessons all right, but it's clear to everyone those lessons were not recent, as the count of novice mistakes made goes up.


Give him a break, lads? He's trying at least? D:

[gorgonfondness]

"You're not too bad," Kyle says, hoping to be encouraging. "Believe me on that. I've seen guys who think they know more hold the wrong end of the sword."

And then: "C'mon, let's go get a beer."

[iambetadraconis]

Rabastan smiles. And someone might've lost a bet.

Wrinkling his nose at how aromatic he's become he whips out his wand and cleans off before grabbing the semi-cape.

"Beer sounds good."

[gorgonfondness]

Bah, that's the smell of being a man!

"Keep an eye on him, would you Rabastan?" Mel asks. "Or Jessica will be out after him."

[iambetadraconis]

Yeah and his senses are keener now, so stay downwind.

"I don't think that'll be a problem with me around to deflect attention."

Maybe he is getting to like the idea?

[gorgonfondness]

"Well, look who thinks he's pretty," Kyle says as they make their way out into the city.

[iambetadraconis]

"What? Me? Well, It's not too bad. I mean, the changes."

Fluster.

Meanwhile, few yards off a trio of young women are smiling at them. The youngest whispers to her friends, "The skinny one isn't too bad", which Rabastan is surprised he can hear.

"I may not be the only one who approves."

[gorgonfondness]

"I guess the ladies like the skinny look now."

Kyle figures there's some portion of the population attracted to the skinny wizards. How else do they make more skinny wizards, after all?

The cool spray of the ocean blows near them as they approach the Seagull Tavern. Once they open the door, they hear the previously-contained raucous celebration and are greeted by one of the bunny waitresses.

"Hey hun, hey stud," she greets them. "What can we do for you?"

[iambetadraconis]

It's possible that some people are, though the rest of the Lestrange clan was not nearly this thin. Rodolphus himself had a beater's build, just like their father. And mother would be what TV Tropes calls "Hollywood pudgy".

Only the youngest, and these days it's down to a hyper metabolism.

Rabastan turns a little pink when the waitress gives him a wink.

"Have they managed to introduce Meribia to the joys of fish and chips yet?"

[gorgonfondness]

"Oh yeah, you're Master Draco's uncle, aren'tcha? We'll fix you right up, sug. And you, Master Kyle?"

"The same and a mug of your finest, sweet thing," Kyle says with a wink himself.

The waitress turns and goes to put their order in, hips swaying to and fro and bunny tail begging for attention.

[iambetadraconis]

Which it most clearly is getting.

So of course he starts when a young lady [he figures she's close to 30] taps him on the shoulder with a "Mind if I join you, sirs?"

"Oh. Um. Sure. I don't mind. You, Kyle?"

[gorgonfondness]

"Y'know, that's probably safer than me sitting by myself," Kyle says, gesturing for the woman to join them. "Now if Jessica shows up, this turns into a double date. That's our cover story, got it?"

[iambetadraconis]

The lady is leaning against Rabastan, hooking one arm through his.

"Of course, sirs. I was thinking of asking this one out anyways." Wink.

Rabastan is just too stunned for words.

[gorgonfondness]

"Wow. They're just throwin' themselves at ya, pal," Kyle says over his beer.

[iambetadraconis]

"Aren't they just?" he muses as his now-date shuffles the chair over to make it easier to lean in on. "I don't think you'll need to worry about Jessi— Ow!" Pause. "Did you just pinch me?"

"Just checking to see if there's any meat on your bones."

[gorgonfondness]

Kyle has a good laugh at that and goes, "We're working on that. Can't promise he'll be as muscular as me though, honey bunch, but I got a feeling that won't bother you."

[iambetadraconis]

"Oh no; not at all," the woman says huskily and with promise. "I like 'em lean and limber. More flexible, y'see. "

The room just got a lot warmer, as a buzzing starts in his ears.

[gorgonfondness]

"I'm getting less worried about what'll happen to me and more worried about what'll happen if I leave you kids alone."

[iambetadraconis]

...the buzzing isn't going away...

"What, you think little ol' me would hurt your friend?" She bats her eyes. "I wouldn't hurt a soul." Leaning in, she adds, "I'm Elea. What's your name, darling?"

Miraculously, he manages to say it.

[gorgonfondness]

"I'm sure you'll be gentle as a lamb with Rabastan, honeybomb," Kyle says, taking a healthy swig of beer.