Jun 22 13:11:55 109 PA - More Discussion of Magic Statues, After a Wedding

From Chronicles

Jun 22 13:11:55 109 PA.

YAKOV'S DELI

It's a beautiful evening, late even when the door to Yakov's Deli is opened. Within business hours, but not by leagues. Pavel's frame fills the door for a second, silhouetted against darkness. When he steps forward into the light, he's quite the sight, dressed in a neat and tailored gray suit with a white handkerchief in his breast pocket and a green tie with a sturdy Windsor knot keeping it in place. Even shiny shoes. At his side is a small woman, five feet high but only because she's in two inch heels. With long black hair trailing down her back, she's in a fancy dress of a dark peach color, hands wrapped around his elbow. Conversing together in native Russian, they each purchase a cup of coffee before heading toward Rasputin, the dwarf hunched at his usual table surrounded by tomes, scrolls and perhaps a beverage to keep his throat moist.

Rasputin is of course exactly as described, save for the extra tomes and scrolls. For the most part he has his 3 notebooks, and a pot of tea and tea cup. He is focused on his work, not really looking at anything else for the moment.

The smith and the girl - probably close to his age, but a few years younger - make their way over to the shop's proprietor. Pavel stands and moves a seat out for the girl, though neither one of them actually makes any further move to sit down, or speak to interrupt. He always tries to be polite and non-invasive when there aren't important matters to be handled, thus waiting for Rasputin to take notice rather than interrupt.

Rasputin says in Russian, "If you are going to sit down Pavel, please do." One can see the corners of his mouth rise as he keeps looking at this notes, "Whom is your companion this evening?"

Pavel gestures the girl to the chair, and she sits daintily with a Russian thank you. He looks around for his own chair, and ends up pulling one from another table. << It's good to see you, Rasputin, we didn't want to interrupt, >> he says by way of reply. << This is Anya. Different Anya, and a very important one to me. I met her making a delivery to Little Russia, and she's been delightful. We actually just came from a wedding! Not ours. >>

Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, da." He thinks a few minutes, "Oh no, was Sage's wedding today?" He shakes his head and gets a little upset, "Really?"

<< Yes, it was. It was... very odd. >> Pavel looks to the woman, who nods in agreement. Cute-as-a-button Anya got beaten out by beautiful with a faithful personality Anya. << I did think that we'd see you there, but honestly I'm not really sure if we even fit in. Everyone there seemed to be one of Rubidia's music fans. Leonard showed up just in time for it to be over... it was just a very strange wedding. >>

Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, da. I was called..." he shrugs, "I will have to get them a gift and make it a good one." He frowns, "Well, I'm glad it went well, save for it being odd." He shrugs, "Would you both like something to eat?"

Pavel shakes his head. << No, thank you. Just the drinks. The one thing that they did have and in bushels, was food. I should be set for the next week or so. >> Anya laughs a little bell-like laugh. << Yes, I think they may regret having invited him. >> The smith grins again. << I gave them gifts, one each. But.. I don't know, they looked at them and then looked at me like they didn't understand. It was all... as I said, very strange. >>

Rasputin nods slowly and smiles, "Very well. So just relaxing after the formal event then?" He grins a bit, as he closes his notebooks and stacks to the side. "Or just for the drink and conversation?"

Pavel offers a nod. << Yes, yes. No pressing business for you today, just interrupting for some coffee. It's a nice change, really, not having to worry about matters of who deserves what, and who's trying to harm who. Oh, since you're always so busy, I figured that you didn't need one more thing on your plate. Fizzlesnoot agreed to try to get American letters into my thick skull. >>

Rasputin nods and smiles, "Oh that is good to hear. I'm glad one of us will get our letters down for that language." He chuckles a bit, "I should put that higher on my list to learn." He looks at his notebooks, "Or perhaps not." he chuckles.

<< Oh, if you can learn all of this magic stuff, I'm sure that you could learn a different alphabet with no problem, >> Pavel offers with encouragement. << For me? I think that it's going to take.. a long time. >> Anya coos a couple of amusing phrases that could be taken as loving, or loving-insults. Sometimes it can be tough to tell. << But with the wedding... is it not common to give gifts? >>

Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, it is a very common custom. My family always used to give out food, livestock, tools, money, anything that the new couple starting could be usink." He thinks about it, "Though I don't know what Sage and Rubidia need." He tugs his beard, "I'll have to be askink."

