capeandcowl | [the twenty-first] / [video]

Entry tags:

edward nygma | riddler

[the twenty-first] / [video]

[His eyes are peeking betwixt ungloved fingers, wide and wild. Edward does not blink throughout the entire transmission, but his pupils are consistently darting to and fro, darting about at a hummingbird’s pace. He looks disheveled, wretched and yet glowing with some intangible, nigh-golden force.]

I can—I have tried—over these past few hours—youhavetounderstanditisalotto—

[A pause. He seems captivated by something; he takes a deep, sensual breath.]

Cameron—who? Their safety—John and—and—Kyle and GLaDOS and who--? That can’t stop the cold. The lonely—that feeling won’t—look, I’m sorry—

[Grabs at the communicator, shaking it.]

Don’t. Don’t ignore this. The Porter—Don’t attack. I can see it, feel it, God it’s almost like being it, Alastair, don’t yield to that—It can’t end well—bloody hell, someone stop him! Someone stop it.

[A crack in his voice; the strain is apparent.]

Desire. Please. Stop it.

ooc || Eddie’s been hooked to the Threshold! That means he’ll be spewing desires from this permissions post throughout the span of comments here. If your desire wasn’t mentioned in the opening (didn’t want to bullet the material) fret not! Eddie will be sure to play the sibyl to someone.

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[ She blinks, but it's not a direct response to his question. Not entirely, anyway. Though it doesn't take any consideration for her to answer. ]

Of course, Nigel.

Edited 2009-11-07 06:41 (UTC)

Huh. [ A tiny laugh -- mostly surprise, though some amusement mixed in -- as the corner of Nigel's mouth crooks upwards. ]

You don't think there's anything wrong with me?

Wrong with you? No, I don't think anything is wrong with you.

[ She is being honest. ]

Telling me you did not have a lot of experience in that subject isn't indicative of something wrong.

[ He laughs and takes a step closer, resting both hands at the collar of her coat, pulling it up slightly along with her scarf again in what's meant to be a warming, grooming gesture. ]

Oh, no. Not about that. In general, I mean, Cameron. The way I deal with things or choose not to. The way I behave.

[ Cameron gives Nigel a smile as he does this, standing perfectly still in the interim, keeping her eyes on his face as opposed to watching his hands. ]

Ah. I am aware of the labels a doctor or society would give you, Nigel. I simply do not care.

[ Nigel continues to tug gently at bits of cloth. Arranging and then re-arranging them around Cameron's throat, along the line of her jaw, up slightly to cover her mouth and then down again to tuck beneath her chin. Even though the process is idle, there's an efficiency to his hands. He continues to smile at her, perhaps a bit more complicity now. ]

And what about the labels they'd give you for associating with me? Do you not care about those either?

Why would I? I have been given worse labels simply for the nature of my creation. A soulless machine, complicit in the deaths of hundreds of thousands.

What could they call me for being friends with someone they would call sociopathic? Why would I even bother to listen?

[ She tilts her head, slightly, still smiling. ]

Infiltration does not mean becoming one of the mindless masses, Nigel.

No. No, it doesn't. Unlike most people, you actually understand what that means. So few do.

[ Nigel's staring has gone slightly peculiar and fascinated at the edges. He's not entirely sure if this has something to do with Desire, or whether his reactions to Cameron right now are truly his own, but in the end -- just as with most things -- Nigel ultimately doesn't care. Eventually his hands come to rest on either side of her collar-covered neck, some of his fingers touching her face very lightly. ]

You know. As odd as this may seem, I think I might be rather fond of you, Cameron. What that means coming from someone like me...I'm not to sure.

Edited 2009-11-07 07:37 (UTC)

Again, we are different from the rest. You told me that first, Nigel.

[ The smile remains and so does the stillness. The only change his touch brings is a slight warming to his skin but even her breathing remains even. She doesn't mind it, or his intense looks. She likes them, honestly. ]

I would not mind your fondness, Nigel. What it means is not something I will spend time losing sleep over. Will you?

