Jun 14 00:26:35 109 PA - Checking on a Concern

From Chronicles

Jun 14 00:26:35 109 PA.

YAKOV'S DELI

Pavel finds himself at the door to the deli just minutes after midnight, and as such, he does nothing more than knock and pull on the handle a few times.

Of course there are lights on in the small deli, as there is a lone figure hunched over a table, looking over a few sets of notebooks. There is a lovely aroma smell of coffee in the air, and a small pot is on the table with Rasputin. He sips occasionally from the cup next to the pot. His hair is a little out of place, as there are a few marks on his face in black pen. He has a pencil in one hand and a pen in the other. Softly, Russian mutterings about calculations and figures can be heard coming from him. He is of course, the only individual in the deli at this time.

Pavel's pulling on the handle surprises him a little, as it opens far more easily than he'd expected. Because it wasn't locked. His head is poked in, quickly followed by his body. As there's no one else around to greet, he just begins to make his way over to the resident dwarf, mage and proprietor, happy that he can speak in his native tongue. << Rasputin! I'm here to interrupt you! >> He chuckles and approaches.

Rasputin doesn't look up, just flips his fingers, and a sturdy chair slides opposite him. He says, in Russian, "Da, need something to drink before you are interrupting?" He flips a page, and makes a few notes in the medium notebook.

<< Thank you, no. I just came from a friend's place in Little Russia. >> Pavel seats himself, and is then quiet, not wanting to interrupt any further. He's here, and he's not in a hurry.

Rasputin nods slowly, and finishes what he is writing down his notes into his notebook. He looks up and smiles, "Dhough, what is on your mind dis evenink?" He sets down the pencil and pen to give you the undivided attention.

The smith smiles, but only thinly. << I need to ask you some very important questions. You're part of the 'school' that Valeriya teaches at the hall near Little Russia, yes? Who exactly is in the school? >> Pavel's brow arches, and he waits quietly.

Rasputin shakes his head, "Net," He says with a blank expression on his face, and in Russian, "I've heard about it a few times, but have not had the time to really investigate it further. I'm very protective of who gets a hold of my magiks."

Pavel nods deeply, clearly taking this very seriously. << As am I, of mine. Not that they could use it.. but people ask me to use it, and I have made a past mistake which, well, it doesn't matter. What can you tell me about it? Valeriya has asked... practically begged... threatened with kind words, perhaps... that I make something for her, which right now I would not trust her with. >>

Rasputin tugs his beard, "I don't know much honestly. It seems just some sort of collaborative group of magiks users or some such. But dhats all I know." He nods slowly, "But you have also had misgivings regarding Valeriya. She has a quality about her dwich is unnerving."

<< Yes, yes. Please, tell me what you find unnerving. I need information without any bias that I might add. >> Pavel leans forward a bit, spectacularly interested in the fact that someone he trusts has misgivings about someone he already does. The coffee smell is starting to get to him a little, as indicated by twitching nose, but he remains on subject.

Rasputin nods slowly, "Valeriya seems a little too focused on profit and not on well being." He thinks a few moments,"Dhough, I've only had dealings with her to pay off another's debt." He thinks a few minutes, "Dis hard to make a conclusion on such limited interaction."

Pavel nods. << She was the first person I met in this city, when I was still pulling my things around on a metal door with a chain around my shoulders. The first thing that she did was try to steal my things. She's obviously very powerful, but I get the feeling that she does things... for Valeriya. If something doesn't benefit Valeriya, then Valeriya doesn't do it. If Valeriya can threaten someone to get something for Valeriya, Valeriya will do it. If there is power to be gained even simply for the sake of gaining power, Valeriya would do it. >> He stops and scratches at his forearm before asking, << Would you agree with this? In whole or in part? >>

Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, this is the idea I've gotten myself. Though, I can't wrong someone totally for wanting to look after their selves. Though, sometimes one must look beyond one's self." He shrugs, "Though this world can make one very selfish and harsh to all around you."

<< I see. I suppose I need to ask you about magic then. My powers are very specific, I'm not a scholar on the subject like you are. What happens when a human-sized, humanoid statue is carved and molded out of pure iron, then given a heart wrapped around a large diamond. Then an elemental gives it life. I don't even know what an elemental is, but none of it sounds good, and it certainly doesn't sound like something that you'd go to the trouble to create to handle mundane tasks and housekeeping. >> Pavel shrugs, admitting, << Though as I said, I don't know. >>

Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, da. That is a fairly powerful spell which is used to make a creature called a Golem," He tugs his beard, "Its use is more of as a solider than a house keeper, but I suppose it would make a great housekeeper as well." He chuckles a bit.

