Chapter 13 — Columns (Designs, Doubts & Doing It Yourself)
Ted Mosby believed good work spoke for itself.
Barney Stinson believed good work was just a setup for a better pickup line.
And Ivar Scherbatsky? He believed good work meant nothing if you didn't have the guts to defend it.
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The Theft
At Ted's firm, his boss Hammond Druthers swaggered around the office.
"This," Druthers boomed, pointing at Ted's design, "is the future of architecture. My design, my genius!"
Ted blinked, stunned. "Wait—that's mine. I drew that!"
Druthers smirked. "Details, Mosby. Details."
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Ted's Frustration
At MacLaren's, Ted vented.
"He stole my design! Just… claimed it. And I froze. I didn't say anything!"
Robin frowned. "So say something now."
"I can't," Ted groaned. "He's my boss."
Megan leaned forward. "So? If you let him walk all over you once, he'll keep doing it."
Yvonne added: "Correction: he'll own you."
Ted buried his head in his hands. "I'm not built for confrontation."
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Ivar's Push
Ivar set his glass down with a sharp click. "Then build yourself for it. You're an architect, Ted. Start with a spine."
Ted looked up, startled. "That's… harsh."
"Good," Ivar said calmly. "Because the world doesn't hand out credit. You take it, or someone else does."
Ted hesitated. "But what if I—"
"You won't," Ivar interrupted. "You've got talent. You just lack nerve. Fix that."
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Megan & Yvonne's Tag-Team
Megan smirked. "Look, Ted, worst-case scenario, you stand up to him and he yells. Big deal. I get yelled at for parking wrong."
Yvonne leaned in. "I've destroyed men twice his size over video game bugs. If I can do that, you can handle a suit with a stolen sketch."
Ted cracked a small smile. "You two are terrifying."
"Thank you," they said in unison.
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Ted's Stand
The next day, Ted marched into Druthers' office.
"That's my design," he said firmly. "You stole it. I want credit — or I walk."
Druthers laughed. "You walk, you're nothing."
Ted straightened. "Correction: if I stay quiet, I'm nothing. If I fight, I'm something."
For once, Druthers shut up. Ted's design got his name on it.
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Closing Beat
Back at MacLaren's:
Ted was glowing with newfound confidence.
Robin kissed him proudly.
Barney sulked that Ted didn't use his new "power" for dating leverage.
Megan clinked glasses with Yvonne, both smirking.
And Ivar? He raised his whiskey, green eyes steady.
Because sometimes the strongest move wasn't fighting someone else's battle.
It was making them fight their own.
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End of Chapter 13.
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👉 Next is Chapter 14 ("Monday Night Football") — the gang tries to avoid spoilers until they can all watch the Super Bowl together. Do you want me to keep it close to canon (chaos of dodging spoilers) or twist it so Ivar watches it early with Megan and Yvonne, then messes with the gang's heads all episode?