One ❅

[subzero]

[For as alert and cautious as he is, Victor couldn't predict that he would suddenly be awoken to the sound of blaring alarms. And not only that, but with a woman in a bed. But, even more shocking than that, was the distinct lack of frozen walls or cold temperatures. For a panicked moment, he took his hands to the base of his neck and began to hyperventilate. He can't be out of the cold, he will die. He can't die. Not now and not like--

--But he became aware all too quickly that he was not dying. His body did not convulse like it did back in the lab after the accident and his skin...it was peach. Not a cold blue, but a regular peach. And then the second dawning hit him. That he was in the broken remains of Oceania with his wife, but in a bedroom. A normal bedroom, not much unlike the one he shared with Nora what felt like years ago.

The woman in the bed does not stir despite the alarms still roaring, so Victor quickly went to the closet and takes out a brown overcoat, a matching fedora and some shoes over his blue pajamas. No need to tempt fate that the woman may awaken to find him. So he quickly leaves the room and then the house, to figure out what in the world was going on. Not only with the noise but with himself.]

Action; During the nighttime sirens forward to the 16th

[As soon as he leaves 1651 Albright Lane, he immediately begins walking around the town, looking for people to speak with. Maybe someone here can help him decipher what is going on. Surely there will be people about with the sirens screeching as they are.

...Though he will naturally be wary at first. After all he is an escaped criminal, though not of his own will. But he doubts that many people will even recognize him without his suit or...well icy exterior so to speak. So if he sees someone who doesn't look like some sort of authority figure (which may as well be anyone not in a police uniform or a bat suit) he'll try to get their attention with a shoulder tap. Though his voice will be low regardless and doing his best to hide his facial features under the hat. Which may not help given the loud sirens.]

Excuse me!

Phone; Morning of the 16th

So I take it sirens won't be screeching every night? It would be hard to sleep under those conditions if we are seemingly trapped here. And I am assuming there is no way to make one of these fake people leave a bed?

[A frustrated sigh. He goes on.]

I don't know why I'm here or who sent me here, and I'm sure you have as little knowledge toward that. I don't really care. But-- [He pauses, trying to contain his voice and keep it leveled as possible. Being in his not destroyed body is making him feel a lot more human than he use to feel.] --But, if you happen to see a petite blonde woman named Nora for whatever reason, can you tell her that Victor is here? I ask of nothing else.

...

Also I assume one cannot change their occupation? I doubt I would make a very suitable guidance counselour for the youth of this dollhouse fantasy you call "Mayfield".

Comments

[questionauthority]

[Oh, but the answer does matter. Nothing gives Edward more grief than an unanswered question---so long as he's the one asking it.

Still. There are more important things for Edward to be doing than stand around squabbling with some weird stranger in the streets. So he'll unhook his cane. Let him go, for now.]

So long, then.

[subzero]

[He frowns, but doesn't turn around. Something is odd. Surely someone as persistent as him wouldn't just let him go without reason. Was he behind his relocation then? But, that would require a lot of work. For starters, curing him alone of his affliction.

He goes though. He needs his own answers and he won't play along with someone as egotistical as this man. So he walks away, tipping the rim of his hat as he does.]

[Action => Phone]

[questionauthority]

[There are plenty more questions that come to plague the Riddler over the course of the evening regarding Mayfield's most recent events, none of which he can find the answer to right away. The next morning, however, he's able to find at least one answer. And ironically enough, it's to the tiny little question he'd filed into the back of his mind earlier on that evening.

Without the sirens blaring, Edward is able to get a much better idea of what this person he spoke to this past evening sounds like over the phone. In fact, this stranger sounds almost familiar... And when he refers to a woman named "Nora" and addresses himself as "Victor?" The answer is far too obvious.]

...Victor.

Victor Fries.

[Another Gothamite here in Mayfield. In the unfrozen flesh.]

Re: [Action => Phone]

[subzero]

...

Hello again, Edward Nigma.

[He says in the flatest of tones. Because it easily dawns on him that, while Edward Nigma is an egomaniac out to prove himself, he has no choice but to interact with him. Being in contact with someone from Gotham may prove useful later down the line, if he's stuck in this hole.]

[questionauthority]

Hello again.

I'd apologize for the lack of a warm welcome last night, but that seems rather tasteless. Wouldn't you agree? You could have at least acknowledged---

[Wait.]

...hang on a second. They've made you a guidance counselor?

[subzero]

["Warm welcome" -- he'll let that slide. For now.]

Yes, they did. What of it?

[He would make a great...guidance...

Okay no he knows it's horrendous too.]

[questionauthority]

Quite a questionable choice in careers, given your history. Then again, these are the same imbeciles that gave Crane a medical license and offered me the role of "ethics teacher."

[subzero]

[He gives a hollow 'hah', no trace of amusement in his voice. Some things never change.] Compared to being stuck in a foreign home, with a woman who thinks I'm her husband of many years with children, it's the least of my worries what nine to five job they saddle me with. Among other things.

[The "wife" he especially doesn't take kindly to, but somehow treating his condition is also very prevalent on his mind.]

So the former Doctor Crane is here too. Anyone else I should prepare myself for the pleasure of one day meeting?

[questionauthority]

Mayfield truly is quite the conundrum, isn't it? You'll---["Warm up to it," he almost wants to say. But he resists the urge.]---get used to the madness in time. Or you might not. Hell, even after more than a year of this place, there's been absolutely no shortage of nonsense.

Harley's been here for longer. Apart from the four of us, both Pam Isley and the Joker are here as well. [At least, that's what he thinks. He hasn't discovered them to be droned just yet.] Lex Luthor, too. [But Metropolitans don't count. Gotham > Metropolis.]

...and for a time, our dear Dark Knight was yet another humble citizen of Mayfield. Until he was droned permanently, that is.

[Someone still sounds a little bitter about that.]

[subzero]

[Good life decision there Eddie. Particularly if you feel like having a life.]

Great. Just what I always wanted. Some of Arkham Asylum's most heinous inmates, living together in a place possibly worse than Gotham City. [And no one would ever think to make something like that happen.] And so what if Batman was "droned" as you call it. Or do you forget that, underneath the cape and cowl, there is just another man like you and I?