A/N: So this week I will be at a place that has no Internet for a few days, leaving me unable to update until Friday night. But I will write a lot more chapters there, leaving it easier for me to update more frequently. All I ask is be patient, have an awesome week, and I'll see you guys on Friday night with a new chapter.

P.S: I'm aware this isn't another flashback chapter, but I couldn't get it ready for tonight.

Chapter 23: Revenge Solves Everything

-set during "Landmarks"-

I swore to myself when I was a kid, that I would never become a "fat cat" corporate asshole like the ones that infect our economy. I kept my promise, even avoiding Wall Street, despite the fact that I had my Econ degree. But I still felt a lot of shame for showing up to the meeting on the Arcadian's fate: I was among the people I hated.

"Arthur, this is Oliver Blake. A good friend of mine." Said Barney.

"Pleasure, Oliver." Said Arthur Hobbs. He didn't shake my hand, and neither did I to his. It was clear that neither of us thought highly of the other. I heard stories about "Artillery Arthur". Real prick who's constant obsession was his dog, Tugboat, firing his employees left and right simply for wearing green ties and other stupid reasons. I could only imagine what he thought of me, a regular New York citizen. I could almost see the look of loathing in his eyes.

I was at the meeting on the Arcadian's fate held by the LPC. I had shown up to support Ted in his speech. I was upset though, that Marshall was on the opposing side in this fight. He shouldn't have stood with that damn blonde. He should have stood with his friends.

"We better sit down." Said Barney. "They're about to call the meeting to order."

I sat down right behind Barney, where I still felt uncomfortable: here I was in my old green hoodie and jeans, and I was surrounded by suits.

The meeting discussed the things the Arcadian had given the city of New York in it's many years of standing as a building in Manhattan. A sort of little brother of all the other skyscrapers around it. Marshall was asked to present his thoughts on what should happen to the Arcadian. As Zoey's lawyer, he had to explain the benefits of keeping the Arcadian standing. In a way, the whole meeting was like reading a "pros and cons" list. I will admit that Marshall gave me a few laughs by saying some entertaining rhymes. Then it was Ted's turn to speak.

"Mr. Mosby, it's quite simple. Do you think the Arcadian should be a landmark?" Said the chairman of the committee.

A hush went over the crowd as Ted prepared to say his answer to the question.

"No." He replied. "There are many important building in New York that are landmarks. The Arcadian isn't one of them."

Some people in the hall murmured. Some in agreement, others in shock.

"That Mosby kid knows what he's doing." Said one guy behind me.

"He's gonna save us all." Said another.

All of the sudden, Zoey ran up to the stage. She produced a voice recorder from her pocket, and hit play. The recorder played Ted's voice, saying many disrespectful thing to GNB, and him also saying that the Arcadian should be a landmark. I then understood: Zoey had broken her word, and had kept the tape she had claimed to erase months ago. I scowled. It was just as I had expected.

"Holy shit, Ollie. You were right." Said Barney. "She didn't get rid of the tape like you said she wouldn't."

The remainder of the meeting was one of the toughest things I ever saw. I could only imagine how hellish it was for Ted, the one who had to face what Zoey threw him into. After the meeting was wrapping up, the chairman said a few final words.

"We will be gathering here tomorrow at the same time, to officially declare the Arcadian's fate. Until then, meeting adjourned." He smacked his gavel onto the pad.

Zoey started out the door, where I ran after her.

"What the hell was that?!" I yelled out at her. She turned around.

"Just some good old fashioned revenge. Ted broke his promise, so I broke mine."

"Wrong. You broke your word to him, and was using that tape as insurance in case he changed his mind, even though you were his girlfriend. You are many things in this debate, Zoey Pierson. But 'fair fighter' isn't one of them."

"What about you? Does 'tagger' mean 'fair fighter'?"

"At least I can fight honestly. You lied to people who you said were your friends." Then I laughed when I realized something: "You're no better than the 'fat cats' that you fight. You cheat, you lie, and you do whatever it takes to win. That's why you lose, Pierson! When the Arcadian isn't declared a landmark, you'll pay for your dirty fighting."

Zoey walked up to me slowly. "You're forgetting something, 'Ollie'. I used revenge. It solves everything." She walked away, leaving me angry and confused.

"How the hell are we gonna beat Pierson now?" I said. The six of us were down in the bar that night, discussing what happened.

"What are we gonna do?" Said Ted. Then, all three of the other guys then said in unison "we should buy a bar!"

"Whoa! Guys, hate to be Buzzkill Blake here, but small problem: you got no idea how to run one. I know only one person at this table with two thumbs and the proper training to run one:" I pointed at myself with the thumbs. "This guy!"

"I got it!" Said Marshall, ignoring me. "Themed bar: courtroom!"

"That...actually sounds awesome!" I admitted.

"Where you show up, then get served!" Said Barney.

"And you are judged by a jury of your beers!" Laughed Robin.

"Stop!" Said Lily. "No one's buying a bar! You heard Ollie. Only he has the experience to run one, and he works here!"

"Speaking of, shouldn't you be working, Ollie?" Asked Robin.

"It's my night off. But let's focus on the situation at hand: we need to stop Pierson."

"Lily!" Said Marshall. "If anyone's got a plan, then she does. I'm just gonna sit, and watch it happen."

I watched Lily take a few seconds, before her eyes lit up with inspiration.

"I got it!" She said.

She gave us a summary of the plan.

"Ho-lee shit." I muttered. "That'll work."

"We gotta find Arthur!" Said Ted.

The six of us jumped up out of our seats, and sprinted out the door to the street to look for Arthur. It took a while, but we found him, screaming at a dog who I assumed for a second was Tugboat, but turned out to be his replacement.

"Arthur, Marshall's wife has a plan to save not saving the Arcadian." Said Barney.

"Oh, does she?" He said sarcastically. "Lemme tell you something about wives! They leave, and they take your best friend with you!" He yelled at the dog. Then he started tearing up. Damn. He must really have missed his dog.

Marshall walked over and gave Arthur a hug. I felt bad for him in that second. I guess even suits had feelings, even if they didn't show it.

"What's the plan?" He asked.

After saying her demands, Lily explained.

Arthur grinned. "I'll get some construction crews working on it tonight."

"If that's the case," I said. "I'd like to tag it one last time." I don't know what processed me to stay that. It was as if my mouth had a mind of it's own.

"Dude, again?" Asked Ted.

"What's this about tagging?" Asked Arthur.

"Arthur," said Barney. "You met Ollie earlier today. But there's more to this kid than meets the eye. He was one half of the Mystery Taggers on the Arcadian."

"Hold on, it was you?!" He said. He then ran over and shook my hand. "It's good to finally meet you!"

I felt stupid shaking a guy's hand for defacing a building, but I did anyways.

"If Lily's plan to destroy the Arcadian works, then my partner and I will want to tag it one last time."

"Done!" Said Arthur. "You two made us at GNB applaud you for your work."

"Juno! It's Ollie!" I said a few minutes later.

"Hey! What's up?"

"I got us a deal done. How'd you like to deface the Arcadian one last time?"

"I'll get the paints! Meet you there in a bit!"

We were soon standing side by side in front of the Arcadian. The construction workers were already working on removing the lion head.

"So lemme get this straight. At the meeting today, Zoey got the upper hand by bringing up the lion head, and GNB's solution is to remove it?"

"That's it in a nutshell. I know we said we'd stop with the spray paint, but after hearing this could be the last chance to leave our mark, I just had to ask Arthur for this opportunity.

"Hell yeah. Let's do it." She pulled out a can of spray paint, and started the infamous clicking sound as she ran in.

I took out my can, and ran in.