Riddle 034: We don't need no education [Backdated to the First Day of School]

[questionauthority]

[Well, it's that time of year once again, isn't it? School's back in session. Oh, joy. Throughout the day, there's a good chance you'll bump into the Riddler in a few locations...

A. ACTION - Mayfield High School, Ethics Classroom, Morning

The words "Mr. Nigma" are written up on the blackboard. Yep. You heard that right. Edward Nigma, Ethics Teacher. When his first class has seated themselves, he'll rise up out of his chair and begin to address them:]

Life's just full of questions, isn't it? And in a place like Mayfield especially, you're going to have to ask yourself plenty of difficult questions. 

[He approaches the blackboard, writing up a series of questions, reciting them aloud as he writes:

"Have you ever had to make a difficult decision?"
"Were you satisfied with the outcome, or do you still have regrets?"

He turns to his class, looking at them expectantly.]

Well?

[B. ACTION - Mayfield High School, Teacher's Lounge, Afternoon

He'll be sitting here in between classes, smoking a cigarette and working on a crossword from time to time.

C. PHONE - Filtered to Batman, Shortly After School]

Well, well, Dark Knight. It seems we're long overdue for a little chat, aren't we?

[D. PHONE - Filtered to Ema Skye, Late Afternoon]

Question: What are you up to this evening?

Comments

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[The Riddler's acknowledged that he makes her life plenty difficult, yes. But does that mean he's going to stop being difficult? Probably not. Not for some time, anyway. At the end of the day, he's still Edward Nigma. Knowing the two of them, they're likely bound to squabble over some other idiotic matter soon enough. It's who they are. Yet still, they've managed to make significant comebacks from complicated messes and poor life decisions.

But right now? This doesn't feel like one of those poor decisions at all.

Edward's arms snake around her in return, and he plants a soft kiss against the side of her head.]

I love you, Ema.

[This isn't like the first time he's admitted it to her. This isn't a forced confession, dredged up from some compulsive need to be honest. He isn't saying it because he has to. He wants to say it.]

[glowing-science.livejournal.com]

[Ema doesn't expect Edward to stop making her life difficult. It's who he is, and to be perfectly honest she makes his life difficult in turn. Hurdles and complications have been a hallmark of their relationship so far, but somehow they keep being drawn back to each other. If Ema was a believer in fate, she might have thought that they were destined to be together or some sappy nonsense like that.

As things are, she's simply content with knowing that they have each other's back. Most of the time.]

I love you, too, Edward.

[She pulls back from him, wiping her eyes with the heel of her hand.]

Now can we actually have a date? Please?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[Eddie likewise pulls away, far more reassured now than before.]

Of course.

[And off they go to Casa Nigma.]

[glowing-science.livejournal.com]

[Ema spends the time pulling herself together, a task that is much easier to do now that she and Edward are no longer having that painfully uncomfortable conversation. She supposes he was within his rights to ask, but... well, she couldn't have expected much different, really. He's Edward, and she had insisted he ask the question.]

So, what's the plan exactly?