Riddle 040: A Little Less Conversation...

[questionauthority]

[At some point on this seemingly ordinary Thursday afternoon, a conversation between two older men can be heard over Mayfield’s phone lines. No, it isn’t Jack Smith or the Mayor. But who could these men possibly be...?]

-- I do NOT have cobwebs--

Well, from the sound of it, you certainly don’t anymore.

I have no idea where you’re getting such horrible lies from, Nigma, if you haven’t just thought them up yourself, but they’re just that. Lies.

He actually defended you, you know. Do you mean to tell me that all those lovely things he had to say about you were lies?

And you’re just going to automatically believe-- No, of course, of course you’re going to trust the word of a textbook narcissist over mine; it’s like talking at a mirror for you two, isn’t it?

What’s the matter, Jonathan? Can’t handle it when I rustle your feathers? You had no problem rustling his.

... I am hanging up the phone, Edward. I will never be picking it up again.

I’m sure you won’t. Wait. Hang on a second. [A dramatic pause.] ...Oh dear.

... [Why is he letting his curiosity get the better of him?] What?

Well, it appears as though---in my haste to check up on you, of course---I neglected to filter the call. Must have slipped my mind.

[As good an actor as Eddie may be, there’s no hiding that shit-eating grin that’s just crept onto his face.]

... I am going to fill your veins with so much fear toxin you will never have a coherent thought ever again.

Comments

[questionauthority]

You know Doctor Crane---the man I was speaking to on the phone. You've met him before, haven't you?

[hintcoinplz]

Mhm! He was the one who told me about er...Bruce Wayne, wasn't it?

[Because lol what are secret identities.]

Was he the one who was talking about the fear toxin?

[questionauthority]

{That bastard... Just ignore that weird twitch just near Eddie's eye, Luke, he's going to try and ignore what was said about Bruce for the time being.]

You heard him correctly. Are you aware of what it can do?

[hintcoinplz]

Uh...give you horrible nightmares?

[Otherwise, he has no clue.]

[questionauthority]

To put it simply, yes. It's a hallucinogenic substance that forces people to come face-to-face with their greatest fears. And though it doesn't always happen, the end result could prove to be quite lethal.

[hintcoinplz]

He has something like that?! And he's going to use it on you?

[And here Luke thought he was a pretty nice fellow.]

[questionauthority]

He says he will. But he won't. I know him well enough to make sure of it.

In the meantime, Luke, I want you to stay away from him. Understood?

[hintcoinplz]

If it means that much to you, then okay. I won't talk to him again.

But are you sure he won't use it?

[questionauthority]

Good.

I'm positive.

[Because really, now. When has this guy ever let you down?]

[hintcoinplz]

If you insist, Mr. Nigma. But please be careful.

[questionauthority]

I shall remain ever-vigilant. You have my word.

[This isn't him being facetious---not entirely, anyway. His ensured safety is important. And so is Luke's.]

On the topic of vigilance, my boy, I'm sure you don't need to be told twice, but I would sleep much easier it if you were to steer clear of the Major as well.

[hintcoinplz]

[The Major? Luke hasn't given the Major much thought since he admitted to fighting him during their last encounter. But the change of topic surprises him a little.]

I can do that. Any reason you're bringing this up now?

[questionauthority]

It's nothing you should concern yourself with.

[Meaning Luke probably has every reason to be concerned.]

[hintcoinplz]

[...Yeah, he kinda figures that. Or at least the alarm bells are going off a little. The Major had been awfully quiet about the little fight they had and Luke wasn't sure if that was normal or not.]

Did he say something on the telephone?

[While Luke had tried to eavesdrops as much as he could, he was a little preoccupied after Valentine's Day that he could've easily missed something.]

[questionauthority]

[Edward frowns. If he tells Luke what the Major had said, the boy is only going to get scared.]

It's nothing. Nothing you need to worry about. Just... promise me you'll stay out of trouble. All right?

[hintcoinplz]

[Too late, the worry's already there. But he doubts he's going to get anymore information if he tries to pry further.]

...All right, I promise.

[questionauthority]

Good.

[Yeah... The worry's definitely there now, for both of them. Edward'll try and reassure Luke with a light tousling of his hair.]

[hintcoinplz]

[The hair ruffling doesn't do much to reassure him, but he'll take what he can get nonetheless.

He's tempted to just outright ask if the Major is coming after them ever since Luke picked that fight, but Luke's not so sure he wants to know the answer to that question.]

Mr. Nigma, we're going to be all right...aren't we?

[questionauthority]

[If it's anyone's fault the Major is coming after them, it's undoubtedly going to be Edward's. But to answer the boy's question...]

...Of course we are. [He offers Luke a small grin, hoping to instill him with the same sort of confidence that always drives the Riddler each day.] Trust me.

[hintcoinplz]

[Luke gives a small nervous smile, and suddenly he's starting to regret that fight with the Major even further. Sure, he was arrogant at first that he'd come out of the fight alive, but...

He nods at Edward's words, not entirely convinced. He wasn't foolish after all, he knew when an adult was telling him that everything would be okay when it wouldn't be.

But still, he took some comfort in Edward's confidence.]

Okay. I'll trust you.