Riddle 013: Spreading That Christmas Cheer [Action]

[questionauthority]

[Christmas Time is coming! Today, you'll probably find Edward in one of three locations.

A. At the Christmas Village, dressed in his little "Helper Elf" costume and freezing furiously. He does not look at all happy to be there.

B. Wandering through the town, dressed in a warm, green pea-coat, a jade scarf wrapped around his neck, just admiring the winter scenery.

C. Back at home, meticulously setting something up on the dining room table. Once he's finished, he'll call upstairs.]

Slugger? Susan? I'd like it if you could come to the dining room, please. ...Susan, you're free to call upon your Grandfather, too, if you like.

Comments

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[Herp. Edward's not good with kids. :| God help this poor Christmas Elf.]

That would probably be the best course of action.

[Aaand hobbling over towards the food stalls. Maybe he'll grab some cider.]

[hispalette.livejournal.com]

[he'll just be following, thanks. it's not every day you meet an elf.]

Is this normal around here? Everything looks so-- [trails off, looking warily at a pair of drone kids who skip past him on their way to the carousel.] ...Fake.

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

What is normal in Mayfield?

[And he stops at the food stall, snapping impatiently at the drone working there.]

Hot apple cider. Fast.

[Looking back at Red.]

It seems as though new additions to this town sprout up every so often. Like weeds.

[hispalette.livejournal.com]

So much for keeping up appearances. [he leans against the side of the counter, hands in his pockets. after a while, he looks up at the other.] Why are you here? It could be a trap.

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

Believe it or not, I was assigned to work this little Christmas Village. To wear this... costume. And here I thought Grady lacked a sense of humor.

[The drone worker hands Eddie his cider, and Edward tosses a few coins at him in response, sipping the drink cautiously. He licks his lips, refreshed and feeling a bit warmer already.]

[hispalette.livejournal.com]

[Grady - oh. the policeman. nice to see that he's versed in other methods of torture.]

It's not funny so much as stupid, but...I guess you could have it worse. [his eyes flick back in the direction of the cottage where Santa sits. the faint tug of a smile pulls at his lips.] I feel bad for him.

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[Edward shrugs.]

Somebody has to do it.

[Though it would be nice to wear a thick outfit with fur and not this paper-thin elf suit.]

[hispalette.livejournal.com]

[yeah, but not willingly which is what lends Red pause.]

You think he's a drone?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[...and at that question, Edward puts a hand to his chin, sipping pensively.]

I'm not sure. I haven't really gotten that good a look at his face. You know Santa, always busy with whatever little brats come to see him.

...for all I know, he could be.

[hispalette.livejournal.com]

If he was, it would make sense. He could have put up those mailboxes.

[he doesn't have to ask if Eddie knows what he's talking about. with those giant red monstrosities all over the place, it would be preeeetty difficult to miss one.]

They are for him, after all.

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[Edward doesn't want to admit that the allure of the mailboxes actually made him, the Riddler of all people, send a letter to Santa. So he won't.]

They're certainly an eyesore.

[With a sigh, he takes another swig of his hot cider and straightens up.]

Well, I'd better be getting back to my post. Wouldn't want to end up on Santa's "Naughty List" this year.

[hispalette.livejournal.com]

[yeah, he's not gonna admit it either. at least not openly. there's something incredibly weird about that and, truthfully, he has his doubts about that man in the costume, but speculating isn't going to get them anywhere.]

[nods, mulling over all of this to himself.] Yeah. Sorry for bugging you.

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[He shakes his head.]

Not at all.

[He takes a few steps to leave, but before he does, he turns back.]

Hey. Kid.

[hispalette.livejournal.com]

[he looks up, lightly questioning.] ...?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[He's got a feeling Red's theory might not be too far from the truth. And the last thing he wants to see is this Santa, drone or otherwise, to wreak havoc.]

...be careful.

1/2

[hispalette.livejournal.com]

...

2/2

[hispalette.livejournal.com]

[a tiny, determined nod. he turns away, waving with the back of his hand.]

Stay safe, mister.