Post by EmperorMyric on Jan 27, 2023 11:13:24 GMT
John Triarch was waiting behind curtains as a staff member held a hand to his chest; barring him from any movement.
All was black around him, there was no lighting. The only noise was the distant hubbub of an audience.
First came the music from this abyss. A fanfare, one that floated from pomp and jazz to a syncretism of floral classical, first trickled into the quiet.
“Ladies and gentlemen...” Joined a booming, omnipresent voice over the speakers throughout the room, “...Live from the Talcit Amphitheater, broadcasting across every facet of galactic media! Please join everyone who’s someone in welcoming tonight’s host: Doctor Betram Valane!” It declared. Immediately the rumbling applause picked up into a storm of whistles and cheers. Lights switched on like it was the blitz as the jazz orchestra reached their crescendo.
Onto the white, beam-lit station, from behind centre-stage, arose the figure of a prim, well-dressed Teliran. His smile was almost enough to dominate the whole man’s face as he eagerly waved back to the adoring cacophony with both hands.
“Hello! Hello!” Grinned the host once being gifted his handheld microphone from stage-right. With his eyes ever-trained on whichever camera was active, never failing to switch to a new one in time, Valane greeted his audience, “...And welcome to Behind the Mind. The only interviewing show in the galaxy where you are guaranteed a true, accredited, profiling of our guests, and boy do we have a good one for you all today… But let’s just forget about all that today shall we?” He anticlimactically asked to the amused laughter of his audience. Still grinning, Valane chirped,
“Isn’t it lovely weather we’re having today folks?”
“Yes!” In unison cried the crowd.
“Are you looking forward to the man we have in store for you today?”
“Yes!”
The Doctor paused, with feigned confusion,
“...Do you want me to get on with it already?!”
“YES!” The crowds cheered as the Doctor chuckled.
“Alright! Alright! I get your message!” Valane waved off the cheering with a pose, “...Now the man we’ve got in store for you all today need no introduction… A magnate of galactic proportions, a citizen of the Union of worlds and yet a pucker ultracapitalist, a walking relic of the First Galactic War… The Mind, the Myth, the Legend: John Triarch!”
Dr. Valane practically screamed as he swung his arm around to the curtains to stage-left. The masses broke into a roar of applaud as searchlights waved to and fro; strobing in all directions. Finally, the stagehand removed their hand from Mr. Triarch’s chest and gave him the go-ahead nod.
“You’re on!”
John waited patiently; his white gloved hands held stationary locked together behind his back as he held his eyes closed. He listened to the audience, the tones, the announcements. He took them all in. John was in many ways a people man, that had never changed about him, and he enjoyed public speaking a great deal, several of his team had advised him against this. They said that joining this show was pointless spotlight focus while the company was dealing with Hashomer in the greatest deal in the company’s history.
John had disagreed utterly.
They always needed more spotlight, and the Hashomer deal, and this show would merely add to that.
Finally, as he heard the crowd roar, John took his cue. He strode onto the stage, wearing his iconic grey, blue and gold suit. It was immaculate, his hair styled up as always and his boots giving the distinctive clink as they walked in a purposeful swagger. He looked straight to the audience and then to the cameras as he eyes panned all around, he waved with his right hand and his face beamed with a grin.
“Thank you! Thank you for having me tonight!” He shouted to the audience as he joined the Doctor holding out his hand to shake.
“Hello Doctor Valane, it is good to see you, quite the open psych session tonight hm?” He chuckled, it was always worth cracking a joke in front of an audience.
Dr. Valane beamed back to his guest; pointing to him as John had come on stage like he was some dear friend. Betram made no hesitation in welcoming him on, he had thrown his arms up to encourage his audience in applause before strutting over to meet his interviewee with a firm, friendly shake with both hands.
As the pair took their seats before a rather innocuous little coffee table, John got a chance to look about the set. A few antique chests of drawers, a cupboard and a dark-oak davenport flanked their furniture, and a cozy yellow rug lay beneath them. It was like a doll’s house, with one wall cut out for the audience to look into.
Betram adjusted the buttons on his clothes, an ensemble of rococo nature, the celebrity psychiatrist relaxed into his chair and chuckled to the magnate’s icebreaker; quipping back,
“Well, let’s just say our patient confidentiality is dubious at best…” The audience gave out a sensible laugh.
