For The Illusion of Progress (Drew)

[Teagan Swift]

Traveling to and from Los Angeles had become quite tiresome for Teagan, as was it becoming expensive even with  the dip in price of fuel. Teagan knew that her talent agent was also becoming frustrated with having to work around the schedule that Ark and Teagan's work with them presented. Teagan would have to sever the tether that bound her to this back and forth frenzy that was as like to bankrupt her as well as send her mad. Not that madness would be out of place within the confines of Ark, for she surely believed that madness seemed a prerequisite to being hired.

Luckily enough for her sanity and the boon for Ark as well as the remnants of her modeling career, there was a place in Los Angeles, more on the very outskirts of it really, that helped soothe her. The Griffith Observatory, one of California's finest planetariums, and just far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the metroplex to actually be worth the money that was put into it. It was a bit of a drive from the city to the observatory, but it helped rid the possibility of light pollution completely putting the instruments to waste.

Teagan had decided to take the afternoon and evening to visit the planetarium once more, as she found the study of the stars quite interesting. Humanity and Earth's place in the universe was so insignificant, when you took a look at the grand picture and the length for which the known universe is thought to be believed. However where most would find themselves daunted and overly awed by the concept of being not even a grain of sand in the timeline of the universe, it invigorated Teagan. It was proof to her that even the most complex and amazing things can have the smallest beginnings.

What's more, it was pursuit of knowledge to help humanity further understand their place in the world, in the universe. It pushed the boundaries that faith, society, and thousands of years of history put in the way of understanding. Maybe it was the hot blood of her Irish ancestry or being red headed, but she felt the desire to rebel against such constructs and push forward to wherever they might say to stop and turn back. Why should the growth of any individual or any society be limited just because some people could not come to accept or understand a new meaning of their lives?

She was dressed for the warm weather, wearing a pair of khaki shorts, wine leather boots, and a cyan blouse, with a white bandanna that had navy anchors on it covering her hair. She had with her a notebook that was filled from front to back with the notes of the various astronomical objects she was tracking when allowed time on one of the planetarium's powerful telescopes. It was not every trip she was granted access, though it was more often than not, which Teagan wondered if working for Ark had any influence over.

This afternoon though, it seemed that another Ark employee had beaten her to the punch, though who and to what ends the receptionist did not say. "Who on this green Earth thinks they can spy on me I wonder? Is it Archie, he did seem a bit of a pyscho, but not exactly a creeper. There was that new tech, who was good with computer hacking, but they do not seem the sort to come out to the outskirts of a desert. Who indeed..."

[Christian Moynahan]

Drew Moynahan

The access to all of Ark’s privileges and amenities was more than any one employee could explore in one year. Whoever had managed to arrange these - whether Lucius, Gabriel, or Christian himself - had certainly gone to great lengths. Free parking practically everywhere, discounts on cross-country flights, preferred seating at restaurants - it was all to make their lives better. And to serve an ulterior purpose.

No one knew Christian Moynahan better than Drew. The reason for all these fantastic tributes, Drew suspected, was because he expected something from Ark’s workers in return, and it was more than just the work they were under contract to do. Christian wanted every last Ark employee to be a model of the community - a walking billboard of excellent press. With all these great extras offered to them, who wouldn’t mind acting and speaking well of Ark?

Drew would happily wear the “I Drank the Ark Kool-Aid” t-shirt for that, and for the sake of his cousin. He was proud of the man. Christian had truly made the family proud. Drew loved to shake his hand every time they passed in the hallway. It was a running joke between them.

Additionally, Christian had moved Drew and his few belongings into Áine, Christian’s large Los Angeles home, and set him up in one of the more spacious guest rooms. Sometimes, Christian spent the night at Áine as well; at other times, he was elsewhere. Drew did not need to ask where he was. And Christian was not the sort of man to talk about where he was.

Since Christian regularly borrowed the Ark scientist and teleporter Alain Jensen for his own uses, he also let Drew use his car on occasion. The white Honda Civic was far from being the flashiest or fastest car on the road, but the drive was relaxing.

He had taken an interest in the Griffith Observatory. The cosmos had always held his interest; he often wished he could travel through time and space. But his visit there was not completely benign. He had also taken an interest in Teagan Swift, and he knew that the observatory was a favorite haunt of hers. And that she had taken the afternoon off to visit it.

She had caught his eye at Christian’s holiday party for Ark. She had been dressed in a beautiful black, looking every inch the model she was. Drew sometimes wondered how Christian had managed to hire Teagan Swift for Ark, but that was one thing - one of the few things - that Drew was not privy to.

He had excellent hearing. From where he was standing in the planetarium, he could hear the receptionist outside explaining that some other Ark employee had also gained access to the planetarium. This had been the result of expert timing. He had attended a showing regarding the history and future of the Observatory in the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater (because, come on, Leonard Nimoy) and then ascended to the main floor to the planetarium itself. Every hour or so, a presentation was given there, but, as long as there was not one in progress and an Ark employee requested access to its equipment, access was not a problem.

