questionauthority | Riddle 023: When in Drone

[A: Action - Mayfield High School

Well, class, have you been enjoying your sessions with your droned Ethics teacher, Mr. Nigma? Because it looks as though he's in the middle of yet another of his cheerful drone-y lectures.]

You see, kids? Life sure is grand here in Mayfield. Even if you're down or discouraged about schoolwork, or girls, or bullies---at the end of the day, you just have to remember the Golden Rule. Do unto others as you would have others do unto...

[But he trails off. Blinks. His eyes no longer appear glazed over. He takes in his surroundings, as though waking up from a long, unpleasant dream. The cheery grin on his face fades into a sour scowl. It looks like Edward Nigma is back to normal.]

...what on earth was I just saying?

[B: Later on that day, Edward makes his way back home, sending out a public phone call, filtered from drones.]

Well. Apologies for taking the idea of "getting droned" lightly. It certainly isn't pleasant. Two full weeks---gone, just like that. Two weeks that could be better spent trying to determine a means of escape. But I don't intend to dally any longer with idle distraction. And I, Edward Nigma, don't intend to let this town continue to have its way. Not anymore. We need to take initiative. We need to strike back. Now.

Regrettably, with all the chaos and my little... "sabbatical," I was unable to hold a second meeting as I had originally planned. I trust you were all able to keep yourselves busy in my absence?

[C: Filtered to Poison Ivy]

Pamela? Are you there?

[D: Action - 726 Anderson Lane

Edward's back in his typical colors, pacing around the study in an almost manic state of mind. Do you approach?]

[E: Action - Olney's Tavern

In an incredibly morose turn of events, Edward has found his way over to Olney's Tavern late that night. With all the crap that's happened to him in the past couple of weeks---rejection at the hands of Ema Skye, his droning at the hands of the town, and the fact that this little April Fools' prank has cost him dearly---he could use a drink. Against his better nature, he heads to the counter and raps on it impatiently, flagging down the bartender.]

Malt whiskey. Leave the bottle.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Talk of a town that looked as though it were set in the Wild West. And numerous rumors that practically everything we'd faced in the past several weeks was nothing more than an elaborate April Fool's joke.

That's pretty much what I heard, too. Can I ask you something?

[Goes on without really pausing for him to answer.]

You play a lot of tricks on people, right? I mean, you like riddles.

[He doesn't need a reminder of the tricks he's pulled in town. But her second statement puts a smirk on his face.]

...I like riddles? That's certainly a bit of an understatement.

And there's usually some kind of rhyme and reason to them, right? There's no point in a riddle nobody can guess, is there? So if you were going to play a trick or a joke on someone...wouldn't there be something true in it, too? Somewhere.

Quite right, Ms. Liebert. Though it pays to be one step ahead, there's always something so... appealing about about someone keeping up with you.

[He's weird like that.]

That being said, there always needs to be an element of truth. It's what makes them riddles, after all.

[That actually gets her attention, but probably not what for the reason he'd assume.]

So, Mayfield is kind of like a riddle, right? Which means there'd have to be something significant in everything that just happened. Otherwise it wouldn't be convincing.

I'll be honest with you. I've always thought of Mayfield as a riddle. Yet every time I come close to figuring this place out, the town dumps more pieces to the puzzle out of the box.

Riddle 023: When in Drone

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