Riddle 039: Same Time, Same Bat-Channel

[questionauthority]

[ACTION - AROUND MAYFIELD

Well, that past couple of weeks sure was hell. But now that the Riddler's got his memories back and his brain in proper working order, he's going to be swinging around town---around the school, around the hospital, even door-to-door---to check up on certain people.

For some, he might stay to talk. For others? There may be no sign that Edward was even here, apart from an envelope on their doorstep. What do they say? Who are they for? Now that's a riddle, isn't it?

Knock knock.

ACTION - 726 ANDERSON LANE | THE HALL OF DOOM

And now that all that's taken care of, it's time to settle into his underground headquarters for a bit of contingency planning. If this place has the power to take his memories away again, then time is of the essence. He can't get distracted by---

Huh. This definitely isn't how the atrium of his headquarters looked earlier this afternoon. He's momentarily concerned about how all this junk got down here, and whether or not the Mailman tampered with anything in his supposedly secret HQ, but the suspicion is fleeting. Apart from the new decor, nothing appears to have been broken, stolen, tampered with, or otherwise touched. He really should be more worried about his security system, but that can be taken care of later on this evening. Right now, he's just recovered a blast from his colorful past, the set to something he's not seen in ages.]

Now, how did that old intro go again...? [He clears his throat, trying to remember.] Ladies and gentlemen...

[He glances around the seemingly empty Hall before twirling his cane and adopting the voice of something resembling a game show announcer, his tone suave, showy, and saccharine. As he continues with this incredibly self-indulgent introduction, it's easy to tell that he's really getting into it.]

Ladies and gentlemen, we're now only moments away from midnight... the Hour of Uncertainty. The time when all stands revealed, naked in the face of complexity. Ladies and gentlemen, The Riddle Factory is proud to present...

"Riddle Me This!" With your host... the man of questions, intrigue, and style... the lean, mean, green machine... the Riddler!

[He chuckles to himself, nostalgic at glory days long gone, before poking his head around his evil lair-turned-television set.]

Comments

Action: Around Mayfield

[fasterthan]

[Wally opens the door and pokes his head out.

Oh.]

Oh. Uh. Hi, Eddie.

[questionauthority]

Wally. [His tone is an attempt at civility.] I'd like to offer my apologies for not quite being myself last weekend. Fortunately for me, I recovered rather quickly.

[He reaches into his jacket, withdrawing a green envelope and handing it off to Wally...]

Here.

[...before turning on his heel and marching down the front walk.]

[fasterthan]

What...

[He takes the envelope and almost wants to chase after Eddie, but this whole situation is kind of awkward.

So he'll just watch Eddie go and then go inside to the kitchen to open the envelope.]

Hall of Doom

[strike_you_out]

[While Edward is giving his "performance", a lone audience member has slipped into one of the second row seats where he spectates with mild amusement. His ball bat occupies its own seat beside him.

The whole thing is pants-on-head ridiculous but at least it meant Edward was back to normal.]

[questionauthority]

[He could have sworn those seats were empty just a second ago.]

S-Slugger! [And for once, the boy's presence actually surprises him like old times. There's a somewhat sheepish clearing of his throat.] How long have you been up there?

[strike_you_out]

[chancing a small grin] Long enough.

around mayfield

[subzero]

[Victor is in the school during lunch today. After the machine was fixed he finally revived. He may notice the man in the cafeteria in a rather noticeable way -- the revival's faulty mechanism has left Victor with a low body temperature and has turned his skin a sickly pale white, much like the skin tone he had before being cured of the adverse lab experiment.

He's sitting and eating his sandwich. Dare you interrupt Eddie? Warning, cold shoulder may apply in a literal fashion.]

[questionauthority]

[And look who's here with a cup of coffee as well as a sandwich of his own.]

Victor! You're looking a little blue.

[Every. Fucking. Time.]

Care for some company?

[subzero]

No.

[Hi Eddie, bye Eddie.]

Around Mayfield

[glowing_skye]

[Who's there.

Ema opens the door and can't hide her smile when she sees who it is. She very nearly throws her arms around him then and there, but after their last meeting she forces some restraint.]

How's the memory?

[questionauthority]

Much better. [He taps the side of his head with his index finger.] Everything's back to the way it should be.

How are you feeling?

[glowing_skye]

That's a relief.

[She hugs him.]

I'm feeling better. You know how it feels when you're coming off of a bad flu--you're healthy, but so used to being sick that it takes awhile to get back to one hundred percent? That's how I feel.

Hall of Doom

[hintcoinplz]

[During one of Luke's "hey let's check out the Hall of Doom while Edward's not looking" adventures, the announcement catches his attention and he makes his way towards the game show-esque television set, half-expecting to see some kind of audience on a game show.

But when he sees the empty seats and the Riddler on stage, he'll sit in one of the seats and watches the performance with fascination.]

[questionauthority]

[And soon enough, Edward realizes he's not alone. So he'll keep it going, for funsies.]

And now---let's meet our first contestant! [A twirl and flourish of his cane, and he points the handle of it straight at Luke.] Luke Triton, come on down! And welcome to The Riddle Factory!

[hintcoinplz]

[Luke's mouth hangs open in surprise. Whoa Edward was really getting into this whole television show thing. If it weren't for the fact it was just the two of them in the Hall of Doom, Luke would've swore he was on an actual game show.]

M-me?

[And he'll hop out of his seat and head towards the stage.]

726 Anderson Lane

[inthebones]

My god.

[Susan speaks from the doorway.]

So it was a performance all along. I should have known no one could sincerely carry himself the way you do without developing a phobia of mirrors.

[Her tone is dry, as always.]

[questionauthority]

Heckling, Susan? I would have thought you above such petty behavior.

[Also pretty dry.]

[inthebones]

Heckling only applies when the performance is good. Otherwise, we call it 'being truthful'.

[Susan walks onto the set.]

What is all of this?

hall of doom

[freakinblur]

[The instant Eddie is done talking, from the audience:]

TAKE IT OFF!

[questionauthority]

[A sharp glare in Scout's direction.]

The Riddle Factory isn't that sort of show.

[freakinblur]

But it could be. Bring on tha girls!

Around Mayfield

[bread_goes_bip]

[Even if Eddie tried to dash off, he's dealing with a teleporter]

Hi Eddie.

[questionauthority]

[Goddamn teleporters. Between them and telepaths...]

Didi. [An awkward pause on stage but he shrugs it off.] Nice of you to drop in. You're just in time for the show.

action - hospital

[phobophobia]

[no go away

busy

doing questionable things to mice]

[questionauthority]

[Hey loser.]

Crane. Do you have a moment?