Riddle 020: Calling All Crooks

[questionauthority]

A. [At Mayfield High, Edward is taking to his new job as Ethics teacher with very little enthusiasm. Any kids in his class? Your first assignment is being written on the board in a neat, tidy scrawl:

"How far would you be willing to go to escape this place?"]

Discuss.

B. [Later on that afternoon, Edward makes a public phone call, filtered away from drones, Grady, the Mayor, the Smiths, and the like.]

Mayfield, Mayfield, Mayfield. You know what I like to do every Sunday night when I'm not scheming a daring escape? I like to think up riddles. Like this one, for example: "What is the one question you can ask at any point in the day, and still get a different answer?" Give up? Hmm?

Answer: "What time is it?" See? Simple. I could say "7:26" just as easily as I can say the time is 9 o'clock PM. Or this one---actually, my old college roommate, Andrew, was instrumental in helping me think this one up.

"Brothers and sisters have I none, but that man's father is my father's son!" I'll let you figure out the answer to that one on your own.

Hmm. Perhaps this Sunday night, I'll think up another good riddle. Or perhaps I'll finally find a way for all of you to get out of here. Who knows? Maybe I already have. Interested? Well---you already know where to find me. I've practically given you all the answers, regardless.

[He chuckles obnoxiously.]

Comments

[justice-smells.livejournal.com]

I figured out a long time ago that a "parent" is like an ancestor and a custodian roled into one, but I never cared to look up the gross alien details, okay?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

The father is, indeed, the caretaker. Ideally. The son learns from the father and eventually becomes a father himself.

[justice-smells.livejournal.com]

Well then, give me a second to process this new information with my rapier wit.


Your clone!

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

...I assume by this, you mean "his son."

[justice-smells.livejournal.com]

I guess your clever human riddle got me! I cannot hope to beat Edward Nygma in a riddle-off. He is simply the best there is.

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[He smirks at that. What is sarcasm to him.]

Quite right, Terezi. Quite right.

[justice-smells.livejournal.com]

Despite my own defeatist attitude, I am gonna try one of my own!

What can you wear that tightens when you're set loose?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

...a straitjacket?

[justice-smells.livejournal.com]

Interesting guess, but not quite! Give up?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[He mutters the riddle to himself once more, slowing down when he comes to a realization.]

Ah! A noose.

[justice-smells.livejournal.com]

Very impressive! I will have to draw you an appreciative trophy.