“Now, let’s get down to business.” He continued, nudging his glasses up the bridge of his nose as he looked down to an old paper notepad, it was like something from the pre-spacefaring years.
“So, just for some background for those joining us from home… Mr. Triarch has been one of the most influential non-native figures in galactic history. Originally born to a family originating from what is now Union of Worlds homespace, in their home dimension that is, the Triarch family built out a wealthy corporate empire, is it alright if I call it an empire? A wealthy corporate force even after they were ejected from Union of Worlds space. Arriving into our reality in 45 ME, John Triarch built up what was, for a time, the largest corporate power in our galaxy. Surpassing the Halcyon Company, the previous top dog, Triarch Industries forged a private juggernaut predominantly through the production and sale of arms.” He flipped over a page,
“...That was until the Second Ancerious War. During which, Triarch Industries aligned itself with Inarist Capitol, ultimately culminating in their defeat and the disemboweling of Triarch Industries by the Rangvald Cartel, which replaced it as the foremost corporate force in the galaxy. Triarch Incorporated was later formed by Triarch with the limited properties he retained but, due to financial complications, this later became a subsidiary of the Yamanakako Corporation, a part of the broader Rangvald collective, in a relatively recent deal. Since then, Triarch stocks have been on the up and up, and many spectators are now claiming that Triarch is on the path to galactic supremacy again.”
The Doctor put his pad aside onto the coffee table with a little smile,
“...Quite a résumé!” He chirped to the audience’s approval, “...I would say, looking at your past, the best one-word descriptive for you Mr. Triarch would be… ‘Survivor’, would you agree with that sentiment?”
“Of course”
John took a seat and rather comfortably laid back into it, intertwining his hands across his chest and crossing his right leg over his left. He was smiling the whole time and keeping up with the appearance of being close friends with the Doctor. It was a tactic used in media all the time and helped with keeping the audience engrossed.
“That’s all very correct, and honestly you would not be wrong to use that word. I have done a lot to survive, to keep the company going. Its not ever pretty in the world of geopolitics and economics but that’s what happens when everyone’s out to make a SIGEC eh?”
“I can let you into a little secret too” He leant in melodramatically even though the audience could hear everything.
“The stocks are about to go up even more too but you didn’t hear that from me” Another oversized wink to the Doctor later and he leant back again.
The crowds were quick to give an almost artificial ‘Oooooo!’ as the Doctor gave a surprised look over to them,
“Well, I'll be sure to get my people to look over my portfolio once we’re done!”
Crossing his legs and reclining once more, Valane inquired,
“Now, you weren’t always a man of business, were you?” He took his pad and waved it up like a piece of valuable evidence, “Originally you served in the Union military back in your home galaxy, correct? Fighting the… Draken, yes, the Draken.” He shot a curious stare to John, “...What was your experience of the war?”
"No your very correct." John sighed.
"Truth be told it was awful. Truly awful, those days will stay with me for the rest of my life. I was stupid, as you always are when your young, daring and brash. My friends signed up, wanted to do their part. So I did too after getting dual citizenship. Of course my father went absolutely ballistic" He smiled.
"We thought we were going to change the war, I lost all my friends from that period. I know there's a lot of anti colonial sentiment going around, but I can truly say I am very glad for this galaxy to never have had endured the Draken. There's things I saw which... I don't think I can ever talk about" His eyes took a much more haunted sheen.
"My father pressured the Union enough however to get me out, they relieved me and sent me home. All my other friends went home in body bags" He semi slumped.
Dr. Valane watched Triarch recount his experiences with an understanding, serious gaze; nodding throughout. Pouting introspectively for a second, he replied:
“I don’t think there is anybody here who wouldn’t find such experiences traumatic, Mr. Triarch. It must’ve been a tough time to live through, but it makes it all the more curious that you should put yourself into such dangers and scenes voluntarily… For a foreign country no less.”
He squinted with an interrogative look, poking his pen over towards the magnate,
“...It must’ve been very frustrating… To sacrifice and dedicate so much, only to be withdrawn by ties and influences few others had. Did your views on your father change because of what he did…?”
"Sometimes you got to put everything aside and do what you think is right. At the time it was the galaxy or all of us, seemed like a no brainer, at least for a kid" He managed to smile at the audience. At the moment of his father John clapsed his hands and looked down as Valane spoke.
"It was." He paused for effect and looked to the doctor in a serious tone.
