questionauthority: (Tip my hat to you)
Edward Nigma | The Riddler ([personal profile] questionauthority) wrote2011-11-04 06:11 pm

Riddle 036: What is it that nobody wants to have, yet nobody wants to lose?

[A - ACTION - Hospital.

On an ordinary day, during an ordinary visit to the hospital (perhaps to see Ema), the Riddler winds up running into another familiar face. But there's something quite different about him today. He's got that cheery look in his eyes, a dopey smile that's been plastered onto his face. But unlike his ordinary childish facade, the look on Bruce Wayne's face is eerily... vacant. Empty.

Question: What happens when you discover that the man who's outwitted you, outmatched you, and beaten you to an absolute pulp more times than you can count has been turned into nothing more than a brainless automaton with no mind or free will to call his own?

Answer: Grin like a madman and gloat when nobody else is around.]


So you've failed at last. Disappointing, but not entirely unexpected. After all, who can truly hold a candle to my genius? Not you, Dark Knight. [He laughs.]

If only you could see yourself now. The World's Greatest Detective? Hardly.

Question:

"What is greater than God? More evil than the Devil himself?
The rich need it, the poor have it, and if you eat it you'll die?"

Answer: Nothing. You're nothing now. You've lost. And I, Edward Nigma, have finally---

[Won? ...no. No, he hasn't. Mayfield did this to him. Mayfield took the Batman and broke him down into nothing. Not the Riddler. This... isn't his victory. This was never a victory at all. And as soon as he realizes that, Edward's wide smirk fades into a venomous glare. Shoving the husk he once called his archnemesis out of his way, he moves to depart the hospital and put as much distance between himself and that... thing as he possibly can.]

[B - PHONE - Unfiltered. The winning edge is completely gone from his voice now. He sounds strangely empty.]

Riddle me this. What is the one thing we have all seen and will never see again?

[C - ACTION - 726 Anderson Lane / The Hall of Doom.

Whether he's sitting in the kitchen tinkering around with a strange contraption he's received in the mail or in the empty conference room of the Hall of Doom, the Riddler is uncharacteristically quiet this evening. Bother him?]

C

[identity profile] crazyclownwoman.livejournal.com 2011-11-04 10:21 pm (UTC)(link)
What's that?

[Leaning over your shoulder.]

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-04 10:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[He doesn't even have the energy to look all that surprised when she pops in.]

It's an Enigma Machine. It's a device meant to relay encrypted messages.

C

[identity profile] hungry-monster.livejournal.com 2011-11-04 10:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[Sitting at the table.]

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-04 10:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[Glancing up. Sighing. Then glancing back down.]

Evening.

[ phone ]

[identity profile] notalwystrthful.livejournal.com 2011-11-04 10:26 pm (UTC)(link)
The way you worded the question leaves it vague, Mr. Nigma.

However, is it someone dear that Mayfield took from you?

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-04 10:29 pm (UTC)(link)
There's nothing dear about that imbecile at all.

...and no. That isn't the answer.

B

[identity profile] poisonivyforyou.livejournal.com 2011-11-04 10:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Can you just tell us without riddles for once, Nigma...?

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-04 10:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Is that a serious question, Pam?

Phone

[identity profile] pkeccentric.livejournal.com 2011-11-04 10:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Hmm... [this sounds like it would be something circumstantial. Ray thinks about this carefully, then answers:] Freedom?

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-04 10:54 pm (UTC)(link)
That's a rather cynical answer, wouldn't you say?

(no subject)

[identity profile] pkeccentric.livejournal.com - 2011-11-04 23:02 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[identity profile] pkeccentric.livejournal.com - 2011-11-04 23:19 (UTC) - Expand
notasidedick: (They're watching us huh)

Phone

[personal profile] notasidedick 2011-11-04 10:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Did you see him today?

[Because Dick sure as hell did.] Assuming this riddle is about him.

[Filtered]

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-04 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
It isn't. [At least, the riddle isn't directly about him.] But to answer your question, yes. I've seen him.

[Filtered]

[personal profile] notasidedick - 2011-11-04 23:06 (UTC) - Expand

[Filtered]

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-04 23:11 (UTC) - Expand

[Filtered]

[personal profile] notasidedick - 2011-11-04 23:21 (UTC) - Expand

[Filtered]

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-06 07:38 (UTC) - Expand

[Phone]

[identity profile] godisachild.livejournal.com 2011-11-04 10:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Love.

[Guess who else sounds utterly wiped out.]

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-04 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Not the answer I was looking for, though I can imagine it would hold true for some.

