Riddle 021: Angel Aftermath

[questionauthority]

[Well, Edward's back from Westport, and he's definitely a little worse for the wear. This hasn't exactly been a very fun couple of days for him. As soon as he gets home, he shrugs off his coat, hangs his hat and his cane on the rack, and makes his way to the phone.]

[Public Call, standard filters in play]

This is Edward Nigma. I'm... back from Westport. I haven't heard too many things about what happened here in my absence, but I can't imagine it was very pleasant. Those of you in my Ethics class will no doubt be relieved to hear that I'm canceling tomorrow's class. Perhaps I might cancel a few classes next week as well, if I'm not fully recovered by then.

Your assignment for this weekend is to write a page or so on... Hmm. "What do you feel is the worst decision you've ever made?" ...that'll work. You can just leave them on my desk at school, if you wish; I'll collect them and grade them over the weekend.

[Private Call, filtered to the Legion of Doom]

I trust you're well, ladies and gentlemen?

...I'll be honest with you. This angel business has caused a major setback in our plans. If possible, I’d like to call another meeting to order at some point within the next two weeks. As an organization... we need to give ourselves more structure.

As for our meeting place? Well, I won’t hesitate to admit that my basement was not a Grade-A rendezvous point for our location. Still... I’d say I’m smart enough to have already found a much better spot. I’m a real class act, after all. Aren’t I?

[Action, for the Death House. Susan, Slugger, Terezi, or anyone else who may have crashed there during the angel takeover, feel free to run into Edward as he does his best to recuperate. He takes a shower and shaves his face, then comes downstairs in warm, clean clothes to make himself a massive lunch.]

Comments

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

No. Though I'd heard enough horror stories about it in the past.

[hungry-monster.livejournal.com]

What was it like there?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

...it was like the end of the world.

[Oh, Johan's going to LOVE hearing about this, isn't he?]

[hungry-monster.livejournal.com]

Really? How so?

[You have his COMPLETE attention. Though he doesn't show this.]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[He'll illustrate his point with a riddle.]

What is it that is greater than God?
More evil than the Devil?
What is it that the poor have and the rich need?
And what is it, that when you eat it, you die?

[hungry-monster.livejournal.com]

Nothing.

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

Exactly. There was just... there was nothing. The streets were bare. Lined with glass and abandoned houses. Abandoned cars. Several of us had been brought there, but there was just... nothing.

[hungry-monster.livejournal.com]

How interesting..

[Just leaning against the wall.]

And it was like the end of the world.....

Was that the first time you'd seen destruction like that?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

Back home, my city was hit by a cataclysmic earthquake at one point. And there have been plenty of riots in the street from time to time. But this...

[hungry-monster.livejournal.com]

Worse?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

I would say so.

[hungry-monster.livejournal.com]

Hmm....

We're people panicking?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

...some did.

[hungry-monster.livejournal.com]

And spreading into chaos.

Fear is a fascinating thing really. It can make people do almost anything. Things they might think they'd never do.

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[...especially in Edward's case. Trying to block that uncomfortable night from his head, he takes the tomato sauce and pouring it into a separate pot.]

That's true.

[hungry-monster.livejournal.com]

Always fascinating to watch as well.

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

...you would think so, wouldn't you?

[hungry-monster.livejournal.com]

Yes. I would.

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

Why?

[hungry-monster.livejournal.com]

Because there's a monster inside of me.

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

...you've mentioned monsters before, in the past.

[hungry-monster.livejournal.com]

Yes, I have.

Your son liked the book I showed him, didn't he.

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[Ignoring him mentioning Slugger, this raises an interesting possibility.]

Can you explain this fascination of yours with monsters, Mr. Liebert?

[hungry-monster.livejournal.com]

I've already told you.

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

That you have a monster inside of you, yes. But how does that---?

[The wheels in his head are slowly turning.]

Are you... Are you even human?

[Stuck in a house with the Granddaughter of Death, the embodiment of Fear Itself, and a Troll, Johan saying he isn't human wouldn't be that surprising at this point.]