Pavel nods with the information. << That's what I thought. I tried to make them things that fit their personality, and what I knew of them. A small gold chain for Rubidia, who is so showy. A small, delicate and I thought pretty knife for Sage, who seems quiet but practical. >> He shrugs then, and the woman nods with him. << I don't know if they even took them home! Just... it started with a concert at the Nightingale, which was of course a very strange way to start a wedding, particularly with cheering fans. Then everyone got to see them exchange rings in the span of about one minute, only one very generalized vow, and then we all got to sit and blush as they made out with their 'first kiss' as if were Valentine's Day. Very strange. Anya and I.. really didn't fit in. >>

Rasputin chuckles softly and nods, "Well, dis a good think. Everyone will remember it, right?" He smiles, "So, how long have you and Anya been dating?"

The smith looks down and starts to think. Not a good move. Anya gives him a gentle-ish elbow and answers for him with an amused smile, << Since early May, and he'll pay for forgetting that. >> Pavel can't help but chuckle into his lap before raising his head back to look at the dwarf. << Women, they can be walking calendars. >> *THUMP* goes another elbow into his side.

Rasputin nods and smiles, "Da, my Eva could remember the name and birth date of someone we only met once. It was a remarkable..." Rasputin trails off and seems to be looking somewhere for a moment. Then with a jerk of his beard he comes back to this conversation, "It is good to have someone who can be remembering the dates for them, very important."

There's a brief silence, which is broken by the woman again. << Pavel has forgotten his manners. I am Anya Nikolayevna Tupolev, my father is a carpenter. >> It's then that Pavel winces again at having glossed over polite tradition. << Yes, yes. We met rather luckily. I'm sorry for not having properly introduced you... I guess I have had my head in the flames for too long. >>

Rasputin smiles and extends his hand to Anya's and shakes it with a gentle grasp. "Please to be meeting you," He pauses a moment, "It is nice to see Pavel with a glow from being happy, rather than accidentally catching his hair on fire." He winks to Pavel.

Pavel offers back a sly grin. << My hair hasn't caught on fire since I was fourteen! It's how I win bar bets, >> he adds with laugh. << But yes, she's wonderful. I've never heard of Eva, before. Has she.. passed on? >>

Rasputin shrugs a bit, his face taking on that of an expert Poker player, "She has traveled on further, perhaps she will return whom knows." His face not revealing much more than what he says, "I'm not sure you want to talk business, but someone came to visit me regarding a commission which you turned down."

<< That must have been Valeriya? >> Pavel ventures. << She's the only commission I've turned down recently. That is to say, anything more than your everyday necessity tools and such, with a couple of bits of jewelry thrown in here and there. You were the neutral ground that we agreed on. Did she come to talk me back into it? >> Sure, he may be assuming a bunch, but it's obviously a matter very much in the forefront of his mind.

Rasputin shakes his head, "No, not exactly. Her and I know where we each stand. I suggested if she wanted to speak with you again, she could ask me to sit on the conversation as a neutral party." He sighs, "Though not sure if I will help her or you, perhaps that is a good sign of being neutral." He grins.

The smith smiles and shakes his head slowly, enough that his shoulder-length locks swing just a tad. << I already went to the library where they keep the Cyrillic books. I already asked people what they thought of her. Her school. The opinion of pride against the Guild by creating a golem. I spoke to you as friend and expert for what such a thing could do in the wrong hands. >> Pavel's expression is very content, no anger or annoyance, no concern or worry. << I have made my decision. If, in the future I see Valeriya herself behaving in a more befitting manner, with more people saying better things, and trusting further? I will reconsider. But if nothing else, lies by using only shades of truth is all by itself enough to make an easy decision. You need not worry about getting caught between friends, or at least acquaintances. >>

Rasputin nods slowly, "Very well. Perhaps, you could lay out what you expect of her to prove to your work would be worth her effort? Or is your answer just now right now, and later you might think about it?" He looks at your quizzically, wondering your thought process.