"It was devastating. I was pulled out of a fate that for a long time I truly believe I was robbed of. I used to go to bed at night knowing I should have died on some random world like my friends had, that my father had denied me my destiny" He sighed.
"It broke our relationship. I barely talked to him, my mother tried to convince me to fix things but I was too headstrong, too angry. By the time I was ready it was already too late"
“...Your father was assassinated by the Draken, wasn’t he, Mr. Triarch?” Valane replied, cueing the magnate to continue.
"... He was yes"
"We never expected the Draken to act in a strategic way. They targeted key leaders, and well not all of us were like the Angels. My father never had a chance. I never got to fix things with him" John once more turned to the audience.
"Don't let things brew, if there is someone you care about don't wait to tell them, don't wait to resolve things. You never know what might happen tomorrow"
Dr. Valane was very solemn in his disposition to Triarch’s explanation; nodding throughout. With his notes on his lap he expounded,
“So a young John Triarch, dragged home from a life at war is almost immediately after thrown into the driver's seat of a galactic-scale corporation… That must’ve been a lot of pressure for a relatively unprepared man. I’m sure many within the Union of Worlds itself would say that that right of inheritance was undeserving… Do you think you were the best person for the job? Don’t you think there’s a certain unfairness there?”
"Believe me, I was overwhelmed"
"I did have many detractors back then, even within the company itself. I cant blame them either, and your certainly right, there was unfairness in that. There were at least three others in the wings I can remember who were better suited for the job, but it had to be me apparently for the family brand image. Im an only child you see, they couldn't let the death of my father end with the business being handed to someone without the family name." He unfurled his hands, animating them as he talked.
"Of course I thought that was horse shit at the time" He smiled "But it was thrust onto me and I got chucked in the deep end, thankfully I paid close attention in education and watching dad work. I had some good advisors too and while it was touch and go for a while we managed to get things on track, those critics managed to come around somewhat. But by that point the galaxy was going to hell in a hand basket and company succession was the least of our concerns"
The crowd gave a mixture of gasps and surprised laughs at the crass verbiage of the CEO. Valane, meanwhile, seemed unmoved. He gave a stare to Triarch as his grin dissipated and was instead replaced by a much more cold and prying expression. Pausing for a moment, he only made one inquiry in response.
“...Was Magnus Sigfridson one of those advisors or critics…?”
John paused. He didn't expect that name to appear. The memory of killing the man for the betrayal of John and everything the company had stood for made him tense up. How could he have sold them out to both the Unnamed and Rangvald?
"Magnus was always a good friend, he gave plenty of advice but he never hesitated to criticise where he thought there was problems. He was always a corporatist first, company and profit before any other driver. He helped put things into perspective, I must say I miss him"
The Doctor craned back into his chair. Looking over to the cameras, Betram explained,
“For those unaware, Mr. Sigfridson was a long-time board member for Mr. Triarch… He died during the chaos that prevailed on Triarch’s corporate capital following the Second Ancerious War. What exactly happened at that time, Mr. Triarch?”
"He was" John paused.
"By the end of the war the company was being eaten alive. Members of the board were jumping ship and changing allegiance, selling out entire sections even unofficially to other nations or parties. It turned out some had even sold key assets to the Ghosts of the Tradex, using our foundries to produce those strange spheres they used to briefly affect the Expanse. Nobody really knows how far the corruption went, but men in desperation do anything they think may work. By that point the company was on its last legs and my efforts to try stabilise external and internal factors failed. There was infighting, security forces used against other internal players. Sigfridson was killed in those power struggles just before the board voted to liquidate and sell everything"
“And it was that stage you hit the lowest point in your life, I would say, correct?”
The Doctor raised a hand as though to interject whilst nodding to John’s answer.
“We will discuss your recovery in the markets with the rise of your new company… But first I would like to discuss your role in the Second Ancerious War… You sided with the APP… With Capitol, didn’t you…? What doesn’t seem to add up to me is how you could so readily apply and identify yourself as a Citizen of the Union of Worlds… Yet work to destroy them, and ally yourself with a genocidal empire in doing so, at the best opportunity to. How can you justify that…? How can you justify the fact that you walked free without penance for your role in a war that killed so many millions of people?”
"Definitely."
John had known his next question was coming. It was something he was asked for a long time by many people. He sighed and fidgeted slightly before holding his hands up.