Pavel sighs a little, but actually looks relieved at what is likely bad news. An odd reaction. << Thank you, my friend. I thought as much, and said as much, but Valeriya has demonstrated time and time again that she thinks that I'm just a moron who pounds hammer to metal. She wanted me to make one of these.. 'golems' for her. The physical parts. Said that it was to do mundane chores and give her school pride and respect against the arrogance of the Guild. >> He shakes his head and continues, << I asked her what her school was, as I've only heard that you, Bernard, Leonard and she ever enter that building. She tried to make it sound cuddly. A school for mages, et cetera. Now I feel safe that telling her no is a fair decision, without personal bias involved. >> A smile is offered, and he asks, << Why would someone be denied entry to the Guild? >>

Rasputin nods slowly and tugs his beard, "Da, da. Well making the body is part of the work, making the body. It just a body, though with your skill you could make it even better than the magic would normally allow." He grins a bit, "Well the Kingsdale Guild is very exclusive. They have over 1000 people trying to gain entry at any time, and very few ever make it into The Guild."

<< So someone with absolutely no patience whatsoever might look to challenge the Guild by trying to show up the Guild with a powerful golem. At its most passive, >> Pavel adds. << What's the benefit of being in Kingsdale's Guild? What would she get out of it? I assume she's probably applied, and been denied. Thus lashing out and trying to be intimidating, even to them. >>

Rasputin shakes his head, "Net, net. Many of the magi whom are Guild members would laugh at a mere golem. Or even a powerful one. Their dues are 100,000 credits a year or some such. There are people who take years to get into the Guild. It is not a trivial matter, I haven't heard of anyone getting into it recently." He shrugs a bit, "Though, the benefit is access to their library and resources. Which are considerable."

<< And so, more power. >> Pavel takes a moment to chuckle. << I did wonder how Valeriya thought - even obviously a blatant lie - that the Guild would be impressed with some meeting hall in the 'Dregs, just outside of Little Russia, creating something that did mundane tasks. It's nice though, since I don't really care what Valeriya thinks of me. Better to be thought stupid and prove to be smart, than thought to be smart and prove to be stupid. >> He wiggles his brow, and looks back at the books. << Would the strength of this 'golem' be changed if it were made out of clay or stone? Those were her alternatives against which she did her best to stroke the ego of an idiot. >> Grin.

Rasputin ponders a few minutes, "Net, I think it would be the magic which would indicate the strength of the creation. It is the magiks which do that." He thinks a bit, "It would be a nice guard for her school. Never sleep, always ready." He shrugs a bit, "Was she offering to pay you to build her an iron body?"

<< Yes, without actually giving any words to promise it. She wanted iron, specifically, because it would be more 'impressive' about the stature of the school and how people should respect it. >> The smith gives a large shrug. << I asked her about it being a guard, or a soldier. Her answer was that it could be used for that, but it wouldn't be. I knew that was a lie, I don't think she'd ever leave a guard sitting down and mopping. Still? I told her that I would study the matter, then make a decision. I even named you specifically, so that she would know I wasn't making things up. >> Pavel's brow furrows as he adds, << She was quite pleased with you as a neutral party. I got the feeling from her that she expected that you would think it was a very good idea. >>

Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, da. Iron is one of the two methods, stone and iron. Iron makes it have a stronger body." He thinks a few minutes, "It wouldn't be a small creation of course, why not just charger her a great deal for your skill? She is responsible for its actions, once it is created. Though, if she has the spell to do it, then she has greater magik than I."

Pavel shakes his head firmly. << No. I give to those truly in need, or those who truly intend to do good. I've been careless with things in the past, and it has already led to suffering, albeit minor compared to what could have been. >> He shakes his head again. << No, no. I don't do this for money, I do it because it's what I was entrusted to do. An oath which I will abide by. Valeriya is not truly in need, like a poor farmer, or a mechanic missing a tool. Neither are her intentions pure, or even neutrally peaceful, as far as I now believe. She may create a golem, and I'm sure that she'll find someone to cast one. But I won't be part of making a creature that could wreak destruction on the orders of someone whose mental state is one that I question. >> He hesitates, then asks, << Does this make sense? >>

Rasputin nods slowly, "Your calling is different than mine. I sell meat and food." He grins, "Very unlikely someone will use it to cause harm or injury." He grins a bit, "Though, I've started to make armor, and that even is used for protection. Though, someone could use it to cause harm and be protected from the ramifications." He shrugs a bit, "Of course, few have bought my armor yet. But da, I understand."