(no subject)

[identity profile] godisachild.livejournal.com - 2011-11-04 23:00 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[identity profile] godisachild.livejournal.com - 2011-11-05 08:15 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[identity profile] godisachild.livejournal.com - 2011-11-05 08:20 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[identity profile] godisachild.livejournal.com - 2011-11-12 21:56 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[identity profile] godisachild.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 07:33 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[identity profile] godisachild.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 07:41 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[identity profile] godisachild.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 08:02 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] godisachild.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 08:07 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 08:10 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] godisachild.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 08:12 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 08:15 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] godisachild.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 08:16 (UTC) - Expand

C - Hall of Doom

[identity profile] greatestmanll40.livejournal.com 2011-11-04 11:05 pm (UTC)(link)
[Lex walks into the hall for business of his own, though he is curious as to what Riddler is doing.]

Nigma.

...

[identity profile] greatestmanll40.livejournal.com - 2011-11-21 23:38 (UTC) - Expand

C.

[identity profile] geassedmassacre.livejournal.com 2011-11-04 11:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[Euphie walks into the kitchen and goes over to him, tilting her head curiously. She points at the thing he's playing with.]

What is that?

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-04 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)
This? An Enigma Machine. I received it in the mail this afternoon.

C

[identity profile] strike-you-out.livejournal.com 2011-11-04 11:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[There comes a knock from the door to the conference room. Hovering in the entryway, Slugger peers curiously in at Edward. Lately, he's been doing strange things such as knocking on doors rather than simply appearing abruptly from thin air and not breaking into Edward's office or purposely misplacing his belongings or flushing the toilet while Edward is in the shower.]

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-05 02:22 am (UTC)(link)
[Edward's definitely noticed the shift in Slugger's behavior over the past several weeks. And oddly enough? It's somewhat distressing for reasons unexplainable. And instead of showing displeasure at the little monster or giving him a foul look, Eddie glances up and motions for him to enter with a slight inclination of his head.]

Come in, Slugger.

...

[identity profile] strike-you-out.livejournal.com - 2011-11-15 17:47 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-15 18:21 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] strike-you-out.livejournal.com - 2011-11-15 18:58 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-20 00:15 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] strike-you-out.livejournal.com - 2011-11-20 00:49 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-20 00:55 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] strike-you-out.livejournal.com - 2011-11-20 01:14 (UTC) - Expand

phone

[identity profile] strayprincess.livejournal.com 2011-11-04 11:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[There's a long silence while Sara thinks about that. Maybe he can even hear her softly repeating the words to herself, before she responds indignantly.]

You can't -- you can't be saying we'll never see our homes again, can you?

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-05 07:46 am (UTC)(link)
[At that suggestion, Edward responds just as indignantly.]

Don't be stupid. That wasn't at all what I was suggesting.

B

[identity profile] maguskiller.livejournal.com 2011-11-04 11:59 pm (UTC)(link)
...

[Breathing is clearly audible on the other end of the phone, but the person it belongs to clearly doesn't feel inclined to even try.]

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-05 07:48 am (UTC)(link)
...is someone there? Hello?

[phone]

[identity profile] riastrad-ridire.livejournal.com 2011-11-05 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
If you think the answer's 'home', I'm gonna punch you in the goddamned face.

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-05 07:49 am (UTC)(link)
Trust me, Lancer. If I were to suggest that answer, I would deserve it.

...

[identity profile] riastrad-ridire.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 07:30 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 08:14 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[identity profile] sosghosts.livejournal.com - 2011-11-05 14:51 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[identity profile] sosghosts.livejournal.com - 2011-11-06 17:12 (UTC) - Expand

C

[identity profile] deaths-heritor.livejournal.com 2011-11-05 03:41 am (UTC)(link)
I would have guessed 'your sanity', but I realize you're making some sort of vague attempt to reclaim that.

NEMIAG doesn't spell anything, by the way.

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-05 07:55 am (UTC)(link)
Not now, Susan.

[Focusing intently on his machine.]

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-05 07:51 am (UTC)(link)
I suppose, in a way, that applies. Not the one I had in mind specifically, of course, but it could work.

A

[identity profile] uranophobe.livejournal.com 2011-11-05 08:04 am (UTC)(link)
[Yes, of course, Eddie is obviously all alone. Ignoring the fact that multiple people work in the hospital, and Crane had caught the whole thing while going outside for a smoke break. And, since what sort of friend would be really be if he let those wounds go unsalted, Crane catches him when he's exiting the hospital.]

You're mooning over him.

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-05 08:10 am (UTC)(link)
[Stopping dead in his tracks.]

Care to repeat that?

(no subject)

[identity profile] uranophobe.livejournal.com - 2011-11-05 08:21 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[identity profile] uranophobe.livejournal.com - 2011-11-05 08:42 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[identity profile] uranophobe.livejournal.com - 2011-11-13 04:33 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[identity profile] uranophobe.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 07:55 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[identity profile] uranophobe.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 08:04 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[identity profile] uranophobe.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 08:24 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[identity profile] uranophobe.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 08:53 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] uranophobe.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 09:21 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 09:33 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] uranophobe.livejournal.com - 2011-11-15 01:31 (UTC) - Expand
fasterthan: (concerned about you)

B

[personal profile] fasterthan 2011-11-05 08:05 am (UTC)(link)
[...huh. He doesn't sound so good.]