"Back where I am from, the Union controls much of the known galaxy, they act out of benevolence and good will. Yea they don't get everything right, but they genuinely try. They have the power, militarily and economically to ensure their goodwill works."
John then shook his head.
"But the Union here, does not have that hegemony. We all know this galaxy here is quite unique, untamed and impossibly hard to simply control" He gestured to the audience before looking back at Valane.
"Their attempts here have been stifling. Economically and politically, they are not controlled by the Angels here, do not have the economic or military power to ensure that their actions can fully be followed through. Their actions had unintended results, creating a toxic hegemony here that was not fully under their control and yet strangled by them. When Inara came to me, she was a visionary, she liberalised a nation which I never thought could ever be. She asked me to help, to break the Unions shadow over all of us and ensure the galaxy could act without the AGA by extension clamping down on whatever they wished. She was genuine and she was very lucid, carefully planning and with a good chance of winning" He looked down defeated.
"By the time her actions became monstrous and I tried to detach my company from Capitols economy, my company had already been eaten away from the inside. Aspects of my own people helped to build the Crucible, worked with Capitol without outright agreement in direct warcrimes and were so entangled in the Capitol economy that the board refused to pull out. I tried my best to purge these elements but, as we already discussed, by then the company was already corrupt, collapsing. I ensured those elements of my company were purged, cut off. It was not enough, and I have to deal with the knowledge that through my hopeful choices to help the galaxy, too many people died"
“Can you understand why so many find that narrative hard to believe, though, Mr. Triarch? That the CEO of a corporation wasn’t even conscious or in any way responsible for the affairs of his own company? You are its head, after all.” Bertram shot back with the face of investigative reporter.
“...You willingly chose to consent to war. Not just a breakdown of relations or sanctions of some sort on your previous countrymen, but consciously chose to allow those countrymen to be killed in droves by your own corporation and its equipment. How is it that you can reconcile that with your own seemingly Unionist ideals… How could you reconcile that with people that, I hear, you are still close with… Like Princess Saffire?”
"I can very much understand. At the beginning I was very involved in ensuring things were as smooth and bloodless as possible, but as time went on I was fed false reports, false information. I did not realise until it was too late, Capitol, EPA, other industrial elements and more had for lack of a better term liberated many of my companies assets from me. I fully admit to my mistakes, I failed as a CEO and I failed as a leader. I was duped and I was played, and that is why I want to build back better"
"As for my Unionist ideals, well I cant say I am quite fully Unionist anymore, the Union here is quite different to the Union back home. I regret the lives lost in the second war, on all sides. I just hope this war can be ended by diplomacy quickly before it too gets out of hand."
"As for Princess Saffire, I do have a bit of a soft spot for her, I mean she is very beautiful after all. But I would not call us close or friends more like... Professionally courteous"
“Well, it’s all well to say you’re regretful, Mr. Triarch. But don’t you think you got off rather scot-free from your role in expounding and fueling the war in which hundreds of millions of people died…?” Valane cocked a brow.
“...This isn’t a corruption scandal or some kind of embarrassing diplomatic faux-pas we’re discussing. This was a galactic war, and now your company seems to be willing to actively participate once again in yet another war in tow with the Rangvald Cartel!”
"I would hardly call loosing my company scott free. I had the majority of my assets stripped, my contracts voided, my reputation tarnished and I lost good friends as well. I didn't face trials like the Empress did, and I didn't have my 'empire' occupied by AGA forces. I had my company torn down around me and sold off piece by piece to the highest bidder. I used what I could to save what I could but compared to what I had it was practically peanuts. From a galactic megacorporation to a washed out name. Its true, we did help fuel the war, and maybe we were naïve and stupid in our choices but we too paid the price." Johns face was stern and uncompromising. He truly believed he had suffered for what had occurred.
"Our security forces have been hired out to protect Rangvald assets in Aedleshaven, no more than a hundred ships and a few thousand personnel. It is something we are obliged to do by contract, do not think that we are getting involved by wilful choice. Myself and my new company have no interest in being involved in another galactic conflict, we will do what is necessary for our contract, no more no less. No building of grand armadas and no secret construction of super weapons designed to end solar systems. The Triarch business is well and truly done in that department, I have had enough of watching casualty lists"
“But can you call losing your company due justice? Inara was executed for her responsibility. Having the board break up your business is hardly tantamount to a judge giving a criminal ruling. Cultures died because of this war.”
