“Did you forget about me already, Ben?” Elise asks, face drawn up in a mock pout. She breaks into a smile as she steps through the doorway of his office, a stack of papers in tow. Of all of Julian’s staff, Elise likes Benjamin the most. They’ve known each other for a long time– longer than she and Julian, even– and he is the reason they met in the first place. Elise knows she and Julian were destined to be together, one way or another, but all credit goes to Ben for helping speed fate along. He put them in the same room together on the night they met, and, as the saying goes, the rest is history.
“It’s nothing exciting, unfortunately,” she says, holding the papers out at arm’s length for him to take. “It’s my half of the speech for the French-American dinner next week. I figured I’d deliver it myself, since, well– it’s all in French. You might need a translator.”
A smile, albeit a somewhat forced one, spreads across Benjamin’s lips as Elise makes her way into his office, a small pout causing her lip to jut out. It’s not that Benjamin doesn’t enjoy her company, because he truly does, but there really is something about meetings that fall after three o’clock that grate his nerves in just the right way to make him viciously irritated. Still, he’d rather it be her interrupting his time alone than someone else that isn’t nearly as charismatic or as well liked by him.
“Only slightly,” he replies as he twists in his chair, allowing his feet to fall to the ground before he scoots closer to his desk. “I’m sure you were swimming around somewhere in the back of my brain, so don’t worry too much.” The smile remaining on his lips grows at his comment as he lets out a small chuckle at his own joke.
The smile drops and his eyebrows raise as she holds out the papers to him, arms both reaching forward to take them as if they contain every illicit thing he’s done. “I might be able to read some of it, you know,” he comments, fingers already flipping through the stack of papers to see if he recognizes anything. “I know some French. Some very basic French, mind you, but it’s something.”
The streets of D.C. were swarming with tourists, and the occasional local, clawing their way through the crowds to catch a glimpse of the woman who’d inspired inexpressible interest and unfathomable vitriol in the 70s as she made the short walk from her limousine to the Four Seasons lobby. As deliberation on the Disarmament Bill roused a similar level of clashing opinions, long - time activist Yoko Ono made the trip to D.C. to advocate on behalf of gun control – harnessing her own husband’s death to stake her claim. iI wasn’t altogether unusual to see a celebrity in the city, though hers was a presence that made waves - and made it near impossible to hail a cab.
Glancing to another victim of the pandemonium, Luka lent a sympathetic look. ❛ Almost forty years since Lennon’s death, and we’re still splitting hairs over the same argument. ❜ He pocketed his phone, eyes narrowing in thinly - veiled annoyance, ❛ Hell – we’ll be waiting all night at this rate. ❜
If there was one thing that was apparent to most people upon meeting Benjamin for the first time, it was that he had little to no patience for anything or anyone, let alone a so-called celebrity who was keeping him from reaching his intended destination on time.
His attention had been focused on his phone throughout the entirety of the time that he had been held up in the mass of people that seemed unable to move even an inch, so much so that he hadn’t noticed a somewhat familiar face looking towards him until they’d begun to spoke. With a quick glance in their direction, Benjamin nodded in agreement before returning his attention back to his phone.
“Looks like it,” he added, yet again confirming that he, too, was frustrated with the current situation but in a way that wouldn’t reveal the deep-seated rage that existed inside him at the present moment. “Hope those shoes are comfortable.”
Hans shrugs, smug. “Which is precisely why this works.”
He watches Ben shift in his chair, leaning forward with expectation. It’s not because I promised, that it’s true. Truthfully, Hans had stopped by with intentions somewhere between talks of the gun bill and personal distraction, two points which bounced off one another with ease around Benjamin Quigg. He was the sort of mystery which infuriated Hans to not have yet figured out; a little like Laura, or Luka, or Sarah Jane — and more than them, he was a mystery with a key connection to the President of the United States.
“Well, it’s always been business and pleasure, isn’t it?” Hans looks around the room, taking in the new space; he hadn’t been to this side of the White House before. “I was in a meeting down the hall,” he says, starting towards Ben’s desk, “now I’m off to get drink and I thought,” he leans forward also, placing both hands flat on the surface, leveling his face to Ben’s, “Who’s the one person on the floor I can actually stand?” He shrugs, “Laura Bellamy wasn’t available, so here I am.”
He punctuates the quip with another smile. First, pleasure. After a bourbon or two, business. Hans bites down on his lip as though, really, flustered to ask: "You wanna get a drink with me, Benny?“
There’s always been something about Hans that’s interested Benjamin, though it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what it is. It’s certainly not his smugness, given that Benjamin has it in spades, and it’s not the flirtatious smirks or the intelligent quips. No, Benjamin’s used to all of that. It’s something deeper, something that Hans manages to keep hidden despite Benjamin’s best efforts to coerce it out of him, and it frustrates Benjamin to no end.
“I’m the second choice?” Benjamin questions, overlooking the comment about a meeting despite being interested in who exactly it was with. His brow remains raised as he feigns surprise at being Hans’s second option. “I don’t know whether I should be flattered or shocked that I wasn’t first.” In all honesty, he’s not bothered by either alternative.
