Of all the inmates on this ship he could've been assigned, it just had to be one from his world. What were the odds? Slim to none he thought. More than likely the omnipotent Admiral had spied on their very first initial meeting, thought it hilarious, and decided to pair them together. Ted wondered if the man - if the Admiral was a man, and he had his doubts - wanted him to explode half the ship. The way Isaac and he got along, that was surely bound to happen.

Which was partially why Ted had decided on the CES for their first meeting. Undoubtedly Isaac was getting a bit of cabin fever, so Ted thought somewhere close to home, his loft with a view, might relax him a little bit. He didn't know how detailed the illusion would be, having only read about it, but he hoped it would accomplish what he wanted.

Before he left his cabin, Ted glanced at the framed portrait of Karen he had on his desk. It was a picture from a happier time, felt like an eternity ago. She was why he was here, why he had to succeed with Isaac. Selfish, perhaps, but the Admiral had made him a deal. He would hold him to that.

Dressed casually - maybe even scruffy, depending on one's perspective - Ted arrived only a moment after Isaac. He didn't have the file with him, tried to make this whole thing seem as friendly as he possibly could.

"So. Shall we?" He asked and nodded toward the doorway. His voice only carried the tiniest hint of scratchiness, otherwise normal.

The movement of the sleeves was definitely noticed but, for now, not commented upon. Isaac's drug abuse was a topic he wanted to discuss today. It was either that or Simone and, while Ted knew they'd eventually discuss the painter's dead girlfriend, it was too sensitive of a topic to jump right into.

Okay, so Isaac wanted to play the silent treatment. Fine. Ted could deal with that. He had all day for this meeting. It'd go on that long if it had to.

Ted stepped into the CES first then held the door aside for Isaac. Once both inmate and warden were in, the stunningly realistic rain forest changed. Within a few seconds they were inside Isaac's loft, as the painter remembered it. It would be similar to his cabin, only more spacious, just as he'd left it. Though at what time they visited, whether paintings of Isaac's death were on display or not, would be left to the painter's mind. Outside the windows sounds of New York could be heard. All static background noise of the city life; no person could be seen, nor could they leave the loft and walk around the city. That was the true illusion.

"I thought a bit of home might be fitting." He said as if it were no big deal. Then Ted glanced down, and stared for several seconds. There on the floor was a painting of New York exploding (http://heroeswiki.com/Image:Painting_the_explosion.jpg). He should've expected that, but it still made him uncomfortable. "We could always go back to the forest if you want."

Ted didn't really have a set plan for this meeting. He had a general outline of a plan but nothing more. Therapy certainly wasn't his field of expertise. He made things up as he went along and hoped they would, eventually, form something to make him look intelligent. Or at least look like he knew what he was doing.

The idea of the loft was decided on the more he read Isaac's file. The topic of conversation would present itself. Eventually. For now, Ted wandered leisurely as Isaac did. Unlike the inmate's explorations, Ted's were more timid and hesitant. Illusion or not, this was still the painter's home. He mostly wandered from painting to painting, keeping a respectful distance from each, as though he was visiting a museum. Though he wanted to tip-toe around the gigantic explosion, there was just no avoiding it.

Ted could feel the other watching him and ignored it. The silence continued on as he impulsively decided to remain quiet. He had said Isaac would do most of the talking, and he meant it.

The silence between them could have lasted for hours for all Ted cared. He'd lived out in the desert for several weeks. Isolation was an amazing tool for learning patience.

Ted examined the indicated painting closely, not hiding a grimace. The paintings here were so.. graphic. So vivid. He could imagine Isaac painting each one with desperation, but the outcome was the same each time. An unavoidable death. For the first time he felt a strange understanding of Isaac's burden. How he could paint over and over but only see a future he could not change.

And of all the topics Isaac could have chosen, he had to pick Sylar. The fact he was recently attacked made him think the choice wasn't coincidence.

"He's a sadistic monster," Ted replied as if that explained everything. "Though the crucifixion aspect is weird. Didn't take him for the religious sort."

Isaac was trying to get right down to business, and that was usually an admirable quality. If only it were that simple. If only this one meeting would lead to a successful redemption of the painter and Ted could be with Karen again by the next day. But, he knew that wouldn't be the case. This whole process would have to be slow, no matter how impatient he might be.

Ted had tensed up as the conversation continued on about Sylar, and visibly relaxed a little when the topic veered away.

"You're in a hurry to leave this place?" He inquired, then after a pause, shrugged. He moved to lean against the railing near the door, certainly unaware it was a few steps from Peter's spot (http://heroeswiki.com/Image:Peter_in_Isaac%27s_apartment%2C_finished.jpg) so long ago. "Fair enough. The drugs. Start from there." He was trying to be as vague as possible, to lead Isaac to answers without specifically asking questions.

Again Ted found himself wondering about the complexities of a creative mind. Whether a rock star or simple painter, it seemed many of them veered into drugs for... what? To reach a higher plane of perception? Or maybe the opposite, to settle their mind down. Who knew. He was always the intellectual sort. Before his life went to hell in a hand basket of course.

"Why start on them at all?" He asked as a general statement. "Any particular reason you think the rehab didn't work?"

Ted nodded with understanding. Yeah that certainly made sense. How many nights had he worked extra hours, sometimes without pay, just to make that deadline? Karen always told him to slow down, but they both knew he wouldn't listen. The bills still had to get paid.

"So the drugs helped you to paint faster," he said. It could've been a statement, or a question. He left that for Isaac to decide. Ted wandered to the steps nearest him and sat down on the highest one. He was still staying as far away from that image of NY gone nuclear as much as he could.

Ted made a face as if to say 'Well excuse me for not knowing how drug affects creativity, Mr. Expert' but otherwise said nothing. He was determined to keep a neutral tone.

No matter how much he wanted to avoid the obvious painting, it was like the pink elephant in the room. There wasn't any way to get around it. But Ted still wanted to for reasons he couldn't - or maybe would not - explain.

He wanted to say 'We don't have to talk about the bomb if you don't want to' and it was on the tip of his tongue. But he could almost hear Karen's disapproving voice in his head, telling him that this wasn't about what he wanted. Let Isaac decide the course of conversation.

So it was with some obvious hesitance that he finally said, "Please continue. I'm all ears, Isaac."

Ted glanced up at the word 'explosions' and for a brief few seconds their eyes met. It was Ted who looked away first. That nagging emotion he felt creeping along the back of his brain, that one thing he was trying to ignore? He was beginning to identify the guilt feeling.

It didn't make sense. If something doesn't make sense, it's not true. Right? He shoved aside the.. inexplicable feeling. So why did he still feel tense?

"Right. I get it. You were trying to be a hero." He said, as calmly as he could, to keep the conversation going. But there was a slight edge to his voice, an agitation that hadn't been there before.

Ted had read about Simone and noted how Isaac wasn't mentioning her at all. He was tempted to ask why, yet at the same time, didn't want to upset Isaac too much. It was only their first meeting.

"How did you know about Peter and I, but not Sylar?" Ted asked, giving Isaac a look that said 'We don't have to talk about her just yet.'