Oct 16 15:17:36 109 PA - Jewelry, Skulls and Meat

From Chronicles

Oct 16 15:17:36 109 PA.

Rasputin is out in front of his shop, putting on the final touches of protection for his Deli. It has been several days, but Rasputin has put a lot of hours into his work. With a flip of his wrist the shutters slide into place over his two large bay windows and his mostly glass front door. The front door also can be heard to 'click' locked.

Pavel isn't exactly the kind of person who sneaks up behind people, nor is he really even capable of such a thing. Even without his tools happily clanking against themselves, he is at the best of times, 'Not so bad.' << Hello my friend! >> he quickly greets.

Rasputin turns around and looks, and smiles, "How dis goink mink friend?" He smiles a bit as he looks up, "You like mink work? Just put final touches on dit now."

<< It's very nice, yes! >> Pavel pulls up next to Rasputin to survey the woodworking. << I still think it would have looked better in shiny metal, >> he chuckles, punching Rasputin in the shoulder. Hopefully not bowling him over. << One of these days, I'll bring down Blagodat. I've been working on him for a long time. Barding. Very neat, if it weren't so bulky, you'd be able to carry it around! >> He wiggles his eyebrows.

Rasputin smiles and grins and says in Russian, "Da, da. Though, I like wood works," He smiles, "So, you are working on metal armor for your horse, dhat is good." He smiles, "So, anything going on with you special?"

<< Only the barding. It's a big job, even for me, to fit out a big horse to protect him in times of war. But how are you doing? Looks like you're getting ready for the worst? >> Pavel walks up to tap his fingers against the wood. << Sturdy. >>

Rasputin shakes his head, and he flips the shutters closed, then open, then closed, then open. He nods very pleased with himself. Then turns to you and says in Russian, "Da, da. But just incase, dis way if there are riots, I can seal things up, but only just in case." He smiles, "I've worked hard here, want to get it a chance at least, da?"

Pavel nods happily. << As I would do for mine. Except that my forge is something I can rebuild in a week or two by my own hands, and I live in a cave protected by a four-ton stone. I suppose I'm well protected? >> His brow wiggles again. << The meat business must be doing well these days, if you can afford all of this unusual wood. Or perhaps the deli is just doing a brisk business with the hungry? >>

Rasputin chuckles, "Da da. Just got back a week ago," his Russian flows, "from another hunt. We took down a very large dino. The Cherokee call it Thunder Maker. Nearly 40 ton of dino." he chuckles, "Of course, when we fell it, we had to fend off from four nasty dino's. We did it." He smiles.

<< Mmm. Impressive. Soon you'll be able to pay your employees double what they make! >> Pavel smirks happily. << That's a thought. Would you ever be interested in selling perhaps Russian jewelry and sculpture from the deli? Something more to add to the books, something for me to do and make a few credits off of? It can get a little boring for me. Even with the work that I do for the villagers, I'd love to have something more delicate and thought-provoking to do. >>

Rasputin chuckles a bit, his Russian, "Have them on wall in displays? So people will know where to get dhem. So you can sell several of them, da?" He nods and tugs his beard putting wood chips all over him. He sighs and casts a spell, vanish they are gone. "Would dhat work for you?"

Pavel shrugs, as if this idea has just occurred to him at this moment. << That would be nice. Any way that you would choose to display them, of course. It's your restaurant, after all. But the fine detail work is something that I miss. >> He blushes - Pavel, blush? Yes, he blushes and lowers his voice, << Of course, I make things for *my* Anya. But those are special. These would be simply for people who like nice things. And if they don't buy them? >> He offers a dismissive shrug. << Then at least I hope they would look nice on your walls. >>

Rasputin grins a bit, "Da, da." His Russian says, "Da, it will look great on the walls. If you have smaller stuff, I could a small wheel of items on the counter too. So exhibits can draw dere eye to it." He smiles a bit, "I think dhat would work well."

<< Wonderful! >> Pavel exclaims happily. << This will be nice. I know that people say that you can't compete with the merchants and the stores that sell jewelry and rings and such. But I do have an ace up my sleeve, as they say around here. Don't know anybody else who can make a simple necklace unbreakable under non-combat conditions. >> He grins and tugs lightly on a few of the muted-but-flashy pieces around his own neck. << I've already sold some, and it was very decent profit. For a very plain chain, too. >>

Rasputin nods slowly and tugs his beard, "Da, da." He continues in Russian, "So, will you bring me a few items then for me to put up and display?" He smiles, "It will be nice to have something new on the walls," he tugs his beard, "You know, I'm thinking of putting up a the large toothed dino skull, do you think that would be too much?"

