Sep 19 16:42:03 109 PA - Delivery of Canes
From Chronicles
Sep 19 16:42:03 109 PA.
STEEL STREET OUTSIDE OF YAKOV'S DELI
Rasputin is outside of the Deli, dressed in overalls. He has a tool belt on, and looks right at home in the guise of a carpenter. He is putting up boards into a side sliding system. It is setup so it can side right to left over one of the large windows of the store. He is mostly done, or so it would seem.
This is quite a sight. Two dark horses clopping their way east toward the deli, six-and-a-half to seven-foot high at the shoulders, with some beautifully shined bits of tack in place. On the larger warhorse rides Pavel, with a few hammers and whatnot. On the smaller Zoyenka is the much smaller Anya. She's clearly not as at ease on the animal as the smith, but perhaps that's why she's there in the first place. When they're off of the vehicle path a comfortable distance, Pavel calls out in a baritone Russian, << Rasputin! You crafty man, you make a living with nails, too? Yet you haven't even been up to buy them from me, I'm hurt! >> He laughs of course. He spends a lot of time laughing.
Rasputin looks up from his work and smiles. He looks to his work, and grins. He says loudly in Russian, "Net, net, I am not using nails." He grins a bit, "Please take a look, I tend to use joints, and pieces. Nails just get in the way of the material."
Pavel jumps down off of Blagodat, and moves to help Anya down. Wearing a dress and sitting sidesaddle on a giant draught horse can be a pain, when you're not used to it. They both move toward the dwarf's handiwork. "Oh, interesting. I do similar things when hinges and such would get in the way." He nods approvingly, though he only looks, doesn't touch.
Rasputin grins, "And this is," he flips his fingers and mutters an odd sounding word, and as he begins to speak in Russian again the boards roll slowly into place on their own, "Is the magic I wanted for my work." The boards slide into place and seal the window closed.
The smith looks at the magically sliding wood. << So... what happens if you run out of magic power? You sure you don't want some backup chains and a hook or something? >> Anya gives Pavel a hard elbow. << Let the man do his work. Just because you can do it doesn't mean that everyone wants you to do it. >>
Rasputin chuckles and shakes his head, "Net, net." He flips his fingers and they roll back out of the way, tucking nicely up on the side of the building. He tugs his beard, and gets a little paint in the ends, he frowns and says in Russian as he cleans his hands, "This magik, will be long lasting once I get everything working perfectly. That way it won't require me to spend magic all of the time."
<< Oh, I see. Real magic from a real mage, >> Pavel says approvingly, rising to stretch his back and pat Anya's head in recognition of her words. Clearly, she's annoyed by the rather patronizing act, but doesn't complain. That'll probably come later. Pavel asks, << So how do you make this wood, anyway? It's obviously not the steelwood that you got so interested in. But it's hard. Magic from... the end of things must be very powerful? >> His right brow climbs skyward just a tad.
Rasputin shrugs a bit and says in Russian, "What you do is just as much magik as mine." He grins a bit, "Even more, as your craft revolves around things which are very tangible at all times." He chuckles a bit, "Mine only has a finite feeling when I put a lot of effort into it, and even then I only can do so much." He says not really answering the question you asked him.
Pavel shrugs, leaving the other subject be. << No, no. I don't cast spells. I just work, and it happens how I want it to. I don't study, or meditate or read things. Sure, if we're being chased by giant dinosaurs and I concentrate unusually hard on something, I can make it happen, but you, and Valeriya, and Leonard, and Bernard... you are the true users of magic. >> He gives Rasputin a heavy nod. << So will this wood stand up to someone with a laser rifle? >> Anya has moved to give the horses some comfortable feed bags. You never know when you'll be caught away from home with hungry horses.
Rasputin shakes his head and says to Anya, "Are you listening to him? He is saying he doesn't do magik, just because he doesn't study like some of us." He grins, "You take metal, cold hard steel and craft it into something amazing. A plow, knife, armor. That is magik. Real force of nature." He grins a bit and pulls up a chunk of the 'wood' that he had removed because it didn't fit, "Da, it can take a few hits. Not many, but one or two."
