Dec 25 12:44:56 105 PA

From Chronicles

Tis mid afternoon and as the snow tumbles outside, the cool food of the Deli isn't very popular. Rasputin is the only one in the Deli at the moment. He is re-icing the display case and cleaning up to keep his place very shiney. He hums an old Russian song to himself as he works.

Joachim passes the deli once, walking along the streets somewhat cheerfully on this Christmas day, his robe pulled tight to the cold, and hat pulled low to the snow. Generically merry, he still frowns to himself, turning back and paying a bit more attention. Finally seeing the deli, he quickly steps inside, shaking off wet and offering a warm smile to Rasputin. "Hallo, how's it going?"

Rasputin looks up from his work, flips the towel over his short shoulder and hops up on the shelf he has in the back so he can see over the shelf, "Dobryj den', how is going?" He smiles.

Though not understanding the response entirely, Joachim takes it at a generic 'going well' response, offering a warmer smile right back. "Fairly well, really. Don't think I could stop from being happy today, if I tried," he chuckles slightly before continuing, "Figured I'd step in, see what you guys had to offer. I've heard a few people speaking rather highly of your shop," he says, stepping up to the counter.

Rasputin chuckles, "Da, da. That is Gooding to hear." He smiles broadly and tugs on his beard just slightly, "Mine heart warms to hear people say gooding things about mine Deli." He pauses a moment, "Whating are you looking for? Food to be eating now, or some order of meat, fish or fow?"

"Well, let's see" Joachim takes a moment to think it over. "Maybe both," he says with a grin, "First, though, I think I'll take something to eat here. What's the best thing that you make? Your favourite?" he asks with a smile.

Rasputin chuckles loudly, "One does not get to this shape, without have lots of favorites. Da!" He chuckles and tugs on his beard, "Are you wanting something warm or cold?"

Giving an appreciative chuckle at the joke, Joachim responds with, "Well, I suppose for today a warm thing might be in order, though really I might like both.. ." considering this for a moment, "Well, let's stick with warm, I guess. How's business going?"

Rasputin grins, "How would you be liking a hot Corn Hash sandwitch, on a nice dark rye? He smiles, "Business goes well, as always."

"Sounds wonderful." Joachim looks earnestly grateful for the individual attention, in spite of the fact that he's the only one there. "And I'm happy that you're turning a nice business. Hopefully I'll get to see why, shortly," he says with a wink, before changing subjects, "Oh, I always forget introductions, my name's Joachim, pleased to meet you," he extends a hand, not even thinking about that fact that Rasputin may well be occupied making the sandwich.

Rasputin has already set about making the sandwitch, he puts the entire thing a fairly warm grill. His back to you, "It is very nicing meeting you, da?" His hands work quickly and then he plates up the sandwitch after a moment, slices it in half, "Please be taking a seat," He gestures with his head towards a plate, "I be putting some chips on it as well," The chips appear to be large cut fried potatos, "I being Rasputin, and welcome to Yakov's Deli."

Joachim just pulls his hand back, rather happy despite, waiting patiently for the sandwich to be made, and taking the proffered seat. "Thank you very much," he manages, between bites, "It's quite good." With a warm smile, he gets absorbed in the food until it's three quarters done, at which point he asks, "So what's a man like you do in your off-time, or do you run such a busy shop that there's not any downtime to be had?"

Rasputin chuckles softly as he goes back behind the counter, "Da, would you be liking something to drink? Some tea perhaps? Or coffee?" He smiles, "As for my freeing time, I must be getting the good meat. So I work a lot of that, and sometimes I read. Why are you asking?" He looks back to you, tugging on his beard a bit."

With sandy brown hair just visible from under a large somewhat-battered cowboy hat, Joachim gives off an aura of trustworthiness, with a slight rural charm. He has fairly unremarkable features: with kind brown eyes with more creases than one might find normal for somebody his apparent age, his face not-entirely-unattractive, but worry worn.

"Just making conversation," Joachim admits, "I like getting to know people, and finding out new things. After all, that's how I found your shop," he says with a particularly warm smile, "Struck up a conversation, and somebody pointed me your way. A man can miss out on a lot of things if he doesn't get out and talk, and experience." He gives a slightly contented sigh, "And just a small glass would be fine, for now." Turning his gaze out the window, Joachim watches people huddling and hurrying against the freezing wind.