<< I guess that would depend, how large a skull? Would you like it plated and shiny, >> Pavel asks with a chuckle. << But yes, I'll brings a few things by, and you can see if you want to hang them on the wall for display only, or to sell them - or to give them back and tell me good luck at the Merchant's Plaza. I know that this is getting ahead of myself, but if anyone were to ask about something with gemstones, that would have to be special. Gems are harder to work with because unlike metal, if you screw up, you can't reforge it and try again. You can only throw it away, or at best try to cut it into a smaller piece. >>

Rasputin chuckles and nods, "Da, da. Well, some of mink work dis dhat way as well." He smiles, "Measure twice, cut once da?" He chuckles, "Dis a large skull, would be full clean, raw. But net plated and shiny." He grins, "Even with my profits, I can't afford that much plate."

The smith grins. << A scary-toothed skull, or just from one of those giant ones that I hunted with you? I'm sure that everyone would be impressed, yes. Maybe even some of the local merchants would see it and pick you up as some type of common vendor for meat like that? Or for the hide that you might not have time to work? >> Pavel looks hopeful that his grasp of a laissez-faire economic system is correct.

Rasputin nods, "Dit was a large toothed skull. Like da one in the Library mink thinks. T-Rex?" he smiles a bit, "Sure it would be fairly large, but it might spread rumors of howink I took it down." He chuckles, "Perhaps make people think twice?"

<< Oh, yes! 'Rasputin the Small, Mighty Slayer of the Dinosaur Dragons.' At the very least, it would bring people into the deli to take a look, and maybe get hooked on the good food, >> Pavel says with a heavy chuckle. << Maybe help the local job market by hiring someone special to clean the skull. Oh, and look after the jewelry display. >>

Rasputin chuckles a bit, "Perhaps, da." He smiles, "Though, I cleaned the skull myself, kind of my sort of task da." He grins, "I could always do a few others, but I'm worried it might be a bit over the top or scare clients. I'll have to try it, da."

Pavel thinks on that and nods. << I'll come back and give you an opinion, if you want it, after the first skull goes up. >> He offers a big toothy grin and asks, << You know, if you - maybe even I - are going to return to those grounds, we should try to speak their language. I'm sure I'd probably grasp it better than this damnable American. Maybe gain a little respect from the natives? >>

Rasputin shrugs, "Da, well this visit," his lips flow with Russian, "They were a bit nicer to me. I had so much meat this time, I did a lot of trading with them there." He chuckles, "I just remembered, " he walks over, puts his tool belt into the toolbox and picks up a cane, which should be familiar. He walks back over, "So, this was the final work."

Pavel turns the cane over in his hands, but can only see what he can see. << It looks beautiful... but that seems to be commenting mostly on my own work, Rasputin. What exactly does it do? I remember mentioning of poisons and the dead? It makes a good poker for an old man, of course. >> He chuckles and grabs it by the handle, violently thrusting the end into a piece of open air.

Rasputin chuckles and nods, "Da, da." He says, "Dit has three words of power, one will stop poison, another turn dead creatures." He pauses a moment, "And it can scare things away." he smiles, "So I have a pair of them, just in case da." He grins a bit.

<< Good to have a backup, >> Pavel quickly agrees. << I have seen people use two swords at one time. I wish that I could do that, but I've spent to many years using a hammer in one hand and holding something steady with the other. >>

Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, da." He grins a bit, "So, besides making some new fun trinkets, anything else been going on with you?" He smiles and looks at his shop, then to the tools. He sets his cane to the side, and begins to pick them all up.

Pavel shakes his head. << Showing Anya a good time, yes. *MY* Anya, >> he clarifies with a suggestive nod toward the deli. As Rasputin begins to close up, he suggests, << I suppose I should be off and out of your hair, you'd probably like some rest after the wood working. But that trick about getting clean? Maybe you could teach me some day. Or techno-wizardy. I don't like technology... but there are times when a little magic that I can't do myself becomes useful. You have a good day, Rasputin. >> He starts to pull away, but at a slow pace.

Rasputin nods slowly and waves, "You have a good day friend." He picks up the tools and heads around back to put things away.