Mar 04 05:59:41 109 PA - Payment in Full
From Chronicles
Mar 04 05:59:41 109 PA.
YAKOV'S DELI
Rasputin sings softly to himself as he preps the breakfast items, getting ready for the Monday morning breakfast rush. There are a few cooks here, getting their orders for the meals of the day. Apparently, the house cooks of the upper class know where to go, on a Monday. He keeps working on as his assistants cut meat.
Ah, six in the morning. A good time for people to be making early deliveries around town. Or for some, to visit a friend. Outside of Yakov's Deli is quite a sight. A Friesian mare, flat-black with the typical white starburst on her forehead clops up. This in itself may not be exciting, except when one realizes the dimensions of this particular mare. Sixteen hands at the shoulder, quite a beast. Her tack is minimal, but of a shining silver that catches even these early rays. Yet even at that, one might pass it off as just an oddity, until someone were to spot the equally large blacksmith talking quietly to his mount as they approach. Coming to a halt, Pavel dismounts with surprising deftness, leaving Zoyenka's reins dangling. The signal for 'don't run off.' A bit of dusting done, he opens the door to the deli, leading with his head.
Rasputin continues his work, not really paying attention to those who are coming and going. He is zipping along through stacks of veggies, and making fine looking Julian veggies, perhaps for his soup. He signs his songs, and just works away. Happy as can be.
Leading with one's head inevitably leads to the back end following, thus it works for Pavel, and he closes the doors behind him. A few steps take him to the counter, though he doesn't bother to speak for fear of breaking Rasputin's concentration. He's not sneaking up on the man, just trying to be polite. After all, he's a craftsman himself, and knows what it's like to what to not be disturbed. One of the sous chefs looks up at Pavel and smiles, "Good morning, what can I get for you this morning."
Pavel responds in Russian, because he knows that it actually works here. << Blini served with sour cream and milk, please. How are you? >> Maybe he recognizes the chef, maybe not. He lowers his voice. << Is this a good time to speak with Rasputin, or is he pretty busy getting ready for the morning rush? >>
The chef smiles, "Da, da." He turns around and says in Russian, "Hey boss, big guy to see you." He chuckles, and looks to the next customer.
Rasputin turns around and looks up, "Da, good morning Pavel. How are you doing this fine morning?" His Russian flows out with Dwarven twing to it, "I'm glad you stopped by actually," He looks at the piece of paper and whips up your order, "Have a seat, I'll be with you in a moment." He points to his usual table.
Pavel can do nothing but... take a seat. After taking his meal, first. He finds a nice spot by a window so that he can watch the sun come up, which should be in about forty-five minutes, give or take. The actual tasting of the meal waits until his host arrives.
Rasputin brings he sets down the meal, and smiles. He then sits down himself with a nice mug of tea. In Russian Rasputin says, "How goes? Kind of early for you on this cold day, isn't it. Though it is good, as I said I have something for you." Rasputin slides you a credit stick, "Dhere, even now, da?"
<< Oh, not early today. I have some final deliveries to make before I rest. What is this? >> Pavel pokes at the cred stick. Knowing him, he could be asking, 'what is the money for' or 'what is this thing'. << The cold isn't so bad, is it? Could be worse. I think that spring is finally coming along. You seem to be doing well, >> he states promptly, directing a finger toward the counter. << Always busy, aren't you? >>
Rasputin nods and smiles, "Dhat is the money I owe you for the knife sets. The lovely knife sets." He grins, "Now we are all paid up, I think." He smiles, "Dhat way, things are good. Right?" He sips his tea. He looks around, "Well this is kind of normal for a Monday. The house cooks always do a shop for the rest of the week on Monday. Makes it easier for them."
Pavel nods in understanding, though fiddles awkwardly with the credstick for a while. Finally comes a chuckle. << I'll need to find my friend up in the Merchant's Plaza, a nice guy named Fizzlesnoot. He'll know how to get the money off of this. >> But it is happily tucked away into one of his pockets. << Thank you for the payment, and I'm glad that the knives are serving you well, my friend. I'm afraid I'm not going to be doing much for a while, though. I'm very tired. In here. >> He pats over his heard and chest with an open palm.
Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, da. I might have another small project for you, but haven't gotten it ready yet." He thinks a few minutes, "It is to do some silver and gold inlay work. You can do dhat, da?" He sips his tea, "Of course, I may be asking too much?"
<< Jewelry and such? Sure, I can do that. That's... different. Have you finally found that one beautiful dwarven woman with whom you want to spend the rest of your long life? A brilliant ring of platinum with silver filigree and gold lining? >> Pavel smirks as he says it, then tries to hide it with a scoop of breakfast. << I'll tell you though, prices have really risen. The knives, the things that I've been making for others? I just can't meet those anymore. But I will do my best. Tell me! What do you have in mind? >> Pavel sips at his milk, waiting.
Rasputin chuckles and shakes his head, "No, no. I'm working on a pair of canes. I wanted nice silver caps and some gold and silver inlay on them." He chuckles, "Would that be something you can do?" He smiles then sips his tea.
Pavel smiles happily, a little contented sigh held in it as well. << Oh yes, I can do that. Unless you want to make them some kind of weapon, or able to take a blow from vibro-sword or something. I'm afraid that I just don't have it in me right now. In fact, it will probably take me longer than normal to finish it up, just to make sure that I don't make a mistake. >> He stops, tilts his head and asks, << A pair of canes? A matching set for yourself, or are they gifts? >>
Rasputin chuckles, "Da, for myself. If I make one, I might as well have another in case one breaks." He grins, "It will be MDC already, can you work in that? I'll even try and put in the trace, so you can just pour in the silver and such." He smiles.
<< Okay. You don't need to, if you'd prefer to just draw it on a piece of paper, or even give me an idea. Unless of course you have something very specific that you want. But working with those high-impact materials won't be a problem. Only making them, >> Pavel says with a smile which is quickly quenched with a spoonful of food. << Is it purely decorative? >> His eyes then crunch slightly. << Are these canes of yours weapons? >>
Rasputin smiles and winks, "Perhaps, yours will be the 2nd part of a three part process." He grins, "When they are done I might show you, I might not." He sips his tea, and thinks, "Oh, these need to be as close to the one I use now."
A spoon comes out of Pavel's mouth, clean as a babe after having been cleaned. He smiles. << Sounds like some mysterious magic. I suppose we all work our own, do we not? How large is the head of the cane? Or canes? >>
Rasputin holds out his fingers and shows about four inches, "That is the handle, the tip is a tip."
<< I see. Four inches to be done exactly, precisely to magical guidelines. How much material are we talking about? >> Pavel waits on an answer for a moment, but then continues anyway. << Is this just some moderate inlay, or is it going to be very decorative? >>
Rasputin sips his tea, "Da, just decorative. I'll giving you a more clear idea when I'm ready. Just was wondering, you will be doing some beautification work."
<< Interesting. Beautification work that has to be precise? I'm not entirely sure that I believe everything you're telling me, Rasputin, >> Pavel smirks. << I do much jewelry work. I enjoy it as much as I do making armor, or hammers, or plows, what have you. In fact, I just finished making two very elegant, very detailed pieces a few weeks ago. One of them cost me more than I quoted, but that's the price of doing honest business, right? >>
Rasputin blinks, and shakes his head, "Net, net. You need to get better at business." He grins, "I should do your bookings." He chuckles, then smiles and sips some ice tea. "I'll show you, I'm sure it will be well with your ability and skill."
This time it is Pavel who shakes his head. << No, I told a person that I would make these things for a price, and I did. I'm not going to make them pay more than I promised simply because I made mistakes. I have a reputation to keep, after all. A price is a price. I just am getting to know the local economy better, and I have been selling my wares *drastically* under their worth. If people had been paying more legitimate prices? >> The big blacksmith shrugs. << I might have enough money now to serve me ten years happily at a penthouse room at the Happy Days Inn. Still, it makes me feel good to give things to people. >>
Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, da. Dis what you do to make yourself feel right, da?" He smiles and nods, "Dwell, I'll make sure to pay you good monies for your work. I feel like I owe you still for the amazing knives." He grins, "I'll make sure to pass it along your skill and service. It is wonderful work."
