Chapter 4 — Ted Mosby: Architect (Blueprints, Bragging & Big Breaks)
Ted Mosby believed "architect" was the sexiest word in the English language.
Barney Stinson believed the sexiest word was "yes."
And Ivar Scherbatsky? He believed titles meant nothing — results did.
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Ted's Pickup Line
At MacLaren's, Ted leaned into a woman at the bar.
"I'm an architect."
She blinked. "Okay?"
Ted cleared his throat. "Like… I design buildings."
Still nothing.
Barney groaned. "You're doing it wrong. You've got to sell it. Women love men who build things!"
Yvonne smirked from the booth. "Says the guy who's built nothing but a reputation for bad one-night stands."
"Harsh," Barney muttered.
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Robin's Frustration
Robin vented to Megan across the booth.
"He's obsessed with his job. I can't get a straight answer out of him about dinner, but he can monologue about concrete for hours."
Megan shrugged. "Sounds like a man trying to prove he's important. Which means he doesn't feel important."
Ivar sipped his drink. "Accurate. He's waiting for someone else to validate him."
Robin sighed. "And you're going to fix that, aren't you?"
Ivar smirked. "Already did."
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Northern Star's Offer
Cut to: Ted's firm.
The partners sat in stunned silence as Ivar walked in, crisp suit, presence heavy.
"I'm offering Northern Star's next development contract," he said calmly. "A full block of premium, affordable apartments."
The partners leaned forward greedily.
"One condition," Ivar continued. "Mosby leads the design."
"What?!" Ted yelped.
Barney, leaning against the wall, whispered: "He just pimped out your career."
The senior partner cleared his throat. "Mr. Scherbatsky, with all due respect, Mosby's young. He doesn't have—"
"He has my confidence," Ivar interrupted. "And that should be enough."
Silence. Then a nod. Contract accepted.
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The Roast
Back at MacLaren's, Ted was buzzing.
"Guys! Ivar just got me the Northern Star contract. My design. My vision. This is… everything I've wanted."
Robin smiled, relief cutting through her frustration. "That's huge, Ted."
Megan raised her glass. "Congrats. You're officially not just a guy with blueprints."
Yvonne smirked. "So maybe stop using 'I'm an architect' as a pickup line before you ruin it for the rest of us."
Ted groaned.
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Closing Beat
By the end of the night:
Ted finally had his first real project.
Robin softened, proud but still wary of his work obsession.
Barney sulked that Ivar had once again stolen the spotlight.
Megan and Yvonne proved they could roast Ted as well as anyone else in the gang.
And Ivar? He left calm as ever, satisfied.
Because sometimes power wasn't about building towers.
Sometimes power was making sure someone else finally got to build theirs.
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End of Chapter 4.
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👉 Next is Chapter 5 ("World's Greatest Couple") — canon has Barney and Lily becoming unlikely roommates. Do you want me to keep that arc and add in Ivar's quiet role (paying off more of Lily's debts behind the scenes), or shift it so Megan and Yvonne also get dragged into Barney/Lily chaos?