3
“You went on a date with Sirius Black?” Philip looked at him, flabbergasted.
Rabastan laughed “kind of sounds like it was a date right? I mean Sirius is attractive enough to date-"
Philip snorted "he is quite handsome, I had a little crush on him myself at Hogwarts...as did half the school"
"he's somehow better looking than before. But no, it wasn’t a date. We got stuck in an elevator and then he introduced me to egg salad sandwiches and a delightful little muggle dessert called a donut! I think they’re American”
“So you got stuck in an elevator and now you like muggle desserts?” Philip smiled at him over his glass of whiskey
“Well Dolph and I have already found ourselves loving muggle breweries so really muggle desserts was the next step” Philip laughed outright at that.
“Ah yes, tell me about the newest properties you’ve acquired in northern Ireland. I think I’m going to partner with you all on the next set. Perhaps if we buy up a whole neighborhood somewhere we can make a small new wizarding district for vacationing…I’m thinking we all need somewhere warm to hide out that’s entirely new" he set his glass aside "I have so many ideas”
Rabastan summoned a footstool from the sofa area and settled in. He'd only been at Philip's house for a few hours and he already felt lighter. He made a mental note to not get so caught up in their usual conversations that he forgot to talk to him about Esmae.
When Rabastan finally made it back to England he felt great. A few days with Philip and his husband and then a full week of warding had done him some good.
He walked into his father’s study with a quick knock at the door, the door was partially opened so he didn’t worry too much about bothering him
“Ah Rabastan, I felt you come home last night through the wards. How was France?”
He caught up with his father on his trip and his work quickly “but there was something I wished to speak to you about, is there a way we could hold off on announcing my pending nuptials with Esmae for a bit?”
“Are you having second thoughts son?”
His father looked disappointed and Rabastan felt a bit flush
“Its okay if you are but I need to know what you’re thinking”
“Well after some thought and a few conversations with Philip I think I'd like to go on a few dates with her if possible. Just kind of get to know her a little bit better before we begin navigating what follows the announcement of our intent to marry. Or really the intent of our families to have us marry”
His father looked at him thoughtfully, he immediately thought about the last time someone tried to figure out what was going on in his head this way and held back a smile as he thought of Sirius’ antics.
“Alright, I will speak to Bellatrix on your behalf. But whatever it is that you need or want I need you to start figuring it out Rabastan. I will not allow you to continue to bed hop as you have been especially since you always come out so disappointed that you somehow haven't fallen in love. If you want to find something meaningful you’re going to have to get serious.”
“I know father. You’re right, it’s exactly why I’d like to go on a few dates with Esmae before anything is announced”
“Your brother had suggested going to dinner with her previously and you had shrugged him off, I'm glad to see you’ve come to your senses”
He nodded slightly and Rabastan knew he was dismissed.
He went off to find his brother, maybe he’d take him to that muggle restaurant Sirius had suggested. He said he had a great time there with his friend Moony.
Rabastan scoffed, Moony, he needed to know where that nickname came from.
He also lightly wondered if Sirius had any nicknames of his own.
Sirius,
I hope this letter finds you well. I'm sure you’re surprised I'm writing to you but I wanted to take a moment to thank you.
My brother and I went to Mulberry Chophouse on your suggestion last night. He was apprehensive considering it was a muggle establishment but I assured him it came highly recommended. You were right, it was excellent.
Thank you for the suggestion.
Sincerely,
Rabastan Lestrange
He sent off the letter with his trusted brown barn owl and idly wondered if Sirius had tried anywhere new. He should’ve enquired in his letter. Perhaps next time he has lunch with his father he’d wander down to see Sirius again. He really did enjoy the food at The Mellow Bistro maybe he should ask to be taken there again. He’d need to be more familiar with the area before he ventured there with his brother.
He was reading a new muggle novel that he had picked up in France, a guilty pleasure of his that he hadn’t mentioned to anyone in his family yet. When his owl came back with a response. He found himself excited at the possibility of discovering new muggle establishments with Sirius. He didn’t have many friends that were all his own, ones that he didn’t share with his brother and Lucius, so this would be something he’d get to enjoy and share with them on his own terms.
He gently untied Sirius’ letter and found himself excited to begin reading.
Rabastan!
I’m so glad you enjoyed yourselves, also I really would love to see dear Rodolphus in a muggle restaurant, is it as funny as I’m picturing it in my head? Tell me, has my dear cousin Bellatrix been to a muggle restaurant? I can’t imagine she’d enjoy herself. I can’t really imagine her enjoying anything but perhaps torturing puppies.
(Rabastan snorted, he loved his sister in law but she really was kind of a headcase)
Dorcas and I wandered into The Gilded Swan we had been patrolling in the area and decided to have dinner before we went home. I ordered their duck at your suggestion and he had the lamb. Neither of us were that impressed. It was good, but considering the price we’ve had better. Also the ambiance leaves much to be desired. If I wanted to hang around with a bunch of rich snooty purebloods I'd just write to you. Kidding of course.
This weekend my friends and I ventured back to a place Lily enjoyed while she was pregnant, it’s just a small restaurant near where she grew up and it was somehow better than I remembered. I had one too many margaritas and let's just say this morning at work was painful. It was my turn to duel with the newbies for training and they’re lucky that I didn't vomit on their shoes.
Anyhow, if you guys would like to try it you’d have to dress much more casually muggle than you’re used to but I highly recommend Casa Lupita’s . They serve Mexican food. Have you had that before?
Feel free to send any and all food/drink suggestions back at any time.
Sirius
Mexican food? Like from Mexico? Rabastan found himself intrigued. He wasn’t sure how to dress more casually muggle, perhaps like the actual muggles dressed at the breweries he and his brother sometimes ventured into? He shuddered, like he'd ever buy himself flannel shirts. If he wanted to try Mexican food he’d have to have Sirius take him the first time, he wouldn’t even know what to order. He just had no idea how to ask Sirius to take him.
Rabastan didn’t even notice that he was much more excited to be maybe possibly going to try Mexican food with Sirius Black than he was to go on a date with his sort-of fiancé.