Pavel reaches for the wood to study it, but doesn't grab it uninvited from the dwarf's hand. Anya tosses off an 'I give up' throw of her hand and exaggerated eye-roll at Rasputin's comment. The smith looks to the paneling for now. << Worried about refugees coming in? Or the gang wars? Or just getting around to something you've wanted to do for years, perhaps? >> Any of the options seem plausible to him. << Is your staff preparing for anything unusual? >>
Rasputin shakes his head, "No, no." He hands the scrap to you, "See what you think?" He shakes his head, "All three actually. Being dis close to the dregs I've always worried about gangs or anything. And with the refugees, well it seemed like the right time." The 'wood' is dense, and has some heft to it. Not as dense as metal, not as light as wood. It is very odd, and it has been painted you are sure of it. Or stained perhaps? "And no, it isn't ironwood, or steelwood."
After a few minutes of looking over the wood, Pavel can only shrug. << It's interesting, I'll grant you that. But I'm afraid I'm not an arborist. *Yes* I know the word 'arborist,' >> he jokes to Rasputin. << Make it yourself? I'd think that if it was growing wild somewhere, there would be a market for it. >>
Rasputin chuckles softly, "It is kind of a bit of a side project of mine, though it does kind of grow wild, but most don't see it for what it is." He says, not really saying anything else. He grins and snaps his fingers, and the planks slide into place locking sealing closed. Well, that is the idea, then they stop and get stuck. He mutters, "OH I FIXED THAT!" He mutters a bit and chuckles and pulls out his hammer and chisel.
Pavel rightly observes, << You are not a very forthcoming little dwarf, Rasputin. >> He then chuckles off, << It's not as if I could steal your secrets, you know. Thought Anya might try to peek at a recipe or two. She's actually a seamstress. >> Perhaps that little bit of trivia wasn't completely necessary, but apparently he thought that it was germane to the conversation. With a nod given to the stuck track, he asks, << Does it need a push or anything? >>
Rasputin flips his fingers back, and it unrolls back to the storage place, "Net, net. It is magically driven, but it just got stuck." He mutters and looks over the run. He groans, "Da, dis it da problem." He taps slightly and removes a small burr. He stands bat, "OK, and again..." As he says that, the shutters slide closed and seals. He nods slowly, "And back," it slides back, "And forward..." they close. "Excellent." he grins.
The smith watches, then helps his girlfriend secure the horses to whatever passes as a post, feeling a bit like a fifth wheel. << Glad that it got fixed! >> is about the best he can offer.
Rasputin shakes his head, and slides it back, "OK, I'll fine tune it later." He chuckles, "So, I'm sorry, what brings you out here again?"
Pavel shrugs and gives Anya a pat on the butt. Oh boy. From the looks of that, he's going to pay for it later, and not in a fun way. << Oh, nothing really. Just giving Anya some experience on horseback. Y'know, ladylike sidesaddle for the city, and riding around when necessary. Horses don't run out of gas, >> he smiles. Then, almost as if a planned surprise, he blinks and gestures to one of the smaller - much smaller - saddlebags. << I have two items for you. It's taken quite a while, but whatever you're planning? You can keep working. Can we go inside? >>
Rasputin shakes his head, "I'm done for the day, go on inside and I'll clean up." He puts all of his tools in belt and all of the other supplies in a wooden box. He looks to you, "Go on in, da?" He motions you all to go in, he gathers everything up and goes around the other side of the building to the rear, walking out of view.
The big smith reaches out to remove one of the saddlebags from Zoyenka's side, then takes Anya's hand and enters the deli. Probably getting a quiet earful for the public attention to her derriere. Though maybe not, she is Pavel's girlfriend, after all.
