"Speaking of." Henry ducked behind the bar.
He popped back up with a very dusty and old looking bottle with what looked like Cyrillic on it. He added two glasses next to it
"Is that" Jason began.
"A bottle of Tsar Nicholas the Second's private stock of Vodka." Henry proclaimed.
"My history is a bit rusty." Jason said.
"You won't need a history lesson to know who this is for, my boy." Henry said with a wink.
Henry motioned toward another section of the pub. Jason took the bottle from the bar and walked towards the lone occupant of the section. He was a tall man with long hair. He turned as Jason approached, the man had intense eyes and beard. Jason stopped in his tracks somewhat taken aback. The man moved to a table and took a seat.
"I did not mean to startle, please sit." The man said.
Jason hesitantly sat down and placed the bottle and glasses between them. The man took the bottle in one hand and the glasses in the other. He put one in front of Jason and one in front of himself.
"Forgive my manners, Jason, my name Grigori." He said as he opened the bottle.
Jason coughed.
"How do you know my na- wait, Grigori. As in Rasputin?" Jason asked.
"The same." Rasputin nodded approvingly as he poured vodka into both glasses.
He motioned for Jason to take the glass. Jason picked up the glass.
"Zazdarovje." Rasputin said.
They both shot the vodka, Jason coughed.
"Look at them, they pillage and plunder and drink honey wine. Is simple life. They fight, drink, fight more and well, I'm sure you're smart enough to know what else." Rasputin poured another drink.
"What do you mean?"
"You have look of someone that always wonders what if."
Jason coughed again.
"Yes, I thought so. Is not good thing. Sure you could spend hours, days of your time wondering if doing this would have been better or being with that other woman would have been better." Rasputin poured Jason another drink.
Jason shot it and set the glass down.
"Point is, don't spend time worrying about past. It will cloud view of now and what will come. Henry has provided as usual, tell him thank you."
Rasputin stood and took the bottle. He set a small stack of coins on the table.
"That is for vodka."
He produced another small stack and sat them next to the first.
"Try to stay out head, da? Is not good for you."
Rasputin put the bottle to his lips and tipped it up. He nodded and walked away. Jason collected the coins and returned to the bar. Henry held his chin in his hand and watched Jason intently.
"He's a character isn't he?" Henry said.
"That was Rasputin? THE Rasputin." Jason said.
"Seems like a down to Earth kinda guy, what did he say to you?" Henry asked.
Jason put the first stack of coins on the table followed by the second. Henry eyed them and clucked his tongue.
"He must've really liked you, that's quite the tip." Henry said.
"Care to do the math?" Jason asked.