27 Blueprints -- Dictated

[teds_out]

[When Ted wakes up and discovered he had gone to sleep simply out of boredom to wake up two weeks later, it didn't exactly grip him with the same anxiety as it had the first time it happened to him, but it did cause him to think that maybe it was a signal of some sorts. A signal to get off his ass and actually do something.

He'd spent most of the morning simply mulling over the matter, skimming the journal idly and glancing at his various belongings-- like the trashcan in the corner, filled to the brim with crumpled papers of failed architectural designs.

Around eleven, he would write in the journal.]

Vivian
Hey. Uh, sorry for not checking up on you, I was kind of in a loss-induced coma. [He continues on smoothly, unfazed.] I know it's still kind of cold out, but do you want to go take a walk in town?

Everyone
Yo, guys, it's Ted. Got knocked out for a couple weeks, so I hope I didn't miss anything too exciting. Hey, um, I guess this is directed more toward people who know me, but. You guys want to hang over at my place later? [He gives a shrug despite himself.] There's not really an occasion. But hey, why does there need to be? We're alive. Young. We need to rile this place up! Get lively!

Plus I haven't watched Galactic Battles in forever. Who's with me?

Comments

---> action~

[formersocialite]

I'll see you there.

[Vivian closes her journal and tucks it away safely before slipping on her coat and gloves, then heads down to the lobby.]

word

[teds_out]

[Ted gets there about half a minute later. He's still tugging on a coat.]

Oh, shoot-- how long have you been out here?

[formersocialite]

About five minutes or so. Not that long.

[She offers him a smile.] Ready to go?

[teds_out]

[He shrugs his shoulders a bit to straighten his coat.]

Good. Yeah, I'm all set.

[He gives a smile, raising his arm in an offer to link them.]

Shall we?

[formersocialite]

[Taking the offered arm, Vivian nods.]

Indeed, we shall.

[She knew it was chilly as she was out earlier at the stables.]

Aside from being asleep for a while, how are things with you?

[teds_out]

[And Ted leads her out.]

Hmmn. I'm doing pretty well. It wasn't a really restfuh.. [He lifts up his unoccupied hand to cover a yawn, then gives an amused sound.] restful sleep, as you can see, but I guess that's to be expected with a loss.

How about you?

[formersocialite]

The losses don't really work out in anybody's favour I think. [She replies in a sympathetic tone before cracking a smile at the yawn.]

I'm good, yeah. Got a surprising present from home not long after Christmas. A pleasant one.

Did you receive a gift from home, Ted?

[teds_out]

If I did, the castle didn't make it really obvious. For all I know, it's buried somewhere in the depths of my room. [A grin.] What'd you get?

[formersocialite]

You should probably take another look around-it could be something really important. [She thought her gift was.]

My horse. Her name's Artemis.

[teds_out]

No way! I'm so happy for you.

[formersocialite]

Yeah? Thanks, Ted. I was really worried about her.

[teds_out]

Heh, didn't know the castle had it in it.

[formersocialite]

I like to think that the castle isn't always a bad place.

[teds_out]

Bad place? No. Bad host? Ehh.

[He lifts his hands up and down in the universal 'wish-washy' sign.]

[formersocialite]

I see your point. [A beat.] At least the people here are lovely?

[teds_out]

[He gives a smile.]

The people here are great.

[He leans over, placing a kiss on her cheek.]

[formersocialite]

Yeah, they are.

[She smiles a little before turning her attention ahead of her again.]

Ted, if I told you that I was involved in the spy world back home, would you believe me?

[teds_out]

I have seen small, brightly-colored horses that could talk.

You being a spy in comparison is hardly unbelievable.

[formersocialite]

Point taken.

Although, I'm not actually a spy. I just got caught up in it through no fault of my own. There's a story behind it; a long one.

[teds_out]

Yeah? I'm listening.

[formersocialite]

I was led to believe that my father was an oil executive and that he travelled a lot due to his job. That's why he wasn't around. I hosted a party at my home a few months ago and the CIA came along, telling me that my life was in danger. An enemy of my father's was looking for a key-at the time I didn't realise what the key was for. Anyway. The CIA informed me that my father was an international arms dealer and he was on the most wanted list. I didn't believe them at first until they give me proof of my father's dealings. They were going to take me into witness protection and I said no because I wanted answers from my father and I wanted to do things my own way. So, I helped the CIA to take down the man who was after me. One of their agents posed as me and when she got into trouble, I got on my horse and took another agent to help her. I thought it was the end of it but then when I was bringing my horse back to the stable, I was confronted by the man who wanted the key. He told me about my father, that he had groomed me all of his life to take over his business and be his successor. I didn't believe him and he was going to shoot me so I startled him with my horse, grabbed a shotgun that was hidden on the saddle and shot him. I had no other choice, it was self defence.

The CIA left and I thought about what the man had said and the key. Turns out it was a necklace my father had given me when I was a young girl. It gave me access to a chip that had my father's secret bank accounts. I found it hidden away in his office after I had used the key. By this stage, my father was in CIA custody and because of that, his lawyer came along with a letter from him, saying what he wanted for me, that he wished for me to take over his business. I point blank refused and his lawyer pointed a gun at me so I stabbed his hand with a letter opener and ran out of there, catching the next flight to America to tell the CIA what had happened.

I had come to trust and befriended one of the agents in particular. Like me, his father wasn't around and he had gotten sucked into the spy world through no fault of his own. I wanted to get access to his account in the hope that I would learn more about him. So, I posed as my father's new account holder and got access to the bank, taking a safety deposit box. Contained within it were pictures and newspaper clippings of my achievements. I was confused because despite my father's absence, he was still keeping an eye on me and seemed proud of me. The CIA soon discovered that there was more and my father's account had to be taken down. I agreed to help them freeze my father's accounts on the condition that I would get to meet him and ask the questions that I had. The agent I trusted promised that I would and I went into the bank again to do what needed to be done.

My father's lawyer came along when I was in the bank and told me that the CIA was lying to me, using me for their own needs and I wouldn't get the meet with my father that I wanted. He gave me his card and I travelled back to the CIA headquarters in the states and I was told that the meet up with my father wouldn't happen. I felt betrayed and angry because I trusted them; they had broken that trust and now I would never know why my father did what he did. I broke off all ties with the CIA and never looked back.

[teds_out]

[Holy smokes. That huge drama fest sounded like it came fresh out of a suspense movie. Ted didn't disbelieve her, but it was still quite a bit to swallow.

He lets the silence linger as he gives her a solemn look in case she wanted to explain why she'd felt the need to tell him all this.]

[formersocialite]

[There's a another bit of silence before she looks at him again.]

I know it sounds completely insane, but it's true. I just figured that I should tell you because I trust you with it. No one really knows this about me.

[teds_out]

Hey, it doesn't sound completely insane. You know what sounds completely insane? A sentient castle that can simultaneously grant wishes and somehow take away your ability to design anything.

[formersocialite]

That's an excellent point and yet here we are, in a sentient castle that grants people wishes and takes thing from them.

It still does sound insane when you think about it.