"So," Sabah picks up the next part of your conversation, smoothly but her tone is less cordial than before, "Your dad is a World War Two buff? Does he specialize in little red flags with a swastika on them?"
Oh goody, more people thinking you are a Nazi. (Though, you will admit having more than a passing knowledge of the Nazi ideology is somewhat suspicious in Brockton Bay) Not like Victoria Dallon hasn't ruined your social life at Arcadia by frequently mentioning that Max Anders is suspected to be a white supremacist. Its not like you go around pointing out how New Wave is guilty of several crimes including emotional child abuse.
(Just look at Amy Dallon and the way Carol Dallon publically treats the greatest hero on New Wave's roster as the least, and all of those 'Panacea and my daughter, Glory Girl' moments. If that isn't indicative of emotional abuse, you'd eat your hat.)
Well, he is, and you're not, but that's a bit besides the point. Its incredibly rude. And, frankly you're a bit tired of it.
You don't want to cloak yourself in fear and death like you did against Jessica, but you do want a little more 'oomph' behind you right now. Your face becomes grave, and you let indignant aggression bleed into your stance, as your forehead cracks open and blood leaks down your face.
"We are not our parents," you snap as you stand, "I understand that the conversation we had before is uncomfortable, but it gave you an out with Johann's fascism. One that wouldn't get you
fired."
Sabah is looking at you eyes wide.
"I know that if I confirm whether he is or isn't, the next words out of your mouth will be imply the same
about me. Because I know things. Because I am educated about and do not wish to see a repeat of a great baseless tragedy. I am tired of people thinking that because I am white and wealthy in a city with a neo-Nazi criminal organization that I
must be a neo-Nazi. I
resent that inaccurate conclusion, Miss Sabah!"
Are those tears beginning to form in her eyes? Her lip is trembling a bit. You've overdone it. And consequently you feel bad. Sabah is a nice girl, you just wanted to make it clear how offensive you found what she was implying.
You take a deep breath and calm yourself. You offer the poor girl you've nearly driven to tears an apologetic and sheepish smile.
"I apologize, Miss Sabah, I lost my temper. Never-the-less my point remains, education does not mean bigotry, just like it does not mean free-thinking."
She sniffs and pulls a handkerchief from one of her pockets. She dabs at her eyes. Sabah looks at you and offers a similar smile back.
"I'm sorry, Theo, I didn't mean... You're bleeding!"
That you are, you dab at your forehead with your fingers and pull them back to look at their red stained tips. You attempt to wave off Sabah, but she is already in your space dabbing at your face with the cloth she just dabbed at her eyes with. Not wanting to let her see the perfect cut of your mark, you manage to trap her hand as it goes to wipe the blood away. A quick moment later and you are the one holding the handkerchief to your forehead.
"Thank you," you offer quietly and genuinely.
As you sit in the incredibly awkward silence, you again curse your seeming abandonment by the elder men, who are apparently having sex with the coffee machine. Sabah is still standing near you, seemingly a bit lost. You had an idea earlier and now might actually be a decent time to bring it up.
You pick up the sketchbook that had fallen from your lap. And start flicking through it again. You can feel a bit more blood weep out into the cloth you're holding to your head. You're not sure when you'll get used to that feeling.
You project honesty, some excitement, and a little bit of inspiration. You also instantly know that she doesn't want to offend you again, despite also wanting to go have some non-lewd private time.
"Sabah," you say, drawing her attention to her designs, "I have to say I'm
really impressed by your work. You have a real talent here. But, as I'm sure you already know, you need more than talent to succeed in fashion."
Sabah looks intrigued, and a bit confused, but offers a nod of confirmation. You give her another smile, and manage to coax one out of her.
"Image and exposure are critical, and I think I might be able to help you with that. There's a large party tonight that has many politicians, the city's wealthy, representatives from the PRT, the Protectorate, and the Wards. What is most important is that many of the politicians bring their teen and college aged
daughters. Who, from personal experience with many of these girls, love spending money on fashion."
