ArchivedLogs:Fateful Meeting

Fateful Meeting
Dramatis Personae Iolaus, Samuel	2012-12-16 A chance meeting reaps rewards
Location <NYC> Russian Tea Time - Upper East Side
This chic and upscale restaurant serves surprisingly little tea for their name -- though it can be found, on their menu, and quite good quality at that. Elegant and understated, there is an old-world feel to this place. For those who make their dress code (and book reservations enough in advance), the food here is good, hearty Russian fare, although the main attraction here comes not from their extensive food menu but from their extensive bar. Their vodka comes three double-shots to a flight, for those with strong constitutions (and a safe ride home.) Russian Tea Time is not an easy restaurant to get into, to be sure, but once you are in it is quite the time. Its customers are universally in suits or more formal, and quiet conversations occur at tables all over the restaurant. Despite the easy flow the alcohol, its customers are quite well behaved - or they quickly become customers no longer. It is the sort of place that, if not for a lack of cigar smoke and sepia tone, might very well have been ripped straight from a film noir movie. One guest, it seems, has been stood up from whatever plans they had. Sitting alone at a table set for two, glancing at his watch with a pursed expression, Iolaus is in a sharp edged black suit with just the faintest hint of blue pin-stripes. His well-starched shirt is a deep blue hue, offsetting the black and blue striped tie. He sighs and raises his hand to signal to a waiter to quietly order a drink. When in Rome. Sam's wearing a suit as he steps into the tea room. He's playing with his iPhone it would seem, smiling quietly to himself he seems only vaguely interested in his surroundings until he takes a seat. He quickly slips his phone back into his pocket. His attention taking in the room as he motions for the waiter. One table over, Iolaus looks up as the other man walks in. A hopeful look that sparks in his eyes dies quickly as he looks over the new occupant who is, apparently, not the person he was hoping it was. "Good evening," he says, voice quiet and smile thin. He nods once in greeting. He checks his watch once more, then sighs and picks up the menu. He mutters a quiet oath in Greek to himself, shaking his head once, twice. Nodding Sam smiles to the man. "Good evening." He notices the other mans look of disappointment. "I take it you were expecting someone else." He turns his attention to the waitress once she arrives. "I'll have a tea, milk... Not cream, two sugars." "Hm? Oh." Iolaus gives him a small smile and an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, it was nothing personal. Yes, I was. But it seems that there was a change of plans. I only wish I had been a party to them." he says, shrugging his shoulders once. "Still. Such is the way of business." Nodding Samuel smiles faintly. "I'd suggest using this to your advantage." He shakes his head slowly. "Make your associate work to earn back your favour." He chuckles. "It can be the difference between landing a deal and not." Iolaus gives the other man a curious look. "I wonder if my situation is any different. Fundraising is not quite a deal - one party ends up with all of the reward, and the other gets little or nothing. I would be content if he merely wrote me the check I am hoping for. Sweetening it would be cream on top, no?" he says, tilting his head to one side. He gestures to the empty chair across from him. "Please, if you don't have other plans, feel free." Nodding Sam gets up and moves to join Iolaus at his table. "Thank you, but yes. You can possibly use the deal to further your intentions." He shrugs a lazy shoulder. "The formula's fairly flexible." He studies the other man for a long moment. "If it isn't too impertinent of me, what are you fundraisin for?" "Not at all." Iolaus says, with a wide smile. "I'm fundraising for opening a hospital. Well, a clinic, to be precise. I've got the preliminary approvals straightened out, and we're trying to get enough capital to get it off of the ground." He shrugs his shoulders, slightly. "I had hoped that I would walk out of the meeting today with enough to push through the paperwork to get final approvals and start working on it full-time, but it seems that will have to wait." A pause, and another shrug of his shoulders. "It was a large ask anyway." Nodding Sam seems to give Iolaus slowly, his expression seems vaguely amused. "Well, it sounds like a worthwhile cause. I might be willing to offer my support. Though not to be rude, I'd need to consider your company and credentials before making any worth while contribution." Iolaus' eyes widen and he straightens up. "Of course," he says, reaching down into his briefcase and pulling out a folder. He places it on the table, logo facing the other man. A red snake wrapped around a staff, with a rising sun in the background is emblazoned across the front of it, with red text below: The Mendel Clinic. "It is a specialty clinic," he says, a note of caution in his voice, as he slides it across to the other man. "For mutants." His eyes are guarded as he watches the reaction of the other man. "My curriculum vitae is inside, as well as a white paper on our plans." Sam considers the folder briefly, his hand slipping into his pocket as he does so. He seems to pause on one page, his attention seeming to the outside world to drift for several moments. Then he smiles vaguely. "It's an impressive setup." He shrugs a shoulder thoughtfully for a moment. "I'll have to do some indpenedent research you understand, but I should be able to offer you something before too long." He chuckles in an amused fashion. "I like to think I can do a little good." Iolaus looks curiously at the other man, sitting back in his chair as he eyes him with a faint note of suspicion. "Well, our meeting is certainly fated, then. Please, vet away." He pauses, giving the other man a curious look. "You have to understand, sir, it's not often I come across anyone willing to even tolerate the idea of a specialty clinic as this one, nevertheless one willing to give any sort of assistance to it." Shrugging Samuel studies Iolaus. "Well, I've always thought it's not a good idea to target anyone for simply having a gene that's unpopular, it sets a dangerous precedent." He laughs as he sips his coffee. "I'll have some words with friends, see who I can find to help out." He offers his hand. "And I'll introduce myself while I try to remember my manners. I'm Samuel Griffith." Iolaus extends his hand to the other man, cautiously taking it with a small smile and a polite shake. "I find myself agreeing with you, completely. Iolaus Saavedro. It is certainly my pleasure to make your acquaintance." he says, leaning back and taking a sip of his drink. He glances around the room at the other patrons, checking to make sure they have not become the target of attention. "My contact information is in there. Please, I would very much appreciate any leads you can bring." "Then I'll see to it that my associates are given your details." He smiles a he finishes his drink. "I'm glad we've had a chance to meet, I'm very rarely able to find such a good conversation with my evening coffee. I generally just sit surfing the web." He sighs quietly. "I do however need to be going. I have work to attend to before my days over." "Of course." Iolaus says, a smile at the other man and a wave of his hand. "I don't mean to keep you. Thank you for any assistance you can give, and for the company at lunch. I admit, I was not looking forward to giving up this reservation with only me to use it." he says, with a wry smile. Nodding Sam gets out of his seat. "Don't worry, like I say it's good to get the break." He stands handing over the money for the coffee to the waitress, plus a decent tip. He then nods to Iolaus. "It's been a pleasure. I'll no doubt be in touch soon."