tcnetwork | Edward Nygma / The Riddler

As if I'd sleep with her.

[If you can't hear the eyeroll in his tone, Ed, then he was somehow not dismissive and sarcastic enough.]

My mother's safety and security is at stake here, Ed! If Steve ruined my chance to make sure she's well taken care of, somewhere far from where I'm running a brothel, then he's going to pay!

It's not really up to me either way.

I know it is, Oswald. If he has, then...yes. I suppose that he'll have to. But he's too....ingratiated? With the townfolk to just kill him and have done with it. Probably you'd need to ruin his reputation or something.

If he has ruined it, we'll find a way. There are other hauses. There are certainly people in them who are less...I can't remember the word. Stringent?

[There's a pregnant pause and eventually and audible gulp. Oswald suddenly realizing that this arrangement he was trying to make might be uncomfortable for Ed. For him, it was entirely clinical. All business. But the way Ed said that...]

Do you- Are you... Do you want me to tell her I can no longer be considered?

What? No!

[ If he were going to do that, he certainly wouldn't wait until Oswald were this far into the process before raising an objection. ]

Because it is up to you, you know.

[He kind of barreled on, speaking almost immediately despite the answer, not quite processing that it had been given just yet.]

We're together and if you're uncomfortable with this then I can work on finding another way to secure my mother's future and safety. I won't even be able to get her for another four months so it's not like it's really interrupting anything...

[And then the answer hits and there is so much relief in his voice.]

Oh. Okay. Good. I... I wouldn't want to... I'd be thinking of you the whole time. You know. When I...

...donated.

[ This is not even remotely a conversation he ever expected to be having with Oswald Cobblepot in any world. Ever. ]

Would you?

I don't think she'll find a better candidate than you.

I agreed wholeheartedly that I'm clearly the best candidate.

[Ego? What ego?]

Not that you wouldn't be a fine one, of course, but I'd hardly think it worth your time.

[And if Ed volunteered he might have to stab the woman. So it's good he didn't. Hypocrite? Yes. Very much so.]

And... I know we haven't... progressed to that... but... yes... I mean... Of course.... I don't really need to explain that further, do I?

I have no reason to volunteer, everything and everyone I care about is already here. [ Meaning Oswald. ] And I certainly don't care if her Haus flourishes or dies with her.

You do not, no. We're both in this relationship and aware of what has and has not transpired yet. Things take their own time.

...do you bowl? [ What a subject shift. ]

...is that a euphemism I'm not familiar with? Or do you mean actual bowling?

[ He cannot even imagine what that would be a euphemism FOR. ]

...no, actual bowling. People seem to be congregating over at the bowling alley this weekend. I was considering seeing why.

[ For bowling, one assumes. ]

Edited (A QUICK EDIT) 2019-04-21 06:52 (UTC)

Actual bowling? No. I'm not really... no. I don't. I...

Are you asking me to go with you?

Well, yes.

You don't have to, obviously.

I could go. I just... I might not bowl, but I can go.

[Oh god. bowling shoes *shudders*]

I might not bowl either, but I am curious.

"You have not been entirely removed from consideration."

[Oswald said suddenly, reading the first line of Kathra's response.]

Not entirely removed! Which means I've been PARTIALLY REMOVED!

[his voice rose into an angry yell and the sound of something being broken in the background - glass of some sort - echoed behind it.]

Oswald, I don't think...I think that's just a royal way of saying you're still in the running.

Of course it means I'm still in the running! But it also means I'm not seen as desirable by her as I should be!

I'm going to have to do so much work to salvage this!

[He let out another strangled cry and another piece of glass was broken in the background. He was throwing them.

Then he seethed for a bit and in a couple moments seemed to have gotten his temper back under control.]

Lady Kathra has requested that you accompany me in meeting with her when she arrives next week for the Assembly. Will that be a problem?

[ As long as it's not a mess he has to clean up once he gets home, it's fine. Right? Sure. ]

She wants me to go with you. Why?

...no, it's not a problem.

[ Weird and disconcerting and he doesn't want to be the reason Oswald doesn't get this. ]

She asked me to bring some other documentation and anything else I feel might be relevant to making this decision, along with yourself. I assume that as my partner, she considers you important to the process.

[Considering the fact that Oswald had already said that he'd call it off if Ed said the word, that was a good judgement call on her part.]

I'll come. I'll make sure to have the day off at the clinic.

Thank you.

Are you okay?

I don't know enough about this woman to know what strings to pull. It puts me at a disadvantage in negotiations that I do not like. I've already looked up what I can on the Galactic Internet system and while she is the last of her line, she has protected herself quite well in ensuring only what will flatter her the best is archived in any manner that's easily acquired by someone still learning to navigate that system.

So have very little except what she's sent me in conversation to go on. She was rather interested in the idea of having someone join her house. I offered my mother, but I may have to offer myself as well to secure this for mother's sake. It's not something I particularly like. I haven't been here long and pledging myself to a Family when I just escaped being a nothing in another one does not sit well with me. I do not want to be second best all my life.

Is there anyone here that you or I know that might have more information about her or her family?

There was a man she was speaking to on her original contact post that she had clear familiarity with. The conversation indicated that he was a former candidate that was cut from the running for a 'kamina' problem. He was cross at the idea of her seeking anyone else out, however.

...I might be able to use that. I'll contact him immediately.

Re: Audio

aenigmata - 2019-04-22 03:57 (UTC) - Expand