Rasputin pours up a pot of hot water, puts some tea in it. Then puts it, some sugar, and milk on a serving tray. he joins you this time, "Welling, you have been founding my Deli. Mind you be careful of the Dregs, you are dangeriously close to it. Many new peoples are not welcome there." He pours you a cup, and himself. He doesn't put milk or sugar in his, "Are you being new to the city, then?"

"The dregs don't bother me, so much. For the most part the rougher people leave me alone," Joachim gives a bit of a shrug. "I'll probably be heading over soon after, with several of your sandwiches actually." Giving a sheepish smile, "to feed and keep 'em warm over there. But, to answer your question, yeah, I'm pretty new. Came in a couple weeks ago, not entirely sure how long I'll be stayin', suppose it depends on what I find, and what finds me." At this last statement, he seems fairly accepting of the situation.

Rasputin nods slowly, as he sips his tea, "Well, welcome to the city then, da. It be surprising me that one so knew, be finding my Deli, da?" He chuckles and sips his tea again, "It be gooding buisness for me, da. So, you be liking your sandwitch then?"

"Ah, but that's a testament to just how good the sandwich was," Joachim says with a sly smirk, "Well, that and the highly advisable choice of me to talk to random people at great length," he says winking. "But yes, I may well be passing through here in order to pick up a few bulk items, so I'd say I may well pass a fair amount of business your way, perhaps."

Rasputin chuckles softly, "Da, that would be good. Though, net too much, da? I like my reading time every now and then." He tugs on his beard and smile, "So tell me, what having you seen outside of the city? Howing is the world?" He sips his tea a bit more, and pours himself another cup full.

At the question, Joachim grows slightly more somber, taking a long draught of the tea, finally. "Ah. It depends where you go, I suppose." His eyes glazing over, he shakes his head briefly, with another drink, "Some places are, quite simply, wonderful. The people are relatively safe, and everybody makes a decent living." Sip. "Others, though, everybody's poor, scraping out the most meager of existences, with injury and strife and ignorance." With another shake of the head, and a shrug of the shoulders, he finishes with, "Probably more of the latter than the former, but even there there's usually hope."

Rasputin nods slowly and tugs his beard, "Da, da. I haven't been far outside of the city lately, nor to any towns." He chuckles, "Da, just hunting in the wilderness." He smiles, "So, do you mind, I ask who be telling you about my deli, Da?"

Furrowing his eyebrows, Joachim thinks for a little bit, before shaking his head. "I wish I could remember the name," he looks a little sheepish about not remembering.

Rasputin chuckles softly, and sips a bit more tea, "Net, net. That being OK." He smiles a bit and just enjoys his tea on a quiet afternoon, "I be thinking this cold is keeping peoples in side, da. Or going to the more full resturants. But such is winter, da."

"It is entirely possible," he says, turning his attention back to the street. "I should likely be getting on my way. I've a lot to do, yet, before the sun starts setting and the fog rolls in," is said with a sigh. "It'd been nice talking to you, and certainly, I'll be back. And chance I could get four hot sandwiches, and a large container of tea, to go?"

Rasputin pops up and and quickly, and starts to make four more sandwitchs, and finds something for tea to go. "Well I can loan you a thermos, if you be promising to return it." He smiles as he packs up the sandwitches in a small box, "Da?" He puts a few paper cups in the larger box with the sandwitchs.

With a slightly clouded expression, Joachim responds with a bittersweet, "Da," before gathering the box, and paying Rasputin for all of it. "Thank you, once again. I hope you have a particularly nice night, Rasputin, and stay warm."

Rasputin nods and chuckles, "It be warm yet for my liking, da?" He chuckles softly, "Mother Russia's winters were cold, this is still Autum to me." He chuckles softly and rings you up and exchanges money, "You keep warming, yes?"

Joachim simply nods, taking the box with a final smile, and saying, "I'll certainly try," before ducking out of the store, and onto the street.

Rasputin waves to you, "Do svidanija!" He says as he goes back to work. Tags: joachim, rasputin