(no subject)

[iambetadraconis]

For the first time in a fortnight Rabastan's feeling good. He's finally on the mend, and, if his appetite is anything to go by, he's almost completely healed.

Right now he's polishing off the carb-counter's special—his third helping in the last half-hour—and has the look on his face that says he'd like some more. But there doesn't appear to be any more, and the rats who are serving him aren't about to take his order for a fourth helping.

That means, if he wants food, he's going to have to get it himself.

And Rabastan can be quite impatient sometimes, and when the mood strikes him, he'll Gryffindorishly run off to take care of whatever it is he feels is too pressing to wait for.

A strange habit for a Slytherin, but what can you do?

At any rate, he's heading up to the main bar, wobbling slightly and dressed in standard patient's garb, complete with those slippers they give you for your feet.

He's still hungry. Maybe there's something upstairs he can help himself to...?

Comments

[asar-suti.livejournal.com]

Asar-Suti was coming down to finally see Strahan's friend, and encountered him halfway.

"Oh, Rabastan," he said, looking at the slippers the man was wearing, "I didn't know you were already up. I came to see you."

[iambetadraconis]

He frowns at the sight of the Seker. Asar-Suti was not the ... man? person? something? he intended to meet on his way up to the dining area of the bar.

"Did you?" he says, not sure what track to take. "Are you sure you came to visit me?"

Not many people do, he seems to be saying.

[asar-suti.livejournal.com]

"No, I came to play with the machine that goes 'bing', of course!" Asar-Suti groaned. "Yes I did! I know what I am doing. Well, most of the time."

He grinned, thinking of situations when he'd been totally made to forget.

[iambetadraconis]

The gods don't always know what they're doing?

He gives Asar-Suti a slightly sceptical look. Since when did the Cheysuli god of the netherworld come seeking out people like Rabastan?

Maybe it was the depression that was starting to set in that was talking.

Or doubt.

Or...

"I'm going to get some nosh from the bar. The rats are being stingy with the food."

He stands a little too stiffly, as though he's using his own body to brace himself and to keep himself vertical.

[asar-suti.livejournal.com]

"Not good," Asar-Suti said. "You look like death warmed over; you even look as if one of my Ihlini had had a serious go at you in cold intention. If you want more to eat, I'll tell the rats to be sensible; I'll call my favourite young rats and tell them to get you what you want. Let us go back to the infirmary, shall we?"

[iambetadraconis]

One did have a go at him. Strahan had already planted the first seeds; what was left was to put on the finishing touched and set the trap-link to ensure that Rabastan's mind belonged to the sorcerer.

"I'd rather go to the bar," he says, already three shades paler than he was last minute. "I'm spiffing. Really, I am."

[asar-suti.livejournal.com]

"Yes, spiffing all over the place like a teddy bear that's losing its stuffing," Asar-Suti laughed. "Come, turn around and let the rats get you food; I'd like to talk to you in private, anyway. Just as one mage to another; I'm not going to try and pull divine rank on you."

[iambetadraconis]

"Talk? About what?" he asks as he looks for a way around the Seker. "What would you want to talk to me about?"

He has reason to be aprehensive—their first conversations had not gone well.

[asar-suti.livejournal.com]

"I owe you my help," Asar-Suti said, "as this happened to you because you were taking my Strahan to safety. Whatever I can do for you, I will."

[iambetadraconis]

He's craning his neck now, peering over the Seker's shoulders. Dammit why is everyone he meets taller than he is?

Rabastan pales again. Merlin he did not want to be reminded of the ... incident ... and here was Asar-Suti, giving Rabastan a salt bath for his wounds.

—Eyes flash yellow for a moment—

"I think there's a place to talk in private," he says, resigned. "And you can tell me what help you wish to give me."

[asar-suti.livejournal.com]

Doubtlessly, poor Rabastan was in a truly bad way. Asar-Suti realised he had to take himself down a notch or two, being as gentle as possible to him.

"Before I can give you help," he said, walking back towards the infirmary with Rabastan, "I need to know which help you need. 'Here is my help, whether you need it or not' is a very arrogant and unhelpful attitude."