You give her a moment to let it start to sink in. Her excitement is building a bit, though suspicion is starting to show.
"I happen to have two tickets, and no one else to bring. I'd be happy to bring you along with me for a da-" you tongue might have just tripped on itself, "a discount on my next purchase? It would be a fantastic chance to show off your designs in person."
You know that your cheeks are red, and its not because of the blood. Sabah pick up on it though, given the quirk of her lips. Overall, though, she is looking a bit disquieted.
"Did you just ask me out?"
You've been caught out.
"It'd be strictly business, a chance for you to get your name out there," you say trying to recover, though you aren't entirely successful as her lips quirk again, "Unless, you'd like it to be something more?"
Now she's sporting a full grin and is amused.
"I forgot how clumsy some guys can get when asking a girl out. It was a nice try though."
She heads back to work, and quite frankly, you're a bit bummed. Sabah seems to be thinking a lot harder than before, and the minutes pass quietly save for the sound of your suit being tailored.
By the time she speaks up again, your forehead has closed up.
"It can be
just business? Not funny business, or hank-panky business? We arrive separately, enter together, I'm free to go talk about my wares, you're free to flirt with other girls, and then we go home separately?"
You nod slowly at her strangely intense and piercing stare.
"There would have to be a modicum of 'date' to it, but just enough to say that we're there together, whether it's a pleasure date or a business date. Instead of something that might paint you as..."
"Using my body to seduce you for my own gains and then dumping you as soon as I got what I wanted."
Sabah is a sharp one. You hope that whatever the outcome of taking her to the party is positive. Having her as an asset could come in handy. She has ambition, maybe fronting some capital? It would diversify your portfolio.
She nods sharply.
"I'll go, as a
business," she stresses the word, "deal. When does the party start?"
"Technically six, but no one really starts arriving until seven."
The rest of the time being taken to tailoring your suit is full of discussion about what Sabah actually has. Your conversation is briefly interrupted when you remove yourself to the bathroom to clean up. On the way back out you grab your wallet. You remove forty dollars from it and lay them on the table.
The indignation in her eyes builds rather rapidly.
"For the handkerchief, blood doesn't come out easily," you state quickly.
Luckily, you only have to survive a brief death glare, followed by a quick thank you. Discussion head back to what she's going to wear.
Sabah's dress and jewlery:
[] Write in/Art/Picture
Finally your father arrives, with Johann in tow. It's been hours. Old Johann for his part gets you a few more upscale things that don't need to be tailored, for day to day use, until such time you can get tailored things. He also starts needling Sabah about marriage. And being Arab.
"Mr. Heimer," she states smoothly over his correction of 'Herr,' "Theo here told me the most interesting tidbit about myself. You see, my family is from Basra, Iraq. But before that my family came from southern Iran. I'm Indo-Iranian, or Persian, not Arabic."
Old Johann shoots you, then your father a grim look. When your father nods, the old coot breaks out into a wide smile.
When you left forty-five minutes later, you were still shooting Sabah apologies with your eyes. Old Johann is a bit more educated about Nazi matters of race than you thought. She was being subjected to a list of suitably young men that Johann knew.
"Mr. Heimer."
"Herr Heimer."
His correction goes ignored, yet again.
"I'm going to the party tonight with Theo. There's no need for your matchmaking."
Ah, her revenge, just as you leave. Such a crafty one. The gleeful words of Old Johann drift away as your father is practically dragging you to the car, stone faced. The tailored suit is stored, and you slip into the car.
The beginning of the ride is done in silence, and you take a moment to e-mail Lisa back with an idea of where to have your meeting.
=====
There's a nice dinner and dance place on the Boardwalk,
Fire & Ice. Its expensive enough, and exclusive enough, to warrant calling ahead for seating, but isn't so upscale that well-to-do families or college student with some extra money can't go.
Upper middle class at best.
But it does have the advantage of more private booths in the back, a hold over from the Bad Old Days, when independents and villains would meet to discuss terms. It wasn't Somer's Rock level of neutrality, not much can match a deaf barkeep, but it was better than drawing attention by going to a place known to be a meeting place.
