Riddle 020: Calling All Crooks

[puzzlerprince]

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

Comments

B

[deaths_heritor]

[There is the sound of throat clearing in the background as Edward finishes.]

You're not hosting your deranged plots in the house. There are three other people living here, or have you forgotten?

BUT MOOOOOOOM :(

[puzzlerprince]

[Edward scowls at her.]

Just this once, I'd like to try and plan something and not have it blow up in my face. Or is that too much to ask for in this house?

GO TO YOUR ROOM YOUNG MAN

[deaths_heritor]

As I recall, you blew the last one up yourself when you called for Grady. It isn't as if he follows you around out of spite.

(stomps upstairs)

[puzzlerprince]

[He wants to snap back some catty retort at her but he knows she's got him. He takes a deep breath to collect himself.]

Just this one night. That's all I want.

A

[strike_you_out]

[There is but one day out of the entire school year in which Slugger sits in a front row desk, dead-center. Today is that day and Edward is that lucky teacher who must deal with it.

He raises his hand before Edward can even finish speaking.]

[puzzlerprince]

[Edward's eyes narrow and he does his best to ignore the little terror that sits before him.]

Anyone?

[His eyes scan the room.]

[strike_you_out]

[Utter silence and stillness.

Slugger continues to hold up his hand, patiently waiting to be called on like a most well-behaved student.]

[puzzlerprince]

[Siiiiiiiigh.]

Slugger.

A

[perfektsymmetry]

[Crowe is glad to have Edward back as a teacher. He would rather is be for Lit again, since Susan can be a bit... intense.

He looks at the question, thinking.]

What do you mean, "how"? I suppose using available resources, and coming up with the best plan... information is always the key.

Sorry, I made a mistake with the question D: edited it

[puzzlerprince]

Fair point, Mr. Crowe. But It's not just about the tools you use. It's the way that you use them. How far are you willing to go to get what you want? What are you willing to compromise? Or what won't you compromise?

no worries~

[perfektsymmetry]

...almost whatever I can, I guess. I... I don't mind putting myself in harm's way to get some leads, but I'd prefer if other people didn't have to get hurt to do so. Especially people not involved at all. I wouldn't want to see people suffer because of something I did.

I guess it's a hard question to answer without being faced with it directly.

[puzzlerprince]

That's ethics for you. In Mayfield or out of Mayfield, you will always be posed with difficult questions throughout your life. Different opportunities to get ahead or to fall behind. And, unlike this class, you won't be given additional time to contemplate your answers.

B

[bro_thel_fist]

...can't you just say what you mean like a normal person?

[puzzlerprince]

As I've said already, the answers are already laid out before you.

[bro_thel_fist]

No, you just spat out a bunch of cryptic crap and expected us to put the pieces together. Not at all the same thing.

[puzzlerprince]

...look. It's really not as challenging as you're making this out to be.

B

[hookedonspeed]

[ Oh shit.

It's this guy.

So now Wally's stranded, powerless, in a place containing at least one actively plotting supervillain. Somebody else's supervillain, at that! AWESOME. He doesn't really mean to say anything, but he can't help muttering. ]

...cripes.

[puzzlerprince]

[Eyebrow raise.]

Excuse me?

[hookedonspeed]

Nothing. [ So smooth. ] It's just...that's a pretty hard riddle, dude. If you're really going to find a way out of here, why make everyone jump through hoops to find out what it is?

[puzzlerprince]

It's a means of determining who's smart enough and capable enough to do whatever it takes.