The star projector was up and running, and Drew was studying its star field, his head tilted in a very familiar Moynahan style. When Teagan entered, he turned cleanly on his toes and gave her a smile. “Miss Swift. I am glad I’m not the only one who appreciates this Observatory. Granted, nuclear science is my usual field, but I can still admire the skies.”

He raised an eye at her notebook. “A note-taker, I see.”

[Teagan Swift]

Teagan did not find herself surprised to see that it was a Moynahan that was awaiting her entrance, though she had thought it to be Christian and not Drew. Christian seemed the type that would randomly turn up at one of his employee's engagements to ascertain further understanding of them. Drew however... seemed more the type that was an enigma, he did not on a glance appear to have the same charm, looks, or intellect of Christian. That the two were related at all seemed quite preposterous to Teagan, though she wondered if she should not be in such haste to judge given her own relations.

"Drew Moynahan, interesting to run across you here on the brinks of the Sierra Nevada. Truly I would have thought you more company in the comforts of the city and all the politics within such confines. That you have to thought to reach beyond and contemplate the cosmos is a remarkable feat." Her voice was quite sarcastic as she said what she had to say, with a little smirk. Teagan had not felt an overly positive vibe when the two had crossed paths during the Ark Christmas party and she did not like that he had found her sanctuary.

It probably would not do her well to make foes with her bosses' cousin however and she gave him a little smile as he took note of her notebook. "It does well to keep notes of what you have come to discover and hypothesis on what yet may be outside your gasp. Not that it should stay there forever, or we would never step forward, what a shame it would be to be stuck as but mere neanderthals for the rest of our existence." It was a dangerous game she was playing oh but how she enjoyed it.

"How do you find the observatory, it is up the standards that you have become used to with the Ark name behind you? Has it been able to sate your desire to understand the cosmos just a little bit better? I dare say, even the most basic of minds would do well to take a day of their time here and experience what it is they provide. We would be the better for it, the future served by moire enlightened minds." She shifted her weight from her left to her right and brought the notebook to rest on her hip. What was he here for and how could she get him to leave sooner? 

[Christian Moynahan]

Drew Moynahan

What Miss Swift may have intended as insults only made Drew chuckle. “I do participate in politics, yes, and one could say it is my stronger arena. I enjoy the ability to influence things.” He tilted his head slightly. “But it is also important to remember one’s place in the events of the world… and the universe. We are insignificant.” Here he shot her a little smile. “Then it’s up to us to make our actions significant, don’t you think?”

But she seemed a bit more pleasant - or tolerant, at least - on the subject of her notebook. This time, though, it was his turn to keep vigilant over his words. For one, bragging about being able to take notes in his head and remember them perfectly would likely be a step in the wrong direction. That particular capacity was apparently peculiar only to him and Christian, rather than their entire family. Ah, well. At least there was someone to do it.

The second thing - Cro-Magnon. It was a common error. While Neanderthals had beginnings earlier and were more primitive, they were also stronger, which could actually lead to that name-calling being a compliment if one happened to be confronting a particularly dim-witted brute. But Neanderthals actually had no relation to Homo sapiens; being rather an aborted line of primates. Modern humans were descended from Cro-Magnons.

This was a bit of a nitpicky thing, however. Her point was made regardless. “Indeed, it would be a shame. But that’s what people such as you and I are.” He had chosen her not only for her physical appeal but because she would be a difficult case. That is, she would be harder to sway in her opinion of him. That made her a challenge.

That was what she was, boiled down to simplicity. Target practice.

He chuckled. “I believe I am a newer recruit than you, Miss Swift, so I have yet to truly appreciate the perks of my new employment.” He nodded toward the star projector. “I did not grow up with Christian. In fact, I was on the other side of the continent. But both of us lived in families that just managed to keep above water. Access to these sorts of tools are likely as new to him as they are to you and me.”

Regarding simpler minds…. “‘I am a law only for my kind; I am no law for all.’ Nietzsche.” He raised an eyebrow while studying her carefully. “Not everyone is meant to understand this. That is, perhaps, why others look at Ark so closely. We can accomplish things that they have not yet begun to imagine.” But then, casually, he nodded. “I find each visit here broadens my thinking even more. It is quite pleasant.” He glanced for a moment at her tucked away notebook. “And you, Miss Swift? I expect you have found at least something of interest here, to arrive equipped to learn even more."

[Teagan Swift]

Oh how cute, he thought he could turn her words back around on her and look to come out the better for it. The man clearly did not understand her in the least and for that she was quite thankful. To understand her meant that she would have to associate with him more than she already had and that was a dire thought. The less time she had to spend associating with this R.L. Stine creepy level individual was all the better for her well being. Failing the possibility of getting him to bugger off on his own, she could always set him alight. That usually gave people the idea to bugger off.

"I am just sure your parents must be oh so proud of their little boy, getting an important job at the company their cousin just happens to be the CEO of." The sarcasm rolled off her tongue as if it was her natural vernacular. What was it about this man that drove her to such vile standards, even if she felt like most people could not begin to reach her heights. None of them seemed to rattle her inner bitch as much as this man did.

