[When Slugger tires of watching Edward wait for a response, he lightly taps upon the surface of the desk. Yes, he heard you, Eddie, and he's already present in the study.]
[Still recovering, he finally decides that Edward is being serious and leaves to retrieve his bat. It doesn't take him long to return (though a few extra seconds is certainly excessive.)
Slugger reappears in the doorway. With the soon-to-be murder weapon resting upon his shoulder, he suspects a change of heart is in short order.]
[When the boy returns, the Riddler's eyes twitch, briefly, and there's a sharp intake of breath. It's a little bit scary, actually seeing Slugger's bat here. Now. Trying not to shake, Edward rises up to his feet, ushering Slugger in with a hand on his back before shutting the door to the study, locking them both inside. He sinks to his knees, one hand on Slugger's shoulder, meeting him at eye level.]
Look. I've figured it out. I've finally figured out how to win. But as soon as I get rid of this damn shield, it's not going to do any good. He'll have heard my thoughts, and I'll have to start over. If I'm going to be able to best him, I have to go into this blind.
[His eyes flicker back to the bat in Slugger's hand. He's not going to lose his nerve now, is he? Back to Slugger.]
I need you to help me forget. I've... I've written down everything. I'm going to have to follow those instructions tomorrow, but I can't... I shouldn't be able to remember anything, in order for all of this to work. That's why I need your help. [Edward removes
( ... )
[Even if his eyes are meeting Edward's, Slugger is gazing through him more so than at him, and once the plan is revealed, he breaks eye contact completely. If it wasn't clear before, it's more than evident now that he has unvoiced reservations about doing this.
Still looking pointedly away from Edward, he reluctantly speaks.]
[Susan. Yes, he did forget about that little snag, didn't he? Sighing, Edward releases his hold on Slugger, reaching out to grab his hat and jam it over the little electronic hairnet of Luthor's design.]
Fine.
[He rises to his feet, moving to the door and unlocking it.]
[You know the rules as well as he does: no murder in the house.
When Edward next sees Slugger, it will be outside on the driveway where he quietly awaits the next step in this morbid transaction, bat in hand and hanging at his side.]
[Edward exits the house, hands tucked anxiously into his pockets. He glances to Slugger in the driveway, up to Susan's window, where the light is still on. He glances out to the other houses in the neighborhood. If they're going to do this, it's not going to be somewhere this blatant. They need an isolated location.]
Follow me.
[And he starts to walk down along the street, glancing over his shoulder to see if Slugger follows.]
[Slugger keeps pace beside him, eyes trained on the pavement. Tonight he's treading quietly in shoes rather than skates. For a while he says nothing until curiosity gets the better of him.]
You wrote it down... Will you remember where? What if you find it and read it too soon?
[A nod. Before now, Slugger could never quite wrap his mind around how someone like Edward, while he may be a menace to some members of society, could presumably end up in an institution like Arkham with the most dangerous specimens of mankind. But tonight, seeing how dead set the man is and the lengths he's willing to go to just to prove something impossible to himself... it's enough to make Slugger imagine.
Head down, he'll continue to be led in silence until they reach their point of destination.]
...
[When Slugger tires of watching Edward wait for a response, he lightly taps upon the surface of the desk. Yes, he heard you, Eddie, and he's already present in the study.]
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I... [He gulps, audibly.] I need you to do me a favor. You---you still have your bat. Correct?
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...What's the favor?
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[Before he loses his nerve.]
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[His eyes grow wide as he stares at you, frozen in place.]
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Good one.
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...I'm being serious. Go and get it.
Now.
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Slugger reappears in the doorway. With the soon-to-be murder weapon resting upon his shoulder, he suspects a change of heart is in short order.]
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Look. I've figured it out. I've finally figured out how to win. But as soon as I get rid of this damn shield, it's not going to do any good. He'll have heard my thoughts, and I'll have to start over. If I'm going to be able to best him, I have to go into this blind.
[His eyes flicker back to the bat in Slugger's hand. He's not going to lose his nerve now, is he? Back to Slugger.]
I need you to help me forget. I've... I've written down everything. I'm going to have to follow those instructions tomorrow, but I can't... I shouldn't be able to remember anything, in order for all of this to work. That's why I need your help. [Edward removes ( ... )
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Still looking pointedly away from Edward, he reluctantly speaks.]
Not here. Susan.
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Fine.
[He rises to his feet, moving to the door and unlocking it.]
Get your coat, then.
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When Edward next sees Slugger, it will be outside on the driveway where he quietly awaits the next step in this morbid transaction, bat in hand and hanging at his side.]
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Follow me.
[And he starts to walk down along the street, glancing over his shoulder to see if Slugger follows.]
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You wrote it down... Will you remember where? What if you find it and read it too soon?
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You'll see to it that I get each piece of the puzzle. I've left some instructions for you, as well, after you've...
[He trails off.]
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Head down, he'll continue to be led in silence until they reach their point of destination.]
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