Riddle 032: Milked For All He's Worth

[puzzlerprince]

[Hey Mayfield. Guess who's been a busy little drone this evening? Well, now that he's gone and killed his first victim, the Riddler's going to be headed on home. But first?

A. ACTION - The Gas Station / Diner - EveningThe Riddler's at the gas station, whistling to himself and filling up the Riddler-Mobile. Which you've probably noticed is a little

Comments

[deaths_heritor]

[The answer 'better before the door opened' dies on Susan's lips. AS one tends to do in these situations, Susan rises to her feet and moves towards a more open area. Mental check: Luke and Slugger were upstairs, Pinkie Pie was out, and Gummy was in her room. Not that she cared about Gummy, really.]

Edward.

Home early, I see.

[puzzlerprince]

Sure am! [He takes a moment to hang up his hat over by the front door before turning to face Susan, an eerie, almost alien grin on his face.]

And how's my number-one gal?

[deaths_heritor]

About to go number-one if I were any less thick-skinned.

[This is murmured under Susan's breath, followed by a short cough.]

You've got something on your suit there, darling. Take that off so I can give it a wash.

[puzzlerprince]

[Edward glances down at the suit, then glances back up at Susan.]

You're too good to me, sweetheart.

[Unbuttoning his jacket now.]

[tapshoetomove]

[Oh no, Edward must be droned again. Luke hesitantly emerges to see Edward, except something seems very wrong in this case.

...Is that blood?]

M-Mr. Nigma?

[Luke doesn't move any closer to greet dear old dad.]

[puzzlerprince]

Luke! C'mere, sport! Give your old man a hug.

[He extends his arms out invitingly, though he doesn't loosen the grip on his cane in the slightest.]

[tapshoetomove]

[Luke doesn't move. What did he do why is there blood?]

You ought to go clean yourself up, Mr. Nigma.

[puzzlerprince]

Now, son. You know better than to talk back like that. Don't you?

[The smile on his face wavers very slightly.]

B

[strike_you_out]

[Slugger enters the kitchen moments after Edward--he's decided he should find Susan and fess up about he and Pokey conspiring against and succeeding in killing a man. That's when he hears someone enter the front door followed by Edward's eerily cheerful voice. Was Edward droned again so soon?

As he enters the room to find Edward, whose clothing is stained in blood, all Slugger can do for the moment is stand there staring.]

...Hot date?

[He smirks at his own joke, oblivious to the fact that this is no ordinary droning.]

[puzzlerprince]

Now why would I go and do that, Slugger? You know there's only enough room in my heart for your mother! And for her cooking, too.

[strike_you_out]

[What a load. Looking him over with a curious eye, Slugger notes the warping of the cane. He figures Edward got into another fight with someone and was droned consequently.]

Whose blood is it?

[pointing to the obvious stains. It's already occurred to him that the drone probably won't give a truthful answer, but he's just so curious.]

[puzzlerprince]

Hmm? [He glances down at his jacket, flashing Slugger a grin.] Ran into an old friend while I was out.

A

[freakinblur]

Whoa, Eddie, what tha hell happened to yer car?

[puzzlerprince]

[With a cheery wave.]

Evening, neighbor! Got into a bit of a fender-bender earlier.

[freakinblur]

That's more than a fender-bender. What--

[And now he's close enough to see all the blood.]

Jesus, Eddie, 'the hell happened to you?

[puzzlerprince]

Hardly even a scratch, Chief! Nothin' I couldn't handle. You and the others sure as heck must be busy this week, y'know. Helping Officer Milkman round up those nasties.

[He pats the trunk with a certain amount of pride.]

A

[greatestmanll40]

[Wouldn't you know it? Lex is filling up his car with gas as well. He's taking note of the damage to Eddie's car.]

Nigma.

[puzzlerprince]

Well, howdy!

[greatestmanll40]

[Lex glares. Fantastic, Edward has been droned. Again.]

You seem to have been in a bit of an incident.

[puzzlerprince]

You could say that, old chum!