Aug 22 09:40:05 109 PA - Hunting Lots of Dinosaurs and Fixing Canes
From Chronicles
Aug 22 09:40:05 109 PA.
YAKOV'S DELI
Rasputin is sitting at his usual table, as he does late in the evening. He sits going over a few papers, and hand writing notes into his large note book. No one else, is, of course in the Deli at this late hour of midnight.
The door opens, and despite the late hour Pavel steps through the door smiling - and talking to Anya, who is dressed upscale-casual, as he is. Something that might suggest they've just come from another event. After making sure the door closed behind them, Pavel leads his girl over toward the dwarf, softly calling in their mutually shared tongue, << Rasputin, it's late and you're up again! >>
Rasputin doesn't look up up as the door opens and the words of his homeland flow over him. He smiles that wide grin, in Russian he says, "Well, someone has to tally up the sales of meat, hide and bone. And others, " he looks up and tugs his beard, "Take delightful creatures out on the town to enjoy the night life."
Anya flutters her eyelids for Rasputin, but doesn't blush. Only offers a sweet appreciation as Pavel guides her to a chair. As for himself, the big smith takes an adjacent chair. << Yes, yes. Lady Luck opened today. I don't really go there, but Fizzlesnoot is a friend, and it would have been rude to stay away. You got those giant lizards all cut up? You must have had a pile large enough to fill your whole kitchen. >>
Rasputin smiles, and in Russian says, "Well, I unloaded a lot of it onto the market, couldn't hold that much meat around." He tugs his beard and continues in Russian, "With the refugees I sold as much as I could, as quickly. To get the food on the market, we will see if it does any good." He sighs and shakes his head. He pulls out a credit stick, and slides it across the table. He keeps his finger on it for the moment.
Pavel nods, listening, but not entirely up on current events. << Refugees, from the war up north? I haven't heard of any of them here, their compound's just south of here, right? >> He turns and gazes out the window, as if he could see that far, through obstacles and in the dead of night. << Have they let the city know that they're coming? >> Anya tacks on a very hopeful, << There are survivors? >>
Rasputin nods slowly and says in Russian, "Yes, these are those who have survived the war. Making their way here, well anywhere to get out of the path of the CS." He shrugs a bit and continues in Russian, "So, this is your cut, it isn't exactly what we discussed, see what you think." Rasputin still, keeping his finger on it until you take it.
Pavel's eyebrow raises, and he just looks at the stick for a little while, as he's never been one in the habit of taking things without them being directly handed over and made blatantly obvious that someone wants him to have it. In the end, with a minor roll of her eyes - visible to all - Anya accepts it with another big of quiet gratitude, and hands it to the smith. The number on it is clearly a surprise. << Oh. Wow, you did do well. Either lots of meat, or the market was good. >> Shakes the stick lightly, << Or maybe both? >>
Rasputin says in Russian, "Some yes, some I knew the correct people to speak to regarding this." He thinks about this a bit longer and says in Russian, "So, Gabriel has asked me to think about doing more hunting trips. Though he is asking for a large number of trips, or large amount of food." He shakes his head, "I don't know if the Cherokee would appreciate that."
The smith thinks on that for a while. << They took my small blade. Perhaps they would be willing to trade hunting rights for tools? I think that my tools are still stronger than that strange wood of theirs. It's not technological, so they can't complain about that. But it's only a thought, >> Pavel says. << I make many things every day that aren't weapons. You know this, I barely make weapons, comparatively. Nails, horseshoes, shovels and saws... things that they need, maybe? Or if they didn't ask too much, things that they could trade outside, like what our guide said they did? >> His tone is both hopeful and unsure, though he does hold up the cred stick. << Thank you very much for this. I'm going to buy another horse. >>
Rasputin tugs his beard and says in Russian, "I don't know. I'm curious about heading back there somehow to speak with them a little bit. Though, I don't know. It will take so much more food than I think my little means can accomplish," Rasputin quirks a strange grin for a moment, then says softly in Russian, "Though, if I could figure it out, it might make a small fortune."
Pavel shakes his head with amusement. << A philanthropist with a heart for money, Rasputin. Very strange combination. >> The smith's own penchant for not worrying about money spills into the conversation with a little glee, Anya giving him an 'oh stop' slap on the shoulder. << I would be happy to help in any way I can, my friend. But I'm not a real hunter, though it did work out well. Not a big merchant either, but at least I could supply tools to the tribe. Or... I guess, to the refugees. >> He smiles a bit, shrugging off, << The cost to me is minimal. But I guess food is a problem. Do Cherokee need anything in particular? >>
Rasputin shrugs and says in Russian, "I don't know. I'll have to head back out there and find out. Though, I can get there and have the maps I need. But of course, I don't have a vehicle unless I rent it. I'll have to fix that at some point I guess."
<< I could go with you. They seemed to like me well enough, at least, when I was being nice, >> Pavel says with a hard wink. << How much would a cheap truck go for? Or something else. >> Anya whispers something into his ear, and he chuckles, patting the top of her head. << Or, we could put you in a wagon, hook it up to Zoyenka and travel by horse! >>
Rasputin shakes his head and says in Russian, "No, with everything going on, the slower I go the more dangerous it would end up being. Perhaps I should invest some of the profit of my cut, and just go out quickly again. See if what they need, and make some arrangements."