[ His expression remains quiet for a moment before he breaks into another wide smile. It makes some of the bruised parts of his face hurt, but that discomfort barely registers in his expression. ]

No. I don't suspect I will. [ A beat as he presses the back of one hand to her cheek very briefly in a testing motion. ]

...cold?

Good. I would rather you did not.

[ Cameron blinks, slowly, and that warming becomes a blush. ]

Somewhat, yes. I am used to a much warmer climate. However I also enjoy contact.

[ Nigel's smile quiets and, finally he allows his hands to drop down away from Cameron's face and neck. However, this time, instead of offering his arm, he takes her hand in his and pulls her close to his side as they go to cross the street. ]

Come along, then. I know a place were we can sit inside. Drink something warm, if you'd like.

[ Cameron easily falls in step with him, taking one glance at her hand in his and squeezing it a bit as they walk. Still smiling. ]

I would like that yes. Thank you, Nigel.

[ They walk mostly in silence, Nigel's pace at a quicker clip than his usual almost amble. After a few blocks, he asks: ] Are you still upset from before?

[ Cameron nods, slightly. ] It is not as bad. Not as...debilitating. I've managed to channel the distress and anger into energy at the moment.

[ Another glance sideways at her. ]

When you threw that glass. Did it make you feel better?

Oh, yes.

Though I tend to be careful about that sort of thing. I could cause so much more destruction simply by not being careful.

A little more force and I could have used that glass to put a hole in the wall.

[ He smiles very faintly as they cross the street again, his grip tightening slightly around her hand. There is a small cafe a few doors down. ] Ah. Here we are.

[ As he holds the door open for her -- always the gentleman when it comes to certain things, he asks her: ] And is how much better you feel proportional to the amount of damage you cause?

[ She quirks her eyebrows and takes in the cafe, pleased at the prospect of something hot and possibly caffeine-laden. It will keep her up, but since her brain keeps attempting to do things she can't without her chip, shutting down to reassign information, being awake isn't frowned upon. ]

Mm, to a degree. It stopped me from explaining very clearly to Mr. Nygma how I wished to repay him for his attempt at kindness.

It was a small thing, yes, both to be broken and to be dissuaded from, but it was effective.

Edited 2009-11-07 17:09 (UTC)

[ Nigel follows her inside and then takes her arm to lead her to a small table tucked in a quiet corner. As far as being in public goes, it's private enough. Pulling her chair out of her to sit, he leans forward over one shoulder to whisper in her ear softly and curiously. ]

And how exactly would you have liked to repay him, Cameron?

[ Following him is simple enough; she trusts him and corners are best for observing others as it is.

Cameron smiles, softly, closing her eyes when Nigel leans in. ]

I wondered, briefly, how well he would use the communicator without fingers.

[ Nigel doesn't laugh, though the impulse to do so is there. He just smirks at her knowingly and is quiet for a long time, his face still lingering close to hers as he studies her features again. With a hand he brushes some of her hair off her shoulder. ]

I've wondered the same thing in the past myself. Not very well, I'd imagine. Though he does like hearing himself talk.

I have observed his interactions with others on the network before. He is rather...self-satisfied, it would appear.

[ Had he laughed she would have understood. It wouldn't be the laugh someone makes when they do not think you could do something, or when they realize that you are a dangerous person and don't know how to hide that realization in their body language. ]

However his voice, when he spoke to me, indicated fear and distress beyond whatever Desire had done to him. I will not lie; it is better that he be afraid of me if it means he will not make such a mistake again.

Mm. [ Nigel nods very faintly. ] Perhaps he knows full well what you're capable of. If he knew what you wanted... [ A shrug. ]

Edward Nygma's sense of self-preservation's quite strong. Most of the time he relies on manipulation -- preying on people's weaknesses -- to prevent all of the threats that come down upon his head from becoming a reality.

Some of us, however, don't have them. Or refuse to play by his rules.

The secrets I keep are not my own, and most of them belong to those with a stronger sense of morality than I possess. However I am of the habit of eliminating threats by the most effective and efficient means necessary and that is not likely to change.

If his sense of self-preservation remains strong, perhaps he will strive to not place himself in the category of a threat.

[ She tilts her head at Nigel. ]

He did not seem to pleased to speak with you, either.

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