The audience remained quiet.
“...And with all due respect, Mr. Triarch. Millions, perhaps billions, would call your ‘rags to riches’ experience after the Second Galactic War more like a ‘riches to absorbitant riches’ story.”
The psychologist returned to his jotted-down notes for reference.
“...Does Triarch still not produce weapons? Whether you are reading them or not, your company is still lining your pockets from casualty reports.”
Feeling the conversation had dwelt too long on the perceived amorality of the arms manufacturer, Dr. Valane opted to move towards a new zone of discussion.
“How do you view the ongoing war? An immoral tragedy? Or a great business opportunity?”
"I would call her end justice, after she gave the direct order to kill billions with a weapon she was more than eager to use" John was far used to this by now.
"I am sure many would call my experience not ideal for their sense of justice or morals, I can understand that but I have the hand I was dealt and continue to try deal from. My company still produces weapons albeit on a far more limited scale than before focusing far more on mega construction than pumping out ships for a giant war. I wont lie yes my company is still profiteering from the ongoing conflict, anyone who sells weapons is regardless of how they see the conflict. And while I am profiting via my weapons export I actually see this war as a detriment. Nations are less likely to undertaken mega projects if they are within a galactic war and with the economy of the galaxy swirling the toilet I would prefer it to end rather quickly. Surprisingly I know given my history and the fact my company still produces weapon systems"
"I don't pretend like I am perfect or some moral paragon Dr. I am well aware of the graveyard in my closet, as is most of your audience" He pointed around "But that doesn't mean I enjoy what's going on or support the ongoing conflict"
“In that case…” Betram shifted in his seat, “...Why line your pockets from the war at all? Whether or not you approve of the conflict on principle doesn’t seem to matter, because it certainly seems like you are supporting it in practice.”
The crowds began to murmur in support of what the doctor had said; indicating that he was merely voicing what was a popular sentiment that many listeners were probably shouting at their screens right now.
“...I personally find it quite disturbing, if you don’t mind me saying, Mr. Triarch, that you eschew any image of trying to be moral. Don’t you believe you have a conscientious obligation to do everything in your power and wealth to promote peace?”
"I never said I eschewed any image of trying to be moral Dr. That is just putting words in my mouth. Triarch Inc. has much reduced its capacity to construct weapons and warships, and certain lines are due to be cut in course soon. We are moving away from weapons manufacturing, focusing on mega engineering and into other more exotic fields which do not involve taking lives. It is not a fast process, and unfortunately to transition away from such is to require funding which as you well know we cant simply pull out of thin air"
John knew some of his stocks and shares had likely just gone down after saying such things, but it would not matter, the potential future of the company would bring in far more than weapons ever would.
"Our very limited lines are being used to finance this change, and once complete we will not longer have the capacity to line our pockets from the war or promote conflict. You ask for change, I tell you change is already coming, but change is never easy. Triarch Inc. has a much better horizon than building weapons and it is a dream I have had for a long time. As I said before, I am not a moral paragon, but I do have morals"
The announcement about moving away from weapons had not been announced yet, but now was as good a time as any.
Dr. Valane seemed to be in deep thought for a while before quietly nodding and jotting down some notes. Raising his interviewer’s gaze to meet with John’s stare once more, the Teliran nonchalantly brushed on,
“If you don’t mind, now, Mr. Triarch, I would like to move on to the topic of your relationship with the Rangvald partnership. As we are all too aware your company was subsumed by Mr. Yamanakako’s own enterprise. What are your views on this clique? Animosity? Trust? Dread?”
The lights of the room honed in on Triarch, making him seem the room had faded from existence and giving the viewers the impression that they were cutting into the inner psyche of John now.
“As I understand you have been described as having a tense relationship with Madam Su Su, I major figure within the collective…” The doctor pried.
"Of course" John nodded, happy to at least be moving on.
"Well it was a tough decision. I wont bore you Dr and your well read audience with the details of what happened when my company was bought out but suffice to say Triarch Inc. had major animosity with Yamanakako, after all they were the ones who effectively pulled the trigger on us. We were barred out of public markets on refounding the company for threat of another buy out. But after the last IDEX and before it was given back to me the relationship with Itokawa and Nishibashi was far stronger. I realised that under Rangvald I had a better chance, and could work with the other companies within such"
He clasped his hands together to appear he was deep in thought.
