Riddle 016: Child's Play

[questionauthority]

[If you happen to be out and about today, Mayfield, you'll find a familiar-looking ten-year-old boy with glasses, green suspenders, and an incredibly dorky haircut, wandering around while tugging a backpack that's way too big for him and mumbling to himself.]

...stupid dad, never picks me up on time...

...which way was home again?

[He looks ridiculously lost.]

Comments

[welcomehomesis.livejournal.com]

[Have a 12 year old walking over.]

Have you seen my sister?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[He glances back at him.]

...I haven't seen anyone.

[welcomehomesis.livejournal.com]

Who are you?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

Uh... My name's Edward. Edward Nashton. Are you on your way home from school, too?

[welcomehomesis.livejournal.com]

No.

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

...oh.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Along the sidewalk there comes a sound of wheels rolling over pavement. It approaches rapidly before coming to an abrupt halt just beside young Edward, who is now enveloped in a tall, thin shadow.

Upon looking up, the boy Nigma (or is it Nashton?) will find himself caught in the silent gaze of a pair of narrow, green eyes belonging to a junior-high school aged boy.]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

...what do you want?

[He grips the straps of his backpack a bit defensively.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Slugger continues to say nothing and stoops a bit lower, attention focused on the kid's face.]

...Edward?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[And now he's fidgety.]

H-how did you know my name?!

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Suspicions confirmed (as far as identity goes), he straightens.]

What did you do?

[Yes, he suspects you are somehow at fault for your own... self-shrinkage.]

[heartstar-blues.livejournal.com]

[Will approach the kid, smiling.]

"Hey kid! You lost too?"

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[Edward scoffs disdainfully.]

I'm not lost.

[heartstar-blues.livejournal.com]

"Oh. Well I am!"

[He would smile cheerfully, obviously not bothered by this fact.]

"Can you tell me where I am?"

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

Yes. In my way.

[He tries to brush past babby!Cap, trudging forward.]

[heartstar-blues.livejournal.com]

[The Captain is also 10, but The Captain is a little thicker and a little rougher than this kid. He shoves the kids shoulder and glares.]

"Fine then. Be that way. I don't ☠☠☠☠ care."

[sensiblechild.livejournal.com]

. . . That usually depends on where home is.

[10 year old Susan folds her arms in front of the Riddler and condescends. All is normal.]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

It's... back in the city. How would I get to the expressway from here?

[sensiblechild.livejournal.com]

You can't.

What's an expressway?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

What's a---It's like a highway. It's how I usually get home from school.

[sensiblechild.livejournal.com]

But you never want to take the highway. That's where the bandits always hide.

[crazyclownwoman.livejournal.com]

[Walking by. Yes in costume]

Hey there kiddo, you lost?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

...a little.

[What is that costume?]

Do you work for the circus or something, lady?

[crazyclownwoman.livejournal.com]

Nope!

My name's Harley Quinn. What's yours?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

Uhhh... Edward. Edward Nashton.