With a happy grin, Pavel moves off of his heavy subject. << I've had people come and ask for armor. I've told them the same - I need good reason to do so. It might leave me poor, but if I ever find myself in desperate need of money, I can always pound steel to armor plate and sell it back. I do make things for myself, though. >> He opens up his shirt, revealing a beautifully-made suit of chain mail resembling a modified hauberk of some kind. Mail that had entered the shop without noise.

Rasputin nods slowly and eyes your armor, "Like knights of old, da." He grins a bit, "It would be fairly nice to be protecting you against a few stray shots." He tugs his beard, "I'm thinkink you have a pair of knives of mink, da? I'm net havink da money yet, but as soonink as mink does I'll have be makink dhem."

Pavel's face freezes for a moment with a thoughtful if not also perhaps confused expression. His lips move silently, and his eyes slowly roam the table. << I have.. one knife that you gave me. The one from a dinosaur's claw. Or it is a dinosaur's claw. >> He then shakes his head, << No, the only pair of anything of yours that I have are the two bone canes. The ones for the engraving and such? >> His tone ends on an uptick, questioning to see if he's right, and if that's what the other man meant to say.

Rasputin blinks a moment and tugs his beard, then chuckles, "Da, da." He grins, "I was thinkink about a pair of leather-working knives as well, and the canes." He shakes his head, "Seemink like I need to get together a great deal of money to have you build a few thinks with me." He chuckles, "It would, of course be the case where the knives would help me making more money, but of course I need the money for the knives." He chuckles, "Isn't that ways the way."

The smith smiles again. << First, as for the canes, I want you to know that if the materials and such are cheaper than I expect, I'll refund you. Do that for everyone, it's only fair. >> Pavel stops to scratch at his own chin, which at this point carries a significant load of daily beard. << The knives, like the ones from before, for carving dinosaur hides? I thought I made a set that would have worked cow hide as well. >>

Rasputin nods, "Da, da. They are very good for skinning and preparing the hide, but not as good for doing the crafting of the goods from that leather." He shrugs, "But as for the price, it is more than fair to me. I just have been working on a fairly tight budget these days."

<< Okay. I can certainly make another set for you. If you could just give me a few rough drawings of any special blades that you might need for it. You know, sometimes tailors have scythe-like edges and such. If you're worried about payment? >> Pavel stops and thinks. << If you can give me what I need to cover materials, I would make them for you now. I wouldn't worry that I'd not get paid for it, and I'm not in a rush. >>

Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, da. Well I'll think about that for a bit, though I'm not sure I would know where to do that. I'll look into it though." He tugs his beard a bit, "As for drawings of the knives, I could do that no problem. I could just provide you with my current set of leather working knives and you could make a set which would be, " he uses air quotes and grins, "Special, da?"

The smith laughs quietly. << Yes. Special knives to work leather based off of the existing set. I've been considering asking you for a favor, actually. Perhaps that could work as trade for payment? Though your scholarly pursuits here usually keep you busy, >> Pavel adds, gesturing to the books and scrolls.

Rasputin chuckles a bit, "Da, da. But depending on the favor, I might be able squeeze it into my work schedule." he smiles, "What is the favor?"

Pavel looks aside and blushes like a child. << I can speak with most people, even though my accent is horrible. But there are very few things in this city that I can read, unless I'm in Little Russia. I would like to be able to read the common words... for any number of reasons. You can obviously read a great deal of languages, so I thought perhaps, well... maybe we could trade. >>

Rasputin chuckles a bit, "Da, da. Though, one problem would be that I can't read American. I have to write everything in Russian, Euro or Dragonese." He tugs his beard, "I've always wanted to learn American, might make thinks easier." He looks at his menu, "I had the cute waitress you like write the menu."

<< Oh. I thought that you wrote American. That's what I want to do, so I guess we're in the same boat, >> Pavel says with a sigh. << I'm sure I'll learn it sooner or later. I'm just in a mood to learn right now. But, speaking of learning, I should probably get going, and let you get back to your work. Thanks for the information, Rasputin. >>

Rasputin nods and smiles, "Da, da. If I find a teacher, I'll make sure to send him or her your way as well." He looks at his work, "It was a good break actually, and I think I shall retire for the evening. Have a good evening Pavel my friend," He stands and shows you to the door.

Pavel walks to the door, offering some small talk about the refugees in the 'Dregs, and then slips out into the night. Possibly to go find his girlfriend. Or perhaps just head home. If fate were to flip a coin and it came up heads, that would mean girlfriend. If it came up tails, it would also mean girlfriend. In either case, he's off with a quiet, "Spaseeba."