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

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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.

[strike_you_out]

[He's beginning to notice that something is odd about this droned Edward. Smirk fading, he ventures into the next question with the hope that whatever it is will become clearer.]

And you killed them?

[puzzlerprince]

'Course I did, son. Can you blame me? He was a criminal, you know. Can't have scum like that roaming our streets, letting their milk go rotten. Letting Mayfield go rotten.

[strike_you_out]

[This is the first he's ever seen a drone act remotely hostile. And over that stupid milk rule? Slugger isn't entirely sure what to think at this point, but maybe if he can get Edward yelling loudly enough, it'll be enough of a warning for other housemates who may be within earshot.]

A criminal? What did he do?

[puzzlerprince]

Only brought dishonor to this fine, fine town of ours. I tell you, Slugger. Some folk just have no respect for the law. [Brushing into the kitchen, he moves to the refrigerator and pulls out a bottle of the Milkman's milk. With a twist, he opens it... though it takes an extra bit of effort for him to do so.]

...you never drank your milk today?

[strike_you_out]

[Slugger eyes him warily as Edward makes his way through the kitchen to the refrigerator and while he uncaps the untouched bottle. His gaze flashes once or twice between the milk and the man holding it. Of course it was true he hadn't abided by the new law today--it was moronic. But Edward's drone seemed very serious about it. Serious enough to kill someone. Still, Slugger doesn't attempt to flee the kitchen yet.]

It's probably poisoned or full of bugs. It always is.

[puzzlerprince]

What?! Now, who would fill your head with that sort of bologna?

[Heading to the cupbord, Edward retrieves a tall glass. Pours the milk from the bottle into said glass. And offers it to Slugger.]

It's not gonna come out of there and bite ya, kiddo.

[strike_you_out]

[Except the spiders surfacing from the milk to crawl up the inside of the glass visibly contradict Edward's statement. Slugger can't help his next reaction which is to lean away from the offered glass and press his lips together in a tight line. He makes no move to lift a hand and accept it.]

[puzzlerprince]

[Edward's eyes, beady and glazed over, narrow venomously.]

Slugger.

[He swings the empty milk bottle down against the side of the counter, shattering it instantly. He maintains his grip on the jagged remnants of the bottle, though, brandishing it to the side in case Slugger decides not to listen.]

Drink. Your. Milk.

[strike_you_out]

[A hard flinch as shattered glass and milk and spiders explode everywhere. Backing away quickly from Edward and the jagged glass, Slugger brushes away what he can of the spiders that have landed on him. He could easily escape the mad man but something tells him, as the only one in the house who could easily recover from such an attack, he should stay and keep Edward's attention.

That in mind he deliberately disobeys his "father's" command and shakes his head.]

No.

[hintcoinplz]

Slugger!

[That would be Luke dashing into the kitchen, after escaping -

Oh.

This wasn't good.]

[puzzlerprince]

[Nope. No, it wasn't.

Glaring dangerously from Slugger to Luke.]

Now, boys. I don't ask for much in this household. But if you don't listen to your father, there's going to have to be some serious consequences. Understand?

[strike_you_out]

[With the Riddler distracted and glaring at Luke, Slugger takes a swing with his bat at the broken bottle in Edward's hand, trying to knock it out of his grip.]