Cleaned out. Stripped bare.

[nick_garou]

Had a chat with Slug before I headed out in the Suburban. I figure if we're fixing one garou, why not see about fixing two? So I told Slug what my plan was. He seemed to initially think I might be more powerful than Pavel, but I told him it was the opposite way around. He wanted to know who'd win in a fight. I said it'd likely be whoever got off the first shot: I could incinerate him and he could liquefy me. Slug said that I'd lose because I'd hesitate before killing. I hate to admit it, but he's right. I would. I'd probably die. Not to mention that Pavel's understanding of magick is greater than mine and we'd be in his sanctum. So... there's all that.

But I'm hoping there's no need for a fight. Pavel's a capitalist. A mercenary. A trader. I think he'll deal.

Probably.

I had the 20 hour trip to the Colorado desert, and the 2-hour off-road drive to Pavel's cave, to think about it.

After being welcomed in, we spent some time chatting, catching up with various projects we'd each been working on. When there was a lull and the time seemed ripe, I was about to broach the subject about healing the garou when he just straight out asked what I wanted.

"Would you heal someone and modify their age?"

"You know I can. Except for what was done to you, which extends beyond the scope of Life. Why?"

"Could you heal one of the werewolves?"

"Certainly. Or destroy one utterly. Why?"

"A friend of mine has extensive wounds and was recently de-aged while in the spirit world."

"You keep dangerous company. The wolves are dangerous. Unpredictable. And fast. Best to stay away from them completely. Kill them from afar. Never let them see you for what you are."

"I know. Would you do it, though? And what would it cost?"

"What do you offer?"

"15 units of tass."

"30. And the wolf's tail."

"20. No tail."

"You clearly are not willing to negotiate."

"The talisman I bought from you. The cougar claw ring."

"And 20 tass."

"15."

"Deal."

"What if there were two wolves to heal, not just one?"

"You have another talisman you bought from me, yes? The one that lets you pass into and out of the spirit world."

"15 tass?"

"The talisman and the second wolf's tail."

"No tails. 5 tass and the talisman."

"10."

"Deal."

I've got three expendable tass left, and I just traded away both of my talismans. Pavel drives a damn hard bargain. We hashed out the additional details. I deliver the garou unconscious and without their knowledge of where they are or where they are going. Pavel doesn't want them finding their way back or others tracking him down to his abode. I frankly can't blame him, and he's wary of the fact that I have established friendships with not just one but two werewolves. (If only he knew how many others there were.) If Slug or Salem wake up or pull any funny business, Pavel explained--in detail--the unpleasant deaths they--and then I--would experience. He really does not trust the garou. That explains the steep price for this. (The additional precautions just make good sense, even to me.)

We're shooting for the waning crescent moon to do this, with a backup of the waxing crescent moon, to accommodate both Slug and Salem's respective auspices and do this when their Rage is low. Made a call to Salem to let him know there's a plan in motion. He seems pleased.

Good.

Then I started working with Pavel on his new project--repairing the crack in the cat's eye marble talisman that I'd just traded him. He's already got a buyer in mind and a profit to make. The guy has contacts. Serious contacts. Getting to work with Pavel doing this repair work? Interesting. There's subtleties with certain aspects of Prime that I'd been ignorant of before. I wonder if I can apply this to the new lightsaber I've been working on?