It would be a nice dinner, with some discussion, and if things went well, some dancing. Even if she feels the same way about her 'uncle' as you do about your father, it would look very much like a date. Giving the both of you proper excuses.
With how she acted earlier, Lisa will be able to play the part of girl being woo'ed by a wealthy young man well. Through proper conversation, you should be able to suss out her powers, or have a good idea of what they do and how to use them.
The reply is a interesting.
YOU CAN GET US INTO FIRE & ICE?! Of course you can. You're Theo Anders, you make more in pocket change than most people earn.
I hear its the best place for underage people to go have more club type fun. I'm wicked excited! Yeah, Tuesday works for me.
I'm really
glad that we can help each other if it means I get to have fun too! 
======
Shortly after receiving Lisa's reply your father speaks. His eyes are forward and his words are weighty.
"Its never been about race, Dark Prince."
The incredulity on your face would be worthy of a 'funny video' show. Max looks at you, before returning his attention to the road.
"Its always been about power. I simply inherited a racist power structure from your grandfather and it gives me power. I am not superior because of my skin color, or even my birth. I worked hard, Theo, to make MedHall what it is, and keeping it legal, barring hiring practices, so that you and Aster would have something when I died."
Another heavy look is shot your way.
"I don't particularly care about skin color, I care about usefulness. The Empire is useful. And as such I use it to the best of my abilities and fulfil my obligations to the organization. This organization is something that you will inherit from me."
"You asked that girl to the ball, and played the party line well enough, that you can satisfy the hunger for power with having a beautiful and ambitious young woman on your arm brings and without destroying your ties to your already established power. You were then going to wait until we showed up at the party to tell me, forcing my hand in a splendid, if amatuer, power-play. I approve. You keep it up and you will make a fine King one day."
Theo's Response:
[] Disbelief - "No way, why didn't you say something before if that was true?"
[] Agreement - "That's... rather close to what I was thinking. Minus hormones."
[] Denial - "That's not it at all! She's simply useful social camouflage. Half of Arcadia already thinks I'm an E88 sympathizer. Its to get the heat off of me."
=====
XP earned: 4 xp
Theo's Training:
Theo will have a single training block of 5 hours (one training day) in the afternoon.
[] Write in
[] Purchase:
-[] Write in
[] Bank
=====
Sabah's actions:
Sabah and her response to TDP. The part where she was trying to find out if he was a Nazi was one of Theo's hot-buttons, and he can be rather scary even if he isn't full Dread Lord. But his apology was heartfelt (and social-fu'd to be a better apology) and so Sabah could work past it. She has been asked out prior to her trigger, when she was younger, but people weren't fucking cock smoochers about her rejection back in middle and high school.
Sabah is a bit business savvy. TDP is Exalted, and trying to be somewhat subtle which leads to something of a bi-polar disorder. If TDP delivers, Sabah is in a really good spot. It increases her socio-economic standing by a lot. Sabah realizes this and is willing to swallow her doubts and fears for this chance. Especially since there will be Law Enforcement at this party (PRT/Protectorate) and she is denying TDP any real chance to do anything untoward by arriving and leaving separately.
She's a smart girl, and the rolls said she was gonna do it as a business deal. It would take some social fu at the party to get her to change her mind from business partners-ish to friends-or-more (Plus her pesky sexuality).
If the part goes well for Sabah on any level, and enough attention is payed to her, TDP will gain the 'Business (Sabah's fashion)' intimacy and 'Sabah's currently unnamed business' as a resource. It won't make the resource background go up at all (yet), but it will provide some benefits, such as ease of access to high end clothing for women. Or for TDP if he doesn't want to go to Johann's. It will also, if it goes well, unlock Sabah as the default date to any socialite type party TDP goes to.
Keep doing well by Sabah and she will become an ally and TDP will find out who she is some of the time (Parian).
Post Leviathan this could be REALLY awesome, but it is a long way away. 