I am really, really bad at riddles, man. Can I get a hint or something?

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-05 08:12 am (UTC)(link)
You wouldn't be the first man to ask for one. [And of course, Eddie gives him a hint in the form of another riddle. Sorry, bro.]

What is always coming but never arrives?

(no subject)

[personal profile] fasterthan - 2011-11-05 08:18 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] fasterthan - 2011-11-05 08:23 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] fasterthan - 2011-11-12 23:04 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] fasterthan - 2011-11-12 23:38 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] fasterthan - 2011-11-14 07:38 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] fasterthan - 2011-11-14 07:39 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] buildstherobots.livejournal.com 2011-11-05 08:08 am (UTC)(link)
[knock knock motherfucking knock]

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-05 08:15 am (UTC)(link)
[And the door cracks open.]

Dist. [He's actually surprised to see him. There's a look in the Riddler's eyes that's somewhat guilty, yet still cautious and wary. He hasn't seen the "Rose" in well over a month. But despite his trepidation, he decides not to shut the door.]

What brings you here?

...

[identity profile] buildstherobots.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 06:10 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 06:12 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] buildstherobots.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 06:13 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 06:20 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] buildstherobots.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 06:23 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 06:30 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] buildstherobots.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 06:34 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 06:40 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] buildstherobots.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 06:45 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 06:58 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] buildstherobots.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 07:04 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 07:14 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] buildstherobots.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 21:31 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-19 23:28 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] buildstherobots.livejournal.com - 2011-11-20 22:44 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 05:21 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] buildstherobots.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 05:25 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 05:32 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] buildstherobots.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 05:34 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 05:40 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] buildstherobots.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 05:42 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 05:45 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] buildstherobots.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 05:48 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 06:16 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] buildstherobots.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 06:19 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 06:41 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] buildstherobots.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 06:51 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 06:52 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] buildstherobots.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 06:54 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 06:56 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 06:57 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] buildstherobots.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 06:59 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 07:07 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] buildstherobots.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 07:16 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 07:29 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] buildstherobots.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 07:32 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-11-22 07:45 (UTC) - Expand

B

[identity profile] hardhat-truckie.livejournal.com 2011-11-05 08:11 am (UTC)(link)
Would ya mine if I gave your riddle a shot, stranger?

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-05 08:17 am (UTC)(link)
By all means, go ahead. If you think you can solve it.

B.

[identity profile] coolbowtie.livejournal.com 2011-11-05 02:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Yesterday.

Unless you're capable of time travel, then well, it's an open slate.

[and he sounds rather smug about that.]
Edited 2011-11-05 14:34 (UTC)

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-06 08:41 am (UTC)(link)
Clever, Doctor. But trust me when I say that time travel wasn't exactly a factor I'd considered in posing this riddle.

(no subject)

[identity profile] coolbowtie.livejournal.com - 2011-11-06 16:26 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[identity profile] coolbowtie.livejournal.com - 2011-11-12 23:43 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[identity profile] coolbowtie.livejournal.com - 2011-11-14 14:58 (UTC) - Expand

B;

[identity profile] custodismundi.livejournal.com 2011-11-05 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
I'd say sanity, but-- from the looks of things, some of us have felt a sore lack of that particular commodity from the start, I'm afraid!

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-06 07:30 am (UTC)(link)
You can say that again, friend.

A

[identity profile] glowing-science.livejournal.com 2011-11-06 06:24 am (UTC)(link)
[Question: What do you do when someone grabs your wrist while you're trying to bolt?

Answer: Stop walking, or at least be forced to.]


You look like you've seen a ghost. You okay?

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-06 07:13 am (UTC)(link)
[Initially, Edward tries to jerk forward, not realizing who's stopped him immediately.]

Let me---!

[Wait. Ema. The Riddler does stop walking, but by no means does he want to stick around and chat. Not when dear ol' drone Doctor Wayne is starting to make his rounds in the next hall over.]

I'll be fine. [Though he doesn't sound entirely convinced.] We'll talk later.

...

[identity profile] glowing-science.livejournal.com - 2011-12-07 06:45 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-12-07 06:48 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] glowing-science.livejournal.com - 2011-12-07 06:49 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com - 2011-12-07 07:02 (UTC) - Expand

...

[identity profile] glowing-science.livejournal.com - 2011-12-07 07:07 (UTC) - Expand
kinship: (Abel y u so dumb)

B

[personal profile] kinship 2011-11-06 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[Cain thinks about this for a moment before replying.]

There are two possible answers I can see - yesterday, or our mother's womb.

[identity profile] puzzlerprince.livejournal.com 2011-11-12 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Correct.

[He doesn't bother saying which, though---though he was aiming for the first, he can't really dispute the second.]

(no subject)

[personal profile] kinship - 2011-11-13 13:01 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] kinship - 2011-11-14 15:30 (UTC) - Expand

Page 1 of 2