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.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

Is it more challenging when someone is watching? [Psychological experiment underway.]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

...if you've really got nothing better to do. I'm almost finished.

[He glances back down to his crossword and resumes his work.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Slugger starts tapping one finger on the table in a slow, constant rhythm.]

[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.

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[Edward glances up, briefly distracted. After a moment's pause, he returns to his work. Seven-letter word for Dr. Frankenstein's ghastly creation. "M-O-N-S-T-E-R."]

[filtered]

[crazyclownwoman.livejournal.com]

Like sick, sick. Or droned sick?

Oh, okay.


....wait. What kind of diversion?

[filtered]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

Sick sick.

Some kind of suspicious activity. Like the kind of trouble we'd have gotten into back home. Again, we'll have to figure out the specifics once the time comes.

[filtered]

[crazyclownwoman.livejournal.com]

Wow, that sucks. Don't think I'd want to be sick at this place.

So you want us to make you look good by making ourselves look like bad guys.

I don't like this plan any more.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Little by little, he leans forward. His gaze dips momentarily to peer at the paper, then returns back to Edward.

The tapping gets slightly faster but remains quiet.]

...Have you met one before?

[filtered]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

Nor would I.

And no. No, you misunderstand, Harley. My goal is not to incriminate you to make myself "look good."

[filtered]

[crazyclownwoman.livejournal.com]

Good.

....Okay, what's the plan then?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[At this point, Eddie's already on 16, down: Six-letter word for a pain in the neck. "B-O-T-H-E---"

He stops before he finishes his answer, glancing up at Slugger.]

Come again?

[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!

[filtered]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

Riddle me this, Harley: How does one get out of Mayfield?

My plan, Ms. Quinn, is to find that answer. With your help, I hope to find a way to get the four of us---you, me, Pam, and Joker---back to Gotham and OUT of Mayfield. Having an investigation team at my disposal will surely push us towards a feasible solution. And any answers that they find, we'll use.

I've made my way back to Gotham before. And I intend to find my way back again.

[filtered]

[crazyclownwoman.livejournal.com]

Oh okay.

You don't remember how you did that did you?

[getsciencedone.livejournal.com]

The puzzles they have here are pathetic.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

Monsters. Do you know any?

[filtered]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

Not at all. Otherwise I'd have gone right back out the door. [A sigh.] If only Mayfield were more like Arkham.

[filtered]

[crazyclownwoman.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I mean that place should just put in a revolving door.

Or give up.

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[He sits back in his chair, a thoughtful look on his face.]

Yes. Yes, I suppose I do.