tcnetwork | Edward Nygma / The Riddler

That I can do.

You're in the penthouse, I assume?

bed

You're drinking in bed? [ He supposes that does make it easier if Oswald blacks out... ]

I'll be right there.

[He started in the kitchen, But then remembered they technically have a teenager living with them and decided it would be better to get sloshed in the bedroom where he wouldn't end up weeping in front of her over having kids. That was some time ago now. Now he just knew the bed was soft and welcoming. but empty.]

Warm.

[also warm. he did like to nest.]

I should hope so, there are certainly enough pillows and blankets.

I'm bringing you water.

[At this point he's only really processed the first part of the text so he's nodding along like it's been said out loud as he huddles under the blanket and uses the light of his watch to see by. It's a bit hard to type and drink and use it like a flashlight all at once.

The answer that eventually comes is short once again, after he's managed to understand the water part.]

no. wine.

[Likely a good thing that Ed has finally arrived in their room, isn't it? There's a short rap on the bed-frame, as he doesn't really want to startle Oswald too much by suddenly announcing himself loudly.]

Wine won't help your headache come morning.

[Oswald peeks out from under the blanket, scowling at his boyfriend as though he's been betrayed.]

Don't tell me how to drink. I drink better than you.

That is... [ Oh, he nearly protests, but then agrees. ] true. I suppose.

[He smiles smugly, like he's won something.]

Come here.

[Hasn't he? In a way?

Ed sets the water down on the nightstand, and comes right on over.]

[He definitely feels like he has. Letting Edward into the blanket pile with him was an awkward affair, but mostly because he was very slowly and carefully making sure his leg didn't get tangled up in the cloth as he made room for his boyfriend. And once Ed was there next to him, he much more sloppily pulled the blanket back around them and then flopped onto the bed, dragging Ed with him. The bottle in his hand remained upright, which was probably good despite only having maybe half a glass left in it.]

Hi.

[He can't help but be somewhat amused by this, even if he is also a little concerned. He can be two things at once, he's very complex, clearly.

He smiles at Oswald, briefly.]

Hi. You're right, this is warm

And safe, too.

[He clutches the bottle to him and snuggles a bit closer, confidence failing him quickly.]

I have so many kids and I only agreed to two of them.

[He holds onto him, nodding.]

It is, I suppose, only a possible future. Rather daunting, still. They do seem to care a great deal for you...

[That was true. But it didn't really help him right now]

But I'm not even a father yet! I don't know how to be one! I didn't have one at all! He died before I was even born! But they call me 'dad'! I... and you! You're they're dad, too! Some of them...

[Which did mean they stayed together, so sliver lining, but not enough of one to cling to in his current panic.]

[Ed finds the fact he's apparently father to some of these children a little daunting. He didn't exactly have the most shining example of a father in his life growing up. Certainly no one he'd want to emulate for his own children.]

Maybe...perhaps you had good examples to take advice from, in town. There certainly are plenty of fathers here.

[Oswald made an exaggerated choking noise.]

No. Not likely.

[Granted, it was many years in the future. It could be that someone arrived that he felt was worth emulating in some fashion. Or that he got along better with those he currently had tepid relationships with. He wasn't going to bet on it, however.]

...we should ask what their allowances are. Maybe I just threw enough money at them that they all decided to behave and do what I said. It works for getting loyal muscle in the mob.

[Yeah he probably would raise a gaggle of children like mafia underlings.]

Like with Violet, you mean?

[There's a slight smirk at that suggestion, but it fades quickly.]

There's also your mother, I suppose. It seems like a valid assumption that by the time the oldest of these children is born, she'll be in the galaxy.

My six months are up on the twenty-eighth!

[A much better topic, this one. He went from depressive to excited in an instant.]

I looked into how the visits work and I think I'll have to make two in quick succession. One to see mother and arrange for movers to pack her things for her, and one to bring her and all her stuff back. You can only stay for a day when you use the hopper like that. It's not a lot of time and I'll have to spend most of the first just convincing her to move at all. The second one will be the next day for me, but a week later for her, I think.

She's going to be very upset with the disruption at first, but then she'll be so happy. I can give her the kind of life she deserves.

[He smiles, because this is in fact a much better topic. And means that Oswald intends to stay rather than return to Gotham, an idea he has managed to worry himself about on a rare occasion.]

I'm so glad you're able to do this for her. And yourself, of course.

[he snuggled just that much closer, nose pressed against Ed's collarbone.]

I'm sure in your time, that becoming Mayor meant I was able to give her the best of everything, but here she'll practically be royalty. Or at least treated as such. Which is close enough to keep her happy and safe. And she'll have grandchildren, which I'd never be able to give her there. Not in a way I felt comfortable with, anyway.

Thank you, Ed. Without you... this wouldn't be possible. Giving her all these things. Being able to be a good son to her.

[Arms? Right around Oswald as tightly as he can without it being uncomfortable for the other man.

He...is not going to mention anything regarding Gertrud and Oswald's stint as mayor. Of course he isn't. Silence is obviously agreement, and there's nothing else to it.]

I'm not sure how it's my doing, you know. You are a good son, and you're the one who impressed that woman.

[The wine bottle got awkwardly moved out from between them and allowed to drop off the side of the bed behind Ed's back where it landed on the floor with a dull thud. Os didn't care about it so much any more.]

If I didn't have you, I wouldn't have felt secure in making that offer. And if you'd been against it, I wouldn't have gone through with it. That's not to say I wouldn't have understood had you objected. And I wouldn't have been upset. It would have just made finding the right place for my mother take longer.

You made it possible for this to happen so quickly. It's as much my worthiness as it is you understanding the only personal thing about the whole deal was my mother's care.

You're just... so perfect, you know?

[There are a lot of things that he could say in response to any of this, very few things that he should say, of course. And it takes him a while to think of exactly what to say.]

I don't...often feel perfect. [There were, he thinks, times in his life where he did or at least felt worth something.] I wasn't improving much after...well. Before you arrived. Not really. If anything, I think it was getting worse. But you've been patient and helpful and...if I am...that, it's because of you.

Edward Nygma / The Riddler

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