Riddle 011: Emphasis on CROSS in "Crossword"

[questionauthority]

[Edward's busily attending to a crossword puzzle in the kitchen. He muses over it before groaning in frustration and grabbing the phone.]

Has anyone else found the Daily Crosswords in Mayfield far too simple? Literally, for the last three days in a row, I've been finding them incredibly underwhelming. Come on now, Mayfield. Yesterday was Saturday, and what did we get? Tuesday quality. Garbage. Even the Gotham Gazette's Mondays could be considered more of a challenge than this!

Does anyone happen to know who even runs the paper? [He groans.]

[Filter to Joker, Harley, and Pam:]

I'm still in need of some assistance, old friends. Joker? Pam? Have you changed your minds?

[Also, action, to Susan:]

Susan! Might I have a word with you?

Comments

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[The moment Eddie hangs up the phone, he will find his not!son sitting across from him at the table.

Slugger doesn't say a word. He just stares.]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[Edward fiddles some more with his pencil and turns back to his puzzle, but stops mid-turn at the sudden appearance of Slugger. He sighs, annoyed.]

Here to torment me again, are you?

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Still staring and utterly straight-faced.] Am I interrupting something?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

If this crossword were more challenging, I'd say yes, but at the moment, no, you aren't interrupting anything significant.

[crazyclownwoman.livejournal.com]

No. You just haven't told me what you want me to do yet.

[filtered]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

My apologies, Harley. It was far from my intent to keep you in the dark.

...I suppose I owe you an explanation. See, my partner, one Ema Skye, has fallen ill, and doesn't look to be getting well any time soon. I've been keeping in regular contact with her, but until she's fully recovered, our investigation cannot begin. That means we cannot recruit any more members for our investigation team just yet. And, as such, your role in all this will not be coming into play for some time.

Again, I need your assistance in proving myself trustworthy before them. I haven't figured the specifics quite yet, but our investigation begins, you will stage some sort of diversion and I'll be the one to stop you. Should Pam and Joker decide to rally to my cause, they'll join you in staging this diversion. We'll all plan it together, you see.

[filtered]

[crazyclownwoman.livejournal.com]

Like sick, sick. Or droned sick?

Oh, okay.


....wait. What kind of diversion?

[bluecapboy.livejournal.com]

The crossword puzzles in the paper are pretty boring. It really wouldn't kill them to put a bit of effort into making a more challenging puzzle!

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You'd think if this place were smart enough to pull the lot of us from countless locations, they'd be able to print a paper that wouldn't give us such simple crosswords. It's almost insulting!

[bluecapboy.livejournal.com]

It really is! I could solve these in my sleep.

[getsciencedone.livejournal.com]

The puzzles they have here are pathetic.

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

Clearly. When I read a paper, I don't expect "Baby's First Crossword." I expect a challenge.

[getsciencedone.livejournal.com]

Are you only interested in crossword puzzles or puzzles in general?

[plantenough.livejournal.com]

Someone takes their games rather seriously, I see.

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

You could say that.

[plantenough.livejournal.com]

I suppose I can see the benefit, though, especially in a place like this. Puzzles and riddles keep a mind sharp and alert.

[deaths-heritor.livejournal.com]

What is it, Edward?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

Frankly... it's about Slugger. Since I've arrived here, he's done nothing but bother me. You remember what he left under my pillow.

How do you... deal with him?

[deaths-heritor.livejournal.com]

[Susan is mildly surprised at this for a moment. She shows it by blinking once.]

A firm hand and a firmer constitution. I believe he may resent you a bit for interfering with our little 'family' unit. And you spook easily.

[b-as-a-criminal.livejournal.com]

[calmly:]

The newspaper, like everything else in Mayfield, is targeted at the drones. What else can you expect?

[But B, himself, did the same thing in his first few months of living here, being a puzzle fan as well. In fact, he happens to be quite good at making difficult crosswords.]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

Considering they've gone to enough trouble to bring people like us here as well, they could afford to pander to different demographics.

[b-as-a-criminal.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't that be nice?

Totally just remembered she should reply to this...

[motheringnation.livejournal.com]

They are quite dull, aren't they. I like the ones at home better. Though I can practise my Engligh with these.

If you like crossword puzzles, have you ever tried to solve the one in Lvov?

[The worlds largest crossword puzzle is in Lvov, Ukraine. It's on a building.]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I've not had much of an opportunity to do travel outside of the country back home, though the puzzle in Lvov is something I hope to do at some point in my life.

[motheringnation.livejournal.com]

Oh it's so much fun! I'm quite proud of them for creating it.