[iambetadraconis]

Helped along by the fact that the tarot cards were unsuccessful in talking to him about what Asar-Suti and Strahan had said behind his back. You just can't hold much of a quality conversation when the one you're talking to is somewhat comatose.

Doesn't stop some people though.

He looks about for a private room, and someone [conveniently placed of course] points in the direction of just such a room.

"I need a lot of help. The question is one of 'what sort of help can you offer me?'" He opens the door so they both can go inside. "If it's turning back the clock I'm afraid no one can do that. Even time turners can't go back two weeks in time."

[asar-suti.livejournal.com]

Asar-Suti sighed, and looked up at Rabastan as he sat. Rarely did he find a human slighter and smaller than this his skinny, geeky, big-nosed orginal shape he'd had as a magician's apprentice, before delusions of grandeur took him, so he ended up a self-apotheosised god.

"I can offer you practical help, magical help, the help of a friend of mine who knows much about potions, the help fond from books, and the experience of a shape-shifter from a world of shape-shifter," Asar-Suti enumerated.

[seker-pride.livejournal.com]

He's been looking for the Seker all day. But he wasn't in the bar.

Asar-Suti was in the infirmary, or had gone that way, once Strahan lowered himself to ask someone if they'd seen the slightly purple god or not, and as that's where Rabastan also was, he'd headed down to meet them.

To be told that the two were having a private meeting, and that he should wait.

He would too, being the patient sort, but when the mood's on him he can become impatient and demanding.

And so he knocks on the door to the room the god and wizard are ensconsed in, hoping they'll either let him in or they'll come out.

[asar-suti.livejournal.com]

From in there, there was a crash as a startled Rabastan dropped his plate at the knock.

Asar-Suti stuck his head out of the door. "Who in blazes - oh. Strahan."

[iambetadraconis]

Rabastan is currently mourning his plate of food—he was in the middle of a nice chicken breast when the knock came. And although the plate didn't break, it did send the rats scurrying out of the door for a moment.

"Strahan?" he inquires. "What are you doing here?"

[seker-pride.livejournal.com]

"I came looking for the Seker, to see where he was and, with him, come to see you."

He sees the Seker. It doesn't look like he appreciated the interruption much.

"I see he has decided not to wait and has instead gone without me."

[asar-suti.livejournal.com]

Asar-Suti was not going to fight with Strahan in front of Rabastan. Simply not.

"We just spoke of you," he said lightly. "Rabastan is basically interested in what we have to offer, and in doing that piece of magic with both of us."

[iambetadraconis]

"What magic—? Oh."

How quickly he forgot!

"Asar-Suti? That's your name right? Asar-Suti said he was going to create a crystal that would allow me to change into a wolf at will. And you were going to help him make it."

[seker-pride.livejournal.com]

Strahan watches as Rabastan looks from him to the god and back again as he queries about names.

"Aye, that is his name."

He flicks his gaze to the god whose name was somewhat in doubt.

"What is this about a crystal?"

[asar-suti.livejournal.com]

"To bind up his shapes in, as I told you?" Asar-Suti said. He was sure he had mentioned something like that. "Like I did with Eddie, the plane?"

[iambetadraconis]

Rabastan looks at Strahan hopefully until he notices that the sorcerer's expression is still one of mild confusion, and his expression changes to worry.

"You don't know what these crystals are? You don't know how to make one?"

Rabastan looks decidedly crestfallen, though he's not sure why he should feel this way.

"They're like those ice shards Námo made for me—I still have them too—but it would control my wolf body, allow me to change outside a full moon."

[seker-pride.livejournal.com]

Strahan's never heard of those, and immediately his intrest was piqued.

An object made by a god that presumably allows the user to shift shape...

"I do not remember Eddie, but I believe I could make one of these crystals."

He thinks on it a moment. The ice shards have his attention, but he doesn't show it.

"It cannot be too hard to make, and if it is, well, there are ways to learn."

Thinking of the shards.

[asar-suti.livejournal.com]

"We will do that together, my dear Strahan," Asar-Suti said. "I have added much to our old science of the lifestones since I came here and started working with different magical traditions."

[iambetadraconis]

"Such as?" Rabastan asks, curious. "You mean these lifestones can be used to allow someone to shift shape?"

Now he's giddy.

Despite being a man who becomes a wolf during full moons.