"It is true, I believe everyone knows myself and Madam Su Su have a tense working relationship. I believe she has her distaste for me due to purely work based concerns and divergence of belief, while I myself have my reasons based on more personal grounds as well as business. However we put that aside where able to conduct what is needed, and use intermediaries where able. Besides, don't we all have that one boss that rubs us the wrong way?" He smiled.
John’s joke encouraged the sensible laughter of Dr. Valane’s viewership as the audience chuckled and guffawed; Dr. Valane himself joined them.
“Well! My payday is in a few days so perhaps I ought to keep my mouth shut!” He added with a smile before returning to a more serious expression,
“...So do you feel ill-will toward Madam Su-Su? It can’t have been a nice experience… To have them destroy everything you worked towards… Only to be forced to scramble for bits and bobs below them.” The Doctor asked with a heartfelt curiosity, although it was equally likely he was trying to pry for saucy emotional disclosure in front of the audience.
John laughed at Dr. Valanes retort about his boss.
"Well I mean its true, having the thing that your family and yourself created over so much time and effort to be torn down around you with someone very clearly at the public head hurts." John sighed, taking the cue.
"Its like building the best thing ever as a kid, and being super proud only for some other kids to come along and smash it up and steal most of it and having to start with only a handful of pieces. Makes you want to cry. I mean, I cried, I don't think anyone wouldn't in that situation. And its true, I did hate her for a great deal of time. But I pulled myself together, got my businessmen hat back on and knew that if I didn't play the game I both wouldn't get to maybe have a crack back but I wouldn't get to rebuild either"
"I think its quite character building however, having what you built torn down. Rebuilding does wonders for the mental health, wouldn't you say Dr?"
“I think it provides an important ounce of perspective.” The therapist replied; nodding as he looked over to his audience with a sympathetic look.
“So…” Betram continued, turning over a page, “We’ve discussed the John Triarch of the past, the John Triarch of the present… But what of the John Triarch of the future…? What is it you see in your destiny? Where do you want to be in the world, and where do you want to take it?”
The doctor’s beady squint was matched by an inquisitive squint as he haunched forth. Valane was keenly aware that a roadmap from Triarch here alone could create panic, speculation, or adoration. It was an invitation to a manifesto.
John leant back and placed his hands together as if deep in thought.
"That's a deep and tough question Dr. Valane" He paused "I guess as tough for any of us when we ask ourselves where we seek ourselves in a few years time. There's a lot going on in the galaxy and things are changing at such a rate I don't know if I have any particularly solid ideas. You have to be flexible you see. But I see myself in my current position, overseeing the company in its attempts to really help the galaxy. I cant spoil too much you see but I would like to take the future to a place to give things back. Really make a difference."
He smiled.
"And maybe have a wife and kids, you know try my hand at the family man I hear it cant be much worse than running a company" he laughed to the audience.
A sensible laughter ensued to the doctor’s approval as he haunched in his seat. Jotting a few words down and nodding to everything he had heard, he gave one last observational glance up to the magnate before at last putting the notes and pen down. His hands returned to their place above his crossed legs as the Teliran cleared his throat; making the quiet even more noticeable in the room.
“Ladies and gentlemen. Here today we have met Mr. Jonathan Triarch: Magnate, entrepreneur and an Atlas of the modern age. A Unionist capitalist, a moral arms dealer, an innovative inheritor. All are descriptives that could fit the gentleman before us… But I think behind these base notes lies a more intriguing psychological profile: A man of business and logical pragmatism… Yet also a man with a powerful drive of emotion, of personal pride and a legacy that has already been enshrined for the ages to come. My psychological notes have been of great interest to me in discerning what lies behind the mind of Mr. Triarch, and before me I see a man of industry, wit, and ambition.”
His stare returned to John as he gave a wrapping-up smile,
“Mr. Triarch.” He reached out to give a conclusive handshake, “...It’s been a great honour.”
Soon after the blasting jazzy fanfare of Dr. Valane’s show began to flare up as the audience and lights rose alike to a raucous applause. Betram gestured for his guest to take leave from the stage behind him but, on the way out, John could catch a glimpse of the renowned therapist’s psychoanalytical notes, the ones he had been writing down with John’s expressions the whole time.
They were all just scribbles for show.