💓 When did they have their first crush?
❤ Have they ever been in love?
💕 How easily do they fall in love?
💖 How do they say ‘I love you’ without really saying it?
😕 Have they ever said ‘I love you’ without meaning it?
👀 Would they ever enter/have they ever entered into a friends with benefits relationship?
💋 How old were they when they had their first kiss?
🚗 When did they go on their first date?
🌹 What is their idea of a perfect date?
🔑 At what point would they move in with a partner?
💟 What is their stance on PDA?
🍵 Do they prefer to ask out a partner or be asked?
👥 What is my muse’s sexual & romantic orientation?
💦 When did they lose their virginity?
⁉ Have they ever questioned their sexuality?
💡 What made them realize their sexuality?
💌 When was their first serious relationship?
💘 What was their most serious relationship?
💝 What was their most recent serious relationship?
💗 What advice would they give a potential partner about making their relationship last if they could with no judgment?
💫 Have they ever been hit/struck by a partner?
❌ What is the biggest mistake they make in their relationships?
💥 What was their worst relationship?
😓 Have they ever cheated on a partner?
😢 Have they ever been cheated on by a partner?
💞 Would they ever enter/have they ever entered into a polyamorous relationship?
😭 When was their first breakup?
💔 What was their worst breakup?
👍 What was their most amicable breakup?
🌙 Have they ever had a one night stand?
🍷 How far would they go on a first date?
💍 Would they ever get married?
💎 Would they rather propose or be proposed to?
💒 What kind of wedding would they want to have?
👶 Do they want children?
🍼 Could a partner ever change their mind on children?
❔ Ask your own question!
1. What are three Netflix shows that they’ve rated five stars?
2. Where do they prefer to read? On the sofa, in bed, at a table, on the porch, in a cafe?
3. Do they like to play games? What kind of games: video, card, board? What are some of their favorites?
4. What’s their food weakness? What food can they never turn down?
5. Do they prefer movies or TV shows? Why?
6. What holiday is their favorite? Which is their least favorite?
7. What’s their diet like? Are they vegetarian, vegan? Do they have any food allergies that make them have a special diet?
8. What sort of toys did they play with as a child?
9. How often do they go grocery shopping? Do they tend to do one large trip, or smaller ones throughout the week?
10. Do they eat breakfast? What’s a typical breakfast look like for them?
11. Do they like going to museums? What type of museums do they like to go to? Art, science, historical; interactive, quiet, a mix?
12. How do they organize their books? Alphabetical by author, by title? By size, color, date published? Is there any rhyme or reason?
13. Have they ever been do Disney World/Land, or any other amusement park? What do they prefer to do at them: go on the rides, play the games, eat the food?
14. How do they eat their popcorn? What do they put on it?
15. When do they pay their bills? As soon as the bill comes in? At the last moment? Or are most of their bills automatically taken out of their account?
16. What time do they normally go to bed? How many hours of sleep do they usually need to function in the morning?
17. Do they have cable, or do they rely mostly on Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services?
18. What is their preferred weather? What would be a perfect weather day?
19. Are they more of a snacker throughout the day, or they eat three meals and call it a day?
20. Have they ever had an imaginary friend?
21. What were they a part of in high school/college, if they went? Were they a part of any clubs, did they play any sports? What clique would they have been considered a part of?
22. Do they have a favorite restaurant? How often do they go to it, and what’s their usual order?
23. How do they prefer to watch movies? In the theater, on a streaming site, from an owned DVD/digital download, rented from somewhere?
24. Do they watch any sports? What are they a fan of, and what teams do they root for? Do they watch the games/matches on TV or do they try to be there for some in person? Do they just catch the highlights on their phone later on?
25. What do they prefer to do in the summertime? Do they like going to the beach, do they prefer camping, staying in the city? Do they like to stay indoors and away from the heat?
“If I lied and said yes,” Hans starts, half way into the office, “would you at least pretend to believe me?” Cue the smile: the trademark Starke grin, which was sharp, disarmingly charming, and sleazy all around.
He doesn’t wait for a response; instead, Hans takes the final two steps inside, swinging the door closed behind him. “You secretary really likes me,” he says, a little too proud of his ways. “So— no, we didn’t.” Have a meeting, that is. “And yes, Sarah told me,” — about your necessarily inconvenient schedule — “which is why she made me promise it wasn’t for business.”
“Didn’t you know? I spend most of our conversations pretending to believe the things that come out of your mouth,” Benjamin responds with a smile, teeth surprisingly spotless given the amount of coffee he consumes on a daily basis.
As Hans steps into the room and closes the door, Benjamin sighs and heaves his legs off of the desk before scooting in closer, folding his arms over the wooden surface as he raises his eyebrows expectantly. “Guess I’ll have to give Sarah another breakdown on when and when not to allow people in here. Not enjoying meetings this late in the day doesn’t mean I’d rather spend the time with random visitors.” Interest piqued at the idea of not having to discuss business, Benjamin leans in closer. “If this isn’t a business call, what is it exactly?”