<< My answer at this moment, is 'no.' When I agreed with her to think about the matter, she agreed that when I made a decision, it would be honored. Often people who push for something are the very people who should not receive it. >> Pavel twists his head slightly. << The men and women whom I think Svarog told me to help with great matters? They are the ones who never come asking for anything. Still, I'm not saying that I will never make things for people unless they're warriors of light, or anything like that. But she could begin by simply being completely honest. That's good character for everyone to have. But what if I were to ask you this. >> Anya turns her head, waiting. << Could I sculpt a literal sculpture of iron? Something huge and grand, even. A twenty-foot high god with a thunderbolt in his hands made of iron, polished like the night and covered in engravings. But could not be turned into a 'golem'? >>

Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, da. Though, the key difference is the caster has to put a large gem into the heart of the statue. If your statue had a very convenient hole in the back where you could put the gem, it could very easily." He chuckles, "Though, it sounds like Valeriya wanted something more human sized, da?"

Pavel chuckles. << I'm not sure if she ever actually specified a size... just humanoid. But also quadrupedal, somehow. Honestly, I'm not sure how to do that, unless it's something that runs on four legs and walks on two. >> He gives Anya a squeeze as she leans up against his shoulder. << But what if I were to make this statue - something to really promote her school and get attention - out of the same material that people use for armor plate. Or rather, with the same strength. Could some other person come along later and with some kind of... drill... take out a hole to put in that gem-heart? >>

Rasputin chuckles and smiles, "Da, da. One could," he cuts short then thinks about it a few minutes. He shakes his head, "Net, net. You have to do a few things specifically first, net I don't think you can take any statue and do it. You have to prepare the spot of its building first, then do a few additional things as its being built."

That greatly brightens Pavel's face. << Ah! Perhaps she would accept this compromise. It might not be alive to do... 'mundane tasks' around her school, but depending on how much money she has for materials, I could create quite the monument. Something that perhaps all the city would have at least heard about - the meeting hall in the 'Dregs with a fascinating, mysterious statue. Something perhaps even grander than what is outside the Guild's hall, if my skills were in true form. >> He looks to the window, and asks almost childlike, << Do you think she would take that offer? >>

Rasputin shrugs, "Net know actually. I'm thinking for her idea of a magical school, to have a magical construct is the symbol. And besides, might not a statue be taken by one of the gangs in The Dregs?"

<< I would think that if a magical school were powerful enough to be recognized like she wants, it would be capable of guarding something at its own front door, wouldn't you? If you can't guard a statue against street gangs, then how much knowledge and capability do you really have? >> A shrug is offered, as Pavel can only ask questions that sound reasonable, but he truly can't know the answers. << Besides, if it were a larger statue made of material strong enough to armor a fighting vehicle, it would require a bit of dedication for someone to steal it. I don't think that a few punks would come by on a whim and be able to carry it off to hawk at the Plaza or down in the Bazaar. >>

Rasputin chuckles, "Well, if someone had a few blow torches they could slice it up. But that is kind of irrelevant to be honest. If you don't want to build it for her, I'm sure she will find someone else to build it for her. I think she wanted your skill in the look, but it is your skill she wants. And that is something which is yours to give or not." He smiles, "As with anything, da?"

Pavel deflates a little. << It is. I just don't feel comfortable helping to create something that could be so powerful, in the hands of someone whom I don't completely trust. >> His head leans to the side once more as it is wont to do when he seems to be making what he thinks is an obvious point. << It's a far different tool for her school than being asked to make a strong vault to house her scrolls, or a hammer to keep in her belt. I will ask her if she is interested in the statue, either way. Perhaps it would at least be as they say here, an olive branch? >>

Rasputin shrugs, "Perhaps, that might be good olive branch. Perhaps, call it an example of your work in the future. An exact replica of what she wants for the future." He lifts his brow, "Or a smaller scale version?"

<< I'll ask. As long as it can't be brought to life, I would be happy to sculpt something of any size that she could desire, >> Pavel confirms. Next to him, Anya makes a few gurgling noises as her head leans more heavily against his arm. The smith smiles at the magical owner of a delicatessen, << I think that I should get her home. I can carry her around like a lamb, but no matter how tired she is, she giggles uncontrollably at it, which makes moving difficult. Thank you, Rasputin, once more for your wisdom. If Valeriya stops by again... just tell her that I will be looking for her. >> Beneath heavy eyelids, Anya says, << Thank you for the coffee, it was nice to meet you. >>

Rasputin grins and nods, "You both have a delightful rest of your evening," he smiles and takes a sip from his tea, the drink he had forgotten was there since you sat down.

Pavel and his girl get to their feet, mutter a few more thanks and make their way out into the darkness muttering about strange weddings, and statues but at least having been given a decent reason to get dressed up.