The drop of the mention of the man whose philosophies helped the Nazi party take hold in Germany helped matters very little. If Teagan were a small flame at the moment, those words were copious amounts of lighter fluid that were sure to send her into a full on blaze. If not for the fact that they were in the observatory with a few eyes on them, she surely would have put the man to the literal torch right then and be done with it. Alas, such eyes and phones made that course of action a last resort, should she not be able to verbally beat him into submission.

"Oh I have found something far more valuable than knowledge here but it is not privy to those who are not among my friends. My friends are few and far between and you sir, are not among them nor are you remotely close to becoming one. I also believe that stalking is a criminal offense in the state of California, misdemeanor though it may be. However, I am sure such press would be terribly unhelpful for a man of your position and to the good ol family name. Comprehend me?"

[Christian Moynahan]

Drew Moynahan

What a shame. Teagan did not seem pleased by the conversation at all. Indeed, she did not seem to appreciate Drew’s presence at all. Oh, well. He had intentionally picked a difficult one. It had been a test. So far, he wasn’t passing. But he would. Of that he was certain.

Drew beamed at the mention of his new job. He did not miss the pointed jabs at all; he let them pass over his head on purpose. “Oh, you could hardly imagine,” he remarked pleasantly. “But still, not as happy as I am. Finally, a career worth my time and efforts.” He smiled brightly, a smile he was able to maintain even as Teagan went on her thinly veiled accusations.

So he was not among her friends. Who was, then? he wondered. People were malleable, after all. If he could not get to Teagan directly, he could always try her friends. They couldn’t all be bitches.

To her comment on stalking, Drew raised an eyebrow and shrugged, still smiling innocently. “I’m sure you’re right, Miss Swift, but I’m not entirely sure what your point has to do with me. I’m here to enjoy the observatory, just as you happen to be. In fact, I’m sure I arrived here before you did. And with these wild accusations you’re making about my family name….” He stopped, jaw dropped, as though coming to a realization. “I’d almost think you came here looking for me, Miss Swift.”

He leaned in slightly so as to speak in a lower, less audible voice. “I understand your logic, Teagan, but unfortunately even I don’t have enough influence over my cousin for whatever you have in mind. If you’re trying to get to him, I’m afraid I won’t be much help. I apologize.”

Now he straightened up. “I am going to have to report this incident to him and to Mrs. Kingsleigh, I’m afraid. You’ve quite crossed the line in threatening my position and name. I doubt he’ll be happy to learn of your ladder-climbing actions, and Mrs. Kingsleigh is especially strict regarding the safety and security of the staff.” He raised an eyebrow. “Unless, of course, you wish to take back what you just said.”

[Teagan Swift]

"Go ahead and speak with Christian and Fiona, I have no qualms about that nor will I take back what has already been said. Unless you are intent on further blowing smoke, I have work to get to that you are currently interrupting. So if would please cease and desist with this nonsensical conversation and take your leave so that some actual work can be done, it would be most greatly appreciated. Unless you are intent on subverting your cousins' company and delaying progress on its projects and distressing its employees for your own entertainment. What a shame that would be, after all that vain attempt to threaten me."

She would not be toyed with by this man who seemed to think that he could simply get her to kowtow to his demands. If she was terminated or reprimanded, it mattered not as she would simply find another way to make use of her intellect. Ark needed her more than she needed Ark in her life and Drew's smokescreen would do little in dissuading her from speaking her mind now or in the future. She had the beauty that other people desired and the whit to talk circles around them, life was hers to do with as she desired. 

[Christian Moynahan]

Drew Moynahan

The dark smile never left Drew’s lips, even as Miss Swift went on her tirade about being interrupted and not caring about being reported. There was a bit of irony in her argument, which he intended to point out shortly. The way he saw it, the continued discourse, despite its meaning to be insulting, only meant that she did want to be around him, whether she wanted to admit it or not. That meant he was making progress. Bit by bit. That was all he needed.

Of course, the various government leaders he needed on his side would not be nearly as difficult to sway as Miss Swift. Drew considered Teagan a sort of “expert level” challenge. Once he won her over, he knew he would be completely set. But she was not central to his plans. Just more of a bonus.

He opened his hands and tilted his head slightly, his smile brightening. “But, Miss Swift, at no point have I prevented you from ending this conversation and leaving yourself.” He gave a relaxed little laugh, one of a man completely confident in himself and his motives. “If that is how you feel, then I suppose we’ll have to call this a draw. You are distressed and I am insulted. Perhaps we can try this again sometime when you are not quite as stressed.”

With a little shake of his head, he said, “You need not feel so insecure, Miss Swift. I assure you, none of the scientists think you were only hired for your looks. We’re very sure you have the intelligence to match.” He gave a little nod. “So why not stop trying so hard to prove yourself, and just relax and let the others get to know you?”

He took a small step back and gestured toward the door. “Have a good evening, Miss Swift.”