“Seven. No, seven.” Benjamin had been on the phone with his ex-wife for nearly thirty minutes, though the majority of the time had been spent listening to her drawl on about their eldest daughter’s most recent date with a boy, the son of some senator that Benjamin didn’t care to remember the name of, and their youngest’s recent success on an exam in her Introduction to Philosophy course because, of all the things she could have studied, she chose Philosophy. The conversation had taken a recent turn, however, and was now focused on setting up a time for the family to grab dinner together. Given the state of his relationship with his ex-wife one wouldn’t expect Benjamin to freely agree to casual dinner dates with her and the girls present, but his youngest had been begging for months and, for once, he had a decent chunk of time open in his schedule.
“No, I can’t do six. It has to be seven,” he grumbled into the phone as he kicked back in his office chair and dropped both of his feet, one crossed over the other, onto his desk. All of the commotion over the phone paired with Benjamin’s occasional mindlessness and his slowly diminishing hearing caused him to miss the first knock at his door.
“Seven, Marg—yeah, come in!” he called out, finally hearing the second round of knocking just as he’d begun to raise his voice to his wife. “I have to go, Margot, I’ll call you back.” And with a quick tap of his thumb, she was silenced.
“Did we have a meeting set up or something?” Benjamin questioned, finally acknowledging his visitor with a brief glance as he tossed his phone down onto the desk next to his feet. “I hate setting meetings for this late in the day.”
it’s like our waiter. but even extraordinary people, and i believe you are, are driven by human banalities. and unfortunately, we’re all human. except me, of course.
The INTP personality type is fairly rare, making up only three percent of the population, which is definitely a good thing for them, as there’s nothing they’d be more unhappy about than being "common". INTPs pride themselves on their inventiveness and creativity, their unique perspective and vigorous intellect. Usually known as the philosopher, the architect, or the dreamy professor, INTPs have been responsible for many scientific discoveries throughout history.
They love patterns, and spotting discrepancies between statements could almost be described as a hobby, making it a bad idea to lie to an INTP. This makes it ironic that INTPs’ word should always be taken with a grain of salt – it’s not that they are dishonest, but people with the INTP personality type tend to share thoughts that are not fully developed, using others as a sounding board for ideas and theories in a debate against themselves rather than as actual conversation partners.
This may make them appear unreliable, but in reality no one is more enthusiastic and capable of spotting a problem, drilling through the endless factors and details that encompass the issue and developing a unique and viable solution than INTPs – just don’t expect punctual progress reports. People who share the INTP personality type aren’t interested in practical, day-to-day activities and maintenance, but when they find an environment where their creative genius and potential can be expressed, there is no limit to the time and energy INTPs will expend in developing an insightful and unbiased solution.
ennegram of personality - type five (the investigator)
perceptive, innovative, secretive, and isolated
We have named personality type Five The Investigator because, more than any other type, Fives want to find out why things are the way they are. They want to understand how the world works, whether it is the cosmos, the microscopic world, the animal, vegetable, or mineral kingdoms—or the inner world of their imaginations. They are always searching, asking questions, and delving into things in depth. They do not accept received opinions and doctrines, feeling a strong need to test the truth of most assumptions for themselves.
Behind Fives’ relentless pursuit of knowledge are deep insecurities about their ability to function successfully in the world. Fives feel that they do not have an ability to do things as well as others. But rather than engage directly with activities that might bolster their confidence, Fives “take a step back” into their minds where they feel more capable. Their belief is that from the safety of their minds they will eventually figure out how to do things—and one day rejoin the world.
moral alignment - neutral evil
Neutral evil characters are primarily concerned with themselves and their own advancement. They have no particular objection to working with others or, for that matter, going it on their own. Their only interest is in getting ahead. If there is a quick and easy way to gain a profit, whether it be legal, questionable, or obviously illegal, they take advantage of it. Although neutral evil characters do not have the every-man-for-himself attitude of chaotic characters, they have no qualms about betraying their friends and companions for personal gain. They typically base their allegiance on power and money, which makes them quite receptive to bribes.
These characters willingly cooperate with anyone who will further their own ends. They often seek the easy road to fame and fortune, with little concern for the people they trample along the way. They value strength and ability alone. If the neutral evil can use laws to weaken those who stand in the way of his success, he will use them. If he must resort to breaking the law, he will. He has no preference for either method. The only important thing is that he gets what he wants. Laws are tools to use against people, as well as their own sense of honor.
character tropes
Beard of Evil - A man with a beard is a man to be feared.
The Chessmaster - Chessmasters tug at their strings of influence, patiently move their pieces into places that often seem harmless or pointless until the trap is closed, and get innocent unwitting pawns to do all the heavy lifting.
Bi the Way - They aren't depraved or polymorphously perverse incarnations of uninhibited sexual mores; they're just attracted to both sexes.
Consummate Liar - This character is not your ordinary everyday lying jerk. This is the liar so good you never, ever want to play poker with them because you'd go home without your underwear and short next week's paycheck.
Sarcastic Clapping - Cue the slow, rhythmic, sarcastic clapping. He is not impressed (sneering "Bra-vo" is optional).