YAKOV'S DELI
Rasputin comes in from the back entrance several minutes later. He has cleaned up his clothing, and changed his shirt. Not the same suit, but at least he is now fairly clean. He gets a pot of tea, and comes over to the two of you. He smiles, "May I join you two?"
<< I don't know, sir, have you spoken with management? >> Pavel replies to Rasputin before making a short sweeping gesture with his arm. << Plenty of chairs, my friend. >> The other hand brings up the saddlebag, putting it in Anya's lap - without complaint from the young woman. << This was some detailed work, Rasputin. Not like those tools, but it took some attention, and precious metals too. But it was something different! >> He smiles widely. Even work that you enjoy just becomes work sometimes.
Rasputin smiles and nods, "Well, what are you talking about?" He tugs his beard and ponders, "Oh, my canes, da?" He chuckles, "Have you finished them then?" He smiles a bit, "Really?"
Anya is actually the one who does the big reveal. Perhaps because the canes in Pavel's hands would look more like candy canes. In gold and silver polished so high that in sunlight it might be difficult to look at, the given inscriptions had been similarly detailed to perfection. From where he sits, Pavel places them on a thin piece of fabric to slide them across the table. << Just like you asked, just as I said I would do. Inscriptions, you can use it to parry a vibro-sword, and the point works against regular people, and gives the undead a nasty surprise. I hope that it's what you were looking for. Do I get to know what they'll do yet? >> He smiles, hopeful.
Rasputin takes the canes and looks over the work. He smiles broadly as he glides his hand over the smooth finely crafted surface. He nods ands smiles, "Good, very good." He looks up from examining the cane. He puts it down, then pulls up the other. He smiles, "They are lovely Pavel, this is amazing work." his voice has respect for your craft in it, "Now, I don't owe you more for these do I?"
Pavel shakes his head. << No, you don't. In fact, prices at the precious metal dealers were good when I went to buy them. So I owe you a refund. Sorry, but I like coins. >> He winks before pulling a smaller pouch from the saddle bag, one that jingles a little as it's slid across. Anya comments, << Please use it well, Little Russia could use such a thing. >>
Rasputin rolls his eyes, and takes the small sack. He grins, "Well, dery well." He is just marveling over the canes, "Well, now I just need to get my hands on a ley line, or something such as that. And I'll finish my work, but it will be a bit till then." He chuckles, "But these are just lovely, amazing work my friend."
Pavel is silent for a while, not sure what to say in response other than a polite 'thank you' as Rasputin acknowledges his work. << You know, I could engrave your name in the handle. But you need an entire ley line to do something? That's a lot of work. I'm sure it will be an interesting set of canes for an old man to get around on, right? >>
Rasputin chuckles softly, "Net, net. I don't need a whole ley line, just more magik dhan I normally can general myself." He shrugs a bit, "Or find someone willing to lend me a bit of magik for a few hours. But that is OK, I've waited this long, da?" He grins a bit, "Just amazing work though." He looks over a items of detail on the canes, "Just remarkable."
Pavel says easily, << You could take what I have. I'm resting right now anyway, and it doesn't take anything special to make shovels, plows and horseshoes. But I don't know if it's as much as you'd need. >> He grins, << You guys seem to really burn through energy, which sounds dangerous considering the wilderness where the lines exist. >>
Rasputin shrugs, "It is almost double what I normally hold." He chuckles a bit, "Which is kind of pain if you ask me, but I'll wait." He shrugs, "I'll figure something out, as I agree that going out to find various lines is kind of nasty business." He shrugs and tugs his beard.
Pavel can do nothing but nod again. Some people may call him magic, but from his own point of view he sure isn't, and doesn't really understand the mechanism of it. He gives Rasputin a big grin, and takes Anya's hand, rising to leave. << I'm glad that they'll work for you, my friend. If there's anything else you need, just swing by the forge. Now, we're off. I'm expecting a good talking-to shortly... >> As they fade away, Anya makes it clear that yes, there will be. Of course, between people like that, who can tell what really goes on.