Pavel shakes the stick. << I would help, if the truck is expensive. I appreciate the money that you pay me, but I've told you that I don't have such a great need for it as most people do. If it would help out people who need food, I would be happy to help pay for a truck. We could split the costs, and use it when we needed it. >> He becomes slightly more quiet, saying, << That's only a thought, of course. You're the one who knows business. >>
Rasputin shrugs a bit, and thinks a bit. In Russian he says, "Well, I don't even know if the various places I rent from could rent me a vehicle large enough to move the amount of food they want. He was talking about about three times what we got, and every week." He shakes his head, "Just so much dino meat."
Pavel is very quiet, not being in the business of meat. Anya offers, << Something is better than nothing? >> But Pavel can only shrug, unsure. << If you can think of a way that I can help, just let me know, Rasputin. I wish that I could come up with something brilliant to help with, but I've barely even heard of Gabriel. I guess we just don't run in the same circles, as they say. Maybe.. would it be good to buy many small trucks rather than one big one? >> He's clearly unsure of himself, but he's trying to help.
Rasputin shakes his head, his Russian flows, "More smaller trucks mean more noise, da? But of course, if you have one truck, all of your eggs are in the same basket, so to speak. And more smaller trucks mean less chance nothing will get through." he tugs his beard, "Well, Gabriel is an odd one. But, I think he is meaning well, though one never knows." He shrugs a bit and looks down at his papers, maps, and the like.
Pavel waits for a little while, waiting to hear more information, but it doesn't come. The cred stick is tucked away inside the little pouch that he uses as a wallet, and Anya's hand receives a little tap. << You look and sound like a man ready to go to sleep and think about problems some more. Problems that I don't have any further suggestions on, I'm afraid. >>
Rasputin chuckles and shakes his head, his Russian words say, "Well, it isn't a problem that will solve its self over night. And, I don't even know how much I can assist with this number of refugees or not. But we will see how it goes, my people got here and we made it. I don't see why these ones can't do it as well, even if there are 100 times as many."
<< I hope there wouldn't be that many, >> Pavel says with a worrisome tone. << Or, I guess I should. A bad situation for everyone. At least now we know a good strategy for taking down the big dinosaurs, right? >>
Rasputin tugs his beard and chuckles, "Da, da." Rasputin shakes his head and says in Russian, "Well, I've heard there are even larger ones. And, what if all seven had come at us?" He shakes his head, "Or what if a T-Rex showed up while we were cutting up the fallen ones. I can only cut and clean so fast." He pauses and snaps his fingers, "Da, so I owe you for those canes, da? Or was it da knives?" He shakes his head, "I should be able to pay you this time, da. How much do I owe you?" Pavel takes a moment to think back over a rather long period of time. << I think that for those two canes of yours, to plate them in gold and silver, and to have them engraved like you wanted, we had agreed on seventy-thousand, total? Does that sound right? I can't think of any knives right now. Though I think I also said that if the materials and other costs were lower, I'd give you back some money. Because that's a lot, I know, and I never try to screw over anyone. >>
Rasputin nods slowly and thinks, and replies in Russian, "Da, well, I could be giving you half now. I don't want to wipe myself out right away. Would that be OK?"
Pavel smiles, << That would be just fine. In fact, with the money you gave me, I can spend it myself, then tell you how much it is when I'm done. No more than seventy-thousand, but I don't think it will get nearly that high. But, it makes it simple, doesn't it? >>
Rasputin shakes his head, "Net, net." He smiles, and says in Russian, "That is for your work hunting down dino's." He takes a moment, and pulls out another credit reader, and a stick. He changes some credits over, "Here, take this."
Pavel takes the stick without complaint or hesitation this time, seeing that arguing money is pointless. << I'll get on the canes tomorrow, Rasputin. I'll need to visit the precious metal dealers first, but I'll get started right away. Give me a week perhaps, to do a very good job on them. Sound good? >>
Rasputin nods slowly and says in Russian, "Da, well considering my current income and projects coming up, if I need to wait for it to cost less, that would be fine." He grins, "I have to keep a hold of my pennies, but at the same time pay my debts."
Pavel grins. << I'll see what I can do. Trouble is that even a very light plating of precious metals on a full cane can get surprisingly expensive, and that's just the cost of purchasing the materials. >> He thinks for a moment. << Gold handles, silver tip, fifty-fifty gold and silver shaft, filling in the engravings? Am I forgetting anything? >>
Rasputin shakes his head, "Net, dhat sounds about right." He tugs his beard, "Though the shaft is just the inlay, not solid silver and gold, da?
<< Just the plating and inlay. It's already solid bone, right? >> Pavel looks a little dubious. << A wrap of gold and silver, with the engravings filled in exactly as already cut? >>
Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, da. That's it exactly."
<< Good! Then I should be getting the little lady home, and getting home myself, >> Pavel says with a nod to the door. Anya offers more gracious words for their time, and the two of them vanish into the night rather abruptly.
Rasputin shakes his head and mutters to himself, then goes back to reviewing the papers and maps.