Pavel dips his head with pride. << Thank you! I do take pride in my work. Plus, when a god comes to you and tells you to do something, you'd best do it well, no? Excellent meal, by the way. >> A spoon is tapped against an empty plate. << Are you planing a dinosaur hunt again soon? Because now that I have some money, I'm considering buying a weapon that would let me hit the dinosaurs that *don't* try to sneak up on me and get smacked in the face. Most of them were very inconsiderate and stayed out of hammer range. >>
Rasputin chuckles softly, "Net yet. Mink has been very busy. I keep meaning to plan one, but don't seem to be able to get around to it." He shrugs, "I do need to do it sooner than later, get some more material as soon as I can." He smiles, "I'll be sure to be inviting you, when I do go out. Da?" He smiles, "What weapon are you thinking about getting?"
<< I saw a magazine at Tradewinds, someone was done with it, I suppose. I can't actually read the language... but it had pictures. From the NewTech people. A big, big gun with four barrels and ammunition that seemed to come on a conveyor belt. I don't actually know how to use such a thing yet... but I assume that I could pick it up quickly enough. It's just a big gun. >> Pavel's lips quirk to the side. << I don't know if many people could even lift it, let alone use it, so perhaps it would be a safe weapon for me, as like my hammer, only very few could use it against me. But to be honest, I don't know much about weapons. Only what I can see in pictures, or what people tell me. >>
Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, da." He thinks a few minutes, "I'm more into pistols and shotguns, not used to larger rifles or big weapons." He shrugs, "But I fall back on magic most of the time, da."
<< I have hammers and knives, and I'm good with them. I also was brought up with regular handguns and rifles. My little part of Russia didn't have energy weapons, except for Warlord Romanov's own soldiers of course. I'm also quite good with a bow, though that seems to be a bit of a lost and unnecessary art these days and in this place, doesn't it? >> Pavel offers up a toothy grin. << I'm sure that I don't have any magic like you do. I'll never learn to become invisible, or speak every language with the snap of my fingers, or throw fireballs from an open palm. But for what I need, I can use this... techno-wizardy. I've only had one necessity, but at least I know that I can use it. What is it that you do, Rasputin? I see you studying those books almost every time I visit. >>
Rasputin grins and sips his tea, "Da, I'm just a magik user. I've been focusing mostly on healing magiks these days. I'm trying to learn as much about it as mink can. I'm tryink to actually find a way to heal those who have fallen to magik disease and curses." He spreads his hands, "But it is a slow work. Thus it takes a while."
The large fellow nods again. << I can imagine. It takes a different kind of patience and work ethic, clearly. >> He glances around the room, and then with a grin, Pavel states monotone... << not that I am completely without magic. Just a focused kind, rather than your broad ability to learn. >> With that, one of the open flames cooking along near the chefs bursts into a veritable bonfire for a second, before snapping out of existence with equal rapidity.
Rasputin smirks and sips his tea, "Don't be burning da food." He chuckles a bit as the chef is bouncing around trying to make sure nothing is burned. He grins, "I have several utilitarian spells, healing, light, talkink, protection, detection and da like. But, I can't wield a hammer and make nice magical knives." He grins, "So we all have our skills and talents."
<< We do. What the gods gave us, >> the man says, scooting his chair out and picking up his tray. << Thank you for the money, Rasputin. But I'd like to be along my way so that I can make my final deliveries before people start scurrying around enough that they're hard to find. Then? Rest. Maybe... maybe an entire month of rest, I hope. But your jewelry, I can do that. Please give me the diagram, when you've figured out exactly what it is that you want, okay? >> Pavel makes it to a standing position.
Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, da. You take care, yes?" He stands up and smiles. He extends his hand, "Thank you again." He tugs his beard, "As always, come again sometime. Always welcome."
Pavel smiles as he shakes the other man's hand. Giant of a human meets dwarf of a, well, a dwarf. << You know that I'll come by again. I saw Anya the other day for a wonderful time at the Nightingale. If she's in today, tell her that I said hello. But now, yes my friend, I'll be off. You? You should come visit *me* one of these days. See what my cooking is like. >> He winks, then hurries out and mounts up so that he can catch those last buggers before a period of rest.
