Puzzle 013

[tapshoetomove]

[Action for 726 Anderson Lane.]

[While everything had ended and everyone had returned to Mayfield safe and sound, Luke was still left with the traumatic memories of cannibals, surviving in the wasteland of Mayfield, and most of all - a slow and painful death by radiation.

He cried for the longest time when he woke up, and all he could hope for was

Comments

[puzzlerprince]

[...hey Luke. Have a knock at your door.]

[hintcoinplz]

...Who is it?

[He makes no move to open the door.]

[puzzlerprince]

It's me.

[A pause. Edward's taken his time as well, working up the strength to come see him after all that's happened.]

Can I come in?

[hintcoinplz]

...Solve the door puzzle first, and I'll let you in.

[Not that he didn't want to see the Riddler, but puzzles are the only calming thing he has right now.]

[Phone]

[godisachild]

We're working on it.

They're scared, so we're getting somewhere.

[Phone]

[hintcoinplz]

Scared of what? Why would they need to be scared if they can do things like this?

[Phone]

[godisachild]

Yeah, I'm curious. How many bullies do you know? Or had to mess with?

[Phone]

[hintcoinplz]

I...er...

[Before Mayfield? Hardly none. In Mayfield? A lot.]

A...few, I suppose.

phone;

[dreambubbly]

Luke...

I'm so sorry.

phone;

[hintcoinplz]

[As soon as Feferi apologizes, Luke instantly feels bad.]

I-it's all right, there's no need to apologize.

phone;

[dreambubbly]

No, you don't need to apologize. It's normal to feel that way, I think...

phone;

[hintcoinplz]

[He swallows a little.]

S-sorry...

Are you all right?

[strike_you_out]

[Later that afternoon, if Luke is still hiding in his room, Slugger will find his way inside without much warning. A locked door is no obstacle for him. Two empty newspaper bags hang from his shoulder, one of which he drops just inside the door.]

...Luke?

[hintcoinplz]

[Luke nearly jumps a foot in the air, before remembering that half his not!family can phase through objects and therefore the puzzle lock on his door is kind of ineffective.

By this time, he's not crying, but his voice does sound slightly hoarse.]

...Hi Slugger.

[strike_you_out]

I did your rounds.

[Slugger hopes it will work and Luke won't be droned for not delivering his newspapers today, though he doubts one day missed will make much difference even if the town does catch on. Still, if there's one thing he can't stand, it's drones in the house that look like people he knows.]

Next time, you have to do your own.

[hintcoinplz]

[Luke's shoulders droop at that. After what happened, the idea of doing his rounds didn't even occur to him, nor did the idea of being droned for not doing said rounds.]

Y-you didn't have to do that.