Theo Anders and the Black Exaltation[Worm/Exalted][Hiatus]

You decide as you head over to most of New Wave's second generation to keep all of the contact information you obtained, it could come in handy later. Perhaps you could start something like a spy network amongst them.

You'll keep in touch with the girls, talk to them every now and again, and if they delivered a juicy piece of gossip they passed on to you, you might reward them with a date. The more consistently you received information, the more likely those dates might turn into something more. You'd have to somehow disseminate that information subtly, and keep them striving amongst themselves to be the one to catch your eye.

Playing them against one another would keep them from interfering with the rather daunting challenge of bedding all of the powered women in the Empire.

Admittedly, you were going to start a collection for the underwear you've been given. Phone numbers were one thing, but how many men can claim to have been given those phone numbers on the woman's undergarments?

=====

"You can call me 'Nemo,'" you offer a particularly wide smile, "I'll let you guess my name, it'll be more fun this way."

It was particularly satisfying to see the muscles on Dean's jaw jump as he fights to keep the smile on his face from slipping.

You dance around them, metaphorically, with words. Keeping Dean from interfering in your courtier's work, and engaging Amy. The Dallon sisters were rather notorious for being very protective of one another.

You didn't really have to work to keep the surprisingly shy and quiet Amy's attention on you, but when Victoria left for the bathroom the adopted Dallon followed leaving you with Eric, Dean, and a very smug looking Sabah.

Revealing your true identity was a bit tempting, but doing such a thing was hardly as subtle as you'd like, and would be rather crass.

Instead, like a maestro conducting an orchestra, you waited patiently and directed the conversation, all three of them playing their parts and speaking when you wanted and spoke what you guided them into saying.

You weren't really using your power for this, you didn't need it at this point, but only a fool wouldn't use every tool in their kit. Still, it was your nature that shined through.

This was what Max Anders did as CEO and owner of MedHall, how he spoke as Kaiser, addressing the new bloods and those who wavered. This was nothing more than pure human skill taken to the extreme, but... in the end, anybody could do this.

It was entertaining to do so while you waited for Amy and the Harpy to return, as leaving before they did so would be incredibly rude.

They did come back after, even if Victoria was walking awkwardly. The blonde had a slightly sheepish look on her face as they approached, Amy wore one of slight determination to counter it.

She wants to ask you out. Amy Dallon wants to ask you out. Previously, you had dreamed of such a thing. Even though you were courting Gwen, Amy Dallon had always stood out in ways that looks never did. That she would ask you out had been something you had wished for on a birthday cake, once upon a time.

You would avoid the issue for the moment, perhaps when you came back you would allow her the chance.

Something white flittered on the corner of your vision. Sabah is radiating smug satisfaction, and Victoria is looking everywhere but your compatriot.

"The sisters return, good," your smile grows a tad, "I didn't want to leave without saying 'farewell.'"

"You're leaving?" Amy's face pulls down in a frown.

"For the moment. Think of it this way, you'll have the chance to workout who I am. We'll be back, for sure."

Amy looks like she's about to protest again, but Dean moving to his girlfriend cuts her off, as does Sabah's parting shot.

"Call me sometime, Victoria.~ We can do a private fitting."

You have never seen Glory Girl turn so red and not be angry.

Before the two of you commit to any new activity you stop at the refreshments table and pick up some drinks, juice for you and champagne for her. Surprisingly, Sabah pounds the first one, before grabbing a second to sip.

"I can't believe I did all that!" she exclaims with a giggle, "I'm not like this usually."

"And how are you normally?" you say with a small frown.

"Quiet, I like to be left alone for the most part, and just be me. I've never really been much of a social butterfly, but I made a friend today and maybe a few dates!"

"That's good, right?"

She nods.

"Yeah, but... I'm not really looking for a fling," she bites her lower lip, "I'm more of a relationship person."

"Nothing about being a relationship person precludes you from going on dates. Dates are how one finds relationships, right?"

You think. You don't really have a lot of experience.

Honestly, Sabah looks adorable when she's biting her lip, but she's starting to ruin her make-up.

"You're messing up your lipstick, Sabah."

There is some tension in the semi-quiet as she checks her lipstick and touches it up. Her compact closes with a snap, and she gives you big doe eyes.

She wants to tell you something, but is unsure of what she wants to tell you, or even if she really wants to tell you.

"You know, Theo... nevermind. Back to the masses?" Sabah says as she offers a small smile.

"Back to courting the mob we go," you say as you offer your arm.

You drifted about, much more languidly this time, making small talk. The both of you quickly get back into the rhythm and start having fun as you charmed and seduced your various contemporaries. When you returned to school after the holidays, you'd be looked upon favorably. At least, by those who went to Arcadia. The ones who didn't frequently left calling cards for later contact.

You met more than one of Sabah's peers and you could tell she would be looked upon well when she returned to her institution of learning.

As you drifted about, you focused more on your comrade than the conversations at hand. You could tell Sabah was enjoying herself, and, most surprisingly, despite her claim of pure homosexuality, she liked you. The older girl found you charming and pleasant to be around. Someone she would have called a friend, were you in her age group or went to college with her.
It was quite possible, you think, that the two of you could have been more than friends, a lesbian and her beard with benefits. Or maybe even an actual relationship, if you had been in her age group before all of this.

Well, if you hadn't been a tubby ball of man-lard.

Still, you chitchat over overpriced hors d'oeuvres and champagne, between schmoozing the various ladies and winning the admiration of the men. And between the two of you, you were quickly building a sizable collection of contact information (and underwear. Neil Patrick Elton of Elton General Contracting had to be let down gently when he tried to give you his silk boxers. Funny music and theatre man that he was he played it off as a joke, and made sure no hard feelings remained. Only hot steamy ones. Winky face.)

Eventually, Sabah became bored with the small talk. She indicated the Wards and the group of children and teens around them.

"Let's go talk to them, and unwind a bit. Just remember, Vista is really young. It's one thing to hit on Panacea and Glory Girl... It'd be really sketchy," the look you receive could probably hurt lesser beings, "And I would have to re-evaluate my opinion of you."

You chuckle.

"I happen to be a member of the unofficial Vista fanclub, Best Little Sister Vista Fanclub."

Sabah snorts. You frown in response. The club was working real hard on getting recognized as official. You plow on, letting it slide for now. She could be introduced to the club at a later date.

"However, Shadow Stalker looks like she might be someone easier for the both of us to hit on, you more than I. Look at the redhead she's talking to. Look at the way she smiles at Stalker, they know each other."

Sabah's lips pull to one side in a considering look.

"Maybe but I don't think they know each other, if you know what I mean."

In the Biblical sense. You nod.

Now that everything is settled the two of you drift over that way.

Plan:
[X] Wards Interaction (Locked)
-[] Major/Minor
--[] Write in

XP Gain: 3xp

Mote gain: 1 (I have decided to stop writing in more gains when it isn't down to the wire)